Three cloud computing trends for 2015 and beyond

With cloud computing becoming increasingly popular, here are our top three predictions for what you can expect to happen with it this year and in the years to come:

1. Cloud spending will continue to rise

It will surely come as no surprise to you that cloud spending will continue to rise in 2015 and beyond. This report by RackSpace (http://core0.staticworld.net/images/article/2014/09/rac_cloud.adoption_infographic_rnd03-100441764-large.png) predicts that in 2015, small and medium businesses will spend around $10 billion dollars more on cloud computing solutions than they did in 2014. Other experts are also predicting that more of information technology budgets will be dedicated to implementing and managing cloud solutions, which will stimulate a spike in overall cloud spending in the coming years.

2. New developments in cloud security

It’s no secret that in today’s economy, data is king. Big data was definitely one of the business buzzwords for 2014, and now more and more businesses are realising the importance of collecting and analysing it, and the effect that it can have on marketing, sales and overall growth. The one thing many businesses are worried about when they look to migrate to cloud based solutions is security, and rightly so – many are worried that their data could fall into the hands of a business rival or cybercriminals. Whilst cloud storage solutions are an extremely safe and secure way to store your data, you can expect to see even more developments in cloud security over the coming years. Many experts are predicting that a wave of new cloud security solutions will hit the market in 2015, including new developments in security for emerging hybrid cloud solutions. In fact, Forbes predicts that this year spending on security development will increase by around 46% (http://forbes.com/sites/louiscolumbus/2014/11/26/computerworlds-2015-forecast-predicts-security-cloud-computing-and-analytics-will-lead-it-spending/), with a large amount of that devoted to the cloud.

3. Hybrid cloud solutions

2015 will also see the emergence and popularisation of what have been called ‘hybrid cloud solutions’. This is where an organisation uses a mixture of both private and public cloud solutions for their data and applications. These hybrid cloud solutions offer organisations more flexibility, as they allow businesses to choose which specific cloud services they want to use for different applications. This will become more popular in the coming years, and IT experts predict that by 2017 this hybrid model will be in use in around 50% of all businesses.

Three cloud computing trends for 2015 and beyond

Dropbox and Office 365: a match made in heaven?

Recently, the CEO of Dropbox announced that the cloud storage system had reached a total of 200 million users, including 4 million businesses. Drew Houston also announced that the company was keen to increase the number of Dropbox business users. Microsoft’s OneDrive is a similar service, meaning that Dropbox and Microsoft have long been seen as competitors, but changes have now been announced that show a very different reality.

Dropbox and Microsoft working together

Despite offering very similar services, Microsoft and Dropbox have chosen to work together to the benefit of both companies. Users of Dropbox and Office 365 will now find that the two work seamlessly together. The change is said to have ‘broken down walls’, and will increase ease of use and productivity for mobile workers.

Changes to the Dropbox app

The Dropbox app for mobile phones now features Microsoft Office integration. Users will be able to edit Office documents and files straight from Dropbox on their tablet or phone. The same is possible in reverse, with mobile workers able to use files that are stored in their Dropbox straight from their mobile Office applications. This functionality is available on both iOs and Android devices. Users, of course, will still be able to use OneDrive instead of Dropbox if that’s their preferred cloud storage system.

The importance of seamless connectivity

Microsoft’s CEO has said that “people need easier ways to create, share and collaborate regardless of their device or platform”, indicating that many companies will benefit from working closer together and not competing. As a result, Dropbox and Microsoft will be extending their partnership to offer the same connectivity for Windows phones and for PC and browser-based use in early 2015.

For mobile workers, these changes are sure to make life easier. As more and more devices and apps work seamlessly together, it will become easier than ever to upload and download files, make use of cloud computing and conduct meetings and presentations. Users will no longer need to circumnavigate restrictions, and will not be forced to use a certain service or provider. They can make their own choices, to suit their individual needs.

Dropbox and Office 365: a match made in heaven?

Office 365 is now available as a donation to qualified nonprofits

Get anywhere access to familiar Office applications, plus professional email, calendar, HD video conferencing, and more.

Take advantage of the cloud to help your non-profit deliver on its mission.

Microsoft is now offering its cloud-based Office 365 for Non-profits software programme to qualifying non-profits around the world via its software donation programme. The donation is available immediately to eligible organisations in 41 countries around the world, including the UK, and will be extended to a total of 90 countries by July 2014.

Office 365 for Non-profits lets non-profit and NGO staff use its cloud-based service to access files from almost anywhere, whether with a PC, smartphone or tablet. Staff can collaborate using shared applications such as email and shared calendars. Microsoft pledges a 99.9 per cent uptime. Jean-Philippe Courtois, president, Microsoft International, said: “Today we are donating to non-profits and NGOs access to Microsoft’s best-in-class cloud-based productivity and collaboration tools, enabling them to spend fewer resources and time on IT and focus on their missions addressing global issues, such as disease eradication, education and literacy, and environmental sustainability.”

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Office 365 is now available as a donation to qualified nonprofits

Office 365 subscribers get Office Mobile for Android phones

Today, Microsoft are launching Office Mobile for Android phones in the United States at no additional charge for Office 365 subscribers. This means that Office 365 subscribers can now work on their Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents from virtually anywhere–using their Windows Phone, iPhone or Android phones.

Office Mobile for Android phones can be downloaded from the Google Play Store. To use the app, you need a qualifying Office 365 subscription, including Office 365 Home Premium or Office 365 ProPlus (you can find the complete list of qualifying subscriptions here). Office Mobile for Android phones is initially available in the United States, with more countries coming on board over the next several weeks.

A true Office experience

Office Mobile is the official companion to Microsoft Office. Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents look great on your phone, thanks to support for charts, animations, SmartArt Graphics, and shapes. When you make edits or add comments to a document, the formatting and layout remain intact. When you return to your PC or Mac, your document looks like it should.

Easy access

Office Mobile is designed for people on the go.  We made it easy to access your Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents in the cloud on SkyDrive or SkyDrive Pro.  When you’re on your phone, you’ll see the list of documents you recently opened on your computer in the Recent Documents panel–no searching needed. And of course, you can view and edit documents you receive in email.

Designed for the phone

Office Mobile has been optimized for the small screen of your phone so you can get things done efficiently.  When reviewing Word documents, the Resume Reading feature takes you to the exact point in the document where you left off on your PC so you don’t waste time searching. The new Slide Navigator lets you browse through PowerPoint presentations fast while Speaker Notes help you practice on the run.

Sharing built-in

Edit documents and share them right from your phone. You can review comments in Word and Excel documents on your phone and add your own.  When you’re done, you can save the file back to SkyDrive or SkyDrive Pro or just send it as an email attachment.

 

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