In a world driven by data, more companies than ever before are relying on the cloud to support their digital transformation strategy. According to one report from Gartner, the cloud market will reach a value of $206 billion in 2019 – a considerable increase from $175 billion this year.
As the business world grows more competitive, the cloud provides companies with a way to stay agile in an ever-changing market.
Let’s take a look at some of the most significant changes to happen in the cloud for 2018, and some of the most significant trends we can expect to see in 2019.
2018: The Year of Cloud Consolidation
As the fourth industrial revolution began to take place this year, we saw many changes in the cloud landscape, including the rise of hybrid computing, the introduction of AI and IoT, and more.
One of the biggest trends of 2018 was consolidation. Many tech companies began to merge this year to improve their chances of serving customers with a broader selection of products and services. Some major acquisitions include:
- IBM and Red Hat: Computing company IBM bought Red Hat for $34 billion in the third-largest tech merger in the US, and IBM’s largest ever acquisition.
- Adobe and Marketo: Adobe purchased marketing software business Marketo for $4.75 billion in September of 2018. Adobe plans on using Marketo’s cloud platform for consumer marketing.
- Cisco and Duo Security: Telecommunications company Cisco purchased cybersecurity company Duo in a deal for $2.35 billion. This was Cisco’s second-largest security-based purchase.
- Broadcom and CA Technologies: Broadcom purchased CA Technologies for $18.9 billion in July. The move came after Broadcom’s bid to acquire Qualcomm for $117 billion was blocked.
- Microsoft and Github: Microsoft purchased software development platform Github for $7.5 billion in stock.
- Salesforce and Mulesoft: Salesforce bought software company Mulesoft for $6.5 billion in Summer this year, to help consumers sync data across apps in different cloud-based locations.
Cloud Computing Trends for 2019
With so much collaboration in 2018, it’s safe to say that we’re going to see some exciting new products and developments in the cloud market in 2019. Already, industry experts have begun to speculate on the elements that will drive the sector forward next year. Some of the most significant trends we expect to see include:
1. The Rise of Quantum Computing
New career opportunities are constantly emerging in the tech sector. Recently, we’ve seen a rise in demand for big data specialists, IoT employees, and salesforce managers. In the years ahead, roles in Quantum Computing may be on the cards too.
Many of the biggest cloud service providers like Microsoft, AWS, IBM, and Google are experimenting with the possibilities of Quantum computing, a way to transform mathematical science, material science and computer science theories into everyday opportunities. Quantum computing may deliver breakthroughs in spaces all the way from artificial intelligence, to healthcare development and more.
In 2017, IBM hit a landmark in Quantum computing when it began to offer quantum computing as a cloud service.
2. New Cloud Services and Hybrid Cloud
As more companies turn to the cloud to power their technology stack, cloud vendors are searching for new ways to offer their services. According to Bain & Company, subscription-based software as a service solutions will grow at a rate of 18% up to 2020. Additionally, Gartner believes that “Infrastructure as a service” or IaaS will reach a value of $72.4 billion by 2020.
Judging by current cloud computing trends, the number of private and public cloud solutions will continue to expand in the year ahead, and we’re sure to see more organisations taking advantage of the versatility the cloud offers. One particularly popular option is the hybrid model – a solution that blends on-premise technology with the cloud for companies who aren’t prepared to move to a fully digital workflow yet. Candidates with a strong knowledge of hybrid and as-a-service computing will be in high demand for 2019.
3. Security Gets an Upgrade
Finally, with GDPR introduced in 2018, it’s safe to say that cloud security will continue to be a major issue in the year ahead. Gartner states that throughout 2020, around 99% of the vulnerabilities exploited in the digital world will be the ones IT experts already know about. In 2019, businesses will need to think carefully about how they can secure their network and comply with the requirements of GDPR.
As well as primary security concerns, companies moving into the cloud will also need to think about disaster recovery and backup. A study conducted by Spiceworks found that Disaster Recovery solutions usually make up about 15% of the cloud budget. In 2019, we may see more people searching for backup and disaster prevention specialists to add to their team.
While plenty of things are set to change in the cloud sector for 2019, one thing remains the same, a great specialist technology recruitment company will ensure you have the talent you need to take advantage of the latest trends. Contact ROD to fill the gaps in your technology team in time for the new year.
About Resource On Demand
Resource On Demand is Europe’s first specialist Salesforce Recruitment Company, now also focusing on growth Cloud markets.
We assist innovative and disruptive organisations to grow their technology teams. Supporting companies to fill Cloud roles that span across Digital Marketing, Marketing Automation, Human Capital Management and the growing Salesforce.com suite of skills.
The team at Resource On Demand have access to an extensive database of key talent, registering over 8000 Cloud professionals each year.
To find out how we can support you call us on 01322 272 532