PERSPECTIVES

As cloud computing evolves, so must your technology approach

As cloud computing evolves, so must your technology approach
March 21, 2018  |  BY

While springtime is mainly viewed as a time for renewal, it’s also a season for reflection. That’s because every new thing that comes into your life makes you consider what it replaced.

Don’t worry – we’re not going to be overly philosophical here. It’s just that with one-third of 2018 almost completed, I wanted to share our assessment of the shifts occurring in the world of cloud computing.

For starters, we’re still seeing a vast scarcity of skilled cloud technology professionals. The reason why it’s a “change” from 2017 is because, unfortunately, it’s only become a bigger problem in 2018. And it’s a chicken and egg issue that is affecting many organizations: Many aren’t deploying cloud solutions because they can’t find the right people to do the work.

The smart companies are those who have taken action instead of sitting on their heels. They are training current team members with the advanced cloud skills the organization needs to compete. For many, not only is this their only option, they are actually getting a better result than bringing in new employees that are cloud experts. By enhancing current employee skills, they are building deeper trust. It’s a way of saying, “We want you here for the long haul.”

On a related note, we’ve also seen a trend of companies moving from the private to the public cloud, and we think that trend will increasingly become the norm. While many organizations retain the belief that the private cloud is a byway to the public cloud, others never move away from their homegrown, on-premise solution. The truth is, the public version is outpacing the private version in terms of innovation, a reality that should compel companies to permanently switch to the public cloud.

Speaking of switches, all sign indicate that Containers will become common with Kubernetes. Many in the industry know that Containers has greatly increased in popularity in recent years, but companies haven’t given the technology more than a major test drive. Now that’s changing, with Kubernetes taking charge of the container management space.

Just as Kubernetes had to hurdle over the hype to be taken seriously, so does multi-cloud. Fortunately, that time has come, with companies across many industries using cloud services from multiple providers. At the same time, we’re seeing less and less organizations using the same services from different clouds. The reason? It’s just too complex to effectively manage multiple cloud solutions.

Before we go, we can’t forget to mention developments within the SaaS arena. Customers and partners often ask us what is the main SaaS purchasing criteria these days. From our vantage point, companies are buying SaaS more due to their ecosystems than the functionality they will gain. For years, CTOs chose SaaS primarily for functionality, but changes in the technological and business landscape have made the ecosystem the key aspect of the buying decision. 

Whatever cloud strategy your organization deploys, it’s important to stay aware of technological changes. Remain open-minded, and assess the possibilities before dismissing them. If not, that cloud might get blown away.

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