The rising complexity of IT landscapes driven by the rapid development of AI solutions is set to impact technology decision-makers significantly. According to Forrester’s 2025 technology and security predictions, 75% of these leaders anticipate an increase in their organization's technical debt by 2026.

In an effort to combat this anticipated growth in technical debt, technology leaders are expected to triple their adoption of AI Operations (AIOps) platforms by 2025. These platforms use contextually aware data to enhance human judgment, automate incident remediation, and improve business outcomes. However, to establish a high-performance IT organization, IT leaders must also focus on creating an appropriate culture, data strategy, architecture, and security practices.

Forrester emphasizes the importance of understanding and adapting to emerging trends as organizations prepare for the future. Their analysis covers several critical areas, including artificial intelligence, automation, tech leadership, cloud computing, tech infrastructure, enterprise software, software development, and cybersecurity risk management.

Some highlights from Forrester’s report include:

  • Private cloud options are expected to gain momentum, particularly with alternatives to VMware.
  • Many enterprises focused on AI ROI may prematurely scale back investments, potentially compromising long-term advantages.
  • The European Union is likely to impose the first fine on a generative AI provider under the new EU AI Act, setting a precedent for AI governance.

Sharyn Leaver, Forrester’s chief research officer, stated, “In 2024, technology and security leaders ran pilots across their enterprises to explore innovative applications of AI... but not all AI initiatives yielded the intended business outcomes. While this bold experimentation will continue in 2025, leaders will also focus heavily on putting the lessons learned into practice to ensure that their investments deliver true business value.”

This analysis provides critical insights that technology and security leaders can leverage to navigate present challenges and seize new opportunities as they look towards 2025.