Top 5 Cloud Data Storage Trends You’ll See This Year

Top 5 Cloud Data Storage Trends You'll See This Year

Between 2020 and 2022, the cloud storage and cloud computing industries are expected to increase revenue from CA$432 billion to CA$508 billion. Even before the pandemic, the reliance on cloud technologies was rising, and that pace has been accelerated by recent events, including more hybrid and remote teams.

One of the very first cloud technologies to be widely adopted during the cloud’s infancy was cloud data storage. The ability to centrally locate files and make them easily accessible to anyone and any device was a big improvement over on-premises-only file storage.

Cloud computing and cloud storage are evolving rapidly thanks to both internal factors like AI and machine learning and external factors, such as the increase in malware attacks around the world.

It’s important to keep on top of new cloud storage trends expected in 2022, so you can leverage these to your company’s advantage.

Ransomware Safeguards Are Being Built In

During the first half of 2021, global ransomware attacks increased by 151%. That’s on top of increases from the prior year. In 2020, global ransomware attacks increased 62% worldwide and by 158% in North America.

Ransomware attackers have become increasingly bold as they’ve seen how successful ransomware attacks can be. Over half of victims will typically pay the ransom because of inadequate business continuity preparations.

Cloud storage is also susceptible to being infected by ransomware, which can put your company in danger of serious downtime costs. Cloud providers also want to avoid any ransomware infections, which could potentially travel throughout their data centers.

Therefore, you’ll see cloud storage providers increasingly adding new ransomware safeguards to their cloud storage offerings. These will typically include things like:

  • A ransomware recovery feature
  • Detection and response for ransomware
  • Settings that prevent unauthorized automated file changes (including encryption)

You want to inquire about ransomware protections with your cloud storage provider so you can be aware of any they have already put in place or are planning to. Not all of these will be turned on by default, and it will be up to the user to utilize them.

The Use of “Edge” in Data Storage

Edge computing is a concept that’s become more popular as more devices rely on data stored on cloud servers, that may be hundreds or thousands of miles away from users.

This concept is an approach where the cloud service provider positions data centers and provisions new accounts strategically to put the data as close as possible to the people using that data.

Edge computing lowers the cost to deliver cloud connections and data transmissions and improves response time because it’s easier to transmit data shorter distances.

This means that you may need to be more mindful of the address you enter when setting up a new cloud storage account. This address will most likely be used to decide the location of the server holding your company’s files. Not all companies are located where they have their legal corporate address.

AI & Machine Learning Organize, Provision, & More

Tasks like deleting old and outdated files, moving misfiled information, and provisioning new users to the system can be time-consuming. It’s not uncommon in small offices to not have anyone officially responsible for file storage upkeep.

What can then happen is files getting stored in the wrong folder, new folders being created that duplicate other folders, etc. All these things make it harder for people to get to the files they need when they need them.

Look for help in this area as cloud storage providers start utilizing AI and machine learning in their platforms to automate manual activities. Some of the activities being automated include:

  • File organization
  • Provisioning
  • Ingesting (obtaining & importing data)
  • Duplication cleanup 
  • And more

More Powerful Integration of Cloud Storage with Other Cloud Tools

Currently, there are some connections between cloud storage and other cloud tools, such as the integration of Microsoft Teams with SharePoint. But this integration has been limited.

Legacy hardware providers like Hewlett-Packard and Dell are looking to make their mark in the cloud world, and they’re doing this by exploring more robust integrations of cloud storage and other cloud services. The goal is to create a more powerful cloud ecosystem where various activities between storage and business tools can be automated to improve user experience and productivity.

Two developments that your business may want to check out are:

Cloud Costs Will Go Down as Demand Goes Up

As cloud storage demands go up for companies, we’ve seen large cloud providers reducing the costs of their storage services. The field is increasingly competitive, and providers don’t want to lose customers. As well as this, automation has helped cloud providers reduce administrative costs.

For example, Amazon S3 recently announced a price reduction of up to 31%. Google has also decreased storage prices in recent years. 

So, it may pay to shop around to ensure you’re getting the best deal for your cloud storage services.

Get Help Improving Your Cloud Environment

A confusing cloud environment can lead to high costs and inefficiency. Haxxess can help your Northern Ontario business review your current cloud structure and provide recommendations to optimize, lower costs, and improve effectiveness.

Contact us today to schedule a free consultation! Call 705-222-8324 or reach out online.

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