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No way to fully protect against cyber attacks… Asbestos revealed as top killer in Canadian workplaces… Data and analytics crucial to growth strategy… Obamacare customers get more time to pay…

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No way to fully protect against cyber attacks
A cyber security firm that has been working with Sony following their high-profile hacking attack says that there is no such thing as perfect security. Mandiant says that even those firms that have invested in robust security products can still be hit due to the constantly evolving methods used by attackers. That doesn’t mean that it isn’t worth taking precautions; although the most determined and sophisticated attackers will likely find a way through your defences many more will fail if your systems are as good as they can be. Mandiant notes that typical attacks still start with an email attachment which when opened installs malware on the user’s system and can quickly infect whole systems or provide a backdoor to be used later. It’s important therefore that businesses have a clear policy on opening email attachments which should include reporting accidental opening of potentially malicious files.
 
Asbestos revealed as top killer in Canadian workplaces
More Canadian workers die from exposure to asbestos than any other single cause. While the material is banned in many countries including the US, Australia and the UK it is still imported and used in many Canadian construction projects. With a long history of using asbestos; having been a major exporter of the material in the past; there are no widespread warnings of its dangers. Figures obtained by The Globe and Mail show that there have been 5,000 death claims from asbestos exposure; far higher than any other single cause. Last year alone it was the reason behind 368 workplace deaths representing more than a third of all workplace deaths. Colin Soskolne of the University of Alberta says that he expects cases to continue and increase for at least another decade, and that’s assuming that it is banned now. Read the full story.
 
Data and analytics crucial to growth strategy
A new poll of senior executives shows the importance of using data and analytics as part of the growth strategy. The report, entitled A Single View: Putting customers at the heart of the D&A strategy highlights key findings of a survey of more than 210 senior executives in China, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines. It finds that a vast majority of business decision-makers in Asia Pacific clearly recognize the potential value that D&A can deliver. Almost three-quarters of respondents (74 percent) said that D&A is either very or crucially important to their current growth strategy. Anthony Coops, Head of D&A, KPMG in Australia said: “Asia Pacific businesses are starting to focus their D&A strategies around three main imperatives: The growth agenda, the mitigation of risks and the reduction of costs. For the past five years, the focus has largely been on the risk side of the equation – improving reporting and compliance, for example – but organizations are now starting to recognize the value that D&A can provide to their growth strategy in terms of deeper customer insights and richer experiences.”
 
Obamacare customers get more time to pay
Those with health insurance premiums under the Affordable Care Act will have longer to pay their January premiums the insurance industry has announced. With millions of renewals together with new customers to deal with the industry trade body America’s Health Insurance Plans is set to announce the period of grace today in a bid to ease pressure on the processes involved in getting premiums from government and state run markets to the insurers. 

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