As the global business landscape evolves, so do the technologies that impact digital transformation. Staying updated on the following IT transformation trends will allow businesses to reassess their strategies and how they approach sustainability and resiliency.

Inclusiveness in a Hybrid Work Environment

A poll conducted by Cisco found that 98 percent of meetings now involve at least one remote participant due to the increasing number of remote employees. Companies adopting hybrid work environments must create an inclusive environment for all employees, regardless of location or device, by providing the right technology and tools to enable seamless collaboration.

Evolving Cybersecurity Threats

With the proliferation of digital tools and hybrid work setups, cybersecurity has become a top concern for organizations. Cybercriminals are exploiting vulnerabilities in networks and devices, demanding ransomware payments, and stealing sensitive data. 

In the Cybersecurity Readiness Index report by Cisco in the private sector, only 27 percent of organizations can fend off cybersecurity threats that can disrupt operations. In comparison, 85 percent of respondents expect cyber attacks to happen within a year or two.

Meanwhile, several government agencies, such as the Philippines House of Representatives, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), were all victims of cyber attacks in 2023.

Furthermore, a significant data breach occurred in April 2023, exposing over one million personal records from various state agencies, including the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and Special Action Force (SAF). These compromised data later surfaced on the Russian black market.

These incidents highlight the need for businesses to prioritize cybersecurity and invest in robust solutions to protect their data and operations.

As enterprises and consumers increasingly embrace digital connectivity, ubiquitous access to applications necessitates network transformation to ensure uninterrupted connectivity and robust security measures.

According to Cisco's 2022 Hybrid Work Study, 73 percent of respondents in the Philippines perceive regular connectivity issues as a hindrance to the career growth of remote employees. Additionally, 27 percent of participants expressed the need for their companies to invest in the appropriate networking infrastructure.

Advent of Predictive Networks

A predictive network utilizes massive amounts of historical data to forecast the recurrence of network events, drawing insights from past patterns. It's a big data application incorporating machine learning (ML) or artificial intelligence (AI) to learn from historical data and make accurate predictions.

The technology gathers, transmits, and measures data from remote sources using sensors and other devices. This data is transmitted to a central location, providing businesses full-stack visibility into real-time data, system interactions, interdependencies, and critical business metrics. It's an impactful tool that empowers businesses with a holistic view of their operations.

Predictive networks serve as a crucial bridge between IT and business teams, empowering IT executives to address issues proactively and enabling business teams to focus on customer-centric innovation and agility.

Emergence of Blockchain Technology

Initially developed to empower cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, blockchain has surpassed its humble beginnings to emerge as a catalyst for transformation across diverse industries, extending beyond finance.

Healthcare, education, supply chain, and retail organizations are some industries leveraging blockchain technology to store data securely on a distributed ledger, allowing for greater transparency and immutability. In the supply chain industry, blockchain technology allows everyone to access records of transactions and events across the supply chain. This transparency fosters reliability and accountability among all stakeholders.

Adoption of Private 5G and WiFi 6 for Cloud, IoT, and Edge Computing

Enterprise mobility has emerged as a fundamental technology for nearly every business in today's landscape. With a growing recognition of the advantages of digitization and future technologies, companies in the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific region are poised for increased adoption of 5G. Notably, a study by Cisco suggests that Philippine telco providers could experience a revenue upswing of up to US$650 million next year from 5G services.

On the other hand, WiFi 6, with its enhanced capacity and gigabit speeds, enables seamless support for next-generation applications on the company's existing wireless LAN infrastructure while simultaneously delivering a higher level of service to legacy applications.

Both technologies, when combined, have the potential to revolutionize connectivity across various industries. It's particularly crucial for businesses operating in sectors that demand high-speed and low-latency connectivity, such as healthcare and manufacturing.

Embracing a Resilient Future

In the ever-shifting landscape of the global business ecosystem, companies are compelled to adapt, innovate, and adopt the latest technological advancements to remain competitive. The interplay of hybrid workspaces, sophisticated cybersecurity, predictive networks, the widespread application of blockchain, and the implementation of private 5G and WiFi 6 are not merely trends but tangible strategies that chart the course toward a resilient and sustainable future.

As we look ahead, Globe Business is a true partner to businesses of all sizes. Powered by our connectivity, our cybersecurity and cloud solutions enable companies to embrace the future with a stable and resilient IT infrastructure.

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