The interview was conducted with Omer Salaymeh, Jumpstart board member and co-founder, and entrepreneur and co-founder of Civia and Bonfire, an AI solutions firm and govtech enterprise respectively.
What emerging technologies do you believe will have the most significant impact on the IT industry in the next 5-10 years?
At the moment it seems like AI and the ecosystem surrounding it will get a lot of focus from enterprises within the next few years. Especially as the technology matures and penetration into existing applications and business processes expands. This is not just limited to the software component of AI, but also the hardware. AI will start seeping into all facets of our lives, from healthcare, to cybersecurity and beyond, increasing the need for those familiar with the technology. It’s hard to look beyond the 5-year time horizon in tech, as it is a fast-evolving field. The good news is that many of the skills in tech are transferable, and a person armed with know-how and curiosity will be able to quickly adapt to the shifting market.
How is the increasing focus on cybersecurity shaping the demand for IT professionals, and what specific skills are becoming essential in this area?
There’s definitely a lot more awareness and focus from enterprises on the importance of cybersecurity and in strengthening their cybersecurity stance. While AI has a lot of promise to improve all facets of our lives, it can also be used as a tool by bad actors to find and exploit vulnerabilities. To counter this we will see AI being used more and more in the defense against these increased threats. As far as skills are concerned, there is a growing need for cloud security specialists. These professionals must be adept at securing cloud environments, managing identity and access controls, and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations. As regulations around data protection and cybersecurity become more stringent, there is also a growing need for professionals with expertise in compliance, risk assessment, and management.
In the context of AI and automation, how do you see the role of IT professionals evolving, and what advice would you give to those looking to stay relevant in the industry?
AI will and is already automating redundant tasks for IT professionals. As the technology matures it will start to handle more and more of the day to day operations of a typical IT professional whether in supporting internal customers or in more technical tasks. That said, there’s still a need for IT professionals to handle strategic aspects of their roles, project management, and other elements that only humans can handle. I think it’s important for those in IT to become familiar with the technology, embrace it, and know how to leverage it. There’s a popular saying that AI won’t replace humans, but humans with AI will replace humans without AI.
What trends are you seeing in the demand for cloud computing expertise, and how should IT professionals prepare to capitalize on opportunities in this field?
I don’t have a lot of knowledge about this, but generally more and more software is migrating to the cloud. The rise of AI, and given that this technology is mainly running in the cloud, will increase demand for all roles across the board as they relate to cloud computing.
What advice would you give to individuals just entering the IT industry today in terms of choosing a specialization or career path?
Cybersecurity, Cloud computing, and AI are the new mainstays. I would avoid going into technical support roles as these roles will be more and more automated as time goes on. I would explore open positions in the market and track any trends or patterns in what employers are looking for. Technical experience combined with emotional intelligence, and good project management skills are a potent combination. I think those who can marry the technical side with the human side will be able to differentiate themselves in the market and at their workplaces.
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