More than half of enterprises want to become cloud-first businesses by 2020 according to the latest report by 451 Research, with the majority attracted to the public cloud and SaaS services.
The most popular areas businesses want to use cloud for are business intelligence, machine learning/artificial intelligence and big data, suggesting information processing is the most attractive reason for switching to cloud-based infrastructure rather than on-premise solutions.
Despite businesses wanting to move their data management to the cloud rather than on-premise, more than 60% of them are lacking the strategy to drive a successful transformation.
"The survey suggests that many but certainly not all organizations are finally reaching the point where they can focus on endeavors that help differentiate the business, instead of merely keeping the lights on," said Melanie Posey, research vice president and general manager of 451 Research's Voice of the Enterprise division.
"In 2018 we expect to see much of this effort focused around a new set of approaches to data optimization and analysis."
Respondents to 451 Research's survey revealed Microsoft and Amazon Web Services (AWS) are set to become the biggest strategic suppliers of cloud technologies to the enterprise, with Microsoft holding 35% of the market in 2019 compared to 33% today and AWS's share increasing from 7% today to 17% in two years' time.
Almost a third of businesses say that machine learning and AI is a priority as part of their business transformation, although only 12% are making use of the technology today. 12% of respondents explained the importance of Blockchain as part of their re-organisation, but this is expected to increase over the next 12 months as businesses start to deploy the tech this year.
-
RSAC Conference 2025: The front line of cyber innovationITPro Podcast Ransomware, quantum computing, and an unsurprising focus on AI were highlights of this year's event
-
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei thinks we're burying our heads in the sand on AI job lossesNews With AI set to hit entry-level jobs especially, some industry execs say clear warning signs are being ignored
-
Where is the cloud headed?ITPro Podcast UK businesses are balancing cloud migration with AI adoption and demands for data sovereignty
-
Microsoft says it’ll protect EU cloud customers from shutdown demandsNews Microsoft president Brad Smith says the company will protect its EU cloud services from outside pressure
-
The Wiz acquisition stakes Google's claim as the go-to hyperscaler for cloud security – now it’s up to AWS and industry vendors to reactAnalysis The Wiz acquisition could have monumental implications for the cloud security sector, with Google raising the stakes for competitors and industry vendors.
-
Microsoft’s EU data boundary project crosses the finish lineNews Microsoft has finalized its EU data boundary project aimed at allowing customers to store and process data in the region.
-
Microsoft hit with £1 billion lawsuit over claims it’s “punishing UK businesses” for using competitor cloud services
News Customers using rival cloud services are paying too much for Windows Server, the complaint alleges
-
Microsoft's Azure growth isn't cause for concern, analysts sayAnalysis Azure growth has slowed slightly, but Microsoft faces bigger problems with expanding infrastructure
-
The Open Cloud Coalition wants to promote a more competitive European cloud market – but is there more to the group than meets the eye?Analysis The launch of the Open Cloud Coalition is the latest blow in a war of words between Microsoft and Google over European cloud
-
Data center constraints pinch as Microsoft reports soaring AI demandNews The firm’s CEO Satya Nadella remained confident that supply and demand would start matching up later in the fiscal year
