The fact that many European organizations and public institutions are deeply dependent on a small handful of tech companies is clear to most. But what does that actually mean for your organization? Get three steps to help you gain an overview of challenges and opportunities here.
By Nicholas Karlsen, Director of Cyber Security & Compliance, NNIT
What if …?
The question keeps recurring in the media, at conferences, and in boardrooms — driven by today’s geopolitical turmoil.
What if the costs of our digital solutions skyrocket? What if data security fails, or we suddenly can’t access our data?
These uncertainties are often discussed at a high political or strategic level, but far less often at a tangible, operational level. As a result, few organizations have a clear understanding of what worst-case scenarios would actually mean for their ability to deliver. Fewer still have a plan B in place.
Yet, having a good overview is clearly an advantage, not just because it’s smart to be prepared for the worst case scenario.
A better overview of your dependencies, risks, and alternative options gives you a much stronger position to diversify your vendor portfolio. At the same time, it gives you a better starting point when systems need to be modernized and contracts (re)negotiated.
At NNIT, we do not take a position on whether or not you should switch vendors. But as an independent consulting firm, we can provide a real overview of your risks and opportunities, giving you a stronger foundation for making decisions.
Depending on your situation, we recommend starting with one of three key questions…
1. What is our Business Continuity plan?
If you don’t know exactly what to do in a crisis, it makes sense to start with a Business Continuity Mapping.
This exercise helps you address major uncertainties and map out potential business risks. Using a Minimum Viable Company approach, we identify which systems and processes are essential to keeping your core functions running.
The result is a prioritized overview of business processes and systems. Not only does this give you a clear plan to activate in an emergency, it also lays the foundation for a potential exit plan from your current tech vendors.
2. What are our alternatives?
The natural next question is what viable alternatives to your current solutions exist in the market.
With an Options Assessment, you get an evaluation of alternative IT vendors. Based on a mapping of your organization’s needs, we define selection criteria and screen potential vendors.
You receive a prioritized list of available alternatives, including an overview of the opportunities and challenges associated with switching to each one.
3. How do we transition our tech?
The third and final solution is for those who are ready to switch to open-source or other alternative technologies. With Transition Services, we help design and implement a new setup using solutions from alternative providers.
The solution includes mapping of current and future infrastructure, development of options and recommendations, and implementation and testing.
Start with the overview
Creating a better overview of your organization's digital dependencies doesn’t need to be a massive undertaking. Of course, actually replacing your tech vendors is another matter entirely.
The obvious question is whether it’s even feasible. When workflows and processes have, year after year, become increasingly interwoven with specific systems and services - is it possible to replace them without going beyond the bounds of what’s reasonable?
There aren’t many business cases in Europe yet, but in some regions real progress is being made. Public authorities in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein are well on their way to switching to a fully open-source setup.
The alternative solutions do exist. But what’s right for your specific organization isn’t something that can be answered with a one-size-fits-all approach.
Still, it always makes sense to start by getting an overview.
