Recent years have witnessed cloud computing grow from an obscure technology used by a handful of large corporations into a computing paradigm shift that is now being accepted by approximately 90% of enterprises. This widespread adoption has been driven by a few cloud computing concepts and growth in interrelated industries over time. Once again, the tail end of 2019 provides the opportunity to analyze and outline the concepts that are most likely to define cloud computing in 2020.
This article will discuss:
- The cloud computing concepts that will drive cloud adoption in 2020
- The cloud computing trends to expect across diverse industries
- The expected impact of these concepts and trends on enterprises integrating cloud computing
Top cloud computing concepts to consider for 2020
Quantum computing – One of the defining features and benefits of cloud computing is its scalability when handling increased workloads. With increased data analysis and monitoring requirements, large-scale simulation requirements, and generative designs comes the need for faster computers that can easily handle enormous workloads.
Quantum computing is one solution to the question of how to speedily manage large workloads. In 2019, Fortune 500 enterprises such as IBM, Microsoft, Google, and Intel participated in the race to develop quantum computing systems that deliver unlimited agility. Although great strides have been made, quantum computing is still available to only a select few, just like today’s mainstream cloud computing technology was in the early 2000s.
2020 is expected to be a turning point for stakeholders building quantum computing solutions. According to Tractica, the quantum computing market is estimated at $116 million and is set to grow further in 2020, as quantum computing services continue to develop.
Edge computing – Another primary feature or benefit of cloud computing is its use of distributed infrastructure and how it drives accessibility to users. In industrial manufacturing, stakeholders still struggle to integrate legacy equipment with the cloud and this is where edge computing, edge hardware, and edge analytics comes into play.
Edge computing concepts and the hardware and communication protocols that enable low latencies will continue to evolve in 2020. This includes innovations in edge hardware with aesthetics, durability, and functionality at the fore front of the design process.
Although managed from the cloud, the majority of analytics and real time calculations take place on the edge, requiring powerful edge devices. Thus, vendors will be tasked with developing applicable edge computing hardware which will, in turn, enhance the adoption rate of industrial cloud services and edge computing.
Open-source serverless computing – Serverless computing is a cloud computing concept in which servers are also being run by service providers. In this computing model, the vendor allocates machine resources according to the payment request of the customer. This pay-as-you-use method makes for more efficient use of limited resources when purchasing cloud services. Serverless computing is also flexible and can be scaled up according to the increased need for computing resources.
Today, 46% of enterprises make use of serverless computing but the available serverless computing options are still proprietary in nature. This locks customers to a specific cloud vendor but the growing number of open-source options is set to change everything. 2020 is expected to be the year that leads to the maturity of open-source serverless computing options for enterprises.
The rise of industrial cloud computing – Cloud computing is still being dominated by proprietary public and private cloud services that are rolled out for commercial use. Although these computing services deliver flexibility and scalability when it comes to computing resources and data management, they do not offer dedicated services or apps that meet specific industrial requirements. This phenomenon has led to the adoption of hybrid and multi-cloud services to meet industry requirements.
The last 3 years have witnessed growth in industrial cloud computing services that provide industry-specific features for enterprises. Businesses in the financial sector and manufacturing have gained from these services and 2020 is expected to drive continuous growth. The growth in the industrial cloud arena is being driven by the open-source concept and one can expect more vendors and options in this space.
The widespread adoption of blockchain technology – Cloud computing and blockchain technology are a natural fit in different ways. First and foremost, cloud computing is a decentralized scalable method of accessing or offering computing power and blockchain technology is also decentralized and scalable if cryptocurrencies are taken into consideration. It is also worth noting that the current cybersecurity challenges currently affecting cloud computing have been a source of concern for both business entities and governmental organizations considering adopting such services. Blockchains provide an opportunity to secure transactions that occur over the cloud.
Currently, large enterprises such as Amazon, Walmart, and Facebook have already integrated the use of blockchain technology to secure and speed up their business operations. This adoption rate is also set to grow in 2020. Cloud computing vendors are expected to explore and integrate blockchain technology because of its ability to speed up transactions, ensure privacy, and grow their business.
The intelligent cloud – Artificial Intelligence offers enterprises the ability to automate processes and receive business insights that lead to profit. The coming of Industrie 4.0 and the IoT, smart edge devices, and the robots that drive these innovations have made a serious case for integrating AI in cloud computing services. This is because collecting data and ensuring interconnectivity in facilities is not the only feature of Industrie 4.0. Other features include automation, predictive analysis, and data analytics.
Thus, cloud computing solutions will rely on AI to effectively and accurately monitor, manage, and streamline business processes and repetitive tasks. AI will also be used to improve data management and accurately share cloud computing resources among applications that need them. AI is also expected to play an important role in ensuring that hybrid and multi-cloud ecosystems function optimally at all times. 2020 will witness the continued adoption of AI and interrelated concepts such as machine and deep learning to automate processes and receive greater insight into traditional enterprises.
Conclusion
A new decade is already around the corner and understanding the concepts that have the potential to change the different ways of conducting business is key to succeeding. Enterprises which intend to increase their reliance on cloud computing must analyze the roles AI, edge computing, quantum computing, and open-source models are set to play in the New Year. This knowledge will be vital in choosing the best cloud concepts that meet specific industrial requirements
