The 2025 Checklist: IT Infrastructure Strategies for a Successful Year

But while the foundation may remain consistent, 2025 will introduce new challenges, opportunities, and trends that IT leaders and CIOs should have on their radar. This 2025 checklist offers insights to help your organization stay ahead by sharing with you the latest developments in IT that you need to know about as you shape your 2025 IT strategy.

Here’s what you need to consider for a successful year:

1. Accelerate Your Cloud and Hybrid Environment Transition

The move to cloud and hybrid environments remains a top priority. However, cloud strategies are now evolving to focus on flexibility, cost efficiency, and data governance. As you assess your cloud options, consider the compatibility of hybrid solutions with your existing systems and invest in multi-cloud management tools to maximize resource optimization.

Ask yourself:

• Is our current cloud infrastructure or plan the most cost effective for us?
• Would a hybrid environment work for our system?
• Is flexibility a priority for our operations?

2. Adopt Software-Defined Networking (SDN) for Agility and Control

Software-defined networking (SDN) is revolutionizing network management. In 2025, SDN will play a pivotal role in enabling more agile, responsive network configurations that support cloud-based applications and rapid scaling. To stay competitive, IT leaders should consider SDN adoption to enhance control over network traffic and streamline operations.

Ask yourself:

• Has our team considered SDN fully?
• Is network speed and responsiveness a priority in our operations?
• Are we planning to grow in 2025 or 2026?

3. Embrace Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI) for Improved Data Center Efficiency

Hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) solutions are making data center operations more efficient and scalable. In 2025, HCI continues to be vital for consolidating resources, reducing hardware costs, and simplifying management. IT leaders should explore HCI to boost operational efficiency and address scalability needs, particularly for organizations aiming to streamline their data center footprint.

Ask yourself:

• Are we planning to scale out in 2025 or 2026?
• Is data center inefficiency a bottleneck for our operations?
• Do we need to simplify IT management?

4. Evaluate Hypervisor Choices Post-VMware Acquisition

Following Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware, CIOs face decisions around hypervisor strategies. It’s essential to re-evaluate your current hypervisor choices and consider whether to stay with VMware, adopt alternatives, or invest in multi-hypervisor strategies. This assessment will be crucial for ensuring flexibility, cost management, and alignment with your broader IT goals.

Ask yourself:

• Are we currently using VMware?
• Is our organization capable of sustaining the potential increase in VMware licensing costs, or should we consider a more cost-effective alternative?
• What are the pros and cons of a multi-hypervisor strategy for our system?

5. Optimize Energy Consumption for a Sustainable Future

Energy optimization in data centers is more critical than ever. In 2025, organizations must look to emerging energy-efficient technologies and practices, from AI-driven energy management tools to alternative cooling solutions. Reducing energy consumption not only supports sustainability goals but also minimizes operational costs, making it a strategic win.

Ask yourself:

• Is sustainability one of our organization’s goals or values?
• Are large IT operational costs a problem in our budget?
• Has the IT team been contributing to sustainability efforts?

6. Strengthen Identity and Access Management (IAM) to Bolster Cybersecurity

With growing security threats, identity and access management (IAM) is an area that demands more attention. In 2025, CIOs must prioritize IAM as part of a broader cybersecurity strategy, ensuring robust authentication processes and access control. Enhanced IAM capabilities will be essential for protecting sensitive data and maintaining regulatory compliance.

Ask yourself:

• Have we completed a recent cybersecurity assessment?
• Are there any simple improvements we could make to security, such as implementing two-factor authentication?
• Is all of our data protected equally or are there gaps?

7. Navigate Compliance and Data Sovereignty Challenges

Compliance with data sovereignty laws, particularly Law 25, is a pressing concern for data centers. In 2025, organizations must stay up-to-date with evolving regulations and ensure that their data storage and processing practices align with legal requirements. This often means exploring on-premises solutions, regional data centers, or hybrid cloud environments that meet local compliance standards.

Ask yourself:

• Has an expert reviewed our compliance?
• Have any laws that affect us changed in the last year?
• Have we communicated our commitment to compliance to our users?

8. Leverage Container Technologies for Greater Flexibility

Containers are gaining traction as a means to support flexible, scalable application deployments. For 2025, IT leaders should look to container solutions like Kubernetes to enhance application portability and streamline development. Adopting container technology will facilitate cloud-native practices and improve efficiency in both development and operational processes.

Ask yourself:

• Have our IT leaders had a discussion about containers?
• Is portability a priority for our systems?
• Is development or operations inefficiency an issue for us?

As you prepare your IT infrastructure for 2025, stay ahead of these trends. By embracing innovative solutions like hyperconverged infrastructure, software-defined networking, and container technologies, while prioritizing cybersecurity and compliance, IT leaders can drive efficiency and agility in their organizations. Use this checklist as a guide to strategically navigate the year ahead, building a foundation for both immediate success and long-term growth.