"The auditors will be here tomorrow and the security issues are not resolved, fix them now!"

The answer fill the usb ports on ALL computers with epoxy!! THIS IS THE TRUTH!

I am a huge advocate of the anti data embezzlement movement. Thumb drives are convenient, but are a huge security risk. Talk to a qualified IT Solution Provider and protect your self. A thorough BC/DR Plan includes a good security review and issue resolution. Get it done!

"But that IS NOT what I meant".

In today's speed of light communications world every CEO and CMO need to be very aware of what employees are doing inside AND outside the office when it comes to either promoting or degrading your company and/or a competitor.

A good BC/DR Plan discusses using corporate policies as a business interruption prevention tool. There should only be one message coming from the company and it needs to be "The Corporate" Policy.

Companies that promote blogging by employees and do not require the employee to identify themselves as an employee of the firm are in my opinion asking for trouble.

This is not a good time of year for a calculation error in Excel 2003 to rear its ugly head! The most recent security patch issued by Microsoft Excel may deliver erroneous results for certain calculations. I hope the IRS understands!

This is an issue for many firms that use Excel for quote development and shop floor data capture. How do you tell a new prospect or a good client that the price you just quoted them is wrong as a result of a security patch?

A good BC/DR Plan will have details on the steps to take to handle the types of business interruptions. It's all about survival or statistic!

Who in your firm is responsible for policing the internet for content regarding your firm? Click on the blog post title to read a compelling article regarding managing online reputation.

A bad or misrepresented image can be a real disaster. A few weeks ago I needed to find a security firm in the area. When I opened a form's web page a big "Your Site Has Been Hacked" was all over the main page! OOOPS! A thorough BC/DR Plan should help you prevent this type of potential disaster.

Give us a call!

For many years a most disturbing phrase in life is "I am from the government and I am here to help". It seems that the US Government is falling behind in upholding their own regulations and in fact are placing us in jeopardy. A recent report from the GAO details some of the inadequacies of US Government Agencies ability to protect the data they have in their possession.

It's too bad there is little recourse available to us. Get with your representatives and get them moving. The US Government is too big a target and making it easy to gain access to data as a result of lacking and inadequate security measures is just wrong.


[Read Agencies Fall Short on Protecting User Data]

The building is fine, all of the employees are on the job, it is a sunny day but the company is in the throws of what could be a fatal business interruption.

Remember the Tylenol scare from years ago? Or even last months recall of Heparin by Baxter Labs? These are serious if not fatal business interruptions that need to be addressed in every firms business continuity "BC" Plans. It's all about communications and making certain of who says what to whom.

If you have a question, leave a comment or give us a call!
[Read Product Recall Impacts Bottom Line]

In every BC/DR Plan Development Workshop Framework IT Delivers we spend time with clients talking about prevention and risk management. Certstation highlights a great prevention tip this week. The auto-preview option in Outlook "opens" the e-mail to be able to create the preview, and if the message is malicious you are done. We at Framework recommend that you DO turn off the Auto-Preview function as a simple step in "Disaster Prevention"! Be safe out there- The bad guys want your data!!
[Read Tip of the Week "Turn Off Outlook Auto-Preview ]

It continues to amaze me that companies cannot keep private data safe. This reminds me of raising my 2 sons; until they could prove they were responsible they could not have a puppy. Something needs to be done to get this mess under control. It's really not that difficult. A thorough review of your ability to be "responsible" is part of a good BC/DR Plan.

Get yours today!

[Read Data Breach Exposes Millions of Credit Cards]

Let's do a little exercise. Close the door, put your phone on "Do Not Disturb" and then grab a pencil and paper.

Start a list of "Who relies on my business", and make certain you include people such as your family, the bank, clients, certain charities and even your suppliers.

Now determine the impact the failure of your firm would have on each. Rank 0 as next to none and 10 as devastating.

What would you do or pay to reduce all of those "Impact Rankings" by 1/2 or more?

Framework IT can help, if you would like. It's not expensive, and in fact we can help you increase your firms profitability AND reduce those impacts, if not totally remove them.

It is refreshing to see Forbes pick up on a concept that we have espoused for the last 2 years. A thorough BC/DR Plan can and will mitigate the level and amount of risk and the impact a business interruption will have on your business.

The economy is a definite threat and a potential business interruption. Use your firm's BC/DR Plan as a sales and marketing tool. If vendors, clients and potential lenders are doing a good job, they will see your BC/DR Plan as your firm being a STRONG firm and capable of survival.

Let's get a plan done, now.