The top 10 IT trends for the modern workplace in 2025

modern-workplace-trends-2025

Whether artificial intelligence, hybrid cloud solutions or sustainable IT: in 2025, some developments that have already been emerging in recent years are likely to have a much more significant impact than before. It is imperative that companies address these IT trends in order to future-proof themselves. In this article on the IT trends of 2025, we reveal which developments are still on the horizon and what challenges need to be overcome.

No. 1 IT trend of 2025

AI in everyday work

One thing is clear: artificial intelligence (AI) has become one of the most important IT trends and it is no longer possible to imagine the modern working world without it. This is hardly surprising, given that it offers enormous potential to increase productivity, reduce costs, and relieve the burden on employees It can be used for automating processes, for data processing, decision-making or the development of innovative products. Moreover, AI could revolutionize entire industries—such as healthcare, finance, logistics, mechanical engineering, and insurance. Employees are also encountering AI more and more frequently in their private lives and would like to be able to use its potential in their day-to-day work as well.

It is therefore to be expected that AI technologies will be found in more and more applications in everyday work. And that is precisely why companies need to engage with AI.

If you don’t want to be left behind by the competition, you can’t afford to ignore the AI trend. It is absolutely essential for companies to, on the one hand, explore the possibilities of this IT trend and determine how AI can be integrated into their own processes and portfolios. On the other hand, it is important not to ignore the challenges and risks. Cybercriminals have also discovered this IT trend and are using AI for sophisticated attacks – for example, in the form of deceptively realistic voice imitations and videos (deep fakes). A partner specializing in AI consulting and development can provide support here and advise companies on both the opportunities and the dangers of this IT trend.

No. 2 IT trend of 2025

AI among the big players

The so-called Magnificent 7 companies – Google, Apple, Facebook (Meta), Amazon, NVIDIA, Tesla and Microsoft – are having a significant impact on the technology world and are also setting new standards in the development of AI. In this case, Apple’s plans took a little longer to materialize, but at the Apple Event 2024, the company finally provided the long-awaited answer and presented “Apple Intelligence” (AI).

The AI functions that are particularly interesting for the modern workplace are those that offer increased productivity, customer understanding or IT security – accompanied by the promise that data protection is also a high priority. Most operations are to be carried out entirely on the device, while a new system called Apple Private Cloud Compute will enable the relocation of more compute-intensive processes to a protected Apple cloud.

The introduction of Apple Intelligence in Europe is planned for spring 2025. However, the particularly curious can already test this IT trend.

In any case, it will be interesting to see what management options will be available and when they will be taken up by UEM manufacturers. Apple already offers some options that have been implemented by some UEM manufacturers (for supervised devices) or have been announced for 2025. If you are unsure about the direction of this IT trend, you can also rely on experts with expertise in AI services.

No. 3 IT trend of 2025

quantum computing

Quantum computing is also one of the IT trends for 2025. Although it is still a niche technology at the moment, many manufacturers are already taking a closer look at it. It is particularly relevant for corporate IT security. This is because quantum computers are capable of performing complex calculations in no time at all and even breaking the latest encryption algorithms. That’s why it makes sense to start thinking about more intensive protective measures now.

Did you know?

IBM has opened its first quantum computing center outside the United States in Ehningen, Germany. Companies, research and government institutions that want to test this technology in use can rent space there.

This urgency has prompted some companies to develop quantum-proof solutions. Deutsche Telekom, for example, is developing a network of this kind, while Apple has already created a quantum-proof encryption protocol for iMessage. This protocol, called PQ3, uses post-quantum cryptography and is designed to prevent the threat scenario known as “Harvest Now, Decrypt Later” from taking effect. In this scenario, hackers are already collecting vast amounts of encrypted data in the hope of being able to decrypt it when the technology – i.e. quantum computing – is mature and accessible.

Here, too, it is important to keep up to date with current IT trends and to protect yourself against professional cybercrime.

No. 4 IT trend of 2025

Hybrid cloud

While the focus in recent years has often been on outsourcing applications and data to the cloud, a trend towards hybrid cloud scenarios is now emerging. In this case, companies use both cloud solutions and on-premises infrastructures, which allows them to benefit from the advantages of both variants.

Cloud solutions are especially beneficial when flexibility is a priority. Unlike proprietary structures, cloud storage and solutions can usually be easily expanded or reduced in size when demand has changed. The fact that the provider takes care of updating the hardware and software also relieves the company’s own IT resources.

On-premises solutions, on the other hand, are interesting for computing-intensive applications such as CAD, which would be very expensive to store in the cloud. An on-premises solution is also useful where particularly sensitive information is generated that does not belong in the cloud for data protection and security reasons. This is precisely why BaFin, for example, has set up its own data center for AI, where it can securely process financial transaction data.

Our tip

If you decide to store your data in the cloud, you should make sure that the solution is hosted in a certified data center that demonstrably meets the highest security and data protection standards. Ideally, this should be located in the US or a country with similarly stringent data protection requirements like Germany. It also makes sense to ensure high connection stability and reliable service from the provider.

No. 5 IT trend of 2025

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is the long-running IT trend. All companies should be well aware by now that mobile threat defense solutions (MTD) and virus scanners should be part of the standard IT repertoire, just like securing access with VPN or conditional access. But here, too, it is important to always keep an eye out for new risks and technologies that arise. Cybercriminals are continuously evolving, employing methods such as AI and quantum computing to gain unauthorized access to systems or data.

Companies would therefore be well advised to raise their employees’ awareness of the issue, keep them constantly informed about new tricks used by fraudsters, train them in how to deal with them and check their risk exposure using phishing awareness tools. It is also important to use modern tools to protect against phishing and other attacks – for example, multi-factor authentication without a second device or special security solutions that continuously monitor file shares and cloud drives, detect in seconds when files are being illegally encrypted, and isolate affected computers and prevent further data from being encrypted.

No. 6 IT trend of 2025:

Sustainability in IT

Environmentally friendly technologies and data centers that use green electricity and waste heat are also an ongoing topic and are becoming increasingly relevant for companies. After all, the high and steadily increasing energy consumption of data centers, which is partly a result of the AI trend, is a problem for the climate. Equally problematic are the rapid innovation cycles of hardware, since a lot of resources are consumed in their production.

Although some companies aim to act sustainably and minimize their environmental footprint, this trend is largely driven by regulatory requirements and customer demand. Many companies are obliged to provide sustainability reports and calculations of their carbon footprint in order to meet the requirements of their customers and legislation.

To make sustainable IT decisions, it is worth taking a look at an IT service provider’s sustainability initiatives. If acting responsibly is embedded in their DNA and they pay attention to the impact of their actions on the environment, society, their workforce and business contacts, this is a good sign. And when it comes to hardware, companies also have various options for conserving resources, for example through leasing options.

No. 7 IT trend of 2025

Extended Reality

Whether augmented, virtual or mixed reality – technologies that expand or even replace the real world with virtual elements are also among the most promising IT trends. Devices such as Microsoft Hololens, Apple Vision Pro & Co. not only offer advantages for the gaming sector, but are also gaining in importance in the professional context. Possible applications include:

  • Prototyping: In product development, extended reality glasses allow prototypes to be viewed in a realistic 3D environment. In addition, collaboration across locations is possible, which can speed up product development processes and save costs.
  • Machine maintenance: Extended reality can revolutionize repair and maintenance processes: if technicians encounter problems at the customer’s site, the glasses can use an app to display the defective components directly in the live image. If that doesn’t help, experts can be consulted remotely. This is made possible by an AR-supported video call in which the live image of the machine is shared with the experts in real time. They can interact with the technicians and provide precise visual instructions. This ensures improved customer service and shorter machine downtime.
  • Training: Headsets like the Apple Vision Pro can also be used to train staff. Doctors, for example, can prepare for difficult operations by performing the procedures virtually in advance. In a technical environment, on the other hand, training on new machines is conceivable.

Did you know?

Extended Reality is the umbrella term for IT trends that expand or replace reality. These include:

  • Virtual reality: Users are immersed directly in the virtual world. There is no connection to the real world.
  • Augmented reality: The real world is still present and augmented with virtual elements.
  • Mixed reality: Virtual and real elements merge seamlessly, enabling interactions between the two worlds.

No. 8 IT trend of 2025:

Compensating for the shortage of skilled workers

Combating the shortage of skilled workers in IT is also one of the trends that has come to stay – at least for the foreseeable future. According to Bitkom Research, 149,000 IT jobs were vacant in 2023. On average, it took 7.7 months to fill a vacancy. Since many skilled workers will retire in the next few years, the problem will only worsen in the future – according to a study by McKinsey, especially in public service: Here, in 2023, there was already a shortage of 39,000 IT professionals. By 2030, the figure is expected to be 140,000.

This makes it all the more important to retain your own employees. In addition to salary and corporate culture, an interesting range of tasks is an important factor for many of them. But the reality in IT departments is often different: Due to increasing security requirements, ever-larger device fleets, remote working options and the growing complexity of solutions, it is becoming more and more difficult to keep the business running smoothly and guarantee security. There are many recurring activities that are less attractive, but of essential importance. And monitoring the security situation is also indispensable in order to be able to react quickly to security threats if the worst comes to the worst.

This is precisely where external partners come into play, supporting companies with suitable managed service offerings. Since they take care of both the less attractive and the critical activities, the in-house IT team can concentrate on more interesting, innovative tasks and, thanks to the service provider, is able to react quickly and flexibly to changes.

No. 9 IT trend of 2025

Increasing employer attractiveness

Modern working environments, in which it is possible to work from anywhere, not only increase efficiency in the company, but also, and above all, the flexibility and satisfaction of the workforce. What’s more, employees and applicants are now demanding such a workplace. If a company wants to be an attractive employer, it has to follow this trend and invest in the modern workplace. This means not only leaving it up to colleagues to decide where they want to work, but also which device they want to use. Because whether it’s a Mac or a Windows computer, an iPhone or an Android smartphone – the ability to use the desired equipment ensures the highest possible satisfaction and productivity. For IT teams, this means that their device landscape is becoming increasingly complex. This complexity is manageable, as, unified endpoint management systems can seamlessly handle all operating systems and device types.

There is also often a need for action in companies when it comes to the user-friendliness of the tools used. Often, logging in is not possible on every end device without hurdles, and not every file can be easily found from anywhere. It is also not always possible to immediately recognize the caller on the cell phone – at least not without a previous laborious manual maintenance of the address book. Here it is important to rely on innovative technologies that allow secure and mobile access to all data sources or allow automated synchronization of all contact data with the global address list or the CRM system.

No. 10 IT trend of 2025

Cost reduction

Many companies are currently under enormous cost pressure and are being forced to cut costs and review their technology landscape in the process. In the area of device management, this is leading many companies to consider switching to Microsoft’s Unified Endpoint Management system. Here, it is important to find out how well Microsoft Intune can meet the respective requirements, what needs to be considered in order not to have to do without any function, and how to successfully migrate to it. Tools to simplify switching UEM systems can provide support and save costs during the transition process.

If, due to the tense personnel situation in companies, employees lack the time and know-how to deal with new developments, a lot of potential remains untapped and investments made are not fully exploited. This challenge is intensified by the rapid pace of innovation and emerging technologies. At the same time, the complexity of the configuration options is growing – as is the interaction with other systems. External partners who deal with the technologies on a daily basis can help and support companies on their journey.

Conclusion on IT trends 2025: just a snapshot

One thing is clear: the world of the modern workplace is constantly evolving. New IT trends and groundbreaking innovations such as AI and quantum computing are constantly presenting the industry with new challenges and opportunities. For companies and their IT departments, it is essential to keep their finger on the pulse and keep up to date with the latest developments if they don’t want to leave the field to the competition. But finding your way through the jungle of innovations is anything but easy. Here it pays to rely on modern workplace specialists who have extensive expertise in modern technologies, offer reliable services or even their own innovative products. With the right partner at their side, companies of all sizes are equally well positioned for the future.

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