What are the IT trends in 2022?

Industry experts widely agree that the digitalization momentum triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 will continue at a similarly rapid pace. Alongside this, process automation is gaining importance. Many companies believe that their future competitiveness will depend on implementing modern technologies and integrating them effectively into their operations. At the same time, advancing digitalization and automation promises not only efficiency gains but also new opportunities for growth. Key areas of focus include ethically responsible, data-compliant artificial intelligence to improve business processes, as well as leveraging the Internet of Things (IoT) to create additional value.

2. Trend: Remote & Decentralized Work

The widespread adoption of remote work is the most visible example of decentralized working. With renewed remote work mandates, working from home will continue to play a significant role in 2022. Companies must manage a wide variety of devices accessing their networks from outside the office, requiring efficient Mobile Device Management (MDM) and secure connections, such as VPNs. Collaboration tools, video conferencing systems, and hybrid meetings will continue to shape the work environment. However, decentralization extends beyond remote work. For medium and large enterprises, Edge Computing plays an increasingly important role by processing data closer to where it is generated. This approach helps manage growing volumes of information and unlocks additional value—more on that in the next section.

3. Trend: Multi-Cloud & Hybrid Cloud

Cloud adoption surged in 2020 and 2021, and this trend will continue in 2022, albeit with slightly different priorities. A growing focus on data privacy is a key driver. Many companies are expected to adopt multi-cloud strategies, increasingly incorporating data-sovereign cloud solutions. The distributed cloud concept is also gaining traction. It divides computing loads across smaller, regional clouds that operate independently, improving resilience and uptime. Distributed clouds also support Edge Computing by bringing servers and applications closer to the data source, reducing processing times and lowering latency. Data-intensive applications, such as those using machine learning, are driving demand for distributed and edge cloud solutions. Hybrid cloud models are also becoming more important, enabling companies to maintain greater data sovereignty while benefiting from hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) advantages.

Big Data is closely linked with machine learning. IT experts expect Big Data to become increasingly practical, alongside AI, 5G, and blockchain technologies. Two main factors are driving this trend: the rise of no-code/low-code systems and analytics tools, which require minimal programming skills, and the growing importance of the fog layer between Edge and Cloud. The fog layer allows pre-processing of data, ensuring that only relevant information is passed on. This improves the usefulness of collected data, a process commonly known as data mining. It also helps mitigate bandwidth limitations and reduce latency.

IT security was a top priority in 2021, and the trend shows no sign of slowing in 2022. In fact, cyberattacks, especially ransomware, are expected to rise further. Attackers are using increasingly sophisticated techniques, such as copying company data to their own servers before encrypting it, which significantly increases pressure on victims and the likelihood of ransom payments. Accelerated attack timelines and vulnerabilities exposed during the pandemic have further intensified the cybercrime landscape. Companies need to invest in preventive technologies and early detection measures to stay ahead.

As companies store growing amounts of data in local, cloud-based, and hybrid systems, the challenge of data protection continues to rise. A comprehensive approach to securing information is now essential. This need is heightened by increasing cyber threats. Protecting corporate data from breaches, corruption, or loss is critical, as business success depends on reliable access. Organizations must proactively identify vulnerabilities, strengthen security and recovery strategies, and manage the complexity of their data environment. Experts even warn that 2022 could see the largest data breaches in history, with social networks and large software providers being prime targets. Unsupervised machine learning could also become a potential attack vector.

Supply chain disruptions caused major problems in the IT market in 2021, particularly for chips and microchips, which are essential for computers, smartphones, gaming consoles, and other electronics. The resulting scarcity of laptops, printers, and Wi-Fi routers has made it difficult for companies to meet growing demand. Supply chain issues also extend to software. The 2021 REvil attack on Kaseya demonstrated how vulnerabilities in software supply chains can affect companies worldwide. Experts fear that, beyond ransomware-as-a-service, software supply chain attacks could emerge as a recurring business model.

Sustainability awareness is growing, both in society and within companies. In IT, this is reflected in Green IT, which is expected to gain even more traction in 2022. The approach emphasizes using technology to promote environmental protection and corporate sustainability. Sustainable data centers are key, but companies are also encouraged to embrace refurbished IT. By refurbishing end-of-life devices instead of discarding them, companies give hardware a second life, conserve resources, and reduce environmental impact. This approach also helps mitigate chip shortages, as salvageable components can be reused.