As we get into 2025, Ideal’s Marketing and Partner Manager, Julia (Jules) Elliot has reviewed a wide range of vendor and industry research, so you don’t have to. Where do the industry experts think we’re headed?
I must confess I love a deep-dive work frenzy, so looking into the predictions from leading IT vendors, distributors, IT researchers and publications is right up my street.
My take is that there are three main themes that emerge:
- AI
- Cyber Security
- Sustainability
1. AI
That AI is top of the list won’t surprise anyone. It’s everywhere you look, including Downing Street, where the PM launched a whole new Government investment stream just a week or so ago.
This year, the experts predict that Agentic AI (AI that can make decisions, take actions, and learn from experience), AI adoption and implementation will go beyond hype into action, with organisations of all sizes using AI tools, integrating AI processes and developing AI-powered products to boost returns and efficiency.
This all has massive ramifications for IT infrastructure and security (see point 2 below). To take advantage of opportunities, data needs to be AI-ready and reliably available via networks in an instant. Infrastructure like switches and data centres may need to be upgraded to cope with more traffic at faster speeds. Hybrid cloud models may be needed to facilitate and manage all of this.
At the same time, organisations will have to face the ethical issues around AI, developing policies, establishing trust networks, adhering to Governance and reshaping leadership in security operations.
2. Cybersecurity
According to Gartner, Cybersecurity spending is expected to top $212 Billion in 2025, an increase of 15.1% over 2024.
Again, AI is a significant driver in this space, partly within the technology, but also as a growing existential threat.
To quote Cyber Magazine: “AI emerges as a double-edged sword in this evolving landscape, simultaneously offering powerful defensive capabilities and presenting new vectors for potential attacks. Gen AI technologies are enabling threat actors to craft more convincing phishing attempts, create sophisticated social engineering campaigns, and develop autonomous malware that can adapt and evolve without human intervention.”
Using AI to enable security while managing risk is a huge positive, particularly in a Zero-Trust security stance, where speeding up decisions on device and content threats and learning from those decisions is key to safe accessibility.
The downside is the use of AI within an organisation can present new threats. For example, by using a large language model, an employee may inadvertently share commercially sensitive information or data that may compromise the organisation; AI products and processes developed in-house may have unforeseen vulnerabilities.
All of this leads to the conclusion that in 2025, more and more organisations will seek to integrate network and security operations via Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Solutions.
Combining networking and security as a function in a cloud delivered service, the SASE architectural model enables organisations to securely connect users, devices and SaaS applications, wherever the location.
The concept of SASE is a journey, and each journey and starting point is unique. The prediction is that more and more organisations will start this journey in 2025, with the goal of managing cybersecurity at the perimeter to minimise risks from AI, as well as threats like the exploitation of IoT devices as an access point, Supply Chain attacks, sophisticated ransomware, social engineering and phishing attacks.
3. Sustainability
And the Netherlands-sized elephant in the room?
In its vision statement for 2025, Cisco predicts that the amount of energy used by data centres dedicated to AI is expected to match the amount consumed by a country the size of the Netherlands in one year.
A year ago, Sustainability was at – or near – the top of most Corporate agendas. With a marked change in geo-political outlooks, Board Rooms and IT road maps seem to be prioritising growth and the bottom line for 2025, but Sustainability hasn’t gone away.
As a company that delivers Smart Building and Stadia networks partly driven by a sustainability agenda, we know that clients are committed to sustainability, especially when intertwined with energy and resource saving which contributes to the bottom line as well.
Overall, it seems likely that 2025 will be a year where AI innovation throws up some hard discussions with CSR heads.
Watch this space.
Recommended reading:
Gartner: Technology for Trends 2025: Gartner Top 10 Strategic Technology Trends
Cisco: 20/25 Vision: A Clear Look at the Technology Trends that will Define 2025 – Cisco Blogs
Palo Alto Networks: 2025 Cybersecurity Predictions – Palo Alto Networks
HPE: What to expect from AI in 2025
IDC Research: IDC Unveils 2025 FutureScapciscoes: Worldwide IT Industry Predictions
Fortinet: Threat Predictions for 2025: Get Ready for Bigger, Bolder Attacks | FortiGuard Labs
iT Wire: iTWire – Top networking trends for 2025: AI, automation, and the future of Data Connectivity
Forbes: 12 Tech Predictions For 2025 That Will Shape Our Future
TD SYNNEX: What’s Next in Tech: 5 Predictions for 2025 – News
Westcon Comstor: IT channel predictions for 2025 | Westcon-Comstor
