There has been interesting activity in the cloud computing sector over the past year, with alternative IT strategies viewed as increasingly invaluable for business. The RightScale 2015 State of the Cloud Survey revealed that 93% of respondents are adopting a cloud strategy:

• 5% public cloud, 
• 30% private cloud and 
• 58% mixed.

Additionally, 88% of enterprises are using a hybrid cloud strategy, up by 14% from the previous year.

With the need for cheap, fast and agile solutions on-demand, it comes as no surprise that new cloud computing business trends and technologies are causing migration to cloud ecosystems. And, as we’ve seen from the outset, it’s a path more and more businesses are willing to take.

What impact can this type of approach have on your business?

Implementing cloud-based enterprise solutions can dramatically reshape your business strategies and outlook!

Some of the noticeable benefits brought about through cloud adoption include:

• A considerable decrease in system downtime,
• Less reliance on costly in-house services,
• Cheaper and more readily available business solutions,
• An increase in Business Intelligence (BI),
• Less hardware- meaning less impact on the environment,
• And, an increase in flexibility and scalability.

The need to consolidate some (if not all) of your operations into the cloud has never been greater! Not only is it a potentially cost-saving exercise, but it can seriously improve overall business performance.

Want further insight?

Here are 3 of the latest trends in cloud development:

1. Hybrid Cloud Solutions are on “the up and up”

Ever thought of integrating your on-premises systems with third-party services?

Many organisations are now looking for cheap and scalable alternatives to in-house software. In doing this, some or all of the existing infrastructure will need to be replaced and/or removed.

This may not always be possible because of existing issues like:

• Legacy systems,
• Compliance issues,
• And/or software restrictions.

So, how do you merge the two platforms?

This is where Hybrid Cloud strategies come into play…

Hybrid clouds blend the current state of an organisation’s private IT infrastructure with services provided by third-party distributors. As of 2015, Hybrid was still the preferred cloud strategy, with 88% of enterprises opting for it.

These strategies offer greater flexibility and compliance, whilst providing security assurances where necessary. Their continual popularity also means that there’s less pressure on businesses to move everything into the public cloud.

2. Cloud-Compliant “Hardware Giants”

Organisations that focus heavily on hardware are now dipping their toes into the cloud market. HP, Dell and Cisco, have merged with cloud providers to offer services that were previously unavailable.

In a world that is vastly becoming more cloud-reliant, IT companies are placing a strong emphasis on third-party software. The major players – Google, Amazon and Microsoft – have all made strong affiliations with IT hardware suppliers.

What this means for customers…

This recent amalgamation of hardware and software can only mean greater possibilities for those thinking about adopting third-party software.

Innovative ideas and outside-the-box thinking (with the added bonus of having access to fully-staffed design laboratories and facilities) will continue to stimulate further growth in cloud technology.

What this means for vendors…

Supply chains will be given a drastic shakeup with traditional vendors and suppliers being consolidated and/or replaced. If you’re thinking about moving part or all of your resources into the cloud, this will be something you’ll need to address.

3. Improved Data Analytics Capabilities

Need fast, reliable and easily transferable data?

The prospect of optimal data analytics, coming off the back of the recent growth in cloud-based systems and “Big Data”, has industry professionals excited. Experts predict that this emerging trend will continue to grow, with an expected market worth of $16.52 Billion by 2018.

How can cloud computing data analytics improve business performance?

Cost-reduction, business process improvement and efficient resource allocation are just some of the things that are aided by fast, reliable data analytics.

An improved analytical framework can add value to your business through:

• More in-depth risk analysis,
• Greater business insight,
• Increased performance and expenditure tracking capabilities,
• And, better decision-making.

Cloud computing and data analytics has progressed quite rapidly over the past year. For businesses looking to improve their overall data management, the message is quite clear: “migrate now, or else risk being behind the curve!”

Summary

So, what were the key developments in 2015?

Well, what we’ve witnessed is:

• A steady climb in Internet-based enterprise solutions and services,
• Businesses dramatically re-shaping their IT infrastructure in order to remain competitive,
• An ever-growing reliance on wireless data management and Internet services, which will trigger a vast improvement in data analytics,
• And, key tech players strengthening existing ties with their cloud service counterparts in order to dampen competition concerns and open up new channels of business.

What can we expect in Cloud Computing Trends for 2016?

What we expect to see is a greater trend towards strengthening data management practices and creating heavily cloud-compliant business spaces.

As the upward trend continues and cloud technology becomes ever more popular; we believe business consumers will induce a stronger, price-driven cloud market, which will make for a competitive and interesting 2016.

Sources: http://www.rightscale.com/lp/2015-state-of-the-cloud-report