Subscribe to our newsletter and stay informed
In a bid to revolutionize cloud computing affordability, Google has unveiled its custom-built Arm-based server chip at the Cloud Next conference in Las Vegas. Set to hit the market later this year, this groundbreaking processor marks Google's strategic endeavor to level the playing field against competitors like Amazon and Microsoft, who have long embraced a similar approach.
The realm of cloud infrastructure has emerged as a battleground for tech titans, where organizations lease resources from remote data centers, paying based on usage. Despite Google's primary revenue source still stemming from advertising, the cloud segment has witnessed rapid growth, now accounting for nearly 11% of the company's revenue and boasting profitability. However, Google currently holds a modest 7.5% share of the cloud infrastructure market, with Amazon and Microsoft jointly dominating with a staggering 62%, according to Gartner estimates.
Amazon Web Services shook the industry with the introduction of its Graviton Arm chip in 2018, swiftly gaining traction with key players like Datadog, Elastic, Snowflake, and Sprinklr. Alibaba and Microsoft have followed suit, announcing their own Arm processors, amplifying the competition.
While Google's foray into Arm-based computing isn't entirely novel, with prior usage of Arm-based server computers for internal operations, the introduction of Axion instances signals a significant shift towards broader adoption. Noteworthy players like Datadog, Elastic, OpenX, and Snap have already expressed plans to integrate Axion into their operations.
Beyond economic benefits, the transition to Arm architecture holds promise for reducing carbon emissions, with Axion chips delivering a remarkable 60% increase in energy efficiency compared to x86-based models. Furthermore, Axion promises enhanced performance, boasting 30% better performance than the fastest general-purpose Arm-based virtual machines and a staggering 50% improvement over comparable x86-based VMs.
In the words of industry analyst Chirag Dekate, Google's move completes their portfolio, signaling a strategic leap forward in the ever-evolving landscape of cloud computing.
As Google harnesses the potential of Arm-based computing, the stage is set for a transformative shift in cloud infrastructure, promising heightened efficiency, affordability, and performance for organizations worldwide.
