There was a time when IT systems didn’t really have that much of an impact beyond the boundaries of the Department or company they support. Certainly their loss was annoying, possibly news worth but ultimately problems would be solved and life would go on. Today that is no longer the case.
Technology has been embraced to make life generally easier, reduce costs and obtain outcomes faster. This is a good thing of course, but any implementation needs to come with the realization that the in the age of information, the new currency is information and people will work to steal it.
The answers to these problems are unfortunately complex and ever changing which all departments and organisations (not only the AEC) are learning daily, but regardless of the technology or the environment involved, it will generally come back to first principles; people, process and technology. Get that balance correct and while you will still a large and ongoing task, you will have a solid foundation.