The Best Reads of 2024: On Balancing Innovation and Security for Effective AI Adoption
As we navigated 2024, the landscape of AI implementation and data management continued to evolve, presenting both challenges and opportunities for organizations worldwide.
This year, executive management, IT teams, and digital transformation leaders faced the task of addressing the critical aspects of data security, governance, and the strategic deployment of AI tools to maximize organizational value. From enhancing security frameworks to optimizing data management practices, our curated best reads help organizations stay ahead in today’s AI-powered workplaces.
Join us as we look back at the past year and gain insights for success in today’s fast-paced digital landscape. Here are our best reads of 2024.
Data Security
Deploying Microsoft 365 Copilot with Confidence: Overcoming Data Security and Governance Challenges
As everyone digests all the news that came out of Microsoft Ignite 2024, one thing is clear: the excitement around the continued evolution of Microsoft 365 Copilot is palpable. From new AI agents to transform business processes to upgrades in how Microsoft 365 Copilot can make teamwork even easier, the future for this technology is bright.
Navigating Data Security Concerns in AI Implementation: Risks and Solutions
In navigating the landscape of AI-driven tools, organizations must strike a delicate balance between harnessing the power of AI for innovation and ensuring robust data security measures are in place. Failure to address these risks could have far-reaching consequences, from compliance breaches to reputational damage.
Getting the Most Out of Your Microsoft 365 Investment
While many companies today want to leverage AI, careful assessment and preparation are necessary to ensure that the enterprise data, infrastructure, and employees are in the best position to welcome this new technology. Without backstepping and ensuring all aspects of the infrastructure are properly set up, companies may miss achieving AI’s potential to drive positive business results.
Enjoy these great reads on data governance:
- Maximizing Your Copilot ROI: A 3-Step Guide to Sustainable Microsoft 365 Copilot Implementation
- AvePoint’s Guide to Effective Implementation of the NIST AI Risk Management Framework
- How to Expand Your Data Governance Strategy to Power Platform
- Advancing Your Microsoft 365 Data Access Governance Strategy
Information Management
Unlocking AI Success: Insights from the AI and Information Management Report
Based on insights from over 750 business leaders across 16 countries and 10 industries, the AI and Information Management Report, with research conducted by Qualtrics and analyzed and published by AvePoint, evaluates the measures organizations are taking to manage their data in the context of AI implementation, explores the impact of information management strategies on AI success, and offers strategies to overcome common obstacles.
Overcoming the Data Readiness Gap for Successful AI Implementation
Data is a critical aspect of an organization’s digital transformation journey, in particular AI. Much like a car cannot run without fuel, AI applications require continuous data input to become and stay functional. As volumes of data created, captured, and replicated keep growing fast, it has become mission-critical for organizations to get an accurate handle on their information management strategies for a successful AI implementation.
What’s an Effective Information Strategy and How Do You Build One?
As the digital landscape evolves and data complexity intensifies, automated data classification will become indispensable to robust information governance strategies. By automating the classification process, organizations can ensure consistency, reduce the risk of human error, and gain valuable insights into their data assets, enabling them to make informed decisions and maintain a competitive edge in an increasingly data-driven business environment.
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Enjoy these great reads on information strategy:
- How to Unlock Cost Savings with Smart Information Lifecycle Management
- The Environmental and Climate Impacts of Storing Too Much Data
- Unlocking Business Potential: The Role of the Chief Data Officer in Maximizing the Value of Data
- Artificial Intelligence is No Longer ‘The Future’ – Preparing Information Managers for AI Success
Backup and Recovery
When Outages Strike: How to Build Your Disaster Recovery Plan
While disaster recovery planning is an investment, the cost of not investing is much higher. This is particularly true when you note that there are some costs that can’t be calculated, such as damaged reputation or lost customers. Your investment in disaster recovery will pay back dividends in uptime when you are protected from business disruptions.
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5 Lessons from the NHS Cyber Siege to Combat Ransomware Threats
By implementing a robust backup strategy, you safeguard your organization’s operational continuity. The goal is to minimize downtime to the barest minimum, so you can swiftly and efficiently resume business activities. This proactive approach not only protects your valuable data but also reinforces your organization’s ability to withstand and quickly recover from a ransomware attack.
Beyond Traditional BCDR: Embracing Smart Data Recovery for Enhanced Cyber Resilience
Ensuring cyber resilience requires a balanced, comprehensive approach that addresses both rare, large-scale incidents and the more common, smaller disruptions to mitigate risks across a wide range of threats.
Enjoy these great reads on backup and recovery:
- Prepare, Stay Cool, and Recover: Enhancing Your Anti-Ransomware Game Plan
- AI-Enhanced Cyberattacks: Understanding and Combating Evolving Threats
Digital Transformation
The Critical Link: The Role of Data Governance in Digital Maturity
Before organizations can achieve digital workplace maturity, they must first ensure their workforce is properly trained and ready to take on AI. People-focused enablement training helps ensure safe and efficient AI use.
How FedRAMP Authorized Technology Solutions Can Bridge the Government Employee Experience Gap
Creating a culture that prioritizes digital dexterity, or the ambition and ability to use technology for better business outcomes, is simply critical for government bodies to mature digitally and improve the employee experience.
Microsoft 365 Copilot Adoption: Why Native Analytics Tools Simply Aren’t Enough
As more organizations adopt Copilot, IT and digital transformation leaders strive to unlock the full potential of their AI investments and enhance employee experience. Reporting tools will be critical to understanding Copilot adoption and making data-driven investment decisions.
Enjoy these great reads on digital transformation:
- Mastering the Art of Writing Better Prompts for Microsoft 365 Copilot
- Creating New Presentations the Smart Way with Microsoft 365 Copilot
- Copilot vs. ChatGPT: Unleashing the Power of AI for Everyone
- How to Maximise Microsoft 365 Copilot for Meetings: 4 Ways to Unleash the Power of AI in Teams and Outlook
MSP and Channel Trends
The Ultimate Guide to Building a Profitable Cloud Practice for MSPs
Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) increasingly invest in cloud services, with 55% spending between $600,000 and $12 million annually. This substantial financial commitment underscores the critical role that cloud solutions play in modern business strategies and operations, presenting a significant opportunity for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to enhance their service offerings and boost profitability.
Why Your Customers Don’t Need All That SharePoint Storage: Save Your Customers Money While Making More
MSPs are pivotal not only in service delivery, but in providing guidance to customers as to what they should or should not do and to look out for their best interests. After all, if customers could do it all by themselves, the MSP market wouldn’t even exist. Data lifecycle management is not a one-time service, and customer priorities/requirements can often change, so MSPs need to be at the forefront and prepared.
Enjoy these great reads on managed service providers and channel trends here:
- How MSPs Can Effectively Develop a Seamless Deployment Service
- How to Build a Risk Assessment Service for AI Readiness
- Essential Disaster Recovery Plan for MSPs: Ensure Business Continuity with AvePoint
Beyond Secure, Onward to 2025!
As 2024 draws to a close, there’s no question that AI will be even more critical for modern businesses in 2025 and beyond.
While security risks are often present with any new technology, these challenges should not impede your AI deployment. Because traditional data security solutions fall short in the age of AI, it’s best to learn now how to utilize clean, reliable, and secure data in your AI efforts to protect your critical assets while confidently advancing AI innovation.
This is what it means to be Beyond Secure. AvePoint Secure.
From all of us here at AvePoint, thank you for a fulfilling 2024, and here’s to an even more fruitful – and secure – 2025!
Andie is a Content Marketing Specialist at AvePoint, covering migration, employee experience, and education technology. With 15 years of experience in B2B communications and content editing, Andie creates content that helps businesses realize the value of their technological investments.
