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Cloud computing will continue to transform the computing landscape in 2015. In the following slides, Forrester Research pinpoints the key trends and their impact going forward. Image Credit: iStock Photo
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1. Microsoft Cloud Beats Microsoft On-Premises

Imagine the day when Microsoft's cloud revenues exceed traditional on-premises sales of Windows Server, SQL Server, Exchange and more. That day could be coming soon, Forrester predicts. Platforms like Azure and Office 365 set the stage for that eventual reality. And Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's mobile first, cloud first efforts could accelerate that self-fulfilling prophecy. Image Credit: Microsoft
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2. Cloud APIs Tie Everything Together

So-called REST interfaces and API (application programming interface) management solutions will help developers and IT departments to integrate multiple cloud and on-premises services. Image Credit: iStock Photo
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3. Cloud Hacks Are Unavoidable

More SaaS hacks are coming. But in many cases, it will be the customer's fault. Why? Poor compliance practices and lack of training will undermine many end-user organizations accessing third-party SaaS services, Forrester predicts. Image Credit: iStock Photo
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4. Docker Containers Ship Everywhere

Docker, the open source container technology, will allow customers to more easily build, move and manage applications on the cloud. Most of the major public cloud providers now support Docker -- or plan to do so by early 2015. Image Credit: Docker
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5. Hybrid Cloud Management Gets Real

So, you want to manage workloads on-premises and across multiple public or private clouds. A growing portfolio of tools will allow you to do so, potentially giving you a single dashboard for all of your cloud systems. Image Credit: iStock Photo
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6. Managed Private Clouds Will Face Certain Death

The idea of a service provider remotely managing your on-premises private cloud will involve more trouble than its worth. The death may not be immediate, but it's coming. Image Credit: iStock Photo
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7. SaaS Will Branch Out Into Vertical Markets

Companies like Saleforce.com and WorkDay will stretch beyond their horizontal roots (CRM, HR, etc.) and start to introduce vertical market extensions for manufacturing, health care, financial services and more. Image Credit: iStock Photo
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8. SaaS Vendors Tiptoe Toward Hybrid Cloud

SaaS vendors that offer public-only, multi-tenant deployments may introduce some hybrid services that could even stretch into the on-premises market. Image Credit: iStock Photo
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9. Cloud Storage Price Cuts Could Be Fatal

Symantec Backup Exec Cloud is dead. More deaths are coming because commodity online backup is not a sustainable business. Forrester is calling on storage companies to move into business continuity, disaster recovery as a service, eDiscovery and other higher-margin areas. Image Credit: iStock Photo