Seventeenth International Conference on Technology, Knowledge, and Society

Abstract

Compared to previous global shocks, the pandemic hit at a time when the systems that we rely on to keep businesses, governments, and our society in motion are primarily digital and perilously interconnected. Today, business and government leaders need to consider what happens in the event of a large-scale disruption and, especially in such uncertain times, how they can build organisations that are digitally resilient. Digital resilience can be thought of as embodying the rapid convergence of: (i) cybersecurity and protection against threats to digital assets; (ii) business continuity planning – companies’ preparedness to maintain critical business functions in the event of a disruption; and (iii) digital governance, risk and compliance (GRC) – which enables public and private entities to keep digital machinery aligned with organisational objectives. Treating these areas as separate functions is no longer appropriate in 2021. The current environment demands an integrated approach. To thrive and survive, every organisation needs to recognise its reliance on digital infrastructure to ‘keep the lights on’ and work toward digital resilience at every level. Drawing on lessons from organisations across the public and private sectors, I outline seven practical steps to take on the digital resilience journey and explain how digital resilience acts as a firm foundation for digital innovation.