January is a fresh start for many and is the perfect time to reflect on the past year and how we can grow over the next. In December 2023, we made our predictions for the tech trends we saw dominating the news and business world for 2024. Let us reflect on these and how they developed and took the spotlight over the past year.
While AI is still a huge topic going into this new year, it was also one of our biggest trends last year. We saw incredible leaps and developments in AI technology in 2024. Tools such as Microsoft CoPilot have made AI accessible as an everyday assistant tool for workers everywhere, helping to craft emails, rewrite documents, create PowerPoint slides, and more. Many businesses now see AI as a necessity for efficiency and implement it in as many ways as possible in day-to-day processes. Even things such as code writing are becoming more automated, with people filling the role of overseeing and accuracy checking once the draft has been created. AI will only continue its fast progression over the next year, and we are excited to see how we can implement it more in our work life.
Adopting a security first mindset is something we place importance on here at TechSolutions, and it is something we pass along to our clients and their users. We discussed how continuous threat exposure management should be a top priority for CEOs and business leaders throughout 2024. The rise of AI over the past year also brought the rise of more sophisticated and easily fabricated social engineering techniques, meaning end user training and business leader presence pushing to be aware of these threats is more important than ever. Human error is one of the leading causes of breaches, therefore an increased emphasis on quality and frequent training on social engineering tactics is necessary in addition to the increase in network surveillance solutions, including technologies such as Zero Trust Network Access.
With more push from insurance companies, SMBs came to see the importance of cyberinsurance and why it goes hand in hand with building a robust IT program for their company. If you build your IT program well from the start, meeting the requirements for coverage is easy. Your business becomes better protected and prepared to handle cyberthreats and jumping over hurdles to meet insurance requirements is less tedious. Coupled with the push from business executives to highlight a cybersecurity first mindset, SMBs developed stronger IT programs to prepare themselves for potential threats.
Cloud storage and sharing was the number one way businesses decided to create collaborative working environments. Over the past year, we saw many businesses push to move their users completely off on-premise servers and onto the cloud, not only to assist with ease of access for documentation, but also to place emphasis on a collaboration focused environment that includes all varieties of hybrid and in-office workers. Microsoft SharePoint and similar technologies have become staples for businesses and will continue to see more growth over the next year with the introduction of more AI-based tools for these platforms.
The idea of cyber resilience on top of strong cybersecurity programs was built hand in hand with push from insurance companies and from executives looking to create a cyber aware workplace. Cyber resilience comes from building a strong cybersecurity infrastructure and fostering a culture that emphasizes the importance of cybersecurity. Over the past year, SMBs looked for more ways they can protect themselves from cyber threats as more news stories highlighted breaches at companies of all sizes. Building up these robust programs allows for less time and money to be lost after an attack, something that is especially important in the small business world where even small losses are significant. Overall, the idea of cyber resilience helped SMBs protect themselves, their revenue, and their efficiency.
Looking back, the trends we predicted to have a significant impact on the 2024 business world were as important as we thought. It is exciting to watch how quickly these trends can progress in a year, and how they will continue to affect the business and tech worlds in the years to come. Check out our trends and predictions for the coming year on our blog and keep them in mind for the coming year as you start to make business decisions.