From 2020 to 2021, the ROI for on-premises or on-prem IT infrastructures dramatically went down as businesses implemented remote work setups and powered these with cloud computing. Companies initiated the shift to remote work by adopting cloud-based tools that enabled processes and functions that used to be on premises. For example, with people working in their own homes, face-to-face conversations among coworkers became impossible, so companies utilized tools like Zoom and Google Meet to enable long-distance communication.
 
In 2022, companies will continue to use the cloud to transform regular on-prem processes into processes that can be fulfilled remotely. However, business leaders who have long known about the cloud’s capabilities and are aware of emerging cloud trends will use the cloud to power better-scaling processes and create new market segments. Let’s take a closer look at some of the more important cloud trends for this year.

Hybrid cloud will be the prevalent cloud setup

Preconfigured to be ready to use, public cloud solutions are great for delivering frequently accessed data quickly, making them perfect for customer-facing websites and apps like payment portals.
 
Private clouds, on the other hand, are configured by the companies themselves to suit their specific requirements, such as the ones they have for supporting proprietary applications. Private clouds are also best for data that must not leave the company’s purview, which is why these clouds are also often necessary for data security and regulations compliance.
 
Making public and private clouds work together used to be difficult, but as the processes for hybridization mature, hybrid setups are becoming less complex and more feasible than ever before. In fact, those who have been using the cloud for years have begun creating multi-cloud environments — environments that utilize cloud services from different providers — thanks to how hybrid cloud technologies streamline data processing and make everything easier for end users.

Serverless clouds are on the horizon

In the past, using the cloud meant having to rent servers or pay for fixed amounts of processing power or storage. This required meticulous planning, since it was easy to burn money on excess resources. Now, serverless clouds promise to liberate companies from this risk by letting them enjoy true pay-as-you-go services. No more leases or setting of fixed amounts — rather, as the resource demands of a business’s app increase or decrease, the serverless cloud’s infrastructure also scales up or down as necessary.
 
This can be a game changer for companies that are looking to grow, especially small businesses with small budgets for IT.

AI capabilities will expand, thanks to the cloud

We may not be aware of it, but much of the artificial intelligence (AI) we currently utilize, such as Google’s search engine, is powered by the cloud. That is, smart functions like predictive text utilize machine learning to discern patterns and trends from billions of search queries, which take vast amounts of processing power that only clouds can provide.
 
In 2022, the cloud will prove integral to AI’s next evolution, namely generative machine learning. So-called creative algorithms will enable AI to write blog posts for you and create visual art and music with minimal prompting from human users.

The cloud will enable new use cases — and possibly create new market segments

Processing data in the cloud frees up devices from having to do the heavy lifting themselves. This means that devices don’t have to be so sophisticated or powerful, which translates to them becoming more affordable. Cloud-powered augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) devices, for example, can be made more compact, lighter, and more affordable. Expect VR/AR gaming to come sooner rather than later, thanks to the cloud.
 
Excited about what the cloud can do? Let our IT experts at SimplyClouds show you how to leverage the cloud for your business. Leave us a message today to learn more.