(re) blog: dialogue with Redemtech

Asking the Right Questions When a Data Breach Occurs

Back in the day when I was a young newspaper reporter, there were a lot of veteran reporters and editors who would walk around the newsroom with battle-scarred coffee mugs in hand, saying “back in the day when I was a young reporter” and then launch into some forgotten tale of “real” journalism. Young reporters listening to this kind of war story would often roll their eyes at the old-timers’ tales and get back to finishing those obituaries they were trying to finish before deadline. I suspect that since I’m now the veteran journalist, I’d get the same reaction if I tried to tell any contemporary Hemingways how to cover the news.

EU Proposed Data Security Regulations Stir Debate, Controversy Around the Globe

The European Commission last week proposed significant changes to the European Union's data protection laws in a move that prompted controversy and a lot of discussion in support and opposition. The commission said its intent is to enable users to maintain control over their personal data, but as specifics are being analyzed around the globe, some businesses and groups are critical of the planned directive, while others complain that the measures won’t be enough to resolve serious data security issues.

European WEEE Recast Could Influence U.S. E-waste Legislation

Two equally groundbreaking and potentially earth-shattering regulations recently rocked Europe that will impact Redemtech’s customers in the U.S. and abroad in the coming years and have a profound influence on our industry. One regulation regards the proper disposal of electronic waste, which is one of Redemtech’s primary social and environmental causes, while the other affects data security and the privacy of customer information.

Poor Data Security is Bad Medicine for Healthcare Industry

The Ponemon Institute recently released a new survey of the healthcare industry examining data security issues, particularly breaches, and their relationship with regulatory compliance, response plans, medical identity theft and the growing use of mobile devices. Results of the survey of 72 healthcare organizations revealed a shocking 32% increase in data breaches. The three leading causes of data breaches were identified as lost or stolen equipment, errors by third parties and employee mistakes.

Don’t Shoot or My Computer Will Poison You!

While it often is noted in the trades and mainstream news media that the improper disposal of old electronics presents serious environmental problems, I don’t often run across articles that connect the disposition of e-waste with firearms and the frontier spirit. One recent newspaper article, however, conjured some distorted images of Old West cowboys opening fire on defenseless computers.

Reaction to FCC Connect to Compete Announcement Overwhelming, Encouraging

Redemtech’s critical involvement in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Connect to Compete initiative created quite a stir in the national mainstream and industry news media during the past week as news of the company’s Red Rabbitt brand of refurbished computers being made available to low-income families for $150 reached nearly 1,000 media outlets in recent days.

Redemtech to Help Low-Income Families with FCC Connect to Compete Initiative

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today launched a $4-billion program to make computers more affordable for more than 25 million mainly low-income Americans while narrowing the digital divide. According to USA Today, Redemtech is playing a key role in the FCC Connect to Compete initiative by offering $150 laptop and desktop computers with monitors in support of the program. Redemtech's Red Rabbitt® PCs will be specially designed for first-time users and include preloaded educational and careers content as part of the national effort to boost education and employment.

News Media Tracks Explosive Growth of BYOD

IT Consumerization or Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) has become more than a trend for modern businesses as an increasing number of employees bring personal devices into the workplace. Jill Vaske, Redemtech’s Executive Vice President, said in Can Corporate IT Adapt to the BYOD Trend? that BYOD will no doubt drive major changes in corporate IT and asset disposition policies. Industry and mainstream news media have been buzzing about the topic for months. This major development raises many questions that are important to Redemtech customers, including:

U.S. Government Task Force Electronics Stewardship Strategy Gets Mixed Reviews

Earlier this week, the Interagency Task Force on Electronics Stewardship, along with the White House Council on Environmental Quality; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); and U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) released a report outlining a National Strategy for Electronics Stewardship.

Data Security Breaches Continue Off-Network and On

The Ponemon Institute this week released another new survey, this one concluding that 90% of U.S. organizations have sustained at least one data breach in the past year. IT security breaches most often occurred at off-site locations housing mobile workers, partners or other third-parties, the survey found. Last week, another new Ponemon survey revealed that lost or stolen IT equipment is the primary cause for data loss within business organizations. While online hacks are getting a great deal of attention due to some high-profile security breaches, off-network data breaches remain a significant problem for business enterprises.