Business tech trends to watch out for in 2022
2021 was in no way a dull year for the tech industry: foldable phones went mainstream, Zuckerberg introduced us to the Metaverse, and the NFT craze went wild. The COVID-19 pandemic still challenged the business community, but we got the much-needed vaccines to fight back.
2021 was also a busy and challenging time for the InfoSec industry. The number of compromises reported by H3 2021 had already surpassed the total number of compromises in all of 2020.
What should we expect of 2022’s enterprise tech world? Let’s look at some educated predictions of the trends likely to define the global tech landscape this year:
Supply chain disruptions
As the pandemic enters its third year, the global tech supply chain is still feeling the rippling effects from the earlier lockdowns. Key industrial suppliers such as miners and saw millers have yet to recover from months of production backlogs. Plus, the new COVID-19 variants emerging every couple of months put a lot of pressure on supply chains.
One of the biggest worries for tech manufacturers is the ongoing semiconductor shortage. The supply started falling in late 2020 and caused manufacturing delays throughout 2021. Analysts warn that the shortage might worsen this year.
IT labor shortage
The talent shortage in the IT industry is not exactly a new thing. Still, the last two years have severely exacerbated the problem. And 2022 will be no different. According to the latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover report, there are over 10 million job openings as millions of workers quit their jobs every month.
Employers might have to look beyond the traditional labor pipelines to fill IT positions. The most promising alternatives include working with a managed IT services provider, hiring contractors, and outsourcing.
The growing ransomware threat
Ransomware attacks have become a prevalent and devastating threat to businesses worldwide. The Cost of Data Breach Report puts the average cost of a ransomware incident at about 4.6 million (excluding the ransom, which can go as high as 50 million), making ransomware one of the costliest cyber threats.
Another report shows over 300 million ransomware attempts in just the first half of 2021.
Security teams must update their cybersecurity frameworks with ransomware in mind for the year.
Optimization for hybrid work
Even with the vaccine rollout, most employees are not enthusiastic about returning to the office. Consequently, the idea of hybrid workplaces, where employees can work both remotely and on-site, is quickly catching on. Most US companies have already adopted or are planning to adopt hybrid work as a permanent workplace model.
This adoption means that the familiar struggle to optimize virtual work processes and collaborations to maximize productivity persists in 2022.
More applications for blockchain technology
Exciting new things are happening in the blockchain space. The distributed, encrypted database model that underpins blockchain technology has far broader applications than traditional smart contracts.
Blockchain has the potential to revolutionize data management, cryptography, information security, logistical planning, and so much more. Here are some of the key trends setting the pace for blockchain technology in 2022 and beyond:
- Blockchain goes green
- Blockchain in encoding NFTs
- The popularization of Blockchain as a Service (BaaS)
- Blockchain encryption in streaming services and social media
- Practical uses for Blockchain in governance
- More acceptance for cryptocurrencies
- Blockchain and IoT integration
Reimagined virtual experiences
The virtual, augmented, and mixed reality markets have seen substantial growth over the last few years. Analysts forecast the global VR, AR, and MR market to reach $58.7 billion this year.
These cutting-edge technologies, which started as gaming gimmicks, have revolutionized virtual experiences in many commercial sectors. In 2022, you can use smart glasses for:
- Educational training
- Product design
- Conceptual modeling
- Event planning
- Global navigation
- Architectural design
- Surgical procedures
- Marketing
2022 is shaping up to be a pretty exciting year for enterprise IT. Team up with a trusted managed IT partner, like CTSI, gives you full advantage of all the cutting-edge innovations 2022 has to offer. Our goal is to foster business success through the safe utilization of practical tech solutions.
Let’s talk about how we can grow your business.
