7 Ways IT Has Changed in the Last Decade

1. Data Security 

Over the past decade there have been many high-profile attacks on various companies from Equifax to Sony and everything else in between. Data security is not a new concept but its rising concern has been a prominent source of discussion and research in IT. Now with the internet and everything being so connected, data security and privacy have become top interests in the field of IT. Privacy and data security are driving forces now for many IT firms, and how tech, in general, is structured and designed with those being a strong selling point- and not for the wrong reasons. Data leaks from malware, hackers, etc. have been very damaging to many businesses and companies so naturally over the past 10 years data security strength has changed and many of the threats IT deal with are of these concerns. What was once just a general concern is now the top security issue in IT today. 

2. Automation and AI

Automation and AI are important driving forces of IT as many of the workflows and processes we have come to know have been consistently automated or replaced by AI as the years have gone by. AI based solutions and automating the mundane tasks of the office to help employees get through their workflows have seen great implementation and utilization across many companies and businesses. These “bots” are, again, not exactly a “new” concept, having been around for a long time, but for the first time in this decade they are doing complex tasks and streamlining work all around. Over the past decade automation is becoming less of a new concept and more of a necessary tool as many companies are embracing it as they move towards the future. As a result since the last decade IT has been focusing and maintaining many automated processes that are present in many offices. 

3. IoT 

IoT, otherwise known as the “internet of things”, are smart objects and tech that have capabilities beyond their original functions. An example would be a thermostat connected to the internet and to your smartphone to give you live weather updates and control over the temperature from your fingertips in bed. Many adjectives like “connected”, “smart”, “intelligent”, are being used to describe appliances and tech that seem odd at first but bring much versatility and usage in any office or business. A decade ago and perhaps even now it may seem silly to think IoT would ever take off to the way it has, but today and moving forward IT often have to deal with IoT smart-enabled objects as a part of their security plan or as ways to help increase the practicality of practical objects and their relation to other processes in the office ecosystem. 

4. The Cloud 

You can’t go anywhere within the realm of IT without hearing or reading about the cloud. Cloud computing is no longer the exception but has become the standard in the past decade. IT’s focus is starting to shift away from in-house storage as many data solutions and storage methods have become cloud based. Essentially the cloud is now the standard and many offices and businesses utilize it for its robust capabilities and strength. Many consumer services and important processes are done on the cloud and its growing usage and capabilities have only further cemented its status in tech. With cloud computing becoming such an integral part of business and office operations combined with the importance of connectivity it is no wonder that much of IT has based itself around it since the past ten years. 

5. The Internet

This one may seem obvious but it is extremely important and basically changed almost every facet of IT since its inception. Before the invention of the internet IT looked very different. The internet, while it may not seem like it, is still a pretty young technology having been popularized for public use in 1991 and even then it was not nearly as ubiquitous and powerful as it currently is today. There were many limiting factors that prevented the internet from being widespread such as cost, frustration of usage, etc. But as the internet progressed and became an extremely powerful tool IT had to adapt to its usage as the gold standard. Many of the things IT takes care of now are in some way connected to the internet in its current incarnation and this will be a lasting change moving forward. Everything from security to VPNs to network building are all based in full or in part of the connection that every business or office has to the internet. 

6. Handheld Devices 

Think about the first release of the iPhone in 2007 and how that had a ripple effect in almost every sector from media consumption, shopping, travel, etc. That ripple affected IT as well and since smartphones have undergone rapid development and simultaneous rapid popularity, smartphones are now the rule and not the exception. What was once a niche thing that was not very good in its early forms has now become a driving force in tech. Many things can be done from the smartphone from recreation to work. IT has had to manage smartphone connectivity and learn how cross-platform connections are integral parts of the modern day workforce. Everything that can be done on a computer can now also be done on an app on someone’s smartphone. It has added a layer of depth to IT and since the last decade, smartphones have become an increasing part of its focus. 

7. BYOD 

As technology becomes more readily available and cheaper, many people are more comfortable bringing their own devices to work. BYOD stands for “bring your own device”. It is the concept that employees in an office or business can bring their own laptops and tech to do the work that is expected of them. It has a great many benefits and many companies are embracing this kind of work culture seeing positive results. Thus, its growing popularity over the years has seen many changes in IT. No longer is IT just considering its own devices within the office to manage, it now has to consider the devices that others bring in which can multiply tasks and threaten security in some ways. IT has since been innovating new security plans and other changes to help make connectivity between office and personal tech easier and safer. 

It is hard to say where IT will head towards in the next decade. Many technological innovations await the coming years and IT will be there as it always has been to match it. These seven changes may feel as though they have been with you for a lifetime but the truth is that they have been around for only a decade and are recent trends that IT has followed to adapt to the changing force of tech.