Wednesday, January 30, 2019

We’re Watching These Five Technology Trends in 2019

The Future for Business as Technology Continues to Rapidly Evolve

By: Sarah Warsi   Categories:Blog, Security, Cyber Security, Data Security

We’re Watching These Five Technology Trends in 2019

Now that we’re a month into the new year, it’s time to take a look at the top technology trends most likely to disrupt business in 2019 and beyond. Some of these trends are a continuation of what we experienced in 2018 and in previous years, while others are exciting new developments. Here are our top five:

 

Trend #1: Cyber Security / Managed Security

Unless you’ve been living under a virtual rock, you know that cyber crime is a real and present danger. Consider the massive Marriott International guest reservation security breach that recently impacted almost 500 million people, and the Canadian bank data hack we discussed in this blog post. That’s why “always on business protection” is so critical, which is what Sentia provides with our Managed Security Services

Also, cyber security in and of itself is not the only concern now – Forbes just published 60 Cyber security Predictions for 2019. One of their concerns is that Artificial (AI) Intelligence and Machine Learning (ML) is giving rise to a whole new breed of ‘smart’ attacks from AI-driven chat bots.

And that brings us to our next trend for 2019:

 

Trend #2: Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML)

Artificial intelligence is here to stay and we are increasingly operating in an insights-driven era. For businesses, it’s especially useful in helping make sense of the proliferation of data being generated. There are so many   applications for AI, of which ML is a subset. Here are a couple of ways AI can be used for good:

  • Enhance the experience and improve productivity of data scientists and developers.3
  • Transform the employee and customer experience by extending human capabilities with technology.4

Sentia’s Power AI Innovation Centre is here to help you accelerate high performance computing (HPC), analytics and AI.
According to Gartner research1, by 2020 "85% of CIOs will be piloting artificial intelligence programs through a combination of buy, build, and outsource efforts.

 

Trend #3: Managed Services for the Very Small Business (10 or less Employees)

There are over one million small businesses in Canada, and more than half of them have fewer than four employees2. These entrepreneurs are responsible for substantial job creation and economic output. Even though technology can boost growth, most very small businesses don’t have IT departments – more and more, the trend is to outsource strategic IT planning, backup and recovery, security, and other critical technology functions. That’s why Sentia provides flexible and customizable managed services support to cater to this unique audience. Learn more about our managed and support services solutions here.

Trend #4: Making the Move to the Cloud

The cloud isn’t so new anymore, but there are lots of new cloud-based solutions and services on the horizon. Here’s a look at three service models:

  • Subscription-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) will grow by a compound annual growth rate of 18% by 20203
  • Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) will grow from 32% in 2016 to 56% in 20194
  • Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) is predicted to reach $72.4 billion worldwide by 20205

Each model has its pros and cons, and that means moving to the cloud hasn’t been easy for all. As a result, hybrid cloud solutions will likely be very popular in the coming year. Why? Businesses can control the pace, risk and cost of adopting a cloud model. Sentia’s Cloud Services offer everything from cloud readiness assessments to fully managed private, public and hybrid cloud models.

 

Trend #5: Growth in Managed Network Services

In addition to the aforementioned trends, factors like 5G, augmented reality, virtual reality, and an explosion of devices are increasing the complexity of IT networks. As a result, there has been a significant shift in how businesses manage their IT networks –outsourcing all or part of the responsibilities to a managed services provider. Not only does this free up time, human and financial resources, it also provides access to the latest expertise and thought leadership for a predictable monthly fee. 

Learn about our Secure Managed Network Solutions here.

If you're interested in learning more about these trends to help solidify your plan for 2019, we'd be happy to have a conversation with you. Feel free to contact us today.


 

End Notes:

1Source: Gartner

2Source: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

3Source: Bain & Company

4Source: KPMG

5Source: Gartner

6Source: MarketResearch Future

Sarah Warsi
Sarah Warsi

Sarah Warsi

As marketing manager, Sarah plays a key role in managing Sentia's marketing efforts including developing the overall marketing strategy and direction, digital and social media management, to campaign development and execution.

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Full biography

As marketing manager, Sarah plays a key role in managing Sentia's marketing efforts including developing the overall marketing strategy and direction, digital and social media management, to campaign development and execution. She holds a degree in Journalism from Ryerson University.

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