4 Interesting Cloud Storage Trends to Watch for in 2022

Cloud Computing in 2022

One area of cloud computing that is used widely but often isn’t as flashy as the software side is cloud storage. Storing files in the cloud to make them easily accessible and shareable from anywhere was one of the first uses of the cloud. A method widely adopted by many users.

Cloud storage is also improving as advances like automation and AI come to other cloud services, like team communications and business apps. The industry continues to evolve to make storing data in the cloud more reliable, less complex, and better secured.

In 2021, an estimated 50% of all company data was stored in the cloud. An increase of 15% from just five years earlier. With today’s hybrid teams working from home, hundreds or thousands of kilometres away from co-workers, it’s vital to locate files in cloud systems that everyone can access centrally.

What can you expect to see in the cloud storage market this year? Here are some of the most exciting trends to keep an eye on.

1. Built-In Ransomware Defences

Ransomware can impact data no matter where it is stored. Whether on a computer, server or in a cloud storage platform, this malware can encrypt the information and make it unreadable to the business that owns it.

In 2021, the average ransomware payment increased by 82%, and ransomware incidents rose 64% during the first half of the year. A survey of CISOs found that over the last 18 months, 98% of organisations suffered a cloud data breach.

You’ll begin seeing cloud storage services offering ransomware recovery protection to combat ransomware. These sophisticated systems can help prevent files from being encrypted by code and those that take a copy of files and store it securely away. As a result, you can restore files at the click of a button.

This level of protection is a welcome addition to the cloud storage arena, with ransomware showing no sign of stopping.

2. “The Edge” Becomes More Key in Cloud Storage

One of the new buzzwords of the last few years has been “Edge” or “Edge computing.” It refers to bringing data applications and storage resources closer to the user who needs to connect to them.

As reliance on cloud storage and other cloud applications has increased. The need to improve response times from user to server follows. When data must travel across large distances, it becomes more difficult to deliver the best user experience quickly and economically. Thus, cloud service providers have been moving to an Edge computing model.

Respectively, it offers better reliability and faster responses when accessing or searching files because your provider will work to provide your service from one of the company’s cloud servers closer to your location.

For companies with offices spread out around a country or worldwide, you’ll want to keep service location in mind when signing up for cloud storage. It would be beneficial to discuss distance and how Edge computing factors with your provider.

3. Expect More Help from AI and Machine Learning

AI and machine learning are making just about every technology area more innovative. Microsoft Word and text message apps now predict what you might type to help you fill in the blanks and type faster. Using AI, programs like Photoshop can crop around a person in an image in seconds.

AI is also going to become more prevalent in cloud storage this year. You can expect help with the automatic organisation of your files based on your cloud storage patterns. 

Look for features designed to eliminate manual or repetitive tasks to free up more time. These features include AI helping automate things like provisioning, obtaining, and importing data (known as “ingesting”), managing data retention, etc.

4. Legacy Vendors Begin Offering More Cloud Options

2022 will bring more cloud storage options coming from legacy technology providers. For example, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise recently introduced a new Data Services Cloud Console, and Dell Technologies just announced a new APEX multi-cloud design that it is working on to improve the cloud ecosystem.

More cloud storage options mean you may need help deciding which model will work best, as pricing will vary widely. You don’t want to end up with more storage than you need. Nor do you want to be paying more for a smaller amount of space.

It pays to keep on top of new offerings. It’s also important to understand that every new cloud storage option might not fit your organisation’s specific data storage needs.

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The article is used with permission from The Technology Press.