10 Predictions for 2023’s Clouds

In light of the ongoing global pandemic, an overwhelming majority of companies, 94% to be exact, have acknowledged the indispensable role of cloud technology in sustaining their operations. In addition, a projected 50% of companies’ data will be stored in the cloud by 2023, which marks a substantial growth from 30% in 2018.

In today’s business landscape, it is evident that cloud technology is a critical component for companies of all sizes, owing to its numerous advantages in terms of security, productivity and convenience. As a result, it should be an intrinsic aspect of any organisation’s long-term plan and day-to-day functioning.

As remote work increasingly becomes the norm, what lies ahead for cloud computing? This compilation comprises 10 predictions.

1. Hybrid Clouds Will Gain Prominence in Business.

   A hybrid cloud refers to the merging of public and private cloud capabilities, thereby facilitating resource sharing. Such configurations offer the opportunity to leverage the benefits of both public and private clouds, making them a compelling alternative for contemporary businesses.
   
   With the increasing adoption of hybrid cloud solutions in view of their enhanced scalable and flexible capacities, businesses can anticipate potential obstacles and respond rapidly to them by implementing the integrated solutions explained in this article.

2. A Multi-Cloud Infrastructure Can Supplement the Hybrid Cloud Strategy.

   A multi-cloud framework entails utilising multiple cloud providers across various deployment setups. This approach enables businesses to extend their digital footprint without the need for significant physical infrastructure. They achieve this by distributing their data, tools, resources and applications across several clouds while adhering to a uniform architecture.

3. “Cloud Nationalism” Is Set to Influence the Industry.

   According to Forrester, a new era of “cloud nationalism” is looming, with competition resulting in increased global, economic and political repercussions. As a result, it is anticipated that governments, especially those in the US and China, will enforce stricter regulations regarding how cloud providers can dispense their services and facilitate access to them.

4. The Range of Security Concerns is Extensive.

   Cybersecurity continues to be a top priority for all platforms and service providers, with the cloud emerging as an attractive target for cybercriminals. Consequently, it is imperative for organisations of all sizes to take the necessary measures to safeguard their operations and customers from the growing threat of cybercrime, particularly as we advance towards 2023 and beyond.
   
   One of the crucial steps in this process is to ensure that employees receive appropriate training to mitigate the potential for new vulnerabilities. Nonetheless, constructing a secure cloud environment necessitates more than just implementing specific protocols – it also entails hiring personnel who possess expertise in cloud security.

5. The Proliferation of Options Will Be Extensive.

   In recent years, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure have dominated the public cloud market. However, by 2023, despite their ongoing success, the abundance of cloud computing services is poised to become more diverse, with an influx of additional services anticipated.
   
   As businesses increasingly adopt multi-cloud strategies, they are looking to a range of providers, not solely the established leaders in the market, but also smaller, more adaptable providers.

6. The “Great Resignation” Will Drive Cloud Computing Adoption on a Large Scale.

   The “Great Resignation” has been advantageous for employees, but many businesses are struggling to manage the high rate of IT personnel attrition. In response, numerous organisations are migrating their operations to the cloud, allowing them to leverage services for an array of tech support, data storage, and other functions.
   
   It is becoming increasingly clear that, as a result of the Great Resignation, gig workers are gradually taking the place of permanent employees. Due to their substantial presence across the US (and beyond), they are progressively reliant on cloud-based services.

7. Environmental Impact Reduction Will Be a Priority for Businesses.

   Over the past few years, there has been a heightened corporate awareness of the necessity to lower their environmental impact. Luckily, cloud computing can aid businesses in their efforts to combat climate change and promote a sustainability agenda.
   
   It is evident that companies must devise sustainable solutions to address the anticipated financial burden of £1.6 trillion per annum due to climate change by 2025. Although there is room for growth, numerous cloud products are currently more eco-friendly than their competitors. Businesses will seek cloud infrastructures that consume less energy and have a reduced environmental impact.

8. Artificial Intelligence and Cloud Computing are Complementary.

   Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a vital component of IT and technology operations for numerous organisations today. This technology is crucial for optimising and automating diverse processes across various sectors.
   
   Have you pondered the advantages of employing AI services and solutions in your organisation with the aid of cloud computing? These resources can be saved and processed in the cloud, alongside the data required to operate a multitude of applications.

9. Cloud and Edge Computing Will Harmonise.

   Historically, it has been claimed that cloud and edge computing are incompatible. This is because edge computing brings applications closer to the data source, while cloud computing relocates them to a more remote site. Therefore, one might question why these two approaches are frequently viewed as rivals.
   
   By 2023, businesses will be able to leverage both edge computing and cloud computing to enhance their efficiency.

10. The Data Explosion is Imminent.

    If you are reading this, then you are undoubtedly familiar with the idea of ‘big data’. Several organisations across the globe generate vast amounts of data. To harness this data and obtain actionable insights to enhance their services, businesses are increasingly adopting cloud-based solutions.
    
    There is no doubt that the use of cloud computing will increase in 2021. As an impending data explosion looms, businesses in all sectors must contemplate how to manage and process large volumes of data, and cloud computing offers an effective solution to this and many other challenges.