Disaster Due Diligence Aug. 13, 2010
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Homeland security
HEADLINE: New threat: Hackers look to take over power plants
SUMMARY: Last month, experts discovered a malicious computer code specifically created to take control of the inner workings of industrial power plants, setting off a scramble to shore up aging, vulnerable systems. The Department of Homeland Security has begun building specialized teams that can respond to cyber emergencies at industrial facilities. In many cases, operating systems at power plants and other critical infrastructure are decades old and not completely separated from other computer networks used by the operators to run administrative systems or access the Internet.
STORY LINK: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h7lX0JoE1AGngQoEfWWmCM6THizQD9HC86L80
ANALYSIS: DHS has 19 indentified critical infrastructure segments. Electric utilities are a key segment. Without electricity every business and home would instantly move back in time 100 years.
Today, we are all dependent on electricity to operate our businesses. Over the past year numerous examples of technology penetrations into electric utility operation systems have been documented. We are on notice that this industry is vulnerable to cyber attacks. Cyber terrorism is a rapidly growing threat. If someone wanted to do harm to a broad base of the U.S., create panic, and hurt our economy, disrupting electricity is the obvious target.
How would you operate your business without electricity? How long could you operate? You are on notice. Are you ready?
Workplace violence
HEADLINE: Violent assaults on ER nurses rise as programs cut
SUMMARY: Emergency room personnel are bearing the brunt of increased violence as the number of drug addicts, alcoholics and psychiatric patient visits at hospitals climbs. From 2006 to 2008, the number of those visits resulting in violence jumped from 16,277 to 21,406. Nurses and experts in mental health and addiction say the problem has only been getting worse since then because of the downturn in the economy, as cash-strapped states close state hospitals, cut mental health jobs, eliminate addiction programs and curtail other services.
STORY LINK: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38645144/ns/health-health_care/
ANALYSIS: Even though many hospitals have improved security procedures, the story cited here shows medical personnel are being exposed to greater risk of bodily injuries. The lessons are familiar: You need to have adequate policies and plans in place, and conduct regular training exercises and drills with all staff members.
Make no mistake: workplace violence is a genuine crisis in the health care industry. As public funds diminish for mental health services and substance abuse programs, we can only expect that these numbers will continue to rise.
Hospitals and clinics need to make security a top priority for their employees. Yes, budgets are tight and unfortunately security funds are often the first to get cut, but OSHA recently increased the penalties against employers for workplace violence incidents. When you add in the potential criminal and civil lawsuit exposure, you can see the return on investment for security, planning and training.
There is no reason to be exposed to preventable violence, and our laws and recent legal judgments certainly enforce that. If your facility were to have a workplace violence incident TODAY, would you be prepared?
Earlier this year, Firestorm conducted a workplace violence webinar for the health care industry at the request of the National Association of Community Health Centers. If you would like to access that webinar, contact me using the link below.
Health matters
HEADLINE: New 'superbug' found in UK hospitals
SUMMARY: A new superbug that is resistant to even the most powerful antibiotics has entered UK hospitals, experts warn. Although there have only been about 50 cases identified in the UK so far, scientists fear it will go global. The NDM-1 can exist inside different bacteria, like E. coli, and it makes them resistant to one of the most powerful groups of antibiotics, which are generally reserved to combat hard-to-treat infections.
STORY LINK: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-10925411
HEADLINE: Call to reject cutbacks for vector-borne disease control highlights risk of dengue spread
SUMMARY: The proposal to end funding for the CDC’s vector-borne infectious disease program is “premature,” especially with the return of dengue fever to the U.S., according to the president of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. The program supports efforts to detect and control outbreaks of diseases such as dengue fever, plague, viral encephalitis and Lyme disease. Dengue has resurfaced in Florida, with 46 cases reported since September 2009.
HEADLINE: WHO declares H1N1 pandemic over, but virus risk remains
SUMMARY: The World Health Organization officially declared the H1N1 flu pandemic over this week, with Director-General Margaret Chan saying the new virus had "largely run its course." In the 15 months since the H1N1 outbreak, the virus spread to 214 countries and regions and led to at least 18,449 deaths. Chan warned the announcement did not mean H1N1 had gone away, and that "localized outbreaks of different magnitude may show significant levels of H1N1 transmission."
STORY LINK: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/health/2010-08/11/c_13440092.htm
ANALYSIS: These three items from the past week address vastly different aspects of health, wellness, disease and prevention; yet they share a commonality of universal relevance. This week’s first report addresses research in the United Kingdom concerning a gene that causes bacteria to become drug resistant, thereby negating the effectiveness of antibiotics and making the infection untreatable. This gene, NDM-1 (New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase 1), originated in bacteria in Asia but has now been detected in the UK among individuals who received medical or surgical care in India or Pakistan.
This offers another example of the impact of rapid global travel as a means of disease transmission. While disease has always traveled via the movement of mankind, that process now takes mere hours vs. the days, weeks, and months of long ago.
This is the very reason behind the caution voiced in the second article. Tracking and countering diseases carried by mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, and other vectors remains a viable and valuable public health activity. When the target of a government program diminishes, it would seem logical to curtail that program. In this regard, by being successful in diminishing vector-borne diseases public health becomes its own worst enemy. The emergence of dengue in Florida and a current outbreak of plague in coastal Peru offer evidence that exotic diseases can resurface and prevention is an ongoing process.
The week’s third article reports the WHO’s declaration of the end of the H1N1 pandemic. While this is cause for happiness, several factors must be considered. Designation of an epidemic or pandemic is not based on the intensity of the disease, but rather its geographic spread. The H1N1 outbreak turned out to be far less dangerous than feared, less so than even regular seasonal influenza. Still, less than 25 percent of the American population was immunized against H1N1. If we assume a like number were exposed (a totally arbitrary number based on no scientific survey of infection rates), more than half the population still lacks immunity to H1N1 in either its current or potential future forms. H1N1 is likely to be included in this year’s seasonal influenza immunization. There is a real risk of 2009’s mild flu experience causing deadly complacency in 2010. It would be prudent to immunize once this year’s vaccine becomes available.
The ability to travel the world is one of the great aspects of modern society. Unfortunately, introduction to unusual places, people, and cuisine is often accompanied by exposure to disease threats for which your body is ill prepared. Overseas trips should be preceded by a travel medicine consultation. Vaccination and prophylaxis are critical requirements in many corners of the globe. Insect repellant and proper clothing are equally important both in terms of comfort (no one likes mosquito bites) and health. And of course, cough etiquette, frequent hand washing, and avoiding exposures from undercooked foods, unsanitary conditions, or endemic diseases are universal precautions. Understanding your environment is the first step. Acting on that understanding must follow. Souvenirs of travel should never include a diagnosis.
Data security/privacy
HEADLINE: Employees ignore IT security: survey
SUMMARY: A global study has found that 82 percent of IT security administrators believe social networking, Internet applications and widgets have significantly lowered organizational security. The research, by Check Point Software and the Ponemon Institute, found that “employees rarely or never consider corporate security threats in their everyday business communications” and they largely ignored IT security when downloading Internet applications, Web browsing, opening links, video streaming, utilizing peer-to-peer file sharing sites and engaging in social networking.
STORY LINK: http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/080610-employees-ignore-it-security.html?hpg1=bn
ANALYSIS: With nearly 80 percent of companies using LinkedIn as a tool to identify potential employees, it’s no surprise that employees use social media on a daily basis. The role of protecting and securing corporate data assets is extremely challenging since IT departments are continually outsourced and employees are now starting to be asked to bring their own laptop to work – in the same manner that they buy the clothes they wear to the office.
With more than 278 social media outlets under nine main social media types, the short-term benefits of social media are already off-setting the longer-term risks. Engineers can now work together through private wikis, sales teams can maximize their participation in events via social event tools such as Meetup, marketing departments can reach out to larger audiences with social sharing tools such as YouTube, and decision makers can get up-to-date information though social news sites such as Digg.
Our information-hungry society is pushing for more and more global collaborative intelligence. Yet, IT security experts are still working on a shoestring budget focused on corporate compliance. As very little IT security guidance is ever included in HR employee books (especially social media usage), we are now facing upcoming changes that will unfortunately be driven through losses of critical intellectual property and customer data loss. The revolution that social media is bringing will be most impactful and empower corporations to benefit from global collective intelligence. However, not only should most organizations include social media as a mainstream IT tool, but they must also treat it as one of the most revolutionary solutions that security and privacy experts need to address.
Preparedness groups
Join Firestorm’s LinkedIn groups and help build a Culture of Preparedness for your family and organization:
DISASTER READY PEOPLE: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1914314&trk=myg_ugrp_ovr
WORKPLACE VIOLENCE: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1898572&trk=myg_ugrp_ovr
COMMUNICABLE ILLNESS: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1899278&trk=myg_ugrp_ovr
SWINE FLU: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1921222&trk=myg_ugrp_ovr
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