CIO meeting

3 Most Common Challenges that CIOs Face

Since the pandemic stroke the world back in 2019, all of us were heavily affected by the new changes it has brought about. However, with the advent of technology, we are already adapting to a more digital ready future where people are working from home and vast amount of classified data being shifted around remotely. During this time of change, CIOs play a pivotal role in ensuring their company data is safe and secure. Let’s explore 3 common problems that IT leaders face, their consequences and what the next steps could be for the CIOs.  

Incompatible Systems

When it comes to storing data, some companies may have the habit of storing their data across multiple platforms, this leads to CIOs having to conduct security check across different platforms. These systems would result in data being left all over place. Inconsistent security checks would also affect the systems’ compatibility. 

When unresolved, the IT team will find themselves spending more time cleaning up the data, maintaining the systems and trying to gain control of their software rather than innovating new ways for data transformation. This slows down performance agility and decreases productivity in the team. 

Concern For Change

Innovation is the key in advancing a business to the next level. However, as mentioned earlier, new systems may lead to more incompatibility or messy and soiled data. With an introduction of a new software, CIOs need to concern themselves with product usability, partner credibility, budgeting and revaluate their business priorities to ensure that their pricey investment would not go down the drain. Often when purchasing a new software or making use of a partner product, they find themselves needing to evaluate whether employees will be able to use it, how reliable or suitable is the new product or is it a spending that will optimise their business?

IT leadership is more important now than ever and CIOs are imperative for designing and digitalizing new initiatives, managing work across different teams and sparking innovation. They have to be as strategic as they are operational. Foresight, leadership and the business acumen are valuable qualities to help the IT team continue to flourish. Hence, with many factors at stake, all decisions have to be carefully made with the risks and concerns in thorough consideration.

Adapting to the New World

The pandemic has increased cyber-security threats for employers and employees alike globally. A research report done by Deep Insights discovered that in 2020 malware reports increased by 358% while ransomware reports increased by 435%. This does not bode well for business owners as more of their data shifts online. Fortunately, the Governments have implemented new privacy protection rules to ensure all businesses practice strict processes to safeguard consumer data. 

This, however, will bring an onslaught of issues for the CIOs as they need to implement new privacy protection processes into their IT systems. This would mean more costs and implementation of new processes which would disrupt the daily workflow and affect the business’ performance and work agility as well.

CIOs today need to always be on the ball to meet protection data regulations, innovate and manage the business’ digital initiatives while keeping it below a certain cost and hopefully producing a competitive edge, which understandably brings about many challenges.

The Next Step

As technology continues to advance at a breakneck pace, more challenges are bound to appear and CIOs need to be wary of them. To stay above the emerging changes and keep their competitive advantage, CIOs need to seize the opportunity to transform their digital workplace to smoothen workflow and enhance their agility. To achieve sustainable IT development, it is important that they stay on top of the updates in the IT landscape, are able to address the challenges that they face and that they innovate their work processes while keeping their data securely kept and protected.