Category: Uncategorized

As industry leaders, we have a responsibility to uphold best practices when it comes to environmental sustainability and standing up for those in need. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is an integral part of making sure your organization is upholding sustainable and moral business practices. 

An easy way to implement a CSR program is by taking advantage of Dell’s technology recycling program. This program makes it easy to recycle used devices. Beyond the convenience factor, the program also serves a much greater purpose – addressing the issue of coltan mining and promoting sustainable practices. Unfortunately, some of the minerals used in our everyday technology cause serious damage to the sociopolitical and environmental climate of the regions they are mined in. 

Coltan is a mineral used in almost all electronic devices, and much of it comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where mining is associated with hazardous working conditions and habitat loss. By recycling old devices, we can reduce the demand for new coltan and help the environment. Dell’s buyback program provides an opportunity for individuals to contribute towards sustainable mining practices while earning credit for their old devices.

In this article, we will explore the ethical and environmental issues associated with coltan mining and how Dell’s technology recycling program can reduce the demand for coltan.

Sociopolitical Impact 

For many years, mining and the illegal trade of minerals have caused significant social and environmental turmoil in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Coltan, an essential mineral used in modern electronics, has become a prime target for criminal networks. According to a recent study, research exposed an organized crime network involved in the production and supply chain of coltan, including its links to legitimate businesses in developed economies.

The results of this study found as the demand for 5G technology increases, so does the demand for coltan. However, much of the coltan produced by artisanal mining remains unregulated due to the government’s inability to access remote mines. This has led to the growth of coltan smuggling enabled by state collusion and corruption. 

Since many of these mines are unregulated, young people are exploited for mining. According to the Institute for Security Studies, More than 40,000 child and teenage miners extract a significant portion of the country’s coltan, often coming from remote villages and towns in Kivu where they drop out of school or have never had the opportunity to attend. Due to the informal nature of the extractive sector, children are attracted to the sector as a source of cheap labor. 

These vulnerable children work in dangerous conditions as washers, diggers, and petty smugglers selling coltan for low prices in nearby towns along the borders of Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda. They face harassment, abuse, and poor health, including exposure to Radon, a radioactive substance linked to coltan, and lung cancer. Despite being underage, they are subjected to adult work in hazardous environments.

Environmental Impact 

Coltan mining has caused significant damage to the environment as well. The population of Grauer’s gorilla in the Congo has declined by 77% over the last two decades and this decline has been attributed to the illegal mining of coltan in the region by artisanal miners. The mining itself doesn’t seem to be wiping out the gorillas. It is due to the number of people setting up camp and needing meat. Hunters will join these camps and hunt anything in the surrounding areas to sell, reducing the gorilla population and harming local ecosystems. 

The Democratic Republic of Congo is a country that has been plagued by conflict and political instability for many years. Due to ongoing conflicts, travel to certain regions of the country can be extremely dangerous, particularly in areas where armed groups operate. The US Department of State has a Level 3 Travel Advisory in place for the DRC, which advises to people reconsider travel or not travel at all to the country due to the risk of violent crime, armed conflict, and kidnapping. 

This travel advisory presents a significant challenge for organizations that are trying to implement conservation efforts in the DRC. Such efforts require extensive on-the-ground work and engagement with local communities, which can be difficult or impossible to achieve in areas where it is too dangerous to travel. Additionally, the risk of violence and insecurity can pose a significant threat to the safety of conservation workers and volunteers, further hindering conservation efforts in the region.

Dell Trade In Recycling Program 

Learning that everyday items we use have a negative impact on people and the environment can be quite daunting. However, industry leaders such as Dell are stepping up and implementing initiatives aimed at reducing the demand for Coltan and you can follow suit. 

Dell’s Trade In program is an easy way for anyone to help decrease the negative impact of coltan mining in the Congo. Dell Trade In is a program that allows customers to receive credit towards their next Dell purchase by trading in eligible electronic devices such as computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, smartwatches, and monitors.

Once the device is received at the processing facility, it undergoes a thorough inspection to ensure it functions properly and is professionally sanitized of all data. Depending on the results of the inspection, the device could be resold, used for repairs, or recycled through a certified program. This program is an effective and easy way to help protect the environment and decrease the demand for Coltan. 

Here is how it works: 

An organization’s network is a critical aspect of its operations and it is essential to ensure that it is used in an appropriate and secure manner. One way to accomplish this is by implementing Acceptable Use Policies (AUPs) for employees and guests who have access to the network.

AUPs are a set of rules and regulations that outline what is considered appropriate and inappropriate use of the organization’s network and resources. They are designed to protect the organization’s assets and reputation while also ensuring that employees and guests are able to work and access resources productively and efficiently. 

Many organizations have strict compliance requirements depending on the kind of data they have access to. These Acceptable Use Policies help protect the organization against a lawsuit in the case of a negligent employee. If an employee leaks sensitive data or visits an illegal site that introduces malware, the organization can be prone to lawsuits. If an acceptable use policy is in place, the organization can pursue legal action against the employee for violating the AUP. 

When developing AUPs, organizations should consider a variety of factors, including the organization’s mission and values, the type of data and resources on the network, and the security and compliance requirements of the organization. 

Creating Acceptable Use Policies is a great way to protect your organization and mitigate risk. Having a clear code of conduct will keep the entire organization on the same page regarding keeping the network secure and protecting sensitive data. 

What to Consider When Writing Your AUPs

Creating a culture of cybersecurity starts with crafting well-thought-out Acceptable Use policies tailored for your organization. There are several key elements that organizations should consider when developing their AUPs. To mitigate risk, it is important to clearly communicate what online activities are prohibited on the network. Prohibited activities may include sharing copyrighted materials and accessing inappropriate or offensive content. 

The security of the network should also be considered when creating Acceptable Use Policies. Organizations should require employees and guests to follow best practices for maintaining the network’s security, such as using strong passwords, keeping software up-to-date, and reporting any suspicious activity. Organizations should also ensure that employees and guests are aware of their responsibilities regarding the protection of sensitive data and personal information.

Some industries have strict compliance requirements when it comes to managing sensitive data. Organizations should make certain that employees and guests are aware of these compliance requirements that apply to the organization and its network. This should be strongly considered when creating Acceptable Use Policies. 

Another key element to keep in mind is personal device usage. Now that companies have employees working remotely or bringing their own devices to work, there should be clear guidelines around personal device usage. Social media may also fall into this category. It can be a useful marketing tool, but can also lead to phishing scams and be a major distraction. Both personal device usage and social media guidelines may be broad, but should certainly be considered when creating Acceptable Use Policies. 

Finally, Organizations should outline the consequences for violating AUPs, including disciplinary action and possible termination of access to the network. Clarity is your friend when it comes to these policies. That way, no employees find a “grey area” which puts the entire network at risk. With that being said, there should be regular training on AUPs for employees and guests who have access to the network to make sure that they understand their responsibilities.

How to Enforce Your AUPs 

Acceptable Use Policies are only effective if properly enforced. A great way to enforce AUPs is to make sure they are easily understandable. They should be written with the employee in mind. Make sure the expectations are clearly communicated and relevant to your industry. 

AUPs should be easily accessible and located in places like the employee handbook. It might also be a good idea to have physical copies in common areas if your organization has a physical location. Make sure that they are updated and reviewed by employees often and that they are clearly understood before employees sign that they have read them. These policies should be communicated during the onboarding process for new employees and reviewed during staff meetings when necessary. 

Again, clarity is your friend when it comes to Acceptable Use Policies. Create space for employees to ask questions and gain further clarity on the why behind the policies they may not like or understand. 

Concluding Thoughts 

In conclusion, Acceptable Use Policies play a vital role in maintaining the security and integrity of an organization’s network. Organizations should develop AUPs tailored to their specific needs and provide regular training to ensure that employees and guests are aware of their responsibilities when using the network. By doing so, organizations can ensure that their network is used in a safe, efficient, and compliant manner. 

The best way to ensure your AUPs are right for your organization is to partner with our experts at vTECH io. You can purchase CISO hours from us and our experts can customize an agreement for your business.  Our vTECH io experts can help you determine if you have included the proper elements in your policies and help you revise and update older policies. The hours never expire so you only have to use the hours when you need them. 

To hire an expert from vTECH io, all you have to do is click here, fill out the form, and we will be in touch. We look forward to working with you. 

The new year launches an era of incredible business transformation. The shift from on-premise to the cloud is projected to be a significant technology trend this year. Hybrid and multicloud have a large number of benefits, making them popular initiatives for businesses and organizations seeking to transition their business digitally. 

Many companies have a physical infrastructure of servers, routers, etc. On-prem infrastructure provides companies with direct control of security, costs, and management. This allows for more control and independence. Additionally, many industries require specific data security compliance rules that they need to adhere to. Governments, medical facilities, and other companies and organizations with sensitive data have to conform to specific regulations on where and how they store this data. An on-prem infrastructure would allow them to meet those regulations. 

On the other hand, cloud computing is a way for people to use infrastructure and applications through the internet as opposed to installing them on-site. This is hosted by a remote data center managed by a cloud service provider, often through a subscription model. Renting a server from a cloud provider can decrease the costs of maintenance and increase scalability. Now, many companies are updating legacy applications and building new ones to optimize cloud-native technologies.

Many businesses are moving to a hybrid multicloud platform that marries on-prem infrastructure with more than one public cloud server. Hybrid and multicloud can be used together or separately depending on a company’s size and needs. However, a claim can be made that using a hybrid multicloud platform would give the modern business or organization a competitive advantage. 

What is Hybrid Cloud? 

Hybrid cloud platforms use a public cloud and a private cloud with on-prem infrastructure.  A private cloud is a cloud designated to one organization. This can be hosted by the organization on-site or a third-party service. It provides the security of an on-prem infrastructure with the benefits of cloud computing. A public cloud is a platform that is owned by a third-party service like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. It is accessed via the internet and shared by other organizations. It is often used for web-based emails, office applications, and storage. 

Using a hybrid cloud allows for data and applications to move between the public and private cloud environments. This results in a unified distributed computing environment, allowing scalability for legacy and cloud-native workloads. This initiative is great for companies and organizations that have to consider security and regulatory compliance. Companies can use the private cloud for sensitive data and regulated workloads and the less expensive public cloud for everything else.

A hybrid cloud model enables scalability by using public cloud computing and storage to respond to unplanned spikes in traffic. This keeps the extra traffic from impacting the private cloud. This model also makes it easier to adopt new software-as-a-service solutions and integrate them into current applications. Another benefit of the hybrid cloud is improving user experiences with legacy applications by using public cloud services. Other benefits include better efficiency and improved regulatory compliance and security.

The benefits of hybrid cloud computing make it easy to see how this has become a trending technology. It is a great place to start for businesses that are transforming digitally for smooth data migration before a full-scale shift. The hybrid cloud is ideal for the enterprise looking for more flexibility, efficiency, and optimization.

What is Multicloud? 

A multicloud platform is the use of two or more public clouds. The beauty of a multicloud platform is it can be deployed across data centers internationally, making it an ideal technology for scaling. This can also be beneficial for businesses that have remote workers across the world. They can access applications without being on-site. Additionally, companies have the same applications on different clouds which means if one cloud service goes down, employees can carry on working from the other cloud. 

Multucloud can be used to optimize services depending on business or organization needs. Each public server may excel in a specific service and a business can use the best capabilities from each server, optimizing its performance. This also offers flexibility in choosing the right public cloud service provider based on price, security compliances, location, etc. Multicloud also enables the user to easily adopt new and better technologies from vendors as they merge or as needed. 

Many businesses and organizations that use multicloud have a multicloud management platform that helps manage any challenges that may come up from multiple clouds. Multicloud provides a lot of benefits but combined with a hybrid cloud, businesses and organizations could achieve greater efficiency and optimization. 

Implementing a Hybrid Multicloud Platform 

The benefits of multicloud compound with the benefits of hybrid cloud, making it an ideal duo. Businesses and organizations can take advantage of the great benefits of both platforms, increasing their security, optimizing applications, decreasing costs of on-prem infrastructure management, and increasing flexibility and deployment. 

Implementing both cloud initiatives is a great way to transition your business digitally. It is vital making sure that the current infrastructure can support integration. The best way to ensure compatibility is to partner with experts who can help your business or organization move from on-prem to hybrid multicloud. 

vTECH io has a group of engineers who can come in and evaluate your current infrastructure to help create a custom plan to move you from on-prem to the cloud. To partner with one of our expert engineers, all you have to do is click here. Taking advantage of all cloud computing has to offer the enterprise is a great way to gain a competitive advantage in 2023. 

Protecting businesses against cyber threats is much easier when we are aware of the potential risks. At vTECH io, we conducted a study to determine which cyber attacks businesses face the most. We found that 41% occur due to vulnerabilities in internet-facing devices, 38% happen through malicious emails, 5% of attacks happen through stolen credentials, 3% due to an insider threat, 5% due to a third-party threat, 3% of cyber attacks happen from pre-existing malware, and 5% happen from brute force. 

Over the past several articles on this topic, we have found that cybercriminals are increasingly creative. Businesses have become more vulnerable as their employees work remotely and they increase the number of devices they use to do business. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, also known as CISA, states, “As Americans become more reliant on modern technology, we also become more vulnerable to cyberattacks such as corporate security breaches, spear phishing, and social media fraud.” This article will discuss the final two top cyber attacks that businesses face, pre-existing malware and brute force.

Thankfully, it is not all doom and gloom. Our advanced technology also includes higher security measures, testing for vulnerabilities with AI, and advanced antivirus software. We are still in the information age with access to knowledge at our fingertips. We can prevent cyber attacks, mitigate risk, and train our employees for a more secure business network. Beginning with education on the threats at hand is the perfect place to start. 

Pre-Existing Malware Infection

One of the top ways businesses can experience a cyber attack is through a pre-existing malware infection. Malware, also known as malicious software, is any program or code designed to harm a system, network, or device. Malware affects a device the same way a virus would affect a person. It spreads throughout our system and wreaks havoc wherever it goes, slowing operations down. The malware may seek to control or stop an operating system completely to reduce productivity. 

A malware infection can be used to steal, encrypt, or delete data. It may also be used to change or control computer functions and see computer activity without the knowledge or permission of the user. This is often for monetary gain. 

Examples of how malware can enter a device include emails, downloading attachments, and visiting websites that have been hacked. Malware can also enter a device through illegal streaming services. 

Some signs a device is infected include: 

• Devices running slowly;
• Pop-up ads unexpectedly coming across the screen, also known as adware; 
• System crashes; 
• Browsing settings change; and
• The antivirus software stops working.

To prevent malware infection, a user can keep software updated, be cognitive of emails and attachments, and use an email service that protects against malicious emails. A user may also be cognitive of the websites being browsed and avoid streaming pirated media or visiting sites that allow this. 

Getting rid of a current malware infection may need different methods depending on the kind of malware and device. However, any user can download antivirus software, run a virus scan, and remove infected files. Users should also practice safe internet habits and run consistent testing on devices to catch anything the antivirus software might miss.

Brute Force

The second type of threat is a brute force cyberattack. This is when a hacker tries to access an account by guessing credentials without software. A hacker will use trial-and-error to guess login information until they get it correct. Once a hacker has access to an account or device, they can use the access for monetary gain, to steal sensitive data, to infect malware, or to bring harm to a company’s brand. 

CISA and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) found in cases of cyber-attacks through brute force victims used single sign-on (SSO) authentication which only needs one set of credentials. These victims also lacked multifactor authentication, had easy-to-guess passwords and used inbox synchronization. These commonalities give us an insight into how to prevent a brute force attack in the future. 

To protect against a brute force attack, create strong passwords, more than 10 characters, with capitals, lowercase, numbers, and symbols. Additionally, store passwords safely using a password manager. CISA  recommends using multi-factor authentication (MFA) and reviewing MFA settings to make sure it covers all internet-facing protocols. Employee training on proper password etiquette and storage will help reduce the opportunity of a threat as well. 

How to Protect Your Business 

With so many ways for a cybercriminal to pose a threat, it can seem daunting and quite intimidating to protect your business. At v TECH io, we are equipped to help you find the best solutions to enhance your cybersecurity. We offer training and testing to make sure your staff can identify risks and avoid making costly mistakes. 

To gain access to our experts, you can purchase a block of hours with vCyberGuard, our cybersecurity platform. These hours can be used for security projects, consulting, training, incident response, and more. They never expire, so you can use the hours as needed. 

To partner with v TECH io, click here and fill out the contact form. We will get in touch and start working on protecting your business today. Feel confident that your sensitive data is secure and rest assured knowing v TECH io is here to help.