3 Cloud Computing Trends for 2022

Cloud computing has been an important part of the IT industry for several years now. Furthermore, its popularity skyrocketed due to the current pandemic, as companies had to adapt to a massive increase in the number of remote workers and several other challenges. As a result, the cloud has become a vital technology in today’s business world, and, at the end of 2021, 67% of all enterprise infrastructure was cloud-based.

In 2022, even more companies are expected to adopt a cloud-first strategy, and we will see several cloud trends shaping the way in which companies function. Let’s take a look at some of the most important ones:

1. Artificial Intelligence

What happens when you combine cloud computing and artificial intelligence? You get an intelligent cloud.

During the past few years, artificial intelligence and cloud computing have become two interdependent technologies. While the cloud offers a flexible, reliable, and cost-effective solution for people and organizations to store their data, AI takes things to the next level by helping users analyze that data. With the help of AI, organizations can get valuable data insights, optimize workflows and offer a better customer experience.

Furthermore, AI is now available to a larger audience thanks to cloud technology. Typically, AI solutions require huge computing power, and not all organizations are willing to invest large amounts of money to make that possible. That’s where the cloud comes into play—cloud datacenters make AI available to anyone without requiring a huge investment.

When organizations combine cloud computing and AI, they get the most out of both technologies. As more and more companies have started to understand the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of this solution, we will most likely see these two interwoven technologies further develop in 2022.

2. Hybrid Cloud

A hybrid cloud is a cloud-based solution that integrates and allows private cloud-based systems to work along with public cloud-based systems. The hybrid cloud has become more than a buzzword during the past few years, and the solution is very popular nowadays.

Why are so many companies adopting this solution? Let’s explore some of its main benefits:

• Flexibility: Companies can easily move data between the private and public cloud. They can allocate resources to any of the two environments, depending on their needs. 
• Cost-effectiveness: Statistics show that cost-effectiveness is the biggest driver of the hybrid cloud adoption rate. The cost of storing all the data on the private cloud can be quite high. That’s why many organizations opt for storing some of their data on the public cloud, which is a cheaper alternative. 
• Security: The hybrid cloud offers a safer alternative for storing data. Typically, companies store their sensitive data on the private cloud, where it’s more difficult for hackers to attack, while the other data goes on the public cloud.

Like all technology, there are also disadvantages to using the hybrid cloud. Check out this article to learn more about the cons of this solution.

However, with a well-integrated strategy, companies can get the best of both worlds by using the hybrid cloud. As the capabilities of the public clouds are also expanding, more business leaders will adopt this model in 2022.

3. Sustainability

The climate change crisis is one of the major problems of today’s world. As more tech leaders realize that everyone plays a role in overcoming this challenge, they also begin to understand the need for sustainability practices. 

As a result, cloud providers are working towards increasing their sustainability efforts and offering more transparency regarding their environmental impact. In fact, several European cloud providers pledge to go climate neutral by 2030. AWS and Google are two of the major providers that agreed to this pact.

The fact that sustainability has become a top trend is extremely important, as the change towards climate-friendly strategies can significantly impact how the world is handling the climate crisis. Hopefully, this trend will continue in 2022 and beyond, and the number of data centers that adopt this type of initiative will continue to increase. 

Final Thoughts

Cloud adoption will continue to transform the business landscape in 2022, helping companies address some of their most pressing issues. We are witnessing an accelerated digital transformation, and it is interesting to see how technology evolves, and new trends emerge.

What other cloud computing trends do you think will have a notable impact in 2022? Let me know in the comments below!