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Generative AI is reshaping the cloud computing market and is expected to lead to more AI workload-specific cloud platforms in the future, a new research report from leading global technology research and advisory firm Information Services Group (ISG) (Nasdaq: III) says.

The ISG Buyers Guides for Cloud Platforms, produced by ISG Software Research (formerly Ventana Research), say cloud computing platforms, due in part to accessibility, cost optimization tools and data security, are enablers for enterprises seeking to harness the power of GenAI applications and emerging software technologies.

The reports note specialty cloud providers will become an important consideration for many enterprise cloud architectures. The emergence of domain-specific models, which can be compute-efficient, more compact and reduce the risks of general-purpose model hallucinations, further suggests a future where cloud platforms may become increasingly specialized, the reports say.

“As GenAI continues to evolve, we can expect to see more AI workload-specific cloud platforms in the future,” said Jeff Orr, director for digital technology, ISG Software Research. “GenAI applications require extensive computational resources, and cloud computing platforms provide the scalability enterprises need to allocate resources dynamically based on the needs of various GenAI workloads. This transformation has augmented the cloud computing market as the optimal choice for creating foundation models and deploying GenAI-powered applications.”

The reports say that by migrating to the cloud, businesses can streamline operations, reduce costs and accelerate innovation. To meet the efficiency and innovation challenge, enterprises are expected to adopt multiple clouds.

ISG projects that by 2027, over three-quarters of enterprises will operate across multiple public cloud computing environments, necessitating the requirement for a unified data platform to virtualize access for business continuity.

When an enterprise CIO or IT leader is considering a cloud platform, the choice between public, private, hybrid, multi-cloud or industry/sovereign cloud should be driven by the organization’s specific objectives, goals and desired outcomes.

“The conversation in enterprises has shifted from ‘Why cloud?’ to which types of cloud for which workloads,” said Orr. “A diversity in cloud service providers now exists to align with specific industry and business requirements rather than a one-size-fits-all agreement.”

In addition to aligning with strategic objectives and operational needs, it is also important for enterprises to consider factors such as cost, resource availability, technical expertise and the potential need for digital transformation when choosing cloud platforms. A well-chosen cloud strategy, the reports say, can drive innovation, enhance customer experiences and provide a competitive edge in the digital marketplace.

The reports cite other benefits of using a cloud service provider over building on-premises servers. They include low capital outlay, faster time-to-market, agility and optimal cloud delivery models from Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) to Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) to Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). While on-premises servers will not go away entirely, they must continue to compete effectively with cloud computing as an alternative for many applications and services, the reports say.

The ISG Buyers Guide for Cloud Platforms is designed to provide a holistic view of a software provider’s ability to serve a variety of cloud workloads with a set of cloud platform products. As such the Buyers Guide includes the full breadth of deployment models, services and functionality.

For its 2024 Buyers Guides for Cloud Platforms, ISG assessed software providers across four cloud platform categories – Cloud Computing Platforms, Public Cloud Platforms, Private Cloud Platforms and Hybrid Cloud Platforms – and produced a separate Buyers Guide for each. A total of 13 providers were assessed: Akamai, Alibaba Cloud, Amazon Web Services (AWS), DigitalOcean, Google, Huawei Cloud, IBM, Leaseweb, Microsoft, Oracle, OVHcloud, Tencent and Vultr.

ISG Software Research designates the top three software providers as Leaders in each category. For the 2024 study, the leading providers in ranked order are:

Cloud Computing Platforms: Microsoft, AWS and Google

Public Cloud Platforms: Microsoft, AWS and Google

Private Cloud Platforms: Microsoft, Google and Oracle

Hybrid Cloud Platforms: Microsoft, AWS and Google

”Cloud computing has become as ubiquitous as the power and water in your home or business, but the software platforms for providing this service are still in an evolutionary transition to be able to interoperate across systems in an enterprise and across multiple enterprises,” says Mark Smith, partner of Software Research at ISG. “This Buyers Guide gives enterprises that need to consolidate and simplify their cloud platforms a better understanding of the current cloud landscape.”

The ISG Buyers Guides for Cloud Platforms are the distillation of more than a year of market and product research efforts. The research is not sponsored nor influenced by software providers and is conducted solely to help enterprises optimize their business and IT software investments.

Visit this webpage to learn more about the Buyers Guides for Cloud Platforms and read executive summaries of each of the four reports. The complete reports, including provider rankings across seven product and customer experience dimensions and detailed research findings on each provider, are available by contacting ISG Software Research.

About ISG Software Research

ISG Software Research, previously Ventana Research, provides authoritative market research and coverage of the business and IT software industry. It distributes research and insights daily through its user community, and provides a portfolio of consulting, advisory, research and education services for enterprises, software and service providers, and investment firms. Its on-demand service provides structured education and advisory support through subject-matter experts. ISG Buyers Guides support the RFI/RFP process and help enterprises evaluate and select software providers through tailored assessment services and the ISG Software Research Value Index methodology. Visit www.ventanaresearch.com for more information and to sign up for free community membership.

About ISG

ISG (Information Services Group) (Nasdaq: III) is a leading global technology research and advisory firm. A trusted business partner to more than 900 clients, including more than 75 of the world’s top 100 enterprises, ISG is committed to helping corporations, public sector organizations, and service and technology providers achieve operational excellence and faster growth. The firm specializes in digital transformation services, including AI and automation, cloud and data analytics; sourcing advisory; managed governance and risk services; network carrier services; strategy and operations design; change management; market intelligence and technology research and analysis. Founded in 2006, and based in Stamford, Conn., ISG employs 1,600 digital-ready professionals operating in more than 20 countries—a global team known for its innovative thinking, market influence, deep industry and technology expertise, and world-class research and analytical capabilities based on the industry’s most comprehensive marketplace data. For more information, visit www.isg-one.com.