Enterprise IT managers will lose control over the desktop as the consumerisation of IT will result in managers struggling to keep up with workers bringing their own technology to the workplace in the year ahead.
According to Citrix Ireland country manager Niall Gilmore, workers toting Android phones, iPads, netbooks and MacBook Air devices, for example, will mean IT managers will battle to make sure productivity and security are maintained.
“Consumerisation will dominate the technology landscape in the next 12 months,” Gilmore said.
“A new wave of laptop and tablet-carrying mobile workers will emerge in Irish offices and IT departments will be forced to keep up with workers adopting and upgrading their own technology in the new year.”
Gilmore has also identified the following key trends for 2011:
Diversification of desktop delivery methods
This will have an effect on the devices and systems on demand as customers look for work tools which mirror their mobility and collaboration, which in turn will drive desktop virtualisation in 2011.
Migration to Windows 7 will drive desktop virtualisation
Nearly three-quarters of Irish company directors and IT managers (73pc) will deploy Windows 7 as soon as possible, with nearly half (42pc) intending to do so in 2011, a recent survey conducted by Citrix Systems Ireland suggests. Sixty per cent said they will consider desktop virtualisation technology to aid the migration.
The data centre – from cost control to business value delivery
There will be slow but steady progress again in 2011 with more data centres slowly adopting cloud infrastructure principles. Adoption will be driven by the need to change from cost control to business value delivery.
Cloud – measured adoption in 2011
In 2011, cloud computing will develop at a steady pace, as companies learn to work smarter with fewer resources. However, in 2011 and until 2013, software-as-a-service will see the fastest adoption, followed by infrastructure-as-a-service. Both will grow fast but overall market penetration will remain low.
“These anticipated trends reflect both global and regional developments and take into account social and economic factors,” Gilmore said.
“Over the next year, we will see Irish IT departments beginning to embrace the diversification required by today’s end user.
“Years ago, PCs were driven by consumers into the workplace and history will repeat itself now. The emphasis is on self-service and ease of use, letting staff choose their own work tools. The result will be overall cost saving for the company and greater flexibility for the worker,” Gilmore added.
