As we enter 2025, the pace of technological advancement shows no signs of slowing. This year will witness significant strides in data backup strategies, bolstering agency resilience against cyber threats. Sustainability will increasingly influence technology adoption decisions across the Federal government. And, data-driven decision-making will become paramount, while hybrid cloud models will further solidify their dominance in the Federal IT landscape. However, agencies will continue to grapple with procurement challenges as they battle budget constraints. The following are key predictions for the Federal IT landscape in 2025:
Procurement Roadblocks
As Federal agencies accelerate the use of technologies like artificial intelligence in 2025, they will face roadblocks and challenges when it comes to procurement. The procurement life cycle for Federal agencies is not conducive to the quick adoption and implementation of these emerging technologies. To continue advancing, agencies will need to explore alternative procurement methods in 2025.
Focus on Backup
As cyberattacks are increasing in intensity and frequency, agencies will focus on adopting an assume you’ve already been breached mindset and prioritizing investments in backup and recovery solutions with an eye towards cyber security in 2025. Solutions like immutable snapshots will give agencies assurance that their data is safe even if there is a successful attack.
Data Driven Decision Making
Data-driven decision making will be a priority for Federal agencies in 2025 – and the acceleration of artificial intelligence will only propel this. For agencies to be effective, they first need complete visibility and a catalog of what data they have, then they can work to leverage their data available across their enterprise.
Sustainability
We’re seeing an increased focus on sustainability goals across the private sector – and expect to see the Federal government follow suit. The power requirements for agency data storage and management continue to be a concern – and with the growth of artificial intelligence, agencies are going to have to address power consumption to continue meeting mission needs. We will see agencies look to denser and more efficient data storage options.
Acceleration to Hybrid Cloud Operating Models
We will see a massive transition to hybrid cloud environments in 2025. As the technology becomes more accessible and sophisticated – and agencies are forced to justify budgets and reduce costs – we will see agencies shift to the hybrid cloud operating model that allows for more flexibility in terms of management as well as cost.
The Federal landscape in 2025 will be defined by a dynamic intersection of technological advancement, security imperatives, and sustainability priorities. As Federal agencies continue to embrace cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, they will confront challenges ranging from procurement inefficiencies to escalating cyber threats. It’s important for agencies to keep these potential challenges in mind as they enter a year where data management will be a top priority.
