What Technological Changes Are The Next 12 Months Going To Bring?

The 1st May 2025 was the start of OCM's financial year. What do we need to deliver for our business and client organisations over our next financial year?

Every business's management has the exciting task of planning for the future of their organisation. In reality, this is an ongoing adventure! While three to five-year plans, strategic SWOT analyses, and financial forecasts are quite common, it's equally important to think about where your business's technology will be in just 12 months. For us at OCM Communications, a managed service provider (MSP), this forward-thinking approach to technological changes is essential. So, how important is it for you?

For OCM we have to consider the future on 2 levels. Firstly, what does our business need to do better? Secondly, what do our clients need?

Last Years Predictions and Our Accuracy, Rated !

Last years ( 2024 ) predictions were :-

Windows 10 end of life in October 2025.  This should be dealt within the next 12 months.

Still relevant, 10/10, but the economic climate means that clients will only spend when they have to. We predict a busy September and October.

BT turning off the PSTN ( traditional phone lines and ISDN ) by December 2025 impacting legacy phone systems, alarm systems and traditional broadband users. Don't forget your remote workers!

Again, still relevant but BT has pushed back the switch off to 31st January 2027. 5/10

AI. Yes again! We have customers who are currently evaluating Google Gemini and Microsoft Copilot. We expect deployments over the next 12 months with caution.

10/10. Clients are using AI more and more, deployment is growing.

Cyber Essentials. We expect more clients to want to achieve Information Security accreditation's  and Cyber Essentials is the obvious starting point. Why? Organisations with Cyber Essentials are 92% less likely to make a claim against their cyber insurance.

10/10. OCM has worked with 50+ organisations in the last 12 months. Cyber Essentials is growing (recently there was the 200,000th certification). See below for more updates.

Digital marketing is changing

6/10. Google AI overviews have arrived in the UK but it's also clear that Google dominance is moving as search is now built into almost all AI. The playing field is yet to level up.

Deployment of more cyber security solutions to combat rising attacks.

10/10. The adoption of Endpoint Detection and Response is growing and will continue to grow.

A hardening of the Cyber Insurance market. Organisations without accreditation's for cyber security are going to be without insurance because of cost or refusal to insure.

6/10. The direction of travel is still going this way, the Governments new Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will have an impact when enacted.

A demand to up-skill client employees on AI fundamentals.

3/10. AI skill development is still at an early stage but with agentic AI becoming the norm, a new skill set is still required.

As 1 Gbps networks move towards "legacy" status, deployment of faster network infrastructure across switches (10 Gbps fibre), deployment of WiFi 7 ( upto 500 Gbs) access points for greater speed and some clients upgrading to 10Gbps leaselines.

1/10. Costs of 10Gbps are still to much in the current climate.

A general election in the UK. If there is a new government (as expected) the requirements on business will change. Possible wildcard.

10/10. The introduction of the forthcoming Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will have a significant impact.

OCM Predictions 2024 Accuracy Total = 71/100

What Technological Changes in The Next 12 Months Does OCM Predict?

We need to deliver our clients, the services and solutions, they require to be successful and secure. So OCM will be focused on :-

• AI-Powered Productivity Boosters

  
  

  Tools like generative AI (e.g., Gemini, Microsoft Copilot) will streamline everyday tasks, reducing manual workload and enhancing productivity. Expect AI to move from novelty and simple automation (like basic chatbots or content generation) to more deeply embedded roles in core business processes. This includes AI-driven predictive analytics for decision-making, customer experience, and AI-powered cyber security defences. UK businesses will need to identify strategic AI use cases and invest in the skills to manage and interpret AI outputs.

  
  

• Strengthened Cyber Security Requirements

  
  

  Enhanced UK cyber security regulations (like expanded Cyber Essentials enforcement) will help protect your business, reducing risks and potentially avoiding costly data breaches. Cyber attackers will increasingly leverage AI to create more sophisticated and harder-to-detect threats . In response, UK businesses must invest in AI-enhanced cyber security tools for proactive threat detection, automated response, and continuous security posture assessment. The significant predicted growth in UK cyber security budgets reflects this. The forthcoming Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will give Ministers powers to enforce cyber security frameworks.

  
  

• Quantum Computing on the Horizon

  
  

  Early quantum computing capabilities could enhance security and offer breakthroughs in data analysis, giving forward-thinking businesses a competitive edge.

  
  

• Zero Trust Security Model Growth

  
  

  Implementing Zero Trust security will better protect your networks and remote and hybrid workforce, securing sensitive business data from evolving threats. Zero Trust is a security model operating on the principle of "never trust, always verify," assuming threats can exist both inside and outside the network. The goal is to minimise the potential impact of a breach and protect data by rigorously controlling access and assuming no implicit trust.

  
  

• Rise of Augmented Reality (AR)

  
  

  Adoption of AR and smart glasses will boost productivity in practical tasks, transforming training, customer support, and day-to-day operations, especially in sectors like logistics and healthcare.

  
  

• Continued Cloud Migration Acceleration

  
  

  Moving fully to cloud-based infrastructures (serverless setups and cloud services) will help you achieve greater flexibility, cost efficiency, and scalability for your business.

  
  

• Clearer Guidelines for AI Usage

  
  

  Anticipated regulatory clarity on AI ethics and usage will help businesses confidently adopt AI, ensuring ethical and compliant innovation.

  
  

• Smarter Automation with IoT Integration

  
  

  Combining intelligent automation and IoT devices will enhance operational efficiency. Internet of Things (IoT) adoption will expand beyond niche applications. UK businesses in sectors like manufacturing, logistics, retail, and healthcare will increasingly use IoT devices for real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, supply chain optimisation, and creating smarter, more responsive services, leading to tangible cost savings and efficiency gains.

  
  

• Increased Focus on Data Sovereignty

  
  

  Choosing local cloud solutions or hybrid strategies ensures your business meets compliance requirements, boosts resilience, and maintains customer trust. For UK businesses, this means careful attention to where data is stored, processed, and how it's protected.

  
  

• Embracing Sustainable IT

  
  

  Implementing eco-friendly technology practices (energy-efficient devices and data centres) not only benefits the environment but also improves your brand reputation and can lead to cost savings.

  
  

Keeping these trends in focus can help your business adapt swiftly, remain competitive, and drive sustainable growth. These predictions aren't just important for staying competitive—they're also a great way to spark innovation, energise your teams, and maybe even impress your friends at the next pub quiz.

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