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Cloud computing is a mature technology; it’s developed to the point where it’s powerful, reliable, and backed up by enterprise cloud services professionals with a deep understanding of the technology.
But in another sense, cloud computing still has a lot of growing to do. As workloads expand and competition heats up, businesses are facing a deluge of highly specialized cloud services and configurations.
The task of the next-generation cloud is to provide the benefits of multiple cloud hosting environments, with the simplicity and efficiency of single-partner provisioning. Here are three ERP problems that will be solved by the next cloud generation:
1. The next generation cloud will end fragmentation. We’re big fans of hybrid cloud adoption and understand the need to use different cloud and on-premise solutions for different workloads. However, when organizations are forced to use multiple vendors it can lead to fragmentation. Each cloud has its standards and protocols, which means tenants need to configure their IT to those standards.
Organizations become locked into vendors, with no way to switch that isn’t complex, costly, and disruptive. Stability and security can suffer along with flexibility, as organizations are vulnerable to disruptions in any one of their cloud providers.
Next-generation cloud computing will allow companies to enjoy the benefits of multiple, specialized clouds without the risks and costs. A single vendor will be able to support high-throughput hardware-dependent workloads like SAP® hosting, low-cost and rapid provisioning in big data, development, and testing environments, and complete integration with onsite IT.
2. In the next-generation cloud, you won’t waste internal IT talent putting out fires. In a fragmented hybrid cloud, your internal team has to handle cloud integration, and load balancing, along with other configuration, patching, administration, and security duties. It can be difficult for organizations to predict in advance how much additional work they’re creating as they change providers, and upgrade or reconfigure cloud and IT infrastructure. This can stress the internal team, and lead to delays in strategic projects.
In the next-generation cloud, internal IT won’t have to act as the bridge between multiple workloads. Instead, your company will have a single cloud solution operated by a single provider and backed by comprehensive IT-managed services. That means you can stay on the cutting edge without pushing your team over the edge.
3. With the next-generation cloud, you can optimize your technology strategy. The current state of cloud computing makes tactics easy and strategy hard. How do you minimize disruption over a multi-stage upgrade when each of your providers has its own planned update and outage schedule? How do you design a flexible system for rapid scaling when you have six highly specialized clouds? How do you minimize risk or support compliance when your providers each have different controls and levels of visibility?
In a next-generation cloud solution, you’d be free to consider your options and make your move. You’ll know the benefits and costs of each configuration, and have a high-touch managed IT services staff to guide you through the process. You don’t have to worry about multiple outage schedules during upgrades, or emerging compatibility issues as your providers upgrade and reconfigure their offerings. With better visibility and lower risk, you’ll be able to make the right decision, every time.
The next generation cloud is here! ERP workloads are inherently complex — that’s not going to change. But in the next-generation cloud, dealing with that complexity becomes the provider’s responsibility, not the customer’s. Symmetry moves you beyond the difficulty and unpredictability of dealing with multiple vendors, providing a complete solution, perfectly configured to your IT, budgetary and strategic needs.
The Shape of Cloud in 2024: Multi-Cloud, Specialization, and Smart Management
Cloud computing has permanently transformed technology architectures and business operations. As we enter the middle of this decade, the cloud arena continues rapidly innovating to empower organizational agility, global scale, and enhanced services. Examining current trajectories offers valuable insight into what awaits in 2024’s cloud landscape. From increased multi-cloud adoption to further specialization amongst providers and smarter tools for simplified management, clouds are condensing future shocks into present promise.
The Multi-Cloud Imperative
Rather than fiercely competing, major players like AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud have tacitly partitioned strengths in their cloud offerings, with AWS dominating in containers and serverless computing, Azure leading machine learning capabilities, and Google outpacing on data analytics and open-source options. This divergence invites enterprises to leverage different vendors for specific workload needs as their optimal innovation strategy.
Expect considerably more companies to realize relying on any single cloud provider severely limits their agility. Instead, crafting specialized infrastructure distributed across cloud “best-in-class” tools based on use case prevents vendor lock-in dangers and allows assembling bespoke technology mosaics. Think of multi-cloud architecture as the enterprise embodiment of the phrase “never put all your eggs in one basket.”
The benefits of avoiding overdependence on a sole provider rapidly outweigh the added complexity of integrating multiple cloud environments, especially as orchestration tools improve. With more clouds available offering elite services in API management, IoT connectivity, AI-ops, and other key areas, CTOs now have an abundance of superior ingredients for culinary success.
Edge Computing and Distributed Infrastructure
Of course, bandwidth costs and latency limitations still mandate smart infrastructure planning even across federated clouds. Sprawling globally dispersed teams, massive data generation from mobility and sensors, and customer experience sensitivity all make edge computing essential. This is computing performed at the boundary before data hits centralized servers, like localized processing power inside smartphones or oil rigs.
As 5G networks and smart cityscapes expand, insatiable edge needs intensify. The world requires access to immediate insights, decisions, and streaming immersion unimpeded by communication lags. Whether providing drivers with real-time route adjustments, enabling factory floor automation without delays, or supporting VR collaboration spaces, shattering latency chains unlocks innovation possibilities. Cloud providers recognize this demand spike, integrating edge-optimized tools for distributed systems acknowledging that geography still impacts performance.
The edge also presents security advantages; localized data processing prevents transport risks inherent in central repositories. For use cases involving private information or intellectual property, containing sensitive assets regionally makes the breach impact more containable. However, edge ecosystems require rigorous access control and encryption safeguards still, representing the next frontier of cloud protection.
AI and ML Integration to Enhance Personalization
Cloud companies heavily invest in advanced AI research for integrating tailored machine learning capabilities across their product stacks. Beyond fundamentally enhancing provisioned services, ML tools allow custom recommendations addressing individual company pain points and automation needs. Migrating services, optimizing infrastructures, ensuring compliance, pinpointing security events – previously manual IT burdens now fall to algorithms.
IT teams shrink from managing cloud complexities directly, focusing strategy and interfacing between lines of business and technology operators instead. Meanwhile, enterprises reimagining themselves as software companies no longer tolerate dated architectures chained to servers and stale code. The seamless autonomy promised by AI-guided cloud management liberates developers and architects. As customize-as-needed ML services permeate clouds, successfully surfing turbulent markets relies on riding algorithms programmed by providers daily to study market currents.
The Coming Storms: Security and Sustainability
Despite blue skies ahead overall, treacherous elements are amassing on the horizon. Expanding distributed networks with heterogeneous architectures engender spiraling vulnerability risks unless properly secured, calling for integrated protocols rather than fractured patching. Holistic data security requires intensified zero-trust models and robust access governance to maintain, particularly for personnel transitions. Insider threats pose the most common yet most overlooked cloud hazard.
Swelling data gravity also elicits environmental sustainability concerns around energy-intensive server farms and cooling needs. While presently accounting for a small fraction of global emissions, unchecked expansion gravely compounds climate costs. Thankfully an industry push towards renewable resourcing, optimized usage metering, carbon calculators, and transparent reporting is gaining momentum. Concurrent bottom-line benefits arise from efficiency gains in shared infrastructure. Still, all cloud architects must prioritize environmental impact in planning.
The Forecast Calls for Innovation
At the convergence of hybrid systems, hyper-distributed infrastructure, specialized providers, and integrated AI management, clouds continue reshaping the technology landscape for businesses well into 2024. Multi-cloud architectures governed through machine learning offer enterprises heightened agility and scale. As edge needs intensify for spreading global organizations and data security threats crescendo, the next horizon requires infrastructure and protocols securing distributed operations. While challenges persist around risk prevention and sustainable expansion, the cloud spearheads flexible delivery of transformative services enabling organizations to concentrate innovation. With proper forecasting and proactive adoption of the latest advantageous offerings within regulatory guardrails, companies can precipitate future opportunities faster by leveraging diversified clouds architected for their needs today. Fair winds and following seas await technologists sailing skilfully across changing skies.
