How 2023 will define the tech landscape

The world is becoming more uncertain. That presents a number of challenges for enterprise IT professionals - and some opportunities, too. The most important developments in 2023 will be continuations of the trends we’ve seen over the last five years, with organizational efficiency and security rising to the top of the list of priorities.

 

Cloud computing

As more organizations move to the cloud, they are increasingly turning to hybrid solutions that combine the benefits of public and private clouds. Hybrid solutions offer the agility and cost-efficiency of the public cloud, along with the control and security of the private cloud. Edge computing, meanwhile, allows data to be processed at the edge of the network, closer to the source. This reduces latency and improves performance - ideal for applications such as IoT and real-time analytics to improve efficiency and performance. 2023 will see further integration of AI and ML into cloud computing as the technologies become increasingly powerful and accessible. Cloud offers a natural platform to deploy these technologies at scale. We’ll also see more serverless computing, allowing businesses to run applications without the need to manage any underlying infrastructure. This can save time, reduce costs, and improve scalability and flexibility.

Machine learning

Two significant advancements in machine learning will be prominent in 2023: transfer learning and unsupervised learning. Transfer learning is a technique allowing machine learning models to be trained on one task and then applied to another related task. This can save substantial time and resources, allowing researchers to leverage existing models and data sets to build new models more quickly.

Unsupervised learning is a type of machine learning that does not require labeled data. Instead, these algorithms use clustering and other techniques to find patterns and relationships in data on their own. This can be particularly useful for tasks such as anomaly detection, where labeled data may be scarce.

Cyber security

Enterprises are likely to face more vulnerabilities in 2023. Chief among those is ransomware attacks: a type of malware that encrypts a victim's files and demands payment in exchange for the decryption key. Attacks are becoming more sophisticated, and increasingly targeted at businesses and organizations rather than private individuals. IoT security concerns present a further risk: with a forecasted 41.6 billion devices in use globally by 2025, IoT cyber vulnerabilities are becoming a major concern for businesses. Many connected devices are not designed with security in mind, and can be easily compromised by hackers. Calls for r robust, global security standards, and regulations are growing.

We will, however, also see some positive developments in cyber security in 2023. Machine learning and AI technologies are being increasingly used to analyze large datasets and identify patterns and trends that can help detect and prevent cyber-attacks. These technologies can also be used to automate many of the routine tasks involved in cybersecurity, freeing up human resources for more complex tasks.

Cybersecurity is a complex and fast-moving field, and no single organization can tackle the problem alone. In 2023, we can expect to see increased collaboration between businesses, governments, and researchers, with the goal of sharing information, expertise, and best practices in cybersecurity.

Physical security

Ensuring IT assets are safeguarded from attacks requires strong lines of defense in the offline world, too. Enterprises are increasingly using biometric security systems, identifying authorized users with physical characteristics such as fingerprints or facial recognition.

Physical security audits will be vital in 2023: systematic reviews of an organization's physical security measures, with the goal of identifying potential vulnerabilities and making recommendations for improvement. Employee training will likewise be a priority this year. Physical security is not limited to technology – safeguarding IT assets also depends on the actions and behaviors of employees and contractors.

Big data

Datasets are becoming larger and use cases are becoming more complex. 2023 will bring continued growth of real-time analytics for businesses to make faster, more informed decisions.

We’ll also see the rise of the "data lake": a central repository for storing and managing large volumes of structured and unstructured data. In 2023, we can expect to see more businesses using data lakes to store, manage, and analyze their big data.

The next year is also likely to highlight the increasing importance of data governance. As data volumes continue to grow, it is becoming increasingly important for businesses to have strong data governance practices in place. This includes ensuring that data is collected, managed, and used ethically and responsibly.

Staying ahead of the curve is vital

The pace of technological change is increasing. Staying competitive requires a strong focus on innovation. SBM can help - so let’s talk.