Governments and organizations all over the world are aiming to migrate their data, processes, and operations to the cloud by 2020. And with regard to how the Philippines fares in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of cloud readiness, the country ranked ninth out of 14 in the Cloud Readiness Index 2018 presented by the Asia Cloud Computing Association.

A country’s cloud readiness is often measured in terms of the power and sustainability of its cloud infrastructure. Hence, to bolster the nation’s position, the Philippine government (with help from partners in the telecommunication industry) is working to introduce new projects to improve the country’s internet connectivity.

As the country moves towards improving its cloud readiness, different cloud computing trends are already influencing how local companies do business. Here are this year’s top cloud computing trends that are already shaping today’s local business landscape.

1. The Birth of 5G

Given the global rise of mobile device usage over the past few years and the emergence of edge computing, another infrastructure project that will influence cloud accessibility in the Philippines is 5G or the 5th generation advanced wireless system. 5G is expected to be almost 20 times faster than 4G—the 4th generation of broadband cellular network technology.

With this in the works, the Philippines will be one of the first Asia-Pacific countries to launch its 5G networks, along with Japan and Australia. Globe Telecom is already on track to launch its first 5G home broadband service by June 2019 and is looking forward to setting up other 5G services in the years to come.

2. Adoption of Multi-Cloud and Hybrid Cloud Solutions

Many businesses are going through the daunting task of moving their data and processes from their local networks to a private or public cloud server. Given this, cloud service providers are now competing to offer options in hybrid cloud solutions to connect independent on-premise data infrastructure to private and public cloud infrastructures, giving businesses the flexibility to migrate to the cloud at their own pace. A lot of businesses are using this approach to back up their data, with 15% of their cloud budget allocated to data back-up and disaster recovery solutions.

Meanwhile, other businesses have opted for a multi-cloud approach by using more than one cloud service platform, such as combining the use of Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure. Services employed in the multi-cloud approach may still be used in hybrid cloud solutions, resulting in businesses owning several cloud infrastructure that they can customize based on their financial capabilities and operational needs.

3. Data Containers Being a Standard

Another technology that cloud service providers are competing in is data containers. These tools have now become the standard for transferring data from one system to another, allowing users to store and organize virtual objects and resolve software issues.

For example, Kubernetes, an open-source data container launched in 2015, has become a standard offering by cloud platforms since 2018. It is lightweight, executable on any platform, and has the ability to manage data and services from one virtual machine in the cloud to another. As such, Kubernetes makes it easier to work on data from a far-off location to support remote work and collaboration.

4. The Rise of Edge Computing

The cloud is more flexible and powerful compared to what you can do on local machines, especially with the emergence of edge computing over centralized processing. As such, companies in the Philippines will become more creative in how they process data on the edge before it gets sent to big data centers.

Simple machines are now becoming the front for data execution before parsing relevant information to the central processing services of the cloud. Edge computing reduces the usually huge chunks of information coming from devices that collect and send data, thereby freeing up big data centers from the overwhelming amount of data. In turn, this speeds up real-time analytics, creating more streamlined interconnectivity between the cloud and connected devices.

5. More Stringent Control on Data Privacy

In light of the implementation of the European Union’s General Data Privacy Regulation (EU’s GDPR), and in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, customers worldwide are demanding to have more control over their data and transparency on how their personal information is being used by organizations.

In the Philippines, Republic Act No. 10173, also known as the “Data Privacy Act,” came into force in 2012, and its implementing rules and regulations continue to be updated in line with current threats to data privacy in the country. 

There is constant fear about the vulnerability of data on the cloud, especially as it goes through different computers and channels before it is stored. As a result, new rules and regulations, like the EU’s GDPR and the Philippines’ Data Privacy Act, put the necessary pressure on cloud providers, as well as companies to ensure that the privacy of end-users is protected.

Leveraging Cloud Capabilities

Given the many opportunities afforded by the cloud, businesses in the Philippines will reap the benefits as they migrate their data infrastructure into cloud-based platforms. Companies equipped by hybrid and multi-cloud solutions, data containers, and even edge computing can gain a competitive edge against their contemporaries in the race towards digital transformation.

Cloud computing trends will last only as long as they effectively help businesses imagine and explore different possibilities with the cloud. Any successful cloud implementation relies not so much on trends but focuses on improving processes and experiences.

In business, trends may come and go, but trusted business partners are here to stay. As your trusted advisor, we at Globe Business can help you transform your operations by leveraging our secure and reliable cloud capabilities. And no matter what trends come up, we will continue to provide agile, secure, and up-to-date cloud solutions that can help improve your company’s efficiency and adaptability in the face of evolving business environments.

Interested to learn more about our products and solutions? Arrange a consultation with a Globe Business Advisor today.