Tech adoption at light speed: Balancing euphoria with cynicism

Journal of Accountancy Podcast

Tom Vartanian, executive director of the Financial Technology & Cybersecurity Center, joined the JofA podcast recently to discuss concerns about the rapid pace of technology adoption. Although he sees the benefits technology has had, he also sees drawbacks.

“It's not that we shouldn't have technology, it’s not that we shouldn’t applaud tecnology,” Vartanian says in the episode. “It's just that our balance is off.”

Vartanian, a former federal banking regulator and the author of nine books, is a keynote speaker Sept. 9 at the AICPA & CIMA Conference on Banks & Savings Institutions, which is co-located with the AICPA & CIMA Conference on Credit Unions.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

• Why Vartanian senses “irrational” euphoria about rapid technology advances.
• The speaker’s reminder about the original, limited purpose of the internet.
• Details on the assertion of “going back to fundamentals” when it comes to cybersecurity.
• The difference in approach between a regulated bank and a third-party service provider.
• The value of strong leadership in mitigating cybersecurity concerns.