FEATURE: DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
will see hyper-personalised cloud solutions where AI and real-time data adjust resources, security, and performance to meet the specific needs of each business.”
“ Alongside this, industry-specific cloud platforms will gain traction, offering tailored tools and workflows for sectors like healthcare, finance, retail, and manufacturing,” adds Paramasivam.
IN 2025, CLOUD PLATFORMS ARE SET TO UNDERGO MAJOR ADVANCEMENTS.
For example, healthcare clouds will prioritise secure patient data management, while retail platforms will leverage AI to enhance customer experiences and optimise inventory. These innovations will make cloud adoption more efficient and relevant to the unique demands of different industries.
Innovations taking place across cloud platforms include unified, data-driven visibility across infrastructure, multi-cloud environments, and applications that will enable security teams to achieve precise risk assessment and prioritisation.
“ Uniting these disparate tools and disjointed data in one platform affords security teams a full-spectrum view of their attack surface, enabling them to expose and prioritise what matters most and act decisively to mitigate risk,” points out Tenable’ s Jadallah.
“ Analytics platforms will provide enhanced interoperability and portability across clouds, along with AI, ML workload management. Users will demand hyperscale-neutral capabilities that can be easily integrated and allow access to major cloud providers like AWS, GCP, and Azure,” indicates Alteryx’ s Crowther.
Successful technology strategies
A well-aligned cloud strategy will empower businesses to stay competitive, adapt quickly to market changes, and deliver more personalised, data-driven experiences to customers, ultimately supporting longterm growth and success.
“ Building a cloud strategy for 2025 requires a balanced approach across SaaS, IaaS, and PaaS. Key considerations include strategic SaaS procurement, embracing multi-cloud environments, integrating AI for efficiency, and strengthening data management with robust security and compliance practices,” adds Cloudera’ s Shakora.
Adds ManageEngine’ s Vaidyanathan,“ CIOs should build a cloud strategy that leverages SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS based on business needs. SaaS should be used for scalable, user-facing applications, while PaaS helps developers create custom applications with reduced infrastructure management. IaaS is ideal for businesses requiring customised infrastructure or large-scale data storage,”
“ A hybrid cloud approach, ensuring integration, security, and compliance, will be crucial. CIOs must focus on cost-efficiency, flexibility, and scalability, while continuously improving and optimising cloud services to support business growth and meet evolving technological demands,” continues Vaidyanathan.
CIOs should develop a cloud strategy that balances flexibility, security and integration by leveraging Open SaaS tools for collaboration and project management, alongside PaaS for custom application development.
“ Infrastructure-focused solutions, like those offered by Bentley, can provide scalability and interoperability to handle complex workflows. Ensuring secure and efficient data storage and processing through IaaS will also be key to optimising infrastructure projects and enabling seamless collaboration across teams,” says Bentley Systems’ Marsh.
Says Zoho’ s Paramasivam,“ CIOs should prioritise cloud platforms that incorporate AI and automation to enhance efficiency, innovation, and agility across the enterprise. By strategically integrating SaaS, IaaS, and PaaS solutions tailored to specific business domains, they can address unique operational needs and improve overall performance. This approach not only drives revenue growth but also enhances profit margins by streamlining processes and enabling faster decision-making.”
Cybersecurity remains another top priority, along with fostering collaborative transformation across departments, while proactive problem management and investing in talent are crucial to ensure successful execution. By addressing these areas, CIOs can create a cloud strategy that drives organisational growth and innovation across the evolving digital landscape.
“ Siloed security products create blind spots where attackers thrive, leaving critical gaps across the attack surface. CIOs’ cloud strategy needs to encompass
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