Intelligent CIO Middle East Issue 97 | Page 33

EDITOR ’ S QUESTION
SUJOY BANERJEE , ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR , MANAGEENGINE

Cloud adoption is a fundamental shift in IT , so understanding various cloud platforms is crucial . As cyberthreats evolve , strong cybersecurity measures and knowledge about the various security technologies are essential to protect organisational data .

Familiarity with AI and ML technologies can drive innovation in data analysis , automation , and decision-making . Technologies like Hadoop and Spark are important for data analytics and big data . presence , understanding digital marketing , including Google Ads , social media ads , and e-commerce is essential .
The constant and evolving threat of cyberattacks , including ransomware and data breaches , requires robust security measures and constant vigilance . Stricter data privacy regulations and compliance requirements necessitate careful management of data and its protection .
Zoho Analytics and Tableau platforms enable data analysis , visualisation , and reporting to facilitate data-driven decision-making .
Knowledge about containerisation and orchestration technologies like Docker and Kubernetes , serverless computing , and API management is also essential . It is important to understand and comply with regulations like the GDPR , HIPAA , and the CCPA . For an online
The need to accelerate digital transformation initiatives to remain competitive and meet customer expectations is a significant challenge . Overcoming resistance to change within the organisation when introducing new technologies or processes is another common challenge . Finding and retaining skilled IT professionals is also an ongoing challenge . Balancing resource allocation , including budgets , skilled talent , and time , amongst various IT initiatives can be demanding .

The IT landscape presents ever evolving challenges and opportunities , but cybersecurity and artificial intelligence will have long shelf lives . As long as cybercrime continues to have an incredibly attractive ROI , cybercriminals will continue innovating and attacking , forcing CIOs to constantly stay abreast of the threat and work to defend their organisations .

And even in its infancy , AI appears to be a transformational technology , one that can be utilised for enormous good as well as ill .
Even in its infancy , AI appears to be a transformational technology , one that can be utilised for enormous good as well as ill .
It will be very interesting to watch it continue to rapidly evolve , and it will require CIOs and their teams to develop new skills to take advantage of its tremendous potential .
CIOs must demonstrate a keen understanding of how their business counterparts ’ functions work , and have the ability to source and implement technology solutions that help their colleagues solve problems . Per the best practice above , the skills required to do this are as much people-related as they are technical .
RICH MURR , CIO EPICOR
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