Translated from Accenture

Source: 25 cloud trends for 2021 and beyond

"Data is currency." Over the past decade, this phrase has permeated corporate culture from Silicon Valley to Stockholm to Sydney. Unlike Wall Street, data is traded through the cloud; bundling your ability to leverage data with cloud capabilities. With 92% of enterprises already using cloud technology to some extent, we've compiled a comprehensive list of cloud trends for 2021 and beyond to help you make the most of this technology.

Since 2010, the global cloud services industry has grown year-over-year, reaching a valuation of $370 billion in 2020, an increase of over 380% in just a decade. However, considering that 90% of the world's data in 2013 was created between 2011 and 2012, it's inevitable that more data leads to a need for more data storage. By the end of 2020, the virtual weight of all information globally was 44 ZB (trillion GB), a number with 21 zeros. Not surprisingly, by 2020, approximately 50% of corporate data was stored in the cloud.

Cloud is not just an efficient storage solution; it's also a unique platform for generating data and innovative solutions to leverage that data. A high focus on adaptability has fostered a service-oriented mindset previously thought unattainable. Specialized capabilities have expanded, allowing organizations to innovate their business models and processes without compromising agility in pursuit of their core competencies and business objectives.

2020 was a pivotal year for cloud computing as it played a leading role in facilitating remote work solutions. It allowed organizations to blend existing organizational processes with new cloud technologies, providing greater flexibility during these uncertain times. As businesses race to thrive in this new remote work environment, COVID-19 has accelerated focus on cloud capabilities. Cloud has become an essential part of ongoing business and the key to unlocking organizational growth. By 2021, global public cloud services spending is even expected to grow 18.4%.

As we get closer to a cloud-based world, organizations looking to create advantages for themselves must understand the ebb and flow of the cloud services industry. We've compiled 25 trend predictions that we believe will help you connect your existing cloud capabilities with your environment and identify areas that may drive future growth.

1. Sustainable Cloud

Research in 2020 shows that consumers view organizations not just as procurement lists, but as representatives of values. Your attitude toward the environment will largely determine how customers perceive your business. In fact, among nine potential areas of concern, 80% of consumers rank sustainability as the most important issue when evaluating organizations. Creating value at the expense of values alienates you from a large audience, half of whom won't hesitate to abandon brands that violate their personal ethics.

Our research shows that higher environmental, social, and governance performance gives organizations lower volatility and 4.7x higher profit margins. With this in mind, 44% of CEOs are already planning net-zero futures for their organizations, so leveraging efficient cloud operations available to you will become increasingly important.

Companies working with us have reduced energy consumption by up to 65% and carbon emissions by up to 84% simply by migrating portions of their infrastructure to public cloud. Focusing resources on essential processes significantly reduces server demand, thereby reducing energy waste.

Public cloud migration can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 59 million tons annually, equivalent to taking 22 million cars off the road! This is an important cloud trend that will only become more important in the coming years.