• by Ray Schultz , November 20, 2019

Most chief information officers have one main worry on their minds: security, according to Adobe’s 2019 CIO Perspectives Survey. 

Of the 200 CIOs polled, 82% cite security as their top priority. Next are movement to the cloud (68%) and modernization of platforms (66%). 

Sadly, only 15% give high marks to their firms for digital maturity. And only 25% feel their work is differentiated from that of competitors.

Perhaps they should worry more about data speed. Only 15% feel their firms can leverage real-time data, although 75% say they expect to increase their use of real-time data next year.

Meanwhile, 20% of the firms represented use AI to streamline processes. But the biggest benefit cited, among 55%, is improvement of the customer experience: in this, AI beats voice, chatbots and IoT. 

Managing the customer experience is a priority for most CIOs, but a mere one in 10 say it’s their primary function: usually, it is managed by the CMO or COO, Adobe says.

Here’s some advice for CIOs:

“Be ready to get out — and stay out — of your comfort zone,” states Adobe CIO Cynthia Stoddard, according to a post by Adobe.

Stoddard adds: “Things will continue to change quickly. And remember, you can't fix everything in one day or even one year.”