Business strategy in the digital age. Digital transformation, disruption and cybersecurity

Abstract

We are at the beginning of a new industrial revolution, the fourth industrial revolution, which means the total connectivity with support of mobility and a revolution in resources. This allows real-time decision making, in the lines where the action is performed, to gain efficiency, speed and adjustment to local conditions and a centralized control with structures in which the power of approximation is centralized, forming ecosystems with a dynamic orientated to project actions in real time with a shared and accepted criteria. The new IT and telecommunication technologies have made possible the MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM in REAL TIME, supporting the network of connections that identifies who are the participants and they do, decide and access the information only in an authorized manner thanks to Cybersecurity models. This concept has more obstacles than technological ones; those are the mindset of the participants and especially deciders, due to their lack of knowledge or experience to understand an interconnected globally with disruption. The speed will change the nature of the business when the velocity of change be enough, the nature of the business will be completely changed. These changes will happen due to a single factor: The digital information flow and its availability in real time. Digital transformation means disruption, not only to optimize process, but also to focus on new solutions, products and resources, giving a globally net with worldwide connectivity. But not all are good news, the digital transformation also means risks and dangers, (remembering Escila and Caribdis, being between two dangers, avoiding one could be in the grasp of the other). One wrong vision could change strengths into weaknesses and in our connected era the reversion works with such devastating velocity that a Company could be led from a quiet equilibrium to the chaos instantly. The attractive idea than connection means liberation is not only a mistake because it could mean also get trapped to a strong dynamic net with many difficulties to get liberated from. At the same time who is not connected has not value at all. In order to avoid digital risks it is necessary to take very complex measures due to the complexity of the systems, such as: Designing a Strategic Information System with control and firewalls under responsibility of a Chief Technical Officer (CTO), protecting Data Bases, blocking data security encrypted, fragmentation and other mechanisms to assure impossible to be robbed or manipulated, with “Web Doorkeepers” watching the net and the interconnectivity of all the ecosystems where the Company is and to implant Internet of Things (IoT) avoiding security leaks, with controls in process, input and output to avoid manipulations with the trust of all the people involved. But trust is what every company needs to be in a competitive environment, knowing that nobody can reject progress. Developing one trustworthy environment inside and outside the Company giving confidence to owners, employees, customers, suppliers, and financial and official institutions. At the same time act firmly (dare to know) and never interrupt the progress.