Key Trends that Partners Need to Plan for in 2024
Francis O’Haire
Group CTO
We’re all used to hearing about how "everything is changing." This is especially true for the IT channel. But it's not enough to just know this, we need to understand what it means for us.
Our focus is on empowering you, our channel partners, to not only understand but also effectively respond to the current landscape of change and challenge. We aim to equip you with insights into the evolving technologies and innovative ideas that are reshaping our industry. By doing so, we hope to support your efforts in scaling up, growing your business, and enhancing the products, services, and support you provide to your customers.
To that end, I’ve highlighted several transformative ideas reshaping the IT channel right now, which I think are particularly important for channel partners to take note of. These developments require our collective attention, adaptability, and a proactive approach.
Let's explore them together:
The Cybersecurity Imperative: More Than a Trend
The urgency surrounding cybersecurity is more pronounced than ever, with a staggering 80 percent of CIOs planning to increase their investment in cyber and information security this year, according to Gartner. This is no surprise when you consider the projection that the cybersecurity market is expected to soar to: $300 billion by 2027 and an astonishing $657 billion by 2030, as reported by Research & Markets.
The reality that 25 percent of vulnerabilities are exploited on the day of disclosure only amplifies the need for comprehensive security measures.
Cyber Resilience: A Shift in Mindset
The conversation around cybersecurity is transforming, moving from a reactive stance to a proactive, resilience-focused mindset. The notion of 'if' a breach occurs has shifted to 'when', compelling organisations to develop robust recovery plans that not only anticipate breaches but also contain and mitigate their impact efficiently.
This change in perspective is crucial as we brace for compliance with regulations like the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) and the NIS2 directive within the EU, and the requirements for UK businesses who do business or offer services within the EU to also comply.
Skills Shortage: A time for MSPs and MSSPs to shine
Organisations are grappling with the multi-faceted challenge of navigating digital transformation, implementing AI, managing hybrid cloud environments, and supporting remote work—often without the requisite skills or resources to do so effectively. This must all be done, crucially, while prioritising security, and during a global IT skills shortage. ISC2 estimates that 3.4 million cyber security vacancies can’t be filled.
As a result, the managed service provider (MSP) and managed security service provider (MSSP) market is expanding rapidly to help organisations address these significant challenges, including the skills gap in cybersecurity.
The Human Element: Digital Employee Experience (DEX)
As technology advances, the distance between IT and its users seems to widen. Yet, the digital employee experience (DEX) is critical in maintaining engagement and satisfaction within the workforce. A positive IT experience is directly linked to a positive working experience, underscoring the necessity for organisations to prioritise not just the functionality but the accessibility and usability of their technological infrastructures.
AI: Beyond the Hype
The discourse around artificial intelligence (AI) is maturing, moving beyond sensationalism to practical applications. AI, when trained on specific, quality data, can offer unparalleled insights and efficiencies – and this is a significant milestone in AI’s evolution. While many are concerned about job displacement, the emergence of AI-specific roles highlights the technology's potential to create new opportunities.
Looking Forward
At DataSolutions, a Climb Company, we want to help you embrace the winds of change – steering your customers towards cyber resilience, enhancing the digital employee experience, and exploring the vast potential of the cloud, AI, and digital transformation. These ideas are central to sustainable growth and innovation in 2024 and beyond.
Together, let's work towards a future where technology empowers, secures, and transforms the way we do business.
We’d love to discuss our expanded vendor portfolio and range of solutions with you. Let’s explore how we can support your customers to meet today’s challenges in cyber resilience, DEX, managing cloud infrastructures, and more. Get in touch by reaching contacting us here.
You can also check out some Francis’ recent articles on our blog below.
