The document discusses predictions from experts for trends in cloud computing in 2018. It is noted that 85% of enterprises have a multi-cloud strategy and 58% have a hybrid cloud strategy. Experts predict that in 2018 cloud will become more pervasive and power more applications like IoT and AI. Security concerns around cloud will increase due to new regulations like GDPR and enterprises will leverage different cloud solutions to solve various issues rather than relying solely on public cloud.

1. Expert Predictions for Cloud

2. Right Scale’s 2017 State of the Cloud Report indicates
that 85% of enterprises have some type of multi-cloud
strategy with 58% having a hybrid-cloud strategy.
With more companies leaning on the cloud, 5 experts
share what we can expect from the cloud in 2018.

3. 2018 will be the year of inno-disruption
(innovative disruption). The year when we all see
newer ideas, approaches and uses of cloud come
to market than ever before. Cloud will become
pervasive and increasingly invisible in its use—
powering smart device apps, IoT, drones and AI.
Prediction No. 1
Ian Moyse, Sales Director, Natterbox
& recognized industry cloud thought leader

4. The security concerns with cloud, that have
actually abated somewhat over the last year
or so, will be further polarized next year
due to topics such as GDPR.
Prediction No. 2
Gordon Davey, Head of Cloud
Architecture, Willis Towers Watson

5. 2018 will show enterprises that embracing the variety
of cloud-based solutions available will solve any given
issue. In essence, we talk less about going ‘all in’ with
public cloud and talk more about how to leverage
the varying forms of cloud-based offerings.
Prediction No. 3
Tim M. Crawford, CIO Strategic Advisor, AVOA

6. In 2018, cloud providers will have more of an
on-premise look. This is, of course, contrary to
what many cloud providers have been saying all
along, but with market factors where they are,
this move makes too much sense to ignore.
Prediction No. 4
Laz Vekiarides, CTO & Co-founder, ClearSky Data

7. 2018 will be the time when we see virtual reality
technology—often powered by cloud to deliver
increasingly large, complex and smart environments
—become affordable and real to the consumer.
Prediction No. 5
Ian Moyse, Sales Director, Natterbox
& recognized industry cloud thought leader

8. 2018 will see public cloud computing become
a strategic resource for IT organizations as the
default deployment location for applications.
Prediction No. 6
Bernard Golden, CEO, Navica

9. Small and niche cloud providers (or really anyone
outside the ‘big three’) will continue to struggle,
with the vast majority of new cloud adoption
moving to the large public cloud players.
Prediction No. 7
Gordon Davey, Head of Cloud
Architecture, Willis Towers Watson

10. I expect to see a significant rise in the use of
private cloud. 2017 presented a shift in the
private cloud landscape that should lower the
hurdle to leverage private cloud solutions.
Prediction No. 8
Tim M. Crawford, CIO Strategic Advisor, AVOA

11. The most surprising prediction we have for 2018
is a comeback for captive clouds. A lot of this has
to do with the fact that in a multi-cloud world,
the public cloud option you’d like to have isn’t
always the option that’s available.
Prediction No. 9
Laz Vekiarides, CTO & Co-founder, ClearSky Data

12. The ‘Edge vs. Cloud’ debate among commentators
will rumble on, but on the ground the reality
is that both will be used. It’s not one or the
other—the future is going to be both.
Prediction No. 10
Gordon Davey, Head of Cloud
Architecture, Willis Towers Watson

13. In 2018 cloud finally comes of age. That is
to say that enterprises start to understand
the true business value of cloud computing
versus a simplistic or narrow perspective.
Prediction No. 11
Tim M. Crawford, CIO Strategic Advisor, AVOA

14. With the cloud and multi-cloud fully entrenched in
how we live today, a cloud strategy is paramount.
Reports show that only 28% of enterprise
respondents use the cloud heavily. Many
organizations are still struggling with how to best
manage their data and cloud networks.

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