For a company to be a leader in their industry, they must stay on top of technology trends and leverage the latest innovations. This means that IT partners, like a managed service provider, should help businesses implement new technology so that they can balance being competitive and reliable. Technology can change rapidly, so it’s important to work with a partner who is committed to staying at the forefront. Here are a few current trends and how they are impacting the IT industry.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Probably the hottest trend of the day, AI is popping up everywhere you look. A wide range of businesses have implemented AI in their daily operations. Without a doubt, it is a powerful tool that can enhance efficiency, security, and the customer experience. MSPs specifically can wield AI in several ways:
- Cybersecurity – AI can detect potential security threats, often before a human would even notice. By analyzing massive amounts of data from sources such as network traffic, logs, and endpoints, AI can flag suspicious patterns and behaviors. AI can also “learn” from previous attacks and use those experiences to improve detection, accuracy, and speed. This greatly reduces the workload of a traditional cybersecurity team.
- Predictive Maintenance – As a proactive approach to maintenance, predictive maintenance relies on AI that uses data and analytics to predict when hardware or software issues may arise. Equipment sensors, maintenance logs, and historical performance data can all be consumed by AI to identify patterns and predict when maintenance is necessary. Like cybersecurity, AI can learn from past maintenance and use that knowledge to improve future predictions. By identifying potential issues early, MSPs can schedule maintenance proactively, which results in less downtime overall.
- Automation – AI can be used to automate a wide range of MSP tasks. As an example, AI can monitor infrastructures for potential issues (i.e., server load or low disk space) and execute preventative measures. AI can also automate software updates and system backups. By automating these tasks, MSPs gain time to respond more quickly to tickets and improve interactions with their clients.
Internet of Things (IoT)
So many things are “smart” these days - smart watches, smart TVs, smart thermostats, etc. For businesses, using multiple devices that are connected to the internet can expedite processes and drastically increase efficiency. With IoT technology, smart devices can communicate, exchange data, and perform various tasks autonomously. Aside from the day-to-day objects you yourself may own, MSPs have found a major role in helping businesses with a range of complex IoT use cases. From devices that manage traffic patterns to controlling machines and processes in factories, the number of internet-connected devices is only increasing. With the rise of IoT, businesses have found improved efficiency, better data driven decision making, cost savings, and enhanced customer experience.
Edge Computing
Edge computing is a model where a range of networks and devices are located at or near the user. This allows for data to be processed closer to where it’s being generated or needed, instead of at a centralized data center. IoT devices, point of sales systems, robots, autonomous vehicles and sensors can all be edge devices—if they compute locally and connect to the cloud. Edge computing allows for faster processing, which means less latency and better performance. Many businesses are incorporating this decentralized infrastructure approach to increase productivity and reliability.
Today, AI, IoT, and Edge technology are fueling the most innovative products and services on the market. Businesses who wish to stay competitive have fully embraced these technology trends. If you aren’t currently leveraging any of these technologies, consider what your processes would look like and how your business could grow if you did.
Sources:
https://www.ibm.com/topics/internet-of-things