Cloud computing continues to enable businesses large and small to do more with less. For that reason, as much as 70 percent of all software, IT, and tech spending will be cloud-based by next year, according to the International Data Corp.

These startling numbers are among the reasons to believe that 2019 will see an arms race for companies looking to gain technological advantages on competitors — small businesses in particular.

The past year saw small businesses looking for ways to improve IT and business processes while mitigating risk and protecting data. According to market research firm Techaisle, this focus on optimization led many to invest in cloud technologies.…