37 Heavenly Cloud Computing Statistics for 2023

About a decade ago, one buzzword in the IT field was quickly making its way into the spotlight.

Everyone was talking about "the cloud"!

Back then, people knew very little about this emerging tech, so naturally, there were a lot of questions:

How does the cloud work? Is it any different from the Internet? How can I "join" the cloud? Is it safe to store my data there?

As funny as some of those questions may sound to you today, they were absolutely on point a few years ago.

Cloud computing statistics reveal the exponential growth of the industry since then. Estimated at just $24.65 billion in 2010, it has already surpassed the $150 billion mark.

Consider this:

• 81% of all enterprises have a multi-cloud strategy already laid out or in the works.
• 67% of enterprise infrastructure is cloud-based.
• Additionally, 82% of the workload will reside on the cloud.
• As a result, more than 40 zettabytes of data will be flowing through cloud servers and networks.
• It makes sense, as even today the average person uses 36 cloud-based services every single day.
• Amazon Web Services has the largest cloud computing market share at 32%.
• Platform as a Service (PaaS) will experience a 19.6% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) by 2026.

I've seen flowers take more time to sprout fully.

The cloud was always destined for success. Back when we were mostly storing our data on a local device and copying it on flash drives. The mere thought of having everything available on-the-go sounded revolutionary. Nowadays the vast majority of people and businesses use this technology daily.

To show you just how far we have gone, let's take a look at some curious cloud computing facts and stats.

Impressive Cloud Computing Statistics for 2023

Wondering who is number one in the cloud computing arena at the moment? While free platforms like Dropbox and iCloud continue to excel as the most popular free file storage services, Amazon Web Services appear to be the clear winner according to cloud computing stats in 2022.

1. Amazon Web Services has the largest cloud computing market share at 32%.

(Source: Statista)

The truth is that the biggest cloud computing market share in 2022 is actually for a category named ‘other’. AWS holds the next largest percentage at 32%.

2. By 2022, the adoption of cloud technologies by other countries will fall behind the US by several years.

(Source: Gartner)

Cloud computing actually started in the US and they have been leading the way since 2015, according to cloud computing statistics by country. By 2022, cloud adoption in other countries will be significantly lower.

3. 50% of people said cloud usage would be higher than initially planned throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Source: Flexera)

COVID-19 had an impact even on cloud computing growth statistics!

A wider survey by Flexera was conducted to see how the pandemic would affect cloud growth. Out of 187 respondents, more than half said cloud usage would be greater than expected, particularly because of the extra capacity needed to meet demand.

4. PaaS will make a revenue of $164.3 billion by 2026.

(Source: TechTarget)

PaaS is increasingly becoming a go-to solution for businesses looking to introduce cloud environments. For one, it doesn’t require upfront fees since it uses the pay-as-you-go payment model. It’s also more flexible than SaaS. 

Additionally, experts foresee vendors merging Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS) into PaaS for better service. According to cloud computing usage statistics, the consolidation will see PaaS make a revenue of $164.3 billion during the forecast period. 

5. The most popular free cloud storage services are iCloud and Dropbox with 300 million users per platform.

(Source: Software Testing Help)

A popular use of cloud services is file storage. And while cloud computing stats indicate there are many paid ones available out there, there are some great free alternatives as well. The most popular at the moment are iCloud on Mac, and Dropbox, both of which attract an impressive 300 million users to their platforms.

General Cloud Computing Stats

Shrouded in technological mystery, the Cloud is a term often used generously by shrewd marketers.

6. Global PaaS spending will grow by 50%.

(Source: Statista)

Cloud computing stats for 2022 show that PaaS spending will increase by half in 2022 compared to 2018. Database as a Service (dbPaaS), will have the highest demand, bringing $12.1 billion in 2022.

 Here’s the amount of income its other segments will make individually:

• aPaaS - $6.5 billion
• baPaaS - $4.4 billion
• iPaaS - $4 billion
• adPaaS - $2.8 billion
• Others - $1.9 billion

7. Corporates store 60% of their data in the cloud.

(Source: Statista)

From a recent online survey involving 1767 respondents, more companies are shifting to cloud environments. Cloud adoption statistics for 2022 reveal that 60% of companies utilize private, public, and hybrid cloud workplaces.

8. The three sectors that plan to spend the most on cloud computing services are manufacturing ($19.7 billion), professional services ($18.1 billion), and banking ($16.7 billion).

(Source: Business Wire)

Unsurprisingly, looking at the cloud adoption by industry, industries that deal with the most data yield the most active investors. The banking field is especially fond of innovations in cloud technology. It fits them perfectly as they often need to retrieve heaps of delicate information from multiple secure locations.

9. Cloud apps can aid companies' collaborative tasks, file sharing, content sharing, and data security. The average employee uses 36 cloud-based services in their daily routine.

(Source: Skyhigh)

If that sounds excessive, then you need to consider the many applications of cloud computing that have given rise to a multitude of different services. There are over 210 services in the "collaboration" category alone. With such a wealth of solutions, it's no wonder the average enterprise employs about 1400 cloud-based apps.

10. The public cloud market will grow by $482 billion in 2022.

(Source: Ignitech)

According to cloud computing statistics for 2022, the public cloud space will experience a growth of 22%. The infrastructure is likely to see more AI and robust automation applications. In addition, for better control and scalability, businesses will adopt multi cloud and hybrid environments.

11. Public cloud will account for over 45% of total enterprise IT spending.

(Source: TechRepublic)

Cloud computing facts for 2022 show that the industry will experience massive growth in the coming years. Experts predict that by 2026, nearly half of enterprise spending on information technology will go to the public cloud.

12. The growing adoption of cloud services will increase the need for additional IT infrastructure.

(Source: IDC)

Long-term forecasts confirm this trend will continue to affect the IT market in the next few years. Public cloud vendors will be extending their influence and rake more income in return. Should predictions turn out to be correct, the spending on IT infrastructure will reach $55.7 billion by 2022. Cloud computing statistics from IDC predict a 10.9% growth rate of the demand for servers, Ethernet switches, and enterprise storage solutions.

13. Businesses are struggling to get a hold of their cloud spending.

(Source: Flexera)

Enterprise cloud adoption is on the rise, and organizations feel like their costs are spiraling out of control. On top of that, it’s becoming hard to set accurate budgets.

Respondents that have tried to make projections, but ended making oversights by 24% on average. It’s more vital than ever for companies to optimize their costs appropriately for proper resource allocation.

Still, 70% of companies using the cloud plan to increase their budgets in the future.

14. Multi-cloud and hybrid cloud strategies combine technologies from the public and private cloud models. 74% of enterprises believe they are taking the best of both worlds and define their strategy as hybrid or multi-cloud.

(Source: ParkMyCloud)

Whether they are employing a mix of on-premise and third-party public service (hybrid) or a combination of different public providers (multi), most companies recognize the value of diversifying their operations. Security and efficiency are top priorities, and cloud computing statistics confirm businesses are not afraid to implement a more complex infrastructure.

15. A State of the Cloud report shows companies are increasingly adopting a multi-cloud strategy. 84% of surveyed enterprises describe their IT infrastructure as "multi-cloud."

(Source: RightScale)

In comparison, the hybrid cloud strategy is still below 60%. This again confirms that companies are progressively moving away from on-premise infrastructure and shifting their operations to third-party servers. Public cloud remains the most preferred cloud service type, with 91% of respondents relying on such tech.

Need some first-hand information about this emerging technology?

Companies share their experience with the cloud.

16. The UK will have 20 new data center projects.

(Source: GlobeNewswire)

Three countries in the European region will account for 50% of new data centers in an upcoming project. That is the UK, Spain, and Germany. 

The entire exercise will provide around 3,000 MW of power and more than 1 million m2 of additional space.

The United Kingdom will have the largest share of the developments with 20. Germany will have 15, and Spain 15.

Cloud Adoption Facts

Cloud-based services are everywhere already. You are likely to be using some to read this very article.

17. The positive impact of cloud technology is almost instantaneous. 80% of companies report operation improvements within the first few months of adopting the tech.

(Source: Multisoft)

The research was conducted predominantly within startups and SMBs, which proves that cloud computing is not just for the big boys to dabble with. According to cloud statistics, tech adoption in smaller businesses is growing yearly, and CEOs report the first positive results within months.

18. A major reason for the hypergrowth of the public cloud is its affordability. Small and medium businesses find it 40% more cost-effective to employ third-party cloud platforms than maintaining an in-house system.

(Source: Multisoft)

When you think about it, it certainly makes sense - not everyone can afford such infrastructure and supporting staff, let alone the time involved for setup and maintenance. On top of that, you have to take great care of keeping your operations safe and secure. Public cloud computing companies might not grant you much control over this aspect, but the setup still guarantees your data is isolated and secured from breaches.

19. Cloud technology is so reliable when it comes to safety that 94% of businesses report significant improvements in online security after moving their data to the cloud.

(Source: Salesforce)

Furthermore, a massive 91% also state cloud tech proves of immense help when they deal with government compliance requirements. Cloud infrastructure companies employ advanced encryption methods when transmitting data, ensuring no unauthorized user can gain access to your private information.

20. 34% of small and medium businesses said cloud computing was significantly higher than planned due to COVID. 

(Source: Flexera)

According to cloud computing statistics for 2022, over 30% of SMBs used significantly more cloud computing than originally planned due to the pandemic. 52% said it was slightly higher than expected. These numbers don’t come as a surprise as many people were forced to work from home

Cloud Usage Statistics

Businesses big and small begin adopting cloud services en masse. It makes sense from economic and security standpoints.

21. What are the top reasons companies choose to trust the cloud? 71% look for speed improvements, 63% want greater flexibility, and 57% pick improved customer support as reason #1.

(Source: IDG)

Apart from the need for speed (wink, wink), the numbers are not spread evenly across the board when we take company size into account. Organizations with more than 1000 employees are mainly looking for flexibility and reduced costs of operation, while smaller companies want to ensure their business continuity.

22. Email services and file storage are the predominant uses for cloud computing in the EU with 66% and 53% respectively.

(Source: Eurostat)

The Eurostat research reveals some interesting shifts in the reasons for adopting the cloud. Email management remains at a steady level, while file storage purposes have increased by a whopping 15%. Other more recent needs include hosting company databases, more specifically virtual private server (VPS) hosting. The last one provides dedicated resources on the server, thanks to virtualization technology. 

23. 26% of business executives report data security is becoming a significant concern.

(Source: Call Center Helper)

More than a quarter of business executives report witnessing more severe attacks, especially during the last two years. Furthermore, 2022 cloud stats reveal that 61% of employers with remote staff fear ‌hackers might target them.

Cloud Provider Statistics

There is one big name that dominates the cloud scene: Amazon Web Services.

24. Alibaba Cloud service will earn $947.3 billion by 2026.

(Source: Seeking Alpha)

The recent slide in tech stocks led to a 28.5% loss in Alibaba’s value. The Chinese hostile political climate has also been a contributing factor. However, experts believe it will recover in the next few years, bringing to $947.3 billion in revenue.

25. Amazon Web Services (AWS) will reach $729.76 in sales in 2022.

(Source: Insider Intelligence)

AWS stats show it will earn $729.76 billion in 2022. But that’s just an estimate, and the sales might surpass that going by 2021’s performance. At the time, the revenue was $3 billion over what experts had forecasted.

26. Dropbox continues to be the leading cloud storage provider with 47.3%. Other top services include Google Drive (26.9%) and Microsoft OneDrive (15.3%).

(Source: Capital)

Looking at the cloud storage statistics, Dropbox is losing part of its user base in favor of Google Drive and even Box.com, which focus mainly on enterprise solutions. The biggest storage vendor still dominates the market, but if this alarming trend continues, they will soon face fierce competition.

So what can we expect from the industry in the foreseeable future?

Cloud technology seems to have a lot in store for us.

Latest Development Statistics

Cloud computing is still computing and as such the tech develops with stunning temps.

27. Between 2022 and 2032, the cloud computing industry will be worth $1, 949 billion.

(Source: GlobeNewswire)

In a Fact.MR report, the industry will attain a 15% Compound Annual Growth Rate during the forecast period. As a result, it will be worth $1,949 billion between 2022 to 2032. Experts attribute the growth to the rapid shift to digital workplaces during this time. 

28. Enterprises are predicted to invest over 3.5 million on average within the next year. This expenditure took 30% of their total IT budget in 2021.

(Source: IDG)

The majority of the budgets will be allocated for SaaS platforms (48%) while the rest will be split between IaaS (30%), and PaaS (21%). The average spendings have risen by 35.8% since 2016 which attests to the growing interest of enterprises in the cloud computing market.

29. Organizations will deploy 95% of digital workloads in cloud-native environments by 2025.

(Source: Techgig)

95% of digital workforces plan to have cloud architectural principles and capabilities by 2025. That will have increased by a whopping 65% compared to 2021.

30. The median salary for professionals in the field now stands at $146,350.

(Source: Forbes)

The growth of cloud computing has significantly improved wages as they were around $124,300 just a couple of years ago.

The research encompassed over 50,000 job postings in the cloud tech field. It reveals that the average salary for skilled professionals marked a remarkable jump of $22,050 since 2016. The demand for cloud experts today is higher than ever and it shows in their salaries as well.

31. By 2025, over half of the cloud spending will go to four main enterprise categories.

(Source: Gartner)

A cloud study by Gartner found enterprises will direct over 51% of their budget to transform four categories by 2025. That’ll be 11% more than the spending in 2022. The areas are:

• Business process services
• Infrastructure software
• System infrastructure
• Application software

32. The cloud monitoring industry will grow by 22.7% between 2020 and 2022.

(Source: Accenture)

Machine learning, data fabrics, and cloud coalitions keep an eye on the cloud goings-on in the environment. According to cloud computing statistics, monitoring will increase by about 23% between 2020-2022.

With the rapid migration to the cloud because of the flexibility it offers, there will also be a need to leverage systems to manage it. That means companies will have to cough more money for the functionality.  During this period, the sector’s value will amount to $4.5 billion.

Fun Cloud Computing Facts

It was hard not to go overboard with cloud-related puns throughout this piece. Here are some entertaining and curious facts about this technology.

33. The US Government is one of the most prominent cloud "clients." 48% of federal and state agencies utilize multiple cloud-based services.

(Source: Number8)

The cloud is at the very core of the government's modernization, and optimization efforts. That is evident by their steady shift to Amazon AWS. Banks, on the other hand, are the most active users of the cloud. That’s mostly due to the adoption of other new technologies like blockchain in their daily operations.

34. Any new cloud server has the capacity to host 600 smartphones and 120 tablets.

(Source: Multisoft)

The rapid cloud computing growth is directly related to the surge in electronic device usage. Currently, there are over 13,000,000 servers scattered across the world, and Amazon AWS accounts for almost half of them. Enterprise investments in IT infrastructure will undoubtedly help the sector to grow exponentially.

35. The total number of information in the cloud will be 100 zettabytes by 2025.

(Source: Cloudwards)

Cloud computing statistics show that in 2025, the total data storage in the world will exceed 200 zettabytes. 50% of that (100 zettabytes) will go to the cloud—an astronomical figure considering that one zettabyte equals a billion terabytes.

36. Cloud adoption in Europe will grow with a CAGR of 9% between 2022 and 2028.

(Source: EMR)

Cloud computing in Europe will experience an almost 10% growth during the prediction period due to increasing demand. As a result, it will bring in close to $70 billion in revenue.

37. In 2019, IBM acquired RedHat for $34 billion in an attempt to set a firm foot on the hybrid cloud market.

(Source: ZDNet)

The deal became the most expensive software acquisition and third-biggest acquisition in the history of tech. IBM had to overpay significantly, which marks its ambition to challenge the big players in the hybrid market. Will this deal skyrocket their services or put them in massive debt? We are yet to see the impact.

Key Takeaways

Judging by the current state of the cloud, there are no major obstacles for the technology to continue evolving. Big enterprises are already putting a lot of sensitive information in the public cloud. Their growing needs are already creating a new wave of cutting-edge solutions and business strategies.

Hybrid and multi-cloud models are becoming the new status quo. Exciting innovations like Kubernetes containers are already serving the industry. They’re just a taste of what’s to come.

So what's your take on these cloud computing statistics?

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