The Three Areas Your IT Leader Should be Focused on in 2018

The role of an enterprise’s IT leader is changing. With digital transformation expanding the scope of IT in the workplace, the IT leader requires a spot at the executive table, helping drive the customer experience and providing insight on technology decisions. Depending on their history with an enterprise, an IT leader can become an integral part of vision casting for a company.
When it comes to 2018, there are a few emerging trends that need to be addressed in forward-thinking digital transformation planning at any company:
Artificial intelligence: Artificial intelligence has been a topic of conversation for a long time, but the technology is just now becoming more widespread and usable in everyday business processes. While it’s easy to think of autonomous cars and other big jumps forward in computing, the artificial intelligence currently taking shape will create powerful changes in business. It will take shapeless quantities of data and order it into useful information that aids in quicker decision-making.
Blockchain: Companies wanting to remain a leader in technology adoption should focus on the implementation of blockchain, which answers two of the main concerns of current internet usage: control and duplication. With blockchain, it’s possible to store a large amount of data across a network of servers, in contrast to storing it on one local server. Each piece of data added to that database is irreversible and can’t be changed, leaving a complete record of activity with the data.
Security: The headlines about security breaches affecting some of the biggest corporations highlight the fact that there is no security that is absolutely breach-proof, nor is there a one-size-fits-all solution that will work for every enterprise. Expect that your IT leader will focus more on preventative measures, like implementing and testing a more robust security breach action plan. They may also explore investing in insurance against a security breach, which can limit damages to the enterprise. As the Internet of Things and the influx of remote workers influence the plane of security risk, employees should be required to complete cybersecurity training on a more frequent basis.
In determining security plans, the IT leader must first determine what they are protecting and whom they are protecting it from. Then they can develop a complete strategy that protects against phishing, domain infringement, and a host of other security issues.
At Clarksys, we help organizations that can’t afford to lose time and resources on ineffective technology, and those that elect to use technology to achieve a competitive advantage. Call us for an appointment to learn more.