Gartner recently highlighted six pivotal trends expected to reshape the infrastructure and operations (I&O) landscape by 2025. According to Jeffrey Hewitt, a Vice President Analyst at Gartner, these trends provide I&O leaders with a roadmap to understanding future skill requirements, offering valuable insights for implementation.
The first trend, “Revirtualization/Devirtualization,” prompts a reevaluation of existing virtualization strategies. As licensing for vendor-based solutions shifts, organizations are considering options like distributed cloud, public cloud, and private cloud. Hewitt emphasized the necessity of inventorying current virtualization and interdependencies, while also exploring options such as hypervisors and containerization to effectively respond to these changes.
Security also emerges as a critical focus through the increasing need for “Security Behaviour and Culture Programs” (SBCPs). With the escalation of cybersecurity threats, these programs aim to mitigate incidents by enhancing corporate security through improved employee conduct and comprehensive policies.
The concept of “Cyberstorage” represents another transformative trend. By utilizing a data harbour approach, data becomes fragmented and distributed, allowing quick reassembly when required. Hewitt suggests that understanding the risks and costs of storage threats can build a compelling case for cyberstorage’s adoption amidst rising regulatory and insurance expenses.
Additionally, “Liquid-cooled Infrastructure” is gaining traction. As artificial intelligence and new chip generations demand more, liquid cooling solutions like rear-door heat exchange and immersion cooling come to the forefront. These innovations allow for greater infrastructure flexibility and efficiency as GPUs and CPUs advance.
The rise of “Intelligent Applications” is yet another evolving trend. These applications adapt to user intent and context, reducing manual intervention while optimizing resource utilization and process workflows. This progression minimizes digital disruption, creating a seamless experience.
Finally, the notion of “Optimal Infrastructure” encourages I&O teams to tailor infrastructure to business needs, aligning with platform engineering principles. These strategic choices ensure that infrastructure supports broader organizational objectives and secures buy-in from business leaders and executives.
