Latest trends shaping the future of cloud computing

The future of cloud computing

AI, sovereignty, multi-cloud and quantum security: our Digital Platform Services experts outline eight cloud computing trends to factor into your cloud decisions.

Cloud now underpins AI, automation, industry solutions and compliance. Our white paper sets out eight themes, from AI and sovereignty to FinOps, to help CxOs shape their cloud roadmap.

What you will find

More than half of cloud computing resources are expected to be consumed by AI workloads by 2028. The paper explores the shift from training to running models at scale, the cost control this requires, and the arrival of neoclouds alongside hyperscalers.

Organisations now choose multi-cloud deliberately: to reach specialised AI infrastructure, combine hyperscalers with regional providers and meet sovereignty requirements. The paper also shows where standards gaps, egress costs and interoperability still constrain integration.

Digital sovereignty rests on three pillars: data, operational and technical. The paper reviews the emerging deployment models, from sovereign hyperscale offerings to isolated clouds and hybrid approaches, and what they mean for regulated sectors such as banking.

The paper summarises the European post-quantum timetable and practical next steps, explains how FinOps and GreenOps move into strategic governance, and covers edge computing, modern work, application operations and connectivity.

50%
of cloud computing resources expected to be consumed by AI workloads by 2028
60%+
of public cloud AI workloads expected to be inference by 2029, up from under 20% in 2024
28%
share of cloud spending expected to go to generative AI within three years, up from 12% in 2025
75%
of organisations are building dedicated FinOps teams to manage total cloud and AI costs
2026
Deadline set by the EU for national post-quantum cryptography strategies (31 December)
5-10
years until quantum computers able to break RSA and ECC encryption are expected

Successful enterprises will treat the cloud as a business capability platform rather than an IT utility, balancing innovation with sovereignty, resilience, sustainability and financial discipline.

Why this paper comes at the right time

Generative AI is expected to grow from 12% of cloud spending in 2025 to nearly 28% over the next three years, while AI inference in the public cloud is projected to rise from under 20% in 2024 to over 60% by 2029.

The EU requires national post-quantum cryptography strategies by 31 December 2026, migration of high-risk systems by 2030 and a full ecosystem transition by 2035. 'Harvest now, decrypt later' attacks make the risk present today.

Cloud plans are now inseparable from business strategy, security posture, cost governance and geopolitical considerations. More than 75% of organisations are building dedicated FinOps teams to manage total cloud and AI costs.