In putting together this year’s list of top 10 cloud computing service providers, we can certainly apply the age-old proverb: The more things change, the more they stay the same. There has been a lot of change in the cloud computing arena since last year’s top 10 list. The raft of new technologies delivered over the past year or two has enticed many larger IT shops to launch their first private, hybrid and public clouds and served to make or break the fortunes of small and large cloud competitors alike. What remains the same is that big fish get bigger and small fish get smaller -- or are eaten. A few sharks -- known to us as telecommunications companies -- have seen the opportunity to enter the tank and gobble up hot cloud services vendors. We know lists such as this invite healthy debate among readers as to who and, perhaps more importantly, who isn’t named. So be sure to let us know what you think.
Cloud computing is a general term for anything that involves delivering hosted services over the Internet. These services are broadly divided into three categories: Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). The name cloud was inspired by the symbol that's often used to represent the Internet in flowcharts and diagrams.
When CRN first introduced its annual 100 Coolest Cloud Computing Vendors list in 2010, the space was still ripe, rapidly evolving from an industry buzzword to a legitimate means for solution providers to enable customers to eliminate the overhead and capital expenditures that come with on-premise hardware. In 2014, the fourth year of the Cloud 100, "the cloud" is now mainstream and the shift from a traditional on-premise solution provider model to a cloud-based services model is not just a trend, but in many cases a crucial move for survival.
The Cloud 100 list aims to help solution providers navigate the growing cloud marketplace and identify the best solutions to support the IT channel.
Here we present the 100 Coolest Cloud Computing Vendors Of 2014, honoring the best of the best in cloud computing in five categories: infrastructure, platforms, security, storage and software.
CRN introduced the first annual 100 Coolest Cloud Computing Vendors in 2010 with the aim of helping solution providers navigate the cloud market.
While that goal hasn't changed over the past five years, the cloud market certainly has with offerings now coming in a multitude of shapes, sizes and flavors. Navigating this space is more important than ever as the transition from a traditional on-premise model to a recurring revenue model is becoming a do-or-die proposition for many solution providers.
Many of the big-time players from the 2010 Cloud 100 list are thriving and find themselves once again on this year's list. But what makes the Cloud 100 so valuable each year is that it provides a look at the startups in the space satisfying a niche need or problem. This is where the true innovation is happening.
Look at the cloud platform and development space, where companies contributing to the emerging IT landscape are making a name for themselves right next to behemoths such as Amazon Web Services and Google. In the cloud infrastructure space, the emergence of upstarts in this investment-heavy market is that much more impressive.
Here we present the 100 Coolest Cloud Computing Vendors Of 2015, honoring the best of the best in cloud computing in five categories: infrastructure, platforms and development, security, storage and software. You'll also find links to Cloud 100 of years past for a trip down a short, but incredibly busy cloud memory lane.
