The year 2020 was an interesting one, wasn’t it? While many of us were challenged to survive stay-at-home orders, technology was also put to the test. Changes that may have taken months or years pre-COVID were actioned in a few short weeks. What it did for us was remarkable, allowing us to work from home, stay in touch with the people we care about and learn to cope with uncertainty.

In that changed environment, some technology trends boomed. More than a year on, we know that our ‘new normal’ demands more than just the setup of our home office. Improvements to security and data storage are now paramount, and will be crucial in how we manage unexpected change in the future. Here, the experts at Geeks2U examine how big technology trends will shape business and lives in 2021 and beyond.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence is one of the key technology trends to watch out for.

In 2020, we shopped, searched and socialised online en masse, and we haven’t let up even as lockdowns have ended. With more and more behaviours and interactions taking place online, we have access to more data than ever. That data can be used to deliver insights into human behaviour, helping us meet the needs of a changing world, but we need to be able to analyse it. AI can spot patterns in data that we might otherwise miss; as a result, self-learning algorithms will become even more important, and not just when managing a public health crisis like COVID-19. In the future, it’s likely more AI tools will be embraced by businesses wanting to learn about customers’ shopping habits, socialising and productivity.

Multi-Cloud Evolution

It’s mind-blowing to think about how quickly we’ve embraced cloud technology. The next wave will be cloud alternatives. Big players, like Google and Dropbox, have recently dominated the market, but smaller providers are starting to appear, such as Aerobatic and Amazon S3. With the introduction of 5G and increased capabilities across all kinds of devices, we’ll need more robust and readily available storage solutions to handle all the data we’re creating now and into the future.

SEE ALSO: Let the Geek Guide You: What Cloud Computing Can Do for Your Business

5G Network

The 5G network is one of the key technology trends set to change how we use the internet.

There has been a lot of hype around 5G and soon we’ll start to see exactly what this network upgrade can do. It’s predicted that it will deliver better streaming of virtual and augmented reality, as well as improve the overall experience of online gaming (particularly cloud-based gaming services like Google Stadia. Also, AI and machine learning need real-time access to Big Data to run effectively, and 5G should make that always-on connection readily available. Essentially, 5G will make it possible for us to do more on the internet and access it faster, from anywhere.

IT Compliance

Compliance is about how businesses and individuals follow legal guidelines and rules. For IT, this means the measures taken to increase data privacy and strength. In order to keep up with regulations and changes in privacy laws, it’s likely businesses will further embrace automation and machine learning. Another likely knock-on? An increased need for IT compliance talent, especially at the enterprise level, to address the need for constant compliance which is set to become the ‘norm’.

Cybersecurity

One of the key technology trends is a rise in the interest in cybersecurity.

The pandemic meant millions of employees left secure office environments, and consequently the number of cyber attacks on financial institutions skyrocketed by a whopping 238%. The knock-on of a WFH workforce has meant businesses need to re-evaluate their cybersecurity strategies and find new ways to ensure the safety of their data. Artificial intelligence and machine learning can help; with more sophisticated tech, businesses can more easily and quickly uncover potential threats online. In 2020, Microsoft and others invested heavily into their cloud security and that’s set to continue as new cybersecurity threats continue to surface.

Set Up for Success

While big businesses are geared to adopt significant technology changes in-house, it’s only natural that SMEs might need a hand with some tech hurdles. Whether you’re setting up new WFH devices or need to adjust your current network security systems, Geeks2U can show you how to stay ahead of the curve in your home or office.

Need some IT or Tech Help? Geeks2U offers onsite and remote tech support, 7 days a week. Find out more here.