Operational resilience is the ability of an organization to adapt to disruptions while maintaining continuous business operations, safeguarding people and assets, and ensuring overall business continuity. 

In this article, we will explore the pivotal role of technology and outsourced IT services in achieving this level of resilience. These elements not only enhance efficiency and foster innovation but also equip businesses with the agility and robustness needed to thrive amidst challenges and uncertainties.

What is Operational Resilience?

Operational resilience, sometimes used synonymously for “business continuity,” is a vital attribute for organizations in today’s complex and rapidly changing business environment. It refers to an organization’s ability to continue delivering key operations in the face of internal or external disruptions. These could range from sudden technological outages to natural disasters, cyber-attacks, and global pandemics. 

The goal of operational resilience isn’t just survival. Instead, it’s protecting the interests of customers and the company’s integrity of the market while ensuring continuous business operations.

Attributes of Operational Resilience

A resilient business often displays the following attributes:

1. Adaptability: The ability to adapt quickly to new business environments and unexpected changes is crucial.
2. Robust IT Infrastructure: A resilient organization has a robust IT infrastructure that can withstand disruptions and continue to operate.
3. Effective Risk Management: This includes the ability to identify, assess, and manage potential threats to the organization.
4. Strong Leadership: Resilient businesses have leaders who can make crucial decisions under pressure and guide the organization during crises.
5. Continual Learning: Learning from past disruptions and adapting future strategies accordingly is a key attribute of a resilient company.
6. Proactive Planning: Resilient businesses don’t just react to crises but plan for them in advance with robust business continuity and disaster recovery plans.
7. Financial Stability: Financial health allows a business to invest in necessary resources and technologies to boost resilience.
8. Stakeholder Communication: Effective and timely communication with stakeholders during a crisis is a hallmark of a resilient business.
9. Supply Chain Resilience: The ability to ensure that critical suppliers can also withstand and recover from disruptions.

A Must for Companies of All Sizes

The pursuit of operational resilience is crucial for organizations of all sizes. 

For small and medium enterprises, achieving operational resilience can mean the difference between thriving and folding due to adversity in the marketplace and challenging competition from larger players. 

Larger organizations, on the other hand, face increased complexity due to their size and geographical dispersion. Consequently, their operational resilience strategies should have the capacity to mitigate a wide array of risks while ensuring constant delivery of their products or services.

Technologies for Achieving Operational Resilience

Technology and outsourced IT services play a significant role in achieving operational resilience. Technological solutions such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity tools can help organizations better anticipate, prevent, respond to, and recover from disruptions. 

According to McKinsey & Company, “Resilient technology is critical in maintaining uninterrupted services for customers and servicing them during peak times. This requires a resilient infrastructure with heightened visibility and transparency across the technology stack to keep an organization functioning in the event of a cyberattack, data corruption, catastrophic system failure, or other types of incidents.”

Some of the most critical technologies for achieving operational resilience include: 

• Cloud Computing: Cloud services offer scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness in managing IT infrastructure. They also allow organizations to have backup systems and data storage in remote locations, reducing the impact of disruptions.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI can help organizations identify potential risks and anticipate disruptions by analyzing vast amounts of data from various sources.
• Cybersecurity Tools: With cyber threats increasing in frequency and sophistication, having robust security tools and protocols is crucial for maintaining operational resilience.
• Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR) Solutions: These solutions ensure the availability of critical systems and data in the event of a disaster or disruption. They also aid in minimizing downtime and quickly getting back to business.

Technologies Work Together to Safeguard the Business

The interplay of the aforementioned technologies can create an ecosystem in which the strengths of each tool are magnified. 

For example, the cloud serves as the backbone of a company’s technological ecosystem. It offers the infrastructure that supports the other tools, providing vast storage capacities and computing power that can be dynamically scaled up or down based on demand. 

This flexibility enables organizations to respond to disruptions effectively, minimizing downtime and maintaining business continuity.

Meanwhile, AI acts as the predictive engine of the system. It utilizes the computing power of the cloud to analyze vast amounts of data from various sources. 

AI models can identify patterns and spot potential risks early enough to allow for proactive measures. This predictive capability helps organizations anticipate disruptions and prepare contingency plans, enhancing their operational resilience.

According to a study by Accenture, “Nearly three-fourths (73%) of companies are prioritizing AI over all other digital investments and with the immediate focus on improving operational resilience in an unprecedented environment.”

These and other technologies work in tandem to support an organization’s resilience strategy. Each plays a crucial role, and their combined capabilities contribute to a holistic approach to maintaining continuity and resilience in the face of potential disruptions.

IT Services for Achieving Operational Resilience

Outsourced IT services, on the other hand, provide access to expertise and resources that an organization may not have in-house. These services can monitor and respond to IT issues around the clock, ensuring that any disruptions are dealt with swiftly and effectively. 

Therefore, a strategic combination of technology adoption and leveraging outsourced IT services can significantly enhance an organization’s operational resilience.

Some of the most critical managed services for achieving operational resilience include:

• Managed Security Services: These services provide comprehensive cybersecurity solutions, including threat monitoring, intrusion detection, and incident response. This ensures that any potential cyber threats are dealt with promptly, reducing the likelihood of a damaging breach.
• Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS): As an essential part of business continuity, DRaaS provides the necessary tools and support to recover your data and IT infrastructure in the event of a disaster. This allows for a quick recovery and minimal downtime.
• Network Management Services: Operating and maintaining a network can be complex and time-consuming. With network management services, organizations can ensure the smooth operation of their network infrastructure, resulting in improved efficiency and operational resilience.
• Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM): By constantly monitoring the health and performance of IT assets, RMM services can detect issues early and rectify them before they escalate into significant problems.
• Cloud Managed Services: These services manage and optimize an organization’s cloud environment. This includes managing cloud security, performance, and costs, allowing businesses to reap the full benefits of cloud computing.
• IT Support Services: Providing quick and efficient resolution to IT issues, IT support services can significantly reduce downtime and prevent minor problems from escalating into major disruptions.
• Data Backup and Recovery Services: These services ensure that an organization’s important data is safely backed up and can be quickly recovered in the event of loss or corruption.

Each of these managed services plays a key role in maintaining operational resilience, providing valuable support in the face of potential disruptions. Employing a combination of these services is often the best strategy for enhancing the resilience of an organization’s operations.

Enhance Your Operational Resilience Strategy

In an ever-evolving digital landscape, maintaining operational resilience is not merely a best practice, it’s a necessity for survival. By leveraging a strategic mix of cutting-edge technologies and outsourced IT services, businesses can fortify their infrastructure, anticipate disruptions, and respond swiftly and effectively to maintain continuity.

Building resilience is an ongoing process. As threats multiply and technological possibilities expand, staying ahead requires an adaptable, multi-layered strategy that combines internal resources and external expertise. 

To learn more about how you can achieve resilience in your organization, contact us at Option One Technologies.