While focusing on the present moment makes sense in some situations, it’s wise to devote a certain amount of your time to considering what lies ahead so you can plan accordingly. As the actor and comedian George Burns said, “I look to the future because that’s where I’m going to spend the rest of my life.”
With less than a month left in 2024, you might be contemplating the upcoming year and wondering what the future holds in terms of technology. While it’s impossible to prophesize the events of 2025 with absolute certainty, we can offer educated guesses based on insights from industry experts.
If you’re seeking information about potential trends and developments that you should factor into your IT roadmap and business strategy for the upcoming year, here are some notable technology predictions for 2025.
1. Companies that invest in AI governance platforms will come out on top.
Enterprises that utilize AI governance platforms – solutions that help ensure the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence systems – will perform better than their competitors by 2028, achieving customer trust ratings that are 30 percent higher, according to Gartner’s Top 10 Strategic Technology Trends for 2025.
Additionally, Gartner predicts that organizations that leverage AI governance solutions will have regulatory compliance scores that are 25 percent better than those of competing companies by 2028. Understandably, consumers will flock to businesses that prioritize combating fraud, biases, privacy violations, and other risks associated with AI usage.
2. Disinformation security will become imperative to combat AI-powered cyberattacks.
A previous blog entry, “How to identify AI-generated phishing emails,” describes an incident in which an employee at a multi-national finance firm sent funds to scammers who used deepfake technology to impersonate the company’s chief financial officer (CFO) via video call, as reported by CNN. Generative AI (genAI) has fueled these types of scams, making “disinformation security” a top priority for 2025, according to Gartner.
“As AI and machine learning tools become more advanced and accessible, disinformation targeting enterprises is expected to rise, posing significant and lasting risks if left unchecked,” the 2025 Top Strategic Technology Trends report states.
Subsequently, Gartner expects the percentage of enterprises that have implemented solutions or services specifically for disinformation security use cases to rise from less than 5 percent in 2024 to 50 percent by 2028. Investing in managed cybersecurity services and offerings like zero-trust architecture, security awareness training, and multi-factor authentication can safeguard your network and data from AI-fueled phishing campaigns.
3. Private cloud will increase in popularity, with VMware alternatives making notable gains.
As businesses seek to contain costs and address issues related to sovereignty and data security, private cloud investment will increase, according to Forrester’s predictions for technology and security in 2025.
“Most large enterprises already take a hybrid cloud approach, and they will further invest in private cloud for workloads requiring data storage and processing on-premises for security, privacy, and regulatory compliance (e.g., pretraining and fine-tuning of foundation models, RAG integration, AI agent automation),” the Forrester report states.
In the wake of Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware and subsequent bundling and cost changes, companies that want to increase their reliance on private cloud solutions will likely turn to alternative providers. Forrester forecasts increased interest in hyperconverged solutions like Nutanix as well as open-source options such as OpenStack.
For expert guidance on navigating the Broadcom/VMware aftermath, check out this virtual event recap and recording.
4. IT and security talent shortages will persist as a roadblock for businesses.
A significant portion (43 percent) of businesses plan on expanding their IT teams next year, according to the Spiceworks 2025 State of IT Report. However, 57 percent of senior tech leaders feel finding IT talent is challenging due to skills gaps.
As new technologies emerge and evolve at a breakneck pace, IT leaders have struggled to find enough staff members with the latest in-demand proficiencies, according to IBM. Similarly, the staggering speed at which new solutions, tactics and threats emerge has fueled an ongoing cybersecurity workforce shortage, according to ISC2.
These challenges will persist in 2025 and beyond, and companies that want to keep up with the pace of change will likely invest in either outsourcing or reskilling and upskilling current employees.
If you want expert guidance as you adjust your IT strategy for 2025, our trusted technology advisors would be happy to help. With over 20 years of IT and telecommunications experience, access to the latest market data, and a partner network of top suppliers, our team can craft a customized roadmap for your organization and identify solutions that align with your goals.
Start calling 877-599-3999 or emailing sales@stratospherenetworks.com. You can also jumpstart the tech shopping process by completing a free assessment.
