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Cloud Computing Trends to Watch in 2018

Cloud computing has become one of the most sought-after technologies in IT.

The cloud services market is expected to grow 21.4% percent in 2018 to total $186.4 billion, up from $153.5 billion in 2017, according to Gartner.

As the demand for cloud grows, new technologies and advancements are emerging. So what are the cloud computing trends to watch in 2018?

We've assembled a list of 5 trends for you from around the industry: 

More enterprises are adopting cloud software

According to the 2018 State of the Cloud Survey, 93% percent of organizations now use cloud technologies. In our industry specifically, Verdantix found that 78% of EHS leaders view cloud as an acceptable deployment option. This demonstrates that off-the-shelf cloud-based software solutions are becoming the go-to choice for EHS departments.

 

Cloud software is more affordable

Advances in technology have made it possible for cloud vendors to deliver software much less expensively than traditional systems. In fact, Tariff Consultancy found that the average cloud computing price for enterprises has dropped by two-thirds since 2014. In most cases, moving to the cloud is more cost-effective than leaving your applications and data on-premise. 

 

Cloud systems are more configurable

In the past, cloud software systems had a reputation for being rigid. Today, however, cloud software is more flexible than ever. Implementation times are greatly reduced because you're able to start with a standardized system and configure the system to your needs. A basic EHS system implementation, for example, can be completed in as little as two weeks.

 

Cloud security has improved

Approaches like encryption, access management, machine learning and AI have made the cloud more secure. Plus, cloud software vendors typically offer better security than most mid-sized companies could afford on their own. For these reasons, cloud has become the deployment option of choice for many companies. In fact, a survey by Clutch found that 64% of companies consider the cloud infrastructure to be more secure than legacy systems.

 

Cloud software is mobile-friendly

More and more people are using their mobile devices to access the cloud. In fact, a recent Goldman Sachs report stated that 29% of internet-connected devices today are PCs, while 66% are smartphones and tablets. 

To that end, cloud vendors must ensure that their applications cater to mobile users. Fortunately, new development tools have made it easier, faster and cheaper for developers to build modern user experiences. For example, today's cloud software can be built to resize automatically to fill the screen depending on which device is being used - mobile phone, tablet, PC, Mac, or kiosk. 

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