IT imperatives for executive leaders looking ahead at 2025
A generation ago, executive leaders rarely had to think about technology. Despite being in transition from an analog to a digital world, IT was for others to worry about – while they focused on the business, writes Tim Walker, Managing Director, Aura Technology.
Today, it looks very different. When you contemplate the new year, technology should be firmly on your mind. IT has a direct bearing on your ability to compete, economics of every operation, workflows up and down the supply chain, staff productivity, and your customers’ expectations.
Your IT team and MSP partners are deeply involved in the technical detail – but it’s ultimately about business. It’s important for leaders to understand the key imperatives for 2025.
Inexorable increase in cyber risk
The Government’s 2024 Cyber Breaches figures starkly demonstrated rising risks, as 50% of businesses reported a cyber incident in the previous 12 months. In 2025, leaders must seriously consider the implications. Not just by bringing in experts to penetration-test and implement defences for systems and email inboxes; but also by building more cyber-aware, cyber-ready cultures, and being ready for anything with a strong business continuity plan.
Those without expert support should replace DIY defences – and every organisation must keep cyber security bang up to date.
Adopting AI is non-negotiable
When ChatGPT launched generative AI into our consciousness in 2022, it started a chain realisation that AI could change… everything. Now, organisations that have been hanging back to see what happens may start to see themselves more and more disadvantaged as competitors adopt constantly advancing AI decision-making and analytics, intelligent workflows, customer experience management and new service innovations.
Your business and IT minds and advisers must come together to work out how AI will fold into the IT strategic roadmap – or develop one, if it’s missing.
Continuous change in shape of work
The fight to return employees to offices is underway. 28% of UK working age adults work remotely, say ONS statistics, but the global trend is reversing. It presents new challenges. Most organisations used IT to implement remote working – yet many have security vulnerabilities from rushed implementations. With a return of staff will come all your employees’ latest personal devices, too; in a hot cyber-security environment, implementing zero-trust technologies is becoming an essential.
In 2025, the emphasis must be as much on security as on flexibility as you reshape your model.
These three factors are, inevitably, only part of the story. IT and business are inextricably, irrevocably linked and an agile and future-proof IT strategy will impact how you can grow, innovate, stay ahead of competitors and meet your sustainability aims. Having the right expert advice in your corner ensures that you can navigate these IT imperatives with confidence.
Contact Aura Technology
auratechnology.com – 03333 208 601 – [email protected]
