Amazon Web Services’ Re:Invent cloud event is this month, and already I’m getting emails around announcements. Here are the three key trends that will be highlighted not only at the show but in the broader world of cloud providers and users in the next few months.
1. An updated tactical push from AWS
We'll see many tactical announcements around every topic, including security monitoring services, better service discovery, and better scaling algorithms.
The tactical features that pop up continuously from AWS typically align to customer requests. Thus, AWS -- like Google and Microsoft -- is doing a fair job at keeping an eye on the current use cases for its technology and, true to the gods of agile and devops, are pushing those features into its cloud services quickly.
2. A push to cloud-based data
Data is the killer application of the public cloud. But most enterprises are staring at their data silos with no motivation to deal with the pain and suffering of migrating that data to the cloud or of picking a new database platform.
AWS and other cloud providers will push to make data migration easier. This push will have two components: One is the ability to make data migration more seamless and painless, typically through new special-purpose data tools. The other is to target data platforms in the cloud that are a vast improvement over the enterprise on-premise standards such as Oracle and IBM.
3. The updated game of buzzword bingo
In this business, you have to do what the cool kids are doing, and that’s the internet of things, machine learning, and blockchain. This means AWS and third-party providers will continue pushing IoT services in AWS, improving their machine learning services, and adding new features such as blockchain support in vertical cloud services.
Much of this is chasing the shiny objects. But some objects will add real value to enterprises, even as most will fade into IT history. The trick is separating what’s important to your own enterprise, and what’s not -- only you can do that.