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Since 2004, the President of the United States and Congress have designated October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month. This annual event brings together public and private sectors to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity. Over the years, it has evolved into a collaborative effort to enhance cybersecurity awareness, encourage risk reduction, and discuss cyber threats on a national and global scale. Theme: Secure Our World Starting in 2023, the theme for all future Cybersecurity Awareness Months is “Secure Our World.” This theme emphasizes the need for daily actions to reduce risks when online and connected to devices. Whether at home, work, or school, we can all contribute to a safer digital world by following these simple steps: Recognize & Report Phishing: Be cautious of unsolicited messages asking for personal information. Avoid sharing sensitive details with unknown sources and promptly report phishing attempts. Use Strong Passwords: Create long, random, unique ...

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems play a crucial role in modern organizations by integrating various functions and processes into a unified platform. These systems serve as the backbone of businesses, allowing them to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and enhance decision-making. Within an ERP system, data management is a central component, as it involves the collection, storage, processing, and analysis of vast amounts of data from different departments. Effective data management within ERP systems is essential for ensuring data accuracy, consistency, and accessibility across the organization. Poor data governance can have detrimental effects on the performance and reliability of ERP systems. When data governance practices are lacking, organizations may face challenges such as data silos, data inconsistencies, security vulnerabilities, and compliance issues. These issues can lead to inaccurate reporting, operational inefficiencies, and increased risks. Without a soli...

  Established by the Identity Defined Security Alliance, in partnership with the National Cybersecurity Alliance, Identity Management Day, held the second Tuesday of April each year, aims to inform about the dangers of casually or improperly managing and securing digital identities by raising awareness, sharing best practices, and inspiring individuals and organizations to act.  Identity Management Day is presented by IDSA, the Secure Identity Alliance, and IdentityXP, in partnership with the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA) and co-chaired by Saviynt.  To learn more visit www.identitymanagementday.org. To join the conversation on social media, use #BeIdentitySmart and #IdentityManagementDay . About the Identity Defined Security Alliance The IDSA is a group of identity and security vendors, solution providers, and practitioners that acts as an independent source of thought leadership, expertise, and practical guidance on identity-centric approaches to security for t...

World Backup Day is observed annually on March 31st, serves as a reminder of the critical importance of data backups in today's digitally driven world. This day underscores the undeniable fact that data loss, whether due to human error, system failure, or malicious acts by threat actors, is not a matter of 'if' but 'when'. The Unquestionable Importance of Data Backups In the present digital era, data is arguably one of the most valuable assets for both individuals and organizations. From irreplaceable personal photos and videos to crucial business documents and customer data, digital information forms the backbone of our personal and professional lives. Consequently, data loss can have devastating consequences, leading to significant emotional distress for individuals and potentially crippling financial losses for businesses. The Harsh Reality of Data Loss Data loss is a pervasive and inevitable occurrence in our digitally interconnected world. According to the 2024...

Understanding the Challenges Faced by Small Businesses in a Competitive Landscape Running a small business comes with its own set of challenges. Limited resources, tight budgets, and a lack of brand recognition can make it difficult to compete with larger, more established companies. However, these challenges should not discourage small business owners. Instead, they should be seen as opportunities for innovation and growth. One of the main advantages of being a small business is the ability to be agile and nimble. Unlike larger corporations, small businesses have the freedom to quickly adapt to changing market trends and customer needs. By embracing innovation, small businesses can leverage their flexibility to their advantage and gain a competitive edge. Benefits of Innovation for Small Businesses Innovation is not just a buzzword; it is a game-changer for small businesses. By embracing a culture of innovation, small businesses can reap numerous benefits. Firstly, innovation allows s...

  Understanding the Importance of Cybersecurity Cybersecurity is of paramount importance in any organization, and ERP systems are no exception. These systems store and process vast amounts of sensitive data, including financial records, customer information, and intellectual property. A breach in the ERP system can lead to severe consequences, such as financial loss, reputational damage, and legal implications. It is imperative for businesses to recognize the significance of cybersecurity in their ERP systems and allocate resources accordingly. The Role of ERP Administrators in Promoting Cybersecurity ERP administrators are responsible for managing and maintaining the ERP system. They play a pivotal role in promoting cybersecurity by implementing robust security protocols, monitoring for potential threats, and responding effectively to cyber-attacks. Key Responsibilities of ERP Administrators in Safeguarding Against Cyber Threats Implementing Security Protocols and Best Practices E...

Uncover the supercharged capabilities of IAM in maintaining robust user governance within ERP environments. Lets learn about how IAM acts as the guardian of access rights. The Crucial Role of Identity and Access Management (IAM) in Onboarding and Offboarding users/ In today’s interconnected digital landscape, managing user identities and their access to critical systems is paramount. Identity and Access Management (IAM) serves as the gatekeeper, ensuring that the right individuals have the right permissions at the right time. Let’s explore how IAM plays a pivotal role in secure and efficient onboarding and offboarding processes within organizations. 1. Onboarding: Setting the Foundation What Is Onboarding? Onboarding refers to the process of integrating new employees into an organization. It involves creating their digital identities, granting access to necessary resources, and ensuring a smooth transition into their roles. IAM’s Contribution: Automated Provisioning: IAM solutions auto...

Change management is the discipline of transitioning from the current state to a future state. It consists of three major activities: deciding to change, making the change, and confirming that the change has been correctly accomplished. Change management is a crucial aspect of manufacturing, especially when introducing new processes or making changes to the ERP system.  Change management is essential for several reasons: Minimizing Disruption: Change management methodologies help manufacturing managers minimize disruption during the implementation of new technologies, processes, or organizational structures. Proper planning, communication, and stakeholder engagement are key elements in ensuring a smooth transition. Maximizing Employee Buy-In: Involving employees in the change process and addressing their concerns helps create a sense of ownership and commitment. When employees understand the reasons for change and how it benefits them, they are more likely to embrace it. Optimizin...

As we celebrate "Change Your Password Day" on February 1,2024 it is important to remember that  cyberattacks are becoming more sophisticated and prevalent and as result of this we need to adopt and follow best practices for password security to help us keep secure and protect our accounts. Bitwarden, a password manager, recommends the following tips for creating strong passwords: - Use a password manager to generate and store complex passwords. - Use a unique password for each account. - Use a passphrase instead of a password. - Avoid using personal information such as your name, birthdate, or address. - Make sure password is at least 10 characters long  Randomness is the third pillar of password security. A password should not be predictable, and should not follow a pattern. It should be a random string of characters, numbers, and symbols. This makes it difficult for hackers to guess your password.  Here are some statistics on weak passwords: - In 2022, over  24 bil...

Employee suggestions are critical for manufacturing companies as they can help identify cost-saving and continuous improvement ideas. By empowering employees to share their ideas, companies can tap into a wealth of knowledge and experience that might otherwise go untapped.   Here are some examples of how employee suggestions have helped companies with cost-saving ideas and creating new products or process improvements: 1.  Amazon Web Services (AWS) , was created based on an employee suggestion. An engineer at Amazon suggested that the company should offer its internal computing infrastructure as a service to external customers. This idea eventually led to the creation of AWS, which has become one of Amazon's most profitable businesses . 2. Toyota's "Kaizen" philosophy, which emphasizes continuous improvement, is based on employee suggestions. The company encourages employees to identify areas for improvement and make suggestions for how to improve processes. This ap...

  Data Privacy Week 2024 is  a global campaign to raise awareness and empower individuals and businesses to respect privacy, safeguard data and enable trust.  Personal data is collected everyday by various devices and organizations, and can be used to make inferences or assumptions about individuals. Some companies sell the data for profit without the users' consent or knowledge. 79% of Americans are concerned about how data collectors use their data, and 59% have experienced a major data breach in their lives. Do you know how much data you create online?   Every time you use a website, an app, a device, or a service, you leave behind some information about yourself. This information can show what you like, what you buy, what you do, and even how you feel. You may not be able to stop others from collecting your data, but you can still protect your privacy. You can choose who you share your data with and how much you share. Your data is important and you have a right ...

Privacy and security are two important aspects of online data protection, but they are not the same thing. Privacy refers to the control that you have over your personal information and how that information is used. Security, on the other hand, refers to how well your personal information is protected from malicious threats. Data privacy is a hot topic in today’s digital world. Every time you go online, you leave behind a trail of data that can reveal a lot about you and your preferences. This data can be collected, analyzed, and shared by various websites, apps, devices, services, and companies, sometimes without your consent or knowledge. Why should you care about data privacy?  Because your data is valuable and you deserve to have a say in how it is used and who has access to it. Data privacy is not only about protecting your personal information from hackers and identity thieves, but also about preserving your autonomy, dignity, and freedom of expression. According to some alar...

 Asset management is a crucial aspect of any organization even when it comes to ERP SaaS systems. Effective asset management can help organizations minimize risks associated with running unpatched hardware and software, Mobile Device Management (MDM) is a crucial tool for managing smart devices like phones, tablets, handheld scanners, and more in the manufacturing plant. MDM provides a centralized management system that allows companies to track all corporate devices from a single dashboard, making it easier to manage and secure a wide variety of mobile devices that are used for multiple purposes. The benefits of using MDM in the manufacturing industry are numerous. Here are some of the key benefits: Improved security compliance:  MDM software provides visibility into company devices through a single dashboard so they can all be managed in one place and help get an accurate count of the type of assets being used in the organization. Simple remote management: MDM software allow...

  As we start a new year, it is important to audit the offboarding process to ensure that all employees who have left the company have had their access to company data and systems revoked. A bottleneck in the offboarding process can lead to serious security issues, such as data breaches and unauthorized access to sensitive information. One of the biggest risks of departing employees is data theft. Employees may either deliberately or accidentally take corporate information with them. To avoid these risks, it is important to have a process in place to ensure that all accounts are terminated when an employee leaves the company. Auditing reports and the use of identity providers (idP) like Azure and Okta can help offboard users and reduce security risks. Auditing reports can provide a comprehensive view of all user accounts and access rights, which can help identify any accounts that have not been properly offboarded.  Auditing reports can help identify any accounts that have not...

Manual invoicing and emailing of customer statements can be a time-consuming and resource-intensive process. According to a study by Skynova, most businesses handle up to 500 invoices each month and spend at least five days processing invoices .  The same study also found that 57% of invoice data is entered manually and 49% of businesses require two to three people to approve an invoice. These manual processes can lead to delays in payment and inefficiencies in the accounting process. Invoicing automation can help reduce the time and resources spent on manual invoicing. According to Skynova,Only about half of invoices (52%) are received electronically. The rest are paper invoices that need to be physically sorted, entered, and filed, adding additional steps to the invoice process. The following module in Plex manufacturing allows automatically delivery AR invoices and customer statements via email which can lead to improvement and reduce of the waste of resources associated by manu...