Hottest Tech Trends You Should Be Investing In

There is no denying that technology is on the rise and rapidly evolving. Prospective tech investors should be diligently paying attention to which sectors could be the next big thing. If you are not already watching the following tech trends, start doing so now.

Despite its somewhat vague moniker, the Internet of Things (IoT) is poised to become a major force in the tech industry. Some experts are already predicting that this year could be THE YEAR for wearables. Whether or not that proves to be the case, the rise of the Internet of Things cannot be denied. Although many people tend to associate wearables with this rising new sector, the Internet of Things is about far more than that. Despite the fact that Apple made big news when it finally released its smartwatch, Google ( GOOG) has continued to make progress in the field of the Internet of Things. In fact, last year alone, Google purchased almost three dozen companies.  (For related reading, see articles: The Internet Of Things In 2015 and Intel's Investing Heavily In The Internet Of Things.)

Among the most notable of those firms was Nest Labs, the home automation company. That acquisition alone led to significant discussions regarding whether Google could eventually dominate the home automation field. For its part, Google has certainly made no secret of the fact that it sees tremendous marketing potential in automated home devices by indicating to the SEC back in 2013 that it intends to place advertisements on refrigerators and thermostats.

Google has not stopped there, however. The tech giant has also scooped up a number of other companies engaged in fields ranging from music streaming to cloud computing to artificial intelligence. The massive share of the global search market that Google holds means they certainly have the connections to have their fingers in a lot of different pies, which could certainly prove to be beneficial when it comes to the Internet of Things. (See article: The Business Of Google.)

IBM (IBM) is also now putting a few eggs in the basket known as the Internet of Things, announcing its plans to invest as much as $3 billion over the next four years. That investment is being set aside specifically to build the company's IoT unit. Ultimately, the unit is planned to serve as an open platform that will allow manufacturers to design IoT-connected devices to improve decision-making processes. 

While the concept of cloud computing has been around for a while, it is still emerging at a rapid rate and is now one of the quickest growing areas of technology. Not that long ago, users had no choice but to store and access data on devices such as disks and even USB flash drives. Today, all of that has changed, as more and more data is now being sent into the cloud. The benefits of this technology, which affords users the ability to access cloud-stored data from any location, have allowed it to quickly create a hot market. No longer are users restricted to limited storage. With the ability to store data remotely, it has become possible for users to share data and collaborate in the use of data more than ever before. (For related reading, and an initial outlook on cloud computing just a few years ago, see article: Is Cloud Computing An Investable Trend?)

Moving data to storage in the cloud has also resulted in a number of other secondary benefits, including the ability to manufacture devices that are lighter, smaller, and increasingly more portable. Consequently, the cloud has become a significant element in the tech sector, and the market for services associated with the cloud is growing daily. According to TechTarget, adoption of cloud services is expected to continue growing. Much of that growth will be driven by increased stability, improved tools, and increasing confidence in the cloud itself.

Underscoring the rising trend of cloud computing is an announcement of a survey conducted by Oxford Economics, indicating that 69 percent of businesses participating in the survey expect to make heavy investments in the cloud over the next three years. Almost all of the 200 executives participating in the Oxford Economics survey reported that cloud computing is now part of their organizations' business strategy. The increased adoption of this technology has resulted in climbing revenues among cloud providers -- which is anticipated to reach approximately $200 billion over the course of the next five years, compared to approximately $60 billion one year ago.

FinancialForce is just one such company clearly moving ahead with the trend toward investing in the cloud. The cloud ERP provider recently announced raising $110 million in an effort to take advantage of the increased demand for cloud-based solutions. The company has stated its plans to use the funds acquired in its latest round of funding to boost product development, innovative technology, and sales. Leading that round of funding was Technology Crossover Ventures. 

Online security has always been an important concern.  In light of the rising number of security breaches experienced by companies such as Target, Home Depot, and JPMorgan Chase in the last few years, cyber security has become more important than ever. Among the biggest factors now driving the need for more advanced online security is the increase in data being stored in the cloud. While this might be a major new trend that offers significant benefits, there are also potential drawbacks, including the fact that data stored in the cloud has a tendency to be more vulnerable than data stored on external devices. In response, an increasing number of companies are now beefing up their security services, leading to more robust interest, and investment in the cyber security field. ABI, the cyber research institute, estimates that spending on infrastructure security will reach $22 billion by the year 2020. (For related reading, see article: Does Your Portfolio Need A Dose Of Cyber Security?)

The rising interest in cyber security is not limited to the United States. Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. recently announced its plans to purchase a 98 percent stake in Trustwave Holdings Inc. for a total price of $810 million. The move comes as the largest phone company in Southeast Asia works to expand its cyber security following a recent increase in cyber attacks. At the same time, shares for publicly traded cyber security companies have proven to outperform the market over the course of the last several months, solidifying the rising interest in protecting data from potential threats.

As technology continues to evolve, new trends also are emerging almost daily. Investors on the cutting edge of today's technology frontier will recognize the need to stay in the know regarding the latest trends in order to be prepared to make the most fully informed investing decisions.