‘Tis the season . . . for annual business planning – SWOT analyses, revisiting core value statements, setting goals for the coming year, etc. As you think through your goals for 2020 and beyond, don’t forget the impact that technology may have on your success – for better or for worse.

It can be easy to take technology for granted as a necessary component of your business that requires maintenance and support from time to time, but not something worth thinking about in strategic planning. But failing to consider technology’s role in your success can lead to serious issues – from cyber attacks to disruption from tech-focused competitors. 

Now is the time to think strategically about your technology. What risks might rise out of aging infrastructure, misaligned software, or new cyber threats? What opportunities might exist for you to increase efficiency and profitability by employing new technology or optimizing what exists? And how might the right approach to technology strategy help you achieve your annual goals, your three-year targets, and your ten-year vision?

To help you think through answering these questions for your business, we’ve curated the below list of links to thought leadership pieces from Affinity’s blog to guide your leadership team through thinking strategically about technology for 2020 and beyond.

Is Your Business At Risk for Disruption?

The phenomenon of disruption—where startups use technology to completely change a traditional market (think Uber and AirBNB)—has been and will continue to be an issue for businesses in the 21st century. This posts helps you consider whether your business might be at risk for disruption—and points you toward how you can turn the tables on the disruptors.

 How to Make Cyber Security Decisions for your Business

This post is a great starting place if you’re overwhelmed by the numerous options you have for protecting your company’s data. It draws parallels between cyber security and home security to give you a relatable framework for thinking strategically about your company’s security.

Is Your Industry-Specific Software Helping—Or Hurting—Your Business?

Annual planning is a good time to take stock of the assets that power your business, and to determine if changes need to be made. Odds are, your business relies heavily on one or more software application. And if it’s not meeting your needs, or if it’s not integrated with the rest of your systems properly, it could be a big liability. Take this opportunity to ask some important questions, which we outline in this post, about your key software.

How Much Time—And Revenue—Are You Losing to Technology Issues?

The average employee loses about two weeks of time per year to dealing with technology issues—from major outages to minor, nagging issues. That’s why underperforming technology can be one of the biggest hidden costs related to IT that businesses face. This post walks you through the math of how technology issues can affect your bottom line—and why choosing the right managed service provider can actually help improve efficiency and profitability.

Lessons from the Nashville Flood: How to Prepare Your Business IT for Natural Disasters

Somewhere between 300 and 400 of the Nashville businesses affected by the Nashville flood of 2010 never reopened. With everything else going on in your business, it’s easy to ignore the very real risk of a natural disaster. But it’s important at times like these to think through how your assets—including your IT infrastructure—would be protected during a disaster.

Recent Studies Show Small Businesses are Big Targets for Cyberattacks and Have the Most to Lose.

Many leaders in small and mid-sized businesses mistakenly assume that they fly under the radar of cyber criminals. Unfortunately, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. If there’s a doubt in your mind about the importance of cyber security to your business’s continued operation or success, this post has some sobering statistics for you to consider.

Support for Windows 7 Ends on 1/14/2020. Here’s How to Prepare.

If you still have Windows 7 machines in your company, this is an urgent matter to consider, with support for the operating system ending in January. Check out our blog post from earlier this year on the details around what “end of support” means and the risks you could be facing by ignoring it.

91% of Cyber Attacks Begin with Phishing: Train Your Employees with These Tools

Is tightening up cyber security a goal for your company in the new year? A multitude of cyber attacks can be prevented by awareness among your employees—especially around phishing tactics. This might be a good time to consider implementing tools to help you train your team, which this post outlines.