We rely on IT systems, networks, and services, including internet sites, data hosting and processing facilities and tools, hardware (including laptops and mobile devices), software, and technical applications and platforms, some of which are managed and hosted by third-party vendors, to assist us in the management of our business. The various uses of these IT systems, networks, and services include hosting our internal network and communication systems; enterprise resource planning; processing transactions; summarizing and reporting results of operations; business planning and financial information; complying with regulatory, legal, and tax requirements; providing and managing data security; and handling other processes necessary to manage our business. The Company has previously experienced, and is expected to continue to be exposed to, failures of our IT systems and those of our third-party vendors due to various causes, including those caused by natural disasters, power outages, computer and telecommunications failures, viruses, phishing attempts, cyber-attacks, malware and ransomware attacks, security breaches, failures in maintenance or development of new IT systems, and errors by employees or vendors.
We have technology and processes in place designed to detect and respond to such failures and disruptions; however, because of the techniques used to obtain unauthorized access, disable, or degrade service, or sabotage systems, and because of the unpredictable nature of other potential threats such as natural disasters, our detection and response measures may be ineffective or inadequate. In addition, increased IT security threats and more sophisticated cyber-crime pose a potential risk to the security of our IT systems, networks, and services, as well as the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of our data. This could lead to outside parties having access to our confidential data, strategic information, or information regarding our employees, suppliers, or customers. Ransomware attacks or other cybersecurity breaches have occurred, either internally or at our third-party technology service providers, and have caused and may in the future cause us to be prevented from accessing our data, resulting in interruptions or delays in our business, and causing us to incur remediation costs or requiring us to pay ransom to a hacker which takes over our systems, or damage our reputation. Although we maintain insurance coverage for various cybersecurity risks, we may incur costs or financial losses that are either not insured against or not fully covered through our insurance.
All of these potential failures or disruptions of our data security systems or our IT systems could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial conditions, or results of operations. If the IT systems, networks, or service providers we rely upon fail to function properly, we may suffer disruptions to operations, including order processing, invoicing, and production and distribution of our products, as well as reputational, competitive, or business harm, all of which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations. If our critical IT systems or back-up systems or those of our third-party vendors were damaged or ceased to function properly, we might have to make a significant investment to repair or replace them. In addition, these events could result in unauthorized disclosure of confidential information, and we may suffer financial and reputational damage because of lost or misappropriated confidential information belonging to us or to our employees, customers, or suppliers. Additionally, we could be exposed to potential liability, litigation, governmental inquiries, investigations, or regulatory enforcement actions and we could be subject to the payment of fines or other penalties, ransoms, legal claims by our suppliers, customers, or employees, and significant remediation costs.