Bob on Business Continuity

Meetings & Events

2012-01-25T15:24:00.000-05:00

If your job includes planning for and/or running meetings and events for your organization, you might want to pay careful attention to these articles. If your continuity plans don't cover everything they should, your organization could find itself on the wrong end of a lawsuit. Even worse, its reputation could be seriously damaged.

It's a new era for contracts & liabilities. (Item #1) Remember that a misstep for your nonprofit may damage not only your revenue stream, but also your fine name. (Item #2) Evolving business gives rise to new ethical dilemmas. Be sure you're not saying one thing and doing another. (Item #3)

Liability issues should be of very significant concern to all planners and suppliers. (Item #4) The safety and security of attendees is your responsibility; here's how you can reduce risk (Item #5) Identifying and assessing the numerous risks involved in an event can be an overwhelming prospect. (Item #6)

This issue, as well as past ones, are available at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Getting Management Buy-in

2012-01-18T10:53:00.000-05:00

Almost everyone has had the experience of having to convince senior management – or worse – the board of directors to spend money on business continuity or BC testing. Some of us failed to make the case, so this week we are looking at different tactics you can use to win the buy-in of the folks at the top to your project. If you have ideas of your own that worked for you let us know and we might just include them in a future issue.

Perhaps these three steps can help you generate buy-in. (Item #1) How do you convince management to get 100% behind BC planning? (Item #2) Here’s some help for getting the boardroom buy-in you need. (Item #3)

You have to do your homework to get the management support you need. (Item #4) Here are three different perspectives on getting management buy-in. (Item #5) Is executive buy-in enough? (Item #6)

This issue as well as our archives are available at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Business Continuity Trends for 2012

2012-01-11T11:30:00.001-05:00

What's in store for us in 2012? Many experts feel it will be more of the types of disasters we saw in 2011, but with some additions and differences. This week we're looking at trends in business continuity, regulatory compliance, security, etc. If you are updating your BC plan this year, you might want to see what's new that you should plan for in the revision.

This annual survey uncovers the latest trends in disaster recovery and business continuity. (Item #1) Continuity Central makes five predictions for the big issues that may impact business continuity in 2012. (Item #2) Regulatory compliance could be the top issue for information security. (Item #3)

Social engineering and data mining are huge security concerns in 2012. (Item #4) These info security trends represent challenges to meet this year. (Item #5) Some of the hottest trends in the cloud data space will affect disaster recovery. (Item #6)

Video special: If business travel is a big part of your organization's business, this video may be of interest. (Item #7)

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Lessons Learned from the Crises of 2011

2012-01-04T13:01:00.000-05:00

What lessons – if any – have we learned from the crises that have occurred in 2011 and earlier? Do we have new knowledge we can carry forward and incorporate into our business continuity plans in 2012? From the use of social media, to communicating effectively in a crisis, there are lessons for all of us in how various disasters were handled – or mishandled. We trust this week's articles will help you determine if you need to make any changes in your plan.

If you haven't updated your plan recently, some of these lessons learned might be worth considering as you update. (Item #1) Have you considered what role social media might play in your crisis plan? (Item #2) What financial lessons have we learned in 2011? (Item #3)

The earthquake and tsunami in Japan have taught us many valuable lessons. (Item #4) Although an association's governance issues don't usually make the front page, you never know; here are some governance crises that you might learn from. (Item #5) These crises from 2010 can point up gaps in your communication plan. (Item #6)

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Preparedness at Home

2011-12-21T15:00:00.000-05:00

This week, we present our annual home preparedness edition of the NewsBriefs. Make sure that you don't neglect your home family when you're thinking about continuity. There are many things you can do to help ensure that a disaster doesn't become a personal disaster. The articles below can be very helpful in making your home preparedness plan.

Evaluate your personal needs and make a plan to meet those needs. (Item #1) In the event you have to evacuate, here is some help on how to go about it – or how to shelter in place at home if need be. (Item #2) Read this father's story about how a disaster got his family to understand why he was so concerned about preparedness. (Item #3)

House fires always increase this time of year; there is much you can do to ensure you can avoid fire. (Item #4) If earthquake preparedness at home is your concern, this is the article for you! (Item #5) This website gives you some idea of the kind of supplies you can get for home preparedness; there are many more such sites out there. (Item #6)

Learn more about how to have a safe 2012 at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Shelter in Place

2011-12-14T11:59:00.001-05:00

This week, shots once again were heard on the campus of Virginia Tech, and a shelter-in-place (SiP) situation followed. We don't know if they had SiP supplies in all the campus buildings, because the situation fortunately did not last very long. But the incident should give us all pause to consider how prepared we are for such a situation. This week's links will take you to sites that will help you plan and prepare.

The CDC offers advice on how to shelter in place. (Item #1) These helpful sites can make your SiP planning easier. (Item #2) This might or might not work for you, but the federal government's new snowstorm policy is worth considering. (Item #3)

ChicagoFirst offers best practice guidelines for sheltering in place. (Item #4) LifeSecure.com has supplies and tools for sheltering in place. (Item #5) QuakeKare.com also offers a line of kits and information for an SiP situation. (Item #6)

NewsBrief archives and subscription info are available at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Winter Weather Preparedness

2011-12-07T14:09:00.000-05:00

You can't do anything about the weather except be prepared for it... with winter just weeks away we should be thinking about those preparations. Snow on the roads and the roof, freezing precipitation, blizzards and high winds can impact everything from product distribution to whether employees can get to work. The potential impacts of weather are as varied as the organizations they affect; weather affects everyone. This week's articles can help you with preparing to weather any storms.

Start now to plan for winter weather as it affects your building and operations. (Item #1) The potential impacts of winter weather are discussed here, as well as suggestions to maintain business continuity. (Item #2) Even new construction and renovations can be impacted by severe winter weather. (Item #3)

Power failures are always a possible result of winter storms. (Item #4) Winter weather covers a range of conditions; are you prepared for all of them? (Item #5) The flu can have a great impact on some organizations; here are some tips to minimize its impact on yours. (Item #6)

Read the entire issue or subscribe at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Testing Your Plan

2011-11-30T12:22:00.001-05:00

One of the biggest difficulties that organizations face is testing and exercising their business continuity plans. Because it is perceived to be expensive and time-consuming, plan testing is simply not done by many companies. What is often overlooked is the fact that testing the plan could be the only thing between it working when it's needed and failure. Testing doesn't have to be an overwhelming task... see articles below for some ideas on how you can do it.

As plan testing matures, there are some notable trends in how it's conducted. (Item #1) Worldwide, as many as 50% of businesses do not test their BC plans; this survey done in Australia reveals typical results. (Item #2) Don't forget to make sure you test employees' remote access to critical applications in case no one can get to the office. (Item #3)

The benefits of testing and training far outweigh the cost. (Item #4) Several types of training are completely doable by almost any business. (Item #5) Are you ready for a disaster if it happens to your data center? (Item #6)

Read the entire issue or subscribe at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Emergency Supplies

2011-11-16T11:45:00.000-05:00

Just in case you have to shelter in place at home or at work, or evacuate your premises, do you know what you need to have available for survival? Even if there is no immediate threat, there is always the chance that weather will give use reason to leave or stay in place and we need to know what to have on hand so we can get through whatever happens. In this week’s articles, you’ll find some checklists and also a sampling of suppliers. (These companies are not necessarily supported by Attainium, they are only included to provide some information about the types of supplies available.)

The Red Cross is always a good first stop when you’re figuring out what you need. (Item #1) What you need for winter survival -- tips from mountaineers. (Item #2) Here is one supplier of emergency items with an assessment to help you figure out what you need. (Item #3)

We all know what it’s like to be in the dark when the power goes out; here are some products that can provide light and communication. (Item #4) Food is another important survival component... this site offers products (also available from other suppliers) to address the nutrition challenge. (Item #5) Here’s one of many sites that offer shelter-in-place kits in case you end up having to keep employees in the building for any length of time. (Item #6) And lastly, a short list of companies that provide emergency supplies. (Item #7)

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Holiday Issues

2011-11-09T11:59:00.000-05:00

With Thanksgiving just a couple of weeks away, workplace holiday celebrations/observations are just around the corner... and so is the potential for all kinds of problems. Have you given thought to exactly how your organization will celebrate the holidays this year? Will there be a party? Workplace decorations? Can you avoid ruffling feathers over religious issues, party drinking, and other things that can cause you legal trouble? Whether you have thought this out or not, take a look at this week's articles for help.

What decorations will you hang and exactly what holiday(s) will your party celebrate? (Item #1) Are holiday parties worth the potential risks? (Item #2) Should you serve liquor at your holiday party and, if you're the employee, should you drink? (Item #3)

Does your vacation policy ensure you won't be understaffed during the holidays? (Item #4) If liquor is on your party agenda, exactly what are your liabilities? (Item #5) Today's diverse workplaces often make it difficult to make holiday events appeal to all. (Item #6)

Read the entire NewsBrief at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

The State of Business Continuity Standards

2011-11-02T12:37:00.000-04:00

It may seem that standards are multiplying by leaps and bounds, and that's almost true. We thought it would be a good idea to take a look at what standards are around and what they can do for us. We hope you will find this week's articles helpful as you determine which standards you should adopt or not.

What role do standards play in dealing with disruptions? (Item #1) Here's a listing of today's standards from all around the world. (Item #2) If you're wondering how these standards relate to each other, here is a side-by-side comparison. (Item #3)

Do you have to choose between the two leading standards or can you adopt both? (Item #4) Why ARE there so many standards? (Item #5) Here's how one company used standards certification to demonstrate best practices. (Item #6)

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Our Annual Halloween Edition

2011-10-26T09:09:00.000-04:00

Halloween is but a few days away, leading us once again to consider strange and unusual disasters that could befall us. No matter how far-fetched these incidents may seem, they do spur us to consider what we would do in such situations. Can you imagine how you would respond to these unimaginable events? How your crisis team would respond? Perhaps you need to put them to the test and encourage them to think about your BC plan and what adjustments they might make respond to some of the situations below.

Even the CDC is getting in on the fun... here's their guide to staying safe in a zombie attack. (Item #1) If you think zombies aren't real, perhaps you should read about these zombie outbreaks in the US. (Item #2) The University of Florida's disaster exercise featuring a zombie attack could a good test for your team. (Item #3)

Is Halloween unlucky? This awful disaster on Halloween night 1963 in Indianapolis might make you think so. (Item #4) In 1918, Halloween occurred in the midst of the Spanish flu pandemic; many cities had no Halloween. (Item #5) A sinkhole in Guatemala swallowed a 3-story building... what could you possibly do to prepare for such a disaster? (Item #6)

ENJOY !!!

Terrorism

2011-10-19T14:18:00.000-04:00

"US foils Iran terror plot" read a recent headline in a British newspaper, describing the plot to assassinate the Saudi Ambassador... Once again, we have had an attempted act of terror at home, and it is likely such incidents will continue into the foreseeable future. In light of this, we felt we should revisit some information on dealing with such incidents.

Terrorism can happen anywhere; your organization could become a target as well. (Item #1) There are ways to prepare for terrorism just as for other threats. (Item #2) Here's an online program to help you and your organization become more aware of terrorism. (Item #3)

Suspicious letters and packages? Here's what to do. (Item #4) Good news for your events – hotels now emphasize terror training. (Item #5) If your organization does experience a traumatic event, here are some symptoms you might want to watch out for. (Item #6)

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Crisis Communications

2011-10-12T11:10:00.000-04:00

Just because you have a communications strategy or component in your business continuity plan, don't assume you have a crisis communications plan that will work when you need it. There's communication... and there's communication. How much do you say? Who says it? When do you say it? Does everyone know what the plan is? Below are some articles that can help you transform your communication plan into a crisis communication plan.

Despite the addition of social media to crisis communication tools, some things have not changed. (Item #1) Your emergency communication strategy is like a fire drill for your communication plan. (Item #2) Business continuity plans lacking a communications ingredient are plans with a gaping hole. (Item #3)

Mishandling information during a crisis could result in a damaged reputation as well as lawsuits. (Item #4) The best of communication plans are less effective if they don't have effective emergency communication built in. (Item #5) This effective crisis communication strategy is known as A-C-T N-O-W. (Item #6)

Read the entire issue at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Meetings & Events

2011-10-05T12:19:00.001-04:00

Are you one of the folks who think "it can't happen here?" Think again. The potential for crisis is in attendance at every conference or meeting you plan or attend. The question you should be asking yourself is, "Have I really considered all the possibilities for crisis and do I have some way to deal with them?" The articles below can help you answer this question.

Every meeting plan should start with a risk assessment. (Item #1) Are your events in compliance with the revisions to the Americans with Disabilities Act? (Item #2) Drinks at receptions… consider the risks. (Item #3)

Here are some meeting-specific tips for dealing with crisis. (Item #4) Association meeting planners need contingency plans more than their corporate counterparts. (Item #5) In an evacuation situation, if you think everything's okay when everyone's out of the building, think again. (Item #6)

The full issue as well as back issues are available at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Mass Notification Systems

2011-09-28T12:39:00.001-04:00

Communication is key to every aspect of the business continuity process – before, during or after any disruption. If you haven't invested in a mass notification system, perhaps it's time you considered how these systems can help you improve your chances of surviving a disruption. The articles below provide information to help you improve your current emergency notification procedures.

Do you know all you need to about mass notification systems? (Item #1) Through contemporary mass notification systems, quick communication to a broad contact base can be simplified and streamlined. (Item #2) The issue of voice intelligibility in mass notification systems has become more important as the technology has evolved. (Item #3)

Here are nine ways you can make the most of your mass notification system. (Item #4) Integrating social networks adds value to emergency mass notification systems without added costs. (Item #5) Read how to decipher new codes and track the latest trends for effective emergency communications. (Item #6)

Getting Management Buy-In

2011-09-21T12:09:00.001-04:00

If you're having difficulty getting management to approve a business continuity program – or the costs of updating it or acquiring shelter-in-place supplies -- this week's articles may be helpful. Getting management buy-in is critical to getting the approvals you need... below are some ways you can set about doing just that.

What's the ROI for business continuity costs? That's what you have show to management. (Item #1) These nine steps can make it easier to get buy-in. (Item #2) Here are some tips IT can use to get approval for business continuity expenditures. (Item #3)

Here are some ways business continuity teams can get management buy-in. (Item #4) To win support for a business continuity plan, emphasize ways it can give your company a competitive edge. (Item #5) We need everyone's buy-in for business continuity; how do you get it? (Item #6)

The full issue as well as back issues are available at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Reputation Management

2011-09-14T09:39:00.000-04:00

What does your reputation, your brand, mean to your success? Are you worried that something in your company's past could come back to damage its future? If so, you need to consider reputation management. This is a field that has become more important as the Internet becomes more and more a part of everyday life, and everyone needs to be aware of it.

Consider this article a primer to reputation management in the online era. (Item #1) If you don't control your brand online, someone else will. (Item #2) These free tools can help you begin to track your online reputation. (Item #3)

If you can prevent reputation damage, that's a good thing. (Item #4) You probably can't sue, so what can you do to deal with online nastiness? (Item #5) Reputation management is actually two jobs: trying to be more loved and trying to be less hated. (Item #6)

This week's articles focus on preventing and controlling reputation damage... take a look at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Terrorism never ends...

2011-09-07T21:37:00.000-04:00

The U.S. has spent more than $1 trillion dollars on the war on terrorism since 9/11. As the 10th anniversary of that terrible day approaches, we take another look at the impact of terrorism on our lives and business and recommend that you continue your business continuity efforts.

Key threats to business continuity include terrorism and political unrest, an Aon report finds. (Item #1) Lyndon Bird, director of the Business Continuity Institute, looks at terrorism as a threat to business continuity and its potential to interrupt activity, and how to approach prevention. (Item #2) It’s not just the 10 largest cities that should be concerned about terrorism. (Item #3)

This paper examines the impact of terrorism on five business sectors: the equities market, aviation, tourism, insurance and corporate security. (Item #4) Read this compilation of observations on the impact of terrorism on business. (Item #5) What can business do to cope more successfully with terrorism? (Item #6)

Get all of the details at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Earthquakes, hurricanes & floods... Oh, my!

2011-09-01T08:38:00.000-04:00

The east coast has had its share of business interruptions during the past two weeks. Hurricanes and flooding? Pretty typical in this part of the woods. But earthquakes? Who knew? Most of us in the DC area were thinking terrorist attack, not earthquake. Yet Virginia earthquakes, while quite rare, are not unexpected, we're told. While out-of-pocket expenses for the Virginia shaker that was felt all along the East Coast were estimated to be less than $100 million, Irene's price tag was already expected to reach into the billions. Time to ramp up your business continuity plan to include earthquakes and major hurricanes/flooding? This week's articles can help.

Maybe it will be decades until the next earthquake, but who knows? Be prepared… Items 1, 2, 3, and 4 tell you how.

Irene's floods should have all of us running back to our BC plans to ensure we included flooding as a risk – and planned for it. Check out items 5 and 6 for some help in this regard.

Read more about keeping your Business Continuity Plans current at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

National Preparedness Month: "A Time to Remember. A Time to Prepare."

2011-08-24T13:16:00.000-04:00

September is National Preparedness month, and this year NPM 2011 is a call to action urging our nation to remember the disasters of our past while preparing for the disasters of the future. And, although that original September 11th disaster is a prominent part of National Preparedness Month 2011, it is very important to also stress that preparedness is needed for ALL hazards, both natural and man-made.

FEMA is encouraging everyone to help prepare their business, family and community for emergencies of all kinds. (Item #1) Staying in business means you have to be ready to take on any emergency that arises. (Item #2) Disasters can happen anytime, anywhere. That is why this holiday season, you should Resolve to be Ready. (Item #3)

The Federal government encourages everyone to prepare for the worst. (Item #4) Use National Preparedness Month as an opportunity to ensure you are prepared for whatever may happen. (Item #5) If you're wondering how to help your employees become more aware of preparedness, here are some ideas. (Item #6)

Keep preparedness in the forefront at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Business Continuity Planning

2011-08-17T09:15:00.001-04:00

Is your business continuity plan up-to-date with any changes in your organization? Does it reflect any new potential risks? Are the right people in charge or in the know? Check your plan to answer these questions and take a look at these articles to give you some new insights on how to make your plan better.

If there was a catastrophe like a dirty bomb, many of the affected small-and-medium-sized businesses would go out of business. (Item #1) Here are some important points to consider when developing a business continuity plan. (Item #2) Do you know how cloud computing impacts business continuity planning? (Item #3)

For some businesses in the World Trade Center, their business continuity plans were truly their lifelines; they could be for your nonprofit, as well. (Item #4) BCP is not a functional agenda; it is one of the top-10 risks covered by enterprise risk functions of organizations. (Item #5) The advent of virtualization technology has improved business continuity planning and execution for many organizations, but, if deployed or managed carelessly, virtualization can itself create business disruptions or data disasters. (Item #6)

Learn more at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Cyber Issues

2011-08-10T10:20:00.000-04:00

Cybercrime, cyber terrorism, cyber-espionage and cyber war are escalating issues in the 21st century. Every organization needs to take steps to ensure they are prepared to deal with – or prevent -- an instance of hacking, because it seems cyber issues can impact everyone at one time or another. This week's articles shed some light on some of the concerns you should have about protecting your organization from cyber issues of all kinds.

According to the FBI, 71% of American companies endanger their financial stability by not having insurance that will cover Internet liability. (Item #1) Lack of appropriate insurance leaves a company vulnerable to a wide-range of financially devastating cyber exposures. (Item #2) IT keeps you open for business, but if you're not careful it can close you down for good. (Item #3)

An analysis of the impact and business risks of cybercrime attacks, plus the preferred security solution to effectively protect corporate networks and data. (Item #4) The e-mails may look authentic, but are they? (Item #5) Cyber security is now a major international concern, with hackers gaining access sensitive corporate and military secrets, including intellectual property. (Item #6)

Read it all at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Workplace Violence

2011-08-03T16:12:00.000-04:00

For years now, violence in the workplace has been one of the biggest threats to employees, as well as to corporate reputation. With workplace murders increasing every year, some experts say that the workplace is the most dangerous place to be in America. This week's articles were selected to provide assistance in keeping your workplace a safer place to be.

Check out these 10 warning signs of violence in the workplace. (Item #1) Do your managers and employees know how to deal with potential incidents of violence? (Item #2) If your organization won't take action against an employee, you should read this. (Item #3)

Perhaps, if your workplace violence policies were improved, the risk of violence would decrease. (Item #4) Terminations carry with them a great potential for violence; here are some tips for safer terminations. (Item #5) What's an employer to do to prevent workplace violence? (Item #6)

Learn more about Workplace Violence and other Business Continuity related issues at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Facility Concerns

2011-07-27T10:00:00.000-04:00

Within every organization and/or facility, someone is in charge of the safety and security of the people and the facility. In large organizations, this might be the facility manager; in smaller organizations, this task probably falls to someone else, possibly whoever is responsible for business continuity. Information in this week's articles could be very helpful to whoever has this responsibility; consider passing them on.

The single most important issue is to protect the security and safety of building occupants. (Item #1) Did you ever think of your outside smoking area as a security risk? (Item #2) If your building suffers a disruption, it's important to morale to get things back to normal as soon as possible. (Item #3)

Emergency evacuation procedures are focused on the safety of the people, not the facility. (Item #4) One of the most important – perhaps even the most important – tools of the facility manager is a method of communicating with everyone in the building. (Item #5) If you're building a data center, it's better to build in some security measures rather than adding them later. (Item #6)

Dig deeper at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

BCP Testing and Training

2011-07-20T10:26:00.000-04:00

You can't count on your business continuity plan until you've tested it. Completing the plan is just the beginning – the testing is the critical next step, along with training your employees and ensuring that everyone knows what they're supposed to do when and how. Read this week's articles to learn more about how to test your plan.

Once tested, your plan adds security and value to your organization. (Item #1) The benefits of testing far outweigh any costs. (Item #2) You can learn from the successes and failures of others how to ensure your plan works. (Item #3)

The effectiveness of an exercise is directly related to the planning beforehand. (Item #4) Just how do you come up scenarios for your test? And what about plot lines? (Item #5) If you don't want the next disaster to test your plan, you'd better test it first. (Item #6)

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Social Media and Business Continuity

2011-07-13T13:14:00.001-04:00

More organizations today have instituted social media usage policies and many have Facebook pages, Twitter accounts, and blogs. Their business continuity plans, however, don't usually contain social media strategies. It seems that the time is ripe to update those plans to reflect the usage of these social media tools in your plans. This week's articles can help point out how to use social media as disaster response and recovery tools.

If you're one of the many who have questions about social media, here are some answers for you. (Item #1) Read how Facebook, text messages, and telehealth technologies play a role in emergency response. (Item #2) Today's technologically savvy employees are connected through social media… you can take advantage of this in your BC plans. (Item #3)

Is social media the new crisis response tool? (Item #4) Don't be caught on the sidelines of the social media movement; put these tools to work for you. (Item #5) What's the point of Twitter in a business context? (Item #6)

Read it all at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Crisis Communications

2011-07-06T12:57:00.000-04:00

Regardless of what you might believe, there IS a crisis in your future... maybe next week or next year or even five years from now... but it's lurking there. The only real uncertainty is whether you'll be ready for it. Will you handle it on the fly? We hope not... and we've selected this week's articles to help you plan for the crisis in your future.

This list of do's and don't's can help you stay ahead of dealing with a crisis and handling it in the best possible way. (Item #1) The basic steps of crisis communications are not difficult, but you do have to be prepared in order to minimize damage. (Item #2) In today's social media climate, the mainstream media is not always as careful as it should be in the rush to be first with the news; how can you cope? (Item #3)

Like it or lump it, Twitter has become a key tool in crisis management; better learn to manage it. (Item #4) Businesses, brands, and organizations, we'll say it again: Get your crisis comms plan ready. (Item #5) What can we learn from the tech companies that made business mistakes and didn't address them immediately? (Item #6)

Past issues of the NewsBriefs are available at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Identity Theft and Phishing

2011-06-29T09:56:00.001-04:00

Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but if it's your organization that's being imitated, the results could be catastrophic. Identity theft, which is not limited to individuals, can cause businesses time and money and damage reputations. Read this week's articles to see how you can protect your organization from this threat.

Business identity theft seems to be a growing phenomenon. (Item #1) Phishing and identity theft criminals get more sophisticated all the time. (Item #2) Small businesses should be especially concerned about their vulnerability to identity theft. (Item #3)

Here's a guide to protecting your business and recovering from business identity theft. (Item #4) Is your organization a tempting target for identity theft? (Item #5) This list of FAQs can help you protect your identity in the workplace. (Item #6)

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Business Continuity and the Economy

2011-06-21T13:00:00.000-04:00

No matter how critical it is to have a business continuity plan, a bad economy seems to make it less important to management. That is, however, the worst response – hard times make it more difficult for organizations to survive and a continuity plan is especially important now. Read this week’s articles to see how your organization can leverage business continuity in an economic downturn.

Here are 12 tips you can use to assist you in planning in a recession. (Item #1) This special report deals with changes in business continuity due to the economic downturn. (Item #2) Read what risk managers have to say about what’s happening this year with business continuity. (Item #3)

Companies generally undervalue their business continuity plans, whether the economy is good or not. (Item #4) Is funding business continuity in this economy an issue in your organization? (Item #5) The traditional business continuity concerns are still in play, but new concerns have arisen with the troubled economy. (Item #6)

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Meetings and Events

2011-06-13T15:35:00.000-04:00

Anyone who's ever planned or managed an event knows that things go wrong. No matter how well you plan, how careful you are, some things just are not in your control. For this reason, you really must have a plan for dealing with the unexpected glitches, disasters and other interruptions that could possibly derail your event. Take some hints on what your plan should include from this week's articles.

Tragedies can happen anywhere, including at your event; have you answered all the “what if” questions? (Item #1) If you're not familiar with the force majeure clause, this article will help you understanding this important tool. (Item #2) This article reveals what we can learn from the tsunami tragedy in Japan. (Item #3)

If your last off-site meeting was a disaster, here are some tips for a success next time. (Item #4) This conference company provides a look at the top five conference disasters they've dealt with. (Item #5) If a crisis interrupts your meeting, can your organization respond effectively? (Item #6)

Get it all at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Business Continuity Plan - Testing and Training

2011-06-08T17:34:00.000-04:00

In spite of the fact that a plan untested is a plan that might not work, there are many organizations that fail to update and test their plans regularly – or at all. As one of this week's articles says, testing is a reality check for your plan; if you're betting your business and employees lives on it, it had better work. The articles presented this week may give you some new insights into the importance of testing and training.

Testing is the best way to find out what works and what doesn't. (Item #1) Just because you've checked the box that says "BC plan," don't assume you're prepared. (Item #2) Here are all the reasons you've probably used for not testing... and also some ideas on how you can get your organization to dedicate resources to testing. (Item #3)

Scheduled (and sometimes unscheduled) rehearsals, workshops and training events should be woven into the fabric of normal business culture. (Item #4) If you don't do the reality check, you might as well not even have done the plan. (Item #5) No matter how small, your business should have a business continuity plan. (Item #6)

The entire issue, as well as past ones, are available at http://ww.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Hurricane Season Began June 1

2011-06-01T14:17:00.001-04:00

Hurricanes are the most powerful and destructive storms on the planet, accounting for a large percent of the country's catastrophic losses – and loss of life. The only way to help ensure that you can protect your organization's records and employees is to be prepared and to take all the necessary steps to avoid being caught in a hurricane. This week's articles provide important safety information you should know.

We could have an active hurricane season this year. (Item #1) ReadyAmerica provides safety information about hurricanes. (Item #2) These checklists can help you prepare for coming storms. (Item #3)

Most of us don't think about danger from fire during or after hurricanes. (Item #4) How to react safely in a hurricane. (Item #5) Is good insurance part of your emergency response? (Item #6)

Get prepared for hurricane season at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

June is National Safety Month

2011-05-24T18:48:00.002-04:00

Each June, the National Safety Council encourages organizations to get involved and participate in National Safety Month. Take a look at this week’s articles for some ideas on how your organization can take part. Also, Friday is Heat Safety Awareness Day. According to the National Weather Service, heat is the number one weather-related killer in the United States, killing more people each year than floods, lightning, tornados and hurricanes combined. Be careful out there!

Information from NIOSH provides information on violence in the workplace. (Item #1) OSHA provides information for building owners, managers and employers on sources of indoor air pollutants, applicable OSHA standards, and preventing or minimizing IAQ problems. (Item #2) Do you have an off-the-job safety program? (Item #3)

NIOSH offers a lot of information on workplace safety; look it over. (Item #4) Every organization should be concerned about parking lot safety; is yours? (Item #5) It’s your responsibility to ensure you stay safe at work; here are some tips you can put to good use. (Item #6)

Check out the entire issue at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Mass Notification Systems

2011-05-18T14:31:00.000-04:00

One of the main reasons for the failure of business continuity and/or disaster response plans is lack of communication... for whatever reason, those who need it do not receive targeted, actionable information so they can carry out their roles. This week, our articles focus on what you need to know about mass notification systems (MNS) and, finally, providing information on various MSN products.

Here are eight steps to take to create an effective mass notification system. (Item #1) Regulation of mass notification systems is currently being studied. (Item #2) What’s the best way to deploy network-centric notification systems? (Item #3)

This article aims to give you the know-how you need to select a mass notification plan. (Item #4) The key to a good MNS is choosing not only the right mix of emergency communications systems to meet the facility’s needs, but also understanding and complying with the latest minimum requirements. (Item #5) This mass notification product showcase will provide you with a number of products to consider. (Item #6)

Everything you need to know about mass notification systems is available at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Business Continuity Planning

2011-05-11T10:23:00.002-04:00

In any crisis or emergency, there are a large number of business continuity requirements within the organization’s business and service processes, facilities, personnel, and other areas. The state of business continuity and disaster recovery planning is dismal in most organizations and nonexistent in many. Many plans in place simply won’t work... this week’s articles will help you ensure your plan works or, if you don’t have one, get you on the road to creating one.

Investing in a BCP is making an investment with a return nearly impossible to estimate; but the price of failure can be incalculable. (Item #1) How long should it take to create a BCP? (Item #2) Here you will see suggested steps and considerations, in an abbreviated way, for small companies to create a BCP that will improve their chances of continuing operations during or after significant disasters. (Item #3)

Although we can’t predict the future, we still need to mitigate risk and heed warnings carefully. (Item #4) What are the pros and cons of one plan versus many branch plans? (Item #5) Companies that don't take the time to prepare disaster recovery and business continuity plans (BCPs) are more likely to close in the first two years of trading. (Item #6)

The full issue is available at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Employee Issues

2011-05-04T14:06:00.001-04:00

There are two areas employers must be aware of with regard to employees: how to keep them safe and how to prevent disruptions caused – accidentally or on purpose – by employees. Some experts cite statistics that show that 80% of business disruptions are caused by employees – perhaps maliciously by mailing a customer list to a competitor, but also carelessly by leaving confidential information where it can be seen by anyone. This week's articles can help you with training so employees know how their actions impact the organization, as well as what you can do to ensure their safety.

While most businesses have continuity plans in place, many don't address a company's most precious assets: its employees. (Item #1) It is very common for managers to be concerned about how they will be able to effectively manage offsite employees. (Item #2) A number of concerns motivate employers to monitor employees surfing the Web at work. (Item #3)

You can lower the risk of litigation with a commitment to strategic e-mail management, combining written policies, employee education and technology tools. (Item #4) Even though employers have a policy against sexual harassment, they still can be held vicariously liable in cases where a supervisor uses sexual content to discriminate against an employee. (Item #5) There are pros and cons about the electronic surveillance of employees at work. (Item #6)

Get the whole story at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Testing and Training

2011-04-27T14:34:00.001-04:00

It's not only critical that your crisis team is trained to use your business continuity plan, it's also important that all employees are aware of the plan and understand their roles and the roles of everyone else. It is this type of training that can help ensure that employees won't panic in a crisis and will be aware that steps are being taken to handle any situation that arises. You'll find help with this in the articles below.

Here are some steps in developing and implementing your test. (Item #1) Some say there is no better learning curve in crisis management than managing through an actual crisis. (Item #2) Use this template to build and execute your test. (Item #3)

All employees need to be trained so they fully understand that continuing the business after a disaster may not mean an immediate return to “business as usual.” (Item #4) In this article, you'll find help for building awareness of your plan among employees. (Item #5) All employees are critical to the success of your Business Continuity Program and need to receive the appropriate level of education and training. (Item #6)

The full issue as well as back issues are available at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Getting Management Buy-In

2011-04-20T13:36:00.000-04:00

There's more than adequate evidence that business continuity planning is critical in today's world, but it's still difficult to convince some senior managers of that fact. Perhaps you can take the advice in some of this week's NewsBriefs articles to help you get the buy-in you need.

Despite major disasters like the tsunami in Japan, management isn't jumping to approve disaster recovery and business continuity. (Item #1) Many senior managers provide only less-than-full buy-in for BC plans. (Item #2) Use one of these five methods to gain management buy-in. (Item #3)

Sometimes the Board isn't listening; here are some tips on how to position BC to get the Board to hear you. (Item #4) Here are some tips on how to get buy-in for your IT governance strategy. (Item #5) These strategies for getting your idea approved might help you get the CEO on board. (Item #6)

Go to http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs for the full issue of all of our NewsBriefs or to subscribe.

Social Media and Business Continuity

2011-04-13T14:38:00.000-04:00

Is your organization up to date on the most recent developments in enterprise social media? Have you observed how social media can aid an organization? Have you considered the possible drawbacks? Learn more about establishing and nurturing an enterprise social media and collaboration strategy in this week’s articles.

Is social media the ultimate BCM utility? (Item #1) Make sure to set up social media before a crisis hits. (Item #2) Emergency managers and business continuity planners agree that it’s smart practice to include social media in BCM and COOP programs. (Item #3)

Three common misperceptions have held back the use of social media in disaster response. (Item #4) It is critical that social media leaders determine the purpose of their initiatives before they deploy them. (Item #5) Social media has significantly changed how many companies communicate with their customers, employees and vendors. (Item #6)

Learn more at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Facility Safety and Continuity

2011-04-06T16:09:00.001-04:00

We always say that you have to think of people first in any disaster or disruption, but we also need to remember that we have to protect the facility – our building, our offices. This week’s articles will provide food for thought as you consider if you’ve covered all you can do in this area.

Dealing with an incident within the first few hours may reduce the total time of the disruptive event by weeks. (Item #1) Facility management is often overlooked when it comes to business continuity planning, but this group is vital to your safety and recovery success. (Item #2) How do you protect your critical documents in a disaster? (Item #3)

Prudent professionals must ensure that their properties, employees, and guests are well protected and prepared for any contingency. (Item #4) Don’t be destroyed by an it-can’t-happen-here mentality. (Item #5) This generic planning guide for facilities can help you ensure that your plan addresses all the necessary concerns. (Item #6)

How ready is your facility for a major disruption? Learn more at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Crisis Communication

2011-03-30T13:34:00.000-04:00

The continuity of your entire organization could depend on whether or not you have a communications plan... and how good it is. If you don't have a strategy and plan for communicating to your employees, the public and any other stakeholders, you may find yourself behind the eight ball. This week's articles could help you stay in the game.

What are you doing to connect, protect and account for your people in a crisis? (Item #1) Analysts Frost & Sullivan: a well designed plan for crisis communications is a must. (Item #2) The author of this piece offers a free downloadable communications template you can use. (Item #3)

Behavior precedes communication, sometimes resulting in spin. (Item #4) Would you be able to use your email right after a disruption? (Item #5) Here's what you can take away from John Edwards' career suicide. (Item #6)

How will you communicate during a crisis? Learn more at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Reputation Management

2011-03-23T13:02:00.000-04:00

Every organization is aware that its good reputation is priceless, but some companies aren't aware that their online reputation is just as critical. The Internet has provided a new battleground on which reputation battles must be fought. If you haven't done so, Google your organization's name and see what comes up. You may find some negatives along with the positives; if you do, this week's articles may be helpful in getting rid of them. The articles also can help you prevent negatives in the first place.

The public relations approach of "putting lipstick on the pig" is known as Reputation Management. (Item #1) Reputation management, in short, is two jobs: trying to be more loved and trying to be less hated. (Item #2) Your reputation in the search engines is becoming increasingly more important, and social media can help you maintain a good online reputation. (Item #3)

Welcome to the dark and sometimes ugly world of online reputation management. (Item #4) Here are essential ORM strategies & tactics that can save your assets. (Item #5) A new industry promises to help counter negative search results on the Web. (Item #6)

Read more about managing your organization's reputation at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

BCP Testing and Exercising

2011-03-16T13:49:00.000-04:00

We keep saying it – you can’t count on your plan until you test it – and we will keep saying it because it couldn’t be truer. It only takes one wrong number, one missing link, and your plan may not work. So, take heed from this week’s articles and make sure you plan to test as soon as possible.

The trends in testing and exercising may give you some new ideas on testing your plan. (Item #1) The only way to ensure that your continuity plan will work is to test it with regular exercises and then to update the plans in the light of experience. (Item #2) Do you test your data backups? You should. (Item #3)

Setting up the exercise the right way can ensure that everyone benefits from it. (Item #4) Testing your plan is critical to its success. (Item #5) Don’t forget how important it is to train senior staff and others so they will know their jobs. (Item #6)

Learn more about testing and exercising at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Risk Management

2011-03-09T15:13:00.000-05:00

Risk is anything that can derail your organization from accomplishing its mission. You need to identify the risks, determine their probable impact on your organization, then determine which risks to accept, which to mitigate, and how to deal with them. This week’s articles can help you with that task.

How are business continuity and risk management related in your organization? (Item #1) A Microsoft manager shares some insights into how his company reduces risk. (Item #2) Which approach to risk was right in this case? (Item #3)

Are you aware of the risks involved in ending relationships with employees and vendors? (Item #4) Don’t look too closely at risk… stepping back can give you a more critical view. (Item #5) Here are some tips to help you plan your risk management strategy. (Item #6)

Read all about it at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Shelter-in-Place

2011-03-02T15:34:00.001-05:00

Chemical spills, storms and other events may require the need to shelter-in-place. If you find yourself in this situation, your organization should be prepared to host its employees until the shelter-in-place order is lifted. This week’s articles will help with those preparations.

You should understand and plan for both evacuating and sheltering-in-place. (Item #1) Depending on your location and the type of event, shelter in place plans will entail different responses. (Item #2) How effective – really – are duct tape and plastic? (Item #3)

Sheltering-in-place demands a safe environment. (Item #4) Experts at Stanford University have concluded that staying put could be the best option in the event of nuclear incident. (Item #5) What are a landlord’s obligations under a shelter-in-place order? (Item #6)

Learn what you need to know at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Workplace Violence

2011-02-23T15:17:00.000-05:00

One in six violent crimes occurs in the workplace, according to the most recent Department of Justice study on crime. The workplace is the scene of almost 1 million violent crimes every year, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. About 10 percent--or 100,000--of these violent workplace crimes involve offenders armed with handguns. With numbers like this, you can’t assume your workplace is safe. Read this week’s articles to see how you prepare and perhaps avoid workplace violence.

HR is both the target of and its first line of defense against workplace violence. (Item #1) How do you prevent workplace violence eruptions? (Item #2) A no-tolerance policy and early intervention are the keys to preventing workplace violence. (Item #3)

A comprehensive workplace violence plan will include three critical elements. (Item #4) Violence in the workplace impacts all employees; what can you do after the fact to deal with their emotions? (Item #5) Here are some workplace violence statistics that may open your eyes to the scope of the problem. (Item #6)

The entire issue is available at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

No Business Continuity Plan ???

2011-02-16T15:54:00.001-05:00

It's hard to believe that some organizations still do not have business continuity plans. Odds are that this lack of planning will catch up with them at some point. If you're one of those companies, or if your plan is outdated, check out this week’s articles and get busy safeguarding the future of your organization.

Begin planning now to ensure your survivability. (Item #1) Here are some steps for small businesses to take in creating a BCP. (Item #2) Continuity planning is something that many companies fail to plan for. (Item #3)

It’s more likely that a commonplace event will cause your disaster than any kind of cataclysmic event. (Item #4) Where does BCP report in your organization? (Item #5) Do you know how much a BCP would be worth to your organization? (Item #6)

Don't be one of the unprepared. Get valuable info at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Cybercrime

2011-02-09T15:49:00.001-05:00

Don’t fall prey to the it-can’t-happen-here way of thinking with regard to cybercrime. It can and does happen anywhere, and no one seems to be immune. Take a look at this week’s articles and figure out your risk of cybercrime – and prepare for it in your business continuity plan.

Cybercrime costs businesses big bucks. (Item #1) Everyone in the workplace is responsible for computer security. (Item #2) HR plays an important role in fighting cybercrime. (Item #3)

Here’s how to avoid becoming a victim of cybercrime. (Item #4) What can small businesses do about cybercrime? (Item #5) Cybercrime is the bane of online transactions. (Item #6)

Learn more at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

BCP Testing and Training

2011-02-02T13:56:00.001-05:00

We can't say it often enough... don't let your first disaster become the test for your business continuity plan! If you want to be sure the plan will work and everyone understands what they have to do, you must test your entire plan at least once a year and perhaps test different parts of it more often. This week's articles all discuss the importance of testing and training and provide some help in setting up your own tests.

Training doesn't have to be complicated to work well. (Item #1) How can you communicate the value of BC training? (Item #2) Financial institutions have some requirements for validating their plans. (Item #3)

Don't waste the resources you put into your plan… make sure everyone knows it's there and how to use it. (Item #4) Here are some keys to moving beyond the concept stage. (Item #5) Read about some of the issues in testing and see how some organizations got it wrong. (Item #6)

Check out the entire issue at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Meeting and Event Continuity

2011-01-26T15:25:00.000-05:00

If you agree with the principal that “anything that can go wrong, will,” you’ll understand why a contingency plan is so important to your meeting and event. The articles below can help you put one together or check to see that yours covers all it should.

You must have an emergency plan to ensure attendee safety and business continuity in a world where the occurrence of the unexpected is increasingly likely. (Item #1) The most important thing you can do for any event is to have a contingency plan. (Item #2) It is critical that an event contingency plan include a system for implementing the plan, including making sure that those it protects know of its existence and what it provides. (Item #3)

You do have to consider the problems individuals can cause at an event. (Item #4) If you can answer these questions your venue may put to you, you probably have a contingency plan. (Item #5) Video and virtual meetings can be the answer to meeting disruptions. (Item #6)

Learn more at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Getting Management Buy-In

2011-01-19T14:31:00.000-05:00

In many organizations, the biggest business continuity issues are communication and getting buy-in and funding. Because business continuity has no instant return on investment, it is extremely difficult to measure its value. It is viewed as a cost center, not a revenue item. As a result, BC is often pushed into the background in favor of activities that positively affect the bottom line. This week’s articles are selected to help you gain the buy-in you need to get your BCP off the ground.

How do you get management attention for your BC project? (Item #1) Senior management is important, but how about everyone else in the organization? (Item #2) You want to do BC training, but you need management support. (Item #3)

Let management know what you and your BC team bring to the party. (Item #4) What does your presentation need to be effective and get the buy-in you want? (Item #5) Maybe communication is the answer to the problem of getting buy-in. (Item #6)

Read the entire issue, view previous Newsbriefs and sign up at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Business Continuity in the Current Economy

2011-01-12T16:00:00.000-05:00

Regardless of the state of the economy, it's critical to make sure your continuity planning doesn't fall by the wayside. You can't afford to think that bad things don't happen in bad times... they do. This week's articles, therefore, look at protecting your organization despite the economy.

IT projects may be on hold, but your infrastructure must be protected now. (Item #1) Reducing costs also may increase your risk; keep your plan ready to deal with the worst case. (Item #2) You need to do everything possible to ensure funds for recovery are available. (Item #3)

Maybe, instead of eliminating BC planning, you can take a modular approach. (Item #4) People in the field share their insights about keeping your plans alive in a recession. (Item #5) Is the down economy actually encouraging management to get more involved in BC planning? (Item #6)

Get this full text of issue plus all of our previous Newsbriefs are available at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Six Key Business Continuity Activities for 2011

2011-01-04T10:20:00.000-05:00

The New Year is underway, and I'd like to call to your attention to the following six activities that could help you survive a disruption to your organization. Here are links to several of our 2010 newsletter issues (in case you missed them) that offer more help on these six key activities:

Get a plan or update your old one
Develop emergency plans for any meetings, events, etc., that you plan, produce, or host
Assess your risk for 2011
Exercise your plan
Make sure everyone knows about the plan
Have you checked your emergency supplies lately?

Read the entire NewsBrief, back issues or sign up at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Winter Weather

2010-12-15T12:40:00.000-05:00

The closure of businesses and offices and the cancellation and postponement of sporting and other events due to winter weather can lead to lost revenue and an overall decrease in productivity. Even if businesses remain open, they may lose revenue if customers are unable to travel due to poor road conditions or employees cannot get to the office. While a loss of power and heat automatically prevents most businesses and offices from operating, the most cited reason for closure of businesses and cancellation of events was poor driving conditions. Get some help in planning for and getting through winter weather disruptions.

Here’s a winter checklist you can use to help you minimize damage from winter hazards. (Item #1) Make sure you have your business continuity plan updated to cover winter hazards. (Item #2) Sick workers can affect your productivity and your profitability; take some steps to help keep your employees well. (Item #3)

Last month, Michigan’s governor declared Winter Hazards Awareness Week; you, too, can benefit from Michigan’s foresight. (Item #4) Ice and rain can cause winter accidents; make your workplace safer with the tips in this article. (Item #5) If you’re preparing a talk for employees on winter safety, this item might be helpful. (Item #6)

Read the entire issue, back issues or sign up at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Contingency Planning for Meetings and Events

2010-12-03T14:44:00.000-05:00

When you’re planning your annual conference or other important meetings, make sure you don’t forget to plan on how you will deal with disruptions that might impact your event. The articles below may be helpful to you in creating your meeting continuity plans.

When planning your event, don’t forget your emergency action plan. (Item #1) Do you have a plan to deal with strikes? (Item #2) Regardless of the reason or the season, planners must be prepared and have a clear plan, which starts with your hotel contract negotiations. (Item #3)

See how the Learning Disabilities Association overcame a floor collapse and snowstorm to avoid canceling its annual meeting. (Item #4) The safety and security of attendees is your responsibility. Here’s how you can reduce risk. (Item #5) This risk assessment checklist can help you figure out where your risks may be. (Item #6)

As always, we look forward to hearing about your concerns with regard to business continuity. If you have a topic you’d like to see covered, please email me.

Read the entire NewsBrief, back issues or sign up at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

BCP Testing and Training

2010-11-30T18:39:00.000-05:00

The reason we talk so often about testing your business continuity plans if because it’s so important. No matter how hard we work to write the plan, things change over time. People leave, job responsibilities evolve, and these can affect the plan. Take the advice in this week’s articles and begin to plan your testing now.

It’s not just what individuals know that matters in a crisis; you have to test the BC team’s crisis decision-making. (Item #1) It’s important to know the steps needed in testing your plan. (Item #2) This listing of objectives can be very helpful in planning your exercises. (Item #3)

Testing a business recovery plan is an important step to validate and check its content and approaches to ensure that plans are actionable before a possible real disruption. (Item #4) Involve your employees in testing and exercising your plans and get their input on it. (Item #5) For the general employee population, awareness of the business continuity plan is essential for on-going support and commitment. (Item #6)

As always, we look forward to hearing about your concerns with regard to business continuity. If you have a topic you’d like to see covered, please email me.

Read it all at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Holiday Issues

2010-11-12T18:50:00.000-05:00

Holidays give employers an opportunity to provide time off from work and employees get to spend extra time with family and friends. Holidays also present challenges for both employers and employees: which holidays to observe, how or if to pay for holiday leave, accommodating diversity and religious beliefs and practices, whether or how much bonus or gifts to give to employees, serving alcoholic beverages at company parties, and handling the holiday blues or depression that some employees experience. This week’s articles may help you with these issues.

Your business continuity could be compromised during the holidays, if you don’t make sure your plan can be implemented with people off on holiday breaks. (Item #1) Here’s a look at the legal issues and some cases addressing employer liability for alcohol-related incidents. (Item #2) If you’ve got questions, the expert has answers. (Item #3)

If you’re concerned about holiday party risks, here are some alternatives to the annual event. (Item #4) Here are some tips on how to avoid sexual harassment claims as a result of the holiday party. (Item #5) If your workplace is diverse, you should appreciate the help in this article. (Item #6)

As always, we look forward to hearing about your concerns with regard to business continuity. If you have a topic you’d like to see covered, please email me.

This issue, as well as all of our back issues, are available at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Emergency Supplies

2010-11-10T11:59:00.002-05:00

Once again, it's time for our annual issue featuring suppliers of emergency supplies as well as the ready.gov checklist. This is a much requested edition of the NewsBriefs, and we hope you will find it useful. Please note, however, that the inclusion of a supplier in the newsletter is not an endorsement, but simply an acknowledgement that these providers have supplies available. If you're considering getting your emergency kits together, see what's offered here and also try looking for "emergency supplies" with your favorite search engine.

The ready.gov web site provides us with a checklist to guide us in creating emergency kits. (Item #1) This supplier provides a variety of goods and information that might be helpful to you as you put your kits together. (Item #2) Here you'll find items you need for your emergency kits, plus some suggestions for gifts to help make others safer. (Item #3)

This supplier specializes in complete 72-hour kits – enough supplies to last for 72 hours. (Item #4) Here's another supplier of all types of materials and kits to get you through a crisis. (Item #5) Don't forget water—here's all you need to know about preparing and storing it. (Item #6)

For the complete issue or to subscribe, go to http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Do we need to re-think Terrorism?

2010-11-03T15:28:00.000-04:00

Last week’s attempt by terrorists to get explosives into the US has made us all stop and think about how real the terror threat still is. Because it’s become more difficult to attack large prominent locations, terrorists are beginning to focus on smaller facilities. If you’re wondering how to make your organization safer, this week’s articles can help.

Terrorism preparedness requires two actions: taking steps to harden a specific facility from a terrorist act, and taking steps to mitigate an act should it occur. (Item #1) This article contains good guidance for risk assessment and creating business continuity plans that will lessen the impact of events that threaten a business or organization. (Item #2) Planning for the aftermath of terrorist incidents is very similar to planning for other disruptions... you have to consider consequences and resources. (Item #3)

Terrorism experts agree that an attack is likely to succeed because of complacency; look over these tips from a security consultant. (Item #4) Taking these steps can help you be better prepared to face terrorist threats. (Item #5) If your building has suffered damage from a terrorist action, here’s how to help employees believe it’s safe again. (Item #6)

Get it all at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Crisis Communications

2010-10-20T10:10:00.000-04:00

The need for a crisis communications strategy and plan has never been as crucial as it is today. The catastrophic events of recent years have shown that relying solely on traditional communications tools for contacting employees, customers and other constituents in a time of need is not enough for relaying vital information. Every organization can find itself in a crisis. This week’s articles can help you handle the communications aspects of a disruption.

Many people view crisis communication as strategy for protecting corporate reputation carried out by public relations and legal – not as a strategy for rapid decision-making amongst executives and decision-makers and the rapid mobilization of response teams. (Item #1) Whatever the reason for invoking your business continuity plan, there are a number of aspects that will involve communication. (Item #2) Email's primary role as a communications vehicle means that, in an actual disaster, the inevitable outage not only hampers the running of the business, but significantly curtails the business's ability to respond and recover from the disaster in the first place. (Item #3)

These examples of inappropriate crisis communications policies, culled from real-life situations, will provide a tongue-in-cheek guide about what NOT to do when your organization is faced with a crisis. (Item #4) Here’s everything you wanted to know about the John Edwards lesson of career implosion - and what you can learn from it. (Item #5) It’s not easy to get senior management to actively support crisis communication plans. (Item #6)

Read this issue, as well as back issues, at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Testing Your Business Continuity Plan

2010-10-12T20:23:00.000-04:00

Although your business continuity plan is supported by state-of-the-art technology and superb written documentation, it could still fail if you don’t test it now and then. Regardless of how wonderful a plan may look on paper, you will run the risk that things just won’t work in an emergency if you haven’t tested the plan. This week’s articles provide some help for testing and exercising your plans.

The primary reason to exercise is to identify limitations of business continuity plans. (Item #1) What are the keys to a successful business continuity exercise? (Item #2) Planning is good, but practice makes perfect. (Item #3)

How can you make business continuity training a top priority? (Item #4) Establishing a testing and exercise program within the organization reduces the risk of failed recovery and has many benefits. (Item #5) Testing your BCP using a simulated disaster helps ensure success in the event of an actual disaster. (Item #6) And finally, check out what a few of Attainium's customer have experienced with their plan testing and exercising. (Item #7)

You may also want to learn more about Attainium's Plan Testing and Exercising services which range from prepackaged Conduct It Yourself scenarios to custom tabletop exercises designed for your specific requirements and delivered at your location.

The entire issue is available at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Business Continuity / Disaster Recovery Case Studies

2010-10-06T13:57:00.000-04:00

Many businesses are already prepared for disruptions with completed, tested business continuity plans. The case studies below could help you to plan, update or modify your strategy or plans by showing you the approach other organizations have taken in specific situations. It’s always less painful to learn from others’ experiences!

One firework could have brought down a business. (Item #1) Read about some of the lessons this company learned as the result of a disruption. (Item #2) Glasgow Airport’s business continuity management (BCM) strategy came into its own during a car-bomb attack. (Item #3)

A suspicious powder put Norwich Union’s BC plan through its paces. (Item #4) An exploding bomb put Marks & Spencer’s plan to a test. (Item #5) If you’re not aware of your critical vendors’ BC plans, take note of this case study. (Item #6)

Get it all at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Mass Notification Systems

2010-09-29T09:44:00.002-04:00

Whether you own or rent your facility, you have to protect your employees and others who use the building or who are simply visiting. How do you do this? Mass notification systems are the tool most organizations use today. The object is simple: notify a large number of people in the shortest amount of time. This week’s articles offer some insights into how these systems work, how you can put them into effect and even provide links to some providers of these solutions.

A mass notification system should not only be versatile enough to contact individuals regardless of where they are, but also able to reach out to pre-defined areas regardless of whom is situated there. (Item #1) The first step is to develop a notification plan, which serves as the basis for developing a mass notification system that delivers emergency messages. (Item #2) Here are some things to keep in mind when planning or upgrading a mass notification system. (Item #3)

When planning an MNS, keep in mind the importance of ensuring that the hearing impaired must get the same message and training as the hearing. (Item #4) This article contains information about the regulation of mass notification systems. (Item #5) Confused about what’s out there? Here are links to some available systems. (Item #6)

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Cyber Security Awareness

2010-09-22T09:03:00.000-04:00

This week is Cyber Security Awareness Week (CSAW). Cyber security awareness programs impress upon users the importance of cyber security and the adverse consequences of its failure. Awareness may reinforce knowledge already gained, but its goal is to produce security behaviors that are automatic. The goal is to make "thinking security" a natural reflex for everyone in the organization. This week’s articles contain information that will help you protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information in today's highly networked systems environment.

An information security audit is one of the best ways to determine the security of an organization's information without incurring the cost and other associated damages of a security incident. (Item #1) Why is security awareness and training so important and what constitutes a security awareness and training program? (Item #2) Here’s how to implement a security awareness program in your organization. (Item #3)

Do you know what sorts of fundamental rights people have with respect to their data? (Item #4) There are seven steps chief information security officers can take to launch their organizations in the direction of Information Security compliance. (Item #5) What do you know about the Internet Kill Switch? (Item #6)

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Employee Issues

2010-09-15T10:51:00.000-04:00

Everyone says it – our employees are our most important asset – but many employers don’t take the proper steps to either maintain the safety of that asset or to prevent legal problems brought by employees. You have to engage, not just inform, your employees. You need to ensure that proper background checks rule out people who could be a danger to your workforce. In addition to hiring, you need to know how and how not to fire people. This week’s articles focus on these important topics and can provide you with good hints and tips.

Employers face challenging issues relative to employee safety and security. (Item #1) Here are four reasons that IT executives charged with BC/RM/DR need to consider their employees heavily in their plan. (Item #2) Unless you've followed good practices to enable you to defend against termination claims, at-will employment status of your employees will do no more than look good on paper. (Item #3)

If you want to avoid legal action, then you should avoid making these employee termination errors. (Item #4) Everybody needs HR, both in good times and not-so-good times; the business continuity planner is no exception. (Item #5) The business losses that can be reduced by background screening - including turnover, theft/fraud, and catastrophic events (and their resultant legal losses) - add up to over $1.5 trillion annually. (Item #6)

Read it in its entirety at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Reputation Management

2010-09-08T08:27:00.002-04:00

People are talking about you, and today’s search engines have the ability to unearth whatever they are saying. They are a tool that everyone uses – employers to check on potential employees, potential employees to check on potential employers, investors to check on a company’s employment health, potential members to check on organizations they may want to join. It’s critical, therefore, that every organization and individual know how to check their online reputation and to do it often. This week’s articles can help you do just that.

Unfortunately, perceptions – and your online reputation -- are not always based on fact, but on opinion, conjecture and rumors. (Item #1) If you don’t control your brand online, someone else will. (Item #2) In a world that grows more digital by the day, a new adage has emerged: "You are who Google says you are." (Item #3)

Online reputation management is becoming big business, as companies look to track what’s being said and measure the success of their social media marketing strategies. (Item #4) Proactive PR is important for online reputation management, because it means you are creating positive search engine results, which can keep negative search results from ever appearing. (Item #5) This post outlines – and provides links to -- some of the free tools available for monitoring your online reputation. (Item #6)

Read it all at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Business Continuity Testing and Exercising

2010-09-01T10:09:00.000-04:00

The best way to measure your business continuity and disaster preparedness plan is to put it in motion and test it. This is a great way to show management, employees, clients and prospects that you have done all you can to ensure business as usual, no matter what. Most important, testing will let you know if your plan will work, and, for some companies today, testing is a compliance issue. Over time, you will have to test all the elements of your plan, but you don’t necessarily have to do them all at once. This week’s articles will help you discover what a good test should accomplish and how to go about finding out if you can count on your plan in a disruption.

Like so many things in life, in order to become proficient in any physical or mental process, it is necessary to practice. (Item #1) Business continuity and disaster recovery experts stress that business continuity plans and tests are essential for your IT disaster recovery environment, but why? (Item #2) Could you really recover using your plan documentation? (Item #3)

Here are six tips and three scenarios to get you started on a tabletop exercise. (Item #4) Through testing, you will reduce both recovery time and risks, ultimately protecting your business and the employees and customers who rely on you. (Item #5) Are you having a problem getting employees trained? (Item #6)

Learn all you need to know about testing and exercising your BCP. Read the complete issue at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

National Preparedness Month

2010-08-25T15:55:00.000-04:00

September is National Preparedness Month (NPM). The goal of NPM is to increase public awareness about the importance of preparing for emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks, at home, work and school. It is “designed to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, and communities.” Events and activities across the nation encourage individuals and businesses to get an emergency supply kit, make a family emergency plan, and get involved in preparing their communities. National Preparedness Month is sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Ready Campaign. This week’s articles focus on some of the things you should be considering during the month.

Gain access to resources to help you observe National Preparedness Month. (Item #1) How do you measure your readiness quotient? (Item #2) It’s almost flu season; what can you do to get ready? (Item #3)

Here’s some advice on what you need to include in your survival kit. (Item #4) Take action before the disaster strikes and things may go more smoothly if it happens. (Item #5) What can you do to protect your business, employees and customers? (Item #6)

Read all about National Preparedness Month in this issue of the NewsBriefs at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Business Continuity Planning

2010-08-18T14:32:00.000-04:00

Business continuity and disaster recovery planning has become a priority in many businesses, but there are many in which it has not. How does it rate in your organization? Do you have a plan? Do you test it, update it, and educate your employees about it? Whatever the status of your plan, you will find helpful information in this week’s articles.

Good business continuity plans will keep your company up and running through interruptions of any kind. (Item #1) Having a strong continuity plan in place means that a natural disaster doesn’t have to be a complete catastrophe for your business. (Item #2) FEMA’s ReadyBusiness pages offer much helpful information about what you need to do to stay in business after a disruption. (Item #3)

AT&T research finds business continuity planning more common, and takes into account more issues including supplier readiness. (Item #4) The next incident is always the one you have not thought of! (Item #5) The first step to determining where your disaster recovery center should be is to map the probable threats to your company. (Item #6)

The full issue is available at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Getting Buy-in

2010-08-11T14:55:00.002-04:00

Buy-in. Without it, sometimes you just can’t get plans approved or implemented. You need management approval to get started, but you need everyone’s buy-in to make plans successful. The articles below discuss getting buy-in from everyone in order to bring your plans to reality and to actually put them into use.

Here are some common problems encountered when implementing a new project and practical steps to overcome these. (Item #1) Managers don’t often see the value in projects that don't immediately deliver ROI. (Item #2) Buy-in is achieved by continually including, in all aspects of the implementation process, the people who will use and be responsible for the solution. (Item #3)

Here are five steps toward management buy-in. (Item #4) These tips will help you get your proposals accepted. (Item #5) The cost of not getting buy-in is immense. (Item #6)

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Workplace Violence

2010-08-02T19:08:00.002-04:00

Between 1992 and 2006 (the latest year for which figures are available) workplace homicides averaged 800 per year. Studies show that 1 million or more violent situations occur in the workplace every year! Workplace violence is very real and can explode anytime and anywhere. Threats, bullying, physical violence and even gossip can be classified as workplace violence, and any of these situations could lead to litigation, which could cost you plenty and even damage your reputation. Read this week’s articles to see how you can help prevent incidents of workplace violence.

While policies and raising awareness can't completely insulate any nonprofit from the risk of workplace violence, it will help. (Item #1) While you can't always predict and prevent workplace violence, you can plan to limit its impact. (Item #2) This article looks at the problem of employee violence and what employers can do to deal with the issue and prevent a potentially devastating event in their workplaces. (Item #3)

The initial step is to assess the potential threat of workplace violence based on the nature of your business and on the types of facilities and their locations. (Item #4) By being more aware of our people and our actions, we can often prevent violence long before it has a chance to touch us. (Item #5) Litigation can result from any incident of violence in the workplace. (Item #6)

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Building Security and Survivability

2010-07-28T12:57:00.000-04:00

In addition to your employees and tenants, servers and software, your procedures and processes, you have to be concerned with the security and survival of your facility as much as possible, because your facility encases everything that’s important to the continuity of your operations. Take a look through this week’s articles for some tips on how to improve your building security and survivability.

Have you done what you can do at all of your facilities to improve your chances for uninterrupted operations? (Item #1) An audit is conducted to evaluate compliance with specific, measurable criteria. (Item #2) Is Your Company Prepared Should a Disaster Strike? Will You Be Action or Reaction Oriented? (Item #3)

Traditional evacuation plans developed to meet the threat of fire are no longer sufficient in work environments where there is a threat, however small, of a terrorist attack. (Item #4) Inside every office building, factory, warehouse or other work area, someone is in charge of managing the environment where you work and ensuring that the building is safe.(Item #5) An access control security system allows building management professionals to do more than just control admission to restricted areas. (Item #6)

Read the entire NewsBriefs as well as back issues at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Testing Your Business Continuity Plan

2010-07-20T15:40:00.001-04:00

Training and testing are the keys to the success of any continuity or disaster recovery plan. A plan simply can’t be relied on to work properly unless it has been tested before it is actually implemented during an emergency. Practicing emergency response helps ensure that the plan will work as expected in an actual emergency. In addition, exercising the plan can reveal problems or weaknesses in the plan and identify need changes. This week’s articles offer ideas about testing and exercising your plan.

What is required to ensure that an exercise is effective? (Item #1) The development and implementation of the functional exercise program will help ensure you’re ready when the next disaster strikes. (Item #2) Are you testing all of your plan at least some of the time? (Item #3)

Just how ready is your disaster recovery plan? (Item #4) In the event of a disaster, a backup provider should be able to restore all data within 48 hours. (Item #5) Business continuity plans should be tested and updated regularly to ensure that they are up to date and effective. (Item #6)

Read the full issue at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Social Media and Business Continuity

2010-07-12T16:18:00.003-04:00

Social media offers opportunities -- and threats – with regard to business continuity. Many companies are integrating social media into their business continuity plans, but others are reluctant to jump on the bandwagon. Clearly, social media is becoming an important part of our society, so it’s important to take a look at it, learn about it, and determine if it can work for you. This week’s items may throw some light on the subject and help you determine if you should consider it as a tool for your organization.

The full power of social media comes perhaps best to light in times of disaster, when up-to-date and current information is crucial to get out to as many as possible as soon as possible. (Item #1) Social media are the greatest gift to crisis management and business continuity planning that has ever been invented. (Item #2) To keep yourself and your business out of the courtroom, brush up on the new rules and regulations, remain vigilant and act responsibly. (Item #3)

Social media has significantly changed how many companies communicate with their customers, employees and vendors – so it might be time to reflect that shift in your crisis communications plans. (Item #4) Used together, social media tools can help you build a truly amazing social media campaign for brand building or reputation management. (Item #5) Finally, there are those who think social media is not ready for prime time. (Item #6)

The entire issue plus subscription information is available at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Crisis Communications

2010-07-08T09:53:00.003-04:00

There is one critical thing to remember about a crisis: It CAN happen here! And, if it happens, you need to have steps in place to respond to it and keep your organization going. There are three major steps in responding to a crisis: 1) gather all the information you can about the crisis and double check it; 2) communicate what is happening to all stakeholders (don’t forget employees); and 3) monitor media and online stories to make sure information is correct; if it isn’t, do what you can to correct it. This week’s articles can help you prepare a crisis response plan and to figure out what role social media can have in that plan.

This sample Crisis Communication Plan can help you draft yours. (Item #1) It's how you handle a crisis with the media that will likely determine whether that crisis builds or seriously damages your company.(Item #2) Good news travels fast online, but bad news travels faster. (Item #3)

Can there be a balance between a business's need for quality formal communications in a crisis situation -- and the personal, informal nature of blogging? (Item #4) When should a company use social networking or resume its social networking activities post-crisis? (Item #5) What can you learn from the John Edwards scandal? (Item #6)

Read the entire issue at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Phishing and Identity Theft

2010-06-25T16:38:00.003-04:00

More than 10 million Americans are victims of identity theft a year. A recent survey estimates that the dollar value of the crime was $52.6 billion in 2004. Individuals and businesses alike are at risk. This week’s articles can help you make your family and your business more secure against phishing and identity theft.

What does a phishing email look like? (Item #1) The stories keep coming about the growing number of large-scale security breaches. (Item #2) Identity theft has severe consequences to victims, their families, and employers. (Item #3)

Just a fisherman would use a spear to target a single fish, spear phishing targets individuals. (Item #4) The IRS urges consumers to avoid falling for these recent schemes. (Item #5) This report is intended for technically sophisticated readers such as security practitioners, executives, researchers, and others who wish to understand methods employed by online identity thieves and countermeasures that can prevent such crimes. (Item #6)

Get it all at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Business Continuity and the Economy

2010-06-23T10:02:00.002-04:00

The current unsettled economy can impact business continuity in many ways. Even though there are signs that the economy is beginning to recover, businesses are still failing at a high rate. Organizations have been forced to adjust their business model and operating costs by reducing workforce, seeking other cost-saving opportunities, and developing business contingency plans for changing economic conditions. As the economy continues to stall, however, companies are now focused on managing emerging risks that could have an impact on long-term sustainability. It’s clear that mitigation or contingency plans need to be developed for their ongoing survival.

Traditional hazards certainly have not gone away in the current economic climate, but newer disruptions have gained prominence. (Item #1) In many businesses, managers are reluctant to release funding for this activity due, at least in part, to current economic difficulties. (Item #2) Recessions amplify risks; the absence of a tested plan is therefore much more dangerous in a recession. (Item #3)

Are you worried about the impact of the economy on your business? (Item #4) Until times are flush and money flows freely, it seems to be economically sound to maintain the business continuity function. (Item #5) Gone are the days when the days when an organization's business continuity planner could tick off a set of standard risks such as power failure, fire, flood, and perhaps vendor failure. (Item #6)

Read this issue, view past ones or even subscribe at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Compliance and Governance

2010-06-16T11:16:00.000-04:00

Regulatory compliance and corporate governance many times go hand-in-hand, working together to keep organizations out of trouble with the government and, therefore, preventing disruptions that could damage reputation and the ability to continue operations. Every year, it seems, brings more concerns about compliance; regulators are now warning about social networking and its potential for problems. While it is important to ensure that compliance and governance are always on your radar, even 100% compliance isn’t the answer to keeping you 100% safe from disruptions.

Is management been placing too much emphasis on compliance? (Item #1) Businesses will not only have to monitor social networking communications, but they will have to capture the traffic, audit it and log it. (Item #2) Do you have all your corporate-governance ducks in a row? (Item #3)

Here are some steps that make the difference between a positive or negative audit experience. (Item #4) ISO 31000 is a standard to help public, private or community enterprises, associations, groups or individuals manage risk effectively. (Item #5) What do you know about the Red Flag Rule? (Item #6)

Read it all or subscribe to our Business Continuity NewsBriefs at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Plan Testing and Exercising

2010-06-08T14:38:00.000-04:00

How often should you test your business continuity plan? As often as possible and as much of it as possible. Unless the plan is brought out and tested on a regular basis, there is the risk that some things won’t work if a real emergency does occur. If your plan needs testing, this week’s articles focus on the importance of testing and provide information on how to do it.

A large percentage of organizations do not test their business continuity plans. (Item #1) There’s nothing like a crisis to show you what’s not working. (Item #2) The key components of an effective exercise can be broken down into three simple activities. (Item #3)

You won’t know if your plan works unless you test it. (Item #4) Here are some sample table-top exercise scenarios to help you put your plans into action. (Item #5) Exercises and tests offer different ways of identifying deficiencies in IT plans, procedures, and training. (Item #6)

Get it all at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Hurricanes/Summer Weather

2010-06-02T12:18:00.002-04:00

Summer is not far away – meteorological summer begins June 1 – and neither are the dangers of summer: hurricanes, floods, storm surge, lightning, high temperatures, humidity, water accidents. NOAA expects an active to extremely active hurricane season, and some areas of the country will experience extreme high temperatures and drought. All of these situations can threaten your business and your employees. Make sure you’re prepared to prevent as many disasters as possible and to recover in the event disaster strikes. The articles below offer some help in keeping your business operating.

Here are some tips to help you protect against hurricanes. (Item #1) This flood preparation guide can help you start or finish your plan and enhance your preparations. (Item #2) You can help yourself and others avoid experiencing heat disorders by following these safety rules. (Item #3)

Power failures, often the result of stormy weather, can mean data loss – and more. (Item #4) Lightning is a killer. (Item #5) If the worst does happen, this brochure can help you in your efforts to get back to normal. (Item #6)

Read the entire issue at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

June is National Safety Month

2010-05-25T08:22:00.000-04:00

The National Safety Council (NSC) has designated June as National Safety Month and encourages businesses to get involved and participate in safety activities. The goal is to bring attention to critical safety issues that can affect your employees – and their families -- on or off the job. Workplace Safety Week is June 4-10. You can visit the NSC site at http://www.nsc.org/nsc_events/Nat_Safe_Month/Pages/home.aspx for information and activities. Also, the articles below provide additional information on some important safety topics.

Workplace injuries are costing businesses plenty in dollars and related productivity costs. (Item #1) Small businesses have safety concerns that may differ from larger employers. (Item #2) Reducing stress can help improve physical and emotional health. (Item #3)

Information in the workplace can help prevent home-related injuries. (Item #4) Here are some ways you can participate in National Safety Month. (Item #5) NSC provides some good explanations about why using even hands-free cell phones while driving is risky. (Item #6)

The entire issue is available at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Mass Notification Systems

2010-05-11T15:48:00.001-04:00

When a disaster is imminent – or already upon you – how do you meet the need to communication to everyone in your facility or on your campus? Today’s answer to this challenge is the mass notification system (MNS). This week’s articles provide information on planning for and selecting a MNS that meets your needs.

Asking a few basic questions can help you the mass notification system that is appropriate for your organization. (Item #1) To better protect their corporate offices, industrial complex, or college campus, facility managers have begun asking questions about MNS technology and its varied applications. (Item #2) This article offers several steps in MNS – starting with planning. (Item #3)

Because a single form of communications might not be sufficient, an MNS must be versatile. (Item #4) A fire alarm system is a life-saving necessity for an organization; but is it enough? (Item #5) A solid understanding of mass-notification systems can help you evaluate which system will best meet your organization's needs. (Item #6)

For the entire issue or past issues, go to http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

There's Value in Business Continuity Planning

2010-05-11T15:13:00.003-04:00

When a disaster is imminent – or already upon you – how do you meet the need to communication to everyone in your facility or on your campus? Today’s answer to this challenge is the mass notification system (MNS). This week’s articles provide information on planning for and selecting a MNS that meets your needs.

Asking a few basic questions can help you the mass notification system that is appropriate for your organization. (Item #1) To better protect their corporate offices, industrial complex, or college campus, facility managers have begun asking questions about MNS technology and its varied applications. (Item #2) This article offers several steps in MNS – starting with planning. (Item #3)

Because a single form of communications might not be sufficient, an MNS must be versatile. (Item #4) A fire alarm system is a life-saving necessity for an organization; but is it enough? (Item #5) A solid understanding of mass-notification systems can help you evaluate which system will best meet your organization's needs. (Item #6)

The whole story is available at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Employees and Business Continuity

2010-05-04T20:28:00.000-04:00

We always talk about the fact that our people are our most important asset. Now is the time to assess how well we are handling this asset and to consider the employee’s role in business continuity – or, as one of this week’s articles calls it – the Employee Factor. There seem to be almost no end to the employee issues you are required to deal with; hiring, firing, privacy, safety, and ethics are only some of these. Check out this week’s articles to see if you’ve missed any critical steps you should be taking to ensure your employees’ well being and that of your business.

What would happen to your business if your workers were unable to perform their jobs? (Item #1) Here are four reasons that IT executives charged with BC/RM/DR need to consider their employees and operations heavily in their plan. (Item #2) The author discusses four areas of human resource consideration in business continuity planning. (Item #3)

There are three key issue drivers for strategic workforce planning. (Item #4) Are your employees aware of the ethical implications of their actions? (Item #5) If you plan on deploying security cameras in your organization, please communicate with your employees and explain the new initiative to them. (Item #6)

The full issue, as well as back issues, are available at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Testing Your Business Continuity Plan

2010-04-27T19:42:00.000-04:00

If you haven’t tested your business continuity plan lately, how can you be sure it’s up to date? People may have come and gone or equipment may have changed, and, if so, the plan may not work. It’s important that the plan is tested and people are trained so that, if disaster strikes, your organization will be back up and running with as little down time as possible. This week’s articles look at the challenges and best practices of testing and training.

The key components of an effective Exercise can be broken down into three simple activities. (Item #1) Could you really recover using your plan documentation? (Item #2) In a disaster, would your people be doing what they were trained to do? (Item #3)

Here are 7 steps for developing a business continuity plan which included setting your goals and objectives, and measure your success to ensure your program is tested prior to swinging into action. (Item #4) This article captures thoughts, observations and industry best practices regarding plan testing. (Item #5) The better prepared you are the easier it will be to manage the situation and recover from it quickly. (Item #6)

The entire issue is available at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Social Media Meets Business Continiuity

2010-04-19T13:00:00.001-04:00

There’s probably little doubt that employees everywhere are using social media at home and at work. What are they saying? Could it damage your business? If you’re feeling on shaky ground with regard to how to control the situation, this week’s articles could be of assistance, covering everything from the dangers of social media to developing a social media policy.

The major problem that businesses face with social media is control. (Item #1) Whether employees use social media the right way or the wrong way is in no small part up to the executives who lead them. (Item #2) New legal issues with social media arise daily. (Item #3)

If you’re developing a social media policy, these 10 tips should help. (Item #4) You have to control social media usage, but you also need to know how to create value with it. (Item #5) Make sure your social media activities don’t violate federal and state securities laws. (Item #6)

For the entire issue, go to http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Crisis Communications

2010-03-31T12:49:00.000-04:00

Communicating in a crisis is a challenge – what to say, how much, and keeping all parties in touch with each other so that you come out of the crisis intact. The articles this week will examine many of the aspects of crisis communications in order to help you make and/or refine your communication plans.

This white paper examines why companies should develop and implement an on-demand conferencing and collaboration plan that supports business continuity. (Item #1) Here’s how to create an effective one-page communications map for your CEO or other spokesperson. (Item #2) How do you go about selecting a crisis communication system? (Item #3)

In a crisis, you have to be able to communicate the decisions you make to assure business continuity. (Item #4) Media training might be a critical part of your crisis communication strategy. (Item #5) Here’s what you need to know about continuity planning for telecomm systems. (Item #6)

As always, we look forward to hearing about your concerns with regard to business continuity. If you have a topic you’d like to see covered, just let me know.

For the full issue or a look at back issues, go to http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes - and Why

2010-03-25T15:32:00.003-04:00

Just finished reading a very enlightening book --- The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes - and Why by Amanda Ripley

It is a truly insightful look at how real people dealt with real crises. From plane crashes to terrorism to natural disasters. Fight, Flight or Freeze? Hero or Victim? Many people think panic will be the primary reaction, but the facts in this book show otherwise.

Check it out and let me know what you think.

Reputation Management

2010-03-24T19:03:00.002-04:00

Managing your organization’s reputation is one of the most critical activities today and it’s also labor intensive. You have to build the reputation, manage it, and, if anything bad happens, hope your hard work can recover it. This week’s articles offer some ideas on how to protect that valuable reputation.

Did Toyota wait too long to address its safety issues? (Item #1) The more positive your reputation before a crisis, the more likely you are to survive it. (Item #2) If you don’t control your brand online, someone else surely will. (Item #3)

Who is your organization’s Chief Reputation Officer? (Item #4) It’s critical to pay attention to what search engines tell your potential customers, members or clients. (Item #5) The most important asset you have to protect is your organization’s reputation. (Item #6)

Read it all at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Risk Management

2010-03-09T09:55:00.000-05:00

Risk applies to any management decision that could have a negative result. Even with a negative result, the outcome could have been mitigated with good risk management. You need to evaluate – as much as possible -- all the possible results of any decision and determine how risk can be reduced. This week’s articles can help with these efforts.

Simply having the tools and structure may not be enough to insulate your nonprofit from the cold breezes and after-shocks of unmanaged risks. (Item #1) Obtaining an independent review of your volunteer policies before you implement them is an excellent risk management strategy. (Item #2) Managing special event risks requires equal measures of awareness, planning, diligence and team work. (Item #3)

A good Risk Management System will help you reap the rewards of your efforts to set up and run your business. (Item #4) To change the way we think about risk, we must avoid making six mistakes. (Item #5) Data breaches-the theft, loss or unintended exposure of personally identifiable information-have compromised hundreds of millions of personal records in recent years. (Item #6)

The entire issue is available at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Shelter in Place

2010-03-02T11:37:00.003-05:00

Just a couple of weeks ago, a chemical leak in Pasadena, Texas, forced a Shelter-in-Place (SIP) situation in the surrounding area. This particular SIP order lasted only about four hours, but it could have been worse. At the same time, a gas leak in a San Jose neighborhood also prompted an SIP situation. As you can see, you seldom have any warning of a disruption that can cause you to be ordered to shelter in place. It makes sense, therefore, to be prepared. The following articles can help in your preparations.

There are many difficult aspects of the shelter-in-place process. (Item #1) Here is a general guide for preparing a shelter in place plan in the workplace (Item #2) What must landlord do in the event of an SIP order? (Item #3)

These event-specific guidelines can help in an SIP situation. (Item #4) Portable air cleaners that can filter out toxic gas are making shelter-in-place safe rooms even safer. (Item #5) Our last item is a series to links to supplies of SIP equipment and supplies. (Item #6)

Get the full issue at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Workplace Violence

2010-02-25T13:22:00.001-05:00

Homicide is now the third highest work-related cause of death in the United States. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, in a study of homicides at work from 1980 to 1988, found that homicide accounted for 12% of job-related deaths.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that homicide was the leading cause of death for women at work, accounting for 42% of on-the-job fatalities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, after motor vehicle incidents, homicide is the leading cause of death in the workplace. The Justice Department reported in 1994 that one-sixth of all violent crimes in the United States occur in the workplace. The statistics tell the story... here's some information that can help you better prepare for and avoid violence at your place of work.

There is a potential for violence in every workplace. (Item #1) Employers need to be aware they may be liable for injuries caused by workplace violence. (Item #2) While there's no way to predict workplace violence accurately, there are warning signs that can aid in prevention. (Item #3)

The two most effective strategies for dealing with a bully who has targeted you are Fight and Flight. (Item #4) Negligent hiring and negligent retention can put employers at risk. (Item #5) The Sept. 8 killing of Yale graduate student Annie Lewas another harrowing instance of what authorities called "workplace violence." (Item #6)

For the whole story, read this week's issue of our NewsBriefs at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Business Continuity Planning

2010-02-18T14:23:00.001-05:00

A business continuity plan won’t protect an organization against all reasons for failure, but it can prepare and protect you against a great many such reasons. Insurance doesn’t protect against everything, either, and you may never have to make a claim. Would you consider running your business without insurance? Probably not. Nor should you fail to have a business continuity plan at the ready – just in case. This week’s articles can help you rethink your business continuity strategies.

This article focuses on three of the most widespread and persistent of myths about the nature of crises. (Item #1) For top management to dedicate funds and resources to contingency planning, more than a demonstrable need must be shown. (Item #2) Are we in danger of forgetting the most important aspect of recovery? (Item #3)

Here’s advice for those faced with developing their first business continuity plan. (Item #4) To avoid becoming a casualty of succession statistics, senior management must come to grips with passing on the assets and management control from one generation to the next. (Item #5) Recessions amplify risks; the absence of a tested plan is much more dangerous in a recession. (Item #6)

Read the complete issue or subscribe at
http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Cyber Serurity Issues

2010-02-10T17:38:00.002-05:00

Does it sometimes seem that everything we do today relies on computers and the Internet? Our most important business and personal information, stored on computers, are constantly at risk from cyber attacks. In order to protect yourself and your organization, you have to know what the risks are and what to do about them. This week’s articles can help you defend against such attacks.

You buy insurance, put locks on the doors, and install fire alarms to protect your premises; have you made cyber security the same priority? (Item #1) Here’s a one-stop source for lots of valuable information on cyber crime. (Item #2) A single hacker can cause damage to a large number of computer networks; it can help to improve your cyber security. (Item #3)

Social networks allow phishing schemes to spread rapidly. (Item #4) Cyber-warfare and cyber-attacks have now become a reality; are you ready? (Item #5) Would you know if there was spyware on your computers? (Item #6)

Read this week's issue at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Testing and Exercising your Business Continuity Plan

2010-02-02T18:46:00.000-05:00

Your business continuity plan may be backed by good technology and written documentation, but unless it's brought out and tested every now and then, there is still a risk that everything may not work as it should when a real emergency does occur. Think of it as a parachute… you have to know you can trust it! The articles below can help you plan, prepare for, and conduct BC exercises.

An exercise’s effectiveness has a direct correlation to the amount of planning and preparation completed beforehand. (Item #1) If your exercise is not uncovering problems, you may not be doing it right. (Item #2) Things will get fairly hectic during a typical large-scale disaster recovery exercise. As an observer, what must you know? (Item #3)

Playing the role of an attacker can make your team better at defense. (Item #4) Looking for a good plot line for your next BCP exercise? (Item #5) There were a number of lessons learned in the three exercises described here. (Item #6)

Read the entire issue at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Identity Theft

2010-01-26T19:11:00.000-05:00

According to the U.S. Dept. of Justice Statistics, identity theft is passing drug trafficking as the number one crime in the nation. The majority of ID theft criminals are repeat offenders. While there is a lot of variation in the cost of identity theft, one survey estimated that ID in 2005 cost business and consumers $56.6 billion. You may be able to avoid the costs of identity theft by following some of the best practices in this week’s articles.

Financial scams and incidents of medical identity theft are on the rise - and they're among the main threats to business and consumers in 2010. (Item #1) With ID theft on the rise, the onus is on those organizations and departments housing sensitive employee information to improve their data protection. (Item #2) The increase in identity theft has given rise to identity-theft insurance, but is such protection necessary? (Item #3)

How can companies ensure the integrity and security of sensitive customer and employee data? (Item #4) If it is designed and built correctly, your software could end up being one of your most effective countermeasures against most of the common attacks employed by hackers today. (Item #5) Safe information handling practices are critical to keep identifying information out of the hands of thieves. (Item #6)

The full issue is available at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Standards for Business Continuity Planning

2010-01-20T19:30:00.002-05:00

The development of standards/regulation/regulatory guidance for business continuity management is a relatively new concept. Below we present information on some emerging and existing standards that may help you in the formulation of your business continuity plan.

ASIS Online has begun work to produce a Business Continuity Management (BCM) standard, for approval by ANSI. (Item #1) This case study focusing on BS 25999 shows how standards can help your business. (Item #2) BC program to meet the requirements of either the BS 25999 or the NFPA 1600 standards is an effective way to ensure that your program will have world class potential. (Item #3)

How long the U.S. and other countries with non-mandatory business continuity management standards will be able to voluntarily comply is up to market forces. (Item #4) Not exactly a standard, OSHA says, but guidance on planning for a pandemic. (Item #5) GLBA applies specifically to financial institutions, but its provisions already have been adopted by many types of companies in the private sector. (Item #6)

Read the entire issue at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Ready for Winter Weather

2009-12-15T13:11:00.000-05:00

It’s important that your business, as well as your home and family, be prepared well in advance for the wide variety of dangerous conditions that winter storms and extreme weather can bring. This week’s articles focus on safety issues you, your employees and their families can put to use. Be safe!

Check out this winter hazards checklist. (Item #1) Do you know how to prepare for a winter storm before it hits? (Item #2) A worker safety consulting firm explains how companies can avoid being paralyzed by relentless winter storms. (Item #3)

We hope you never need this information, but here’s all you need to know about surviving a blizzard. (Item #4) Risks of winter weather are particularly bad for workers who have to be outside in all kinds of conditions. Items #5 and #6 provide safety tips for outdoor workers.

Read it all at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Testing and Exercising

2009-12-09T14:37:00.002-05:00

Disaster recovery plans are essential to business continuity, but these plans will lose value if they are not tested on a regular basis. Frequent testing leads to peace of mind. You can't wait until disaster strikes to find out if your plan will work. Testing is essential for disaster recovery success, and, a proactive test plan will reap benefits to the organization. Read this week’s articles for more on the importance of testing your business continuity/disaster recovery plans.

When your plan is complete, the work has only just begun. (Item #1) Effective plan testing is the topic of this article on best practices. (Item #2) What flaws could your test have missed? (Item #3)

Internal communication is a critical part of every plan and should be tested as well. (Item #4) Healthcare organizations have special concerns when testing plans. (Item #5) San Diego County’s Health and Human Services Agency had a real event during which to test their plan. (Item #6)

The full issue is available at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs