2018 Forecast: Increased Chance of Cloud

IT and audiovisual technologies are getting “cloudier” each year, and 2018 is no exception. The cloud services outlook is sunny and bright for companies that want to save and simplify with cloud services.

As the cloud trend grows, a fifth (21 percent) of IT’s 2018 budget will be dedicated to hosted and cloud-based services, according to Spicework’s recent State of IT report.

Ninety-five percent of companies are using the cloud, but the ways they use it is evolving. And though hardware still takes the biggest chunk of the IT budget, the cloud is playing a greater role in numerous areas, including data backup, email, web hosting, and apps and other workable solutions.

What’s in the Cloud

Presently, companies are using the cloud for a lot of needs like storage, backup and recovery, and applications like video conferencing. It’s also used for tracking and analyzing data, but there is a lot more potential in these areas. As the amount of digital data grows exponentially, so too will cloud storage and analysis needs.

With the growth of video conferencing and video in general, the cloud makes communication and storage easy. Managed services for IT and audiovisual technologies are also expanding, as they are a flexible way for companies to get the right level of management and maintenance for their organizations.

Why the Cloud Makes Sense

It’s easy to see why the cloud will be a continuing trend. Some of the many benefits include:

• Cost. From lower costs to predictable monthly pricing, organizations are saving on everything from hardware to energy to salaries.
• Simplicity. Managed service offerings are scalable and customizable, making managed services a simpler way to manage and maintain technologies.
• Efficiency. Organizations are able to limit hardware upgrades and minimize downtime and interruptions caused by equipment or service failure.
• Security. Cloud services are more secure than widely thought of, according to Gartner. The cloud provides peace of mind in other ways too, particularly when used for data backup and disaster recovery.

What the Future of the Cloud Looks Like

The future of the cloud is more ... cloud. And that brings with it more challenges that organizations will have to face this year and going forward.

Despite the relative security of the cloud, security will always be a concern. The sheer amount of data your organization is likely to have is reason enough for vigilance in cloud management best practices.

And, as more aspects of business move to the cloud, one of the biggest challenges is that there is more to integrate. An increased demand for IoT and more complex apps and data create this ongoing integration challenge.

What’s Trending

This is set to be a year of change and innovation, and much of the associated technologies will live in the cloud. Check out more of 2018’s technology trends here.