As software outsourcing in Sri Lanka continues in spite of strict lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of key things have made this possible (and profitable) for companies involved in the information technology industry. Video conferencing and cloud infrastructure have been the main factors in making remote work possible, with most SaaS solutions making it to the top of every company’s must-have list.
Cloud support services have long since been an indispensable asset for most modern-day businesses, but the recent lockdown situation which has warranted remote work has brought to light just how ever more important the cloud is – and will continue to be. As the global economy experiences turmoil, many companies have been able to mitigate monumental losses by staying afloat through a combination of technologies that are all based on the cloud.
From video conferencing to shared data spaces, the seamless collaboration that is being experienced by teams is one that is sure to leave a positive impression on most businesses, so much so that many may even continue to operate remotely on a permanent basis, and long after lockdowns are over. But cloud-based technologies such as video conferencing and shared databases only comprise of a small fraction of what the cloud is capable of. On top of that, many vendors who are playing the field are offering an entire suite of services so that enterprises need not look elsewhere – but it’s still not that simple.
Thanks to hybrid and multi-clouds, the arena dominated by leading cloud providers becomes all the more intricate, and very, very complex. In a bid to somewhat simplify what’s abuzz in the world of cloud, here are 3 of the biggest cloud providers for 2020.
Dominating the cloud vendor realm, AWS has been at the forefront of providing robust Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) since 2008. What’s more, it’s also leading the AI, machine learning and IoT spectrum, with Amazon SageMaker, a proprietary machine learning development tool that streamlines the production of any machine learning software. It all goes a step further with Amazon SageMaker Autopilot, which is an automated machine learning development tool that provides insight on what it creates, why and how.
What’s more, being an AWS partner has its perks; as Verizon shook hands with AWS to create a bond for leveraging edge computing, enterprises now have greater opportunities to pursue in the field of IoT. This can further help decentralise computing operations and decrease latency – something which is quintessential when it comes to IoT devices.
What’s unique about AWS: Apart from spearheading as a cloud provider and offering services that are unparalleled from its rivals, Amazon’s development of its very own Graviton2 processor is a novelty – and will soon be a gamechanger once its abilities to heighten processing power are eventually recognised on a mass scale.
Brainchild of the Microsoft giant, Azure is best at offering everything that the 21st century enterprise needs. As demands increased due to the pandemic, Microsoft has been dedicated to keeping digital transformation going. With many leading enterprise software vendors already onboard, Azure is only at a close second from its AWS counterpart. But its silent efforts are well recognized, especially thanks to its versatility in mastering hybrid cloud development, as opposed to a more linear offering of services.
What’s unique about Azure – Unlike other cloud vendors, Azure isn’t the prime offering from Microsoft. It’s part of a package that consists of Office 365 and Dynamics, both of which are popular and commonly used SaaS solutions. This way, Azure is sure to be slipped in for most enterprises, making it something that will eventually be used and relied on.
Albeit being the third leading contender in this list, Google Cloud has been gearing up to sustain long-term strategies for targeting specific industries and applications. With the likes of numerous business leaders who have joined Google Cloud from leading companies such as Oracle and Microsoft, the tech giant is well equipped with insider scoops on how to deliver value with utmost precision.
Due to the increase in video conferencing demand, Google Meet was launched and made part of the Google suite, with easy access to the service through sister platforms such as Gmail. While Google Cloud may have a long way to go in terms of dominating the cloud vendor space, it presents immense potential to leverage operations and business value in many key areas.
What’s unique about Google Cloud: Certain industries such as retail may have an advantage with Google Cloud, thanks to other established platforms such as Google Ads and Google Analytics, which can be seamlessly integrated for a variety of applications. With many Google-based services already being the norm, Google Cloud has the added advantage of making use of these services which many already rely on, as an integral part of its overall offering.
While the cloud was an essential component for every organisation both big and small to conduct daily operations, it feels nothing short of a lifesaver in the wake of this pandemic, as most are forced to stay at home. Working remotely has been possible thanks to the cloud and its plethora of services, no doubt.
But considering just how broad cloud-based offerings are, it is an overwhelming task to choose the right services for your business needs. So how can you get started in the endeavour to choose what’s right for your organisation?
It’s helpful to understand what leading cloud providers are up to, and where they aim to go in the future.
AWS stands at the very top, thanks to its extensive range of product and service offerings which make it more of an umbrella provider.
Azure comes at a close second, making it highly accessible on an enterprise level since it provides crucial services such as Office 365 and Microsoft Dynamics as part of the package.
Last but not the least, Google Cloud is packed with insights from leading enterprise software vendors in order to target specific industries and applications.