Mohit Tater's Blog, page 569

Upgrade your Security Strategy with a Smart Card System

There are tons of options for access control systems; proximity cards, mag-stripe cards, biometric recognition systems, and smart cards. All have benefits for ensuring controlled access to a building or facility, but for the purposes of this article, we’re going to mostly cover smart cards. Originally modeled on credit cards, smart cards were initially built to the same specifications, although smaller versions now exist.

Protecting Buildings

Before smart card systems came along, complex facilities may have needed multiple types of card covering multiple access control systems – individual employees may even have required multiple access cards. Understandably, these systems were both unwieldy and confusing.

That’s where smart cards come in. These tiny wonders contain a computer chip that is programmed with all the cardholder’s personal information, and all their security clearances and access points. The smart card can even be used across different types of reader; they can be seamlessly integrated with mag-stripe, proximity and biometric systems. Smart cards that are programmed this way – to be read by different types of readers – can also have even more reader types added down the line if needed.

Protecting Information

Smart cards can also be used to protect corporate information networks; this is known as logical access control, where entry into a building is known as physical access control. The card reader is linked to the workstation or information point, which is unlocked when the card is inserted. This adds an extra layer of security that password-only protection can’t match, as anyone can guess a password – or the employee might accidentally leave their workstation logged in, allowing anyone walking past to access their files. With a smart card, simply removing the card logs the station out.

Safe Storage

Smart cards also offer a persistent storage solution; they usually have anywhere between 4k and 32k of memory, which is significantly more than can be stored on a standard mag-stripe card. The data stored on the card is much safer, as the card can’t just be swiped against a reader to access it. While there are tools that can take data from smart cards, they are not readily available.

Power of the Processor

As well
as being able to store data, most smart cards have a small in-built CPU that
can protect that information by remembering a PIN code. It can also remember if
the PIN has been entered wrongly too many times, and block access to the card
if it thinks you might not be the rightful owner. The CPU can even wipe the
information entirely if it deems it necessary.

Counting the Cost

While smart cards are not as cheap to manufacture as some other options,
in reasonable quantities the cost is well worth it. They’re also much cheaper
than options such as digital tokens. Smart card readers are also widely
available at good value prices, with some less than $50. Card readers are also
available combined with USB readers, and some wireless LAN adapters have
smaller smart card readers incorporated.

The post Upgrade your Security Strategy with a Smart Card System appeared first on Entrepreneurship Life.

How to Create the Story of Your Brand

The story of your brand is much more than the copy on your About page. The story of your brand encompasses every part of the content you produce, every product, every package, every font and colour you use. It is the essence of your company and its mission.

That’s why it’s important to have a solid understanding of what your brand is all about, and how to tell that story in an effective way. Here are some essential steps to tell the story of your brand, and to tell it well:

1. Nail down who you are.

Ask yourself the following questions about your brand:

Who are you? How did your brand come to exist? Who created it, and why? What was the problem they wanted to solve? Who are the people who make up your company?What do you do? What is the product or service you provide?Who do you make it for? Who is your clientele — how old are they, where do they live, how much money do they make, and most importantly, what’s the issue that they need solved? Why do they find value in your brand?Why do you do it? On the deepest philosophical level, why is your work important? What makes you and your team get up in the morning? What’s the issue that you are solving to make life better for your customers?What makes you different? What are you doing that no one else is doing?



2. Craft your Message Architecture

A message architecture is a set of communication goals that clarify what your brand is all about and guide all of your communication efforts. They make it easy for you – and everyone else at your company – to understand who you are and what you’re trying to achieve, and to consistently convey those ideas to the outside world. Making this really crystal clear and easy to understand will help guide all elements of telling your brand’s story.

Here’s how brand content strategist Margot Bloomstein imagines the messaging architecture for a company like Apple:

Confident but Approachable
• Market Leading
• Accessible

Simple
• Clean
• Streamlined
• Unfussy
• Minimally Detailed

Inviting
• Friendly
• Supportive
• Not Fawning

That’s just one example, but hopefully that gets your brain ticking on what the message architecture might be for your own brand. Think about the framework as an outline of your brand that will dictate how you express your message. This will especially help with planning different marketing initiatives and campaigns, and will keep them cohesive.

3. Think about your visual language

You visual language – the colour palettes you use, the fonts, how busy you make all your design – tells your potential customers a lot about who you are and what your brand’s story is. Some fonts, colours and design styles will appear more fun and energetic. Some will appear more calm and minimal. Some will feel more youthful, some more mature. At StickerYou, we chose a font family and color palette that supported our brand essence as a creative way for businesses to brand themselves with stickers, labels, decals and more. So give a lot of thought to what messages your visuals are sending about your brand and your product and whether they’re doing what you want them to do. If you’re having second thoughts, consult with a designer who may be able to suggest tweaks that can give you a visual facelift and get your design elements more inline with your brand story.

4. Consider the medium

Are you using all storytelling formats at your disposal to get your story out there? Video and photos can do a lot to pack an emotional punch and really help people to engage with your brand in new ways. Blog posts — written by your staff, CEO or even customers — are another method. In-person brand activations at festivals and events are another way to put a human face on your brand. Even annual reports can be a way to think outside the box, have fun and creatively tell your story. Make sure you’re using all the tools in the toolkit to put your brand on the map

5. Be authentic

This one cannot be stressed enough. Customers are tired of cold, impersonal corporations trying to sell things to them, and they distrust them. The only way to break through that is to be as genuine as possible.  Make sure you are showing the real you and the real story of your brand. Use conversational language. Don’t be afraid to tell stories of your own company’s failures, and how you overcame them. Think about what would make you trust in your OWN brand if you were on the outside looking in, and speak to people from that place. Authenticity is the only way to build trust and long-lasting relationships with customers.

Author: StickerYou Founder & President, Andrew Witkin

As the founder of a global e-commerce leader in custom-printed,
die-cut products, Andrew Witkin is widely recognized as a leading
authority on e-commerce, customization, startups, marketing and the tech
economy. Witkin has also served as VP North American Licensing for
Nelvana/Corus Entertainment and Director of Marketing for
MegaBrands/Mattel.

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Sacrifice: The keyword of any start-up

It is one of the most daunting periods of your life; the time when
that guaranteed salary suddenly flies out of the window and your
once-structured life no longer has a safety net. That’s right, today’s article
is all about taking the self-employed plunge – and just what you might have to
give up to facilitate it.

Unfortunately, while there might be umpteen success stories doing the rounds, at the same time creating your own company is hard work. Even entrepreneurs who have “made it” didn’t do so overnight, and probably had to make a lot of sacrifices in the process.

To highlight the point in-detail, let’s take a look at some of the
main things you might need to prepare to give up.

Sacrifice #1 – Life’s luxuries

Sure, the end goal for most is to improve your lifestyle, but in
business this can sometimes be through the principle of one step back, two
steps forward.

In other words, in the short-term at least, you might need to spend less on your usual luxuries. You might have to cut your cable TV subscription, or turn to something like the Metatrader 4 demo account just to try and free up some extra capital.

The point we are trying to make is that this is a difficult journey – and not one that is going to provide you with riches immediately.

Sacrifice #2 – Your time

We’re all busy; whether we are employed or self-employed.

However, the thing that most of us forget is that in our
“employed life”, we are only charged with performing tasks within our
speciality. When it comes to being your own boss, you are responsible for
everything. This includes being the company accountant, HR manager and more –
but this is often overlooked.

The result is that your time is more scarce than ever before. This often
tends to flood across to free time, so make sure your life is prepared for such
a shift.

Sacrifice #3 – Your stability

We alluded to this in the introduction, but we really can’t emphasize
just how your life is going to change from a stability perspective.

Once upon a time you had everything set in stone, but now this isn’t
the case. Your salary will change each month, and there may even be some months
where you don’t receive a dime. For some people, this lack of stability is the
thing which acts as the main roadblock for starting their own business.

Sacrifice #4 – Your sanity

It might sound OTT, but when it comes to the crunch, it’s not.

In short, owning a business can wreak havoc with your sanity. Some people can take their work home with them when they are employed by a company – but when you are your own boss this is the norm. All problems go home, for the simple reason that it is your livelihood that depends on it and there are no guarantees regarding your income anymore.

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How Much is the CBD Industry Worth?

When the 2018 Farm Bill was signed, the CBD industry exploded. The act contained wording that effectively made the possession of any hemp product legal Since CBD is predominantly extracted from hemp, the CBD industry capitalized on this wording by getting out ahead of the story, declaring it a win for their products and then flooding the market with them before the law could say otherwise.

The result is that now most states are changing old laws from their books and making way for CBD to be used without legal repercussions in any way. As more states move toward legalizing medical marijuana, CBD is a minnow in the stream to law enforcement, so the Farm Bill seems to have opened the door and paved the way for the industry to expand rapidly.

Where the market is now and where it is
headed  are both very excited to both
users of CBD oil and investors. The manufacturers are poised to make
record-breaking profits. In fact, some companies who went public on the stock
markets are already seeing increases in stock by as much as 3000%.

So, what the industry is worth now is nothing
at all compared to its potential worth. Let’s take a look at current numbers
and projections based on the input of industry experts from CBD industry and
Wall Street.

Numbers

As  long as 2 years ago, the CBD industry was projected to be worth approximately $2B by 2022. That’s a heft number and many saw this is a growth industry, based on these numbers alone. By the middle of 2017, The CBD industry was worth approximately $367 million and had already experienced as much as 40% growth. These numbers, in and of themselves, were fantastic returns on investment (ROI) for those who invest and for the owners of the companies who were betting their lives on the CBD industry.

In December of 2018, the Farm Bill was signed as an updated version of the original bill from 2014. The wording in this new bill has blown the industry so far ahead of initial projections that the comparison is now apples to oranges. In 2017, before the Farm Bill, experts made predictions, based on information available at that time, that by 2022 the industry would be worth approximately $650 million. Now, with the new information and market growth since that bill signing, the industry is expect to be worth $22 BILLION by 2022. That is more than 33X the initial projections.

Remember that the industry had already seen a
40% growth from inception. These new projections have investors scrambling to
buy stock and companies setting themselves up to IPO and start selling their
stock as soon as possible, to ensure maximum growth potential. They will need
to expand product lines and total output of products. The companies that don’t
grow rapidly with this industry will be very much at risk in the beginning
because it is highly competitive right now. Like horses, bunched together after
having just left the shoot, all scrambling to take the lead in a race that is
moving and changing at lightning speed, some will be left in the back of the
pack.

For investors, this means doing a little homework and choosing the companies that seem to be best set for success in the coming years. Overall, the CBD industry is going to be a great investment.

Life-Changing In So Many Ways

CBD has changed the lives of many people by
giving them relief from symptoms of chronic illness, extreme pain, and
debilitating diseases. CBD is the phytocompound also called cannabidiol.

 CBD is
a cannabinoid, as is THC, but CBD will not interact with your brain and will
not make you high. CBD is one of many cannabinoids in hemp that has dramatic
ability to interact with the body’s Endocannabinoid System (ECS) to help regulate
mood, immunity, suppress pain, stop seizures and much more.

CBD has proven itself worthy enough for the
FDA to approve a drug called Epidiolex for controlling seizure activity in
people diagnosed with epilepsy who have shown no response to other medications.
This was also a major boone to the industry.

CBD is natural, has no known negative
side-effects that are long-term. Insignificant side-effects are rare and
include diarrhea, headache, and stomach cramps. These are typically associated
with taking too much and will go away as soon as dosage is lowered.

Humans, both adult and children, as well as animals are known to have an ECS. This means that even your dog which is suffering from arthritis pain can benefit from and be given CBD oil. For example, shop from Innovet pet CBD oil for dogs to discover products made especially for them. This is also expansion of the market that will lead to more sales.

Some experts believe that only 1% of the total market has even been scraped by CBD so far. One of the fastest growing groups using CBD are seniors who are experiencing aches and pains from aging and chronic conditions that come with age.

The post How Much is the CBD Industry Worth? appeared first on Entrepreneurship Life.

Patent Litigation in Canada v. the United States: Top 10 Differences

Although the United States is no doubt a fertile ground for patent litigation—with approximately 4,000 patent lawsuits filed in its courts each year—patent owners are increasingly looking outside of its borders to enforce their patent rights. This shift is due, in part, to the recent issuance of various United States Supreme Court decisions that have made the enforcement of patent rights more difficult. When looking abroad, Canada is often considered a possible venue due to its proximity to the United States and the relative cost-effectiveness of its proceedings.

In considering whether to litigate in
Canada, it is important for patent owners to understand the differences in
litigating between the two countries. Here, we review the top 10 ways in which
patent litigation in Canada differs from the United States.

1. No forum shopping

In Canada, almost all patent infringement actions are brought in the Federal Court, a specialized court of national jurisdiction. While the Federal Court has concurrent jurisdiction with provincial courts over matters of infringement, the Federal Court has exclusive jurisdiction to hear patent impeachment proceedings. As a result, there is virtually no time spent on disputes over forum or jurisdictional shopping issues in Canada.

2. Limited discovery

The discovery process in Canada is not as
invasive as it typically is in the United States. Oral examinations for
discovery in Canada (known as depositions in the United States) are generally
limited to one representative per party. Third parties or other fact witnesses
are rarely examined. Further, the rules generally do not allow experts to be
examined as part of the discovery process. Similarly, documentary discovery in
Canada is generally not as probing as it is in the United States.

3. No Markman hearings

In Canada, there are no pre-trial Markman
hearings. Claim construction is done at the main trial, with the benefit of expert
evidence on the skilled person’s construction in light of their common general
knowledge.

4. Lower legal expenses

Legal expenses associated with patent
litigation in Canada are generally much lower than those in the United States.
This largely due to procedural differences; in Canada, limited discovery and
lack of pre-trial expert examinations significantly reduce time spent by
lawyers and experts.

5. Summary judgment is rare

Without a ruling on claims construction
from a Markman-type hearing, there is judicial reluctance to grant summary
judgment prior to trial in Canada. Generally, the Federal Court will prefer to
send a case to trial where there are competing expert opinions.

6. No juries

As abovementioned, the majority of Canadian
patent litigation takes place in the Federal Court, where there are no juries.
All Federal Court patent infringement actions are heard by a single judge.

7. No inter partes review (IPR)

There is no equivalent to the American IPR
process in Canada. Although the Canadian Patent
Act does provide for re-examination proceedings before the Patent Office,
the scope of this procedure is very narrow compared to IPR. As a result,
Canadian re-examination proceedings are seldom used in practice, especially not
in the context of litigation. Moreover, the Federal Court generally will stay
any re-examination in favour of a parallel patent ligation action.

8. No treble damages

In Canada, treble damages are not
available. While a damages award may exceed compensatory damages, this remedy
is reserved for exceptional cases of egregious conduct.

9. Accounting of profits

In Canada, a successful patentee in a patent infringement action is generally entitled to elect between compensatory damages and an accounting of the defendant’s profits. Whereas damages compensate the patentee for their losses due to lost sales, an accounting of profits allows the patentee to recover the infringer’s profits earned from the infringement.

10. Costs to the victor

A successful party in Canada is normally entitled to an award of costs from the losing party, in accordance with a court tariff. Often, the amount paid is approximately 20-30% of actual fees, plus reasonable disbursements. In complex patent infringement cases, costs awards can be substantial; for example, in Dow v Nova, 2017 FC 637 where Dow was awarded over $644 million dollars in profits, the Federal Court awarded $6.5 million to Dow for the costs of its successful patent infringement action.

Contributed by Mala Milanese

Mala is an intellectual property lawyer at Heer Law. She specializes in intellectual property litigation and advises clients on matters involving patents, trademarks, and copyright. She draws upon problem-solving skills acquired as a chemistry student—along with her intellectual property experience gained at leading firms—to assist clients in achieving efficient resolutions to their intellectual property issues.

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Why Invest in Real Estate? [The Complete Guide- 2019]

Real estate investing is the most powerful tool for building passive income and long-term wealth. You may have heard a speaker talk about this at a local investor club, heard some guru on the radio, or read a book or article on the topic of real estate investing. Or, you may know someone who is an investor and have witnessed their success. While there are multiple ways to invest in real estate, we will focus this article on rental property.

Rental Property

What other investment vehicle pays you five different ways like rental properties do? The answer? There isn’t one. What are those five ways? They are cash flow, appreciation, depreciation, principal pay down, and equity. Let’s briefly cover these to get a better understanding.

Cash Flow – This is the positive amount you get by taking the difference between the rental amount and the monthly payment. For example, if you have a property that rents for $1,000 per month and your monthly mortgage payment (including taxes and insurance) is $650 per month, your positive cash flow would be $350 per month.

Appreciation – Although you should never buy with the expectation that the value will improve over time, it most likely will depend on your market. There’s an old saying in real estate investing, ‘you make your money when you buy.’ This means buy it at the right price and you will be in good shape going forward. Any upward movement in real estate values will only benefit you and your dealer.

Depreciation – This is a non-cash deduction that you get to take that will lower your taxable income. Talk to your CPA about how this will work for you, as it varies depending on your situation.

Principal Pay Down – As your tenant pays rent every month, those funds are being used to make mortgage payments, which pay both interest and principal down in your notes.

Equity – This is the value of the property minus what is owed on it. For example, if you have a property that is worth $200,000 and you owe $120,000 on it, you have $80,000 in equity. The amount of equity in the property will increase incrementally as the principal is paid down and if/when the property appreciates in value.

Financing Availability

None of what was just mentioned above would be possible without the high availability of financing options, and the ability to leverage (using more of someone else’s money and less of your own). This means if you were to buy a deal at the right price, and you are creditworthy, you might only bring a very small amount of money to the purchase closing. The point here is building a portfolio over time doesn’t require you to have all of the money.

Most investors are concerned about finding the money, and this prevents many from taking the next steps to start investing. For most investment real estate, using cash, hard money, or a small bank line of credit, is the best way to finance an acquisition. Cash is self-explanatory, so let’s address the other two ways.

Hard Money

Hard money is a type of real estate loan that is an alternative form of financing. Hard money loans are based on property value, and also on the borrower’s creditworthiness. They are designed to provide funds for the acquisition and also for the repairs.

Most hard money loans have a higher LTV (loan-to-value ratio) than most forms of traditional financing, allowing a borrower to leverage, using more of someone else’s money, and bring less to closing. These types of loans are short-term, and allow you to close very quickly, which is normally a seller requirement. A quick Google search using the phrase ‘hard money lenders Houston’ will likely show a number of potential lenders in that area that can be used.

Line of Credit

A line of credit at a small bank is most likely your best option, as the large, money center banks are not focused on these types of transactions. There are some big differences between using a small bank and using hard money. Small banks will generally require you to have some experience, they will take a longer time for you to close a transaction, you will generally have to put more money down out of pocket, but the costs will be much lower.

So why would anyone use a small bank for real estate deals? Once you get the experience you need (usually two years) this may be a good option for you depending on the deals you are doing.

Conclusion

Whether you use cash, hard money or a small bank line for the purchase, you will need to get the property rehabbed and have a tenant in place, to take advantage of the long term-financing options that will be available to you on your refinance. Some of the best loans available are still through Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. They offer the lowest rates and longest terms on the market. To find the right deal, get your short-term and long-term financing in place, and take advantage of the benefits of owning rental property.

The post Why Invest in Real Estate? [The Complete Guide- 2019] appeared first on Entrepreneurship Life.

Four Reasons Africa is the next Big Startup Location

In the digital age, it’s worth remembering
that your customers are now global not just local, and Africa is one of the
world’s fastest growing consumer markets.

In terms of both economy and population Africa is booming, and its startup founders are growing in confidence, spurred on by the success of high-profile entrepreneurs such as Mzi Khumalo, Saki Macozoma and Phuthuma Nhleko.   

In April, Bloomberg reported that this
year Africa’s economy is predicted to expand at its fastest pace since 2012,
making it the fasting-growing region in the world, behind Asia. This is despite
the continent’s two largest economies – South Africa and Nigeria – beginning to
slow down.

Here are four reasons why Africa is the
next big start-up location.

1. Rising
quality and quantity of economic growth

There’s no doubt that Africa’s continent
is not at the same level of maturity as the Asian economy, but it’s improving
year-on-year. Although the global economy is slowing down in parts, Africa’s
growth predictions remain strong for 2019.

Africa is a diverse continent of over 50
countries, and with that comes economic disparity. Some parts, such as sub-Saharan
Africa, are growing a lot slower than others. Nigeria, South Africa and Angola
are experiencing a slow-down in growth this year, but there are plenty of
bright spots.

Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia,
Ghana, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda are all experiencing growth
of more than 6 percent – a number on par or higher than China’s expected
growth. Ethiopia is on track to have nearly the highest GDP growth rate in the
world.

Many of these growing economies are also
successfully attracting more global capital through progressive policies aimed
at diversifying their economies and growing the middle class.

More important yet is the fact that much
of this growth is coming from new, tech-driven industries. The continent has
been largely dependant on old industries, such as mining, minerals and oil, for
decades, but there is growing evidence that that is now changing. According to
Quartz, last year venture capital investment in Africa topped $560 million –
that might not sound like much, but that is a tremendous 54 percent increase on
the year both.

Africa’s tech industry is accelerating.
In 2017, investment in tech start-ups across the continent topped $195 million,
according to the International Finance
Corporation, and they
predict this figure will only soar.

Dario Giuliani, co-author of the GSMA
report, said: “Tech hubs represent a true catalyst for innovation and
investment in Africa.”

2. A
richer, larger and younger population

More than a billion people live in
Africa: that’s a billion potential consumers ready and waiting to be untapped
by new businesses, services and products.

Not only is Africa’s population growing,
but it’s also getting richer too. As the population grows, so does its
purchasing power and disposable income. Consumer expenditure in Africa is expected
to rise to $2.1 trillion by 2025 and $2.5 trillion by 2030. This is more than
double the figure in 2015, according to a recent study from the Brookings
Institution, are some of the largest the world.

Africa’s middle class is also expanding.
In the five largest consumer markets, Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, Morocco and
Algeria, the African Development Bank estimates there will be 56 million
middle-class households with disposable incomes of nearly $680 billion
combined.

Africa also has the fastest growing
youth population in the world. People below the age of 24 years old will
increase by nearly 50 percent by 2050, making it the continent with the largest
number of young people.

Noah Smith, Bloomberg Columnist, wrote
last year: “As the continent [Africa] becomes more populous, those companies
with an established presence in Africa will be better positioned to sell into
burgeoning African markets. They will have the local market knowledge,
connections and distribution channels to beat out rivals who failed to invest
early.”

For many startups, recruitment can be an
issue. But Africa has a large youth population, waiting to use its skills,
capabilities and enthusiasm; this human capital alone could increase startups
exponentially.  

3. Use
of the English language

Setting up a startup is challenging, and
tapping into a developing region even more difficult, especially when there’s a
language barrier. Thankfully, English is either the official or de facto first
language in more than 20 African nations, and in the vast majority African
countries, English is the go-to language in commerce and business.

In fact, Africa has a larger ratio of
English-speaking nations than anywhere else in the world, giving the region a
natural advantage over Asia and South America.

Potential hotspots for startups, such as
Kenya, Ghana and Uganda, all of which are experiencing high economic growth
this year, speak English as their official language. This makes it easier to
communicate with new suppliers, colleagues, partners, and of course, potential
customers.

4. Ease
and expense of doing business

It’s widely believed that doing business
in Africa, particularly in the shape of a startup, is tricky. Of course,
setting up any business is difficult regardless of where you are, but the
business environment in Africa is vastly improving. Many African countries are
climbing up the Doing
Business Index –
a ranking system created by the World Bank Group.

The Index ranks countries on a range of
factors including the ease obtaining a building permit to the payment of taxes.

Rwanda is 29th on the “ease of doing
business” ranking, compared to the 41st position in last year’s report. Kenya ranks
61st globally compared to the 2018 report when it was ranked 80th. Morocco
ranks in 60th position, making it the top-ranking country in the report in
North Africa.

These increases are being driven by
structural reforms which many of the national governments are putting in place.

Not only is it becoming easier to startup a business for external investors in Africa, but it’s also cheaper than starting up a new business than in Europe and Asia. Land and real estate prices are cheaper on average, Labour is cheaper and many of the associate costs of starting up a business are a lot less than in other parts of the world.

There’s no doubt that Africa is on the
up in more ways than one. The continent presents a unique opportunity for
external investors looking to start up a business from scratch or tap into a
new region for customers, and that’s why it will overtake Asia as the world’s
top startup location in the next five years. 

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How to Write a Great College Essay, Step-by-Step

Not everyone knows how to write a college essay. This is really important to be able to write a good essay. This is to ensure good grades. The moment that you are getting some tips on how to write good essays, you will be able to write essays without any help. Ewritingservice.com are giving these step by step guide on how to write a great college essay without any problems.

Brainstorming
ideas and gather information

This is the first step in writing a great
college essay. You start with brainstorming. Getting ideas and gather as much
information as possible. You won’t be able to start writing if you don’t have
done this step first.

You should have a pen and paper ready, and
make notes as you are brainstorming ideas. Some are using their computer to put
down their ideas and information as well. At the end of the day, it doesn’t
matter, as long as you have all the notes at hand.

Pick
your topic and create a great title

Experienced writers recommend that this is
where you are picking your topic between those that you have brained stormed
and you create your title.

The title should be catchy and get the attention of the reader immediately. Not everyone knows the importance of a title, and this is where most college students are going wrong in writing their essays.

Write
a draft

Another step that many college students are
skipping. You should write a draft. Always. This is one of the most important
steps to remember. A draft will show you if you have all the right information,
if your word count is right, and if you might need to go back with doing more
research.

If you miss this step, you are basically
giving a half-complete essay that should actually be the draft. And, this will
not result in a great college essay that is going to give you great results.

Reading
through the draft and make some edits

No, you aren’t done yet. This is where you are reading through the draft of your college essay and making sure that everything is correct. You should ensure that your facts are correct, that you have enough words, and that the whole essay is on your topic and title. You might realize that you might go back to the notes that you have made during the brainstorming session to give more facts in your essay.

You can also give the draft to someone else
to read through as well. So that they can understand what you are trying to say
in the draft. Now, you are ready for writing your final college paper.

Yes, you can make use of services, but you
can write your own essay and ensure that it ends up as a great college essay.
With this step by step guide, you will now know how to approach your essay
writing, so that you can write the best possible essay for getting the best
grades.

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Staying Ahead of Business Risks

Data has become key to the success of any business. If you lag in collecting and analyzing data, you may end up with limited insights that will prevent the growth of your company. However, this data revolution has also resulted in cybersecurity concerns. Big brands such as Yahoo, Equifax, Marriott, and Target have all fallen victim to data breaches in recent years.

Hackers
realize that business data holds value- and they’re relentless in trying to
circumvent your systems to get at it. It’s no longer enough to prevent
cybersecurity threats. To remain effective, you need an overall cybersecurity
plan that enables your company to stay ahead of business risks.

Creating
an effective plan means keeping up with the latest technologies, assessing your
business environment, and implementing actionable steps towards risk
management.

Common
Cybersecurity Risks That Businesses Face

Even
before you begin developing a cybersecurity plan, you should be aware of the
common risks that your business might face.

Data
Breaches

A data breach refers to sensitive data ending up in the wrong hands. For example, your customer’s payment information may leak and end up being accessed by hackers.

As
useful as cloud technologies are, they’ve increased the risk of data breaches-
and your business will need to take appropriate steps towards mitigating such
risks.

Malware
attacks

Malware attacks occur when malicious software is installed and spread across your systems. Such software may limit the functionality of your company infrastructure. For example, ransomware will block access to your system until you pay a “ransom” to the hacker. 

Data
loss

If you don’t have appropriate data controls in place, you may end up with altered, deleted, or missing data. Data loss can disrupt your operations and result in financial setbacks. 

Phishing

Phishing is another common cybersecurity threat. Phishing attacks come in the form of malware that is disguised to originate from a trusted source (such as a supervisor’s email attachment or a password request from a colleague).

Strategies
For Managing Cybersecurity Risks

As
the age-old saying goes prevention is better than cure. Your business should
strive to remain on top of cybersecurity threats to prevent financial loss and
a damaged reputation.

With
a strategic data security plan in place, you can prevent many of these risks
from paralyzing company operations. 

Start by
defining your IT framework

Preventing
cybersecurity threats starts with developing an IT strategy. Not all businesses
are the same, and some face a particular type of risk more than others.
Furthermore, you may have specific technology needs and resources that vary
from other businesses.

Developing
an IT strategy involves assessing your current technology environment, carrying
out an inventory of your assets, and prioritizing the goals of your business.

Perform
a risk assessment

You
can also prevent many cybersecurity risks by carrying out a thorough risk
assessment. Risk assessment involves identifying where your company may be
vulnerable to threats- and finding out how serious these threats are. For
example, you may determine that your business is exposed to data breaches when
migrating to the cloud for the first time.

With
a risk assessment, you would then proceed to determine how much damage a
possible breach could potentially cause.  

Use
predictive analytics to monitor the risk environment

Predictive
analytics is being widely used to learn from previous events- and to predict
the likelihood of future outcomes. Your business can leverage this approach in
its data security plans.

Predictive
analytics can be used to monitor risks in real time, identify new threats, and
develop an effective risk response plan.

Comply
with applicable cyber security laws

There are many cybersecurity frameworks in place that recommend or require businesses to comply with specific standards. For example, PCI-DSS applies to payment processing, while HITRUST applies to healthcare cybersecurity and HIPAA compliance. Meeting these frameworks will require you to keep up with the latest technologies.   

Have a
disaster recovery plan

Disaster
recovery may include insurance against financial loss, backing up data in case
of malware attacks, and setting up emergency operations to get your system back
online as soon as possible.

Actionable
steps for preventing data risks from occurring

Staying
ahead of business risks involves more than just identifying and preventing
those risks. You also need to implement actionable steps that will fall in line
with your overall data security plan.

Here are several steps you should keep in mind when developing and adjusting your cybersecurity strategy.

Install anti-malware programs that can detect and repel malicious attacksEncrypt your data to prevent access by unauthorized parties Train employees about the importance of data security, and how they can identify phishing attacks Use strong passphrases- encourage your employees to avoid using the names of pets, family members, or friends.  



Author
Bio

Ken Lynch is an enterprise software startup veteran, who has always
been fascinated about what drives workers to work and how to make work
more engaging. Ken founded Reciprocity to pursue just that. He has
propelled Reciprocity’s success with this mission-based goal of engaging
employees with the governance, risk, and compliance goals of their
company in order to create more socially minded corporate citizens. Ken
earned his BS in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering from MIT.
Learn more at ReciprocityLabs.com.

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Excavator Essentials – Should I Buy New Or Used?

When you need to carry out excavation work, whether it is at home or as part of a bigger project, you need to be sure that you can rely on your equipment. When you have project milestones to work to, it’s crucial that you can trust in the people around you and in the machinery you are using to get the job done on time. It’s also crucial that the job is not only completed on time but that all of your commitments are met. You want to ensure that each stage of the project is completed to spec so that you can continue with the next phase without any problems.

Whether you are going to hire an excavator or you have found a mini excavator for sale, it’s important that the equipment is reliable and capable of completing the job at hand. Depending on your budget you may choose to buy a new excavator, or alternatively, a second-hand machine might suffice for your needs. For most contractors, the choice will come down to a number of key factors such as budget, the scope of the project, and what functionality you need from the equipment. However, by taking the time to consider your options, you will be able to make the right decision for your needs.

Let’s take a closer look at a
few things you need to consider when deciding between a new and used excavator.

Project Scope

Above all else, you need to consider what you are going to be using the excavator for and the amount of work you will be asking of it. If you are a pool installation company and are removing tonnes of earth every week as part of your work, you might decide to go with a newer machine. However, if you are a landscaper and you are using the excavator primarily for lighter work such as small foundations or ponds, a used digger will probably suffice. Be sure to consider the overall scope of your business when deciding between a new and a used machine and not just the current job. Once you know what you will require of the excavator going forward, you will be better able to decide on what the best choice will be for your needs.

Budget

Buying an excavator brand new
will be much more expensive than buying a used machine. Larger machines cost
more than smaller ones, and you should also take into consideration the various
add-ons that you might require that will make the machine more expensive.

Alternatively, you can find a pretty good selection of used excavators on offer that might be a better choice for you. Ultimately, as with any major purchase, your decision is going to be dictated by your budget. Take some time to think about your ROI on the machine. For example, if a new excavator will allow you to work more efficiently and save you money on repairs in the long run compared with a used model and you have the funding available, then going for a new excavator might be the better choice.

Functionality

Newer excavators will come with more up-to-date technology on board which you may or may not need. Newer machines might offer better fuel efficiency and more productivity, however, depending on what you will be using the equipment for, you might not need the latest model.

Carry out some research
online and look at what different options are available to you within your
budget. Remember, just because some excavators come with certain functions,
does not mean that you are going to use them. Be honest with yourself in terms
of what you need the excavator to be able to do and you will quickly make the
right call between new and used.

Should You Choose New Or Used?

With everything taken into
consideration, whether you opt for a new excavator or a used model, will be
dictated by a number of different factors. However, with some careful thought
and honest analysis of your business needs, you will be able to make the right
call.

Don’t forget to include the
cost of any additional elements such as a trailer or different attachments that
you might need in your overall budget. It’s also worth remembering that a new
excavator will come with a warranty while a used machine will most likely not.
Take some time to see what is available on the market in both new and used
excavators and you will be able to make an informed decision as to which is the
right option for you.

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