Hybrid Cloud and Business Apps: AI, Edge, and Beyond

Editor’s Note (2025 Update): This article has been updated to reflect current hybrid cloud and business application trends, including AI-assisted development, low-code/no-code platforms, sovereign cloud considerations, and edge-enabled integrations.

Cloud computing has hit its stride; it has become a part of IT strategies across the globe, and the benefits of turning to a hosted environment can’t be ignored. But it often seems like companies are viewing their options as “go cloud, or go home,” rather than thinking strategically about their needs as an organization. While it’s important to embrace emerging technology and strive to modernize operations, this view of cloud is simply not realistic for most organizations.

Typically, cloud offerings are simpler in structure and less feature-rich. However, they’re also much easier to use, and offer scalable and flexible environments that can be tailored for an organization’s specific needs. This seems to resonate well ...