Tech Forecasts for 2016: Key IT Developments to Anticipate

In the dynamic world of technology, 2016 promises to be a year of significant changes and advancements. Here are some of the key trends that are set to redefine the IT landscape.

100 Gigabit Switches Arrive

The networking industry is witnessing a significant development with the arrival of 100 gigabit switches. Juniper Networks, for instance, has introduced a 100 Gigabit switch with at least 32 ports in a 1U chassis - the ACX7100-32C router featuring 32 QSFP28 ports in a compact 1U form factor.

SDN and the SDDC

Enterprises are aggressively adopting SDN-based approaches for a complete Software-Defined Data Centre (SDDC), essential to support initiatives like mobile, Internet of Things (IoT), and greater use of cloud services. The software-defined data centre (SDDC) is set to become a reality in 2016, as virtualization of compute, storage, and networks becomes part of corporate IT strategies.

Mobile and IoT Revolution

Mobile and viewer-oriented optimisation will be at the heart of data centre optimisation in 2016. The Internet of Things (IoT) will become more practical, providing telemetry for devices to report without excessive effort, potentially leading to 'predictive living'. Mobile management will impact enterprises, creating an increase of traffic within the data centre as applications are decomposed into functional services.

Security and Data Protection

Security will continue to be a major focus for IT organisations in 2016, with increased investments in securing information and proving security measures. Organisations will proactively speak about the measures they are taking to secure their data, rather than defending their actions after a data breach.

Analytics and Business Intelligence

Analytics and business intelligence will be a key part of every board meeting in 2016, as organisations need to be able to defend their success quantifiably.

Enterprise Adoption of BYOD

Enterprise adoption of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) will increase in 2016, with the introduction of enterprise-ready devices and services from major vendors.

Converged IT Offerings

Businesses will increasingly adopt converged IT offerings for simplification, allowing business needs to define IT and enabling quick reactions.

Co-location and Cloud Services

The rise of co-location and cloud will eliminate data centre builds in favour of these services. In 2016, new co-location providers will emerge, and existing providers will continue to build new structures in various markets.

Looking Back and Moving Forward

In the past 50 years, significant changes in IT problem-solving occurred three times: in the 1970s, the 1980s, and the late 1990s. As we step into 2016, we are witnessing another wave of transformative trends that are set to shape the future of IT. Pluribus Networks predicts eight technology trends for 2016 that will drive the next era of computing.

A Year of Opportunities

With these trends shaping the IT landscape, 2016 promises to be a year of opportunities for businesses to innovate, adapt, and grow. Stay tuned as we continue to explore these trends and their implications in the coming months.