Assessing cloud adoption and where the technology stands

by Xtium Research

Both public and private cloud hosting have become more popular in recent years. Certain businesses have joined in on the momentum as the technology advanced. GCN argued that there are four distinct cloud waves that will bring in different sectors: startup, commodity, consumer and enterprise.

The first wave of the cloud affected businesses that were looking for financial benefits. These companies had specific financial models that worked well in a cloud environment that allowed them to have precise allotments. A virtual private cloud also allows an enterprise to be more scalable and therefore less worried about spikes in activity or sudden growth in its customer base.

The other three waves revolve around the idea that the cloud is coming to every individual regardless of industry. Simple B2B interactions and even communication will become increasingly cloud based until the infrastructure becomes as commonplace as the internet itself.

Will the cloud affect the consumer?
As more businesses turn to a virtual private cloud environment, the way business is done will change. There will be more room for spontaneity from employees and faster reactions to problems and projects. The immediate effect will be larger profits for enterprises and a reallocation of resources toward new ideas.

In the end, the process will affect consumers. Customers will begin to see quicker turnaround on problems and bigger improvements to products. Furthermore, shareholders will see a reorientation of finances away from operating costs and toward R&D and new investments. Companies will be better prepared for new developments and meet hurdles more effectively.

While not every new project will boost revenue, a virtual private cloud minimizes initial costs. In other words, a failed idea is not financially crippling but serves as a learning experience, allowing employees to get closer to what the customer desires.

Eventually, GCN argued that the cloud will be a part of everyday technology. Smartphones, laptops and even TVs will eventually be cloud based. This revolution will minimize the importance and price of physical devices, lowering hardware costs and improving the functionality of apps and software across the board.

Such a movement can only come once businesses make a concerted effort to move to a virtual private cloud environment. A corporation that is caught in a last-minute cloud wave has no strategic advantage over early adopters. Being late to the game only delays the benefits a company can receive from the technology.