Like with fashion, some business trends survive the ages, but others are gone just as quickly as they made their debut. Our world continues to evolve at a rapid pace, meaning businesses must be able to evolve with it. This is most evident in the world of information technology and security. The six trends below provide a glimpse into what businesses of all types and sizes should keep on the radar as 2022 quickly approaches.

Growing Security Threats

⁠Cyber crime isn’t going away anytime soon. In fact, it’s growing more quickly than ever before. It’s estimated that by 2025, global cyber crime will cost $10.5 trillion in damages annually,  meaning organizations are at risk every day. While many of the threats facing businesses are outside of their control, there are several ways to be better protected. One of the easiest and most effective ways to protect your business is to train employees. By equipping them with the knowledge and skills to react should an event occur, you’re setting up a solid first line of defense. Training should include, but not be limited to, username and password best practices, how to identify potentially malicious emails, common attack methods, and how these methods can be counteracted.

Adapting to Remote Work⁠

COVID-19 has permanently shifted the way many people work around the world. According to the 2021 State of Remote Work report, nearly half of employees surveyed reported to be working remotely due to COVID-19. In the same survey, 97% of respondents indicated they would like to work remotely for the remainder of their careers. As a result, businesses need to be able to adapt to this growing trend among employees by providing work-from-home options, offering more remote positions, configuring systems for secure remote access with increased numbers of VPNs and cloud-based system integration, and more.

Transitioning to the Cloud

As the world continues to adapt to a remote working landscape, migrating to a digital business strategy is becoming increasingly more important. By transitioning to the cloud, organizations can optimize their business in a scalable way which makes remote operations significantly easier and more secure. Many of the industry’s top cloud providers have strict security measures in place to ensure stored data is always protected as the world of businesses and information security rapidly evolves. In addition, many organizations are saving thousands of dollars through cloud computing by no longer having to pay for expensive servers, equipment to keep server rooms in the proper condition, or space for the servers to be housed.

Maintaining Data Backups

Because there is so much data being transmitted online every day due to increased activity and remote work, the need for businesses to maintain secure data backups at all times has never been greater. In addition to preventing total data loss in the event of an attack or power failure, having backups helps assure clients that any information shared will be secure under all circumstances. And in the age of increased regulation, many businesses require their third party providers or vendors to have a plan in place should a failure or interruption occur at any point in time.

Integrations & Automation

A survey of 650 IT leaders indicated integration barriers were slowing down 84% of organizations. In the age of the Internet of Things and modernization, integration and automation are quickly becoming a critical component of digital transformation initiatives. Employees and software users alike have come to expect a seamless user experience from their personal and professional devices, putting the pressure on businesses to adapt. As we continue to shift into even more of a technology-driven way of life, the demand for interconnected processes and applications will only grow.

Consumer Privacy & Expectations

By 2025, it’s estimated there will be 175 zettabytes of data in the global datasphere. If you’re unsure of how big that number is, one zettabyte has 21 zeros. As the sheer volume of data continues to grow each day, businesses are being placed under the microscope to ensure the personal data they’re given is protected at all costs. The European Union took the first major steps toward consumer privacy with the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and earlier this year announced another plan to more closely regulate artificial intelligence technology as they continue setting the standard for organizations around the globe. This trend for increased regulation is recognized by organizations around the world as they’re expected to fall in line with each new regulation and method of compliance. From making sure information is used lawfully to cleaning data that is dated or no longer needed, the list of regulations for businesses to follow will only increase along with the amount of data available to them.

As 2021 comes to a close, there is no better time to start planning for the year to come. Our world continues to change at a rapid pace and it’s essential that businesses are able to prepare and adapt accordingly. Whether you’re shifting to the cloud, streamlining processes, educating employees on security measures or providing more remote work opportunities, it’s important to act fast and act soon so you can keep pace with the world around you.

Learn more about how INE can prepare your business to handle the evolving technology landscape through industry-leading Cyber Security, Networking, Cloud, and Data Science training.

About INE

INE is the premier provider of technical training for the IT industry. INE is revolutionizing the digital learning industry through the implementation of adaptive technologies and a proven method of hands-on training experiences. Our portfolio of training is built for all levels of technical learning, specializing in advanced networking technologies, next generation security and infrastructure programming and development. Want to talk to a training advisor about our course offerings and training plans? Give us a call at 877-224-8987 or email us at sales@ine.com.