As residents in the Ottawa Valley woke up to a weird/surreal orange and smoky sky this morning, I couldn’t help but think about consequences. Right now in Canada, there are 413 active wildfires, including 249 that are deemed to be out of control (and approx. 26,000 people under evacuation order across the country). The impact on wildlife, nature, and people in general is substantial, with a current burn rates 13 times higher than the 10 year average.
So why is this former sports business guy and now IT Consulting guy talking about forest fires? Back to consequences. Human error is the leading cause of both forest fires (estimated to be nearly 85%) and data breaches. Without the proper knowledge or experience, it is easy for a human to assume they’ve extinguished the fire (when the coals are still burning hot below the surface) or to inadvertently get tricked into revealing their login and password and allowing access to sensitive data and intellectual property. For some, the impact is relatively minor, like dealing with reduced air quality as we are seeing right now in many areas of Ontario and Quebec. For others, like those facing property damage and/or loss, it is devastating.
A lack of education/awareness and/or neglect leads to potential disaster in both cases. Regardless of whether you find yourself camping in the forest or leading a business, it is your responsibility to hold yourself accountable and take every necessary step to care for our environment or safeguard your organization’s interests.
Over the past few months, we’ve (i4C Consulting) talked a lot about the need for companies to prioritize and audit their technology stack to ensure that they are both proactively preventing a disaster AND seizing the opportunity to leverage the amazing tools at our disposal today to grow their business. Our process begins with a deep dive to help you identify where the red flags are along with a roadmap to help you see the future opportunities. This allows you to take sequential steps to then improve and grow.
So, let’s embrace the challenge and dive into the potential threats and opportunities together. Even in the worst-case scenario, you’ll walk away with valuable insights that will enhance your awareness and preparedness, benefiting you and your business going forward.