The Bright Future of Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is widely regarded as the fourth industrial revolution in information technology. There is no doubt that in the next decade, computing infrastructures will be largely cloud-based, triggering big changes in this young industry. Just as computer scientists in the 1960′s regarded something like iPad as mere science fiction, engineers of today have great trouble speculating on the future of cloud.
Huge growth of some kind is projected in the next decade. Analysts at Forrester, for example, have predicted that cloud computing will grow into a $150 billion dollar industry in the next eight years. Although there are barriers to overcome, widespread use of cloud computing technology in most companies’ IT infrastructures will lead to a generalized change in all computing-related fields. Discussing the possible impacts of these changes is a great way to make sure your company is well-prepared.
The Total Separation of Hardware and Software
The most important change will probably be SaaS becoming the norm, rather than an exception. Software will no longer be tied to hardware, leading to a radically different way of conceiving IT infrastructure. In fact, most companies will be unable to tie down their IT infrastructure, pointing instead to their cloud computing service providers. Infrastructure will, essentially, become invisible. Front-end applications built on platforms that are essentially a service will demolish user-end hardware restrictions entirely.
Increased cloud processing power will highlight the real clout of HaaS, with powerful modular software that can take advantage of the flexibility and intricacy afforded by the cloud. This will mean a radical change in software development, placing a large emphasis on the development of very large applications with multiple components that can be modified independently. And all this without having to shut down the program – modular software. This will require a sizable shift in programming mindsets and IT management. A likely model for future software interactions can be found in current social media networks. Software will have to become social, interacting with different hardware and applications constantly, much like Facebook users “like” different videos, posts, or pictures.
Lower Processing and Implementation Costs
For businesses, this means lower hardware costs and cheaper access to cloud technology. Thanks to current cloud projects, such as the Open Compute Project, businesses will have access to powerful infrastructure that can be maintained quickly and easily while being invisible to the end user. Prices will also be driven down with the coming of low-power ARM 64-bit capable chips, which will soon be launched. These processors will cut down on energy bills, leading to dramatically lower data center prices. It will not only be ARM; competitors are working hard to bring their chips to the same power usage standards, easily setting a trend for future data center processing.
Preparing for the Fourth Industrial IT Revolution
The greatest barrier to the future of cloud computing is actually erected by the industry and its vendors. The technology is there; the main problem will be developing the necessary openness and interaction to implement upcoming breakthroughs. Two things will be needed: full technical disclosure, and clear industry standards. The future of cloud computing has been predicated on breaking down computing to its individual parts and having them interact freely. However, it will also be necessary for everyone in the industry to interact in the same way. Of course, this will definitely be an uphill battle. Vendors that can charge for proprietary technology will oppose introductions of standards while full technical disclosure facilitates the entry of market newcomers. However, the outlook is quite promising, with companies such as Huawei and HP joining the Open Compute Project, as well as open source and hardware projects. If anything, the real debate in the future will be finding out where to draw the line on exactly how open vendors and businesses will need to be.
As an industry leader and trusted brand in a country where technology is highly regarded, GMO Cloud is at the forefront of this IT Revolution and hopes to help the public by continually innovating on products and services that will ease the way to a technologically-oriented society. Visit GMO Cloud’s main page and read more about cloud hosting and its benefits.
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About the Guest Author:
Nida Rasheed is a freelance writer and owner of an outsourcing company, Nida often finds herself wanting to write about the subjects that are closest to her heart. She lives in Islamabad, Pakistan and can be found on Twitter @nidarasheed.
