What Will Drive IT Change in 2022?
In 2020 and 2021, the emergence of a global pandemic of unequal proportions triggered monumental shifts in the tech landscape. As the world quickly shifted to work from home models, IT departments worked around the clock to deliver technologies essential for empowering the remote workforce. At the same time, the rush to adopt new technologies led to an upsurge in cyber-attacks targeting businesses of various sizes. Recent studies reveal sophisticated cybercrime, which includes everything from Ransomware, identity theft to DDoS attacks, increased 600% as a result of the COVID-19. As we cross into the New Year 2022, experts expect a continuation of some of the pandemic-related challenges and opportunities that the tech industry witnessed in the past two years will still manifest. Let’s take a look at some of the top factors that will define the IT landscape in 2022.
Big DDoS Attacks
IoT undeniably has substantial cybersecurity weaknesses. A recent study reveals more than 1.5 billion attacks occurred against IoT devices in the first six months of 2021. A recent report by Forrester reveals 2022 will likely experience large-scale DDoS attacks powered by an IoT botnet targeting massive communications infrastructure. This will result in massive economic damage due to significant communications disruptions extending for a long time. Experts are now advising organizations leveraging IoT devices to relook at their DDoS preparedness.
Chip Shortage
The study by Forrester reveals the current semiconductor shortage due to COVID19 is likely to extend beyond 2022. This means businesses and consumer IT products will continue experiencing price volatility due to limited supplies for months to come. Specifically, this could be a big issue for the IoT market because massive amounts of silicon supplies are typically used to produce high-end CPUs and GPUs. In a nutshell, the sensors and microcontrollers needed by IoT devices will likely encounter more supply chains challenges into the future.
Satellite In 5G Deployment
Forrester also predicts 5G’s dominance as the next gene connectivity option of choice is likely to be superseded by Satellite links, especially in the rural areas. The challenging and costly deployment of 5G has forced consumers to look for better alternatives in WAN technologies. Recent studies reveal low orbiting internet services are more effective in performance than 5 G in rural areas. There is also a higher likelihood of wired network providers offering satellite internet backup service in 2022 and beyond.
Proactive Cybersecurity Measures
If there is one lesson that 2021 left in executives’ minds is the need for the adoption of stricter cybersecurity measures following the millions of cybersecurity incidents witnessed. These issues impacted even the most notable organizations such as Microsoft Exchange, SolarWinds, and Colonial Pipeline, to name a few. Amid a possible surge of cybersecurity threats in 2022, the following are some of the measures that everyone should expect:
- Securing remote environment: In 2021, many organizations deployed new remote work technologies in a rush to support business continuity. There was simply no time to integrate the new software and hardware into existing security measures. In 2022, we expect organizations to invest more in tools and technologies to safeguard their remote workplaces.
- Security measures will move to default: With the massive data breaches experienced in the past year, vendors are likely to take more proactive security approaches to protect their consumers. Expect security measures to go default with features like Multi-Factor Authentication and Privileged Access Management (PAM) becoming a means of upgrading security.
Passwordless Authentication
Passwords are likely to become a thing of the past from 2022 and beyond. Recent cyberattacks analysis reveals even the most robust passwords can be compromised when actors invest enough time. Ideally, there is a limit to how long and complex a password can be before it becomes inconvenient to use. In 2022, we are likely to witness a gradual but sure shift towards password-less authentication with the help of tools such as biometrics, tokens, and mobile devices. Passwordless authentication doesn’t only eliminate the challenge of having to keep and regularly change myriads of passwords; it is also a lot safer and less prone to brute force and spray attacks.
Quantum Computing
Quantum computing leverages quantum phenomena such as quantum entanglement and superposition. During the pandemic period, quantum computing was used to reduce the spread of coronavirus and develop vaccines due to its ability to quickly query, monitor, analyze and act on data from varied sources. Quantum technology is also being used in banking and finance to manage credit risks and fraud detection. Today huge manufacturers such as Microsoft, AWS, and Google are making critical innovations in the field of quantum computing, and we expect this trend to pick up in 2022 and beyond.
Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)
In 2022, expect Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR technologies to be integrated further into our lives. While VR immerses the user into an environment, AR enhances the environment. These technologies were primarily used in the gaming industry but have slowly found their way into mainstream consumer markets and other industries, including military training. Essentially, VR and AR have massive unexploited potential in the training, entertainment, education, marketing, and even rehabilitation following an injury.
Increased Adoption of Blockchain
When blockchain is mentioned, many people connect it to cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. However, blockchain provides security that can benefit many sectors. Blockchain, in simple terms, implies data that can only be added to and not changed or removed. Not being able to alter the previous blocks is what makes blockchain so secure. With blockchain technology, organizations won’t need a trusted third party to oversee or validate transactions, thus cutting costs and improving security. As the use of blockchain increases, we expect more industries in 2022 to implement blockchain technology into their operations.
Why You Should Partner with an MSP in 2022
Even with the typical IT challenges, it is safe to conclude 2022 will be a year of recovery, innovation, and acceleration. However, to maximize the opportunities and reduce the impacts of uncertainties, organizations should consider partnering with reliable MSP providers in their niche. The right IT company will help you identify key IT factors impacting your business and develop customized solutions to eliminate risks and make the best out of available opportunities.
At Essential Solutions, we are committed to helping you with ongoing IT support to guarantee business growth and now and in the future. Contact us today, and let’s help you enter the New Year with confidence.
Special thanks to Ulistic HPC member, Holden Watne with GenIX in Los Angeles for his support and help with this article.
