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In warfare, the larger an area is, the harder it is to defend. The same logic applies to cybersecurity: as you increase accessibility to your data, protecting that data becomes more difficult. Beyond desktops that remain in your office, now you have laptops and smartphones to worry about, too.

Modernizing your business with IT can be very fruitful. For instance, the internet allows you to reach more customers, marketing software lets you hone in on the highest-quality leads, and customer relation management software allows you to quickly and efficiently respond to clients’ questions and concerns.

Given how large tech firms employ tens of thousands of Americans, one would think that the composition of their workforces would more or less mirror the US population. However, despite Alphabet, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, and Twitter promising in 2014 to increase diversity among their hires, it appears upon first glance that the needle hasn’t moved very much for Black representation in six years*.

Let’s look at the numbers

According to the population estimates and projections of the US Census Bureau in 2017, non-Whites will make up over 21% of America by July 1, 2020 — with Blacks comprising over 12 percentage points.

Business owners in Kansas City know the importance of data security, but so much uncertainty surrounds what actually comprises a sufficient cybersecurity system. Especially now with COVID-19 making cybercriminals even more vicious and forcing companies to tighten belts, spending the right amount on cybersecurity is critical for business survival.

Prior to reopening efforts, Missourians have been cooped up in their homes. Beyond binge-watching streaming shows and YouTube videos, people have been hooked on social media. This presents a great marketing opportunity for drumming up business to people who are more likely to spend than ever before.

Work from home arrangements are generally a boon for both employers and employees. These let businesses continue operating and grant workers a source of steady income. However, life at work and life at home generally become harder to manage when both happen in the same place.

Kansas City is relaxing its shelter-in-place restrictions. However, the furor over the death of George Floyd has spurred mass protests, which may force the city government to revert to strict quarantine measures. This is because two separate yet compounding factors, namely maskless protesters and the use of tear gas, may contribute to a spike in COVID-19 infections and make the complete return to the workplace unwise.

Strict COVID-19 quarantine measures in Kansas City stifled the flow of money. Consumer spending went down, and so did the production of many goods and services. However, as of this writing, the state government is slowly easing restrictions. The businesses that survived are the ones that are beginning to revitalize the economy.

As Kansas City gradually reopens, more and more people are being allowed to go back to work. Soon, offices will be full again. Small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) that were able to realize the benefits of remote work are likely to continue supporting work from home practices.

As of this writing, it appears that Kansas City is not suffering COVID-19’s wrath as much as coastal cities like New York City. This is due to two factors: KC has a much lower population density than NYC, and its residents by and large are complying with stay-at-home orders.