January 18, 2018
Tech innovations that have revolutionized the way we do business in the last decade are reaching maturity in 2018. Developments in big data, cybersecurity and blockchain technology are streamlining workflows and increasing company productivity. But as these disparate technologies develop, companies must synthesize them into an integrated system that adds value at every junction.
Supersized Cybersecurity
In 2018, cybersecurity will enter the big leagues. As cyber crime becomes more complex, so do the tools used to fight it. The field has evolved from software protecting against individual hackers to comprehensive defense systems against state-sponsored crime. As the midterm elections take center stage, greater cooperation will be required between Silicon Valley and Washington. As regulators to clamp down on compliance, CIO’s will be forced to inflate their budgets. Security spending is expected to sault to $93 billion, from 86 billion in 2017, according to technology research firm Gartner.
Big Data Doubletake
Analytics have been a hot topic for years, but 2018 will shine a new light on data. Big data will transform from a solely a supportive tool for a business, to an asset in its own right. Companies of all stripes will learn to mine their data for predictive and prescriptive analytics, enabling them not only to make better decisions moving forward, but to monetize their information.
Banking, advertising and healthcare, for example, are data-hungry industries that will pay top dollar for anonymized information about users’ spending and exercise habits. Companies looking to profit from their data will face more frequent regulatory hurdles, however, as consumers grow weary about privacy violations.
Blockchain Breaks Out
Blockchain technology is a ledger that can record and share information across multiple networks. Originally created to be used with the digital currency Bitcoin, blockchain has infinite possibilities. By sharing and continually reconciling information, blockchain ensures a safer, decentralized database that is incorruptible. Most commonly used today in applications like Google Docs, blockchain’s true potential is yet to be explored. From legal contracts to logistics, companies experimenting with blockchain in 2018 will want to standardize its use across platforms and industries, to make data sharing truly seamless.
Marina Lopes is a freelance reporter and producer covering technology, politics and economy. Her articles and videos have appeared in the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune, the BBC, NBC, and the PBS NewsHour.
Marina holds a graduate degree in journalism from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Boston College.
She speaks Portuguese, Spanish, English and French.
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