To address the skill gap in its IT department, Cooperativa Maná can implement several strategic steps. These include offering comprehensive training programs for current employees to enhance their technical proficiency, recruiting skilled IT professionals to fill critical roles, and defining clear job descriptions to guide recruitment and development efforts . Additionally, establishing partnerships with educational institutions for internships or collaborative projects can facilitate skill acquisition and transfer. By investing in staff development and recruitment, the cooperative can ensure its IT department is equipped to handle current and future technological demands effectively .

Cooperativa Maná faces difficulties in efficiently utilizing its office system primarily due to a lack of trained personnel. While potential IT tools are available, they remain underused because the cooperative does not have adequately trained staff to leverage these resources. The deficiency in human capital limits the cooperative's ability to deploy and optimize existing technologies, hindering operational efficiency and innovation . These issues highlight the critical need for targeted investments in staff training and development to fully exploit the available technological potential and drive effective system utilization .

Establishing a structured organizational framework in the systems area is significant because it provides clarity in roles and responsibilities, allowing for streamlined processes and increased efficiency. The lack of a structured framework leads to overburdening of individuals, potential errors, and inefficiencies as observed in the Cooperativa Maná, where the absence of an organizational structure resulted in one person handling multiple tasks . By implementing a proper structure, the cooperative can ensure better management of system resources, clearer communication paths, and improved internal controls, reducing risks and enhancing overall productivity .

To ensure data integrity and availability, Cooperativa Maná should implement a robust backup strategy by maintaining multiple copies of data in different locations and conducting regular testing of these backups to ensure reliability. They should establish clear data recovery protocols and train staff to perform these protocols effectively under stress conditions . Implementing automated backup solutions, enhancing physical security to protect data storage devices, and using encryption to secure data in transit and at rest are also recommended measures. These steps help protect against data loss and ensure quick and reliable data restoration in the event of system failures .

The recommendation to enhance data backup strategies is crucial for ensuring data integrity and availability in the event of a system failure or data loss. For Cooperativa Maná, it is advised to create three backups using ZIP drives, with one onsite, another at the nearest branch, and the third with the area head. This strategy diversifies risk and ensures data redundancy, allowing for restoration from multiple locations if one backup fails or is compromised . Furthermore, conducting systematic weekly backup tests enhances reliability and aids in identifying potential issues promptly, offering a robust data recovery framework amidst their current vulnerabilities in backup procedures .

Implementing strict access control measures can significantly mitigate risks related to unauthorized access and data security. For Cooperativa Maná, establishing access levels based on user roles, regularly updating passwords, and deactivating inactive user accounts are recommended strategies . These measures prevent unauthorized personnel from accessing sensitive information and reduce the likelihood of data breaches. By ensuring that only authorized and current users have access to sensitive system components, the cooperative can enhance its data security posture and reduce exposure to potential security incidents .

Insufficient physical and logical security can lead to several risks, including unauthorized access to sensitive data, data breaches, and operational disruptions. Specifically for Cooperativa Maná, the absence of strict security measures such as surveillance, fire extinguishers, and dedicated IT security personnel exposes them to the potential dissemination of confidential information and interruption of services due to inadequate maintenance of central equipment . Additionally, the lack of structured security protocols increases the likelihood of undetected voluntary or involuntary data adulterations . These vulnerabilities could severely disrupt operations and compromise the integrity and confidentiality of their data.

Establishing bilateral agreements with other companies or providers is crucial for Cooperativa Maná in enhancing their IT contingency plans because it ensures access to alternative resources and support during disasters or operational disruptions. These agreements can provide the necessary infrastructure or support to resume critical IT functions swiftly, thereby minimizing downtime and maintaining continuity of operations. Such collaborations act as a safeguard, offering external resources and expertise that the cooperative might lack internally . The additional support from partners can be pivotal in restoring services in a timely manner, which is essential for sustaining business operations and protecting data integrity .

The absence of a formalized contingency plan in Cooperativa Maná's IT department significantly increases the risk of prolonged operational downtime and data loss during unexpected events. Without established procedures and responsibilities, the cooperative may struggle to promptly resume operations, leading to potential revenue loss and reputation damage. The inability to perform recovery tasks efficiently could exacerbate the impact of events like system failures, fires, or power outages . Establishing such a plan ensures preparedness and resilience, enabling the cooperative to mitigate the effects of disruptions and maintain business continuity effectively .

Conducting regular security vulnerability assessments can provide several benefits to Cooperativa Maná, including identifying and addressing weaknesses in their IT infrastructure, preventing security incidents before they occur, and ensuring compliance with security standards. These assessments help in documenting vulnerabilities and implementing corrective actions, thereby strengthening the overall security framework . Additionally, regular evaluations enable proactive management of potential threats, ensuring the cooperative maintains a robust defense against constantly evolving cyber threats and maintains operational stability .