CIOs have to produce best results out of best cost

By looking at technology as the solution, and not a problem, CIOs can handle business demands in a way that creates a great user experience in a manageable, secure and cost-effective manner. CIOs must articulate the current business challenges; understand the company, its competition and the industry.

In wake of today's tough economic conditions and constantly fluctuating revenues, Indian CIOs across industries are bracing up with novel challenges. On one side, digitization and globalization are making the technology more critical than ever, on the other side, intervention of disruptive technologies including Mobility, BYOD and Big Data etc. are making businesses complex. This puts CIOs in a situation where sufficient results have to be delivered while maintaining a tight IT budget.

Mukesh Kumar, CIO, TPG Wholesale Pvt. Ltd. says, "Despite the fact that there has been economic recession and the company being under pressure, he has never seen decrease in budget. While there could be a situation if there is recession that your affordability or the money you want to spend on IT would not increase as much as you expected. Any cost cutting that people talk about in IT is CIOs regular job. CIOs actually have to produce the best results out of best cost."

With the emergence numerous innovative various devices, services and the ways of consumerization of IT, Data Security has become even more vital. Usage of portable devices including storage devices, thumb drives, tablets, smartphones and social media create lots of openings for information leaks. Database security requires multiple layers of defence that include a combination of preventive, detective, and administrative data security controls. So, proper modus operandi and algorithm for checking the information security are must. Them before quality testing, security check from our team of ethical hackers works to find the extra loop holes. A single loop hole in Data Security can devastate everything.   

So, it is mandatory for organizations to comply with guidelines laid down by the industry regulator as well as the laws of the land where they are doing business. To ensure the security of data, there are some general ISO standards (like ISO 27001 and ISO 27002) or standard of good practice (by ISF) that should be considered by every IT. At Honda Motorcycle and Scooter Pvt. Ltd, We are governed by IT Act 2000 and amendment 2008 as an intermediary. They have obtained certification on ISO 27001 in 2010 to ensure better governance and security internally. Also, they are governed by US Laws as a SOX compliant company.

Finally, it is absolutely true to say that CIO is the true integrator between the Business and Technology; so, CIOs must continue to innovate to bring in flexibility and scalability into the systems so that adaptability to changing business process can be taken care of. Also, CIOs have to align their IT goals with the business goals of a CEO, CMO and a CFO to ensure the growth of the business though the use of secured and latest Information Technology.