Dear partners,

I look back to how the pandemic took us all by surprise two years ago. It was completely unexpected, and because we did not yet know many things about the virus, how it spreads and how to contain it, our natural recourse was to lock down, keep operations to a minimum, and suspend everything until the situation improved.

We know of course that such a knee jerk reaction was ultimately bad for business and the economy. At that point, though, it was the best we thought we could do.

Now, with businesses stirring back to life and with even students returning to school for face-to-face classes, and with us having more knowledge about how we can protect ourselves despite the virus’ continued threat, I believe we have to prepare to be surprised, if there is such a thing.

We can no longer afford to be thrown off course by emergencies big and small like COVID-19, or any disruptions in our organization, even natural disasters. We can no longer assume that we can foresee everything that will happen and that our plans for the next months or years will be accurate.

We have to make room for surprises. More importantly, we have to train ourselves to meet these surprises head on even though we may not be able to tell, right now, what they would be.

Our most important step would be to arm ourselves with the best tools to keep the unexpected variables to a minimum. We lower risks, ensure we have back-up systems, and equip ourselves with the ability to respond to changes or upheavals in a level-headed manner.

In just a few months, we will end 2022 and welcome 2023. Who knows what surprises the new year would bring? Who knows how our business acumen will be tried, and how our survival instincts will be challenged?

As we build our resilience to forces that may or may not be beyond our control, please know that CloudTech will always be your reliable partner in navigating a challenging, uncertain world.

Martin