2021 vs 2022: The State of Data Maturity in the Public Cloud

2021 was a big year for data maturity in the public cloud. Businesses of all sizes made great strides in understanding and leveraging the power of data to drive their businesses forward.

However, some businesses were still hesitant to make the switch. Nonetheless, more progress is being made in 2022 as businesses become even more comfortable using data to make decisions and achieve their goals.

2021 – State of Data Maturity in the Public Cloud

The public cloud is becoming an increasingly popular option for businesses to store and utilise their data.

In 2021, 63% of organizations surveyed by Contino considered their data migration program to be mature, and over half used hybrid multi-cloud as their chosen storage plan.

Cloud migration makes up around a third of all technical use cases, with 69% of cloud data use cases is focused on improving customer experience.

As businesses become more comfortable with using data to improve their operations, we expect to see even more growth in this area in 2022.

Around 63% of organizations already have at least one AI/ML project in production on the cloud. The most popular business benefit of having an AI/ML cloud strategy is cost savings.

The IT and healthcare organizations are most likely to report having a defined cloud data strategy.

However, only 16% of organizations surveyed by Contino have fully realized the business benefits from moving data to the public cloud. This suggests that there is still considerable room for growth in this area.

2022 – State of Data Maturity in the Public Cloud

Cloud Ubiquity

The cloud is becoming more and more ubiquitous as businesses realize their potential. In 2022, we can expect to see a broader public cloud use for things like enhanced mobile banking experiences and healthcare transformation.

The cloud is becoming more affordable and accessible to businesses of all sizes. Additionally, the cloud is becoming more reliable and resilient, making it a much more attractive option for companies looking to adopt new technologies.

As a result, we can expect to see public cloud spending increase significantly in the coming years. Gartner predicts that public cloud spending will exceed 45% of all enterprise IT spending by 2026. This is up from less than 17% in 2021.

Ecosystems for Regional Clouds

One of the biggest trends impacting the data landscape is the rise of regional and vertical cloud ecosystems.

Due to various geopolitical factors, businesses are increasingly looking to reduce their dependence on a particular cloud provider. This has led to new cloud ecosystems that cater to specific regions or industries.

Businesses that are unable to create or sustain their platform ecosystems will need to rely on the platforms that have been made in other regions.

This could lead to increased regulation and control to maintain some level of sovereignty. Concerns about this issue are growing among politicians, academia, and tech providers in these regions.

For example, the GAIA-X initiative was launched to address concerns about the increasing control that major cloud providers have over data. This project aims to create a more open and interoperable cloud ecosystem in European countries.

Sustainability Cloud

Businesses are quickly adapting to the idea of data maturity in the public cloud. In 2021, Gartner found that nearly half of CEOs believed climate change mitigation would significantly impact their businesses.

To meet this growing demand for sustainability, cloud providers are instituting more aggressive carbon-neutral corporate goals.

This creates new challenges for infrastructure and operations leaders who must consider a provider’s “green” initiatives when choosing a cloud services provider.

Looking ahead to 2022, it is likely that sustainability requirements will continue to increase, mandating that businesses take action to reduce their environmental impact. Those who don’t adapt may find themselves at a disadvantage in terms of cost and reputation.

How to Prepare for the Future of Data Management

Data maturity in the public cloud is still in its early stages. As the cloud becomes more widely adopted, businesses will need to modify their strategies for managing data.

To prepare for the future, there are a few things that businesses can do to get ahead of the curve:

  • Educate yourself and your team on the latest trends in data management.
  • Keep an eye on the developments in regional and vertical cloud ecosystems.
  • Be prepared to implement sustainability initiatives.
  • Look for ways to automate and modernize your IT infrastructure.

Once they have done this, they can begin to implement changes that will help them better manage their data in the future.

Some of the changes businesses may want to consider are automating their data management processes, investing in new technologies, and forming partnerships with other companies.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the state of data maturity in the public cloud is constantly evolving. Businesses need to stay up-to-date on the latest trends to ensure that their infrastructure can keep up with the demands of the modern world.

Following these tips will help ensure that your business is prepared for the future of data management in the public cloud. By being proactive, you can stay ahead of the curve and avoid disruptions to your business.