Hybrid working is here to stay. With it comes increased online activity, information technology requirements and security threats. Simultaneously, costs are being squeezed and the regulatory landscape is changing at pace and scale. 

We know uncertainty and turbulence will continue to impact organisations throughout 2022, but which trends will impact tech operations the most? In partnership with Tanium, we brought Nimbus Ninety members together to discuss what’s next for tech leaders in 2022.

To kick off discussions, Oliver Cronk, the Chief IT Architect for EMEA from Tanium, mapped out the impact three core trends are having on tech leaders: pressure on costs, increasing regulation and hybrid working. Next up, Tom Whitford, Platform Architect - Digital Workspace Services at Pearson, shared real-world examples of how the trends Oliver outlined had affected decision-making at his organisation. Tom shared his experiences of managing workspaces as they moved almost entirely from the office, to employees’ homes, to today’s hybrid set-up. We then moved into roundtable discussions to unravel more views and experiences from members. The key trends and takeaways were:

1.Supply chain challenges x inflation = cost pressures 

Members  began by acknowledging the ongoing impact of supply chain shortages and soaring inflation, and agreed that costs will become a key challenge for businesses once again. It was pointed out that unlike previous downturns, today the infrastructure of organisations is increasingly built in software. This places the spotlight firmly on tech leaders to optimise operations and to save on costs in ways we haven’t seen before.

2. Hybrid working norms are emerging 

The impact of hybrid working on tech leaders was a topic that commanded a lot of discussion. Members reflected on the sudden digital adaptations made at the beginning of the pandemic and questioned to what extent they would be fit for purpose as employees return to office spaces and move more freely. We heard how tech leaders were turning to digital collaboration tools in a bid to effectively unify employees in the office and at home and manage distributed devices at scale. Despite the re-opening of offices, tech solutions were still actively being adopted by members to sustain and engage teams and support decision-making in remote settings.

3. A knock on the door from the regulator is due 

Members questioned whether the golden age of a lightly regulated technology industry was coming to an end. Indications cited that this may be the case included the move towards a cookieless internet and the introduction of a new security law for the telecommunications industry. As the mood music in this area changes, the leaders joining us discussed the importance of remaining front-footed by tidying up technical and organisational systems and processes. Members agreed that knowing the “health-score” of your data and tech stacks is crucial in 2022. On a related note, members reflected on the technology industry’s carbon footprint and grappled with how best to factor in, measure and reduce the emissions of a newly built tech tool. A question about whether technical advancements including automation and digital twins had the potential to create energy efficiencies for more large enterprises also emerged.  

We held this event in partnership with Tanium. Find out more about our next event with Tanium here.