Being at the top of your game in today’s tech world requires a keen awareness of the technologies that are emerging each and every day. Understanding how artificial intelligence can make your business operate more efficiently or how virtual reality can enhance the overall experience for your customers can help you become the hero your company needs to remain at the forefront of technology.

You also need to know when employing technology trends make sense for your business: Knowing when technology is just a fad or won’t make a difference to your company’s bottom line prevents unnecessary spending that can damage profits or leave you with egg on your face. You also need to know good management techniques: You can have the strongest team in the industry, but if they don’t work well together — or work diligently on projects they think you want, rather than what you’re actually looking for — you’ll have to deal with less talented groups pulling ahead of your organization, as well as any problems that might develop because of miscommunication.

To ensure you are effective in your role as a tech executive, eight members of Forbes Technology Council weigh in on the most important thing you need to be doing differently today to help your business achieve success.

1. Create A Security-Focused Culture

Having a focus on security threats and preventative measures is not enough anymore — technology executives need to create an information security-focused culture within their organization. Information has become the new currency for many industries, so this asset needs to be protected by everyone, regardless of job function. – Scott Fuller, R3ST

2. Increase Focus On Complex Customer Support

Making customer support an integral part of the brand experience is imperative for businesses today. Treating support as a cost center is a recipe for failure. Moreover, providing support experiences that take into consideration the complexity, as well as the urgency of the query, is key. Just integrating a support channel with social or with chatbots, without a strategy, can backfire. – Anand Janefalkar, UJET, Inc.

3. Leverage Enterprise Risk Management

Technology executives today should leverage enterprise risk management as a part of their decision-making arsenal. Technology executives are now expected to stay abreast of the ever-changing regulatory landscape that is driven by data sovereignty and privacy, to cybersecurity breach disclosure requirements. – Vijay Bolina, Blackhawk Network