Dimension Data forecasts digital transformation in 2016

Dimension Data, a global provider of IT solutions and services, has published its forecasts for the next 12 months. They show that digital transformation is top of mind for businesses aiming to remain competitive in the market.

According to Ettienne Reinecke, Director of Technology at Dimension Data, social media, mobility, cloud, analytics, Internet of Things, and IT at two speeds (bimodal IT) are the most important trends in the IT industry.

“All these trends and technologies serve a greater purpose: they enable companies to transform into digital enterprises. In other words, business uses IT to respond faster to market opportunities and threats, and to leverage experiences from those it interacts with—whether they are customers, employees, or business partners.”

Four pillars of digital transformation

Ettienne Reinecke notes that conversations about digital transformation conducted by Dimension Data’s team with enterprises revolve around four key themes: data as a foundation for transformation, hybrid cloud for flexibility, new workplace models, and cyber security:

• Digital infrastructure: the essence lies in understanding data... and how to use it The role of data has changed fundamentally. For many years, data center specialists focused most of their time and energy on storage, backups, and efficiently executing tasks such as replication or deduplication. Cost reduction in data management was the primary concern. Today, everything has changed. The focus is now on improving ways to explore data and turning it into business value.
• Hybrid cloud: increased adoption of private cloud in 2016 Over the next 12 months, new private cloud offerings based on commercial consumption models will attract the attention of IT decision-makers who prioritize cloud strategy. These new private cloud models facilitate the migration of mission-critical applications that were not originally designed for the cloud.
• New workplace models (mobile, multi-device environments interconnected in various configurations): greater impact of social media on professional activity in 2016 The vast majority of communication on social media platforms has historically relied on consumer tools. However, platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are increasingly accompanied by advanced, business-oriented solutions that integrate audio and video, file sharing, and workflow management. These include applications like Cisco’s Spark, Yammer and Microsoft’s Skype for Business, Viber, WhatsApp, Slack, and many others. All these technologies help build communities—private, professional, or consumer-based—where people can respond in real-time, share ideas, easily find people and information, and make decisions more quickly. In the next 12 months, such activities will increasingly influence corporate behaviors, enabling seamless communication across different geographic regions and time zones.

Cyber security: in 2016, we will continue to face serious network breaches and increasingly frequent cyberattacks targeting top management of companies

Cyber security: attacks on executives

Four pillars of digital transformation according to Dimension Data

Last year saw many serious cyberattacks on networks, and this will not change in 2016. A new trend in cyber criminal activity is that their targets are increasingly ‘big fish’—top management of companies. Executives are becoming victims of attacks using ransomware that force ransom payments or compromise sensitive data. Additionally, in the coming 12 months, digital forensics will play a growing role.

Summary

Dimension Data’s forecasts for 2016 focus on digital transformation, driven by social media, mobility, cloud, analytics, Internet of Things, and bimodal IT. Ettienne Reinecke highlights four key areas in conversations with enterprises: data as the foundation of transformation, hybrid cloud for flexibility, new workplace models, and cyber security.

In the coming months, IT decision-makers will focus on private clouds based on commercial consumption models, as well as integrating social tools into professional life. Cyber threats are also increasing, with attackers increasingly targeting top corporate executives using ransomware and demanding ransoms.