Top 12 Cloud Computing Trends [2024]

Global business spending on cloud computing infrastructure will surpass a trillion dollars by 2028. This surge is fueled by many factors, notably the increasing demand for adopting new platforms and as-a-service offerings, including artificial intelligence (AI) services. Cloud computing remains a dynamic and promising catalyst for innovation and growth in 2024. In this article, I’ll explore the top cloud computing trends in 2024.

#What is cloud computing?

Cloud computing is on-demand access to configurable IT resources—networks, servers, storage, applications, and services—available over the internet and rapidly provisioned with minimal management effort or service provider interaction. It offers flexibility and the ability to scale up and down quickly.

Let's take physical data centers as an example. Instead of buying, owning, and maintaining physical servers, you can access these services, such as computing power, storage, and databases, on a pay-as-you-go basis from a cloud service provider.

#Top 12 Cloud computing trends in 2024

This year marks a shift where businesses are expanding their focus beyond the traditional benefits of saving costs and time associated with moving to the cloud. Instead, they recognize its potential to drive innovation, agility, and success across many industries.

However, despite the clear advantages, many businesses still need help—particularly around security and data protection. New Cloud computing trends, models like hybrid and federated cloud systems, aim to provide comprehensive solutions, combining the best parts of different approaches and reducing barriers.

Without further ado, let's explore the most notable cloud computing trends in 2024.

#1. Hybrid cloud

More and more companies are using a multi-cloud approach, which works with several cloud providers instead of just one. Around 76% of big companies already do this, and they expect that number to go up to approximately 85% next year.

There are many benefits to going multi-cloud. For one, it allows companies to shop for whoever has the best deal, possibly saving costs. Having options from different providers must make things more flexible, too.

At the same time, managing data and integrating everything with your existing systems can't be easy when your IT matters are all over the place.

That's why solutions that combine cloud and on-site infrastructure, like hybrid cloud, are taking off. They let companies balance security with flexibility by keeping some things on-site but using cloud services when it makes sense.

Companies can pick the best for their needs, so the hybrid approach seems wise. It'll be interesting to see how these trends play out over the next few years.

Also read: Benefits of private cloud to understand what would best suit you.

#2. Artificial intelligence as a service (AIaaS)

AI-as-a-service is shaking things up by putting artificial intelligence in everyone's hands. Services like ChatGPT and other ChatGPT alternatives offer these incredibly smart chatbots that have learned from massive data sets using enormous computing power.

You no longer need your supercomputers; you can just sign up for an AI service and get started. It's making AI accessible for any business, from solo entrepreneurs to big corporations. Soon, we'll live in a world surrounded by artificial intelligence, and services will ensure everyone can benefit from these powerful technologies.

You get access to powerful, cutting-edge tech without needing your own massive servers and research teams. AIaaS is helping to spread AI to more places, unlocking its potential for economic and social good.

It's removing one of the most significant barriers to keeping AI out of many organizations. Now, anyone can harness the transformative capabilities of AI to solve problems and drive innovation.

#3. Real-time cloud infrastructure

Organizations will start to value using real-time data to get a live view of what's going on rather than relying on old information that could be more useful. At the same time, the market will see streaming take off even more—things like movies, music, video calls, corporate training videos and cloud gaming. This means companies must focus on storage solutions that let you instantly access data, like flash memory or solid-state drives.

Those options will be in higher demand from customers using cloud services since speed will be necessary. This technology will be quite helpful in the finance and lending industries. For example, real-time data about people's financial situations allows lenders to quickly customize refinancing options for borrowers. As streaming becomes more common, there's a bigger demand for instant access to data.

Cloud computing and flash memory are essential for processing loan applications quickly and making the process smooth for customers. People can now access tools to compute their taxes, calculate interest on student loan refinance payments, and suggest ways to protect their savings.

#4. Cloud-driven innovation and transformation

On top of AI, it gives access to other cool tech like IoT, blockchain, and even quantum computing software. By using the cloud, companies don't have to spend so much time and money building their servers and networks. They can start testing out new ideas quickly without a lot of risk.

In 2024, businesses will have an even easier time checking out what emerging technology can do for them, thanks to all the flexibility cloud computing provides. It's neat how the cloud empowers companies to innovate these days.

#5. Cloud security and resilience

The increasing importance of cloud security is another top cloud computing trend in 2024. People demand more from their cloud providers with all the hacks and breaches they hear about. Encryption, authentication, and backup plans are going to be huge.

As the threats get more advanced, with hackers using artificial intelligence and things like social engineering, more than just protecting information is needed. Businesses need to know their data is safe and can be recovered no matter what.

That's why security and reliability will be on everyone's list in 2024. Cloud companies must step up to protect customers because the risks keep growing.

#6. Cloud-native development

The way apps are being made and released is changing. More and more companies are using containerized apps and the microservices approach. This has big benefits, like scaling, being flexible, and using resources more efficiently.

Containers, managed by tools like Kubernetes, help make sure performance stays consistent across different environments. This makes developing apps easier and when combined with Cloud-Native Application Protection Platforms (CNAPP), it also improves security by providing integrated tools for managing compliance, workload protection, and identity management.

The dev and ops teams can collaborate better and quickly push out new features and updates. It helps to follow the DevOps way of working.

As building apps for the cloud becomes standard, it creates a place for companies to try new things and move fast.

#7. Cloud gaming

Cloud gaming is another cloud computing trend taking off in 2024. More people are playing games through streaming services instead of needing a powerful gaming PC or console at home.

These cloud gaming platforms use big server farms in data centers that do all the heavy lifting for graphics and processing. Then, they can stream the video and controller inputs to your phone, tablet, or laptop. This method means anyone can enjoy high-end games without worrying about having an expensive machine.

It also opens up gaming in more places. People can play their favorite games on a train ride or during lunch. The platforms also work hard to minimize lag and buffering, making the experience seamless.

Some think this could lead to more social features in games or new hybrid digital and physical experiences. Overall, it looks like streaming games are becoming the new normal.

#8. Sustainable cloud computing

Have you heard about what the big cloud providers are doing for sustainability these days? Amazon, Microsoft, and Google have all committed to becoming carbon neutral shortly.

They're working on eliminating emissions from their data centers and want to help their customers reduce their carbon footprints.

Amazon is aiming for 2040 to go entirely carbon-neutral. Microsoft, though, is ambitious; it wants to hit zero emissions by 2030. Google is on board with that goal, too.

All three have said they plan to power everything with renewable energy, like solar and wind, in just a few years.

We'll have to wait and see whether they meet all these targets. But one thing is for sure: green cloud computing will be a huge focus in 2024.

These companies are pushing hard to make their services more environmentally friendly. The future is already looking a bit brighter!

#9. Simplified cloud computing

Low-code and no-code tools have opened things up for non-technical folks, allowing them to build applications that used to require trained programmers.

No more needing to know how to code; you can put something together in a very visual, drag-and-drop interface.

Cloud providers are doing something similar, too. AWS and Azure now have intuitive interfaces that don't require advanced technical knowledge. You can deploy and manage cloud resources with just a few clicks or voice commands.

No more having to learn complex APIs or command lines. They're streamlining everything so anyone can take advantage of the cloud.

It's interesting how technology democratizes software development and IT operations. You no longer need years of training to build an app or stand-up infrastructure. As long as you have an idea, these new tools give anyone the power to make it a reality.

#10. Privacy in the cloud

Cloud privacy is such an important topic these days. It's constantly evolving as technology changes. Businesses want to use helpful cloud services, but they also need to keep customer information safe. When a company stores data on a cloud, it trusts someone else—usually the cloud company—to protect it.

Ensuring privacy is handled right in these situations will continue to be a big deal in 2024. Lawmakers and techwiz are constantly working on new solutions, but balancing business needs with people's privacy is tricky. Security will keep improving over time as more guidelines are put in place.

#11. Serverless and pay-as-you-go cloud

With serverless, you don't have to worry about managing or maintaining your servers; the cloud provider handles that.

Instead of paying based on how many servers you're using, like with traditional cloud services, you only pay for the actual resources with serverless.

So if your app gets little traffic one day, you're not wasting money on servers just sitting idle. This approach makes things way more efficient and saves businesses money by eliminating those unnecessary costs.

It also means you can focus more on important things, like growing your business, instead of dealing with server upkeep. Serverless is the way to go these days.

#12. Cloud deployment with Docker and Kubernetes

These days, companies are increasingly moving to deploy apps in the cloud using Docker containers and Kubernetes. It's become one of the main ways people build, run, and manage software in cloud environments.

Docker lets developers package their code and all its dependencies into these portable containers. This helps ensure everything runs the same regardless of where it gets run.

Kubernetes is an open-source tool that handles things like scheduling those containers across different servers and automatically scaling them up or down depending on traffic.

Working together, Docker and Kube provide some excellent benefits, like your app being portable between different computing environments, scaling it up big when needed, and optimizing resources.

More and more organizations are adopting this containerized approach when upgrading their old systems, designing new cloud-native architectures, or getting serious about DevOps.

Of course, managing all those containers can become complex as things grow. Security is also a concern you have to stay on top of.

Taking advantage of Kube means having staff with the right skills to operate those clusters of machines properly. But overall, it's becoming the preferred way to deploy applications in the cloud these days.

#The future looks bright for cloud computing

In this article, I’ve discussed some of the main cloud computing trends we can expect to grow in 2024. Cloud computing enables affordable access to powerful technology, bypassing the need for expensive hardware. Plus, it's convenient—you can work on or play with your digital platforms from anywhere, as long as you've got an internet connection.

These reasons and advantages ensure that cloud computing will have a more prominent role in old, new, and emerging businesses. What it can do now is just a snapshot of what business owners can expect in the future.