Data network trends for Irish CEOs and CIOs

to watch in 2012

Andy O’KellyChief Architect

eircom

5 key predictions

1. Business applications, available anywhere

2. Virtualising IT resources to cut costs

3. Outsourcing – time to reconsider?

4. Media-rich and social content for the YouTube generation

5. Security in the cloud – Balancing usability and openness against security and risk

Business applications - available anywhere

• As more of your employees use devices like iPads and iPhones in the home, the pressure will grow on enterprises to allow access to business resources from new devices, both in and out of the office.

• This is already the case in our universities

– user wireless connections now far exceed wired

– on the busiest days the majority of connections can be from off-campus

• Enterprises need to assess how to enable their networks for secure, flexible access, including for on-site staff wanting Wi-Fi access to the LAN.

Virtualising IT resources to cut costs

• Reducing the cost of IT has become vital.

• Expect virtualisation of IT resources to become an increasingly accepted service delivery model, especially in light of the Government Cloud Strategy.

• Success of virtualisation and cloud initiatives will be dependent on having a flexible, high-quality underlying network where capacity can be scaled rapidly and cost-effectively.

Outsourcing – time to reconsider?

• Expect outsourcing to be re-examined in 2012

– organisations will look hard at the benefits of moving non-core activities (like maintaining network health, server uptime and network capacity) to a trusted managed services partner.

• The innovation imperative – improving performance and growth through creative solutions – will become a priority for management, and freeing up IT staff to deliver on new ideas will become essential.

Media-rich and social content for the YouTube generation

• The new generation of consumers is accustomed to self learning.

• They share information visually and expect to interact with companies and people via video.

• They also expect to be heard and served via social media.

• These trends will drive organisations to improve their capabilities and their network capacity, as media rich content and social media interaction become part of day-to-day working life.

 

Security in the cloud – Balancing usability and openness against security and risk

• How can organisations ride all these trends above, and not fall victim to the potential pitfalls, including damaged reputation, poor reliability of IT resources, or unsatisfactory customer service?

• In the Ernst & Young Global Information Security Survey 2011, 80% of respondents agreed they are challenged in controlling their security during the current technology transition to the cloud, but 52% of respondents have adopted no new control measures.

• Enterprises can't ignore the major shifts occurring, in everything from the way IT is delivered and managed to how customers are served.

• But for many organisations, it will be a struggle to react effectively to these changes while also controlling their risk.

Andy O'Kelly is Chief Architect at

eircom and a speaker on ICT

solutions and innovation.

 

For more information visit:www.eircomforbusiness.ie

http://www.linkedin.com/company/eircom-for-business/products