Your Password Has Been Quoted in an Extortion Email. What do you do?

On October 15, 2018   /   risk management, security, strategy, technology  
Your Password Has Been Quoted in an Extortion Email. What do you do?

Your business and personal life could be at risk. You receive a spam email stating that unless you send money now, you will be exposed on the internet. Worst of all, they quoted a password that you use or have used for business and personal transactions. Your knee-jerk reaction is panic.

What Do You Do?

First, settle down. Tear yourself off the ceiling and pull your knuckles from the arms of your chair. Take a few deep breaths and breathe. #Relax just a little. Most of these emails have been determined to be false, and that is a high probability nothing will happen. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have a problem.

Second, you need to fix your #security breach. One that you created because you lacked strategic and tactical thinking and planning on how to deal with this issue. Sorry, I know that hurts. But you have to accept responsibility and accountability for your mistake.

Understand the Strategic Connection

#Strategic #planning is not just about building your #business through revenue enhancement. It is also about understanding your business processes and technology. Often leveraging technology to grow the business. As we dig deeper into the tactical aspects of your strategic plans and #technology it is important you know that your business and you personally are secure. You need to have a security plan as part of your strategic plan and the ability to test your technology, especially your emails and passwords. Once you know if this information has been breached, then you can take action securing access to your business and personal life with a secure password system.

In working with clients on their strategic plans, I hear the stories of security breaches. The stories that never get told to their business world. Whether you are a busy executive, business owner, or professional, you need to know something about your security. It is your responsibility. Here are some handy information and sites that should be part of your overall strategic and tactical business and personal plans that include email and password security checks and tools to help you protect your life. When we talk technology security, we are talking about your life on a multitude of levels.

You might be surprised what you will find out. Once you have checked all your email accounts and passwords you might want to consider using secure password storage and generator software. If you are not sure which security option is right for you, I have added DottoTech from YouTube for you. I have been following his work since the mid-1990’s. He does an awesome job explaining how to use various technology tools.

Educate Yourself on Your Security

Check Your Passwords: https://haveibeenpwned.com/Passwords

Check Your Email Addresses: https://haveibeenpwned.com/

Best Free Password Manager 2018: https://www.techradar.com/news/software/applications/the-best-password-manager-1325845

DottoTech – Tech Made Easy: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9BqPtCcSyHvQsbl2rumM4w

Final Thoughts

I hope this helps you secure your business and personal life. The best way to be #SETforSuccess in anything you do is to take #action. This is important. So take action, now.

Don’t forget to do your best, invest in the success of others and make your journey count. Be #SETforSuccess

Richard.

Back to Top

3 Key Levels of Risk Planning and Analysis for the Business Enterprise

On November 5, 2014   /   business analysis, business leadership, business planning, leadership, project management, risk management, strategic planning  

Recently I delivered a workshop on Risk Planning and Analysis for the Business Enterprise. I was asked about the various levels of risk within an organization. In response to that question, I explained that there are many levels of risk that could be organized along standard company structure. My preference is to use three structure approach – – strategic, tactical and operational.

 
Strategic Risk: Generally strategic risk is at the enterprise level and requires a business risk management enterprise plan. There are many models that can be used. At this level risk management, planning and analysis should be part of the strategic planning process. An enterprise risk management plan should be created that addresses strategic planning elements, cultural risk appetite and attitude, governance, stress testing, identification, measurement, response and control. These elements should be brought forward as a standard in the rest of the organization. On a regular basis the organization should complete an enterprise risk environmental scan to ensure they keep their business risk artifacts current.
 
Tactical Risk:This level of risk is at the project management level. Often it is part of the project management process for key approved initiatives. Its objective is the successful completion of the project while addressing risk concerns effectively and efficiently as possible. Often tactical risk analysis requires that the organization have a risk management plan that provides the guidelines as to how risk is to identified, qualified, quantified, responded, controlled and monitored. Guidelines should be provided by the business enterprise so that project teams do not create their own risk management standards.
 
Operational Risk:The here and now of any organization is the operational level. It is what happening with the front-line of the business from your customer facing employees, the manufacturing floor equipment and product assemblers, to the field maintenance people. Operational risk varies by company and by industry. One thing is for sure, operational risk needs to be aligned with business guiding principles to ensure people and equipment is functioning appropriately. For example, safety is a huge issue in a number of industries. Therefore, risk response mechanisms need to be put into operational place to minimize risk impact.
Risk management, planning and analysis are a huge discipline that impacts all levels of the organization. It is not something that is meant to be done neither in isolation nor with a single group. When you consider risk management consider all levels of your company.
Maybe by putting together a solid risk management plan there will be a less of a need to carry a rabbits foot.
This Weeks Red Question: What is your integrated standardized risk management approach that aligns all levels in your organization?

Check out more about Richard Lannon www.richardlannon.ca 
Back to Top

Get to Know Richard

Richard works with companies that provide products, services, and expertise to other businesses. As a senior strategic business analyst and consultant, his focus is strategic planning, business analysis, and training and development of client organizations.

Address

Richard Lannon
Voice: 204-899-2808
Email Us Richard Lannon
Website: http://braveworld.ca
Email: richard@braveworld.ca

Newsletter

Connect for Strategy Insights

caps