What's ahead in 2012 for cloud, mobile apps, cyber?

Expect disruptive technologies – cloud computing, mobility, social computing, big data and smart analytics, IT appliances, and cybersecurity – to become more tightly woven into mission-critical systems and processes in 2012 as government and private organizations look for ways to innovate and also operate more cost efficiently.

That’s one of Unisys’ predictions for 2012 based on its work with clients around the world.

The findings were released on Jan. 18.

Among the company's predictions: Cloud computing will continue to be the top IT investment priority in 2012.

Both government agencies and businesses in 2012 will accelerate their use of cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) for e-mail and collaboration solutions, to further reduce costs and simplify operations, the findings said.

Organizations will begin the process of broadly assessing their applications portfolio to take greater advantage of cloud-computing opportunities.

Also, they will make greater use of new mobile device and application-management tools to better manage their agencies and businesses.

In addition, more organizations will implement predictive security operations as cyber threats grow in number and sophistication. Dedicated analysts and advanced data-analytics software will identify threats before they cause significant damage, the study found.

According to the Unisys findings, we can expect to see the creation of protected silos within data operations to prevent access to sensitive information in cases where their network perimeters have been breached.

As mobile devices are proliferating, increasingly becoming the new computing platform of choice for employees and customers, it is becoming the preferred channel for doing business.

Unisys predicts that IT organizations will devote significant resources in 2012 toward developing new applications and reengineering business processes to take advantage of this growing opportunity.

Unisys Corp., of Blue Bell, Pa., ranks No. 40 on Washington Technology’s 2011 Top 100 list of the largest federal government contractors.