Archive for Technology
Midsize Companies Growing Target of Cybercriminals
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to a recent study conducted on behalf of McAfee, more than half of the midsize businesses surveyed stated they had experienced an increase in security breaches over the past twelve months. McAfee arranged for a study of 900 midsize companies covering the countries of the United States, United Kingdom, China, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India and Spain to determine not only the frequency of breaches but also the companies’ investment perspective toward prevention.
McAfee’s report, The Security Paradox, continues on to point out that even though there has been a significant increase in cyber attacks, a number of companies have either frozen or cut back on costs related to IT budgets. According to McAfee, almost 40 percent of the companies trimming their IT security budget plan to limit the purchase of new security products. And more than a third are switching to cheaper security software to cut expenses, even though they realize that may put them at greater risk.
While many companies carry a higher level of concern and awareness about increasing cyber threats, the pressure on budgets and resources has served as a disincentive for continued investment. Unfortunately, this creates a vicious cycle of breach and repair that costs far more than prevention. In McAfee’s report, they proceed to explain that the cost of dealing with a security attack far outweighs the cost of prevention in the first place. Based on the survey, over the past twelve months, one in five of the companies surveyed lost $41,000 in sales, on average, as a result of a breach. McAfee’s research shows that organizations that put more effort on preventing attacks can end up spending less than a third as much as those that allow themselves to be at risk.
Another interesting perspective common in midsize companies is the belief they are less prone to risk from cyber attacks than larger companies. Over ninety percent of the companies surveyed with an employee base of 500 or fewer felt they are protected from cybercriminals and believe they face a greatly diminished risk than do larger companies. But, as the report goes on to state, companies of this employment range averaged about 1.6 times the number of cyber attacks at companies with an employment level of 501 to 1,000.
While not addressed in the report, it is important to point out that regardless of how proactive a company is with regard to its IT security, that is simply a beginning point to a company’s overall exposure. If a company’s suppliers become disrupted due to a cyber attack, it have can long reaching impact on the company’s image and profitability. For example, failure of a supplier to deliver needed components for a production run due to disruption of its operating system can create delays in the company’s production and result in late deliveries possibly carrying substantial penalties; not to mention the long-term damage to a company’s reputation and performance rating. When such an event occurs, the company finds itself in a critical shortage situation for needed electronic components and must reach out to alternative sources to fill its production requirements; usually at a greater unit cost than budgeted.
It’s obvious that the focus on cyber attacks continues to be a major concern to everyone. While pressure on budgets continues, it is critical that companies not forfeit the protection needed to insure the necessary level of protection. It may be an issue companies need to raise not only within its own operation but with its key suppliers also.
Hospitals Going High-Tech
Posted by: | CommentsHow about a new term for your doctor – Tele-Intensivist. This is a doctor that can monitor critically ill patients from a remote site employing the latest in technology; even allowing the doctor to speak with the patient while visually interacting through video monitors. With the improvement of technology and the increased dependability of electronic components and equipment, doctors can greatly increase their oversight of a larger number of patients without the restrictions of time and geography.
And technology is becoming prevalent well outside of the critical care arena. In areas such as supply cabinets with biometric thumbprint readings, websites where patients can view test results, computerized record keeping and 3D imaging, high-tech products are integrating into the medical community as a whole while creating efficiencies necessary to assist in controlling medical costs for all. Additionally, high-tech equipment is creating a much safer environment for patients. The equipment leads to a quicker diagnosis, shorter hospital stay and helps to limit complications. In fact, an American Hospital Association survey found that at the nation’s 100 most wired facilities, risk-adjusted death rates were over 7 percent lower, on average, than at other hospitals. To further protect patients, healthcare facilities are moving to a “closed-loop” system with built in safeguards at each step of the prescribing process. When doctors enter orders on the system, the computer checks for allergies or drug interactions and confirm the proper dosage. Then, when the prescription is transmitted to the pharmacist, the safety checks are repeated and an electronic “stamp of approval” is issued. Drugs are stored in locked dispensing cabinets and the only drawer that opens is the one specifically holding the patient’s medication. When picked up, the nurse will then scan the medication’s barcode and match it to the patient’s wristband. Utilizing such a system has dropped error rate to less than one percent and allows for quicker treatment of critically ill patients.
With the recent emphasis for the medical industry to upgrade its record keeping systems to electronic formats and the growing use of remote analysis of patients’ tests results, it appears as if the medical field will continue to create a growing demand for equipment utilizing all sorts of electronic components, monitors and related hardware. There is no question as the medical industry’s demand for high tech environments and equipment ramps up, there will be a significant number of critical shortages and electronic component requirements that will need to be address by companies looking to meet future production schedules.
