New Year’s Resolutions: Which Trends Should CSPs Follow in 2014?
Which cloud computing trends should CSPs pay attention to in the new year?
Cloud services providers (CSPs) are filling their lists of New Year’s resolutions with wants, but what about needs? What do CSPs need to pay attention to in the new year?
If CSPs aren’t sure of what they need, we do, so we’ve compiled a list of trending topics from 2013. These trends will continue forward in 2014 — and maybe even beyond, depending on how the various markets play out.
CSPs should pay close attention to the following story topics:
- File sync and sharing — Are there too many alternatives beyond Box and Dropbox? Shakeout coming? Which vendors will make it through the next year?
- Cloud billing features — Will CSPs continue to evolve by giving channel partners cloud billing functions to better manage customer engagements?
- The Chinese market — Public CSPs have jumped at the opportunity to leverage the Chinese market, with many moves at the end of 2013. How will the Chinese market come into play in 2014?
- Hybrid cloud computing — How will cpartners adapt to companies like VMware (VMW), Red Hat (RHT) and Rackspace (RAX) pushing the hybrid cloud computing model out to the channel?
- Cloud services brokerages — Who will offer a true online mall that allows cloud integrators to find, source and manage multiple applications for customers?
- An overcrowded BDR market — Symatenc (SYMC) pulled itself out of the cloud-based backup and recovery services business. And Nirvanix shut itself down. Meanwhile, competitors jumped at the opportunity to attract new customers. How will the BDR market shake out in 2014?
As long as CSPs keep the above story topics in mind, they’ll be off to a happy and prosperous new year.
