In March, Hannaford Bros., a Scarborough, Mass.-based supermarket chain, announced someone had hacked into its computer system and exposed 4.2 million debit and credit card numbers, resulting in more than 1,800 fraud cases. Affecting customers in five different states, the data breach underscores–via a very public example–the need for robust network security for all companies regardless of size.
Michelle Drolet, CEO at Towerwall Inc., a Framingham, Mass.-based provider of advanced information security solutions, attributed the problem at Hannaford to malware, a program or file designed to specifically damage or disrupt a system. “The hackers were able to use computer code to infiltrate the system and capture the sensitive data,” Drolet says.
Hannaford isn’t alone in its plight. According to Scott & Scott, L.L.P., a Dallas-based law and technology services firm, 85% of businesses have experienced a data security breach, and of those, fewer than 43 percent had an incident response plan in place. The results can be devastating: Seventy-four percent reported a loss of customers, 59% faced potential litigation, 33% faced potential fines, and 32% experienced a decline in share value.
Midsized firms are particularly vulnerable to network security breaches, Drolet says, because most don’t have security personnel or engineers on staff to serve as a “second set of eyes” for their networks. Without that layer of in-house security, Drolet says, companies can quickly become victims of criminals who are looking to corrupt, steal, and share critical information stored on networks.
Take passwords, for example. According to Bill Carey, vice president of marketing at Siber Systems Inc., the developer of password and identity management software RoboForm, every new password that is issued can effectively decrease the level of network security for a company. And when employees start writing them down, the security becomes even more lax.
“It can turn into a conundrum pretty quickly,” Carey says. Add in the fact that many companies offer remote access for employees, trading partners, and other entities, and the situation becomes even more complicated. “It’s an issue that companies of all sizes are dealing with as they strive to make information more accessible to employees.”
To avoid such calamities, Drolet says companies should use a system of “evaluating, establishing, educating, and enforcing,” beginning with an internal look at exactly what you want to protect.” For example, is it intellectual property related to human resources or engineering applications? Is it sensitive customer data or employee information?
Once you have decided what you want to protect, look at those areas carefully to find out how they can be compromised, Drolet says. A company that has a high number of trusted relationships with other firms that tap into its data are advised to look carefully at patches, firewalls, and anti-virus technology located at those shared gateways.
“Poke holes at the critical areas to see just how someone can break in,” Drolet explains. She adds that once those holes have been identified, the next step is to create a remediation plan to protect those
Nice post. Thanks for sharing these tips.
A lot of meat very informative!
Thanks for the information Mel! Wasn’t aware Dell had as many Small Business support systems as they have, definitely worth looking into now!
Good information! Didn’t know Dell does all of this.
Great information about Dell!
How can I integrate Dell products with my MAC server et al?
Just what I was thinking!
I don’t we can. They are pushing DELL because of the partnertship they with this program. MAC has their own IT department or you could even go to the Apple store for any issues.
I don’t think we can is what that should have said!
This is some really great information
Good information. I love the idea of utilizing cloud-based software solutions. It helps minimize data loss issues.
Thanks for educating us on your company’s products.
Good information. Nice to have some direction on new technology to help my business grow!
dell is great for small business
Good info on Dell products
Nice piece. Thank you.
I agree it is important for us to do our homework and know what we are buying and how our software complements our hardware. I see the value in looking to our industry tto get an idea to what we need when it comes to technology.
This was some great information.
Great info. This program is amazing. Thanks DELL for your support.
30′ since I saw Mr. Parker class and not points either not badge, something is wrong but I don’t see a way to connect with the remote assistance, emails to smuinfo@blackenterprise.com always are rejected. Is this happening to somebody else. How you solve it? Thanks.
this is what I get when I tried to get some assistance Sorry, we were unable to deliver your message to the following address.
:
Mail server for “blackenterprise.com” unreachable for too long
thanks
Thanks !!! Very useful information.
Thanks you
Thanks
Great tips, thanks
I watched this 4 times and did not get any points. There have been a few other areas, I did not get points in. Did this happen to anyone else?
I haven’t rec’d points on a lot of things since the 1st day of class. I’ve pretty much given up on the points system lol
Yes, this is my 4th time and I sent an email earlier. I haven’t heard anything. In any case, I’m here for the courses so as long as I can hear it that’s fine with me
I just hope that it wont prevent me from listening to the other upcoming courses.
Same here! This is my 4th time! I watched around lunch and thought it was the traffic, but just watched and the same so I hope they update it for everyone….
Same here I have watched this several times as well and not getting points for this and a from my daily post on fb as well
I haven’t received any points either and this is my 4th time watching the video. Also, I’m only receiving 40 points for logging in instead of the 100 for each login…
yes, this has happen to me as well. Not getting points for watching video and signing on daily. They really need to fix it. I sent an email and still waiting to here from someone.
Yes, this has happend to me from the beginning. I have logged in and completed everything that we’ve been told to do but I’m way behind in points. Hope they get this worked out soon.
I thought I was the only one having these problems. Hopefully it will get fixed. However I am glad to have learned what I have thus far.
It appears that this is problematic for more than a few of us. Maybe they did not anticipate the response and the system is overloaded. Still no excuse from an organization that aims to be a leader in professionalism for minorities..
I hope Tech people answer to us if they can recover our points for days signed in and las class in without poins?
System overload for sure!
Yes, this continues to happen to me also.
Didn’t get points AGAIN :-/
Info was good
I’ve been contemplating getting a cloud. I think it’s time for me to make a move. Great information! Thanks!
Great tips. I love the cloud services.
Watched video several times and signed out and did it again and still no points. SMH. Like others on here. This seems to be happening not just with this video but when signing in and other things as well.
since day one you don’t get the points that you should..but I look at it as
I’m continually being motivated each day that I log in., However I would like
my points.
My points are not recording for this lesson either and I’ve reviewed this at least 4x also.
Yep, the points did not show up for me me as well. W
as is up with that?
Thanks Mr. Mel for the great tips! Just what we needed to keep making things happen!!
Well, looks like there is a problem with points as I can see in the last comments, I wrote early about it but maybe we don’t have nobody reading this or for sure must be a technical issues , lets wait that anybody from DELL or SBU any statement.
All the weekend were problems and today we the last class, I hope this answer the comments from: EricB, Patcouncil, Mitzi, Vellejohson,StepfanWilliams,Fuzzy,Anjela,VettieJ,janics and Cozzeta.
Because : Mail server for for “blackenterprise.com” is unreachable , I wrote a message to Mrs. Lynette in her web page, telling her about this situation.
Lets wait maybe today somebody give us an answer!
Same here too
very interesting and helpful
What is going on with the points? I’ve contacted Tech Support and have received absolutely NO response. I’m only getting 40 points for logging in every day (when it says you’re supposed to get 100 points. And, I’m not getting points for completing these video courses. Something is askew with this along with the supposed “Leaderboard”. No way anyone could have gotten all those points already. . . sigh.
I have had the same problems and tech support told me they would look into it also…but no response. I dont get response for facebook likes, tweets, etc. Based on the point scale I easily and missing 1500 points. Though I am in it for the knowledge it certainly is not fair if a tech issue is causing many of us, as it seems, to not be able to accumulate points towards the prizes.
I was wondering the same thing. I wasn’t getting points for logging in, sharring the videos and asking experts questions??? IDK and some of the leaders I was trying to add the points the first week and couldn’t figure out how they were in the lead?
I’m having the same issue. I have watched this video 6 times and I have not gotten the credit.. I’m getting annoyed..
I thought I was the only one, no response from tech support as well.
I got a reply and they said, “We apologize for this inconvenience. We are urgently looking into this matter and will provide an update.”
I’ve been tracking my points.. I’m at 7445 and I’m missing points. I should be well over 8000. I haven’t rec’d 100 points yet for logging in, I don’t get points for all my tweets or FB posts and I still haven’t rec’d 350 for watching this video. The leaderboard points high is definitely accurate.. except they should be higher
Definitely sigh smh
that’s well over 9,000 points.. smh
I had not consider Dell as a solution versus being just a product. Great information.
Great info. I have got to lean how to use ‘Cloud’. I keep hearing about it and this video was a good reminder.
some good advice what is cloud is this a dell soft ware
.363
WOW!! All of the courses offered to date have been so informative!! Thanks Black Enterprise & Dell for the opportunity to participate/learn and hopefully profit from this huge bucket of knowledge!
On another note, I would like to know what we need to do to rectify the point system. I have logged in on several occasions and have only received 45 points vs. 100 as outlined in the “how it works” tab. In addition, I have not received points for sharing/tweeting, clicking on “More Info” for Dell Products under Tools & for sharing videos 3 times per week. As previously mentioned, the info I have absorbed through the classes offered has be phenomenal. However, the point system isn’t working for many of us and as such puts a damper on the “fairness of the system”. As a competitive man [even as a kid] I would have liked to have been given the same opportunity, as others have, in the hopes of winning a prize.
All is that no matter what technology you have, you need to be good in your field, otherwise technology itself nothing. Do your home work first, polish your skills and then use technology in a right way.
A good spot for a Dell add… I would recommend Dell for a small business or a start up business because Dell has the best customer support of any of the big name computer makers.
great lesson
Another great lesson
I too did not receive points for watching – Tools to get you to the next level – from software to hardware
I watched it twice to see if the points would appear. Strange that the “technology”
is not working.
We are definitely getting our technology on! Thanks Mr. Parker for the wonderful tips!!
Great information and will implement many of these tips into my business
I enjoy the information on this video and will implement much into my own service
Which Dell laptop has the most powerful sound card for music production, doesn’t overheat, and has a very quiet fan?
I have an HP notebook which overheats all the time and has an extremely loud fan.