Surviving Disasters

Natural disasters, fires, bomb attacks and any number of other types of crisis can strike at any time – usually when unexpected and unanticipated. But is there anything that you can do to increase your chances of survival? A recent article in the UK’s Times newspaper outlined some theories and practices which may increase the chance of escaping alive when catastrophe strikes. Amongst the panic and chaos which usually arises, training and familiarity with your surroundings may be your best hope. Does your organisation train its people to respond when things go wrong? Do you carry out emergency drills? When you enter the unfamiliar surroundings of an aircraft or a hotel, do you assess the routes of escape – do you even know where they are? It is worth thinking about. Read the article here:

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article4149935.ece

Risk and its Benefits

Those who have attended ARC’s courses know that we are strong advocates of integrated risk management as the sensible and profitable way to ensure that business progresses in a competitive marketplace. The ability to assess risks and to take action whilst remaining secure and observing compliance offers organisations a distinct advantage. BT Global Services have carried out exhaustive research and data collection on modern risk issues, accessible through this link:

http://www.btglobalservices.com/business/global/en/products/security_and_compliance/risk_in_the_global_economy.html

This site is also worth navigating around as it has interesting video articles included and various white papers and reports. If you want to join ARC’s courses, where risk management is treated in depth throughout – contact Janet or visit the ARC homepage at http://www.arc-tc.com/ .

IT and Information Security Focus

The pace of modern life is hectic and the need for people to be online and available via various communications means continues to grow. As far as data transfer and storage is concerned, the USB or ‘flash’ drive has become an indispensable piece of business and personal equipment for many of us. The fact that these devices can hold large amounts of information and can upload and download data rapidly, combined with their portability makes them particularly useful. Unfortunately, it also makes them ideal weapons for information thieves and for the introduction of malware. ENISA, the European Network and Information Security Agency, has just published a report on security for flash drives, accessible here: http://www.enisa.europa.eu/doc/pdf/publications/Secure%20USB%20drives_180608.pdf

If you want to know more about this subject, it is covered in various ARC courses. Contact Janet for details or visit or the ARC homepage at www.arc-tc.com

IT and Information Security Focus

Information enters and leaves your organisation by various routes, these days probably the bulk through IT systems. But IT is not the only medium for information storage and movement and neither should information security be the sole responsibility of the IT department. An information availability (IA) plan, properly implemented at all levels of the organisation, is an important enhancement to information security systems and it makes good sense to put in place if you do not have one already.

Read on here: http://www.continuitycentral.com/feature0585.htm

Security on Private Jets

Many millions of people fly all over the world every year – and we all know that security is tighter at airports than it has ever been. Unless, it seems, you have a private jet. An article, recently published in the US, highlights some interesting security arrangements experienced by its author during his travels. You can access the article via this link:

http://www.redorbit.com/news/business/1437744/wealth_buys_a_pass_through_air_security/

Certification Focus – CPP™ and PSP™

With the next CPP™ and PSP™ examinations taking place in November this year, the pre-course distance learning programmes are filling up quickly. For both certifications, Phil (CPP™) and Peter (PSP™) will set a series of tasks and projects for candidates to carry out over the months between July and November which will culminate in a week-long study programme at the examination venue immediately prior to the exam.

These study packages have proven to be not only popular but also successful in preparing certificants for the exams and with both CPP™ and PSP™ becoming increasingly popular as preferred industry qualifications, demand is high.

If you would like to join this year’s courses, please contact Janet for further information and enrolment guidance.

Information Security – Watch out for disgruntled staff!

From the United States comes the tale of a disgruntled employee who caused real damage to his company’s computer network and who also by his actions threatened the health of the patients of the community clinic where he worked. The cause of the problem appears to have been his dissatisfaction with his job appraisal and, vitally, he left a trail of forensic evidence which led to his arrest by the FBI. The story is here:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/06/13/it_manager_rampage_sentence/

We cover information and IT security at various levels in many of our courses and workshops – visit the website http://www.arc-tc.com/ for details!