A Five Year Forecast for The Cloud

Back in July, we shared an article that discussed the second annual Future of Cloud Computing Survey.  This survey questioned industry leaders, typical users, and vendors about industry perceptions, sentiments, and trends in the field of cloud computing.  The results were interesting and great food for thought if you are curious about where cloud computing may be headed.  You can read all about the findings of this survey in our complete article here.

Today we would like to share some thoughts on the future of cloud computing from Phil Wainewright.  Mr. Wainewright has been contributing to the world of IT as a thought leader in cloud computing.  He is a blogger, analyst, and consultant and he recently discussed his ideas about where cloud computing would be in five years in a recent article on ZDNet called The Cloud in Five Years Time.

The first idea that Mr. Wainewright discusses is the cloud is “delivered on mobile and includes social.”  He goes on to explain that people have different ideas regarding how to define the cloud depending on their background: IT or Business.  People who are more technology minded most likely describe the cloud by its technical specifications while business people talk about the cloud in terms of how its speed and agility can transform business interactions. 

Another point that Mr. Wainewright makes is that many businesses will thrive because of cloud.  He explains further by stating,  “cloud, in its widest sense of being connected to a global network of on-demand resources, is transforming entire industries. Look at all forms of media and publishing, look at retailing, look at advertising and marketing, look at information technology. The businesses that are using the Web to pioneer new ways of delivering goods and services are growing fast.”

The counterpoint to this sentiment is, of course, that many businesses will falter because of cloud. As with any disruptive technology, businesses that are not equipped to adapt or simply choose not to embrace technological advancements may fall victim to their more nimble competitors.  It is unfortunate that established businesses may fail especially considering the impact this has on the market and society at large, but this type of market evolution is natural and seems unavoidable.

Mr. Wainewright also predicts that government entities will impede the progress of cloud. He supports this prediction with information regarding the European Commission’s plan for a new cloud strategy.  Apparently, policy makers would like to regulate the cloud.  Any government regulation of the cloud could get complicated if you keep in mind that large, established businesses that may feel (or actually be) threatened by the cloud could influence policy makers to create deterrents for cloud growth.  This is obviously not a foregone conclusion, but interesting to keep an eye on nonetheless.

The last idea that Mr. Wainewright discusses regarding the cloud is the use of the buzzword “cloud” itself.  As we have talked about in previous articles, many people use cloud technology and do not even realize it.  More often, people will talk about the actual product they use, such as NetSuite, Facebook, or Gmail, rather than referring to what they use as “the cloud.”  So perhaps the more cloud technology becomes firmly entrenched in our business and personal lives, the cloud itself will no longer need to be identified as such.

Do you have any predictions for the cloud you would like to share with us? Feel free to leave your ideas in a comment below!