Abstract Cloud computing technologies have emerged in the recent past as a new model/paradigm for hosting and delivering computing resources and services through the Internet. This paper discusses cloud computing technologies as a mechanism for improving business operations through offering computing resources/services via the Internet. This discussion includes an overview of cloud computing technologies, its benefits, and recent trends. This is followed by a discussion of speculations regarding the future of cloud computing technologies in light of the recent trends. The final segment of the paper demonstrates how the changes in cloud computing technologies affect purchase recommendations for clients. In this regard, the new considerations for clients when making purchase decisions for cloud computing technologies are discussed.

Keywords: cloud computing, technologies, clouds, multi-cloud, hybrid could strategy, IT professionals, trends, speculations, future.

Cloud Computing Technologies

Cloud computing has emerged as one of the paradigms for hosting and delivering services over the Internet. The emergence of cloud computing is attributable to the rapid developments of processing and storage technologies. Cloud computing is a technology in which resources are treated as general utilities that can be delivered through the Internet via an on-demand basis. However, despite the potential capabilities and benefits of cloud computing, its still in its infancy stages because of the numerous issues that still need to be addressed. As a result of the emerging issues, the future of cloud technologies has been an issue of concern to IT professionals. These professionals have attempted to determine the future of cloud computing based on its current issues, potential benefits, and areas of improvement. In light of recent trends, there are speculations that the future of cloud computing is multi-cloud and abstract virtual infrastructure.

Overview of Cloud Computing Technologies

Cloud computing technologies are new mechanisms for hosting and delivering services through the Internet (Zhang, Cheng & Boutaba, 2010). This new paradigm has become attractive to many businesses because it eliminates the need for users to engage in advance planning for pro-visioning. Additionally, cloud computing has gained significant traction in recent years because of its capability to enable businesses to increase resources through an on-demand basis regardless of the size of the enterprise. Cloud computing technologies emerged due to the fact that computer resources are increasingly becoming cheaper, available, and more powerful. However, cloud computing is not necessarily a new technology, but represents a new operations model through which different existing technologies are brought together...

One of the definitions of cloud computing is that it’s a model that allows convenient, on-demand network access to a wide pool of configurable computing resources that can be easily provisioned and released (Zhang, Cheng & Boutaba, 2010). Cloud computing is also defined as a new computing model through which computer resources are treated as general utilities that can the provisioned and released by users via the Internet and through an on-demand basis. In this regard, computer resources that are provided as general utilities include storage and CPU. Despite the different definitions, the basic understanding of cloud computing is that it’s a computing model that involves hosting and delivery of services via the Internet.
Cloud computing is link with some related technologies including grid computing, utility computing, autonomic computing, and virtualization (Shawish & Salama, 2014). Grid computing is defined as distributed computing paradigm that organizes networked resources for the achievement of a computational objective. On the other hand, utility computing refers to the model of offering resources on an on-demand basis and charging customers based on usage instead of a flat rate. Virtualization offers virtualized resources for high-level applications after abstracting physical hardware details while autonomic computing focuses on enhancing self-management capabilities.

Cloud computing operates through dividing the conventional role of service provider into infrastructure provider and service provider. Infrastructure provider manages cloud platforms and leases the required computer resources through a usage-based pricing model instead of a flat-rate pricing model. On the other hand, service providers lease resources from one or several cloud infrastructure providers and then avail them to serve end users. During this process, cloud computing leverages its related technologies to meet the technological and economic requirements of modern IT demands.

Benefits of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing technologies are increasingly adopted by business enterprises because of its potential benefits with regards to enhancing business operations. According to Pooja & Pandey (2014), cloud computing technologies have numerous benefits including pay-per-use facility, on-demand service, multi-tenancy, and device and location independency. In light of these benefits, cloud computing technologies have had significant impacts on the information technology sector. The huge impact is evident in the increased development and adoption of these technologies by large companies like Microsoft,…