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How to Be a Data Privacy Champion during Data Privacy Week (Jan 27 to 31, 2025)

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Data Privacy Week, taking place from January 27 to 31, 2025, is an international initiative aimed at empowering individuals and businesses to respect privacy, safeguard data, and enable trust.  Data Privacy Week aims to spread awareness about online privacy, helping citizens understand their power to manage their data and encouraging organizations to respect their users' data.  Personal data is collected every day by various websites, and while you can't lock down all your data, you can take simple steps to control how it's shared. Become a Data Privacy Week Champion and help encourage businesses to respect privacy, safeguard data, and enable trust. Champions receive a toolkit of materials to use and customize, helping to spread the message of data privacy. Data Privacy Week - National Cybersecurity Alliance

Data Privacy Week: Take Control of Your Data

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Data Privacy Week, celebrated from January 27 to 31, 2025, is an international effort to empower individuals and businesses to respect privacy, safeguard data, and enable trust. This year's theme, "Take control of your data," emphasizes the importance of managing your personal information in an increasingly digital world. Your online activity generates a treasure trove of data, from your interests and purchases to your online behaviors. This data is collected by websites, apps, devices, services, and companies globally. It can even include information about your physical self, like health data. While you can't control every piece of data collected about you, you still have a right to data privacy. Here are some key points to help you manage your data: 1. Manage Your Privacy Settings:   Use direct links to update your privacy settings on popular devices and online services. 2. Take Control of Your Data:   Follow steps to better manage your personal information and make...

Striking the Right Balance: How to Optimize Your Preventive Maintenance Schedule for Success

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  Equipment failures cost industries billions of dollars annually, making reliability a critical factor in operational success. Most organizations struggle to maintain optimal equipment performance, often reactive rather than proactive in their maintenance approach. Preventive maintenance offers a structured solution to enhance equipment reliability and reduce unexpected downtime. This comprehensive guide explores proven strategies to optimize your maintenance program, from understanding fundamental reliability principles to implementing data-driven decisions and establishing continuous improvement processes. Understanding Equipment Reliability Fundamentals Understanding equipment reliability starts with recognizing it as a systematic approach to maintaining consistent performance over time. At its core, reliability represents the probability that equipment will perform its intended function under specific conditions for a designated period. Key Components of Equipment Reliability ...

Enhancing Document Tracking on the Shop Floor: The Power of Distribution Logs when using the Plex (DCS)

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Using the Plex ERP Document Control System (DCS) can significantly streamline the process of managing and tracking hard copies of documents. Here's how you can use the system to keep track of distributed documents and why having a good process is essential for your Quality Management System (QMS) and document control: Using Plex ERP DCS for Document Control of hard copies of documents Create an Entry in the Distribution Log : When you distribute hard copies of a document, you can create an entry in the document's distribution log within Plex ERP. This log helps you keep track of who has received the document and where it is stored. Track Revisions : If someone makes a revision to a document that is tracked in the distribution log, the system sends an email notification to anyone specified by name on the Distribution Detail screen. This ensures that all relevant parties are aware of the changes and can access the updated document. Access the Document Control System Screen : Navi...

Building Confidence: The Impact of Regular Internal Audits, Supplier Audits, and Supplier Certification Tracking

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Regular assessments foster transparency between manufacturers and suppliers. When suppliers know they are being evaluated, they are more likely to be open and honest about their capabilities and challenges. Understanding the Importance of Internal Audits Internal audits play a pivotal role in the operational integrity of any organization. They offer an introspective look at processes, controls, and governance, helping to identify any misalignments with organizational goals and regulatory requirements. By conducting internal audits, companies can anticipate potential issues before they escalate into significant problems, ensuring that operations run smoothly and efficiently. This proactive approach to problem-solving not only saves time and resources but also reinforces stakeholder confidence in the organization's commitment to excellence and accountability. Moreover, internal audits facilitate continuous improvement by providing actionable insights and recommendations. This feedba...

Help Us Secure Our World this Cybersecurity Awareness Month

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October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, an international initiative that educates everyone about online safety and empowers individuals and businesses to protect their data from cybercrime.  Even amidst large-scale data breaches and cyberattacks, Cybersecurity Awareness Month reminds everyone that there are simple, effective ways to keep yourself safe online, protect your personal data, and ultimately help secure our world.  @themerlanos  we are  proud to be a Champion and support this online safety and education initiative this October.   The theme of Cybersecurity Awareness Month is Secure Our World! This initiative reminds us that there are simple actions we can take every day to protect ourselves, our families, and businesses from online threats.   Cybersecurity Awareness Month focuses on the top four ways to stay safe online:   1. Use strong passwords and a password manager   2. Turn on multifactor authentication...

From Dormant to Dangerous: Understanding the security risk of dormant user accounts

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  In today's digital era, the security of cloud SaaS systems is paramount. An often-neglected aspect of cybersecurity is the management of dormant user accounts, which can unintentionally become gateways for cybercriminals, leading to significant data breaches. The process of regularly auditing and deactivating these inactive accounts is vital to safeguard the integrity and security of an enterprise. By ensuring that only active, necessary users have access to your resources, you minimize the risk of unauthorized access and strengthen your defense mechanisms. This guide delves into the necessity of tackling this issue head-on and outlines effective strategies for managing dormant accounts to secure your valuable data assets. Risks Associated with Dormant User Accounts Dormant user accounts are ticking time bombs in the realm of cybersecurity. These accounts, often forgotten or overlooked after an employee's departure or during system migrations, present a significant security r...