Refusing the Cloud is Not a Viable Option
In January 2013, McKinsey & Company, one of the world’s leading global management consulting firms, published a report in which they stated that “refusing to use cloud capabilities is not a viable option.” In other words, 18 months ago, one of the most trusted advisors to businesses, governments, and other institutions worldwide was saying that if you’re not using or considering using cloud computing in your organization, you are falling behind. Flash forward to 2014. The cloud computing industry is expected to be worth more than $150 billion at the end of the fiscal year, and around 57% of organizations are now using cloud computing or Enterprise SaaS applications. While 100% have not yet moved to the cloud, clearly, McKinsey & Company’s predictions have been true.
Currently, millions of people store notes and research, address books, music, calendars, business documents, email, and photos with various platforms and applications each and every day. Why? Because the cloud is easily accessible and offers more security than one’s potentially corruptible computer hard drive. The reality is, cloud computing affects most people’s daily lives and is utilized in some way in hundreds of thousands of organizations worldwide—cloud computing is not going anywhere.
Examining the current state of cloud computing begs the question, what is the future of cloud computing? Here are three things you can expect to see as the nature of cloud computing continues to grow and change:
1) Faster and More Reliable Internet Connections
As the cloud becomes a greater part of business and private life, the demands placed on the cloud will also grow. In order for the cloud to continue acting as an efficient, safe space for storing things that are so important to us, we will need much faster internet connections than we have now. Google Fiber and other Fiber networks are quickly working to develop the capacity to handle the bandwidth that will be required. So, as you anxiously wait for cloud capabilities to develop, keep your eyes peeled for improvements in broadband support.
2) Mobility
It is already not enough to be able to store files, photos, or music from our desktops and laptops at the office or at home. People want to have instant access to reporting, IT management services, and more by pulling out their tablets and phones. Many companies are working to develop and improve existing mobile applications to grant end-users greater flexibility in storing and retrieving vital information. The mobile cloud is upon us, but you can expect its capacity to only improve from here.
3) The Internet of Things
As we improve the capability to expand the mobility of the cloud, you can also expect to see ordinary devices develop the capacity to store and process large streams of data, a phenomena commonly referred to as the “internet of things.” For example, the cloud will expand to include things like glasses, cars, monitors, sensors, and more as opposed to simply smart phones and tablets. The capability for this type of technology is virtually endless, and many companies are already focusing their efforts on bringing the internet of things to an online store near you.
It is evident that refusing the cloud is no longer a viable option. As you can see, cloud computing is already becoming one of the largest and most necessary services around the globe. Will yours be the organization that anxiously awaits the future of this powerful technology?