2024: Watershed year for cloud computing

Technology giants Gartner recently claimed the cloud will shift from a 'business disrupter' to a 'business necessity' by 2028.

Cloud computing has grown yearly since Amazon launched the first commercial cloud (Elastic Computer Cloud) in 2006. Even though 90% of surveyed organisations use the cloud, over half (55%) said they still relied on traditionally managed on-premise systems.

Worldwide spending on cloud computing and infrastructure in 2024 is forecast to total $679 billion and is projected to exceed $1 trillion in 2027. But what is causing such high demand for the cloud in 2024?

Businesses are attracted by the time and money-saving opportunities of cloud migration, plus the ability to adopt new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and as-a-service product offerings.

The reasons for moving to the cloud vary from business to business. It could be a money-saving venture or even a necessary shift for remaining (or becoming) compliant in their industry.

Of course, there are reasons why some businesses have remained with their on-premise systems and these range from lack of internal knowledge to high upfront costs. They're also held back by reluctance from decision-makers and fears over taking data away from on-site servers and placing them on a cloud platform.

Top Cloud Trends for 2024

2022 and 2023 were huge years for AI and machine learning. Although artificial intelligence (AI) has technically been around since the 1950s, it wasn’t until the introduction of Chat-GPT in 2022, and the subsequent releases of Bard from Google (now Gemini), copy.ai and graphic design AI tools from sites like Canva that the use of AI significantly catapulted and changed the public’s relationship with artificial intelligence. Today, businesses have started using cloud capabilities to incorporate AI and machine learning into their business operations.

According to Forbes, these are the top 9 cloud trends for 2024:

1. AI-as-a-service: The cloud provides the opportunity to integrate AI models through the cloud, enabling businesses to integrate AI functionalities into their applications and websites.

2. Hybrid and Multi-Cloud: The number of large organisations buying cloud services from multiple suppliers (Multi-Cloud) is predicted to rise considerably this year. Meanwhile, a hybrid cloud (a mixture of cloud and on-premise infrastructure) gives companies the flexibility to pick and choose the services they need.

3. Real-Time Cloud Infrastructure: Businesses can utilise real-time data from across their organisation rather than using historical data or waiting for lengthy data important.

4. Cloud-Driven Innovation and Transformation: Migrating to the cloud can significantly improve how businesses operate and lower their overall IT spending. In 2024, businesses will find it easier than ever to quickly install emerging technologies thanks to cloud computing.

5. Cloud Security and Resilience: Forbes claims that encryption, authentication and disaster recovery are three functions of cloud computing services that will be in demand in 2024. It also claims hackers will develop AI-powered forms of attack, making security a priority for cloud providers and users.

6. Sustainable Cloud Computing: The major cloud service providers (Amazon, Google and Microsoft) have pledged to net zero over the coming decade, meaning 2024 could see a big push in greener cloud computing.

7. Simplified Cloud Computing: Low-code/no-code tools make it easy for non-technical people to build basic applications. Similarly, cloud providers are creating similar tools for creating cloud services and infrastructure.

8. Privacy in the Cloud: There is an ongoing development of technological, regulatory and legislative solutions designed to help businesses utilise the cloud while keeping business and customer data safe. The cloud provider can own the rights to all files the businesses store on their cloud, which will continue to be a talking point in 2024.

9. Serverless and PAYG Cloud: The serverless model of cloud computing removes the need for businesses to manage their servers. This means the business only pays for the resources they directly use and does not pay for unused servers.

Partner With Cloud Experts in 2024

Are you ready to take your business to the cloud? PSP has a proven track record of helping organisations transition from on-premise to cloud-based platforms. Our tried and tested project lifecycle starts with detailed requirements and ends with our internal quality and training.

To speak to us about your cloud project, or to find out what opportunities there are for your business, get in touch with our cloud experts.