Although the pandemic has shown that the world does not always move in the way we foresee, the start of the year is always marked by predictions. Only, in the case of technology, will we be confident it will hold its ground. In the last two years, technology has been enabling unimaginable functions and operations. The case in point is Nasdaq’s Value Tech Stocks theme that rallied by a solid 57% year-to-date and Microsoft witnessed a leap in sales for almost all of its products and services.
Clearly, over dependence on technology has come with its own set of benefits and challenges. While there’s no crystal ball to predict the future of various technologies for the year ahead, the broadening technology landscape indicates the following trends.
Cloud Optimisation
With a close look at the buying pattern of various cloud products and solutions over the past 24 months, most of the sales can be categorised as critical need-based and instinct-based purchases. These may not necessarily be in sync with the pre-identified business and financial requirements, or the core product offerings. Microsoft Teams and Zoom are classic examples of panic buying to satisfy a critical need – a more plausible option than thinking about the existing tools, integration with existing applications, and wider collaboration needs.
To derive maximum value from investment in cloud-based solutions, organisations need to enforce optimisation by exploring collaboration and removing redundancies. The providers should also align their offerings with the needs of the businesses and prevent any shortfalls as Roslyn Layton wrote in Forbes.
Vulnerability Management
The widening technology canvas is a soft bed for security breaches leading to data breach and downtime and may cause financial losses.
The ZDNet chronology shows how the year witnessed numerous cyber-attacks. To predict or prepare for any such breaches is easier said than done. Being resilient, that is, recovering from such attacks, is something the organisations need to adopt as part of their operational strategy. This implies that tools, processes, and people should be outfitted for exigencies and the entire system should be tested and oiled regularly. Rapid response to any such attack with zero or minimal impact to business will help in furthering confidence in technology.
Digital Workplace
The Great Resignation trend is an outcome of people rethinking their careers in the COVID hit market, mostly aiming at better working conditions and location independence. Employees seem to find organisations offering a flexible working environment more attractive. While companies have enabled work-from-home for employees, there are many aspects that need to be evaluated continuously:
- Employee productivity
- Cost efficiency of technology solutions
- Security and regulatory compliance
At Simplex, we have been addressing many requirements in Cloud Optimisation, Vulnerability Management and Digital Workspace in organisations of diverse scale across varied industries. Book a non-obligatory appointment with us on how these requirements can be best addressed for your organisation.
Photo by Michael Dziedzic
