Items that may have a big impact on IT in 2017

2017 is going to be a big year in IT. From the Cloud, SDN and IoT, what will the new year bring to all of us? The IT Industry is bright and holds tremendous future and upside for those who keep the client experience at the forefront. With the groundwork of cloud, mobility, data and connectivity laid, the year ahead will see evolutionary advances on many fronts. Here are a few to think about.

Knowledge gap prevails

Given the breadth and pace of innovation, all signs point to a widening skills gap in many areas.

Development needed

On the other side of the ledger, many employers still lag in hiring or professional development best practices. Just one in four IT professionals believe their employer utilizes their talent and skill to the fullest extent.

Matchmaker, matchmaker

The blended workforce of full-time, temporary and contract workers will continue to evolve as “match-making” employment platforms create new options for employers and workers.

Cloud confusion

The number of cloud computing companies and services will continue to proliferate, giving customers more options – and potentially creating more confusion.

Breaking from tradition

The lineup of sources for technology solutions will expand as digital agencies, marketing firms, accountants and other non-traditional entities get into the business.

The year of IoT

Even with an anticipated long adoption cycle, the Internet of Things is primed to be a major disruptor as more physical objects gain intelligence and connectivity.

Still lagging in security

Headline-making security breaches are not yet driving companies to revolutionize their approach to security. Most firms remain not fully prepared for a cyber attack.

Confidence is high

CompTIA’s IT Industry Business Confidence Index for Q1 reached a new high, signaling an economy on solid footing and a positive outlook among tech executives and business owners.

Growth continues

CompTIA projects global industry growth of 4.1 percent in 2017. If that growth rate is realized it will push the global IT industry past the $3.5 trillion mark by year’s end.

Invasion of the robots?

The use of artificial intelligence, virtual assistants and other knowledge-based systems will intensify the debate over technology’s impact on employment.