The future of cloud computing

Not so long ago, a cloud was just an object in the sky. Whilst people predicted big technological advances, they weren’t expecting them to happen at such a fast pace. Now, we are witnessing a big migration of our activities and businesses to the cloud, a virtual environment made from a system of connected devices. As you know, these networks of servers are super powerful and can store and process a huge amount of data. A trend that started with small applications and occasional extra space usage has grown massively.

Today, cloud computing is getting widely used by every big company, but also smaller size businesses. Just think about the pandemic and how it boosted a fast and large migration of businesses to the cloud, due to remote work, the massive increase in delivery services, and e-Commerce. The cloud’s technology has already made the digital transformation of many businesses worldwide possible.

What will the future bring for the cloud?

Well, the future looks interesting from here. There’s a lot still to witness when it comes to doing with cloud computing. Let’s start with the general concepts that define its future.

Cloud first

In the short term, we will see many more businesses changing to cloud platforms to operate. That’s not a difficult prediction, it’s happening right now. As we mentioned, the cloud is not just a solution for IT and Big Data companies anymore. It’s been accessed already by other sectors and even more (manufacturing, healthcare, urban planning, etc.) will adhere to the trend. What we will see is more organizations betting on ERP cloud-based (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems for their overall management. By having enough software and tools hosted and managed in the cloud (offsite) to achieve this goal, owners will be able to focus on running the business. The IT administration won’t because any worries if it’s in charge of a reliable ERP cloud provider.

The death of traditional hosting

A typical hosting service hosts all the websites on one server and shares resources between them. This practice will die (or maybe it is already dead), and it will be replaced by hybrid virtual servers and cloud servers. The performance is far better, and they are more reliable.

AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) is already a key element of different future technologies. Cloud computing is not an exception, it will be powered with AI that can learn and do tasks faster than any current processor. This will allow bigger data to be processed and it will open new possibilities for the developers.

Improved security

Leaving all the data in the cloud will significantly increase the danger of hacking attacks. Cloud-based systems are known to be vulnerable to DDoS attacks. With the rising number of connected devices, this will continue to be an enormous problem. The cloud must become bigger and more resistant to massive traffic. Another change will be the better encryption of the information. Security will become more efficient, just like the cloud itself. Otherwise, there’s no chance it can battle against current and upcoming cyber threats.

Cloud computing, future trends you should know about

The future of cloud computing already is either being planned or already developed. Yes! There are some revolutionary trends already that are predicted to be part of the upcoming cloud computing days. Let’s dive into them.

Quantum Cloud computing

Currently, the biggest ventures on the planet (Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and IBM) are working on the development of cloud quantum computers. The idea is to combine the cloud computing environment with the power of quantum computers. Meaning, you could have access to all the possibilities this hardware offers, but through a network, without needing the physical computers.

This is a very ambitious goal! Consider that quantum computers use the principles of quantum physics to make complex algorithmic calculations and process huge amounts of data in a very short time possible. These supercomputers offer powerful encryption capabilities for increasing network and electronic communications security.

They can solve complex issues that regular or arithmetic computers can’t. These are based on binary signals (ones and zeros) and are measured in bits that increase linearly. While quantum computers work with qubits or quantum bits, a unit of quantum information exponentially delivers much more computing power when connected.

Qubits exist in a state of superposition. This means they can be in two states at once, instead of being restricted to a single binary state. Due to this, quantum computing systems are exponentially more powerful than traditional computers and have the potential to solve huge computing challenges that are far from today’s fastest supercomputers capabilities. They could solve a calculation in minutes, while for traditional computers such a task could take thousands of years.

But controlling and keeping quantum systems stable is challenging! They are sensitive to the environment, and this makes them vulnerable. Qubits need environmental protection to avoid the destruction of the delicate quantum states required for computing. Based on the experts’ opinion, there’s a lot to work on to achieve the goal of these computers to reach maximum stability and zero errors.

Cloud quantum computing will be a natural next step, but still, five more years or a decade will be needed to make this possible.

From now on, you can imagine the benefits such power will bring to industries like Finance, Banking, complex manufacturing, biological and chemical engineering, healthcare sciences, and cybersecurity.

Edge and cloud computing

It refers to the combined use of Edge and cloud computing by companies. While some fight over the differences between these concepts, others point out such differences as the way both will complement each other in the future.

Cloud computing is a model that remotely delivers apps, servers, or storage, using the Internet. Therefore, users can access such resources, no matter where they are, through their connected devices. Due to this, online businesses can save the expenses of buying and maintaining many computers, storage, and more IT infrastructure. With cloud computing, all these tasks will be the responsibility of a cloud provider.

Edge computing means moving the computing power nearer to the physical place where data is produced. It can be a sensor or an Internet of Things (IoT) device. The word “edge” refers to users/devices. It reduces the need for long journeys among servers, devices, or the cloud for large data amounts to be processed. Moreover, devices can work as autonomous network nodes, meaning they don’t depend on an Internet connection.

So, Edge and its compute resources go nearer to the users/devices, while the cloud makes them available from a data center probably far away from the data origin.

Edge computing makes quicker data processing possible, and a wider distribution of systems because data and its process go close to the users/devices, better connection performance, and reduction of latency and bandwidth costs. These advantages are especially convenient for modern AI and data science.

Currently, the cloud is very flexible and efficient, due to the modern and widely spread technology it uses. However, when it’s about AI applications running in real-time globally, they demand local processing power. Think about remote places located far away from centralized cloud servers. While driving an autonomous car, a life-saving decision could arrive late due to the latency. Sudden situations like a person crossing in front of your car with the green light can’t wait long for a decision. In such cases, milliseconds matter!

Edge computing for autonomous cars, industrial automation, video monitoring, predictive maintenance, and augmented reality is a great solution.

But still, there are important workloads that companies need to keep safe and accessible for their daily operations (finances, enhancement of products or services, new product development, etc.). Here the cloud comes to the stage as their best choice. So, let’s better consider from now, these two concepts as a team because edge and cloud computing seem to be fated to work together in the future.

Green Cloud computing

Data centers, companies’ premises, infrastructure, cooling, and electricity, for their IT, produce an environmental impact. E-waste is an issue impossible to ignore because we’re talking about millions of tons being produced every year. Cloud providers are taking these problems seriously, knowing that improving the efficiency of hardware and software is challenging but also a responsible commitment to society and the planet.

Green cloud computing merges two ideas, the delivery of IT services through the Internet (cloud computing) and being friendly with the environment (green). Hardware should become green through actions like increasing the energy efficiency of machines and their useful life cycle, avoiding the use of hazardous IT components, and using more recyclable materials.

Green software should use engineering methods to create reliable applications that comply with organizations’ requirements and minimize the greenhouse gas emissions their energy consumption produces.

Regarding employees, the goal is to adopt flexible working models for them to make the most of the technological resources and avoid daily commutes.

Environmental sustainability will require investment in technology that works for this purpose, without compromising the core operation of companies. Choices are already there, and others are emerging or being developed. RAS is an example; a Remote Application Server (RAS), is a solution for virtual applications and desktop delivery that supports other remote access tools.

As a reference, RAS is offered by the company Parallels. Only a site using Parallels RAS supports up to two thousand virtual desktops and five thousand remote desktop session hosts. Just calculate the environmental benefits of running fewer physical servers, using considerably less energy, and saving the commute of thousands of employees.

In summary, the cloud is already an efficient reality, but the future claims to be a green version of it and a bigger migration of businesses there. Carbon-neutral cloud is already a need, don’t you think?

5G Cloud computing

5G, the controversial fifth-generation mobile network, is considered the upcoming key to revolutionizing communications, network, and cloud services.

5G has been around for some time, maybe your mobile or computer is 5G-enabled. But to be honest, the regular users are not experiencing the 5G huge benefits and they won’t. Even having such a device, you will barely find a 5G connection because it’s still very scarce. Additionally, even the most demanding user needs can be satisfied with a high-quality 4G connection. Regular users are just paying for the development of 5G while buying those devices. Big industries, with huge infrastructures and demands, like the cloud, are the ones that will take the best out of the 5G advantages.

That said, let’s see what the cloud powered by 5G technology has to offer.

The benefits of the cloud combined with the 5G technology will bring many benefits to the table, including ultra-fast data transfers, a massive reduction in latency, high-security levels, and storing huge capacities.

As a reference, 5G will be, at least, a hundred times faster than 4G. This massive improvement will make it easier for the cloud, real-time data streaming, and virtual practices.

Fast and reliable streamlined operations are to come for industries in need of processing real-time data to work, like manufacturing. 5G cloud computing will allow the transfer and process of huge loads of data even coming from different sources in real-time, all while reducing the costs of data analytics and the overall operation.

The ultra-fast transmission rates that are expected will decrease latency in a way that edge computing and artificial intelligence will manage a big improvement.

5G cloud computing will mean a great expansion of the current cloud capacities and that will make it the solid base many businesses need to run at their maximum potential.

Conclusion

The future of cloud computing is getting ready right now! The already-known cloud advantages seem to make a good and promising combination with new and sophisticated technologies. Fast algorithmic calculations, more efficient software and hardware, ultra-fast, and environmentally friendly sound like a modern and very powerful future, doesn’t it? Let’s see how plans evolve but from now we hope, long live the cloud!