The growth of cloud computing over the last few years has been phenomenal. Many experts predict that the cloud will grow even faster in the next few years. This is due to a perfect storm of related factors affecting business, technology and society. Whether you are part of an industry that provides cloud-based services or one that uses them, it’s helpful to understand the forces that are driving this development.
Advantages of cloud computing
The cloud gives business owners, employees, freelancers, students, customers and others easy access to files and data. When data is stored in the cloud, it’s not limited to a particular location or device. This fits in with the increasing mobility of the modern workplace. Employees are now more likely to work remotely. Many tasks are now outsourced to freelancers around the world. A project may require the collaboration of team members who live in distant cities. In such cases, it’s more practical to store files in the cloud than to have them stored in individual devices.
The cloud allows for a great deal of diversity and flexibility when it comes to devices, operating systems and platforms. When you send a traditional file from one computer to another, you are sometimes limited by certain factors. Some files, for example, can only be read by Windows or Mac-based computers. The cloud provides an environment that can be accessed equally by everyone. There’s no need to worry if different people are using different platforms.
The cloud also provides a more secure environment that’s not vulnerable to any particular system crashing. If files are stored on a single device, they can be lost if the computer crashes. The cloud is more secure and less vulnerable to crashes and attacks. This list here is not comprehensive, but provides a fairly good idea of the kinds of attacks I’m referring to.
What lies ahead for cloud computing
A recent survey projects that 25 per cent of IT budgets in 2016 will be devoted to cloud computing. When you consider the trends that are contributing to the growth of cloud computing, such as globalization, security concerns and more employees working remotely, it should come as no surprise that cloud-based solutions are so appealing.
Well known entrepreneur and Shark Tank star Robert Herjavec predicts that cloud computing will actually soon be bigger than the Internet itself. When someone whose business is devoted to computer security and related technological areas makes such a bold statement, it makes sense to pay close attention. The exact wording of this statement may be questioned. Strictly speaking, the cloud is the Internet, or at least a significant part of it. The cloud usually refers to storing information on the Internet as opposed to personal devices.
Herjavec’s real meaning, however, can be better understood in the context of what else he says in the same statement. He predicts that everything will soon be so connected that we’ll only be aware of the Internet when we’re not connected to it. When your financial statements, employee records, personal information, entertainment, travel reservations and everything else that matters in your life is in the cloud, there will be no need to think of the Internet as something separate from your life.
Make sure you’re prepared
The most successful businesses of the future will be those that adapt to emerging trends and technologies. Since cloud-based computing is almost certain to be one of the dominant forces of the near future, it’s essential to learn as much as possible about it. Whether you provide services to local customers or to other businesses, keep in mind that cloud-based solutions often offer the greatest value, convenience and security.
There’s no longer any question that cloud computing is going to play a major role in the future of business and technology. This is something that can be safely assumed. It’s up to you to position yourself in a way that you can benefit from this development.
