Office Document Strategies Blog

October Is Cyber Security Month In Canada

Posted by Lee Kirkby on Wed, Oct 9, 2019 @ 07:10 AM

 

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Topics: Canadian IT, encryption, ransomware, malware, it security, cyber security

Business Operations Are Part Of Internet Of Things

Posted by Lee Kirkby on Wed, Nov 21, 2018 @ 07:11 AM

When we hear about the Internet of Things we usually think about video doorbells, electronic locks, Alexa, Google Home, automated lighting, connected appliances and the many other ways that the world wide web has impacted consumer life styles. 

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Topics: business processes, Multifunction Printer support, IT connectivity, automation, malware, it security

Canadian Data Breach Law Comes Into Effect November 1

Posted by Lee Kirkby on Wed, Oct 24, 2018 @ 07:10 AM

A key component of Canadian Privacy Law which was created in 2015 come into full effect on the first day of November this year.  The provisions of the law deal with the consequences of failing to notify the Privacy Commissioner when specific conditions occur in the event of a privacy data breach. 

Many Canadian companies are not going to be aware of the specifics of this legislation as a lot think that they either do not hold data that would be of concern or that they have taken adequate steps to protect their information.  Of course in many instances this may be true but unfortunately as stories come out about the breaches that occur they show that many organizations can be hit even with due concern having been taken.

3 Questions to Ask Yourself about Data Breaches

  1. Does your company have a data breach response plan?
  2. Have you identified the criteria you will apply to determine whether the breach meets the test of real risk of significant harm?
  3.  Do you have a decision tree to determine who will decide on notification?

What is important here is what you do in the event there has been a breach.The legislation anticipates that most organizations will take reasonable steps to protect their data from hackers and out right theft.  It does not generally penalize the breach itself.  What it penalizes is the lack of notification of those affected by the breach and lack of notification of the appropriate authorities so the public can be protected.  Being unaware of the requirements is not going to be seen as a defense.

Unfortunately in the instance where there is a breach too often the tendency might be to try to ignore it or to hide it since it can be both embarrasing and potentially could lead to costs associated with notification of those affected. 

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Topics: ransomware, malware, cyber security

Cost Of Cybercrime Exceeds $600 Billion Us

Posted by Lee Kirkby on Wed, Mar 7, 2018 @ 08:03 AM

Anyone watching the political situation in the US knows that cybercrime has become more than just an economic tool.  The political use of cybercrime is potentially even more critical to the world than the economic impacts but understanding this should not have any of us forget how critical the dollar costs are. 

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Topics: Canadian IT, encryption, ransomware, WIFI Security, malware, it security, cyber security

Internet Society Reports 2017 Cyber Incident Trends

Posted by Lee Kirkby on Thu, Feb 8, 2018 @ 07:02 AM

The Online Trust Alliance issued its tenth annual report on cyber incidents and breach readiness in late January 2018.  

A key feature of the report is the amount of impact that ransom type attacks have had in 2017 both in direct malware and other elements like threatened denial of service events.

It summarizes that preparation and constant diligence are key in avoiding cyber threats.  

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Topics: ransomware, malware, it security, cyber security

Chip Vulnerability Affects Almost Every Computing Device

Posted by Lee Kirkby on Fri, Jan 5, 2018 @ 07:01 AM

"Pretty much every PC, laptop, tablet, and smartphone is affected by the security flaw, regardless of which company made the device or what operating system it runs."  

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Topics: Computer, malware, it security

$10,000 Bitcoin Price Means Challenges For IT Security

Posted by Lee Kirkby on Wed, Dec 6, 2017 @ 07:12 AM

Since its creation in 2009/10 bitcoin crypto currency has always had a kind of unreal story.  The concept of a globally exchanged currency without a nation as a sponsor or guarantor which is traded by person to person or company to company transactions without a banking system regulator was unreal until it happened.

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Topics: Canadian IT, malware, it security