Risk Reduction with Technology: the Verdict Is in

By the DynaSis Team

In his recent article, DynaSis President and Founder Dave Moorman detailed how modern, up-to-date technology minimizes risk. This was a “broad strokes” piece, so he focused on big picture items, such as how high availability reduces the risk of business loss from outages, and how robust security mitigates the risk of—and damage from—cyberattacks. The article, “Technology Outcomes Every C-Level Executive Should Expect,” is a great, quick read if you haven’t downloaded it yet.

To compliment Dave’s efforts, we wanted to drill a bit further into this issue. When you really examine how businesses operate today, it is amazing how much modern technology is minimizing risk. Consider, for example, a company whose operation is reliant on a functional, predictable supply chain.

A recent survey found that mitigating risk is the single biggest challenge—and one of the highest priorities for—supply chain executives. When a company relies on trading partners that may be located around the world, technology can play a crucial role in fostering better collaboration and information exchange to keep executives abreast of supply chain efficiency. Automation technologies, including not only manufacturing, packaging and handling automation, but also information automation, such as shipping delay notifications, are further improving the efficiency and visibility of the supply chain. None of these advantages were available a few decades ago.

Of course, not every company lives or dies by its supply chain (even though most require supply chain reliability at some level). For all firms, there are other specific examples of how modern technology helps to minimize risk. Following are some of our top picks:

• Number One is now the collective ecosystem of network and infrastructure security (including network hardware and device monitoring/management, virus blocking, spam filtering, intrusion detection, firewall monitoring and management, and remote access management). Through these modern systems, firms mitigate the risk from external threats.
• Number Two is systems optimization—keeping hardware and software updated, including monitoring/applying necessary system changes, modifications and upgrades. These processes reduce the downtime that destroys productivity and impacts sales, which are two of the greatest risks to company performance.
• Number Three is backup and recovery technology, which ensures a firm replicates its digital assets on a timetable that suits the company’s risk and then can access those assets readily in the event of a major outage. This technology is crucial to business continuity.
• Number Four is desktop and device optimization, which goes beyond securing and managing access (included in Number One) to ensuring workers have the tools to be productive and satisfied. Risk comes in a variety of forms, and the risk of losing star employees due to technological inadequacy is very real now with the younger, tech-centric generation who are taking the helm.

Technology also reduces risk in a million others ways, from ensuring employees and executives receive urgent messages (mobile messaging) to helping organizations hire more safely (Internet, social and news media searches). The list goes on and on.

When you think about it, there are very few aspects of today’s corporate environment that are not improved by, and even dependent upon, technology. The question then becomes, how effectively is your firm leveraging this gift? No matter where your firm stands, in terms of technology adoption, we promise there are more improvements awaiting you.

About DynaSis

DynaSis is an Atlanta IT services and cloud computing provider for small and midsized businesses. All of our solutions focus on helping companies achieve the three fundamental IT necessities of the modern business—availability, security and mobility. We specialize in on-demand and on-premise managed IT services, managed cloud infrastructure, desktops and backups, and professional hardware and equipment installation. For more information about DynaSis’ IT support and services, visit www.dynasis.com.