The aim of this Privacy Framework is to improve privacy risk management between business/mission drivers and privacy protection activities. It is intended for organizations that use data processing systems, products or services irrespective of their sector, focus or size. …
The Story of Daniel Seid, a PECB Certified ISO/IEC 27001 Master Looking back over the last decade, it’s remarkable how much PECB’s network has achieved and advanced professionally. Such advancement is not only a result of our training development and deliverables, but also of the ways by which we’ve been…
The first edition of ISO 22301 was launched in May 2012. It was the first truly internationally accepted standard on business continuity, and it consists of requirements to implement a Business Continuity Management System according to ISO Annex SL. As such, it stood in line with its prominent predecessors such…
Connectivity is one of the main pillars that are defining life in the 21st century. The level of depth that connectivity defines our routines in this century is truly astonishing. With a particular boost after the first decade of the century, we have developed not only habits, but entirely new…
A politically inclined attack or just a ‘simple’ lack of security awareness? Whatever the case, the cyber-attack that hit Marriott was huge. This was the joint second largest data breach to take place, after Yahoo in 2013 and Equifax in 2017. A cyber attacker stole personal information including names, emails,…
Melbourne has been considered “the most livable city in the world” over the past seven years, this year being dethroned by Vienna, the Austrian capital, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit‘s 2018 rankings. I am originally from Romania and before deciding to live in Melbourne, we lived in Adelaide, South…
The philosopher Santayana is famous for having once warned: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Recent events have provided several sobering examples of just how true that is. The Apple-FBI dispute was perhaps one of the most recent, painful examples we’ve witnessed a debate the…
We are all talking about the future of jobs. But the question that we should perhaps ask, the most essential one, is: How should those jobs look like (or what should those jobs be)? With the evolution of the nature of the job market, we are facing new realities and…
We’re living and working in an amazing time. Continual improvements in technology are nothing short of mind-blowing. But we’re also living and working in a time that is mind-disturbing, because we are more connected but less engaged than ever before. Indeed, numerous studies over the last couple of decades keep…
As the year comes to an end, we think of everything that we are grateful for. The holidays are the perfect time to reconnect with friends and loved ones, and a well-thought gift can make someone really feel special. Picking the perfect gift can be stressful sometimes. With a little…
When your team is faced with changes, challenges, or chaos, inspire them with a future-focused vision of shared success! You may never encounter such traits in a job description for an executive position, but there are four key characteristics that followers want their leaders to have: compassion, stability, trust, and hope.…
One of the most revolutionary technologies of this century is 3D printing, and this technology is already a reality. Will 3D printing remove the need to go to the store to get the things we need? Will we really be able to download things that we need and print them…
From road trips and outdoor thrills to captivating resorts and unique local cuisine, Arizona is home to exhilarating scenery, lovely cities, and world-class spas. Arizona is a kind-of-place that it is easy to fall for as it includes many world famous attractions, such as the majestic beauty of the Grand…
There is no doubt that nowadays Artificial Intelligence is helping to predict natural disasters, but the challenging question we are dealing with is to what extent does it help? Following the aftermath of Hurricane Florence that has recently hit the US East Coast, people are still suffering from damages and…
One of the biggest threats in today’s digital era comes from cybercriminals. According to CSO, it is predicted that damages from cyber-crimes will cost around $6 trillion annually by 2021. The term hacker is often used with a negative connotation by the media and the Hollywood industry. Given that this…
Will tomorrow be better for you than today? Or will today be as good as your life ever gets? Let’s pretend for a moment that someone told you: You’ll never be any better than you are right now. Tomorrow won’t be terrible, but you will be a little less happy,…
Technological developments are intensely shifting our possibility frontiers by changing the way we interact, think, and operate. Smart home gadgets and products are becoming increasingly popular due to their genuine usefulness. If you are thinking about transforming your home and turning it into a ‘smart home’, you are not alone. According…
When we think of Switzerland, the first things that cross our minds are cheese and chocolate. But Switzerland is not only about that. Surrounded by vineyards, rolling down the hillsides to the lakeshore of glimmering Lake Geneva, Lausanne, which hosts the world headquarters of the Olympic Committee, is one of…
Remember when unlocking our phone or tablet with fingerprint sensors or face recognition seemed futuristic? As technology is now a vital part of our daily lives, we are more willing to provide personal information in exchange for a more easy and interactive experience. The most recent technology that enables organizations…
The rapid technological advancements, coupled with the need to engage in several activities at once, have propelled the usage of the new must-have gadgets, or the so-called ‘smart speakers’. But, what actually is a smart speaker and what it can do for us? It is a small Wi-Fi connected speaker which…
Helping educational providers deliver a better service is the aim behind the world’s first international management system standard for the educational sector just published. From pre-school to university, to vocational training and coaching, the world of learning is constantly changing and evolving. As the trend to move away from the traditional…
The argument about “Hard skills vs soft skills” and which one is more important or more necessary is as old as “Are great leaders born or developed”. Both sides have compiled convincing arguments, but throughout the thirty plus years, I’ve been serving personal and professional leaders, I’ve come to realize…
Over the past years, we have been warned from numerous studies about potential job displacement due to ‘automation’ – namely the combination of robotics, artificial intelligence, and other technologies. Even though there is a great challenge in applying machines to tasks that require flexibility, judgment and common sense, the technological…
With over two hundred diseases spread through the food chain, it’s clear that safe, sustainable food production is one of our greatest challenges. Globalization of the food trade further complicates food safety and the new edition of ISO 22000 on food safety management systems presents a timely response. Food safety…
How many times have you heard the phrase “There’s an app for that.”? The truth is that there is an app for almost everything and in one way or another; these apps are making our everyday lives easier. In the near future, apps are expected to become a regular and essential…
The Answer Starts With You! You are a role model to someone. The expression “tone at the top” is true. The example leaders demonstrate is often believed to be a requirement employees must follow. No matter what is written in policy handbooks or said aloud, the traits leaders demonstrate, others…
Facebook’s privacy issues have been at the forefront of public discussion over how the political data firm Cambridge Analytica gained access to personal information of approximately 87 million Facebook users worldwide (initially reported 50 million). Facebook has come under intense scrutiny, and the outcry over data privacy has been so…
Cryptocurrency was introduced for the first time in the course of the Second World War as the need for secure communication grew. Since then, it has evolved in the digital era with mathematical theory elements and computer science to encrypt online money, information, and communication. Yet, cryptocurrencies made their most…
Portugal may be small but it’s filled with both big and beautiful surprises. Everything from the cuisine, the views, the sandy beaches, the great and cheap food to the hospitality and incredible weather will make you fall in love with this country. If Portugal ranks high on your list of…
The Blockchain technology has seen widespread adoption and praise, but it has also received the reputation for being complicated or difficult to understand. On the contrary, Blockchain technology is not as complicated to understand as it seems. This article will provide a definition of the Blockchain technology, and also an…
Imagine dipping your feet into crystal clear waters, and mentally float away to the sounds of gentle waves and tropical breezes of Barbados – the most vibrant Caribbean island. As a place that offers a perfect blend of adventure, culture, and history, Barbados for many of its’ visitors becomes a…
Many developments in technology promise to be a paradigm shift or world changing so much so that it can be difficult to distinguish the hype from the reality. One of these latest “hot terms” is Smart Cities but what exactly is a Smart City and how can a Smart City…
Emotions, as a state of feeling, are those that shape one’s destiny, help one understand and empathize, and are those that one obeys to without realizing it. While some continue to view emotions as “acute disturbances of the individual,” there is a general shift of beliefs from emotions being considered…
In today`s competitive world, it is very difficult for businesses to survive, and even more difficult to stand out in the market. For this reason, many companies are devoting their time and investing their budgets on the ISO standards. Many companies prefer to do business with ISO certified organizations or hire…
Once upon a time, a consultant was tired, stressed and zealously wanted to please a customer by meeting an unrealistic deadline. Overwhelmed by the amount of tasks, I kept working on my laptop not realizing that the gentleman sitting next to me was so relaxed and serene as if the…
Great leadership remains the basic prerequisite for organizations to succeed in nowadays business environment. Taking into consideration that the elementary principle of leadership has remained the same over the years, it is important to analyze the evolution of leadership habits and describe the importance and strategies of productivity. A valuable…
In my HSEQ-MS auditing book, I summarise the evolution and chronology of management systems thinking. This starts with Sun Tzu’s Art of War probably written around 488BCE – a masterpiece of strategy advice showing generals how to win their battles – through the Deming Wheel (PDCA) for continual improvement from…
South Africa has a mature history of implementing management systems for key areas, specifically Quality, Environment and Health & Safety. This focus was driven by the large multinational organizations and the historically strong South African Mining industry which either were compelled to by regulatory or contractual drivers or did so…
ISO 37001 is the only anti-bribery management system in the business world. Introduced in October 2016, this international standard was designed to advocate a series of measures that, when implemented, help public or private companies of all sizes prevent and tackle bribery. Legg Mason is one of the first companies…
The ISO 37001 & Anti-Bribery PECB Insights Conference introduced us to the former FBI agent, Joe Pistone, who lived six years in the Mafia underworld, winning the trust of the most notorious mobsters, infiltrating the Bonanno and Colombo crime families, and gathering damning evidence that helped put more than a…
A research done by Basak Manders, a Quality Management research expert, found that ISO 9001 quality management standard has been implemented by more than one million organizations in 187 countries since its introduction in 1987. According to the research, ISO 9001 implementation ensures operational and market benefits in the majority…
Regardless of size, location or industry, businesses today face growing demands for profitability, operational efficiency, quality, innovation, and technology that enhance the sustainable development. In order to turn these pressures or challenges into a competitive advantage, companies need to develop an efficient and sound management tailored to the business processes…
The history of Business Continuity The world is currently witnessing disasters and crises that quickly cross borders. As these disasters dramatically increase in frequency, impact, and complexity, organizations need to provide careful planning to achieve the desired prosperity. The organizations should take all the necessary measures to be prepared for…
Worst Case Scenarios When planning for disasters, we tend to plan for “worst case” scenarios. Yet again we are surprised when the “worst case” based plan that has been developed is superseded by an actual event that occurs. Hurricane Katrina taught us this lesson. Will we be going back to…
Tanzania is one of the most diverse places I’ve ever been to on this planet. The Indian Ocean in the east, Lake Victoria in the west, Kilimanjaro Mountain in the north, a range of world famous national parks across the entire country and the colorful people to complete the picture.…
Introduction Let us start with defining the following important terms; Backup, Information Security, and Information Assurance Backup In Information Technology, a backup is defined as a process of copying and archiving computer data that can be used to restore the original data after the occurrence of a data loss event…
Evaluating and Prioritizing the Implementation of New Energy-efficient Technologies and Measures of ISO 50001 Our Current Situation The increasing gas emissions are having a high impact on the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This is causing the global temperature to increase constantly. As a result, organizations worldwide are…
Turning security assumptions around and have them work for you in agile. While agile development is going mainstream, information security is having difficulties to keep pace. The result of this struggle is that new systems are insecure, or that they are loaded with point solutions for security. What is so…
Today’s digital frontier can be very much likened to the old days of the Wild West. In this present era identified by the ubiquitous nature of the Internet, cyber criminals are calling the shots; constantly blazing new trails in increasing sophistication in cybercrime and profiting unscrupulously off the backs of…
Is quality control really improving internal processes? The purpose of implementing a process approach aims to enhance the organization’s level of effectiveness and efficiency to achieve its defined objectives. Simply put, a process transforms inputs into outputs. This is done seamlessly when the process is planned; plans are executed, checked,…
In May 2021, Ireland suffered its most catastrophic cybersecurity attack to date. Our Health Service Executive, which manages our national health service of 4,000 locations, 54 acute hospitals, and over 70,000 devices, suffered a Conti ransomware attack from the Russia-based Wizard Spider group. Almost immediately, the IT systems were shut…
In mobilizing divers to be a force for good, scuba diving can help to promote marine conservation. Here are three ways in which ISO standards support this effort. Diving Sustainably Scuba diving is the passion of millions of people around the globe, all with one thing in common – a…
During the last decade, we have faced the grim reality that is cyber-attacks in their most sophisticated forms. Incidents orchestrated by malicious actors that tested many companies’ cybersecurity practices, and even brought other companies to bankruptcy. The goals for such attacks often vary, depending on the actor, malicious actors do…
Catherine Chevauché is leading the charge on the circular economy. Here, she explains the scale of the challenge and how we can rise to it. The circular economy is considered a pillar of climate action. As opposed to the linear model of production and consumption which evolves along the stages…
The cyber world is growing rapidly. Everyone is involved, either directly or indirectly. Everything is available with a single click or tap on your mobile, tablet, or PC. You can browse websites, listen to or download audio, video, and software, place your order, buy products, book tickets, hotels, buses, taxis,…
As technology develops quickly, many organizations are using artificial intelligence (AI) to enable quicker, more effective growth. However, not every AI has been created equally. The effectiveness of your ability to scale depends entirely on the AI technologies you choose to implement, as per your organization’s demands. The production of…
A new age of travel is upon us. From sustainability to resilience to inclusiveness, let’s take a closer look at three trends for travel and how standards support the journey. Redefining “All-Inclusive” Can you imagine a place where families and friends can holiday together so that nobody gets left behind?…
“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” – William Shakespeare, Romeo, and Juliet In our profession, like most others, we have developed our own terminology, jargon, buzzwords, and acronyms used to discuss what we do, how we do it, and the end product of that work. If…
ISO is on the right path to achieving its climate goals, says Sheila Leggett. Sheila Leggett, one of Canada’s climate policy experts, is leading the way on standards for sustainability. She reflects on how the sustainability conversation has shifted through her career, and the role ISO has to play in…
During the last two decades, technology has been developing rapidly, leading to an impact on other areas and ultimately changing the way organizations conduct business. However, regardless of how useful these changes have been, organizations still deal with different disruptions, be it from natural or human causes. Hence, the need…
