5 Software Trends to Watch for in 2022 and Beyond

From the operating system on every computer to your favorite streaming service, software governs the way that users interact with technology. While some you can purchase or rent outright, such as downloadable games or image editing software, others hide behind the scenes.

These five software trends could see a rise in 2022.

1. SaaS Expansion

Software as a service, or SaaS, is the concept of selling the service or results of software without the user owning the software itself. For example, you can purchase a premium subscription to LinkedIn but you don’t own the software that’s allowing you to publish a profile and interact with other users. The Microsoft Office that shows as an application on your computer isn’t SaaS; however, the cloud-based package Office 365 that offers similar features is SaaS.

There can be pros and cons to using traditional downloadable software and SaaS. SaaS will often only be accessible via the internet and will not require the CPU power that running an application on your computer may. Similarly, SaaS can save your RAM space by allowing storage on the cloud. Want to learn more about SaaS? Check out Kris Duggan on the podcast “SaaS Show Revolution.”

2. More Intensive Operating Systems

Unbeknownst to me, it was the right decision to forgo upgrading the operating system on my iMac. I had simply been ignoring the notification out of laziness, and eventually discovered that a change in the operating system would slow down my computer.

With the rate of processing power increasing with each new generation of laptop or desktop computers, newer operating systems can become increasingly complex. Apple has often come under fire for the size of their operating systems slowing down older systems, requiring users to work around their operating system to preserve system performance. While a newer computer may be able to update gracefully, make sure that the latest operating system won’t render your older device inoperable.

3. Ever More Smart devices

The inclusion of software in your car and watch has been available for over a decade now, so don’t be surprised if other daily use items start to become “smart” as well. Still, the inclusion of software in vehicles isn’t always the best for consumers, even if it does enhance the driving experience.

The 2012 law requiring auto manufacturers to supply diagnostic software to third-party repair companies didn’t apply to wireless telematics data. Voters had to fight again to get the right to repair their cars using this data. While your smart fridge or even smart toaster may increase the efficiency of your morning, it’s best to make sure these devices are under warranty and repairable. Be wary of unnecessarily complicated devices.

4. Digital Asset Management

Cryptocurrencies skyrocketed in 2017 and then again in 2021. While some made it rich riding Bitcoin’s exponential growth, others made profits on the infrastructure necessary to process cryptocurrency transactions.

While the warehouses and server clusters necessary for cryptocurrency mining are hardware, the digital wallets and online trading platforms used countless times every day are not. So as you move forward into 2022, don’t have tunnel vision on the next lucrative digital asset (especially NFTs). It’s worthwhile to also consider investments in the software and hardware working behind the scenes to ensure trustworthy transactions.

5. Cybersecurity Improvements

From harmful malware to phishing emails, the ploys by criminals to steal your information and assets have not suffered from the pandemic in 2020 and 2021. So don’t expect them to vanish in 2022. Improving cybersecurity to limit data breaches is a must if companies want to maintain their reputations and customers.

Modern approaches to cybersecurity need to protect data and other assets without cutting off access to those who are entitled to them. New structuring of security infrastructure, such as Cybersecurity mesh, could not only better protect individuals, but could also allow organizations to defend against cybercrime cooperatively.

To state the obvious, no one can predict the future. Still, by looking at recent innovation and the current issues plaguing our digital world, it isn’t difficult to see why these five software trends may continue throughout 2022 and beyond. Staying up to date with the current abilities and limitations of modern software is not only going to improve the quality of your digital interactions but it can also keep you and your information secure.