Lackluster Teamwork? Tips For Boosting Performance

How can you improve teamwork for your team? And what does successful teamwork look like for employees across different generations? Research shows that regular constructive feedback is key to making employees feel that their contributions are valued, especially among younger workers. This in turn translates to increased motivation among all employees and a reinforcement of the team's core values. Check out this article for more on how to help engage your employees and facilitate better teamwork.

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Professional Invoices with Office 365

Northwest Cybersecurity learns how Microsoft Office 365 helps Trevor Cressey, whose company, Premier Water Removal, provides emergency water-removal and flood-restoration services, put on a professional face to the world. With more than 100 customizable invoice templates included in Excel, Word, Access, and Publisher, Office 365 allows small-but-growing companies like Trevor's to look a lot bigger than they are. Contact us to see how Office 365 can do the same for you.

Your Data is Safe with Office 365

Small businesses deserve the benefits of the cloud as much as any other company, and now they can do so without worrying about the security of their data.

Why your business should shift to a modern desktop with Microsoft 365 on a new device

Good employees do good work wherever they are. In fact, employee productivity increases on average by 22% when workers have the capability to work in a flexible modern workplace. Having that kind of flexibility even reduces employee turnover by 50%. If you're unsure about how to make the transition, we're here to help. At Northwest Cybersecurity, we're industry experts and can help you formulate and execute a plan to modernize your workplace and devices. Contact us today for more.

View: Why your business should shift to a modern desktop with Microsoft 365 on a new device

GDPR and the New World Order

 GDPR and the New World Order

The GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations) is a new standard for data protection throughout the EU. It is designed to have a set standard. So countries can have assurance that the personal data will be managed in the same way no matter what country you’re in the EU.

With the UK going off on it merry way and currently using the Data Protection act, which was based on the original EU standard data protection regulations.

So this far No Change is needed until 2018 or the completion of Brexit.

The New World Order(The First Order)

                           

As the rest of the EU goes it own way. it

will be introducing the GDPR in May 2018

So, for the uk and the rest of the world in order to trade in services with the EU

It will become necessary to apply the GDPR or Have some form of

matching policies and regulations to be compliant with

the EU.

What does it mean to your business

Your business will continue as usual but to be competitive we will be necessary to adopt the GDPR as it will give your business a chance to be compliant with the new EU regulations even though we are out of the EU but need to continue to trade with it. There   may be changes you need to introduce to meet the regulations but if your using the Current DPA legislation it will be a few changes and take staff to be updated with the new rules.For other countries who wish to trade they will also need to have a reciprocal set of rules that match the GDPR. This will mean things like client information will need to be stored in a certain manor and the processing of the information will need to match too.         

Cyber Essentials scheme

AS of the 5^th June 2014, HM Government have launched the Cyber Essentials Scheme. The Cyber Essentials is a new Government-backed and Industry supported scheme to guide organisations from the small SME to the Enterprise level company.

Cyber Essentials is designed to help businesses protect themselves by introducing controls to reduce the risk and protect from the most common Cyber Threats.

It focuses on basic Cyber hygiene and clarifies good practices that will help reduce the risk of contamination or being hacked.

 The Scheme offers Badges for certification Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials plus.

The Cyber Essentials requires companies to carry out a self assessment   

The Cyber Essentials Plus undergo Independent test to their systems carried out by certified bodies.

Both awards are intended to show businesses whatever size have reached a certain level of Cyber security which can give other Companies and Stakeholders, also Investors reassurance they take the Cyber Threat seriously.

Visit www.cyberessentials.org.uk

At Northwest Cybersecurity we can assist and help your business through the process and get your business ready to go for certification. We will explain the information in the self assessment process for the non-techies and business without any tech support. 

Any questions contact Iain at Northwest Cybersecurity on Tel 07845164174or Info@northwestcybersecurity.co.uk

Public Wi-Fi and Your Business

Public WI-FI and your Business.

Are you meeting your obligations about the WIFI you’re providing to your

customers?

With the demanding for wifi on the move there are requirements you

should be aware of to keep your business from being sued or you as a business

owner being arrest for breaking the law.

Depending on your setup for how you provide Free WI-FI to you customers will help prevent such issues. Free WI-FI is not just opening up your router to have no security settings on it and let anyone use it; this can lead to problems both for you and your customer.

To help minimize legal issues you should be aware of:   

A) DATA RETENTIONS (EC Directive) Regulations 2009.

These Regulations were enacted to implement an EU Directive into UK law, to assist with the prevention and detection of organised crime and terrorism by compelling communication service providers to retain certain communications information, including Internet USER Data.

The Regulation place an obligation on “public communications providers” to retain certain user data generated or process in the UK for 12 months from the data of the communication in question.  The definition of a”public communication provider” includes Public WIFI providers, however the Regulation only apply if they have been served a notice by the Secretary of State.

Note that the Secretary of State must serve the notice to all providers unless the data in question is already retained by another provider in the UK under these regulations.

B) Data Protection Obligation.

As with the Data Retention Regulations, Public WI-FI providers need to be aware of the Obligations under the Data Protections Act 1998 (DPA 1998). Because of user registration you will come under the DPA 1998, so storage and handling of this information much be secure and handled with care.

The DPA 1998 governs all use of personal data, including its storage and transmissions also you are required to register with the Information Commission.  If you fail to comply with the Data protection Act you can be liable to a fine up to £500,000.  

C) Digital Economy Act 2010 (DEA2010) Online copyright infringement.

This is designed to combat online copyright infringement as part of the Communication Act 2003 which makes “Internet Service Provider” (ISP’s) have the obligation to notify user of any infringement of copyright. Also ISP’s will apply other restrictions including reduction of speeds.

In 2012, OfCom revised the DEA 2012 which made WI-FI provider sit outside this due the cost to the provider as they would have less than 400,000 subscribers, so this would be one thing to look out for.

In conclusion it would be necessary for you as a business providing Free Public WI-FI to publish a Policy and Terms & Conditions for the end user to sign up to which will help minimize your liability and make the end user aware of their responsibilities when using Public WI-FI.

And another thing is consider using a WI-FI provider other than just opening up your wireless network to you customers. WI-FI hotspot finders can be found on Mobile Phone company sites and through Searches on the internet.

If you’re not sure about using public WI-FI why not switch it off on your mobile and just use your Data minutes, this is more secure and you will be avoid WI-FI tracking software also consider switch off your GPS to hide your location when posting to social media websites.