In the world of IT, there is a continuous struggle against the tide to make sure a business is running smoothly. That precious break can give IT gurus a much-needed moment to take their foot off the throttle and take stock of what lies ahead.
Here we will summarize some of the findings and tips on how to tackle some IT problems we are facing nowadays:
Security is the Number 1 Concern
After a year of extensive cyber threats, it’s clear that a diverse attack could happen at any time on nearly any part of the network. Highly publicized data breaches have catapulted security to the top spot in the survey, with over 25 percent of respondents highlighting it as a significant concern. As cyber convicts become more sophisticated and better funded, the reality is that we are not doing enough to keep up.
Heading into 2018, the focus for security needs to be data protection. In the security category, data breaches stole first place while securely transferring data ranked at number two. End users often won’t consider the risks when selecting a method to transfer information, and unsurprisingly data, i.e., mid-transit, has the highest probability of loss. Scheduling your approach to security is essential and will help you understand where your system is weakest.
Privacy will Undergo a Huge Overhaul
There are massive changes to the way data can be adequately transferred. Businesses will find privacy at the forefront of their agendas. For technological giants such as Google and Amazon and businesses using Dropbox, there can be severe insinuations for companies storing data long after it has been transmitted. In any situation, keeping up with evolving security threats while also meeting new privacy standards will prove to be one of the biggest challenges of 2018.
In light of these changes, another matter highlighted by research as a concern was found to be compliance. Whether it is the healthcare, financial, or legal sectors, many industries require full transparency and secure their business-critical data. With the introduction of new data privacy regulations, all businesses will have to comprehend and obey what is being asked of them. An awareness and education program could well benefit an organization to help share the burden of compliance.
Standing Out will be a Major Challenge
IT teams are also looking to revolutionize and need to tackle issues in application performance and monitoring. As networks become increasingly demanding and dispersed across many platforms and devices, every aspect of the infrastructure, from applications, servers, connected devices, and virtual environments, must be monitored to optimize efficiency and highlight any performance issues.
Keeping Up with New Technologies will Prove as Difficult as Ever
As advances in technology continue to push on at an exceptional rate, the invasion of new devices such as smartwatches and fitness bands and the streaming of high-bandwidth content will pressure IT pros. A clear action plan must be put in place when arraying new technologies, handling user devices, and ensuring new technologies are compatible with the existing infrastructure.
This will make sure the IT department isn’t left gasping at the starting line. In addition to precise planning, implementing automated systems to tackle repetitive tasks will open up your time to spend on running IT infrastructure and business-critical setups.
When new technologies are implemented, training staff could save time and trouble later down the line, increasing efficiency and productivity while ensuring that workforces make the most of the technology available.
Conclusion
IT professionals have a lot on their plate with a broad range of concerns, including data protection and management, storage, device management, automation, and reporting. The simplest solution is this – don’t attempt everything. Decide what is achievable for your department and follow through with your improvements.

