The IT industry has experienced tremendous growth in recent years, but with that growth comes a host of challenges, not the least of which is the risk of outgrowing the security and infrastructure you have in place and preventing complacency.
Here are a few factors to keep in mind.
Security
For every supposedly hack-proof solution you develop, a thousand hackers stand ready to bust it open. It’s critical to remain a few steps ahead of those whose only mission in life is to find and capitalize on any gap you may have left behind. At risk, in particular, is personal data. Consumer data is the lifeblood of marketing in an economy such as ours. Today’s consumers are losing patience with the seemingly daily reports of data breaches. They look to businesses to better protect their information. In absence of that protection are increasingly opting out by holding their information closer to the vest.
This is good for no one because targeted marketing enables businesses to develop products and services that are truly beneficial and of interest to consumers. This gives consumers products that enhance their lifestyles while preventing companies from “chasing the wrong rabbit” by producing things that are of no interest to those who they would sell to.
Data breaches can cause damage to your reputation that can take you years to bounce back from – if you ever manage to bounce back at all. In most industries, margins are simply too slim to weather this kind of a risk.
Infrastructure
When an organization is stretched to the max because of demands on its resources, the last thing on your mind may be updating your infrastructure. Who has the manpower to spare to perform the updates, not to mention the time to take the system down while you install software and hardware upgrades, no matter how desperately they are needed?
But failing to update your infrastructure regularly carries plenty of its own risks including overtaxed systems that can crash or vulnerabilities that can be exposed if you miss a software patch or two.
In the IT industry, where you are in a position of trust, you can’t afford to allow your infrastructure to fall behind, because your competitors surely won’t.
Outmoded methodologies
One mistake many US companies are making is developing programs that are application specific, rather than built on independent architecture. This can allow competitors to get to market faster, establishing benchmarks for you to adopt rather than coming to market on your own terms. Japan, in particular, excels in this practice.
Even the smartest, most innovative techs can fall prey to repeating what has always worked rather than seeking innovations that may perform better in the long-run, but require a considerable time investment to adopt. When you’re on deadline, no one wants to take a step back to learn something new. But that’s short-sighted.
What’s the solution?
It’s simple. People. Pull in some new hires who bring a new set of eyes to existing or developing issues. Conversely, contract recent retirees who have seen it all and know how to get to the bottom of a problem fast. A diverse team is your best protection against stagnation and risk. Whether it’s a team of developers and analysts ready to put in all the time it takes to stay ahead of hackers or an enterprise architect who can implement upgrades while your team stays focused on your core projects, the right people can mean the difference between success and failure of your business.
Where can you find the best IT talent?
Work with a specialized recruiter. A recruiter who is laser focused on the IT sector can identify unique skill sets and attract cream-of-the-crop talent no matter where they are. At Software Management Consultants, we have years of experience connecting tech companies with the best in IT talent. If your organization is currently looking for a custom talent acquisition solution, please contact us today.
