Top 5 Cloud Computing Providers

Top 5 Cloud Computing Providers

Top 5 Cloud Computing Providers

The global cloud computing market size is expected to grow from $445.3 billion in 2021 to $947.3 billion by 2026, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 16.3% ( ReporterLink). As the shift to the cloud sped up in recent years, top technology companies began to establish their own branches of cloud services and tools. Today there are over 360 vendors and 550 cloud platform services ( Gartner) so we met with our cloud subject matter experts and found what we think are the top 5 cloud computing providers.

1. Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Coming in at number one is, you guessed it, Amazon Web Services (AWS). As arguably the most well-known cloud vendor, AWS has taken the top spot on our list. Launched in 2006, Amazon was the first vendor to market a cloud infrastructure service. That head start helped them acquire a tremendous amount of brand equity and early adopters. However, the fact that they lead the cloud market hasn't stopped them from innovating as they continue to push further in areas such as AI, Containers, and server-less computing.

2. Microsoft Azure

Next up we have Microsoft Azure. With 715 million customers, Azure has the advantage of a large installed base of systems already inside organizations. This makes the transition to their cloud platform a natural evolution and eases implementation. A simple lift and shift of an on-premises infrastructure to Azure can be up and running quickly.

3. Google Cloud

In our third spot is Google Cloud. Currently holding 7 of the top 10 software & internet companies as customers ( Contino), Google is known for its Big Data processing. They also provide the full range of IaaS and PaaS services provided by AWS and Azure, but their pricing structure proves to be more customer-friendly compared to other vendors.

4. International Business Machines Corp (IBM) Cloud

Our fourth platform on the list is IBM, which in 2021 reported its biggest increase in revenue in three years ( DCK). IBM tends to rely on its integration into fortune 500 companies. IBM’s focus on Artificial Intelligence with its Watson initiative draws a ton of attention. While not strictly a cloud-based offering, companies often buy IBM's AI services from their cloud providers.

5. Oracle

Last, but certainly not least, we have Oracle. When you think of Oracle, you might think of databases. However, Oracle offers a full range of IaaS and PaaS services just like their competitors. Oracle's primary offering of SaaS (DBaaS) and autonomous database services makes it an interesting cloud provider. The Oracle Cloud customer offering allows you to run your Oracle cloud offerings into your on-premises data center thus allowing it to be fully managed while still maintaining and managing control over your data.

Takeaways

No matter which cloud service provider you use in your day-to-day operations, knowing what each cloud vendor offers can give you a competitive advantage and will help prepare you for potential multi-cloud integration ( if you haven't done so already). Training your IT staff on the features and benefits of your cloud platform of choice should be a top priority for your business.

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