About Value of Risk
A publication dedicated to helping small businesses understand, manage, and leverage risk.
Our Mission
Value of Risk exists to change how small businesses think about risk. Most business owners hear "risk management" and think about what they need to avoid—compliance checkboxes, insurance premiums, security theater. We believe this defensive posture misses a fundamental truth: risk is the currency of opportunity.
Every business decision involves risk. Hiring a new employee. Launching a product. Taking on a client. The businesses that thrive are not the ones that avoid risk—they are the ones that understand it, manage it deliberately, and accept it with clear eyes.
Our goal is to provide practical, actionable guidance that helps small business owners make better decisions about risk—whether that means protecting critical information assets, choosing the right partners, or responding when things go wrong.
Our Philosophy
Your Information Is Your Business
For most companies, the core business value is not the office furniture, the delivery trucks, or even the product inventory. It is the institutional knowledge, customer relationships, and operational know-how that took years to build. Protecting this information is not a cost center—it is protecting the core of your competitive advantage.
Risk Is a Three-Legged Stool
Effective risk management rests on three components: risk analysis (understanding what could go wrong), risk management (taking steps to reduce or mitigate), and risk acceptance (consciously deciding which risks to live with). Most people forget the third leg. We help readers make informed acceptance decisions.
Simple Steps Provide Significant Resilience
Risk management for a small business does not require a dedicated team or six-figure software investments. A small business backing up core files to an off-site location has more resilience than many larger companies with complex but poorly maintained systems. We focus on practical steps that actually work.
Our Team
Matt Buffo
Contributing Writer
Matt brings extensive experience in risk analysis and business strategy. His writing focuses on foundational concepts and helping business owners think systematically about risk.
Connor Peters
Editor & Contributing Writer
Connor focuses on technology, security, and the practical implementation of risk management strategies. He leads editorial direction and partner relationships.
A Locke Publication
Value of Risk is published by Locke, a company dedicated to helping small businesses access enterprise-quality IT support through a network of trusted local providers. While Value of Risk operates with editorial independence, our shared mission is helping small businesses thrive.