April 1, 2022
Security: FBI warns of ransomware straining local governments, services
SC Media
In a private industry notification (PIN) dated Wednesday but released to the public Thursday, the FBI warned local governments and government services that ransomware would likely "strain" their capabilities if not prevented.

"In the next year, local US government agencies almost certainly will continue to experience ransomware attacks, particularly as malware deployment and targeting tactics evolve, further endangering public health and safety, and resulting in significant financial liabilities," the FBI wrote. Read More
Healthcare IT: Bipartisan legislation would broaden telehealth benefits for employees
Healthcare IT News
The House of Representatives has drafted a bill that would provide new virtual care options for American employees.

WHY IT MATTERS
The proposed Telehealth Benefit Expansion for Workers Act would enable job creators to offer standalone telehealth service programs – not unlike dental and vision plans – in addition to existing health insurance plans. Read More
Homeland Security: A tale of two smart cities: a dream or nightmare?
Homeland Security Today
The San Diego Police Department has called the cameras a “game-changer” but privacy concerns in the city have grown.

17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a global effort to save the planet, eradicate poverty, and improve the quality of life for all. SDG 11 to “make cites inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable” is reflected in many smart-city initiatives, such as the environmental benefits of smart buildings and autonomous vehicles to reduce carbon emissions and save on energy costs.

But the interconnectivity of smart cities also brings about a serious threat in the form of cyberattacks. Major cities and small towns alike are already besieged by cyberattacks, which have crippled city services and critical infrastructure, from payment systems to 911 services, hospitals, transportation and more. Read More
Transportation: Implementing mobile driver’s licenses: not as easy as you think
DHS
You’re in the airport security line struggling to get your driver’s license out of your wallet. After retrieving it, you drop your identification (ID) and continue toward the checkpoint unaware you don’t have one of the most essential documents needed to get through security.

Currently, physical government-issued IDs, primarily driver’s licenses, are must-haves for security checkpoints such as those at the nation’s airports staffed by agents of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). These days, though some passengers show passports or other IDs, the majority do present driver’s licenses at airport checkpoints. Read More
Human Resources: Young and entry-level employees are not OK
HR Dive
The pandemic has impacted employees' lives globally, but the impact on younger generations has been especially high. For Gen Z and millennials, COVID-19 made advancing a career more challenging, and isolation from friends, family, and colleagues removed daily routines and social interactions vital for maintaining good mental health. Even worse, mental health support has been disrupted — just when it's needed most.

A pronounced generational gap was evident in the Vitality Group Healthy Hybrid workplace survey. While the self-rated well-being of older generations in the workplace has returned to pre-pandemic levels, younger staff have fallen behind, with 27% of Gen Zs and millennials now rating their mental health and well-being as "somewhat bad" to "very bad." Read More
Business & Technology: Combatting digital ignorance
CIO
People who study technology value creation ceaselessly argue which tech term of art is least illuminating and most irksome. Is it digital transformation (the phrase that has launched a thousand consultancies and as many failed strategies)? Is it cloud computing? Is it the ridiculously overhyped and inexplicably under-explained 5G? Or is it the recently coined metaverse?

My point here isn’t to poke fun at today’s buzziest tech terms, but to point out that the language, ensuing conversations, and general knowledge base about the most important migration in the history of humanity (i.e., the path to digital mastery) are universally perceived as being less than satisfactory. Read More