Lee Wade, Exponential-e’s CEO, reflects on the IT, connectivity, and security challenges ahead of us in the second quarter of 2021, and why there is actually much to look forward to
As we enter the second quarter of 2021, we are collectively forced to consider challenges both old and new, as well as the hidden opportunities these may well offer.
In spite of the latest lockdown, organisations large and small are still considering the nascent post-COVID world, and what it will mean for how we connect and collaborate. At Exponential-e, we are engaged in ongoing discussions with multiple organisations about the acceleration of their Cloud strategies in order to ensure they will be sufficiently agile to adapt to whatever is to come.
At the same time, the cyber security landscape continues to reshape itself, with criminals finding ever more inventive ways to take advantage of the uncertainty created by the pandemic. The unprecedented security challenges faced by the education sector are a perfect example of this, with the recent shifts between remote and classroom-based learning forcing educators to consider their students’ cyber-safety in ways that would have been difficult to imagine just over a year ago.
While it may seem like I’m painting a bleak picture here, that’s far from the case.
The role of technology in a range of sectors has fundamentally changed – initially as a way of maintaining business continuity throughout the uncertainty of 2020. But thanks to the human race’s tenacity and inventiveness in the face of adversity, the challenges forced upon us have inspired a rising tide of innovation across numerous sectors, not just in terms of the way technology is utilised, but the way we engage with our colleagues and customers, regardless of whether we’re back in the office or working remotely.
For example – as you’ll discover later in this quarter’s newsletter – the hospitality & leisure sector has utilised a range of innovations to not only survive, but thrive throughout lockdown, engaging with their customers through a range of channels, maintaining that all-important human touch, even as face-to-face contact remains a fond memory for many of us.
I’m optimistic that these challenges – while considerable – will leave us stronger and better connected when we emerge at the other end, in both our professional and personal lives. In the meantime, enjoy the latest edition of Envision!
