I.T. Lessons Learned From Jurassic Park
Can you believe it's been 30 years since Jurassic Park hit the big screen? It's hard to imagine a time before CGI dinosaurs ran around on our screens, but that's how it was back in the day.
If you don’t remember the 1993 Jurassic Park, John Hammond almost realises his dream of a zoo-like amusement park with live dinosaurs. His dreams halt when the severely underpaid Dennis Nedry turns the park’s system off to steal InGen’s property, resulting in the dinosaurs’ escape and sending our heroes on a mission to escape Jurassic Park.
"Item one fifty-one on today's glitch list.
We've got all the problems of a major theme park and a major zoo,
and the computer's not even on its feet yet."
If you're like us at Logicle HQ, you may have watched the movie and thought, "Wow, those IT systems are pretty impressive. I wonder if we can use something like that for our business?" And, hey, I get it! Automated systems and cloud-based services sound like a dream come true for streamlining operations and increasing efficiency.
But let's take a moment to remember the chaos that ensued when the security and IT systems failed in Jurassic Park. Those genetically engineered dinos started running amok and eating everything in sight! Yikes! And while we may not have to worry about being chewed on by T-Rexes if our servers go down, we can certainly relate to the impact of IT failures on our businesses.
Sure, it may not be as dramatic as in the movie, but if our systems crash or our website goes down, we can still face lost productivity, disrupted revenue and damage to our reputation. So, investing in human expertise and oversight is essential to keep our IT systems running smoothly.
Remember Dennis Nedry? That cunning computer programmer who tried to steal some dinosaur embryos and ended up causing the entire park to fall apart? Yeah, that's a prime example of how vulnerable complex IT systems can be to human error, malice, or incompetence.
So, let's take a cue from Jurassic Park and recognise that technology is not a panacea. Throwing money at hardware, software, and cloud-based services and hoping for the best won't cut it. Instead, we must invest in the people who design, implement, and maintain these systems to ensure their resilience and security. Here are some things to consider:
Always have a backup plan
The park's security system fails in the movie, and the dinosaurs escape. The lesson here is that it's crucial to have a backup plan in case something goes wrong with your IT infrastructure. Include things like backups of critical data, redundant servers, and disaster recovery plans.
Test everything thoroughly
In "Jurassic Park," the scientists believed they had everything under control but didn't adequately test the park's security system. Disastrous consequences followed. When it comes to IT, it's essential to test everything thoroughly before deploying it in a live environment, including software, hardware, and security systems.
Don't underestimate the importance of security
The park's security system was compromised in the movie, and chaos ensued, a reminder that security should be a top priority for IT, including firewalls, encryption, access controls, monitoring systems, and the all-important cybersecurity aspects.
Be careful when dealing with new technology
The scientists in "Jurassic Park" were so focused on whether they could clone dinosaurs that they didn't stop to consider whether they should. The same principle applies to IT - even though a new technology is available doesn't necessarily mean it's a good idea to implement it. Always take the time to carefully evaluate the potential risks and benefits before adopting any new technology.
Communication is key
In the movie, the park's staff members could have communicated more effectively with each other to avoid misunderstandings and mistakes, a good reminder that clear communication is essential in any IT project. Communicating expectations, requirements, and progress updates to stakeholders and fostering open lines of communication within the team is crucial.
Appreciate the lessons it offers
Let's celebrate the 30th anniversary of Jurassic Park by taking a moment to appreciate the lessons it offers for modern businesses and their IT systems. Let's not put all our faith in technology and forget the importance of investing in human expertise and oversight. Because, hey, we may not have to worry about dinos eating us, but we sure don't want to miss that deadline!
