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Cloud computing is rarely front-facing, but at the same time, it underpins a lot of data-intensive and scalable digital services. From enterprise software to entertainment and even AI research, the cloud not only provides the digital infrastructure but also the flexibility required to manage fluctuating demands across global markets.
Cloud underpins e-commerce, streaming, fintech, and even SaaS. Large e-commerce platforms process millions of interactions a day, including cart additions, clicks, and searches. This demands a flexible and scalable platform that can not only handle this kind of user activity, but also support and scale with it during peak periods.
Fintech platforms also use cloud-based systems to analyze transactions in milliseconds, detecting fraud while assessing risk, all while ensuring the correct numbers are showing up at the right time. Another example would be online casinos. They process massive volumes of activity without latency or service disruption.
This is especially the case with slots, as they generate a continuous stream of data with every spin, trigger, and bonus interaction. Cloud-based systems allow data like this to be analyzed, as well as scaling server traffic during peak hours. As sites often host hundreds of slots, cloud infrastructure not only allows these to be offered, but it also facilitates the new addition and faster rollout of new titles on a global scale.
Examples like this show that cloud computing is not just a supporting factor; it’s the invisible backbone of modern digital services, and as time goes on, it's becoming more and more important to support our digital infrastructure.
Even though it’s clear to see how critical cloud computing is in this day and age, Microsoft and OpenAI have both released new data that supports this fact even more. Microsoft Azure has experienced unprecedented demand over the last year, and OpenAI in particular accounts for over 45% of the backlog.
With AI being such a huge part of our world right now, training models like this requires a lot of technology. From specialized GPU to elastic infrastructure and computing capacity, it’s certainly a lot. Without hyperscalable cloud platforms, none of this would be possible, with Satya Nadella from Microsoft highlighting how critical cloud computing is moving forward, especially for digital services.
As of early 2026, it seems that the cloud computing market is being dominated by three giants, namely AWS, GCP, and Microsoft Azure. They control two-thirds of the market, with the global market expected to exceed $1 trillion in 2026.
Interestingly, we are also set to see a rise in multi-cloud strategies, showing that single cloud infrastructures may not be enough to support the growing demand for cloud computing moving forward. When you consider how critical cloud computing is for everything, whether it’s playing games, streaming on Netflix, selling online, trading cryptocurrency, or even making a Zoom call, it’s not surprising either. Moving forward, hybrid cloud strategies may become the norm, and with the demand from OpenAI, it’s going to be a race to see if Microsoft can keep up, or if other companies are going to step up and take the lead.
