IT predictions for businesses in 2015

Will it be security breaks or a mixture of hybrid infrastructures that creates complexity?

Network functions virtualisation takes off without SDN

2015 will see improvements of SDN technologies (software defined networking), and buyer confusion will be doubled as the switch and router vendors rally for number one position. NFV (Network Functions Virtualisation), already being widely, will make its way into the enterprise networks without the need for any SDN refresh or updates (This may require new hardware).

Infrastructureless networks functionally allow small and large businesses to dynamically provision networks wherever and when ever they’re needed, independent of any underlying system elements and fabrics.

Data hack growth and more frequent attacks

The quite scary prospect of the current  pace of data breaching in 2014 will more than double in 2015.
Security tactics, like relying on “toughened” perimeters and rigid mobile device management systems will have little effect on easing the day to day threats.

Enterprises should shift investments and spend more on detection and response. Across all applications, networks, and devices. This will be the MOST critical step toward improving overall security and averting potential risks.

Hybrid architectures become mainstream 

Despite cloud computing and hosted platforms like SAAS or IAAS continue their rapid expansion, “on premise” IT will remain a reality for 2015 and the foreseeable future.

This hybrid infrastructure bundle will create challenges for most organisations-including  but not limited to architectural “collisions,” where design patterns for an “on premise” development and deployment don’t handshake well (or at all) into a cloud based model.

Working through these challenges will require better models, more granular policies, identity/access controls, and a variety of coding practices to ensure that end-user needs are met consistently across all your platforms.

Actionable analytics on the systems.

As control, and optimisation are brought to networks it will become increasingly important to construct an analytics-driven set of infrastructures that can take action when problems occur.

In 2015, more IT organisations will begin utilising these network architectures with predictive analytics to create self-correcting, self-generating networks that respond to business needs.

Location will be a feature and not a constraint.

The technologies that will blossom will be a full stack of virtualisation, pervasive system management, and multi model deployments, these will enhance mobile infrastructure and allow companies to optimise for location of data, applications, and either staff or customers. Regulatory policies that govern data locations will be revisited to become a value rather than an impediment.

Rapid access to all data will become possible for anyone, regardless of where they are located geographically. Businesses that adopt these technologies will achieve new kinds of competitive advantages.

Read Grant Selvan’s full blog here.