One of the key ways software development organizations drive efficiency is by drawing on libraries of existing, reusable software components when creating their own software products and services. This helps accelerate digital innovation, but the advantages come with a trade-off: Organizations accept, sometimes unknowingly, a degree of risk that can lead to serious cybersecurity issues.
That risk was highlighted in December 2021, when it came to light that a widely used open-source software framework called Log4j contained a critical vulnerability.1 The news made headlines because countless pieces of software deployed in organizations, government agencies, and people’s homes depend on this logging framework for the Java programming language. Security experts found that exploits built on the Log4Shell vulnerability, as it came to be known, could have devastating consequences for companies and individuals. And exposure to that vulnerability was found to be stunningly broad: The code had become embedded in software systems on a grand scale, introducing a serious vulnerability into many critical systems around the world. The Log4j exposure should be a wake-up call to executives to better understand software reuse and how to mitigate the risk of using it in their organizations.
Denne historien er fra Summer 2022-utgaven av MIT Sloan Management Review.
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Denne historien er fra Summer 2022-utgaven av MIT Sloan Management Review.
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Avoiding Harm in Technology Innovation
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Make a Stronger Business Case for Sustainability
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The Three Traps That Stymie Reinvention
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What Makes Companies Do the Right Thing?
Vaccine makers varied widely in their engagement with global public health efforts to broaden access to COVID-19 immunizations. Ethically motivated leadership was a dominant factor.
Build the Right C-Suite Team for Your Strategy
CEOs can foster a more effective leadership team by understanding when to tap senior executives' competitive instincts and when to encourage collaboration.
A Better Way to Unlock Innovation and Drive Change
A strengths-based approach to building teams can win employee commitment to change and foster an inclusive, agile culture.
