September 24, 2021
Security: 100M IoT Devices Exposed By Zero-Day Bug
Threatpost
A flaw in a widely used internet-of-things (IoT) infrastructure code left more than 100 million devices across 10,000 enterprises vulnerable to attacks.

Researchers at Guardara used their technology to find a zero-day vulnerability in NanoMQ, an open-source platform from EMQ that monitors IoT devices in real time, then acts as a “message broker” to deliver alerts that atypical activity has been detected. EMQ’s products are used to monitor the health of patients leaving a hospital, to detect fires, monitor car systems, in smartwatches, in smart-city applications and more. Read more
Healthcare IT: States’ Behavioral Telehealth Stymied by Privacy, Security Challenges
SC Media
The majority of Medicaid providers leveraging telehealth for behavioral health services reported multiple challenges to the use and effectiveness of the program, including struggles to obtain user consent, protect patient privacy, and keep patient data secure, according to a Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General audit report.

In total, 27 out of 37 states reported challenges with protecting privacy and security of personal information when using telehealth. Read More
Homeland Security: The Value of Emergency Managers and What We Can Learn from Them
Homeland Security Today
Fires out west, hurricanes in the south, tornados in the Midwest, floods in the east. And everywhere, COVID-19. There is no escape.

Behind the scenes, a legion of emergency managers monitor, coordinate, and get on scene, ready to warn of danger, save lives, and help communities discover resilience on the other side of disaster. During these times of pandemic, climate change and the resulting crises, these emergency leaders are the vanguard. More than ever before, the country must do more to strengthen their ranks and embolden their leadership. The viability and resilience of business, educational, and community institutions – our combined national strength – depends on our rising above these crises. Read More
Transportation: Michigan Launches Initiative to Develop EV Road Charging Infrastructure
Transportation Today
Michigan recently launched an initiative to develop the nation’s first wireless charging infrastructure on a public road.

The Inductive Vehicle Charging Pilot will deploy an electrified roadway system that allows electric buses, shuttles and vehicles to charge while driving. This will ensure electric vehicles can operate continuously without stopping to charge, eases range anxiety and accelerates the transition to all-electric transit fleets. Read More
Human Resources: How to Cultivate IT Talent Remotely
CIO
Identifying and growing IT talent in remote and hybrid workplaces is a big change for IT leaders, who must rely more on metrics, emotional intelligence, and new remote skills to elevate the best from their teams.

The pandemic proved that working remote works. People were productive — often more productive than they were in the office — and want to keep doing it. But if you were the kind of manager who led by owning a room and promoted people because you could see they were charismatic, dedicated, or natural leaders — qualities you watched them use — you might be feeling lost right now when it comes to knowing whom on your team you should tag for promotion. Read More
Business & Technology: KPIs Aren’t Just About Assessing Past Performance
Harvard Business Review
Executive teams are very familiar with using KPIs (key performance indicators) to track recent corporate success. These measures are used like school reports, providing feedback on how things went over the past year. Employed this way, KPIs are backward looking and, as one executive described them to me, “just a bunch of numbers.”

But a properly constructed bunch of numbers provides much more than a rear view of performance. These indicators can become a powerful and nuanced tool to predict changes around the corner for your business.

The secret? It’s all in mapping and measurement intervals. Let me explain. Read More