Cloud storage has really come into its own in the last few decades. Although this technology has been around since the late 1990s, it has only recently been adopted by the masses. Today 94% of companies use cloud technology and around 50% of all corporate data is stored on the cloud.
It’s easy to see why businesses favor cloud storage. The cloud is much cheaper than maintaining on-site storage. With flexible payment models, endless scalability and built-in security, cloud storage is a win-win.
Another great quality of cloud storage is that it’s a fast-moving, evolving space. Like all things tech, innovation is front of mind for cloud service providers. They’re constantly fine-tuning and reimagining their offerings to customers. This is vital to maintaining market share.
What are the prominent trends that we will see in the cloud storage space over the coming months? Let’s take a look.
The Cloud Goes Sustainable
Sustainability has been an industry buzzword for a long time (especially in the retail space). Now, green tech is becoming more common too. In line with this, cloud service providers are under increased pressure to reduce their carbon footprints and look after the environment.
Technology can sometimes feel at odds with sustainability but it looks like things are going to change. Amazon, Microsoft and Google have all recently made pledges to become carbon neutral or carbon negative in the coming years. This is good news for businesses that use their services. They can feel confident that they are becoming greener.
Artificial Intelligence Supercharges Cloud Services
Artificial intelligence is used by companies large and small to automate processes and generate data insights. AI is inherently complex and takes technical skills to roll out and use. As a result, AI has often been cordoned off to larger organizations that have the in-house skills and budgets to innovate and experiment with it.
Now, small and medium-sized businesses can access AI via their cloud service providers. We are seeing more cloud providers release AI-enhanced tools that help SMBs with capacity planning, budget tracking and data management.
While AI powers these tools, their interfaces are intuitive and straightforward to use. However, you will need some tech experience to harness them to their full potential. We highly recommend using these tools (especially if you struggle with cloud budget management).
If you would like assistance with setting up and managing AI in your cloud, let us know. We can help!
Ransomware Protection Becomes Automatic
One-third of companies across the globe were impacted by a ransomware attack in 2021 according to IDC. This number is expected to increase in 2022. Ransomware is a huge threat to companies. It has an immediate, disruptive impact by taking services offline and halting business.
As ransomware becomes more prevalent, cloud providers have seemingly realized that they need to offer more protection for their clients. As a result, they are offering ransomware scanning to their clients at no extra fee.
Scanning means that all files that are uploaded and downloaded to and from the cloud will be checked for malware and quarantined if necessary. This added protection should stop a myriad of cloud security threats for businesses.
Cloud Prices Stay Steady
There is no such thing as a monopoly in the cloud market. It seems like every day new providers are popping up and offering cloud storage at low prices that are attractive to businesses. Since the space is so competitive, prices will stay consistent and low this year.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t shop around there! We advise regularly checking the market to see if you could get a better deal. If you work with an IT service provider like us, we will keep our finger on the pulse to make sure you’re always getting the best value for money.
Multi-Cloud Becomes the Norm
Multi-cloud refers to the use of multiple cloud providers by one business. Multi-cloud is becoming more common for a number of reasons. This kind of strategy allows companies to cherry-pick cloud services from different providers. This is important as some providers are better at specific tasks than others.
Secondly, a multi-cloud strategy reduces the risk of 100% downtime. If an incident impacts one provider, the business will still remain online as its infrastructure is spread across different clouds.
Lastly, multi-cloud can be cost-effective. By diversifying your cloud portfolio, you reduce the risks associated with vendor lock-in.
Are You Getting the Most Out of Your Cloud Strategy?
Sound Computers can help your Connecticut business implement innovative cloud solutions that help to reduce costs, improve security and boost employee productivity.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. Call 860-577-8060 or reach us online.