Jason James

Effective communication with stakeholders—whether they’re members of the leadership team, colleagues, direct reports or customers—is the key to any professional’s success. However, some tech leaders may struggle with being comprehensive and clear, which can create misunderstandings and hinder collaboration.

"Cybersecurity is an area that is constantly evolving. Threat actors are getting more sophisticated every day, and if cybersecurity teams aren’t committed to continuous learning, chances are they are falling behind."

The biggest innovation in years has come for personal computers as manufacturers integrate chips that enable them to run large scale AI models directly on the device. But how quickly chief information officers will want to start snapping up the pricier PCs remains to be seen.

The role of a project manager is critical and multifaceted. Taking the lead on major initiatives, they’re tasked with setting goals and deadlines, managing resources and budgets, and acting as a liaison between the project’s team members and its stakeholders.

Given all that they’re learning to juggle, it’s no wonder that rookie project managers sometimes drop the ball. Below, 20 members of Forbes Technology Council pinpoint the missteps they’ve seen many new project managers make, what… Show more

The role of a project manager is critical and multifaceted. Taking the lead on major initiatives, they’re tasked with setting goals and deadlines, managing resources and budgets, and acting as a liaison between the project’s team members and its stakeholders.

Given all that they’re learning to juggle, it’s no wonder that rookie project managers sometimes drop the ball. Below, 20 members of Forbes Technology Council pinpoint the missteps they’ve seen many new project managers make, what their impact may be and what to do instead. Show less

The rising number of attacks, increasing remediation costs and growing scrutiny by cybersecurity insurance providers are all reasons retail technology leaders are hyper-focused on improving their security posture. This elevated focus includes closely vetting the cybersecurity practices and certifications of software vendors that retailers choose to work with.

Telecommunications giant says it restored service and apologized after customers reported problems with calls and texting

All too often, recruiters view one’s most recent role as the totality of an entire career. For example, if you spent the past six years in fintech, then clearly your career is entirely focused on fintech. But that doesn’t have to be the summation of your career, nor should it be your only option. As a CIO who has worked in multiple industries—including telecom, healthcare tech and retail tech—I know firsthand the importance of having diverse experiences and bringing together insights and… Show more

All too often, recruiters view one’s most recent role as the totality of an entire career. For example, if you spent the past six years in fintech, then clearly your career is entirely focused on fintech. But that doesn’t have to be the summation of your career, nor should it be your only option. As a CIO who has worked in multiple industries—including telecom, healthcare tech and retail tech—I know firsthand the importance of having diverse experiences and bringing together insights and innovation from multiple industries. Show less

Now more than ever, tech leaders and their teams must know how to design a network architecture that can provide reliable service and defend against unauthorized access. Below, 17 members of Forbes Technology Council share and explain some key strategies for creating and maintaining a secure, efficient network—essential know-how in today’s digital workplace.

Sam Altman’s unexpected firing and move to Microsoft could upend the generative AI vendor landscape, chief information officers say

October is the 20th Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a month dedicated to enhancing cybersecurity awareness, encouraging actions to reduce online risk and generating discussion on cyberthreats.

In that spirit, here are four tips for retailers on how they should increase their cybersecurity posture leading up to the busiest shopping season of the year.

The end-of-year holiday shopping season is both an exciting and challenging time for retailers—especially in terms of e-commerce. While online shopping can expand a retailer’s customer base to encompass the globe, it’s not an endeavor that’s as simple as setting up an online storefront and watching the orders roll in.

AI will change how organizations moderate content, especially on social media and with the increase in AI-generated content being produced. Here's what you need to know.

Whether fortifying cybersecurity defenses or navigating the AI onslaught, having an adept technology leader at the helm can make all the difference. Top-tier executives balance expertise, passion, and a commitment to innovation for continued success.

Join us in celebrating these technology leaders for their outstanding contributions to the industry, and extend our best wishes as they embrace their new roles.

Congratulations to these 'movers and shakers' recently hired or promoted into a new chief information officer role.

Aptos also recently welcomed a new executive — Jason James — to its ranks. Serving as CIO, James brings with him over two decades of experience in cloud operations, cybersecurity, IT infrastructure and digital transformation.

A tumultuous two years have shifted expectations of what IT could and should deliver. Today, CIOs are taking stock and redrawing the boundaries around their role and responsibilities.

Information Technology continues to create opportunities to improve healthcare, but only when used effectively. Whether it’s medical devices, electronic healthcare records, high-bandwidth networks, medical imaging, or insurance, there are few corners of the healthcare field that are not deeply penetrated by IT. But where are things headed from here? Can AI help with more accurate diagnoses? Can the likelihood of successful outcomes be increased? Can technology improve the patient experience?

Over the last five years, I served both as CIO and CISO for two healthcare SaaS companies. During that time, I have spoken and written quite a bit about cybersecurity issues facing the healthcare sector. This is not one of those times. This time I decided to outsource it using artificial intelligence. The text below was composed entirely by OpenAI's ChatGPT and is presented unedited.

In this episode of Real Stories with Digital Trailblazers, Isaac Sacolick interviews Jason "JJ" James, a CIO who's worked in healthcare, a security expert, and an extraordinary Digital Trailblazing leader. Jason answers Isaac's questions on:

* What's it like being a CIO in healthcare
* What does tech look like in the healthcare industry
* How to handle leadership stress
* Why is mentoring new leaders so important
* How diversity can help change an industry

This is the second blog in a three-part series (Part 1) discussing the Health Information Trust Alliance (HITRUST) certification, why it is essential for any business that stores and processes personal health information, and how a cloud-native data security solution is essential for achieving and maintaining certification.

This blog is the first in a three part series (Part 2) discussing the Health Information Trust Alliance (HITRUST) certification, why it is essential for any business that stores and processes personal health information, and how a cloud-native data security solution accelerates and lowers the cost of achieving certification.

Data without action is worthless. It’s how you choose to interpret and act on it that creates worth. “BI itself has minimal value,” echoes CIO Martin Davis. “Doing something with it that impacts the business is where the value is. By the same argument, data cycle time has no value. Therefore, the value comes from better business decisions and reducing business cost.”

Ransomware continues to make headlines, and for good reason. It’s been predicted that businesses will fall victim to a ransomware attack every two seconds by 2031. As bad actors grow more sophisticated, companies are beginning to realize it’s no longer a matter of “if” ransomware strikes, but “when.”

The shift to remote/hybrid work brought on by the pandemic shows no signs of going away. So how does that fact increase the need for IT leaders to modernize their existing data-protection strategy?

That’s the question we posed recently to members of the Foundry/IDG Influencer Network, a community of industry analysts, IT professionals, and journalists. While nearly all Influencers acknowledged that the hybrid workplace is here to stay, their prescriptions for modernizing data protection… Show more

The shift to remote/hybrid work brought on by the pandemic shows no signs of going away. So how does that fact increase the need for IT leaders to modernize their existing data-protection strategy?

That’s the question we posed recently to members of the Foundry/IDG Influencer Network, a community of industry analysts, IT professionals, and journalists. While nearly all Influencers acknowledged that the hybrid workplace is here to stay, their prescriptions for modernizing data protection ranged far and wide. Show less

Data is critical to delivering personalized, superior customer experiences. Experts discuss how to use it more effectively

The transition to remote and hybrid work has had an ongoing and profound impact. It’s not only about where we work but also how work gets done. Users and apps are everywhere. And IT teams face massive challenges due to direct-to-app connectivity.

Recently we asked members of the Foundry/IDG Influencer Network, a community of industry analysts, IT professionals, and journalists, about the biggest concerns organizations face today in managing and supporting a hybrid workforce. While… Show more

The transition to remote and hybrid work has had an ongoing and profound impact. It’s not only about where we work but also how work gets done. Users and apps are everywhere. And IT teams face massive challenges due to direct-to-app connectivity.

Recently we asked members of the Foundry/IDG Influencer Network, a community of industry analysts, IT professionals, and journalists, about the biggest concerns organizations face today in managing and supporting a hybrid workforce. While security was a frequently mentioned as a big concern, the Influencers shined a light on a range of issues that organizations need to heed to keep their employees engaged and productive Show less

As cloud-native management systems gain traction in finance, experts weigh in on the benefits to companies, employees, and customers.

A tumultuous two years have shifted expectations of what IT could and should deliver. Today, CIOs are taking stock and redrawing the boundaries around their role and responsibilities.

Information Technology continues to create opportunities to improve healthcare, but only when used effectively. Whether it’s medical devices, electronic healthcare records, high-bandwidth networks, medical imaging, or insurance, there are few corners of the healthcare field that are not deeply penetrated by IT. But where are things headed from here? Can AI help with more accurate diagnoses? Can the likelihood of successful outcomes be increased? Can technology improve the patient experience?

It’s one of the worst-kept secrets in security: if a company’s security measures are slowing things down, end-users are going to turn them off.

IT and security leaders take proactive approaches to secure and protect IT environments amid the evolving threat landscape.

Cloud-friendly open source models can help organizations drive their hybrid strategies to solve for today’s changing digital business requirements.

COVID-19 changed the traditional work model for good, forcing CIOs and IT leaders to adapt overnight. Here are six rules I revised during the pandemic to help my teams stay connected and productive

A larger attack surface pushes many organizations into a zero-trust security model.

The digital era is in full swing, turbo-charged by the dramatic shifts in business and lifestyle wrought by the response to COVID-19. While the customer was king before the pandemic, they now extend their reign over all things digital

CIOs are struggling for work-life balance now more than ever, but it’s harder than it sounds.

For IT organizations pondering adoption of a private cloud, the challenges of developing the necessary skills, administering fully automated infrastructure, and securing an unfamiliar environment can seem daunting. That’s why many experts recommend handing off the heavy lifting to a managed private cloud provider.

As the healthcare industry changes, particularly driven by technological innovation, it’s imperative that forward-thinking healthcare providers stay up to speed. And staying up to speed doesn’t just refer to knowing what’s going on, but it also implies a sense of duty for CIOs and others in the C-suite to evaluate and implement the worthwhile opportunities.

Leadership teams must be data evangelists – but the entire organization will need the right training and tools for putting the data to use

Experts offer guidance for small- and medium-sized businesses on tackling cybersecurity without impacting the user experience.

Members of IDG’s Influencer Network weigh in on the transformative power of these two technologies.

While many leaders are eager to get their teams back together for face-to-face interaction, the biggest mistake they could make in the coming months is confusing "return to office" with "business as usual."

The digital era is in full swing, turbo-charged by the dramatic shifts in business and lifestyle wrought by the response to COVID-19. While the customer was king before the pandemic, they now extend their reign over all things digital

These five actions recommended by CIOs can limit the amount of success criminals achieve. Step one is better management.

These five actions recommended by CIOs can limit the amount of success criminals achieve. Step one is better management.

There’s no time to rest on laurels; IT leaders must build on the resiliency they created during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a panel of experts.

It’s called “dark” data for a reason: It’s hidden in places like individuals’ desktops, unused databases or other repositories. It’s buried in documents like spreadsheets, and inside unstructured sources like audio or video files. And dark data can also refer to data that sits outside a governed process, which limits business users from doing their job.

Jason "JJ" James is a transformational CIO with over 20 years of IT leadership experience and 15+ years of experience in managing global IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, strategy, IT governance, and operations.

He has extensive IT leadership in SaaS, mergers and acquisitions, security, infrastructure management, disaster recovery, cloud computing, and partner relations. JJ is also a frequent industry speaker and contributor to IT thought leader publications and podcasts.

In this episode, Jake Sherrill and Joel Andersen are joined by Net Health's CIO Jason James at Tier4 Advisors HQ for a discussion on Servant Leadership, the Humanization of IT, Navigating Remote Teams, New Ransomware Challenges, Atlanta Unicorns, and other trending topics.

There has never been a more exciting time to be a technology executive.
Today’s technology executive plays a pivotal role in helping his or her organization respond to these forces of change. In essence, they serve as conductors to orchestrate the three pillars of organizational success – people, processes, and technology – and to draw upon their unique view of the enterprise to bring these elements into harmony.

Net Health CIO Jason James shares how he transforms health care IT by thinking like a politician and embracing the death of going to work at the office.

Nearly one year after the onslaught of COVID-19 forced the global shift to remote work, IT leaders are experimenting with technology-enabled initiatives aimed at boosting employee productivity. At the same time, they are creating new rules of engagement for a labor force that is unlikely to return to the work patterns of pre-pandemic days.

Remote work will be a permanent scenario for many organizations, according to the CIO Pandemic Business Impact Survey 2020. This underscores the need for policies that secure remote data access without inhibiting user productivity.

The expanded remote workforce requires a balanced, secure approach to accessing data, apps, and systems.

Today I’m joined by Jason "JJ" James, a three-time IT VP, and current Chief Information Officer at NetHealth. In this episode, we’re going to focus on IT's ever-expending role in enabling smooth strategic pivoting, aiding efficient teamwork, navigating industry disruption (as always). JJ is an award-winning innovator, and a true believer in driving advancement through human connection - as he has coined the "humanization" of technology

Cloud-friendly open source models can help organizations drive their hybrid strategies to solve for today’s changing digital business requirements

Diversity in the workplace is an on-going issue but it’s an issue with solutions. To build diversity, it takes forward-thinking initiatives, a reexamination of the hiring philosophy, and the support of the company’s decision-makers.

Want to attract a wider range of candidates? Here's how to reduce bias in your hiring process as you strive for diversity on IT teams

Growing volumes and complexity of data can overwhelm a business without a strong foundation for storing, analyzing, and acting upon it.

In the wake of black lives matter and other recent efforts at social change, several CIO came to me asking what actions they could take to do better at Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

“Honoring the accomplishments and contributions of these often unsung heroes of business is a priority for the tech council."

Given the impact of COVID-19 on workstyles, customer preferences and stakeholder needs, many CIOs have felt the need to reevaluate their goals, reprioritize projects and reallocate funding and resources.

States are opening up, but it's still unclear when a return to on-premises work for non-essential industries will make sense. As key enablers of on-premises and off-premises work, CIOs are in a unique position to share when and how this will happen. Some of their thoughts may surprise you, especially regarding how many people will permanently return to on-premises work.

While many aspects of life remain on hold, many organizations are charging full steam ahead on digital transformation efforts – even giving some pieces a speed boost

At this week's virtual CIOChat Live conference, top CIOs discussed how the pandemic is changing the CIO role on the spot and what's to come.

I share my thoughts on artificial intelligence, machine learning and how it will shape healthcare

Net Health’s CIO Jason “JJ” James knows now, more than ever, that organizations need to have a mobile-ready workforce to not just maintain operations but for the health, morale and security of everyone involved. Although of high importance for organizations, remote workforces can bring challenges including cybercrime, security and delivery. JJ shares his knowledge of CIO leadership in a crisis, the top priorities in IT currently and more on this week’s episode.

The world is changing, literally right before us - the last time there was a non-war global disruption was Atlantis or Noah. Jason "JJ" James and David McCall talk about how AI, Remote Work and other tools will usher in a new world of augmentation, risk and opportunity.

Clearly, we’re experiencing an unprecedented global crisis on a scale that we’ve not seen before. It’s in uncertain times such as these that true leaders step up to the plate and communicate clearly and effectively to reassure team members and articulate the plan going forward.

It’s a prime opportunity for CIOs and technology executives to demonstrate courageous leadership in the C-suite. These qualities are being exhibited by many CIOs today as the agenda for technology leaders is… Show more

Clearly, we’re experiencing an unprecedented global crisis on a scale that we’ve not seen before. It’s in uncertain times such as these that true leaders step up to the plate and communicate clearly and effectively to reassure team members and articulate the plan going forward.

It’s a prime opportunity for CIOs and technology executives to demonstrate courageous leadership in the C-suite. These qualities are being exhibited by many CIOs today as the agenda for technology leaders is highly focused on driving business innovation and developing and refining business strategy, according to CIO.com’s 2019 State of the CIO research. Show less

What can leaders do to support teams working remotely at a time of much uncertainty? NetHealth CIO Jason James shares concrete steps CIOs and IT leaders can take right now.

Tech Prognosis: Prevention, Diagnosis, and Back-Office Benefits

CIOs and CTOs share the IT culture misconceptions that are holding some IT organizations back. Do people on your teams need to dump any of these?

IT leaders look at the road ahead and predict what’s next for RPA, AI, 5G, quantum computing, cybersecurity, and more

Data may be plentiful, but companies that are energized and organized to wield data effectively for competitive advantage are still in the minority. It takes a major culture shift to become a data-driven organization, and in many companies, there is no better executive to lead the charge than the CIO, who has clear visibility across the enterprise along with the technology credentials to enable transformation.

So you want to become a Chief Information Officer? Ask these questions about your motives, qualifications, and hopes

How do you impress your boss’s boss without stepping on your boss’s toes or breaking a cultural norm? Consider these etiquette tips from veteran leaders

Healthcare organizations are one of the most targeted verticals when it comes to cyberattacks. While those organizations must work to secure patients' sensitive data, it can also be helpful to analyze that data to improve patient outcomes. Jason James, CIO of Net Health, joins Juliet to discuss why attackers target healthcare organizations, Google's Project Nightingale and what it means for a tech giant to have access to the medical data of millions of people.

Do you dread annual performance reviews? Do your employees? Go from obligation to opportunity with these ideas that buck tradition

Episode 3 is discussing the current state of the cloud in business. Host Larry Larmeu is joined by Laurianne McLaughlin from the Enterprisers Project at Red Hat, Jason James - CIO of Net Health, and Sarbjeet Johal, Cloud Consultant and Advisor.

Did you hear about the CEO who was recently duped by an AI-powered deepfake voice scam? It’s time to increase security training for everyone - especially the C-Suite

What does a CIO do in 2019? How has the CIO skill set changed? What’s coming next as the CIO role evolves? Everything you need to know about CIOs - including advice for aspiring CIOs from people who’ve made the leap

What message do your words send, leaders? Improve your communication skills every day with these conversation tips

In this new digital, cloud-centric era, vendors are having to change how they interact and partner with CIOs.

Too many CIOs do nothing with the data – or store it unsafely. Ask these critical questions about your data practices

CIOs are juggling multiple priorities. They’re being asked by the CEO to drive digital business innovation, identify and execute on developing new business models and advance the customer experience.

Digital transformation marks a radical rethinking of how an organization uses technology, people, and processes to fundamentally change business performance.

Data is infiltrating many organizations at an astounding rate, whether the industry is healthcare or entertainment, and regardless of whether the company is a Fortune 500 behemoth or a small- to mid-sized business.

This week I’m joined by Jason “JJ” James who is the CIO for Optima Healthcare Solutions. JJ is also the author of the upcoming book “Make IT work: Practical IT guide to mergers and acquisitions.”

In our conversation, JJ outlines how the CIO is similar to an anthropologist and must be a study of human tools, culture and development. We also discuss JJ’s perspective on how innovative technology is impacting the healthcare industry. During our conversation, JJ details his perspective on… Show more

This week I’m joined by Jason “JJ” James who is the CIO for Optima Healthcare Solutions. JJ is also the author of the upcoming book “Make IT work: Practical IT guide to mergers and acquisitions.”

In our conversation, JJ outlines how the CIO is similar to an anthropologist and must be a study of human tools, culture and development. We also discuss JJ’s perspective on how innovative technology is impacting the healthcare industry. During our conversation, JJ details his perspective on data including data toxicity and the value of data over time. Closing out our conversation, JJ talks about why hype is valuable and the role the CIO plays in the changing landscape. Show less

As a CIO of a healthcare software company, Jason James resonates more with the technology industry than the healthcare industry. While he must stay sensitive to healthcare-specific security regulations, Optima Healthcare Solutions faces challenges that many software companies face.

Digital transformation helped to empower a more engaged, flexible and happier workforce.

Are you nurturing your organization’s next round of leaders? One CIO shares how mentorship impacted his career, and how he makes it pay off in his own organization

Working to build your soft skills? Consider these seven soft skill lessons that leaders advise you learn early.

IT work never stops. But these IT executives do: Read their practical work/life integration tips that let your Valentine know they come first.

Skills shortages are bad enough, but now IT leaders must deal with increased job hopping and even ghosting. Here's how to strengthen your hiring and retention approach

Here’s how organizations are optimizing their use of automation technologies, moving from simple process improvement to true process transformation.

As part of our new series in which IT leaders share the best advice they've ever been given, Jason James, CIO of Optima Healthcare Solutions, explains how he's lived by the words of advice he heard back in his high school days.

Forget the tech giants’ rosters of data science PhDs. As AI moves into the enterprise, blended teams with business skills become more important for driving business value.

We reached out to key influencers to discuss if companies are realizing the full potential of cloud computing and why they may rely on outside experts.

Cloud technologies have improved time to market, lowered operational and capital expenditures, and provided organizations with the ability to dynamically adjust provisioning to meet changing needs. But it can still be difficult at times to discern how to optimize a cloud solution to meet your business needs. So what are the key aspects of a cloud strategy that IT leaders should consider when determining whether to place a particular workload in a private, public, or hybrid cloud?

Rising IT stars need to be seen and heard, says Optima CIO Jason James. Here's his advice on highlighting and retaining talent.

AI is viewed by some as our salvation and by others as our ultimate destruction.

I discuss three thorny issues tied to automation: Employee burnout, human error, and opportunity costs

Digital transformation helped to empower a more engaged, flexible and happier workforce.

Successful CIOs understand the business. But you'd better be a strong technologist before taking your first CIO job

Below, we've hand-picked 20 CIOs on Twitter whose insights, commentary, and shares are sure to enrich your knowledge.

PRGX Global’s Jason James finds that the creative communication of ideas can be just as critical for technologists as ideas themselves.