Lessons from 2024 and a Peek Into 2025

As we gear up for another year, it’s worth pausing to reflect on what happened in 2024 how it sets the stage for 2025.

What Did 2024 Teach Us?

1. Cybercrime Isn’t Slowing Down
   If we learned anything, it’s that businesses can’t afford to be reactive anymore. Proactive cyber defenses are no longer optional. But events like the Crowdstrike outtage demonstrated that even a good investment in a trusted security technology does not always mean your systems are protected from every eventuality.

2. AI Got Weird
   2024 gave us incredible advancements in AI but also raised big questions with what seemed like every tech company talking about AI. It seems that there are two ways in wich AI can help: 1) For personal use to enhance employee productivity. 2) For business automation, to enhance the way business operations happen. The two are not the same, so it became clear in 2024 that we’re creating a narrative that needs definition.

3. The Old Ways Aren’t Dead
   Despite all the tech hype, 2024 reminded us of the value of simplicity. Whether it was the resurgence of telephones for businesses, opting for on-prem low-tech solutions, sometimes, less proved to be more.

What’s Coming in 2025?

• Cybercrime: The Real Pandemic
  If 2024 was a warm-up, 2025 will be a full-on sprint for cybercriminals. They’re getting smarter, faster, and—frankly—scarier. AI-powered attacks are expected to become the norm, so if your business isn’t already locked down, now’s the time have a rethink.

• AI: The Frenemy We Can’t ignore
  AI will continue to wow us with its potential—and terrify us with its unintended consequences. We’ll see breakthroughs in healthcare, automation, and customer experience, but also plenty of moments where employees should not have used AI. The real question is whether 2025 will bring us closer to an AI framework or if chaos will ensue.

• Microsoft: The Empire Strikes Again
  If you’re not using Microsoft for something, are you even in business? From their advancements in AI to their cloud dominance, expect Microsoft to continue being the gold standard. Love them or hate them, they’re not going anywhere.

• HR Tech is the New Black
  Boring, yes but HR software is evolving into a business superpower, helping companies manage hybrid teams, track employee sentiment, and automate repetitive tasks. In 2025, HR isn’t just about hiring and firing—it’s about creating workplaces where people actually want to stay.

• Thin Clients: Back to the Future
  Remember those lightweight, low-cost terminals from the ‘90s? They might just be making a comeback. As businesses get serious about sustainability and cost savings, thin clients could re-enter the fold.

Now for the Controversial Stuff

• When Will Accountants Be Out of a Job?
  Accountants will always have a role in strategy, but how long until an AI assistant is going to be your accountant? Is 2025 the beginning of the end for traditional number crunchers?

• Will a Computer Fire Someone?
  Back to the Future Part II predicted it, and honestly, we’re closer than ever. With AI already influencing hiring decisions, it’s only a matter of time before someone gets the boot from an algorithm. Will 2025 see the first “computer-generated” sacking? And who gets blamed when it happens?

What do you think? Are these predictions spot on, or am I reading too much sci-fi? Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear your take!