"We're too small to be a target."
"If it's not broken, don't fix it."
"We'll deal with it when someone complains."
The largest security incidents often start with a small issue, left unresolved.
Technology is the backbone of how every business runs today. It’s key to how products get made and services get delivered. Everything’s working great? We know how easy it is to focus on the work and not the systems making the work possible. Something breaks? Fix it and get back to the work.
That’s how technology often gets treated when IT is run by a team member who’s not an IT professional. The operations manager on the shop floor, the CFO keeping tabs on the back-office functions supporting the core work of the business. Running technology as a function of your business works like this — to a certain point.
"We're too small to be a target" is a line of reasoning that doesn’t hold up today. AI allows hackers to target more businesses in less time, and the interconnected nature of work today means small businesses are connected to larger ones that are also of interest.
"If it's not broken, don't fix it" is the absence of a proactive mindset where businesses miss out on opportunities for innovation that can drive their business forward.
"We'll deal with it when someone complains" is similar to the break/fix approach. Employees who are focused on doing great work are capable of patching together solutions that work for them, but won’t work for the business long-term when that institutional knowledge stays with one person.
This isn’t an issue of ignoring issues that a business needs to address.
It’s the gap between managing a business and managing servers.
Which is a pithy way of saying: those who build their knowledge of IT, of the technology that powers their business, will be better prepared to embrace the opportunities the future brings. And there’s no better time than the last months of the year, and annual planning for the year ahead, to think about what could be done differently.
The businesses getting the most out of their technology are the ones who ask the best questions. Whether they are curious about risk, or investment, or optimization, there’s a mindset of continuous improvement and building capacity within the business.
That shift — from reacting to planning — is what separates a business that deals with its technology from one that's powered by technology.
Come Learn Something New Today
Want to get a little more proactive about learning IT? We built something to help with that.
Technology plays an impactful role in how your business operates. Understanding IT concepts and engaging in deeper conversations will help you tap into technology as a strategic driver of business growth.
Go check out our new IT dictionary—and say hi to the wizard while you’re there.
What We’re Hiring For This Week
Our Technology Talent Managers are always tuned in to the market, creating opportunities for technology professionals and innovative businesses to connect!
Here’s a few roles we’re recruiting for this week:
Java React Developer (Azure): Lead development on a suite of consumer banking applications making the leap from .NET/Angular to React/Java. You'll build Java microservices in Spring Boot, architect in Azure, and mentor developers along the way. Hybrid role with four days onsite in Buffalo, $70-74/hr.
Senior Firewall Engineer: Design and manage Checkpoint and Palo Alto firewall infrastructure across an enterprise environment, with Azure networking and Aviatrix in the mix too. A great fit for someone who's spent time in a highly-regulated industry like banking or healthcare. 12+ month remote contract role, $80-88/hr.
ServiceNow Developer (Catalog & Flow Designer): Build advanced Flow Designer workflows and catalog items that streamline infrastructure teams' day-to-day, plus work alongside the cyber security team on SecOps modules like SIR and Vulnerability Response. 12-month remote contract with potential to extend or convert, $60-70/hr.