What's Trendy in Technology? Predictions for 2013

It’s that time of year again: time to take a look ahead and make predictions for the top technology trends of 2013. I don’t think any of these trends will come as a surprise to you, but let’s take a closer look.

Mobility

I know - we had this topic on last year’s list, too. But it’s so important, it deserves another nod. Smartphones and tablets have invaded the enterprise world like never before, and we’re seeing companies work more diligently to manage the use of these devices. Strategies such as Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) give firms the ability to allow employees to use personal devices for work purposes. While this provides employees with flexibility in terms of which devices they can use (and eliminates the need to carry more than one), it also highlights the importance of enhancing security measures to protect sensitive company information from getting into the wrong hands. Speaking of security…

Security

It’s another repeat topic from 2012, but who can deny that it will still be one of the most talked about topics next year, too? In addition to focusing on BYOD challenges, firms will continue to grapple with the range of security issues facing hedge funds today. These include cyber-attacks and intrusions as well as internal security breaches and threats.

Whether your firm is relying on on-premise infrastructure or cloud services to support your operations, you will surely be expected to perform regular security checks and implement policies and procedures to thwart future issues. Examples of important security policies to employ include Acceptable Use, Access Control and Security Incident Management policies.

Big Data

One of the biggest phrases of 2012 was “big data.” Have you figured out what it is yet? If not, read up on it in a previous HedgeIT post. We expect the big data trend to continue into next year as, concurrently, the amount of data continues to grow. Firms will continue looking to harness the power of big data through management and analytical tools, and we may even see big data go mainstream.

Crowdsourcing

One final tech trend for 2013 is the idea of crowdsourcing – outsourcing tasks or seeking the input of a group of people. While technically, this process can occur offline too, it seems to have found its home on the Internet. Specialty sites like Quora and even more mainstream outlets such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter allow individuals to reach out to large groups of people for assistance, advice or feedback. These forums are expected to continue to grow, nurturing the conversation process and allowing for the continued sharing of information across the globe.
 
So tell us…

Which of these trends do you think will be the hottest in 2013?