Dale Carnegie, an American writer and lecturer, was famously quoted as saying, “Knowledge isn’t power until it is applied.” This statement couldn’t be anymore a fit in today’s digital era, where managing organizational knowledge, information, and data is the cornerstone of business success. Unfortunately, amidst the ever-evolving technology platforms and increasing data security complexity, balancing knowledge management and information security is a task easier said than done.

Founded in 2010, FireOak Strategies, LLC has been at the forefront of bringing calm to the chaos by helping organizations in managing, securing, and sharing their data, information, and knowledge. The boutique consulting firm specializes in knowledge management, information management, and information security. FireOak is certified as a Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) as well as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) by the Woman’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). “Our technical expertise is what differentiates us from the rest. We’re a small but nimble group of experts who are always trying to balance security and knowledge sharing for our clients. We’re a geeky bunch who thrive on solving information-related problems, curating content, connecting people to the information and knowledge they need, and applying our expertise to make data, information, and knowledge easily findable, discoverable, reusable, and secure,” asserts Abby Clobridge, founder of FireOak Strategies.

Balancing Security and Sharing

Most organizations today are budget conscious and are trying to make the most out of their existing platforms, information, and knowledge within their IT infrastructure. However, shadow IT—the term used for knowledge sharing and collaboration that happens in cloud platforms that are not sanctioned by the organization—is a growing concern. Given the fact that employees find creative workarounds to accomplish their tasks, they often go outside the IT stack to come up with solutions and end up sharing files, communicating, and collaborating in externally-managed cloud systems. As a result, digital assets begin to accumulate in unauthorized platforms, which creates security and compliance risks. This takes a toll on an organization’s security posture as it then becomes more challenging to protect information, data, and knowledge stored in these third-party cloud services. Plus, shadow IT creates new knowledge management challenges by introducing new silos which inhibit findability, discoverability, and reusability of information.

What then becomes crucial for information security is the adoption of appropriate measures to protect digital assets. Considering that knowledge management needs to be aligned effectively with the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of an organization’s data and systems, an information security program that encompasses all aspects in one becomes a necessity. This is where FireOak has emerged as a “durable differentiator” in the market! In order to balance security and sharing, the company’s experts approach information security from a knowledge management perspective.

The proliferation of innovative technologies such as Blockchain, machine learning, and AI has also disrupted the market, where organizations are positive that leveraging these technologies will ultimately solve their key organizational challenges. However, FireOak’s experts recommend using the technology that is already in place first, while making information and knowledge management a part of everyday processes, workflows, and tasks. Abby believes that consistent and systematic knowledge management practices can help organizations achieve their goals. As there is no one-size-fits-all solution, it’s critical to align knowledge management with other organizational priorities and practices. “Organizations often know that there’s a problem with the flow of information and knowledge, but they seldom know where the problem lies. So, we take time to truly assess and understand what’s happening in a holistic way, so that we can be sure we’re solving the right problems,” she explains.

FireOak aims to make it as easy as possible for an organization’s staff to find, discover, protect, share, and reuse organizational knowledge, information, and data. The company helps clients make the most out of their internal knowledge— from sharing internally, publishing externally, to strengthening protections around high-value data assets.