Mobility and Agility: These are the two key concepts for the new decade of computing innovation and at the epic center of this new trend lies cloud computing. Virtualization and cloud computing has changed our technology-centered lives forever.
These technologies enable us to do more communicating, learning, and more global business with less money, hardware, data loss and of course less hassle.
During this decade, everything we do in the way of technology will move to the data center, whether it is an on-premises data center or a remote cloud-architecture data center thousands of miles away.
Here are some of the top trends in the way of server technology to be considered for this new tech-driven decade.
1. Mobile Computing
These days more and more workers report to their virtual offices from remote locations, and as such, computer manufacturers must supply these on-the-go workers, with sturdier products that has the capability to connect to, and use, any available type of Internet connectivity.
Mobile users look for lightweight, sturdy and easy-to-use devices that “just work,” with no complex configuration and setup.
The agility that will come from these smart devices will be able to pull data from cloud-based applications, i.e. all your applications, data and even the operating environment (OS) will be stored safely and securely in the cloud to allow for maximum mobility.
2. Virtualization:
With the rapid growth of virtualization technology, many are predicting that by the end of this decade this trend will touch every data center in the world.
Companies like big and small, will either convert their physical infrastructures to virtual hosts or they will move to an entirely hosted virtual infrastructure. The money savings promises that this trend provides, has brought hopes to stressed budgets and will continue to do so.
3. Cloud Computing
Being closely tied to virtualization and mobile computing, this is the technology that industry observers view as “marketing hype” or old technology repackaged for present-day consumption.
Technology savvy companies will try to leverage cloud computing to present their products and services to a global audience at a fraction of the cost of current offerings.
Cloud computing also protects online ventures with a guarantee that their services will never suffer an outage. Entire business infrastructures will migrate to the cloud by the end of this new decade, making every company a globally accessible one.
4. Web-based applications
The future of client/server computing is server-based applications and client and locally installed applications will become obsolete by the end of the decade. Everything will remain on a remote server. This includes client data and software as well.
5. Libraries
Digitization of printed material will be the parade song for libraries, as all but the most valuable printed manuscripts will be digitized by the end of the decade.
According to some, libraries will cease to exist, whereas others predict a digital library where, schoolchildren will see how books were physically used in the old days while using ebooks themselves.
6. Open Source Migration
A move to open source software can retrieve all your lost dollars on license fees. This is the best option for those companies that cannot afford to lose capital on licensing.
Some such open source softwares include, Linux, Apache, Tomcat, etc. This decade will prove that the open source model works much better than a proprietary software model.
7. Virtual Desktops
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure or VDI is the talk of the town nowadays as more and more businesses move away from local desktop operating systems to virtual ones housed in data centers.
This concept integrates into mobile computing, virtualization and cloud computing. Desktops will likely reside in all three locations (PC, data center, cloud) for a few more years, but the transition will become complete by the end of the decade.
This will result in lowering maintenance bills and reducing much of the user error associated with desktop operating systems.
8. Internet Everywhere
There used to be a time when the Internet was known as The Information Superhighway and predictions about how it would change our lives forever.
Well the future is here and the predictions have come true. The next step in its evolution is to have the Internet available everywhere: supermarket, service station, restaurant, bar, mall and automobile. Every piece of electronic gadgetry will have some sort of Internet connectivity.
9. Online Storage
Currently, online storage limited appeal. Many of us have portable USB hard drives, flash drives and DVD burners that act as storage devices as online storage is still not accessible to everyone.
However, the approaching mobile computing storm will require you to have access to your data on any device with which you are working. Even the most portable storage device will prove ungainly for the users who need their data without fumbling with an external hard drive and USB cable.
New devices will come bundled with an allotment of online storage space, like mobile plans these days.
10. Cloud Balancing
The various cloud models will continue to grow and smear the lines between compute consumption models. Companies will realize that these styles of compute are not based on location.
Companies will refine their TCO models finding a need for all three (public cloud, private cloud and hybrid cloud) consumption models across different needs with the ease of use.
Keeping a keen eye on these above-mentioned trends can boost your businesses in this new decade of computation technology.