If you’re considering blockchain, it can be tempting to think that it is just another fad—or a way for hackers to take over the world. While blockchain offers many unique benefits, and should not be underestimated, there are still some that businesses will need to consider as they create their strategies for blockchain-based solutions. This article covers some of these issues.
The Main Issues With Implementing A Block Chain Solution In Your Organization
Blockchain in simple terms is a system that uses distributed records stored in blocks known as “blocks.” They are then linked together using cryptography—a process that requires complex mathematics as well as time to verify and update them—making transactions extremely secure. Since blockchain relies on cryptocurrency, it’s also very difficult to access. It allows multiple users to see information without knowing who did what, making it incredibly secure.
Despite its inherent security characteristics, blockchain is still widely misunderstood by business leaders. Some believe blockchain technology is simply an opportunity or a threat to traditional firms. Others contend with its potential for disruption to industries such as finance. As a result, many organizations have adopted different approaches to the implementation of this new technology. The main issues that are likely to arise are data integrity, identity management, cybersecurity, and compliance. There is no single right answer for each issue.
Data Integrity
One of the major problems that organizations face when implementing blockchain technologies is how to ensure data integrity. When the transactional database is shared across multiple computers, even if those computers all use the same network protocol, there is a risk that one device may corrupt data. That could lead to incorrect financial transactions, resulting in significant loss of revenue for organizations. Even if the entire organization has been set up to use the same computer, it’s still possible to cause corruption due to human error—a common occurrence with new technologies. But in most cases, this happens because of ignorance within an organization. For example, a CEO may choose to put all his employees under a payroll system that runs on a completely separate server. And when he doesn’t make sure all servers are running according to his specific instructions, then it’s possible that a few people inadvertently alter data in other parts of the organization. Because people often forget about updates and errors when creating systems, it’s essential for someone to supervise any changes that happen in a company so it can be quickly corrected. Otherwise, the outcome would be catastrophic.
Identity Management/Accountability
Organizations that want to utilize blockchain may wish to give themselves more authority in the event of fraud or mismanagement. One solution would be to use something like OpenID, which gives customers greater control of their online accounts, while giving organizations a better understanding of their customers. However, companies currently do not have the ability to track account balances. Another solution is digital certificates, but some experts warn against using them to manage customer identities without ID management software. This type of tracking often presents privacy issues; although blockchain makes it impossible to track personal information such as name, address, and email addresses, anyone can obtain your credentials—even without the knowledge of anyone else involved. Thus, it’s important to implement open API standards that allow this kind of tracking. Furthermore, ensuring the proper level of accountability is key as well. Once again, having a centralized record of every transaction is ideal, but this comes at a cost of complexity. As mentioned earlier, having too many parties means there are many opportunities for mistakes to occur. Additionally, there are fewer ways to prove a fraudulent activity—and therefore it becomes harder to recover money that was stolen by a third party. Ultimately, there needs to be a balance between preventing and helping others find out whether a problem or mistake occurred.
Security and Security Testing
One area where blockchain may benefit organizations is improved security testing methods. Although it is possible to test individual transactions through manual processes, blockchain systems have built-in mechanisms to improve the overall security of transactions (such as encryption). Companies can also offer additional protection for sensitive data when using public blockchains, which are generally considered safer than private ones. This isn’t necessarily the case for all applications. Private chains should be used only where appropriate legislation exists; otherwise, it could present serious risks to individuals and organizations alike.
A number of countries are working on regulations that require organizations to secure sensitive consumer data, including credit card and biometric data. These laws aren’t yet ready to apply to blockchain solutions—but several countries are expected to adopt the technology over the next decade. This is especially true in Europe, where regulators are preparing for similar requirements. Given the growing importance of data privacy regulation, blockchain solutions may become a big part of both the infrastructure and the operating model of the future. By offering various levels of safety and security to organizations, blockchain may make it much easier to protect user data—even those that don’t come from government agencies.
Integrating Technology Into Every Function
Finally, blockchain can also facilitate integration into existing functions and procedures in order to simplify operations. Most of our daily activities require us to access large amounts of data in the form of files or programs. Similarly, certain industries will probably be able to integrate blockchain into their workflows in the coming years. Some industries may find blockchain technology helps save time, effort and money. On the flip side, however, an organization that implements blockchain systems should be prepared to accept any challenges it might encounter. Unfortunately, sometimes, implementing new technology is complicated and takes longer than anticipated. In fact, the average project takes 7–8 months to develop. An extended timeline is a good thing, because once completed, organizations may get used to the change and feel confident about the long-term viability of the technology. However, if you want to avoid this risk, then it’s best to go slow (and wait until a later date to roll out the first batch of blockchain implementations).
Although blockchain is still early in its journey and quite challenging to understand at times, it’s clear that it offers impressive potential. To reap those rewards, companies will need to carefully plan out their implementations along with effective governance and oversight. While initial adoption may be slow, blockchain eventually becomes increasingly valuable to organizations of all sizes.
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