A number of trends are expected to continue, as well as new ones to develop, in the coming year. These trends will introduce opportunities along with challenges in the IT industry. Read on to learn about how these movements in the industry affect its four pillars of operations, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and data.

 

Focus on Strategy and Transformation

Let’s face it, the last year and a half has been challenging. The work-at-the-office paradigm that many were used to has likely changed permanently. Remote workers, as well as creating more “nodes on the network,” have changed expectations; will some ever want to come back to the office, or stay remote? Managed services may be counting on remote work to stay popular, and to provide companies with network assistance, shown by a CAGR prediction of 7.9% ($355 billion) by 2026, according to IDC.In 2022, companies are expecting to move out of the tactical approach of just staying in business, and to start dusting off digital transformation projects that they couldn’t think of before, considering innovation and collaboration.  The technology industry is expected to increase to $5.3 trillion in 2022, with a year-over-year growth increase of 5-6%, according to IDC. CompTIA’s trends outlook article points to a growing optimism about opportunities in the tech industry, coupled with challenges to manage. 

 

Opportunities in Information Technology

The United States has long been a key player in the technology industry, accounting for 33% ($1.8 trillion) in expected spending for 2022. With its robust infrastructure and many connected users, as well as its abundant bandwidth, it has the opportunity to consider software development and tech services (including cloud services) built upon this foundation. Cloud-first will continue to be prevalent, with both existing systems and new components residing in the cloud. In fact, according to IDC, the compounded annual growth rate (CAGR)for cloud is expected to be 16.3%, with spending reaching $974 billion by 2026.  In terms of software development, user experience will be an important consideration, with many firms thinking of it as a critical concern. Channel firms will have the opportunity to help their customers choose what’s best for their business, with technological tools always being subject to business objectives like automation and product development. Cybersecurity, while an ever-present challenge, also can be lucrative for channel firms; they can become even more profitable and help nervous customers feel more confident about cybersecurity. The CAGR for security is expected to be 9.7%, reaching $345 billion by 2026. 

 

Meeting Challenges in the Future

With the growth of digital transformation comes an increased quantity of data that needs to be stored, managed and secured. How will companies keep customer data safe while complying 

with industry regulations? And how will they keep cyber attacks and data breaches from doing damage? It is now assumed that cyber attacks happen frequently, and not all come from outside the company. Keeping networks safe will continue to be challenging for organizations, and both offensive (such as penetration testing) and defensive (like antivirus protection) practices are needed. Cybersecurity metrics can connect cybersecurity practices to business health. 
 
With the rapid shift to at-home work and its expansion of the security perimeter, opportunities and challenges abound. For guidance in navigating the tech landscape, contact your trusted Focalized Networks advisor today.