The cloud is evolving. As the migration to public and private clouds increase and technology becomes more sophisticated, the definition of the cloud is changing. While many devices and technology ecosystems offer new versions, that's not how the "new" cloud works.
When it comes to cloud 2.0, there's no standard definition or upgrade. It's simply come to refer to modern cloud computing programs.
What Makes Cloud 2.0 Different?
What is causing such a paradigm shift in cloud computing? The cloud's first wave was all about having a virtual place to store data and apps.
Initially, companies adopted the cloud to reduce IT infrastructure costs. Those goals are still vital, but the new cloud must do more, like accelerating innovation. Further, the cloud is now the central architectural piece, not just a silo.
Moving from Single Module Applications to Microservices
In traditional cloud computing, single module applications reside in the cloud. In the early stages of cloud adoption, developers moved these apps as one package. This practice made the apps more susceptible to failures.
In response to being able to eliminate or troubleshoot failures, development teams are moving toward microservices. With microservices, the app is a collection of loosely coupled services. In changing the design and deployment of apps, a new type of cloud is necessary.
Cloud 2.0 will handle microservices much better so that the entire app doesn't fail.
Big Data Is Growing
The amount of data generated by companies every day is staggering. The cloud has been the go-to place to collect and store all this data. That was the role Cloud 1.0 played. Cloud 2.0 is the answer to doing something with the data.
The original cloud already has an ideal infrastructure. Cloud 2.0 pushes forward, allowing organizations to take control of their data. With the new cloud, the emphasis is on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) capabilities.
Businesses realize the value of their data. Approximately 80 percent of businesses say that big data is either "critical" or "very important" to their organization. To capture insights from data to improve decision-making and planning, you need a flexible cloud to allow for more than storage.
Scalability
Being able to scale cloud resources is critical. It should be a seamless option. Cloud 2.0 should enable easy scalability. That's essential when dealing with Big Data analytics.
Cloud-Only Strategies
The cloud was once just one of many architectures organizations would use to house data and applications. It's such an attractive space that companies are now looking to be cloud-only. This is because the cloud did what they expected. It reduced costs, improved security, and provided accessibility.
Cloud 2.0 fills this need and encompasses multiple clouds—public, private, and hybrid.
Private Clouds
A private cloud is only available to your users. While private cloud is a generic term, not all are the same. The transformation to Cloud 2.0 comes with a more flexible private cloud.
Seek out specific attributes for your private cloud to achieve Cloud 2.0, such as:
Self-service and automation features
Simplification to one platform
Automation of application lifecycle management
Data and storage consolidation
Lastly, a private cloud helps transform a company’s IT into hybrid cloud ecosystem as needs change and business operations evolve.
Public Cloud
Almost every organization uses the public cloud in some way. Ownership of that technology belongs to Amazon, Microsoft, or another provider. To use these public cloud services, companies must agree to terms. That was Cloud 1.0.
Cloud 2.0 is about the enterprise cloud and how it operates with public cloud services. Enterprise cloud brought public cloud-like experiences into a company’s data center. This brought new control, capabilities, efficiencies and scalability to in-house IT managers.
Hybrid Clouds
A hybrid cloud includes a mix of private and public clouds. This type of cloud is becoming very appealing to organizations. It delivers many benefits, including:
Business agility: In the current environment, every company needs to be flexible in managing their IT infrastructure. Hybrid clouds ensure this.
Handling fluctuations: For any company that sees significant variability in traffic or use (think eCommerce), the hybrid cloud is useful. It can help you manage resource demand.
Fast deployment: Innovation is a necessity, and speed to market can make all the difference. Hybrid clouds assist with rapid delivery.
Controlling costs: Every IT team has cost concerns. Hybrid clouds are all about efficiency and remove the need for capital investment.
From a business perspective, working with experts to design the right solution is a smart step.
The end goal is to find the best architecture to fuel business intelligence and improve operations.
Editor’s note: Find out how Nutanix can help by checking out their cloud solutions and services.
Michael Brenner is a keynote speaker, author and CEO of Marketing Insider Group. Michael has written hundreds of articles on sites such as Forbes, Entrepreneur Magazine, and The Guardian and he speaks at dozens of leadership conferences each year covering topics such as marketing, leadership, technology and business strategy. Follow him @BrennerMichael.
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