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Conference Board notes disconnect between C-level and continuity efforts
The most influential executives are the least supportive, while the most supportive are the least influential; Conference Board cites metrics as a major area for improvement
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Demos study finds six ways to identify successful continuity efforts
Successful companies provide a working model of best practices; holistic, employee-centered approach is paramount; so too is recognizing and accepting a certain amount of risk; sacrificing key business concerns to security needs will always be a losing proposition
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Red Cross releases business continuity CD-ROM
Moving beyond blood drives and disaster recovery, the Red Cross tries to increase awareness of continuity requirements; besides vendor and communication redundancies, organization emphasizes first aid and office safety; CPR training a must
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Vigilon opens operation center in Chicago
The State of Illinois is actively seeking homeland security and business continuity companies; the latest to embrace the Windy City is Israeli enterprise security specialist Vigilon, which opens an operation center in Chicago
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DoD medical records system goes down temporarily
An auditing function is to blame for the 20 minute shutdown of the Clinical Data Repository; records of 8.6 million soldiers and their families at risk; DISA is working hard to create redundancy with local caches and renote data storage
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AT&T completes IT continuity project for Whitney National Bank
$2.1 million contract includes off-site data mirroring and storage, as well as multiprotocol label switching to allow bank officials to prioritize traffic among branches; effort is a model of responsible bank security
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Citrix and IBM team up on disaster gear
It is typically the case that employees disperse in the immediate aftermath of disaster — they stay with their families, or they cannot get to work, or the company’s facilities are damaged; two companies are jointly developing a product to connect such dispersed employees to each other — and to the company’s back-up data centers
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Unisys launches new business security ad campaign
Targeted at C-level executives, initiative includes a Fortune magazine cover featuring the recipient’s photograph; company hopes to sell IT security and continuity as competitive advantages, not as reactive responses to threats
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TransUnion joins CIMIP IT protection center
Company joins LexisNexis, IBM, and others at Utica College to help develop a national research agenda on identity management, information sharing and data protection
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IBM and Citrix to offer USB-based remote access service
When disaster strikes, an emergency response team inserts their keys into any available computer, automatically sending a message to employees that they are to follow suit with their own; employees then have access to remote versions of their desktop and can continue on as usual; system also allows for ongoing monitoring, scheduling, and communications
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Physical and IT security teams merge
Guards on patrol are now instructed to keep an eye out for open wireless networks and passwords written on sticky pads; $1.1 billion spent each year on bringing the two cultures together, but problems remain; integrating building and network access an emerging trend
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Survey finds replication at top of business continuity wish lists
A $2 billion industry looks to the future as demand grows for real-time data imaging; BakBone leads the way with a replication service that works across platforms and operating systems to achieve large-scale security at a low-scale cost
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Ireland leads neighbors in business continuity planning
Much remains to be done, but the Emerald Isle is far ahead of France, Germany, and Italy; half of Irish firms have no plans in place, compared to 75 percent elsewhere
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Continuity planning requires ongoing vigilence, experts say
Smart procedures are not enough; companies must constantly reevaluate and upgrade their systems; dedicated middle management and emergency drills are good approaches; many companies create emergency response teams to handle the load
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Highway association finds major problems with city evacuation plans
Major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta fail the grade; Kansas City shines; opportunities abound for the traffic management industry
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The long view
Strengthening School Violence Prevention
Violence by K-12 students is disturbingly common. Ensuring that schools have effective ways to identify and prevent such incidents is becoming increasingly important. Expanding intervention options and supporting K-12 school efforts in Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) would help.
Huge Areas May Face Possibly Fatal Heat Waves if Warming Continues
A new assessment warns that if Earth’s average temperature reaches 2 degrees C over the preindustrial average, widespread areas may become too hot during extreme heat events for many people to survive without artificial cooling.
Trump’s Cuts to Federal Wildfire Crews Could Have “Scary” Consequences
President Donald Trump’s moves to slash the federal workforce have gutted the ranks of wildland firefighters and support personnel, fire professionals warn, leaving communities to face deadly consequences when big blazes arrive this summer. States, tribes and fire chiefs are preparing for a fire season with minimal federal support.