Cloud Provider Evaluation

3/5/22, 12:28 PM Trends in Cloud Computing

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Learning Topic

Trends in Cloud Computing Although the cloud computing enabling technologies – ubiquitous networking and

virtualization – originated in the 1960s, the actual cloud revolution started in the late

2000s, and its origins are attributed to Amazon, which was looking for ways to use its

huge hardware resources beyond the Christmas shopping season.

Since that time, the cloud computing industry has been expanding rapidly, with

organizations of all sizes and types shifting workloads to the cloud.

One of the fundamental enabling technologies of cloud computing – virtualization – is

evolving to encompass more elements of IT systems, leading to defining these elements

by means of software components. This leads to the introduction of more and more

"software-defined" areas, from software-defined networking (SDN) and software-defined

storage (SDS), to virtualizing all aspects of cloud data centers (software-defined data

center – SDDC).

Another area of developing trends is an expansion of "as a service" delivery domains. In

addition to basic infrastructure (IaaS), platform (PaaS), and software (SaaS) service delivery

models, other areas are being delivered "as a service," meaning that users interact with the

service as if the service were installed on their local machines, taking advantage of cloud

deployment and usage models. Storage, database, information, business process,

application integration, security, and software testing can be delivered "as a service" in the

cloud, and this list will grow. It has led to the acronym "XaaS" – "everything as a service" –

which is an ultimate cloud service delivery model.

Look for other trends, such as:

Expansion of hybrid cloud delivery models, allowing businesses to run sensitive

applications locally, and other IT systems in public or dedicated clouds. New cloud

management and connectivity solutions will be developed to support hybrid cloud

computing.

Introduction of lightweight virtualization solutions such as containers.

3/5/22, 12:28 PM Trends in Cloud Computing

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New "software-defined" services will lead to emergence of new application

programming interfaces" (API) libraries, shifting the IT industry towards the "API

economy" in which software systems talk to each other more than to humans.

Further expansion of platform as a service offering to deliver "DevOps as a service"

– complete software analysis, design, implementation, testing, deployment, and

operations cycle available as a cloud toolset.

Addition of cognitive tools to deliver artificial intelligence capabilities in the cloud.

Expansion of interconnected device networks to deliver Internet of things solutions.

Blockchain cloud solutions, allowing entities to maintain shared distributed

databases ("ledgers") with no central point of control.

The field of cloud providers will mature, shaking up less successful providers and

establishing leaders in various service and delivery models.

References

Rossi, B. (2016, December 20). 10 trends that will influence cloud computing in 2017.

Retrieved from http://www.information-age.com/10-trends-that-will-influence-

cloud-computing-in-2017-123463713/

Weins, K. (2017, February 17). Cloud computing trends: 2017 state of the cloud survey

[Blog post]. Retrieved from http://www.rightscale.com/blog/cloud-industry-

insights/cloud-computing-trends-2017-state-cloud-survey

Contemporary Trends in the Information Technology (IT) World and

Its Transformational Effect on Chief Information Officer (CIO)

Roles: Analytical Study

(https://leocontent.umgc.edu/content/scor/uncurated/cca/2218-

cca610/learning-resource-list/contemporary-trends-in-the-

information-technology--it--world-and.html?ou=622270)

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