With businesses and workplaces closed, remote work became a necessity. Consequently, IT departments deployed technologies to guarantee business continuity, support remote work, and optimize business processes. They invested in work-from-home technologies as well as cloud computing, data analytics, and automation, which increased information-technology spending. Organizations spent $15 billion weekly on technology to equip the work-from-home workforce, a historic technology investment.

However, in the coming years, companies will adopt new security solutions such as employee security training, breach detection systems, and AI-powered security solutions as new security threats emerge.

The risk and severity of ransomware attacks and other cyber threats continues to escalate, and research shows that 1 in 5 companies don’t have a backup and disaster recovery plan in place.

1. Cybersecurity

Research reveals that 4 out of 10 organizations have encountered a security breach during the pandemic. From January to April 2020, Forbes reveals that banks have experienced a 238% rise in attacks while cloud servers have encountered a whopping 600% surge in server attacks. As such, investing in IT security should be a top priority for organizations across the globe.

Any company that invests more in cybersecurity is better off since no company is secure from hackers. An unfortunate event such as a cyberattack can damage your business, ruin your reputation, and result in millions of dollars in legal fees. Cybersecurity expertise is going to be highly sought after as businesses prioritize security measures.

2. Cloud Services

Businesses have been forced by the widespread use of remote work to search for solutions that enable remote access at any time and from any location. Because cloud technologies are scalable, versatile, and accessible from a distance, they have become very profitable.

Small businesses have found these technologies especially enticing because they are affordable and don't require a high level of technical expertise within the company.

3. Work from Anywhere Initiatives

Almost half of US workers were working from home during the pandemic's peak. More workers will work remotely starting in 2021. After the epidemic, 43% of leaders predict that more than half of their staff will work remotely.

For instance, the massive technology company Microsoft has implemented a hybrid strategy that allows for more workers to work from home. Both businesses and employees can gain from remote work. Companies profit from lower in-office costs while employees get more freedom and a better work-life balance.

The costs companies have previously incurred to outfit their remote workers are recouped when they work from home. Additionally, businesses must keep spending money on technology to enable employees who work from home. In 2021, productivity software will account for 12% of the overall software budget, making it the most significant software expenditure. As uncertainty persists, new technologies will not only preserve high productivity but also guarantee company continuity.

4. Customer Experience and Engagement

Building solid ties and bringing in new business were crucial during the pandemic. Businesses then used their IT funds to purchase tools to help with customer-facing projects. client relationship management software (CRM) is one of the technologies used to handle client contacts. According to Salesforce, since March 2020, 24% of small firms have adopted CRM software. CRM systems facilitate better customer communication, increase productivity through automation, expedite reporting, and make teamwork easier.