In March 2021, Chinese hackers broke into Microsoft Exchange Server and stole emails from over 250,000 customers worldwide. This raises two questions: How do you stop these attacks from happening? How do you find out what data is affected and what damage has been done? Today’s information security is the combination of cybersecurity, information governance, risk management, and information assurance that can address these issues. This blog concentrates on the role of information assurance and its integration into the world of security.

The increase in criminal activity during the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the imperative for cyber resilience within every business. Working from the point of view that a data breach is inevitable at some point, the question becomes how you respond, remediate and recover your business. This means moving beyond the technical aspects to consider the things that are most important: your data.

How do you protect and defend information inside your enterprise and, increasingly, in external data sources that you may have some responsibility for?

The answer is information assurance. A technology that begun life within legal firms and the legal departments of companies is now broadening out as all organizations are dealing with an ever-increasing volume and variety of data, with greater controls and regulations on what they are permitted to do with that data. Handling regulatory enquires and enhancing data protection and data management have become key focus areas for information assurance solutions in enterprises worldwide.

Why you need information assurance

Organizations want to tap into the huge potential of this data to improve business performance and customer experience. At the same time, people are becoming more digital savvy and governments more protective of the individual’s privacy and personal information.

At the same time, some things haven’t changed. They have just accelerated. Whether accidental or malicious, employees misuse data and cybercriminals are definitely malicious when they target your business with more sophisticated hacks and attacks.

Information assurance has become vital to protect the information within your organization to ensure its integrity and quality in a way that builds trust and reduces risk. Today, information assurance solutions have moved beyond the ability to protect information systems. Information assurance professionals are now equally concerned with data privacy, regulatory inquiries, and standards compliance.

Any information assurance risk assessment will seek a balance between protecting information and providing effective access to information. For example, during a merger or acquisition, there will be a period of due diligence where each party gathers data to identify potential risk. Vast amounts of information have to be analyzed in a timely manner, while sensitive data such as intellectual property still has to be protected. Without modern information assurance solutions that can automate much of the data discovery process, this simply would not be possible.

https://blogs.opentext.com/information-assurance-and-security/

The working world has shifted more than ever before. What was once a fringe idea, working remotely, has become the standard in many industries, and while some aspects of working life may go back to the way they were, many other changes are here to stay. But that doesn’t mean that the professional development, employee growth, and self-improvement of your team can fall by the wayside.

With the right professional development plan and mindset, you can set all your employees up for success, whether they’re in an office, remote, or somewhere in between.

Keep communication open

Having direct and easy access to reliable communication tools is a key to success with a team, whether in-person or virtual. And this is doubly true when hosting a professional development event.

If you’ve already transitioned to a fully remote or hybrid workforce, then many of your day-to-day tools can work great in a professional development setting as well. Allowing for side conversations through instant messaging platforms not only allows your employees to get answers to their questions but also helps boost morale and brings them closer as a team.

The importance of shareable files

One of the biggest concerns with remote professional development is the lack of in-person collaboration. Not having everyone in the same space can make it harder for team members to share ideas, give each other feedback, and learn from each other when working together on a project. However, with a little extra effort, you can prevent physical distance from hindering successful collaboration and employee growth.

Before kicking off any event, project, or assignment, make sure that all necessary materials are in a single place that everyone can access. Placing your documents and files on a cloud server is a great way to enable your team members to download, share, or work together directly in one place. Hosting a shared document is a great way for you to gather a group’s thoughts on a project.

Everything becomes hands-on

If you’re doing software or process training, the advantages of hosting your event virtually multiply even more.

Thanks to screen sharing software, you can walk your participants through a process first-hand, as they are testing it out on their computer or device. Now you won’t have to worry if they will run into an issue later, they can personally take the steps you outline, and instantly ask questions or raise concerns.

Virtual professional development as a cultural touchpoint

Before your presenters build their slides, make sure you have a list of colors, fonts, and styles that they should use. That way your entire even can have a cohesive and polished look. Kicking off your day with a virtual mindset or icebreaker activities can raise the excitement of your participants, and get them ready to start the day. And then keeping your lines of communication open can work to keep that tempo up.

Get started on your professional development plan

When you’re ready to make your next professional development plan, remember that with the right tools, they can be even more effective than ever before! Virtual events give you access, ease of sharing, and cost savings that you won’t find otherwise. So go start planning!

https://www.microsoft.com/en-ww/microsoft-365/business-insights-ideas/resources/is-your-professional-development-remote-working-ready