Exploring Cloud Computing: Emerging Trends and Opportunities for Businesses

Cloud computing stands at the forefront of technological innovation, offering a revolutionary approach to how data is processed, accessed, and stored across the globe. At the heart of this transformation lies not just the technology itself, but a paradigm shift towards more dynamic, scalable, and efficient computing solutions. As organizations of all sizes navigate this change, understanding the what, how, and why of cloud computing becomes essential.

The computer processing company Microsoft provides a definition of cloud computing that is "the delivery of computing services—including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence—over the internet (“the cloud”) to offer faster innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale."¹ Whenever someone mentions that something is "on the cloud" or "cloud-based," they mean that the file or application is not saved directly onto the memory of their computer or devices and rather is accessible on-demand with internet access.

The earliest concept of cloud computing originated much earlier than you might think. In 1963 MIT was presented with $2 million to develop technology allowing for a “computer to be used by two or more people, simultaneously.” By 1969 a psychologist and computer scientist, J.C.R. Licklider, developed the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPAN) which was a very early version of the world wide web. He also had a vision for an "intergalactic computer network" where everyone on the planet would be interconnected by way of computers and able to access information from anywhere.²

The first version of what is commonly understood as cloud computing today was pioneered by Salesforce in 1999 when it began to offer sales software delivered over the internet to anyone who could download it (in other words, Software as a Service or SaaS). Other companies began to work on internet-based systems including Amazon in 2006, which implemented cloud storage as a way to maintain server efficiency, and Google which launched Google Docs the same year. Now there are dozens of cloud services to choose from for file and photo storage to application components and management of customers.²

Cloud computing has gained popularity for the way it meets the needs of everyone from individuals to families and small businesses to large companies alike.³

• Cost savings and scalability: Cloud computing eliminates the need for upfront capital expenditures on hardware and software. A user only has to pay for what they need instead of expensive outsized solutions.
• Increased speed and agility: Resources and applications can be rapidly deployed, reducing the time it takes to get new projects or new employees up and running. It also enables faster time-to-market for new products and services that utilize the cloud.
• Global accessibility and reliability: Resources are accessible from anywhere, on any device, at any time. Cloud providers typically offer high levels of redundancy and failover capabilities, ensuring high uptime and reliability.

There are several key features that define cloud computing beyond a lack of hardware or software:⁴

On-demand self-service: Users can autonomously use their cloud-based computing resources, such as server time and network storage, as needed without requiring human interaction with each service provider.

Example: A subscriber can log in to access their iCloud account at any time and retrieve their data.

Broad network access: Computing resources are available over the network and accessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneous thin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, and PDAs).

Example: iCloud is accessible via an internet browser, mobile application and more.

Resource pooling: The provider's computing resources are pooled to serve multiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with different physical and virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according to consumer demand. There is a sense of location independence in that the customer generally has no control or knowledge over the exact location of the provided resources but may be able to specify location at a higher level of abstraction (e.g., country, state, or datacenter).

Example: Millions of people use iCloud to back up their devices yet likely don't know where the servers that house their information are physically located.

Rapid elasticity: Capabilities can be elastically provisioned and released, in some cases automatically, to scale rapidly outward and inward commensurate with demand. To the consumer, the capabilities available for provisioning often appear to be unlimited and can be appropriated in any quantity at any time.

Example: iCloud customers are able to adjust the amount of storage they pay for depending on the amount of space they require.

Measured service: Cloud systems automatically control and optimize resource use by leveraging a metering capability at some level of abstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage, processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts). Resource usage can be monitored, controlled, and reported, providing transparency for both the provider and consumer of the utilized service.

Example: Apple, who manages iCloud, and their customers can see how much space they use via gigabyte measurement.

• Cloud-native applications and development (Uber, Zoom)
• Data storage, backup, and recovery (iCloud, Google Drive)
• Audio and video streaming (Spotify, Netflix)
• Software delivery and testing (AppPerfect, Nessus)
• Data analysis and intelligence (GoogleMaps, most retail sites)

There are several different models of cloud computing that are tied to the services delivered by each.

IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) and computing power

Infrastructure services on the cloud consist of the cloud use case you might be most familiar with, like storage, web and application servers and support for networks. IaaS is also the model used for security testing. It is the "smallest" of the the models offering the fewest features.⁵

PaaS (Platform as a Service) and operating systems

Platform as a Service companies include the storage and web applications of IaaS and also offer development tools, business intelligence (BI) services, database management systems, and more.⁶

SaaS (Software as a Service) and virtual machine

Software as a service offers the complete package of database management, web apps, storage and more in one package. You pay for use of the software like Microsoft 365 and don't have to use your own laptop's memory space to store the application or any of your documents or emails.⁷

Security of databases is a big concern for cloud computing. Not only is a massive amount of information stored on the cloud, but data is constantly being sent between platforms. That could present an issue for meeting the compliance standards set by your ethics board with regard to privacy expectations for customer data.⁸

The more you rely on cloud services, the more you put yourself or business at risk for not being able to access your files, software, and more. Data can take a long time to upload, individual servers could be attacked with a virus, or if you lose internet connection you could be prevented from reaching the things you need.⁸

Interoperability issues can complicate the seamless exchange and utilization of data across disparate cloud services and platforms. For example, if you use one company's solution for work management, and another company's servers for file storage, you might run into issues with connecting the services to each other. These challenges can obstruct efficient workflow integration, limit the flexibility in choosing service providers, and add complexity to adopting multi-cloud strategies, ultimately affecting operational efficiency and innovation potential.⁸

From healthcare to retail, finance to manufacturing, the application of cloud-based data analysis has proven indispensable for driving growth, enhancing customer experiences, and optimizing processes. As we look towards a future increasingly dominated by digital transformation, the skills to create and manage cloud-based computing solutions become ever more critical. Marquette University's online Computer and Information Science (CIS) program is perfectly positioned to equip aspiring professionals with the knowledge and expertise required to excel in this dynamic field. Contact an admissions outreach advisor for more information on the program and where it can take you.