What you must know about cloud computing trends in 2024.

Businesses around the globe are projected to hit a major milestone in 2024, as spending on cloud computing infrastructure is expected to exceed $1 trillion for the first time. This ascent can be attributed to the increasing adoption of new subscriptions and platforms, most notably artificial intelligence-based services.

In the year 2024, cloud migration proves crucial for businesses not just for saving time and money, but to unlock innovation, agility, and ultimate success. This trend applies to various industries, where agility and innovation stand important for organisations to remain ahead of the competition.

For many businesses, there will still be significant challenges in terms of safeguarding data and security. However, innovative alternatives such as hybrid cloud and federated cloud systems, will continue to break down barriers.

Get ready to embrace the sweeping changes brewing on the horizon as I list down the big movements that'll take this industry by storm:

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) as-a-service:

Cloud-based infrastructure will aid in making AI accessible to a wider public, fostering the potential social and economic advantages thought to come from its widespread use. Training intricate models of AI, such as the large language model (LLM) utilised by ChatGPT, demands a formidable amount of data and computing power beyond most organisation's capability. Fortunately, integrating AI through professional cloud resources is a valuable and effective option for high-tech enhancements across various business methodologies.

2. Hybrid and multi-cloud:

By 2024, experts predict that the percentage of substantial corporations opting for a multi-cloud strategy will increase from 76% to 85%. While buying cloud services from multiple vendors is advantageous in terms of cost and flexibility, navigating data governance and integrating with legacy systems add a layer of complexity. In search of a security-fueled balance alongside the desired flexibility, progressive organisations will continue favoring hybrid cloud, finding variations with on-premises infrastructure ideal scenarios. It sets the course for an apparent leaning towards the prolific pick-and-choose feature, where organisations have the power to select requisite services based on priority.

3. Real-time cloud infrastructure:

In 2024, there is going to be a rise in the utilisation of current data to acquire immediate insights by companies. This signifies a shift in focus from outdated, stagnant information. Additionally, most of our data consumption will be in a streaming format from platforms like Netflix, Spotify, Zoom, or cloud gaming. To accommodate the need for speedy accessibility and response time, there will be a growing demand for data storage options that emphasise instant access such as solid-state storage devices and Flash.

4. Cloud-driven innovation and transformation:

In addition to AI, leveraging cloud computing can also provide access to a multitude of innovative technologies such as blockchain, quantum computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT). By avoiding the financial burden of constructing architecture and infrastructure, businesses can experiment with assessing potential benefits through quick-win (or fail-fast) projects with greater ease in 2024, due to cloud computing.

5. Cloud security and resilience:

To confront the ever-changing threat environment of 2024, cloud computing services will see a growing demand for their encryption, authentication, and disaster recovery capabilities. As data breaches become more common and sophisticated due to advancements in AI-powered hacking, any system that requires interaction with humans is vulnerable to social engineering attacks. This is why cloud providers and their clients prioritise security and resilience through measures like encryption and ensuring authentication protocols are strong.

6. Sustainable cloud computing:

The world's leading cloud service providers are committed to achieving net-zero emissions not only in their operations but also to supporting their customers in reducing their carbon footprints. Amazon has set the target of achieving zero emissions by the year 2040, and Microsoft hopes to achieve this sooner by ten years. In line with Google, all providers have expressed their aspiration to derive all the energy consumed in their operations from environmentally clean sources, but realising that goal remains undetermined. In the years to come, the movement towards environmentally correct cloud computing will be evident.

7. Simplified cloud computing:

Nowadays, individuals without technical backgrounds can develop applications that used to require professional engineers thanks to the emergence of low-code and no-code tools. Furthermore, cloud providers are facilitating the storage and control of cloud services and infrastructure by applying drag-and-drop interfaces and language that is intuitive, ultimately "democratising" the technical skill requirement.

8. Privacy in the cloud:

The issue of cloud privacy involves the creation of new methods on the technological, regulatory, and legislative front to enable businesses to use cloud technology efficiently, without having to compromise the security of their customers' information. Since sending data through a cloud service automatically involves a third-party service, or cloud provider, overcoming the concept of privacy will remain important as we go forward in cloud computing in 2024.

9. Serverless and pay-as-you-go cloud:

The cloud computing service model of serverless eradicates the requirement of enterprises to oversee their servers. Normally, a cloud service would bill an enterprise for the servers needed to lodge its infrastructure, but in the case of serverless architecture, the enterprise only needs to pay for the utilised resources. No longer is it necessary to waste resources paying for idle servers, freeing up time for businesses to focus on their main objectives, driving efficiency.

10. Edge computing everywhere:

Edge computing is a cloud computing model that prioritises processing data as close to the source as possible. Imagine a wearable device ensuring tracking of a user's heart in real-time. The device gathers bundles of safe data about normal heart rhythms that using the cloud to analyse and dispatch to the user would be fruitless. Through its in-device processing, there are no data transmission costs, and the user will also be warned of any life-threatening issues within milliseconds of detection. Edge could expand and apply to several applications by 2024 because of efficient devices, memory-saving algorithms, and highly advanced 5G networking.

Technology is an ever-changing landscape — especially when it comes to digital cloud infrastructure. Take advantage of every new development, while simultaneously maximising your data, with Logixal’s cloud services.

Let us be your guide in customising a strategy that propels your organization toward success.

Stay connected with Logixal at – info@logixal.co.uk