What Is The Future of Managed IT Services?

What Is the Future of Managed IT Services?  A Closer Look

The future of managed IT investment is going nowhere but up for small and medium-sized businesses, according to a recent survey of business leaders by research firm AnalysisMason. In fact, the global managed IT service marketplace for small and medium-sized clients (SMBs) is on pace to increase 6-8% year over year between 2025 and 2028, increasing from $1.735 trillion to $2.173 trillion.

Why? Because businesses of all sizes are waking up to efficiencies and cost savings they’ll achieve by outsourcing their IT to managed service providers. With more and more core software and infrastructure moving to the cloud, the move makes sense. Yet, as the numbers of SMBs moving IT management offsite increase, what will the future of managed IT services be like? With so much innovation unfolding in the marketplace, where will SMBs invest their IT dollars to keep the business gains going?

This article will explore our predictions about the future of managed IT services. Let’s get into it!

What Is The Future of Managed IT? Emerging Trends

No one has a crystal ball of course, but the projections are consistent. Investment will be up for managed IT in all sectors. Here’s our take on the predictions for 2025 and beyond.

More Operations Will Move to the Cloud

By now, most companies have realized the benefits of using cloud-based platforms like Microsoft 365, Microsoft Azure, or cloud-based backup services for their disaster recovery programs. Cloud programs allow companies to offload key parts of their software platforms, databases, and backup to private, cloud-based services. With all that in mind, it’s no wonder why the global market for cloud services is expected to grow at a compound rate of 16.3%, year over year, to $947.3 billion by 2026.

The move to the cloud has provided tremendous benefits to small and medium-sized businesses. It’s eliminated costly on-site server farms, automated updates, and patching while enabling remote employees to work collaboratively no matter where they are. As more operations shift to the cloud, more companies will add additional layers of cloud backups for additional security points. Expect to see more companies invest in cloud-based software for productivity, analytics, and the ability to tap into new AI-powered protocols.

Cybersecurity Will Continue to Advance as New Threats Emerge

Hackers can now use AI for coding, effectively eliminating the barrier to entry for anyone wanting to create malware, slick-looking phishing campaigns, spoofed social engineering attacks, identity theft gambits, and more. But, for every new hacker scheme, new cybersecurity approaches are being developed to help catch the threats.

Global expenditure on cybersecurity is projected to increase by 14% in 2024. Companies will likely invest more in advanced threat detection, zero-trust security models, and comprehensive risk management strategies. These investments will help businesses safeguard their data, maintain customer trust, and comply with regulatory requirements.

Remote Work Will Become Increasingly Mainstream, and Companies Will Invest to Create More Remote Work Infrastructure

By 2025, an estimated 32.6 million Americans will be working remotely, about 22% of the workforce. For those companies still requiring employees to come into the office, most will create an infrastructure that allows their office-based staff to work from home in a hybrid fashion. This means more investment in virtual desktop infrastructure, enabling employees to safely log into the company system and work on any computer–even their personal devices. They’ll also invest in software that makes it easy to collaborate remotely, such as project management boards, chat infrastructure like Microsoft Teams or Slack, and shared safe storage options that allow group commenting/editing.

These investments will support a flexible work environment, improve employee productivity, and ensure business continuity.

Edge Computing Will Bring Some Essential Functions Back in House

While cloud computing is an excellent option for collaboration and distributed workforces, it’s not right for everything. Companies are seeing a real benefit in letting edge computing handle certain key functions.

“Edge computing” involves running local functions locally and on-site. Some examples include processing monitor data in hospitals, running factory machinery through factory servers, or processing data from “Internet of Things” (IoT) devices like security doorbell cameras on site. This prevents essential running data from being uploaded back and forth in the cloud, speeding up response time for critical functions.

AI Will Go Mainstream

Artificial Intelligence has been the buzzworthy tech story over the last year—and with good reason. The global AI market is valued at over $279 billion and is projected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2030. Rather than build completely AI-exclusive platforms, most tech companies are finding ways to incorporate the power of AI into everything. Tools like Microsoft 365 are now getting AI-driven upgrades. Our phones are getting intelligent AI assistants. AI-driven search and content generation tools will soon be found in everything from our streaming services to website chatbots, and more.

Soon, AI computing will just be computing, and companies will be willing to earmark a portion of their budgets for the productivity-boosting, personalized power that AI tools can bring to their organizations.

Now that we’ve discussed how new tools will affect the future of managed IT services let’s examine how this new functionality will impact your business.

New Trends in the Way Managed IT Services Are Delivered—and What It Means to Your Business

Information Technology is undergoing an AI-driven metamorphosis, with innovation speeding up like never before. These innovations will drive big leaps in functionality across companies, and their managed IT service provider will help bring them to their doorsteps.

What is the future of managed IT services? Look for a whole new smorgasbord of information technology options that will bring benefits like these:

Enhanced Cybersecurity

AI is transforming cybersecurity by enabling faster and more accurate threat detection. AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data from network traffic, logs, and endpoints to identify suspicious patterns and behaviors. This allows for the early detection of potential security breaches, often before human analysts notice them. Tools like Darktrace and CrowdStrike Falcon leverage AI to offer real-time threat detection and autonomous response capabilities. By using these AI-driven tools, managed IT service providers can better protect their clients’ data and systems.

Predictive Maintenance

AI-powered predictive maintenance uses data and analytics to predict when hardware or software issues might arise. By analyzing data from equipment sensors, maintenance logs, and historical performance, AI can identify patterns that indicate potential problems. This proactive approach allows managed IT service providers to schedule maintenance activities before issues escalate. In the end, you’ll minimize downtime and ensure that clients’ systems remain operational and efficient. Tools like Pecan AI and AVEVA are leading the way in this field.

 Automated IT Support

AI-driven service desks can automate routine IT support tasks, such as password resets, software updates, and troubleshooting common issues. This reduces the need for human intervention and speeds up response times. AI chatbots and virtual assistants, like those offered by ServiceNow and IBM Watson, can handle many support requests. This frees IT staff to focus on more complex tasks. This improves efficiency and enhances the user experience by providing quick and accurate support.

Intelligent Data Management

AI can optimize data management by automating data classification, storage, and retrieval processes. AI algorithms can analyze data to determine its importance and categorize it accordingly. This ensures that critical data is easily accessible while less important data is archived. Tools like Julius AI and IBM’s AI Data Management are making significant strides in this area. This improves data organization and retrieval, making it easier for businesses to manage their information and comply with data regulations.

Improved Decision-Making

AI provides valuable insights through advanced analytics and machine learning. By analyzing large datasets, AI can uncover trends and patterns that might not be apparent to human analysts. These insights can inform strategic decision-making, helping businesses optimize their IT operations, improve service delivery, and identify new growth opportunities. Tools like ClickUp and Team-GPT are examples of AI tools that enhance decision-making processes

Personalized Customer Experience

AI can enhance the customer experience by personalizing interactions and services. AI-driven tools can analyze customer data to understand preferences and behaviors. This allows managed IT service providers to tailor their offerings to meet individual client needs. Tools like IBM’s AI Personalization and Insider are leading the way in delivering personalized customer experiences

This personalized approach can improve customer satisfaction and loyalty, as clients receive services designed to address their unique requirements.

The Right MSP Partner Can Lead Your IT into the Future. Integris Can Help.

Ready to move into the future with a new IT partner? Integris can help. As a national IT-managed service provider, we have hundreds of employees in offices across the US, ready to help you with everything from help desk services to IT consulting to license management and so much more. Contact us today for a free consultation.