Case reductions and increasing vaccination rates in the United States are showing us the first glimpse at a post-COVID world we’ve seen in over a year. It’s a great time to be optimistic as individuals, but businesses are still reeling from losses and setbacks. What does the future look like for these businesses and their employees?
For starters, it means things won’t ever return to “normal.” In some cases, that means changes to workplace operations and staffing. In other, more positive ways, it means improvements to the work experience. Whether a business is considering work-at-home as a permanent solution or simply upgrading tech services in the office, a post-pandemic world offers many opportunities to improve the way business is handled.
A great tool for this evolution of the office is cloud computing. Many found cloud computing services to be an invaluable tool during the pandemic. Does it still have a role to play as things start to settle down again? Without a doubt, the power of cloud computing in a post-COVID world runs even deeper than you might imagine. Here are a few of the ways cloud computing will impact the next 5 years that you might not know about as we begin recovery.
What is Edge Cloud Computing and Why Does it Matter?
Edge cloud computing might not be a term or concept with which you are familiar. Let’s start with the basics. Cloud computing is the ability to utilize digital servers to run normal computer applications and store data. Edge cloud computing is the same concept but with data consumption and proximity to cloud servers in mind. If you live far from your cloud services provider’s servers, then you might find that things are slower than you’d like and might even cost more too.
Edge cloud computing offers a better cloud experience thanks to you enlisting the help of a cloud services provider who is nearby. Finding a cloud services provider in New Jersey for example benefits East Coast businesses much more than a provider across the country. It saves you load and response times, enhances your bandwidth, and yes, could save you money.
More and more people utilize the cloud and will continue to do so post-pandemic. Finding a way to make edge cloud computing a priority for your business could have wildly positive results.
Huge Decreases in Cloud Computing’s Cost and Increases to Accessibility
We know that cloud computing services offer a ton of great resources to businesses, but we’re not nearly at a point where the technology’s advancement is stagnating. For example, accessibility to the cloud is growing thanks to new advancements in technology that are driving costs down and increasing accessibility for all sorts of businesses. A great example is an increase in service providers offering flexible cost options and pay-as-you-go service. This can allow those who assume they cannot afford cloud services to find a way into the ecosystem.
Control over cost is tough for providers, but it’s becoming more and more affordable for companies to offer flexible cost tiers. Scalability within the cloud helps providers offer anybody who wants cloud services access to it. Of course, the costs rise as you incorporate larger businesses into the cloud, but for smaller businesses curious about what the cloud can offer them now have an easier entry point into this increasingly vital technology.
With costs dropping and accessibility increasing, every business that wants to utilize the cloud’s power and enhanced security options has the opportunity to do so.
The Boom of Native Cloud Computing
The last trend in post-COVID cloud computing has to do with a big focus many businesses will turn to in the coming years: customer experience. For many who utilize the cloud, the goal will not be to increase how much they do in the cloud but rather what the cloud offers their customers to ensure they keep business and have a more tempting offer for potential clients. The leading source of this customer-minded cloud boom will be native cloud computing and all it offers.
Native cloud computing utilizes containerization to offer public cloud platforms a more virtualized operation. This means that everything from on-location cloud access to mobile and even serverless computing is possible when native cloud technology is utilized. As one of the leading areas of cloud services that are being requested by businesses, multi-cloud operations that run with native, vertical server management allow for more comprehensive solutions and applications.
Eyes Ahead to the Future of a Post-COVID World
Despite the optimism seen in the United States at the moment, it’s still going to be a long road to recovery. Cloud computing offers a great path to a better future while still addressing present concerns. Take time to explore the options cloud computing could offer your business today.
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