Cybernomics

To kick off the Cybernomics blog, let’s look ahead at what IT trends we are predicting for 2008. Our upcoming posts will discuss these trends, and other hot topics in the world of IT, in more detail. So here are the first 5 of our Top 10 IT Trends for 2008.

Trend #1: Green IT

The buzz in 2007 in the IT industry was Green IT, from huge manufacturers like HP and Sun Microsystems to smaller IT Managed Service firms like ourselves. This trend will continue in 2008, and it’s not going to stop there: the buzz is going to start reaching into every industry. Green IT gives businesses the ability to save money, cut energy costs, increase server uptime, improve business continuity - not to mention drastically reduce waste, cut down on pollutants and help the environment. For more information on how Cybernomics can improve your bottom line with Green IT, check out the Green IT area of our website.

Trend #2: Desktop Virtualization

Server Virtualization made great leaps in 2007, with the help of companies like Platespin and Invirtus, but Desktop Virtualization software is still in its infancy. Cybernomics was able to employ Desktop Virtualization strategies for some of its clients as a beta-test and luckily 2008 promises to expand upon the feature set and functionality for desktops. Everyone will be looking forward to the advances made, and by 2009 should see quite a large number of our clients and other businesses around the world working with virtualized desktops.

Trend #3: Locally Grown IT

Outsourcing will continue to be an important part of IT in 2008, however businesses are going to tend to take advantage of smaller, more locally grown IT services, as compared to international conglomerates or offshore outsourcing companies. Service level demands in IT are growing: with more and more businesses moving towards a 24/7 access paradigm, their IT services need to be as quick and effective as possible, without sacrificing an affordable pricing structure. Smaller local IT companies, like ourselves, are able to give excellent service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at a lower price-point. And our business ideology of Lean Consumption continually challenges us improve our SLAs and client workflow without having to increase price. Committing to a leaner infrastructure guarantees client satisfaction in regards to service and cost. Click here to read more about Lean Consumption.

Trend #4: Decentralized Datacentres

With the ever rising costs of datacentres across the globe, we should be seeing a move to smaller decentralized “mini datacentres”. Currently, servers are typically housed in buildings which provide all electrical, bandwidth, air conditioning and backup diesel. With the application of new battery technology (allowing batteries to run up to 50 hours as opposed to only 5), the advent of fast bandwidth, and the lowered air-conditioning and electricity requirements allowed by virtualization, it will be possible to create fully-functional mini datacentres. This will reduce the operating costs of datacentres while still allowing for most of the resiliency of the classical datacentre model.

Trend #5: Poor Vista…

Microsoft had a tough year in 2007. Since the release of Vista, the internet has had an ever increasing number of anti-Vista articles, whitepapers and blog advice. Cybernomics has, as a best practice, not recommended Vista to our clients as a general rule. The latest article that hit the stands was from arstechnica.com: “UK education agency says no to Vista, Office 2007″. As a Microsoft partner, we at Cybernomics hope to be able to recommend Vista to our clients in 2008, but with its high use of resources and lack of concrete benefits compared to XP, it’s difficult to do so at this time.

Stay tuned for our Top IT Trends in 2008 #6-10.

Tags: 2008, datacentre, green it, it trends, outsourcing, virtualization, vista