5 IT industry trends to watch in 2021

[[389534]]

According to a recent survey report released by CompTIA, IT development trends in 2021 may not be much different from 2020, and it points out 5 development trends in the IT industry that organizations need to pay attention to.

While the first few months of 2021 won’t look much different than the end of 2020, there are still some trends to follow and some business plans to consider, according to CompTIA’s 2021 IT Industry Outlook.

This annual research report provides the latest insights into industry trends shaping the IT industry, the workforce, and changing business models. Here are five things to know in 2021:

1. IT sector remains cautious but bullish

Many factors are expected to drive growth in the tech industry in 2021, led by a pickup in business from existing clients. There are also many factors to consider, such as developing new customer bases, opening new business lines, and selling products. Here are some of the reasons why respondents to the CompTIA survey are optimistic about 2021.

But overall, many organizations remain concerned about the development of the coronavirus outbreak, as 77% of channel respondents said the impact of the ongoing outbreak could affect business development, and unexpected events such as financial crises or natural disasters and delayed procurement are also a concern.

The report shows that from a revenue perspective, less than half of the respondents (37%) expect that their performance in 2021 will exceed the growth in performance in 2020 and 2019. A quarter of the respondents also said that although the revenue level is lower than in 2019, their business will maintain steady growth in 2021. Nearly a quarter of the respondents admitted that the epidemic in 2020 led to revenue losses, but they predicted that they would return to the level of 2019 in 2021.

2. Diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts will increase

It’s unfortunate that diversity initiatives have become somewhat politicized in 2020, but the truth is, with data to back it up, organizations that implement DEI initiatives are more profitable, more productive, and more successful, but more needs to be done. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women working in computer professions have dropped from 36% in 1991 to 26% today. Expect a more diverse workforce in 2021.

The survey report shows that the ultimate results of diversity programs may be immeasurable, as organizations will benefit from multiple perspectives and provide equal opportunities for all groups. In the face of business disruption, the pandemic has made many organizations pay more attention to flexibility and resilience, which has also brought attention to fair treatment. More forward-looking organizations will publicly demonstrate their commitment to this ideal.

3. Emerging technologies find a home in business solutions

No one says, “I want to adopt blockchain” or “Can I order IoT technology?” These technologies, as well as emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, were never designed as single solutions. Instead, organizations apply these technologies in larger solutions that solve real problems and specific business problems, which provides opportunities for all types of solution providers to use technology to build differentiated solutions.

CompTIA noted in its IT Outlook report that many organizations do not have an IoT strategy; they will implement IoT components in their inventory management or property operations strategies. Going forward, the question around emerging technologies is not how do you sell this technology? Or how do you support this technology? But how do you leverage this technology to design a unique solution? Answering these questions requires both an understanding of the technology and an understanding of business operations.

4. Some optimism about the 2021 budget

After the pandemic that occurred in 2020, about 41% of respondents expect their 2021 budgets to be roughly the same as in 2020, which can be seen as good news in some respects. Another 25% of respondents expect their technology spending to increase, and 13% expect their budgets to decrease.

CompTIA's survey report shows that respondents have a clearer view of which departments are getting enough budget in the overall budget and which departments are getting more budget. For some respondents, sales and marketing departments are somewhat underfunded, and marketing activities are always lagging behind in terms of resources and overall attention.

5. Zero Trust shapes new cybersecurity initiatives

Organizations need to build a business model that trusts almost no one, which makes sense when it comes to new devices on the network. After all, cyber attackers are dedicated to finding vulnerabilities that can be exploited. The advent of zero trust means that every device, every transaction, and every thing must be verified; it is used for data, application, and user access levels.

The CompTIA survey indicates that as organizations become more comfortable with the Zero Trust framework, they also appreciate the new investments that must be made, the new processes that must be established, and the new skills that need to be acquired.