5 IT Infrastructure Trends You Should Know for 2024

2024 is expected to be a transformative year in the IT infrastructure space. This is marked by pivotal trends redefining how specialists and businesses harness tech. From a heightened emphasis on green tech to the widespread usage of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), alongside the strategic adoption of hybrid cloud solutions, the growth of 5G and IoT, and the necessity of cyber security, these IT infrastructure trends are collectively shaping global tech operations. 

This guide will explore the five IT infrastructure trends mentioned above to provide organisations and job seekers insight into what to expect in the IT network infrastructure space in 2024 and beyond.

In this guide, we’ll cover the following IT infrastructure trends:

1. Green tech is growing in prominence
2. AI and ML continue to surge within IT infrastructure
3. Hybrid cloud solutions bring a competitive edge
4. 5G and IoT are on the rise in IT network infrastructure
5. Cyber security remains a necessity in IT infrastructure

1. Green tech is growing in prominence

Sustainability is a buzzword spanning many industries, including the IT network infrastructure space. With that said, the first of our five IT infrastructure trends to highlight is how green tech is growing in prominence. Global tech corporations like Apple and Google have already set ambitious sustainability targets. Apple plans to ensure all its products are carbon neutral by 2030, and Google aims to achieve net-zero emissions across all of its value chains and operations by 2030.

It's becoming more common for companies to adopt green tech strategies and promote sustainability across their IT network infrastructure. Implementing green tech initiatives is closely linked with an organisation's corporate social responsibility goals and its position as an environmentally conscious brand in the eyes of its various stakeholders.

The growth in the prominence of green tech across the IT infrastructure sector can be seen in AI-powered blockchain and smart grids, cloud computing, and virtualisation technologies. These evolving technologies are focused on mitigating energy consumption and expanding the usage of recycled e-waste. 

In 2024, businesses within the tech space and permanent and contract workers seeking IT infrastructure jobs should consider green tech's ethical and social elements. This sustainability can ensure your tech processes and operations are efficient while positively impacting society's sustainability. 

Companies seeking to adopt green tech in 2024 should start by initiating a tech audit across their IT network infrastructure. This audit should assess the level of emissions produced across the business's operations and research and implement sustainable technologies, such as cloud computing, to reduce them. 

2. AI and ML continue to surge within IT infrastructure

Whether you're growing your business within the IT engineering space or are looking for the latest IT infrastructure jobs, another of the top IT infrastructure trends you should know surrounds the continuous surge of AI and ML. In 2024, the global accessibility of AI and ML will reach new levels as more companies unlock its benefits to support their operations.

AI is becoming known as an essential tool for supporting a company's insight and data analytics. The adoption of AI can also support an organisation's cyber security efforts. It can help establish a more robust and resilient IT infrastructure for businesses looking to combat the growing sophistication of cyber threats.

Learn more about the subject of AI in IT network infrastructure by reading our guide: Exploring the Future of AI Engineering in Network Security.

ML is also continuing its surge across the tech space. Its ability to automate repetitive and labour-intensive tasks makes it a valuable tool for companies looking for solutions to cut costs and enhance their operational efficiencies. ML algorithms are also used for predictive analysis to support the anticipation of IT infrastructure issues before they become significant problems. These benefits of AI and ML can free up the time of professionals within IT infrastructure jobs. 

However, this doesn't mean companies should no longer require the support of tech specialists or neglect the importance of IT infrastructure recruitment. Nor does it mean talent in the tech space will be out of work. Instead, it means IT teams will have more time to focus on other projects and adapt their skill sets through reskilling and upskilling to learn how to utilise AI and ML tools effectively to give organisations a competitive edge.

3. Hybrid cloud solutions bring a competitive edge 

Next on our list of IT infrastructure trends to know for 2024 if you’re expanding your tech presence or seeking the latest IT infrastructure jobs involved in the adoption of hybrid cloud solutions. In 2024, hybrid cloud solutions could help revolutionise how companies store and process data. Instead of relying solely on cloud-only or on-premise IT network infrastructure solutions, the hybrid approach allows for greater flexibility and scalability with the retention of on-site control and security. 

Companies are beginning to adopt hybrid cloud solutions to reduce overspending on-premise hardware while improving performance and collaboration across cross-departmental teams and remote workers. Hybrid cloud solutions are also becoming increasingly popular due to their ability to enable greater storage and data back-ups to support disaster recovery. They also allow companies to migrate legacy systems to the cloud to ensure their business remains future-proofed.

The adoption of edge computing can also accompany these cloud-based solutions. This solution is focused on supporting Internet of Things (IoT) applications requiring real-time processes while being capable of harnessing the connectivity of 5G - something we’ll cover at a later point.

Overall, the adoption of hybrid cloud solutions is enabling companies to strike a balance of flexibility, scalability, and control over their IT infrastructure. Simultaneously, it allows businesses to take advantage of the benefits of both cloud and on-site tech solutions. These include the ability to make more accurate data-driven decisions and develop innovative solutions faster to gain a competitive edge.

Discover more about cloud solutions by checking out our guide: How Cloud Integration Benefits Network Engineering.

4. 5G and IoT are on the rise in IT network infrastructure

With a value of over $121 billion in 2023, 5G wireless technology is becoming a central talking point in the tech space, as we highlighted in our guide on the 5 Benefits of 5G Network Engineers Need to Know. Therefore, our next point on our outlook on IT infrastructure trends to know for 2024 is the rise of 5G and IoT. 

The rise of 5G in the IT network infrastructure space is quickly gaining momentum in a world where the number of IoT devices and the demand for more reliable connectivity continues to grow. 5G wireless technology can provide faster speeds, ultra-low latency and greater connectivity, which is already bringing in a new generation of applications, including smart city schemes and real-time remote operations.

As the volume of IoT devices continues to expand across consumer and industry specialisms, there is extensively more data transference. Ultimately, this highlights the need for secure processing, analysis and transmission, underscoring the requirements of IT network infrastructures to be capable of handling greater data volumes, varied traffic patterns and security issues.

According to TechTarget, a study by 5G Americas with added research firm Omdia, 5G is forecasted to climb to 8 billion connections by 2026. The study also expects 5G wireless technology to surpass its predecessor, 4G LTE, by over 2.5 billion connections by 2028.

Overall, it’s clear that the synergy between 5G and IoT is transforming the IT infrastructure space. As organisations begin to adapt to 5G's advancements, strategic investments in these technologies are expected to be instrumental in driving competitive advantages and shaping the future of IT infrastructure in 2024 and beyond.

5. Cyber security remains a necessity in IT infrastructure 

Our last entry to our list of IT infrastructure trends to know for 2024 revolves around the necessity of cyber security. As the tech space evolves, so does the rate of cyber threats. According to Security Magazine, more than 2,200 cyber attacks occur each day, or roughly one attack every 39 seconds. Whether it's data breaches or ransomware attacks, cybercriminals' sophistication and tactics are reaching levels that make implementing cyber security not just a choice but a necessity. 

IT infrastructure cyber security can help secure a company or individual's digital assets, protecting them from severe reputational and financial damages. Implementing an IT security strategy can support an organisation in detecting and combating threats while putting measures in place to mitigate the recurrence of similar attacks happening in the future.

In 2024, more businesses will begin reviewing their cyber security posture and conduct assessments to determine how prepared they are to face threats. Many organisations will seek the support of IT security experts who can implement solutions such as incident response strategies, firewalls and data encryption. Talent within the security space will be highly sought-after in 2024 and the coming years as brands become increasingly eager to remain vigilant of the evolving threats.

Cyber security will continue to threaten the tech sector and industries such as finance and healthcare, whose operations heavily rely on IT infrastructure. Essentially, no industry is immune to the threat of a cyber-attack in 2024. Therefore, now is the time to invest in cyber security measures to safeguard your personal assets and sensitive data from emerging cyber threats.

Rounding up the IT infrastructure trends for 2024

In this guide, we’ve highlighted the IT infrastructure trends for 2024. To summarise, these trends included the rise of green tech and sustainability, the increasing adoption of AI and ML, the strategic implementation of hybrid cloud solutions for flexibility, the transformative impact of 5G and IoT, and the critical focus on cyber security as a necessity. 

Embracing these trends is essential for businesses and IT professionals to innovate and optimise operations while ensuring digital assets remain secure in the fast-paced and evolving tech environment. By integrating these trends into your strategies, you can gain competitive advantages while effectively addressing ethical, technological, and security challenges.

If you found these IT infrastructure trends helpful, check out more trends specific to the network engineering space in our guide: Exploring our Latest UK Network Engineering Report.

Power your future with IT network infrastructure recruitment

Now that you know the five top IT infrastructure trends for 2024, you may be thinking about how you can apply these hot topics to your business or career. Well, that’s where we come in. Whether you’re searching for the latest IT infrastructure jobs or the network engineering specialists to take your brand to the next level, we can help.

So what are you waiting for? Get in touch with our network team and discover how we can support you with your IT infrastructure recruitment needs.