In a recent discussion about the megatrends influencing the next iteration of our world, tech analyst Carmi Levy noted that “Technology always seems to leap ahead, leaving society to catch up.”
Over the past decade, businesses and consumers have seen technological advancements automate business tasks and make paces toward an accessible society. With such critical implications of tech’s role in our personal and working lives, though, we have seen the unfortunate results of leaving our now digitally-dependent businesses untended and unsecured.
In today’s connected world, human error can do just as much damage as a skilled hacker. Data has value, and cyber criminals know that.
If we are to anticipate how broad-based the next digital revolution will be, we should look to our increasingly connected working landscape—from our devices, to key functions in our businesses. what do you need for your business to be ready, and how can you get there?
Levy observes that the responsibility to manage this massive change is twofold, and it begins with the question, ‘What will this do to us?’
“It’s about asking ourselves how we might be exposing people around us to unnecessary risk and to be responsible upfront,” he explains. The new SWOT analysis for any business venture, he urges, should include the humanistic consequences of an innovation in action.
Security has become an undertaking for which we are all become responsible.
According to Levy, the solution to insecurity will be a change of culture, and it starts with the understanding that in order to build the robust and secure businesses urgently needed in tomorrow’s landscape, there’s an initial cost.
“Security shouldn’t be a luxury. Buy it upfront. Organizations need to start adopting an attitude of understanding—that ransomware preparedness, time spent on a disaster recovery plan, or dollars spent on cyberawareness for staff—is necessary to accommodate the changes in our cyber landscape.”
To sum it up, the idea that the proactive protection of your organization’s assets is an “extra cost”, won’t allow for the “security-first culture” that we need to adopt, promote and innovate around to foster a truly prosperous economy.
Levy insists that these are conversations that we have to have with our own stakeholders and communities as well. Widespread education makes for a safer society, without hindering the way we embrace innovation. “We need to incorporate that into our storytelling. They’re looking to us in our myriad of business abilities for that understanding.”