If there’s one thing to be certain about when it comes to IT, it’s change. This is an industry that is undergoing constant evolution, and it can be difficult for many businesses to keep up with the latest developments. The best way to be prepared for what comes next is to keep an eye out for the latest trends and adapt your IT policies in accordance with them.

Here we have compiled five key IT trends to keep an eye out for in 2017.

Cloud-First

Storing data in “the cloud” is old news now, and chances are your business has already adopted cloud technology in some form. But there’s a difference between merely using the cloud and being cloud-first. What is cloud-first? Simply put, it’s taking maximum advantage of all the cloud solutions available to turn your business into a completely cloud-driven one. For example, you may be saving all of your files in the cloud, but are your applications cloud-based? There are numerous advantages to adopting a cloud-first business strategy, including reduced hosting and equipment costs, greater capacity, streamlined operations and more efficient collaboration. We expect more businesses to adopt this cloud-first philosophy in 2017.

Intelligent Applications

Many businesses already use one form of intelligent application – the Virtual Personal Assistant (or VPA) which makes life easier by streamlining important processes, such as identifying priority emails. In the upcoming year we will witness the adoption of more sophisticated intelligent apps that go beyond low-level assistance capabilities. Soon every category of software – from security, to analytics, to productivity – will have aspects of artificial intelligence. By taking full advantage of AI, businesses will be able to focus on more of what really matters, such as advanced analytics and strategic thinking.

Big Data

Big Data is a bit of a buzzword these days and for good reason. It’s expected to be a major area of growth in the IT industry over the next decade. With the aid of computers, we have become quite good at collecting data. The difficulty is interpreting all this data and using it to make accurate predictions or projections. For example, we have a lot of statistical data about driving habits and patterns. But how can we use this data to reduce road fatalities and prevent traffic jams? New data architectures are being built to handle unstructured data and real-time input. The main challenge and area of growth moving forward will be finding and educating people with big data analytical skills. Expect to see more job titles like Big Data Analyst in the near future.

Internet of Everything

These days it seems like we have “smart” everything – from phones, to watches, to refrigerators. That’s exactly why the term Internet of Everything was termed. As more of these smart devices proliferate in 2017, businesses will be better able to automate and streamline their operations. But with all these new end points, cyber security becomes an increasing concern. Adaptable data centres with airtight security are key here.

Mobility/Data Segregation

Mobile means more than just your phone. Mobile is a philosophy – one that states “I should be able to do work or access the Internet from any device at any time, wherever I am.” With more start-up companies enacting bring your own device (BYOD) policies, segregating your personal data from your business data on the same mobile device will be top of mind, in addition to putting appropriate security measures in place. Data segregation should be on your company’s to-do list if it isn’t already.

Stay ahead of the game by handing over your IT management needs to the experts. CodeBlue provides IT solutions to businesses all across New Zealand. Contact us for more information about how we can help your business out with any of the IT trends mentioned above, or ask about our cyber security services.

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