In a world that syncs by default, your data rarely lives in one place—it’s copied across apps, cloud providers, backups, and content networks, often crossing borders. That expands who could potentially see it: the service itself, infrastructure vendors, third‑party processors, and, with proper orders, law enforcement. Jurisdiction matters because laws like the U.S. CLOUD Act and EU GDPR shape access and obligations, so choose region‑locked storage and review government‑request and data‑location policies. If content isn’t end‑to‑end encrypted (E2EE), assume the provider could read it despite “encrypted at rest” claims. Prefer E2EE for chats, files, and passwords to keep only you and intended recipients in the loop. Strengthen defaults to shrink exposure: enable passkeys or 2FA, set sharing to invite‑only, disable auto‑sync for sensitive folders, and use expiring links. Minimize what you upload, strip photo location data, and pick local‑first or E2EE apps for personal items. At home, use a password manager, full‑disk encryption, automatic updates, the 3‑2‑1 backup rule, quarterly permission reviews, and routine pruning of old cloud data and shared links. At work, separate identities, keep data in approved apps, enforce named‑person sharing and least‑access by default, schedule deletion of stale files/recordings, and document region, owner, and retention. Privacy by default turns safer choices into the easy choices—without giving up the convenience of sync.

In today’s digital landscape, the trust between enterprises and public cloud providers is being redefined—and not for the better. As global politics become more complex, major cloud vendors like Microsoft are increasingly stepping in as unofficial enforcers of international law, rather than remaining neutral technology partners. The recent case involving Nayara Energy, an Indian oil refiner, is a stark example: Microsoft abruptly cut access to its cloud email and collaboration tools after the EU imposed sanctions, acting swiftly to comply with the new regulations. For Nayara, the decision was a business shock, with critical operations suddenly at risk—despite no wrongdoing under Indian law.

This watershed moment illustrates a growing anxiety among enterprises worldwide: if a cloud provider can terminate services or seize data at the behest of a foreign government, is any business truly in control of its own information? Legal uncertainties and ethical dilemmas abound, especially as statutes like the U.S. CLOUD Act grant American authorities unprecedented reach over data, regardless of borders. The fallout is clear: more organizations are embracing sovereign and private clouds, seeking local providers and hybrid models that promise greater autonomy and less risk of external interference. In this new reality, cloud trust must be earned—never assumed.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has revealed a 17.5% revenue increase for the June quarter, which, while surpassing Wall Street expectations, is considerably less than the growth rates reported by its competitors, Microsoft Azure at 39% and Google Cloud at 32%. This discrepancy highlights concerns regarding AWS's competitive position, particularly in the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence (AI). Despite AWS's substantial capital expenditures of $31.4 billion in the last quarter, which are more than its rivals, the financial results suggest that these investments may not be yielding the expected growth.

Additionally, AWS's margins contracted to 32.9%, the lowest since late 2023, indicating growing operational pressures. CEO Andy Jassy remained optimistic during the earnings call, asserting it is still "very early days" in the AI race and emphasizing that AWS's larger infrastructure will position the company favorably once capacity constraints ease. However, the market reacted negatively, leading to a 7% drop in Amazon shares that could potentially erase around $170 billion from its market value.

Are dedicated servers making a comeback in the age of cloud dominance? In this video, we dive into the surprising findings of a recent Liquid Web study, which reveals a growing shift in IT infrastructure choices. Despite the widespread adoption of cloud platforms, 86% of IT professionals report continued reliance on dedicated servers for critical workloads. Why? It comes down to control, cost predictability, and compliance.

We investigate why 42% of organizations have moved workloads from the cloud back to dedicated servers in the past year, fueled by frustrations over rising, unexpected cloud costs—sometimes as high as $25,000—and underutilized features. From government agencies seeking robust compliance to finance and IT industries needing data security and uptime, we’ll explore the industries leading this trend and discuss why dedicated hardware remains essential for performance-intensive workloads.

Discover how major cloud providers—AWS, Microsoft, and Google—are turning artificial intelligence into a marketing gimmick, driving up costs without delivering the real value enterprises crave. In this video, David Linthicum breaks down why tech giants are relentlessly hyping generative and agentic AI, but falling short on meaningful innovation that actually benefits business. With cloud-based AI services often costing three to five times more than on-premise solutions, many enterprises are becoming frustrated, skeptical, and increasingly vocal in their pushback.

David explores how the rapid shift in messaging from infrastructure and architecture to non-stop AI promotion is alienating decision-makers and practitioners. He exposes why so many recent cloud conferences feel more like AI infomercials, while the true needs of enterprises—cost control, practical integration, and measurable business outcomes—are ignored. Ultimately, David argues that unless cloud leaders move beyond surface-level hype and invest in genuine, customer-driven innovation, they’ll risk missing the greatest tech market opportunity of our time.

In a recent article from ITPro Today, new research from Deloitte sheds light on the pressing challenges organizations face as they adopt artificial intelligence (AI) in their operations. As businesses increasingly turn to cloud solutions for their AI needs, they are often unprepared for the skyrocketing costs that come with it. The research uncovers a critical inflection point: when public cloud AI expenses hit 60-70% of the total ownership costs for dedicated infrastructure, organizations find themselves at a tipping point where shifting to private cloud solutions often becomes more sensible.

This rapid evolution from modest AI experiments to significant infrastructure challenges reveals a stark reality; the cloud's initial accessibility can quickly lead to budget constraints as workloads grow more demanding. Meanwhile, technological advancements such as AI-specific processors, including NPUs and TPUs, are changing the landscape of what is possible, necessitating a reevaluation of existing IT setups.

A significant shift is occurring in how organizations approach AI workloads, as many CIOs are reevaluating their reliance on public cloud services. With rising costs and escalating concerns about data privacy, companies are increasingly favoring private cloud and on-premises solutions for their AI strategies. A recent survey indicates that 67% of enterprise leaders plan to move some AI data to non-cloud environments within the next year, reflecting a growing need for cost predictability and improved security.

The video highlights the trend toward private cloud spending, which is outpacing public cloud investments. Organizations running consistent AI workloads can achieve substantial cost savings by investing in dedicated GPU resources rather than relying on rental models in public clouds. This shift signifies a broader strategy that prioritizes ownership and control over sensitive data, as many organizations navigate regulatory compliance challenges.

Public cloud services have revolutionized how businesses operate, offering unparalleled scalability, convenience, and innovation. However, an often-overlooked truth is that even the most reliable public cloud providers can—and do—fail. From unexpected outages to major disruptions, relying too heavily on third-party cloud platforms introduces significant risks that too many businesses fail to fully understand or prepare for. When these providers experience downtime, organizations face ripple effects ranging from financial losses and operational delays to regulatory exposure and reputational damage.

Notable incidents, such as the CrowdStrike outage in 2024 or disruptions at leading cloud providers, have highlighted the vulnerabilities within this dependency. Businesses impacted by such incidents have experienced billions in losses due to delayed operations and compromised services. The lesson is clear: no cloud provider is immune to interruptions. Organizations must adopt proactive risk management strategies, such as diversifying providers, implementing comprehensive third-party risk management (TPRM) practices, and preparing failover solutions to minimize damage.

Risk management in the cloud is not optional—it’s essential. By acknowledging the potential for failure and preparing accordingly, businesses can protect themselves from the costly consequences of cloud disruptions while still leveraging the advantages that public cloud services provide. The key is resilience and preparation, not blind trust.

The Broadcom Private Cloud Outlook 2025 report uncovers a pivotal shift in enterprise cloud strategies, revealing a "cloud reset" as organizations recalibrate their workloads toward hybrid and private cloud solutions. Based on insights from 1,800 IT leaders worldwide, the report highlights growing trends in workload repatriation, security concerns, and the rise of private cloud as a cornerstone for IT modernization. With a focus on balancing performance, control, and cost efficiency, this report provides an insight into how enterprises are reconfiguring their cloud strategies to meet evolving demands in an era of generative AI and heightened compliance requirements.

The world of cloud computing is evolving faster than ever, and artificial intelligence is at the heart of this rapid transformation. Businesses of all sizes are looking for new ways to automate workflows, gain insights from massive amounts of data, and create smarter, more efficient applications—and AI in the cloud makes all of this possible. As a result, there’s a surge in demand for professionals who not only understand cloud platforms but also know how to unlock the power of AI.

Today, some of the most exciting and high-impact jobs blend these two areas of expertise. Companies need specialists who can design intelligent solutions, automate machine learning processes, and keep cloud-based AI systems secure and reliable. Whether you’re just starting your tech career or looking to transition into a cutting-edge field, focusing on AI-powered cloud roles can open doors to rewarding opportunities with top employers.

If you have a passion for innovation and an interest in working at the intersection of AI and cloud technology, now’s the time to explore what’s possible. Here are five hot AI-powered cloud jobs that you can get today—roles that are in high demand and shaping the future of tech.