EDITOR ’ S QUESTION
MARK PESTRIDGE , EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER , TELEHOUSE EUROPE
As European organisations navigate through a dynamic landscape in the year ahead , they will encounter a blend of challenges and opportunities . Telehouse recently conducted research which delved into the perspectives of IT decisionmakers regarding this shifting terrain . The findings indicate concerns , with 95 % currently perceiving their digital infrastructure as a risk to their operations . Yet , this awareness is also fostering a proactive approach towards innovation . As we look ahead , we expect to see a continuation and evolution of key trends which will shape the digital and technological landscape in Europe .
The first will be a continued exponential growth in data volumes . This is attributed to IoT device proliferation , widespread AI adoption , Machine Learning ( ML ), more sophisticated data analytics and the ongoing shift to cloud-based remote working . Organisations that don ’ t consider the adoption of high-density , high-performance computer systems to harness this data will struggle to leverage new technologies and remain competitive . Data expansion and new software deployments will also lead to new vulnerabilities , so there will need to be a focus on bolstering software defences .
The introduction of new technologies will be a running theme in 2024 . Alongside huge advances in AI and ML , Edge computing deployments will offer more opportunities for faster data processing . But organisations will need to be fully ready to be able to adopt this technology , with one-in-ten ( 11 %) currently limited in their resources .
Emerging solutions will need the human capabilities in place to get the most from them , but the persistent skills shortfall will continue in 2024 . Decision-makers have identified significant AI skills deficits ( 29 %), alongside cloud deployments and security expertise . In fact , cyberattacks are a top concern among a third ( 33 %) of organisations , with fears exacerbated by the evolving landscape of mandatory regulations and compliance standards in the EU . To help bridge the skills gap next year , we ’ ll see a growing trend for more comprehensive internal training schemes that focus on AI , Edge computing and cybersecurity .
Emerging solutions will need the human capabilities in place to get the most from them , but the persistent skills shortfall will continue in 2024 .
As organisations grapple with these challenges in the year ahead , we ’ ll see more looking towards external services to both address them and tap into the opportunities . Data centre colocation services offer adequate storage , bandwidth , interconnectivity , cost efficiency and sustainability to ensure a reliable and resilient distribution of service . Businesses will be better placed to tap into emerging technologies and can scale accordingly as data volumes grow .
As colocation proves to be the answer in 2024 and beyond , a large proportion of European organisations will increase investment in data centre infrastructure and explore commercial relationships with colocation providers to improve connectivity capabilities . While concerns will continue to mount about cyber-risks , downtime and regulatory compliance under a cloud of skills shortages , the right partnerships will help them navigate the coming years .
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