We’ve already told you that cloud services are booming, so what’s in store for the future of the industry?

The team that helped to develop cloud services for Amazon, Google and Microsoft presented South by Southwest’s only cloud computing panel entitled “Cloud Computing: Defending the Undefineable.” 

The panelists discussed some of the current problems plaguing developers and what could be expected in the future. They focused on key aspects of their respective services and hinted at ideas that are in development. 

Here’s a quick view of what we can expect in the immediate future:

* Separate cloud services for enterprise and corporate databases with the ability to collaborate

* Operating systems integrated with cloud computing, like Windows Azure

* “Public” and “private” lots offered to customers to meet varied security needs

* Increased automation

* Data portability features, such as importing and exporting from other cloud services

* Improved ease of migration features for new customers

* “Greener” computing* Hybrid servers that combine the cloud and dedicated servers

In order to realize the future, there are still several obstacles to overcome, including concerns with privacy, security and power output. The biggest challenge to developers is designing programs and apps around cloud-based services, as concessions need to be made for scalability and consistency with data processing speeds.

While it appears as though developers may have a lot to take on to perfect the cloud, they made it clear that they are up to the challenge and believe the cloud is the future. It seems the audience was in agreement; an informal survey revealed that about one-third of the people in attendance were users of Amazon’s cloud service.

Although cloud technology has just recently emerged on the commercial scene, it has been in development for several years and is already dominating the data services market. As new devices hit the market every day, companies are scrambling to produce services that give consumers the capability to use wireless data sync and storage for personal use.

Three of the names on the forefront cloud computing are Google, Apple, and Amazon. These big timers are rapidly revolutionizing the way the cloud works and what services are offered to consumers, with many new devices shipping pre-connected to some sort of wireless sync service. For example, Apple’s “iCloud” is optimized for instantly syncing data between all Apple products, encouraging brand-loyal consumers to own multiple gadgets. But as the cloud continues to expand, the competition for offering unique services grows larger. Google is now touting their brand of cloud called “Google Play,” a new service that is integrated with their former “Android Market” that offers a wide range of media. Amazon’s “Cloud Storage” gives a user the ability to listen to their friend’s music. Most of these services are only offered in part to consumers; Amazon offers a small amount of free storage to its users, about 5GB, but gives them the option of upgrading for a small subscription fee. Apple’s iCloud is free so as long as users have the most up-to-date firmware on their products.

Why is cloud computing so important? The Consumer Electronics Association estimates that the average household has around 24 electronic devices, including “basic” commodities such as cameras and remote controls. About half of those devices are able to connect to wireless Internet in some way. This means that as technology becomes more advanced, the more families will rely on multiple devices to handle their day-to-day activities, send important information, and save precious memories.

Cloud computing is undeniably the future of data storage, allowing consumers to use their multiple devices to their utmost potential. In the digital age, being able to access your personal information from wherever you are is not just a convenience, it’s a must.

Here's are some links to what the data security, data center and colocation world is talking about:

* How many data centers are located around the world? Emerson has crunched the numbers and has come up with 500,000.  

* Facebook is committing to use green energy to power its data centers, according to Forbes. But can they sustain it? 

* The U.S. Army is working hard to consolidate its data center across the country. 

* Where is Amazon locating its next data center? The Amazon, according to Wired.com.

* Looking ahead to 2012 and some dangerous mobile security issues. 

* More predictions for 2012 in the world of data security. 

* Too many privileged users may be leaving some companies open to data security trouble.  

Moving company data storage to an off-site facility is an investment worth making, just ask the biggest companies on the web.

Google, Facebook, Amazon and others are storing their data across the country, from Oregon to Oklahoma. 

"The assumption is that with the Internet, place no longer matters,"  Andrew Blum, a Wired magazine correspondent and author of "Tubes: A Journey to the Center of the Internet" told the Associated Press.

The key for these companies is safety and security for their data first and foremost. Facilities like Oklahoma City's RACK59 have the power sources, rack space and security. 

Google recently located data center in Oklahoma, too. In September, the search giant planted a 130,000-square-foot data center in Pryor which employs more than 100 people. Google is known for using its offsite data centers as means to control costs in its business. 

With businesses like the best on the web choosing to go offsite, the momentum toward the idea continues to pick up steam. As a Dec. 2 article in U.S. News and World Report stated, this sort of data storage is going to revolutionize the way businesses do business.

"The idea is that computing 'be made available to people anywhere, anytime, like electricity or utilities,' says Venky Ganesan, managing director of Globespan Capital Partners, a venture capital firm that invests in a range of technologies."