Liong Eng

Name
Liong Eng
Company
Silverfern IT
Position
Managing Director & CEO

For many organisations, technology priorities are no longer being shaped by a single objective.

Business leaders are balancing cyber risk, cost pressures, workforce transformation, sustainability goals and growing expectations around operational resilience. The challenge is not simply adopting new technology, but ensuring every investment contributes to a more secure, efficient and sustainable organisation.

Over the next 6 to 12 months, the organisations that gain the greatest value from technology will be those that approach transformation holistically — strengthening security, modernising infrastructure, controlling costs and preparing their workforce for an increasingly digital future.

Cyber resilience becomes a business priority

Cybersecurity remains one of the most significant areas of focus for customers, but the conversation has evolved beyond traditional security controls.

Organisations are increasingly recognising that cyber resilience is not just about preventing attacks. It is about ensuring the business can continue operating effectively when disruption occurs. As cyber threats become more sophisticated and frequent, resilience has become just as important as protection.

This is driving greater adoption of Zero Trust security models, where trust is continuously verified rather than assumed. Organisations are investing in stronger identity controls, enhanced visibility across environments and more robust approaches to protecting sensitive information.

At the same time, businesses are reviewing processes, governance frameworks and recovery capabilities to ensure they can respond effectively when incidents occur. The objective is not simply to reduce risk but to build confidence that operations can continue regardless of the challenges they face.

Modernising infrastructure for a digital workforce

Infrastructure modernisation and workplace transformation continue to be major priorities across the market.

Businesses understand that technology environments designed for a previous era are often unable to support the agility, flexibility and responsiveness required today. Employees expect modern digital experiences, seamless collaboration and access to tools that help them work productively regardless of location.

As a result, organisations are investing in technologies that improve operational efficiency while creating more adaptable workplaces.

The goal is not simply to replace legacy infrastructure. It is to create environments that support innovation, improve employee experiences and enable organisations to respond more effectively to changing business demands.

Preparing the workforce for the digital age requires both technology and cultural change. Organisations that succeed will be those that align infrastructure investments with workforce capability and long-term business objectives.

Sustainability moves into the technology agenda

Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important consideration in technology decision-making.

For many organisations, sustainability initiatives are no longer driven solely by environmental commitments. They are increasingly linked to risk management, operational efficiency and long-term business resilience.

Customers are looking at how technology can reduce environmental impact while also improving operational performance. This includes reviewing energy consumption, optimising infrastructure utilisation and adopting solutions that contribute to broader sustainability objectives.

As stakeholder expectations continue to evolve, organisations are recognising that sustainable technology strategies can deliver both commercial and environmental benefits. Sustainability is no longer a separate conversation. It is becoming part of mainstream technology planning.

Managing cloud costs more effectively

Cloud remains a critical component of modern IT strategies, but organisations are becoming far more disciplined about how they manage cloud investments.

The initial focus for many businesses was migration and adoption. Today, the emphasis has shifted towards optimisation and value realisation.

Customers want greater visibility into cloud spending, stronger governance and clearer alignment between cloud consumption and business outcomes. Tools that provide forecasting, cost analysis and usage optimisation are becoming increasingly important as organisations seek to maximise return on investment.

Cloud flexibility remains attractive, but businesses are also recognising that without proper management, costs can escalate quickly. The organisations achieving the greatest success are those treating cloud financial management as an ongoing discipline rather than a one-time exercise.

Helping customers navigate complexity

Our own strategic priorities reflect many of the challenges and opportunities customers are facing.

One of our major focuses is growing our managed services practice to help organisations better manage IT costs while maintaining strong performance and security outcomes. As technology environments become more complex, many businesses are looking for trusted partners who can help simplify operations and improve efficiency.

At the same time, we are expanding our consulting and implementation capabilities around sustainability initiatives. Customers increasingly want practical guidance on how technology can support broader sustainability goals, and we see significant opportunity to help organisations navigate that journey.

Digital modernisation and workplace transformation remain key areas of investment for our business as well. We continue to support customers as they modernise infrastructure, improve employee experiences and prepare for future ways of working.

Security, automation and collaboration

Security continues to play a central role in our strategy.

We are expanding our Essential Eight assessment and advisory services, helping organisations establish stronger security baselines and progress towards higher levels of maturity. As cyber threats evolve, businesses need practical frameworks that allow them to improve resilience in a structured and measurable way.

We are also looking closely at how AI and smart technologies can improve project delivery and operational efficiency. The focus is not on adopting technology for its own sake but on using automation and intelligence to deliver better outcomes and stronger returns on investment.

Another important priority is platform consolidation. Like many organisations, we recognise the value of simplifying environments, reducing dependence on specialist expertise and creating more manageable technology ecosystems. Consolidation can improve efficiency, reduce complexity and create more consistent customer experiences.

Collaboration also remains high on our agenda. Increasingly, customers require end-to-end solutions that span multiple technology domains. Building stronger partnerships allows us to deliver broader capabilities while maintaining focus on our core strengths.

Navigating a changing MSP market

The managed services landscape continues to evolve, creating both challenges and opportunities.

Traditional MSP offerings are becoming increasingly commoditised, placing pressure on profitability and forcing providers to rethink how they create value. Customers are looking for more strategic outcomes rather than simply operational support.

At the same time, finding and retaining skilled resources remains difficult and costly. Demand for experienced technology professionals continues to exceed supply in many areas, creating challenges across the industry.

These realities are encouraging service providers to focus more heavily on automation, efficiency and specialisation while continuing to invest in talent development and partner ecosystems.

Looking forward with confidence

One of the most valuable pieces of advice I have ever received is: accept your past without regret, handle your present with confidence, and face your future without fear.

It is a philosophy that resonates strongly in technology, where change is constant and certainty is often elusive.

Businesses cannot change what has happened in the past, but they can learn from it. They cannot predict every challenge ahead, but they can prepare for them. What matters most is maintaining the confidence to act, adapt and move forward.

For leaders, that means embracing change rather than resisting it. For organisations, it means viewing transformation as an opportunity rather than a disruption.

The future will undoubtedly bring new challenges, but it will also create new opportunities. The organisations that thrive will be those willing to approach both with confidence, resilience and a clear sense of purpose.