Operational Resilience: Why It's Time to Act Now – Or Pay Later
In today’s hyperconnected, risk-intensive environment, operational resilience is no longer a niche IT conversation—it’s a boardroom imperative.
From cyberattacks to software outages, the cost of failure is rising. In 2024 alone, a ransomware attack exploited missing 2FA and compromised one-third of U.S. patient records, costing over $3 billion. Another incident—a failed update—grounded global airline traffic due to poor process controls.
The lesson? Resilience isn’t optional. You either act now—or pay later.
Resilience Starts with Leadership
Despite what vendors may suggest, resilience doesn’t come from buying more tools. It comes from leadership. Regulations like the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) make it explicit: CEOs and boards are now legally accountable for ICT risk. Resilience is a strategic issue that must be integrated into enterprise risk management and treated with the same rigor as financial or compliance risks.
People, Process, and Technology—In That Order
Too often, organizations invest in tools but neglect the processes and people required to use them effectively. Operational resilience is built on governance—structured, repeatable practices that are designed, implemented, and continuously improved. This is where frameworks like NIST CSF and ITSM come in. NIST defines what resilience looks like. ITSM shows how to operationalize it.
The Resilience Blueprint
At Navvia, we use a three-step model to build operational resilience:
- Assess – Identify risks, gaps, and areas where resilience is weak. Check out our webinar on how NIST CSF and ITSM provide a powerful approach for Operational Resilience Assessments.
- Design – Build secure, scalable, and auditable processes aligned with NIST CSF outcomes. Check out our webinars on Business Process Mapping and Best Practices in Process Design and Documentation.
- Govern – Enforce ownership, accountability, and continuous measurement through KPIs and feedback loops. Check out our post on the Importance of Business Process Governance.
Closing Thoughts: Act Now—or Pay Later
Operational resilience is not a project—it’s a posture. One that starts at the top, scales through disciplined processes, and matures through iteration.
Leaders who treat resilience as an investment—rather than a compliance obligation—are positioning their organizations to thrive, even when disruptions occur.
The risk of delay is growing. The message is clear: act now—or pay later.
