Why is sales compliance important?

When it comes to compliance monitoring, sales communications are an extension of marketing communications. However, the main difference is that in sales communications, a sales agent often speaks directly to one or a few people rather than a wider audience.

These messages are not immune to regulatory examination.

Likewise, they are subject to the same laws and regulations as any other marketing materials. Failure to satisfy these regulatory duties may result in regulatory scrutiny and enforcement proceedings being brought against your organization.

Sales compliance is important for a sales organization from a liability standpoint. If the business’s sales practices are inconsistent, the business needs to be able to show that its policies, practices, and procedures are consistent. Otherwise, the business can face liability lawsuits for violations of certain sales practices.

Ensure that all employees, from C-suite executives to entry-level salespeople, follow relevant legal requirements. As a result, businesses can ensure that they fully comply with the regulations and policies.

Sales compliance is especially critical for sales organizations that operate in highly-regulated industries, such as finance or healthcare organizations. The consequences of non-compliance are steep, including fines, remediation costs, and loss of customers.

Q&A Section:

Q1: What exactly is sales compliance, and why is it crucial for businesses?

Sales compliance refers to the adherence to rules and regulations established by authorities, industry associations, or internal company policies in sales communications and practices. It’s crucial for businesses to comply with these regulations to ensure ethical, fair, and legal sales operations. Compliance safeguards customers from misleading or fraudulent practices and protects businesses from legal consequences.

Q2: What are the key areas where sales compliance is particularly essential?

Sales compliance is critical in various areas including:

• Consumer Protection Laws: Ensuring fairness and transparency in sales.
• Contract Law: Ensuring the legality of sales agreements.
• Privacy and Data Protection Laws: Protecting customer data and ensuring responsible handling.
• Product Liability Laws: Ensuring products meet safety standards and quality criteria.
• Sales Tax and VAT Laws: Complying with tax regulations in sales transactions.

Q3: How can businesses ensure sales compliance, especially when utilizing multiple sales channels?

Businesses can ensure sales compliance through:

• Comprehensive Policies: Establish clear sales policies and procedures.
• Training Programs: Train sales teams on legal and ethical dimensions of sales.
• Monitoring Systems: Implement systems to track and address compliance issues.
• Integration of Technology: Use compliance management software for efficient compliance monitoring.
• Studying Successful Cases: Learn from successful case studies on sales compliance.

Q4: What are some tools available to assist businesses in managing sales compliance?

Several compliance management tools can aid in managing sales compliance:

• PowerDMS: Centralized compliance management for policy distribution and tracking.
• HSI Donesafe: Software for managing risks, corporate governance, and compliance.
• Libryo: Compliance management software offering real-time updates on legal requirements.
• Predict 360: Comprehensive tool for managing complex risks and regulatory obligations.

Q5: What are the benefits of prioritizing sales compliance for businesses?

Prioritizing sales compliance offers various benefits such as:

• Legal Protection: Avoiding legal consequences and lawsuits.
• Reputation Management: Building trust with customers and maintaining a strong brand reputation.
• Competitive Advantage: Attracting customers who prefer to engage with ethical organizations.
• Risk Mitigation: Reducing internal risks related to non-compliance.
• Cost Savings: Avoiding expenses associated with legal violations.

Q6: How can technology aid in ensuring sales compliance for businesses?

Technology plays a significant role by automating compliance monitoring, ensuring policies are adhered to across multiple channels, and streamlining compliance management. Compliance management software simplifies documentation, aids in tracking compliance issues, and provides informative reports for analysis, enhancing operational efficiency.

Q7: Why is sales compliance especially important for businesses operating in highly-regulated industries?

In industries like finance or healthcare, stringent regulations exist to protect customers and maintain industry standards. Non-compliance in such industries can lead to severe consequences including hefty fines, remediation costs, and the loss of customers’ trust, which is why adherence to sales compliance is paramount.

Q8: How does sales compliance contribute to a company’s work ethic and employee satisfaction?

Sales compliance establishes a culture of ethical and legal conduct within a company. This ethical environment fosters employee satisfaction, as staff members appreciate working for a company that values integrity. It contributes to a positive work ethic, promoting a sense of pride and commitment among employees.

Q9: What are some common pitfalls businesses face when it comes to sales compliance?

Common pitfalls in sales compliance include:

• Inadequate Training: Lack of training on compliance regulations among sales teams.
• Insufficient Monitoring: Failure to track sales activities across multiple channels effectively.
• Inconsistent Policies: Unclear or inconsistent sales policies and procedures.
• Data Security Concerns: Mishandling or insufficiently securing sensitive customer data.
• Failure to Adapt: Inability to keep up with evolving regulatory requirements.

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Managing staff cyber risk is critical to avoiding user-related data breaches and demonstrating regulatory compliance. A strong HRM program includes continual security awareness training that teaches end-users how to recognize and resist modern risks. In addition, it teaches best practices for staying secure.

However, starting these training classes raises certain challenges. One of these is what security awareness training subjects to include. Here are the top employee cyber security awareness training topics.

1. Phishing Awareness

This is still one of the most efficient cybercrime methods. Phishing assaults doubled in 2020 and continues to rise. Furthermore, remote work makes it tougher for organizations to protect their users.

However, why is phishing still a problem in 2023?

One key reason is the sophistication of these attacks. For example, a business email compromise attack combines prior research on a specific individual like a company’s senior executive. With this, they can develop an assault that looks very legitimate.

With more sophisticated assaults and the prevalent notion that phishing is easy to spot, it’s no surprise that many firms will face a phishing-related breach. Employees, therefore, require regular training on how to recognize contemporary phishing attacks and how to report them as soon as they suspect they’ve been targeted.

2. Awareness of Removeable Media Vulnerability

Removable media is a portable storage device that allows users to copy data from one device to another. Malware-infected USB drives might be left for users to discover when they plug them in.

Researchers dumped approximately 300 USB sticks on the UIUC campus. 98 percent were picked up! Also, 45 percent of these drives were not only picked up but the files found were opened.

Your staff must be aware of the risks of removable media and how to use these gadgets safely and responsibly. There are many reasons why a corporation may want to employ removable media. However, like any technology, there are risks.

Therefore, your staff must protect the data on these devices as well as the devices themselves. All data, personal or business, has value.

3. Security and Authentication

Password security is a fairly easy yet frequently forgotten feature of organizational security.

Malicious actors often guess common passwords to get access to your accounts. Once stolen, this data can be made public or sold on the dark web.

Using various passwords makes it difficult for hackers to access several accounts. Other measures, such as two-factor authentication, add extra layers of protection for the account.

4. Physical Safety Awareness

If you keep your passwords on sticky notes on your desk, it’s time to toss them.

Though many attacks are likely to be digital, protecting sensitive physical documents is critical to your company’s security system. Furthermore, unattended papers, computers, and passwords pose a security concern.

5. Secure Mobile Devices

The evolving IT ecosystem has enabled more flexible working settings. However, it also allows more sophisticated security attacks.

In 2024, user-device responsibility will continue to be an increasingly important part of training. This is especially true for traveling or remote professionals. Malicious mobile apps have raised the likelihood of mobile phones harboring malware, posing a security issue.

Online courses for mobile device workers can help staff avoid threats without costly security measures. If a mobile device is lost or stolen, sensitive data should be encrypted, password-protected, or biometrically authenticated.

Employees who operate on their own devices must be trained in personal device safety. In addition, workers should have to sign a mobile security policy.

6. Remote Work Security Awareness

Remote working can benefit both employers and people. It can increase productivity and improve work-life balance.

However, this trend can lead to more security breaches. Therefore, personal gadgets for work should have default encryption and antivirus software.

7. Free WiFi Security Awareness

Some employees who work remotely, or work on the go may need extra training on how to use public Wi-Fi properly.

Fake public Wi-Fi networks, sometimes lurking in coffee shops, expose users to non-secure public servers. Therefore, educate your users on safe public Wi-Fi usage. In addition, let them know about typical scam warning flags. This will raise company knowledge and reduce risk.

8. Cloud Security

Cloud computing has changed the way businesses store and access data. Despite the fact that you store significant volumes of private data offsite, hacking is still a possibility.

Many large corporations are focusing on data security. However, picking the proper cloud service provider may make data storage much safer and more cost-effective.

9. Social Media Awareness

We all post pictures of our events, holidays, and jobs on social media. However, oversharing might expose important information that can allow a hostile actor to pose as a trusted source through social engineering.

Therefore, educating employees on how to maintain their social media privacy settings. In addition, teach them how to avoid the transmission of company information. This will lessen the chance of hackers gaining leverage.

10. Internet and Email

Simple or repetitive emails for several accounts may have exposed some employees to data breaches.

One survey indicated that 59% of users reuse passwords across accounts. If one account is open, a hacker can use the password to access all of the user’s accounts. This can include work and social media accounts.

Many websites provide free software contaminated with viruses. Downloading software from reliable sources is the safest method to secure your computer.

11. Awareness of Social Engineering

Social engineering is a method to earn employee trust by delivering lucrative incentives or impersonating others. To address these dangers, teach employees basic social engineering strategies.

Private information can be accidentally given to bad actors by appearing as a desirable client or by offering incentives. Increasing employee knowledge of impersonation threats is crucial to lowering social engineering risk.

12. Home Security

Malicious actors do not go away when you leave the office. Malware downloaded on personal devices can harm the company’s network if, for example, log-in credentials are compromised.

A recent analysis found that phishing campaigns targeting Dropbox had a 13.6 percent click-through rate. You can reduce this risk by educating employees and distributing encrypted material. Authenticating downloads also helps.

Building a Cyber-Savvy Workforce

Q&A Section:

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Understanding the digital marketing landscape isn’t only about studying metrics and analyzing the data. It’s about immersing in the consumer’s digital environment and viewing the marketing landscape from their perspective. This inevitably leads to the question, should I get a VPN? This is where VPNs come in handy.

How does a VPN Work?

Using a VPN on your desktop, smartphone, or tablet, is like giving your device a disguise. It tricks your device into thinking it’s on a local network with the VPN, instead of the network you’re actually on.

The VPN reroutes your device’s internet connection through its private server, not your usual internet service provider (ISP). This makes your device operate as if it’s part of the VPN’s network, and all your network traffic is sent over a secure connection.

The moment you activate a VPN program, it begins to encrypt, or code, all your data. This happens so rapidly that not even your ISP or WiFi provider can decipher it. This scrambled, coded data then travels to the VPN server, and from there, to its final destination.

What a VPN does is, it ensures your data remains unreadable until it gets to its intended destination. It establishes a safe passageway from your computer or phone to the internet, safeguarding your important information. This includes files you download, websites you visit, and interactions with individual apps, among other things.

10 possible ways a VPN can help with marketing

Now we know a few things about VPNs. Without any further ado, let’s explore the top 10 reasons why every marketer should consider incorporating a VPN into their digital marketing toolkit. Whether you’re a seasoned marketer or just starting out, these insights could change your approach to online marketing.

• Ensuring a Secure Connection

A VPN offers a safe, private internet connection, a necessity for every marketer. Whether you’re working from home or using public Wi-Fi in a café, a VPN protects against cybercriminals looking to exploit unsecured networks and steal sensitive data. Take the example of digital marketing agency teamDigital; they unintentionally risked client data when they exposed certain environment config files. Clients included big names like NFL, Mastercard, and Soundcloud. Until vulnerabilities like this are resolved, a VPN allows marketers to work securely by encrypting all their web activities.

• Protecting Client Data

Marketers often manage sensitive client information that must be shielded from cyber threats. VPNs encrypt this data, making it difficult for hackers to access. This extra layer of security for your client’s data builds trust with your customers.

• Preserving Network Speed

ISPs sometimes throttle bandwidth when they notice heavy data usage. As a marketer, you might find yourself in such a situation while conducting extensive market research or data analysis. A VPN can prevent ISPs from seeing your online activity, thus maintaining your connection speed unthrottled.

• Accessing Blocked Services

Some marketing tools and services may be blocked or have limited functionality in certain countries. Using a VPN, marketers can access these blocked services, ensuring they have all the necessary tools for a successful marketing campaign.

• Bypassing Censorship

Some countries implement restrictive internet controls, blocking access to specific websites or platforms. A VPN allows marketers to bypass these restrictions and access the information they need, particularly useful when targeting audiences in these regions or researching international competitors.

• Conducting Competitor Research

Marketers can use a VPN to change their IP address, enabling them to view competitors’ websites, blogs, ads, and keywords without revealing the traffic source. Monitoring competition can help marketers find SEO backlink opportunities or learn about negative customer feedback. However, it’s crucial not to cross into unethical practices.

• Enhancing SEO Efforts

Different parts of the world are interested in different trending topics and search keywords. With a VPN, a marketing team can ‘browse’ from a specific country or region, seeing what search engines display to people there. This is especially useful as businesses on the first page of search results capture about 92% of organic traffic.

• Streamlining Search Engine Marketing

Google suggests that companies earn $2 for each dollar spent on Google Ads. To maximize their effectiveness, marketers need to understand the biggest advertisers in specific locations and study their ads closely. With a VPN, they can see the online marketing landscape exactly as customers do.

• Optimizing YouTube Advertising

YouTube isn’t just a popular video platform; it’s the second most popular website overall. A VPN allows marketers to see YouTube ads as if they’re in other regions, allowing them to tweak their ads and content accordingly.

• Geo-Testing

VPNs can be used to ‘locate’ you in a specific place, handy for marketers who want to test how their content performs in different regions. Using a VPN to ‘travel’ digitally, marketers can review and optimize their content for various locations without leaving their desks.

Conclusion

All these points highlight why a VPN is a game-changer for marketers in our increasingly digital and global business world. As we face more cyber threats and intense global competition, a VPN isn’t just a nice-to-have extra. In fact, it’s a must-have for any marketer who wants to run a successful, secure operation, especially now it is easy to find vpn coupons online.

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According to the FBI, more than 2.76 million complaints were filed with them from 2017 to 2022, increasing every year not only in number but also in dollars lost. That suggests that not only are cyber criminals getting savvier, but their targets are losing more every year.

Source: FBI “Internet Crime Report 2021”

Phishing vs. Spearfishing vs. Spoofing: What’s the Difference?

A scam is a scam is a scam, right? Understanding the different types, however, can help business and their customers stay a step or two ahead of criminals.

What is phishing?

Phishing is a type of cyberattack that involves sending fraudulent emails or texts in an attempt to trick people into clicking on malicious links or attachments. These links and attachments can contain malware that can infect your device or steal your personal information.

There are several types of phishing:

• Vishing is short for “voice phishing,” which means using voice recordings or live-voice telephony to target victims.
• Smishing uses SMS (texting) messaging to target victims.
• Pharming is a cyberattack that tricks users into going to a website and entering credentials, which the cyber criminals then steal and use to access bank and other types of personal accounts.
• Spoofing is when a cyber criminal creates a fake website that looks legitimate, typically of a well-known brand like PayPal, Wal-Mart, and Microsoft.

There are many other types of phishing and cyber crimes, but they all have the same intent: to defraud and/or harm businesses and individuals. Here is a closer look at three specific types of cyber scams.

What is spearfishing (in cybersecurity terms)?

Spearphishing is a type of phishing attack that criminals target at a specific individual or organization.

Attackers may use publicly available information about their target to make their emails seem more legitimate and increase the likelihood of getting victims to click on malicious links or attachments.

What is spoofing?

Spoofing is a type of cyberattack in which an attacker impersonates another person or entity in order to trick victims into providing sensitive information or taking action that they would not ordinarily take.

In phishing attacks, attackers typically spoof the sender of an email in order to trick victims into clicking on a malicious link or attachment. Consequently, the victim’s computer is infected with malware. Subsequently, thieves steal their personal information.

The consequences of falling victim to a spoofing, phishing, or spear-phishing attack can be serious. Victims may lose money, have their identities stolen, or be infected with malware that allows attackers to take control of their computers.

It is important to be aware of these types of attacks and take steps to protect yourself from them. Consequently, it may help to review our list of topics for security awareness training.

According to the FBI’s 2021 Internet Crime Report, phishing, vishing, smishing and pharming are the most prolific:

Source: FBI “Internet Crime Report 2021”

How Companies Are Fighting Back Against Scams

Combating cyber attacks is like a masterful game of chess. Just as users become smarter and more sophisticated at detecting scams, the criminals learn more. Fortunately, companies are fighting back against these scams with a variety of methods.

Many have implemented strict security measures, such as two-factor authentication and firewalls. Others have created awareness campaigns to educate employees on how to spot a scam. And some companies have even taken legal action against the scammers themselves.

Vigilence: Everyone’s Responsibility

Unfortunately, it’s up to consumers to do their due diligence to protect themselves as well.

If you get an email from a company and want to verify that it’s legit, don’t click the link. Go to the company’s website and look for messaging like a page specifically dedicated to reporting scams, as in this AnyTech365 example.

You can report fraud directly to the companies that are being spoofed, and you can also report the messages to the FBI.

Many large companies employ people whose jobs are to prevent and respond to fraud. To report a possible scam to a company, do an internet search for the company name plus “fraud department” or “report a scam.” But be careful! Some cybercriminals have become very savvy and created fake pages that appear to be fraud investigators.

A consumer just can’t get a break, can they? Here’s what to do. First, check the URL. Make sure it connects to the corporation. (Below, we’re using the mega retailer Target as an example.)

Now go to Target’s website and in the footer, look for the Security and Fraud department.

You’ll see that the web addresses match. Consequently, both the Google result and the link in the store’s footer take you to security.target.com.

By taking these steps, businesses can protect themselves from the costly effects of spearfishing and other forms of cybercrime. And although there’s no guaranteed way to prevent all attacks, being proactive can go a long way in protecting your company from harm.

The post The Real Cost of Spearfishing, Spoofing and Phishing appeared first on DMNews.

Here’s how data encryption works and its benefits for businesses.

How to Encrypt Data?

There are several different ways to encrypt data. For one, you can encrypt your WiFi router to prevent unauthorized access to your network. WPA2 (WiFi Protected Access) is the latest security standard for WiFi encryption. Implement WPA2 in all routers your business uses. Most routers have WEP (an older protocol) or no encryption enabled.

Installing a VPN on all work devices is another way to encrypt data. The VPN will route your internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel (a third server.) When the traffic gets to its intended target, it will be impossible to tell where it came from.

Critical business data, particularly customer data, should be stored in an encrypted location. Luckily, there are many cloud storage services available that encrypt stored data. Most of them do so without any action needed to be taken by the user.

As great as cloud storage is, there’s nothing more secure than encrypted physical disks. They may not be the most convenient storage solution, but they can be used to store critical information that’s not used daily.

Benefits of Encrypting Data

According to an IBM report, the average data breach in 2021 cost organizations $4.24 million. The probability of a data breach is even more concerning. 30% of all businesses are likely to experience a breach. 

Data encryption plays a key role in protecting businesses from experiencing a breach and suffering tremendous financial and reputational consequences. Apart from that, here are some other benefits of encrypting business data.

Compliance with Regulations

Data encryption is a major priority in new regulations. As cyberattacks are becoming more dangerous to the general public, regulators are starting to implement stricter rules for businesses to follow. Companies that fail to comply with these regulations can face hefty fines and public slander.

Ensures Security Across All Work Devices

With remote work becoming prevalent, employees also are using more devices for work-related tasks than ever, ranging from cell phones to tablets to laptops. That’s why you should encourage employees to encrypt even their personal devices.

Data encryption plays a key role in ensuring that all data transfers and communication are done securely.

Protects Data in Transit

Data moving from one point to another is at the highest risk of a breach. Businesses perform thousands of data transfers each day, either with outside vendors, customers, or within the company.

A complete data encryption solution includes end-to-end encryption. This type of encryption ensures secure communication that prevents third parties from accessing or tampering with data in transit. Only the intended recipient can decrypt and access the files.

Retains Data Integrity

If data is unencrypted, hackers may be able to tamper with it, and neither the sender nor recipient would know. This can have grave consequences for a business and lead to horrible miscommunication. Encryption prevents hackers from tampering with business data and ensures that recipients always have accurate information.

The Cost of Data Encryption

Knowing all the benefits of data encryption, you may be wondering how much it costs. However, the answer varies depending on the type of encryption you want to use. For example, a VPN would cost around $120 a year per device. Whereas, cloud storage services cost around $0.02 a month per GB of storage. 

You can enable WPA2 encryption for free in your router’s network settings. Full disk encryption is the most costly, at around $230 per year. Whatever encryption you choose, it will be worth it because a data breach would cost your business thousands.

Final Thoughts

Data encryption is crucial for the current business environment. It allows organizations to transfer data and communicate securely. It’s also a major part of remaining compliant with increasingly stricter regulations. There are many ways to encrypt data. You can encrypt your Wifi router, install a VPN, or use an encrypted hard drive.

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It would have been inconceivable a decade ago to use your smartphone to operate your home’s lights, temperature, and security system. Just a few years ago, smart home tech became a reality. As more people discover how useful smart technology can be, there’s a significant chance that smart devices will become standard in their homes.

Yes, many of the fantastic things we see in science fiction may be found in our own houses. Read on if you want to know about smart appliances and how they might one day drastically transform our life. Here, we’ll discuss what a smart home is and how it might appear in ten years or more.

Facts about Home Automation

Did you know? More than a billion bulbs have already been connected to the internet.

In addition, a smart home system might boost the value of a property by $50,000 in the future. Furthermore, there are about 180 million smart homes in the world right now.

In 2022, home security systems were approximately $47 billion out of a $100 billion security market. Additionally, a homeowner can save up to 31% on their electricity bill by using cutting-edge home electronics. Millennials, by the way, are willing to spend more on a smart home.

Have you considered getting smart yet?

The only thing you’ll need is a strong internet connection. After that, smart home tech appliances will be added in the future.

In addition, as our watches, phones, and even jewelry get smarter, we will eventually grasp the benefits of owning smart products.

Consider a refrigerator that allows you to order a drink of water from your phone and have it waiting for you when you walk in the door.

Furthermore, think about how awesome an internet-enabled microwave would be. It could automatically tweet your lunch to the rest of the world. That last example is obviously a joke, but you get the idea, right?

Refrigerators, dryers, washers, and other appliances with touchscreen displays are already on the market. Several are also internet-ready. This allows you to run the software directly from the device.

As smart appliances grow more intuitive they are making life easier. Further, as they learn your preferences they have the ability to make life even more convenient.

However, this raises concerns about the types of data that big data corporations may acquire. This might include things such as when and what you eat each day.

Toilets with Smart Technology

Even if it seems silly, turning a pot you use for “that” into something “smart” is already occurring. In Japan, toilets can examine urine samples after people use the restroom. Furthermore, they can determine whether or not they have diabetes.

The fundamental advantage of smart toilets appears to be that they keep us healthy. When you think about it, this makes a lot of sense.

Stool or urine analysis can reveal a lot about a person. Women may soon be able to tell if they are pregnant by using the restroom. In addition, men may soon be able to tell if they have colon cancer by the toilet automatically examining their stool.

Other features such as heat on seats, in addition to flushing systems and deodorizers, are also very useful.

The Numi toilet seat from Kohler is one of the most modern and “smart” toilets on the market. It delivers the ultimate in luxury living. These toilets have integrated foot warmers,  air dryers, heated seats, motion-activated covers and seats, bidets, and, of course, an illuminated touchscreen with MP3 playback compatibility!

Smart Home Tech: Fully Automated Robots

We still have a long way to go before we can construct a fully autonomous humanoid robot. They are, however, already in use in many households today. There are robots that clean your floors for you, such as Neato and iRobot.

In addition, a robot prototype by German scientists can do more than just clean floors. The equipment is made of a one-armed and three-fingered arm that can pick up objects, operate machines, clean up, and even serve drinks to guests. Because of a sensing system, the robot does not clamp down on a human’s arm.

Furthermore, a touch screen also comes with the gadget. In addition, it can respond to voice commands. There are also pre-programmed gestures available.

Smart Home Tech Controls for Lighting

Wall switches in the future will no longer turn on ceiling lights or lamps. Lights can now be controlled by a touchscreen panel, mobile device, or automated system.

In addition, you may even program a smart thermostat, such as NEST. Furthermore, you can chill the air or turn on the lights in your home when you return from vacation.

In addition, why couldn’t your home inform you when it’s time for an oil change like your automobile can? Further, consider an air conditioner that can alert you when it’s time to replace the air filter.

What about installing an energy system that will alert you if you go over your monthly power budget?

Smart homes can, on a minute-by-minute basis, record a home’s energy consumption and associated costs. In addition, it can measure a carbon footprint. This will allow homeowners to make better decisions about their energy consumption.

Additionally, smart home tech may also monitor appliances in a home. It can indicate when it’s time to update to more energy-efficient models. The system receives updates on a regular basis to add new features and make it more helpful. Power tracking systems will soon be typical in modern homes.

Final Thoughts

The concept of smart home tech may appear to be a science fiction fantasy.

However, specialists working on the subject believe that with the help of this technology a utopian future is within reach.

The post Smart Home Tech: What Will The Future Look Like? appeared first on DMNews.

Many businesses would have had to shut down during the height of the outbreak if it hadn’t been for cutting-edge tech innovations and digital solutions. Although every tech team’s efforts to facilitate eCommerce, remote work, and networking have been valuable, the pandemic has been bringing out a number of clear tech winners.

Among them, video conferencing, for example, is now a big part of both the consumer and corporate sectors. Therefore, which of the pandemic’s technologies will have a long-term impact on how we live and work?

1. Computing in the Cloud

Cloud computing was already in wide use. However, the pandemic is making its adoption permanent.

Cloud computing has been critical to the transformation of consumer experiences and business models necessary for them to respond to the pandemic. It is possibly the most important technical foundation for flexibility, agility, and digital mobility.

2. Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing/Innovations for Healthcare

Computer-assisted telephone questioning has proven to be extremely useful to health researchers.

CATI has the advantage of being able to use any sort of phone. In addition, it does not require participants to be literate. Therefore, it promotes inclusion and equity by allowing researchers to collect data from a wide range of people.

3. Innovations in Automating Financial Processes

Finance departments will need to automate financial exchanges as much as possible, no matter where they are working.

Companies are transitioning to new work structures. In addition, more funding goes into tools to support remote workforces. This will allow them to focus on more strategic initiatives to drive their businesses forward.

4. Embedded Financial Technology

Embedded financial technology has proven successful and will continue to expand in the post-pandemic environment.

Nonbank financial institutions provide services such as payments, digital wallets, and lending. Embedded financial services are under development by companies across a range of industries. These include retail, automotive manufacture, telecommunications, insurance, hospitality, transportation, logistics, food, and technology.

5. Nonfungible Tokens/Innovations for the Arts

The pandemic left a pressing need for musicians, whether independent or part of a label, to develop new ways to disseminate their work.

They were in need of a way to build value for live events, future content, and other endeavors. As Generation-Z consumers get more familiar with commerce, the early use of nonfungible tokens in entertainment and the arts is astounding. This is a brand-new asset class that will be around for a long time.

6. Intelligent Security Technology Innovations

As a result of the pandemic’s security dangers, the cybersecurity industry is stepping up and demonstrating its creativity.

Intelligent security technology that can reduce insider breaches, in particular, is helping enterprises to keep their data safe. In addition, businesses will need to be vigilant when it comes to insider risk as to the future of long-term hybrid working approaches.

7. Cybersecurity Service Providers

Cybersecurity vendors are among the big winners. Employees who are irresponsible with passwords on laptops account for a large number of hacks.

However, now, due to the pandemic, those same computers are going home. This began increasing the cyber risk for businesses.

Companies have made finding cyber technologies to secure their assets a major goal. This holds true for networks and mobile devices as well.

8. Virtual Reality Innovations

Virtual reality saw an increase in attention and activity as more teams and individuals went remote. In addition, many inventive new VR applications and software releases are on the market.

They are helping to make individuals feel more productive, connected, and, in many cases, entertained. VR can bring people closer together in a safe way. This is true whether it’s for education, video conferencing, gaming, or work.

9. Artificial Intelligence Innovations

We’re in the midst of an AI renaissance. This change has only been increasing as a result of the pandemic.

Companies are taking advantage of this opportunity to use AI to reinvent themselves in order to succeed in the long run. Therefore, we will see AI transition from a tech facilitator to a tech driver as we emerge from the epidemic.

This will make AI a critical aspect of the broader company strategy to help deliver long-term value.

10. Telehealth Solutions/Healthcare Tech Innovations

Access to health services had its severe limitations at the start of the pandemic.

Afterward, in order to improve their operations, healthcare providers began using video-conferencing tools to deliver virtual services. Furthermore, they began delivering practice-management software.

The market for these solutions is still being snatched up by tech companies.

11. Apps for Mental Fitness

Calm and other mental fitness applications have seen benefits from the pandemic. People are paying greater attention to their mental health now that we’ve all had to spend so much time alone.

Therefore it’s an idea that will have a long-term influence. People are likely to maintain their mental fitness practice even after the pandemic is over.

12. Innovations in Streaming Services

Streaming services are unquestionably the winners here. In 2020, HBO Max, Paramount+, and Peacock all premiered. They’re joining Disney+, Apple, Netflix, and other streaming services.

Companies now can count on reliable subscription revenue from streaming services because they don’t have to wait to see if their film is a blockbuster. In addition, instead of going to the theaters, those funds are going straight to the source.

The model is undoubtedly popular with customers. Therefore, expect to see streamers in bundles.

13. Wireless Internet Access at Home

In order to cope with the increasing bandwidth requirement for homeschooling and working from home, many of us were raising our home broadband capabilities and speeds.

How many of us will revert to earlier bundles in order to avoid the higher costs? Probably very few, as we all appreciate the higher working speeds.

14. Apps for Personal Assistance

Strangers have become part of a team that helps many households. This is largely thanks to apps for personal service providers like Doordash, Instacart, and others.

Almost any home item is deliverable to your door on demand.

These tech innovations were helping us cope during the pandemic.  However, now they are driving the future of business and every other aspect of our lives.

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Studies show that remote work is here to stay a year after the pandemic began. More than 40% of employees work remotely and intend to do so indefinitely. With this in mind, businesses should start now to undertake a cybersecurity audit. Make sure to incorporate this home security checklist into your strategy moving ahead.

1. Make sure endpoint security is in place.

The network perimeter has all but vanished with an increasingly mobile workforce. This gives reason enough to try anything to increase your security. Many options have free options before signing on for longer. There are even instances where you can try vpn for free.

For cybercriminals, each tablet, laptop, or smartphone that connects to the network gives another prospective access point. As a result, businesses must pay extra attention to endpoint security. This is the purpose of this home security checklist.

To address access at the device level, start with mobile device management. Acceptable use policies are enforced, encryption is managed, whether a device can access the network is determined, and unsafe actions are blocked by MDM.

For example, you can use MDM to enforce multi-factor authentication regulations and mandate that devices fulfill certain security requirements.

2. Pay special attention to email security.

Email is the most common source of security breaches.

When employees work from home, they rely even more on email to provide links and critical data. Organizations should demand multi-factor authentication for email accounts and assure email encryption, in addition to strengthening automated email policies.

Cover the human factor as well as the technological measures. Deliver cybersecurity training in bursts to remind users of security threats and effective practices for avoiding them.

For example, all users should be aware of the components of secure passwords and how to spot phishing emails.

3. Practice safe video conferencing based on home security tips.

With a big section of the workforce working from home, video conferencing has become a commonplace part of everyday life.

We use video to conduct meetings, complete coursework, and even socialize. Sometimes we forget that video conferencing has inherent security vulnerabilities since we spend so much time in front of a webcam. Therefore, take actions to reduce those dangers.

Use a waiting room or a password to control visitor admission to a meeting, for example, to ensure that meetings remain private.

Also, keep in mind that not all video conferencing software offers end-to-end encryption. As a result, be sure the software provides the appropriate encryption for sessions that will cover particularly sensitive material.

4. Make remote connections stronger.

Work from home success is built on strong remote connections.

Organizations should assess the infrastructure that allows your mobile workforce to access vital applications and data as an important item on the cybersecurity checkup.

Therefore, if you utilize a VPN, for example, check sure MFA standards are in practice.  In addition, check to make sure that you have the bandwidth to handle all remote workers.

Reduce distant network access by employing virtual desktops as an alternative to using a VPN. In addition, migrate applications to the cloud wherever possible.

Cloud computing provides substantial benefits for distant work, including flexibility and scalability, in addition to reducing network risk.

5. Make centralized storage mandatory.

Access to scalable, centralized document storage is one of the most important advantages of cloud computing.

Whether your company uses cloud storage or server storage, be sure that all employees have access to it. In addition, backups are made easier with centralized storage. Furthermore, business continuity is ensured.

The same security safeguards do not apply to documents kept on local machines.

6. Update data privacy policies.

Hopefully, you examine your security protocols at least once a year. Pay careful attention to your policies now, given the turmoil of the previous year.

In addition, make sure they address all of the crucial aspects of remote work. Acceptable use policies for internet access and equipment, encryption, password requirements, and protocols for BYOD should all be part of your security policies.

7. For better security, keep home and office computers separate.

If you have the luxury of working from home, it is your responsibility to keep your work computer separate from your family computer.

Sharing a personal gadget for work with spouses and children might be harmful. Therefore, protect your computers against illegal use by family members.

In addition, make sure your work-from-home computer is protected by security and anti-virus software from your firm.

Putting Home Security Tips into Practice

You, like many other businesses, may find security flaws in your remote work environment.

Messaging your IT professionals can be a great help. They can help you set up automatic email policies or migrate to the cloud.

In addition, they can create a comprehensive data security strategy that fits your specific needs. It may be that all you need to do is ask.

Related Post: Top Five CyberSecurity Stocks to Purchase

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Companies are on high alert for Russian hackers. This, in turn, has boosted cybersecurity stocks recently. The conflict in Ukraine has spread beyond its borders. Therefore, as a form of retaliation, there is an expectation of increasing cyber-attacks.

With this in mind, security experts are issuing warnings about a new type of malware that might cause data loss. Companies all over the world are looking for greater security as Russia’s sanctions take effect.

Regardless of what they decide to do, cybersecurity will be a good investment. With cyber-attacks on the rise and more people and businesses at risk, it pays to be on the side of defense. Innovations in cybersecurity are showing great promise in the fight against cyber threats.

If a corporation is the target, the cost of recovery might run into millions of dollars. Therefore, rather than sitting back and waiting for an assault, many businesses are investing in security. Some experts predict that cloud security will post the biggest increase in 2022. It’s time to learn about the best cybersecurity stocks to buy if you want to profit from the rising market.

1. Zscaler: Protects Critical Data

• 35.6 billion dollars in market capitalization
• 1 Year Revenue Growth: 63%
• Specialty: Cloud and App Security

Zscaler assists businesses in protecting critical data and apps from cyber-attacks. The Zero Trust Exchange platform from the security firm helps businesses decrease risk while offering quick cloud access. Internet access, digital experience, private access, and cloud protection are the platform’s four main benefits.

The platform handles 160 billion transactions every day across 185 countries. Not only that, but the firm has over 80 industry partners, including Amazon and Microsoft. ZS shares dipped after earnings despite excellent revenue growth due to a weaker-than-expected forecast.

2. CrowdStrike: Guard’s Amazon Web Sevices and Google Cloud

• $46.12 billion in market capitalization
• 1 Year Revenue Growth: 64%
• Specialty: Endpoint and Cloud Security

CrowdStrike is another great cybersecurity stock to invest in because of its industry-leading security. Falcon, the company’s platform, is used to safeguard Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud.

Falcon now has 21 cloud modules that cover identity to the cloud and everything in between. Most importantly, CrowdStrike has a recurring revenue of over $1.5 billion and a client retention rate of over 97 percent. Furthermore, the company is growing by adding more products.

The company’s TAM was $25 billion at the time of its IPO in 2019. It has already doubled in size to $55 billion dollars and is expected to quadruple again by 2025.

3. Palo Alto Networks: The Three Platform Approach to Cybersecurity

• $57.88 billion in market capitalization
• 1 Year Revenue Growth: 30%
• Specialty: Network and Cloud Security

Palo Alto Networks, another prominent internet security supplier, is well-known for its extensive product line. In addition, it mostly serves major enterprises, having 1,077 millionaire accounts in the second quarter.

Furthermore, the digital security organization employs a three-platform approach. Network, Security Automation, and Cloud Security are the three approaches. Stata, Primsa Cloud, and Cortex are the platforms. So far, the strategy is bringing in strong billings (+32%) and revenue (+30%) growth.

Finally, Palo Alto anticipates the momentum to continue in Q3, with revenue/billings growth of 24-27 percent.

4. Check Point Software: The Most Knowledgeable about Cybersecurity

• $19.29 billion in market capitalization
• 1 Year Revenue Growth: 6%
• Specialty: Network and Cloud Security

Check Point is more knowledgeable about online security than the majority of companies. The Israel-based corporation was founded in 1993. Today it is one of the world’s largest cybersecurity firms.

The company is still expanding on all fronts. It has double-digit growth across both platforms. Check Point also has a diverse client base, with Europe, the Middle East and Africa accounting for 49% of revenue. In comparison, the Americas account for 40% of the total, while Asia accounts for 10%.

Most importantly, the cyber security organization is taking substantial steps to expand. Its recent acquisition of Spectral, for example, will enhance its cloud capabilities.

5.  Fortinet: Worldwide, Expanding, and Strong

• $54.9 billion in market capitalization
• 1 Year Revenue Growth: 29%
• Specialty: Network and Cloud Security

Another worldwide cybersecurity company, Fortinet, is expanding beyond its hardware offerings. The company is currently attempting to get a foothold in the cloud computing sector. Existing customers will find it simple to update and add cloud services as a result of the move.

Palo Alto’s major firewall security competition, Fortinet, appears to be winning the war in certain areas. Despite the fact that Palo Alto earns more revenue, Fortinet has a larger operating margin, resulting in higher returns.

Furthermore, despite stronger revenue growth from competitors such as CrowdStrike and Zscaler, Fortinet’s margins remain industry-leading.

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Every company needs security. Having your most valuable things safe at all times is just common sense. However, it might be difficult to make a selection with so many business security systems available for every type of organization.

When every security firm claims to offer the best corporate security system, deciding which one is perfect for you can be difficult. The best business security systems are more than just a few locks and a control system.

These days, company security systems go above and beyond to ensure that you are protected to the fullest extent feasible. Perhaps you’re wondering what the best security system for a business is right now.

First, what do the best business security systems do?

24-hour video monitoring, motion detection, flood monitors, keycard readers, smart locks, smoke and heat detectors, and much more are all part of good business security systems.

Choosing the appropriate system for you is mostly determined by the needs of your business. The top security system for small businesses may not be the ideal security system for your large-scale firm.

Therefore, to determine whether a corporate security system is right for your company, you must consider all of its features as well as its cost.

Perhaps this post will help you make a better decision by describing the features of company security systems. In addition, there is a list of the top five security systems available.

Here’s what you should look for in the best business security system.

Before deciding on business security systems, however, there are a number of aspects to consider. Here are some of the characteristics that distinguish a good corporate security system.

1. Installation and Monitoring Systems

After purchasing a security system, you must also install and configure it. Therefore, If the installation process is very cumbersome, you may run into a lot of problems.

This is especially true if your company has an IT department. In addition, the best security system has a monitoring service that is available all the time.

2. Customer Support and Care

You must choose a business security system that provides the best customer support.

This is because you will need them at every step of the installation and maintenance process.

3. The Cost of a Security System

The cost of business security systems depends on the size of your company.

Hardware, installation, and alarm monitoring are the three major purchases you must make for a top security system. These will set you back the most money.

Additionally, the cost of business security systems can also vary based on the specific features and technology you choose to incorporate. For example, if you require advanced access control systems, surveillance cameras with high-resolution capabilities, or even integrations with other devices like the best two-way radio charger for efficient communication among your team members, these additional components can add to the overall expense. It’s essential to assess your company’s unique security needs and budget accordingly to ensure the safety and protection of your business assets.

In addition, some commercial security system providers also provide packages that include free system installation.

4. Tailor-Made Security Control Systems

The best corporate security systems consider your company’s needs and provide control systems that adapt to your needs.

This feature allows you to create and change the software to make it easier to use. Therefore, you can add or delete features.

Now let’s look at the top five corporate security systems.

SimpliSafe: Software that simplifies the process of security.

Simplisafe offers simple security systems that come with equipment. The equipment does not require expert installation. However, they also have more high-tech security systems that they can install for you.

You can use simple security measures if you operate a small business. For larger businesses, you may want features like glass-break alarms, smoke detectors, 24/7 video surveillance, smart lights, and more.

Simplisafe protects you with the most cutting-edge hardware available. The Simplisafe device also has a three-year warranty. This corporate security system lets you monitor your business 24 hours a day.

In addition, you’ll get a notification if anything happens. Simplisafe also takes steps to call appropriate emergency agencies in the area. This is also one of the more cost-effective commercial security systems on the market.

ADT: For top-notch business security services.

This firm offers tailored cybersecurity as well as protection from crime and the elements. ADT’s ability to supply high-quality security systems on-demand gives them an advantage over their competition.

In addition, ADT provides you with a remote control option. It includes a fantastic mobile app that allows you to monitor and handle all of your company’s safety procedures.

This company security system provides you with intrusion prevention, business video monitoring, and natural catastrophe notifications.

Because the first piece of equipment is commercial-grade and requires expert tools, you should have it professionally installed. You can use the ADT app to purchase any new equipment you want to add to your security system once it has been set up.

ADT is known for tailoring solutions to each business, and cost varies depending on the package you select for your organization. The security system also comes with a lengthy trial period, so buying it is almost risk-free.

Vivint: For smart security solutions.

For smart security solutions, Vivint is the leading security system provider. It ensures that all of your requirements are met and that your business is safe from all threats.

Vivint is a great choice if you want a professional installation of a security system that uses cutting-edge technology and equipment to keep your business safe.

With their smart software, the security system also allows you to view all of your security details from the comfort of your own home.

The hub has a cutting-edge cellular chip that allows it to detect smoke and fire and send out notifications even if the power is down. In the event of an emergency, Vivint sends out alerts to your local paramedics, police, or firefighters in less than eight seconds.

This system also allows you to capture video indefinitely. For safety reasons, this functionality is usually chosen over motion-detection video recording. This, therefore, gives Vivint an advantage over its competitors.

Businesses can use continuous video recording to ensure that personnel follow safety procedures and provide security against shoplifters. In addition, their indoor/outdoor commercial security cameras have excellent resolution. Therefore, they can provide a clear picture of all the areas you’re watching.

Frontpoint: The best security for small businesses.

Frontpoint is a prominent producer of home and small business security systems. They are known for delivering non-commercial solutions to all of your security needs.

Frontpoint employs some of the most trustworthy equipment and provides a warranty to its customers.

Because their plans involve self-installation, Frontpoint is one of the best business security systems for small firms. In addition, because of Frontpoint’s security technologies, you may simply receive any notifications you require on your phone. They also have professional monitoring programs.

One of the most affordable security system solutions is the Frontpoint beginning package. A hub, wireless keyboard, security cameras, and motion sensors come with these sets.

In addition, Frontpoint has excellent customer service. Their customer service specialists are always friendly and helpful.

Frontpoint’s emergency alert system is also one of the best, with a speedy reaction time. Their system notifies all necessary local emergency agencies and sends you warnings and alarms if there is any odd activity.

Conclusion

These security systems not only protect your business but also provide you peace of mind and reduce your stress levels. That alone should persuade you to invest in the best company security system available.

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