HPE onthult zijn voorspellingen voor 2021: 5G, HPC, hybride clouds en channel mogelijkheden in de schijnwerpers

Hoewel niemand de immense gevolgen, die COVID-19 in 2020 zou veroorzaken, had kunnen voorspellen, hebben wij toch al vroeg ingeschat hoe dit de technologiewereld zou beïnvloeden. CEO van HPE, Antonio Neri, voorzag inderdaad dat de pandemie de technologische evolutie in een stroomversnelling zou brengen, wat ook door andere technologiebedrijven werd bevestigd. Voorspellingen doen is altijd een lastige zaak, zeker in de complexe context waarin we ons vandaag bevinden. Toch geven we u hier graag enkele ideeën hoe 2021 eruit zal zien.

U kan het volledige, Engelstalige persbericht hieronder vinden.

HPE unveils predictions for 2021: 5G, HPC, hybrid cloud and channel opportunities in the spotlight

While no one was able to predict the disruption caused by COVID-19 in 2020, we anticipated very early on how it would affect the world of technology. HPE’s CEO Antonio Neri foresaw that the pandemic would accelerate the technology development agenda, a view that has since been shared by other technology company executives. Making predictions is always a perilous exercise, especially in a context as complex as the one we are living in. Nevertheless, here are a few predictions to give you a glimpse of what 2021 will look like.

 

Adoption of 5G will be driven by business applications

5G represents much more than faster downloads for individuals, and individuals cannot be the source of the billions of dollars needed to deploy 5G networks. As a result, operators will rapidly deploy 5G services for enterprises in 2021, a much larger revenue stream, and develop new and innovative business services.

5G represents an excellent opportunity for operators to deliver new cloud services at the edge of the network, especially since some applications are particularly well suited for them, such as video analytics, virtual reality and gaming. These applications that require low latency, optimized bandwidth or special security requirements can be hosted on a cloud infrastructure close to the user. If we take the example of a connected car communicating with a traffic light; low latency is crucial, so this data does not need to be transferred hundreds of miles away to a datacenter, or even stored there, as the information is only required for 30 seconds. Telcos and cloud service providers will be eager to offer cloud services at the edge via the 5G network, if only to realize a return on their investment.

We will also see the emergence of 5G core networks in 2021 that will allow operators to virtually slice networks. This will enable them to exploit the full power of 5G, guaranteeing very low latency, but also to charge better (or even more) to enterprises that use this technology.

 

Leveraging exascale technology in data centers

The first exascale system will be available in 2021. This represents the next quantum leap in supercomputing and will deliver five to ten times the performance of today's supercomputers. Simulation and modeling on the scale of the exascale will make it possible to take into account an even greater volume of complex data and transform it into more reliable and relevant numerical models. However, 99% of companies will not need an exascale system for their analysis, AI, engineering, data science or modeling work.

Instead, we expect that all companies will have systems that use the same technologies that were designed for supercomputers to support their data intensive applications. With a single server, companies will be able to work with even more complex and advanced algorithms to enable their digital transformation and accelerate innovation. The technologies of this "exascale era" will push the boundaries of science by accelerating drug discovery or refining extreme weather predictions but will also enable individual companies to better leverage their data to make better business decisions.

Hybrid cloud will make the concept of "cloud everywhere" a reality

The notion of "cloud everywhere" is a natural evolution that stems from early software-defined data center implementations, the evolution of IaaS based on the open-source community, and the rise of today's public cloud and container platforms. “Cloud everywhere" suggests that the business values and benefits of public cloud service models can now be available in an on-premise environment, exploiting all the advantages of on-premise computing in terms of security, compliance and improved latency. These cloud services are part of an on-premise solution, designed to provide innovative capabilities, available in a consumption model and deployed anywhere from the edge to your data center or colocation facility. This is the essence of cloud everywhere, made possible by the development of the hybrid cloud.

The hybrid approach to the cloud was previously seen as a stepping stone to cloud implementation. Today, enterprises are finding that a hybrid approach makes more sense, both strategically and economically. According to IDC, 70 percent of enterprise applications and data remain outside the public cloud. Due to data latency, application overlay, or for security and compliance reasons, more and more organizations across all industries want to keep their data on-premises. At the same time, public cloud providers sometimes impose fees for data output or lock-ups that limit the possibilities for enterprises. With this in mind, 2021 will see even more organizations adopting a hybrid approach.

With the hybrid cloud, companies will more often adopt an "as a service" strategy to track and adapt the way they consume technology resources. Beyond the benefits of a pay-per-use model, CIOs are looking for the on-premise experience of the cloud and the ability to monitor their infrastructure and usage through advanced metering, real-time analytics and cost analysis. Starting in 2021, more organizations will be promoting these measurement capabilities, cost transparency, and a cloud-based user interface in their service operations.

New opportunities for the Channel sector

In 2020, retailers have been able to respond quickly to their customers' needs while adapting their own organizations to the "new normal". Vendors such as HPE have provided their channel partners with a wide range of virtual sales, e-learning and sales certifications, demonstrations and accreditation opportunities to continue the momentum of distance selling. In 2021, channel partners will leverage these resources to hone their expertise and take advantage of business opportunities.

MSPs will continue to experience growing demand as more and more customers adopt a hybrid cloud model. Compared to large public cloud providers, MSPs often offer in-depth knowledge of business and local governance (especially in regions where data sovereignty is a concern). In many cases, MSPs also offer a more personalized customer experience.

The SMB and mid-market segments are expected to be a priority for technology distributors in 2021. SMEs are increasingly interested in investing in information technology to accelerate their digital transformations, leverage data and improve the employee experience. This will make them more competitive and help them recover from the pandemic. Many SMEs also needed specific technologies and quick fixes for their infrastructure in early 2020 to adapt to the changing demands of business as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic. In 2021, they will re-evaluate what solutions are really needed for their long-term infrastructure, which will trigger potential technology investments for partners to seize.