It is mainly at the beginning of the year that people like to think about the "profitability" of agencies. This year, it will be measured by the ubiquitous ability to work as a team. So like this: The more team capable agencies and clients prove to be, the more economical (and thus less expensive) they are. But how do you get "team capable"? The fastest way to create team spirit is to use the genie in the bottle, i.e. to [...]
Editorial - 26 January 2023
It is mainly at the beginning of the year that people like to think about the "profitability" of agencies. This year, it will be measured by the ubiquitous ability to work as a team. So like this: The more team-capable agencies and clients prove to be, the more economical (and thus less expensive) they are.
But how do you get people to be "team players"? The quickest way to develop team spirit is to use the genie in the bottle, that is, to drink together after work.
Who should be on it is recorded on the "Drinking List". If someone says to you that you are on his/her "Drinking List", then of course it is a compliment. The person wants to get drunk with you! Or at least doesn't feel disturbed by you doing so. "You're on my drinking list", however, is not to be confused with "drinking nicely", which was a bit too often on Twitter at the moment for other reasons... the latter, unlike the "drinking list", is definitely not a compliment, but at best a form of therapy.
Touchstone for the "Dry January
Being on the "Drinking List" is almost as coveted as being on Clubhouse back in the day. If you're on it, you think you're on it. Unfortunately, if you're not on it, you're part of the common folk. The first lists popped up in Switzerland last summer - but in "Dry January" of all times they spread rapidly (attention, inflation!). This raises the question of which will win the race: "Dry January" or "Drinking List"?
That's a rhetorical question, of course, because people who care these days drink little or are completely abstinent anyway. And when movements like "Dry January" are sponsored by the Federal Office of Public Health, they are definitely no longer considered cool. So a "Dry January" is just a relic for those poor souls who can't quite make up their minds and probably never will. Because here's the thing: There used to be a lot more alcohol consumed (and smoked) in agencies and nearby restaurants and bars, quite "Mad Men"-like - and the current workforce is almost on par with top athletes by comparison. But today, "drinking lists" are still in because they promote team spirit.
It needs namely not to run over fire right away be to conjure up this spirit. It's enough to work with people you also like to meet for a drink after work, because that's simply more fun. And if that even includes customers, it's even more economical.
Zurich city parliament approves Ewz sponsorship despite opposition
The city parliament approved all sponsorship contributions for the next three years with a large majority in each case. Ewz spends a total of 1.8 million francs a year on this form of advertising. For the Greens and the AL, this is money badly invested. A municipal company does not have to distribute money to randomly selected companies, said Dominik Waser (Greens). [...]
Editorial - 26 January 2023
Ewz also sponsors the Limmat swim. The inflatable mascot is emblazoned with the ewz logo. (Archive photo: Keystone/Ennio Leanza)
The city parliament approved all sponsorship contributions for the next three years with a large majority in each case. Ewz spends a total of CHF 1.8 million per year on this form of advertising.
For the Greens and the AL, this is money badly spent. A municipal company does not have to distribute money to randomly selected companies, said Dominik Waser (Greens). The two left-wing parties were particularly annoyed by the support for the ZSC Lions - "an ice hockey club that belongs to rich people" and receives almost half of the CHF 1.8 million, specifically CHF 740,000 per season. The ZSC Lions would also not fit in with Ewz's mission in terms of content. "Ice field hockey is not ecological", Waser continued.
Sponsorship in Graubünden
The second largest recipient of sponsorship money is the zoo, which receives 624,000 francs. The Limmat Swim receives 162,000 francs and the New Year's Eve Run 135,000 francs.
Ewz also co-finances events outside the city of Zurich: The Lenzerheide Magic Forest, a festival of lights with a Christmas market, receives CHF 108,000 per year. Ewz owns six power plants and four reservoirs in Graubünden, where it produces electricity for Zurich residents as well as Graubünden households. (SDA)
Rocket implements new website for Viva Luzern
Viva runs six centers for the elderly and 211 apartments with services in central Switzerland and employs around 1170 people. To meet the changing needs of the elderly population and potential employees, a completely new website was needed. For silversurfers and professionals During the implementation, Rocket paid special attention to a particularly user-friendly and [...]
Editorial - 26 January 2023
Viva runs six centers for the elderly and 211 apartments with services in central Switzerland and employs around 1170 people. To meet the changing needs of the elderly population and potential employees, a completely new website was needed.
For silversurfers and professionals
During the implementation, Rocket paid special attention to a particularly user-friendly and barrier-free design: After all, good readability and clarity are also appreciated by young-at-heart "silversurfers", who nowadays often plan their new phase of life independently.
The new website Vivaluzern.ch is also intended to appeal to qualified specialists and young professionals who are also in demand in Central Switzerland. The imagery was created by the Rocket photo team and other photographers.
Department of Noise is always one step ahead for NeoVac
NeoVac, the Swiss full-service provider of intelligent solutions for energy and water, has revised its brand identity and the associated brand experience in 2022. The new claim "Making Energy Smarter" is intended to summarize the company's doer mentality as well as its ambition to meet the energy future with forward-thinking solutions. To make this attitude not only visible, but also audible and thus [...]
Editorial - 26 January 2023
NeoVac, the Swiss full-service provider of intelligent solutions for energy and water, has revised its brand identity and the associated brand experience in 2022. The new claim "Making Energy Smarter" is intended to summarize the company's doer mentality as well as its ambition to meet the energy future with forward-thinking solutions.
To make this attitude not only visible, but also audible and thus tangible, NeoVac has developed a sound identity together with the Zurich-based audio branding agency Department of Noise: for a coherent and consistent brand experience across all touchpoints.
"A living brand must also be audible - whether B2B or B2C," says Michael Eugster, Head of Marketing at NeoVac. "DoN recognized the potential of sound in a branding context early on and is therefore the clear leader in the field in Switzerland - which made the decision easy for us. Internally, employees almost snatched the assets out of our hands during the process."
The sound identity is intended to make NeoVac's spirit of innovation tangible, while establishing the "doer" in the sense of a forward-looking market leader. In the process, a "digital buffalo" served symbolically as a model that stands for the brand and at the same time incorporates the history as well as the heterogeneous workforce of NeoVac.
"The numerous sound assets, which also include the Brand Voice, help us to communicate precisely and efficiently in everyday life while broadly supporting our identity: just always one step ahead," adds Michael Eugster.
The new sound identity can now be heard on all communication channels.
Responsible at NeoVac: Michael Eugster (Head of Marketing), Lena Pfister (Marketing Manager), Sven Büchel (Digital Marketing Manager). Responsible at Department of Noise: Florian Goetze, Ph!L!pp Schweidler (Strategy & Creative Direction), Meng Tian (Consultant), Yves Gerber (Creative Producer).
TD Synnex receives ISO 9001 certification for the DACH region
In spring 2022, the elaborate process of ISO certifications of TD Synnex Europe GmbH started, at the end of which Germany, Austria and Switzerland received the certificates. For the first time, the company's quality and environmental management team sought dual certification. For DACH, TD Synnex was audited for the ISO 9001:2015 quality standard, while Germany was additionally audited for the [...]
Editorial - 26 January 2023
The TD Synnex company is ISO 9001 certified throughout the DACH region, with ISO 14001 certification at its Swiss sites to follow this year. (Image: Depositphotos.com)
In spring 2022, the elaborate process of ISO certifications of TD Synnex Europe GmbH started, at the end of which Germany, Austria and Switzerland were presented with the certificates. For the first time, the company's quality and environmental management team sought dual certification. For DACH, TD Synnex was audited for the ISO 9001:2015 quality standard, while Germany was additionally audited for the ISO 14001:2015 environmental standard.
Continuously improve processes
Probably the most widely used quality standard, ISO 9001 specifies requirements that must be met as part of the implementation of a generally recognized quality management system. Existing processes and process optimizations are examined and it is determined which procedures are to be followed and who is responsible for which quality-relevant activities. ISO 14001 certification relates to environmental management and shows whether a company is making active efforts to promote environmental protection and reduce environmental damage. With the design and implementation of an environmental management system, the environmental impact of companies and the reduction of their greenhouse gas emissions are examined and necessary processes are certified.
Barbara Koch, Senior Vice President & Regional Managing Director of TD Synnex DACH, comments: "I am very pleased that we can start the year with such positive news and would like to thank our entire team for their great efforts in the context of the two demanding certifications. They are proof of our high quality standards, our customer orientation and our focus on CSR issues - all key elements of our business strategy. In this way, we ensure that quality and environmental orientation are practiced by each and every one of our employees on a daily basis. Continuously improving processes, enhancing quality and thus increasing the satisfaction of all stakeholders involved will also be on our agenda in 2023."
ISO 14001 certification: Sites in Switzerland to follow
ISO 9001 certification was applied to all areas for the first time - previously the Value area, Advanced Solutions, was certified. It explicitly applies to the sites in Munich, Leinfelden, Nettetal and Eslarn as well as Vienna (AT), Rotkreuz (CH) and Altishofen (CH). Manufacturers and sales partners benefit on both sides from the clear definition and documentation of processes, from representation regulations, and from the internal audits in which potential for improvement is continuously identified, analyzed, and evaluated. The examination of opportunities, risks and new business opportunities support the claim to be a trusted advisor for all stakeholders.
The ISO 14001 certification, which is essential for many distribution partners as part of their supply chain responsibility, was carried out for the first time for the Munich, Leinfelden, Nettetal and Eslarn sites - Austria and Switzerland are to follow by the end of this year. The certification was actively supported by the German subsidiary's special "Green Team", which is responsible for sustainability, reducing waste and CO2 and many other environmental issues for both the locations and the distributor's entire supply chain. The evaluation of new approaches, the tracking of and compliance with the catalog of measures and the monitoring of developments and improvements are on the agenda of the team of specialists. One of the first activities to benefit distribution partners and their customers will be the labeling of environmentally friendly products in the InTouch e-commerce system.
2022 was a year of transition to a certain normality after two years marked by the coronavirus. Pharmacists and their teams have done an enormous amount of work to meet the needs of the population in a professional and competent manner. As in other areas of health care, the volume of work in pharmacies is increasing, and in the [...]
Editorial - January 25, 2023
If people with a minor case were to visit one of the nearest pharmacies first every time for an initial triage, this could greatly relieve the burden on many emergency departments. (Image: pharmaSuisse)
2022 was a year of transition to a certain normality after two years marked by the coronavirus. Pharmacists and their teams have done an enormous amount of work to meet the needs of the population in a professional and competent manner. As in other areas of health care, the volume of work in pharmacies is increasing, and fatigue is becoming noticeable among the teams, as well as a shortage of professionals.
After the pandemic - the time of scarcity
For several months, pharmacy teams have faced difficulties stemming from drug supply shortages. This week, according to www.drugshortage.ch 781 medicines (a total of almost 1000 different packages!) are not available in Switzerland. This affects more than 361 active ingredients. In hospital and public pharmacies, supply interruptions cause enormous logistical and safety problems and tie up considerable personnel resources. Costs estimated at ½ to 1 day per week for a public pharmacy are not covered. Fortunately, thanks to the expertise of pharmacists, major problems can be avoided when treatment needs to be changed. In some cases, they can even make medications themselves to cover shortages.
This situation, which pharmaSuisse, the umbrella organization of pharmacists, has been pointing out for several years, is visibly worsening. The authorities are reluctant to address the problem, the association writes. Therefore, pharmaSuisse will participate in the launch of the popular initiative "Yes to medical care security" this spring as part of a broad alliance of experts and partners in the healthcare sector.
Pharmacists - health care stakeholders whose full potential is not being realized
Pharmacists and their teams could provide much more valuable services in the healthcare system. However, this requires that the authorities integrate them into the system on a permanent basis and not just call them in when there is a major health crisis.
The Federal Council has recognized the potential of pharmacies in its second package of measures for cost containment in the OKP (compulsory health care insurance), which is why it is proposing the amendment of Article 25 and a new paragraph in Article 26 KVG. This will (finally) create the possibility of providing services that are covered by the basic insurance, for example in the area of prevention (e.g. vaccinations) and pharmaceutical services, such as support in adherence to therapy or the analysis of complicated medications. The aforementioned services must be effective, appropriate and economical (WZW criteria) and have a demonstrable cost-reducing effect. Discussions on this second package have already begun in the National Council's Commission for Social Security and Health.
With the amendment of the Medical Profession Act (MedBG) in 2015 and the Therapeutic Products Act (HMG) in 2016, the legislature has helped to consolidate the role of pharmacies within primary health care. "Nevertheless, the population is still not sufficiently aware that they can also seek medical advice in pharmacies. Pharmacists have the basic knowledge to diagnose and treat common health problems and diseases. In today's situation of overburdened emergency rooms, they are in a position to triage patients, offer them a solution, and thus relieve the burden on emergency rooms and primary care practices for simple cases. There is no question about it! " says Martine Ruggli, President of pharmaSuisse.
The revision of the distribution share enjoys broad consensus
In a tense economic climate with healthcare costs continuing to rise, mainly for social reasons, medicines are regularly the number one target. In this context, the price and distribution of generic drugs as well as the distribution share come into focus. At the end of 2022, under the aegis of the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) and the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), a consensus on the revision of the distribution share (Art. 38 KLV) was reached between the service providers (FMH, APA Association of Doctors with Patient Pharmacies, H+ The Hospitals of Switzerland, GSASA Swiss Association of Official and Hospital Pharmacists, Swiss Pharmacists Association pharmaSuisse) and curafutura, unfortunately without the support of santésuisse. This consensus will correct the negative incentives and increase the use of generics. Its immediate savings potential is estimated at 60 million Swiss francs and subsequently, through a higher proportion of generics, potentially 100 million. The ball is now in the EDI's court.
Outlook 2023
Pharmacists support the Federal Council's efforts to curb the increase in healthcare costs, pharmaSuisse said in its statement to the media. These savings would not be made by attacking the margins of inexpensive medicines, but the way forward is clearly to further expand the services pharmacies provide to patients, it said. In this sense, pharmaSuisse hopes that 2023 will be a key year for pharmacies with the relaxation of the KVG corset (Art. 25 and 26 of the second package of measures) and the revision of the distribution share.
In the area of digitization of the healthcare system, a national solution for a legally compliant, secure electronic prescription that can be used in all pharmacies is to be introduced in 2023 together with the FMH. The targeted solution will be user-friendly for patients, physicians and pharmacists. On the roadmap of the umbrella organization of pharmacists are several projects to improve the knowledge and perception of pharmacy services among the population. This with the aim to better distribute the current burden of the primary care system among the service providers, to continue the interprofessional cooperation as well as to promote the professions in pharmacy and to secure the next generation and to offer high quality services to the population.
Martina Hollenstein Stadler becomes Sustainability Officer at GRF
Graubünden Ferien wants to take a leading role in more sustainable tourism development, complementing the efforts of the destinations and service providers. The canton's tourism marketing organization sees itself as a coordinator, mediator and communicator for Graubünden tourism. With the newly created project position sustainability at GRF as of 2023, the existing efforts in tourism are to be strengthened and [...]
Editorial - January 25, 2023
(Image: Dominik Täuber)
Graubünden Ferien wants to take a leading role in more sustainable tourism development, complementing the efforts of the destinations and service providers. The canton's tourism marketing organization sees itself as a coordinator, mediator and communicator for Graubünden tourism. With the newly created project position sustainability at GRF as of 2023, the existing efforts in tourism are to be strengthened and the services jointly developed further. Sustainable projects are implemented in cooperation with partners.
GRF was able to recruit Martina Hollenstein Stadler to fill the staff position, which is located directly under the CEO. The former director of Tourism Engadin Scuol Samnaun Val Müstair has in the recent past strongly supported sustainability efforts in Graubünden tourism, including the TourCert certification of Engadin Samnaun Val Müstair as a sustainable destination. The publication of the handbook "Sustainability in Swiss Tourism Destinations" in cooperation with the ZHAW also took place during her term of office as tourism director.
The 35-year-old with a Bachelor of Science in Tourism will start work at the GRF office in Chur in July 2023. "I am a tourism expert with heart and soul and enthusiastic about the diverse natural and cultural landscape of the mountain regions," says Martina Hollenstein Stadler. In her new role, she will be able to help secure resources and tourism value creation for the whole of Graubünden in the long term.
As Senior Manager Sustainability at GRF, she will support and coordinate the sustainability efforts of tourism stakeholders in the canton. It is also important to leverage current efforts at the national level for Graubünden tourism. New sustainable experiences in Graubünden are to be developed and existing offers made even more visible to guests. Until Martina Hollenstein Stadler takes up her position, an internal GRF working group headed by the CEO will continue the development.
Use no-code platforms for data optimization
The year 2023 should be a priority for every company to improve business productivity. Regardless of the size of the company, productivity is the fuel for growth and thriving. High productivity means the company is using its resources as effectively as possible. The most productive companies have realized that they need to leverage innovative technologies and software, such as no-code platforms, [...]
Editorial - January 25, 2023
No-code platforms are suitable for database optimization. (Image: Irvin John Mabli / Pixabay.com)
The year 2023 should be a priority for every company to improve business productivity. Regardless of the size of the company, productivity is the fuel for growth and thriving. High productivity means the company is using its resources as effectively as possible. The most productive companies have realized that they can leverage innovative technologies and software, such as no-code platforms, to collect, source and analyze data to solve complex business challenges. With No-Code's simple building block approach, complex tasks can be completed in weeks instead of months or years. However, this advantage can only be realized if critical data is shared across the enterprise and across all teams. This is where No-Code database software comes in.
Efficiency and adaptability are in the foreground
As data increasingly becomes a commodity, its use is also changing. Free-flowing data benefits companies in the technology and digital sectors as well as those in traditional industries such as manufacturing, banking, retail, healthcare and the public sector. Nearly all industries rely on the ability to share data across teams or analyze it in real time as a fundamental requirement for their daily operations. "Given the tight economic climate in 2023, productivity has become even more important for companies with tight budgets and resources. In this economic environment, companies must prioritize efficiency and adaptability to increase productivity and unlock new cost-saving opportunities, while remaining innovative to stay ahead of the competition," said Olivier Maes, co-founder and CRO of Baserow, an open source no-code database and platform startup based in Amsterdam.
Data optimization and more
So how can companies democratize data and innovation across the enterprise and improve productivity in 2023? To this end, the following three points can be considered:
Include all teams: A true culture of data sharing is still rare in companies. This is especially true for sharing data and information outside of a specific department, and even more so for collaboration with external partners. However, modern companies need to think differently about data and collaboration. The most innovative companies in 2023 recognize that creating an open data culture for all company employees and participating external partners will lead to more valuable insights to drive performance and productivity. No-code and low-code applications enable data sharing that allows enterprises, partners, and non-technical employees to create customizable workflows and database capabilities that meet all business needs. Of course, there are good reasons for companies to protect their data and intellectual property. No-code platforms offer enterprise-grade security options for managing user access permissions and self-hosting capabilities. These security options allow easy access to data while protecting information. Administrators can restrict who can view which data-specific role records. Records can be created for specific workgroups without having to access multiple database platforms and sources. "Essentially, the combination of open data cultures and no-code database solutions is a fast, effective way to drive innovation and improve productivity across all departments," Olivier Maes, quoted at the outset, continued.
Put a stop to the rampant SaaS proliferation: Since the pandemic, the average number of software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications used by enterprises worldwide has increased dramatically. Statista found that organizations will use an average of 110 SaaS solutions in 2021. This represents a 38 percent increase over the past year and a 1,275 percent increase since 2015. This increase in SaaS creates a big blind spot for many organizations, especially the IT team. Too often, SaaS tools are used in isolation, without integrating processes or data. Different business units or departments use different applications for their specific needs. This creates data silos that other departments cannot access. The ongoing adoption of SaaS solutions is threatening to spiral out of control. Many teams are regularly overwhelmed by the hundreds of applications and tools they need to do their jobs. Many organizations have multiple applications and options for sharing files, communicating, collaborating and managing productivity. This leads to different departments in the organization working with incomplete or inconsistent data. "SaaS proliferation leads to bloated budgets, not to mention the impact on file store management, passwords, versions, workflows, and roles and responsibilities created by the ad hoc addition of dozens or even hundreds of applications to a company's IT," Olivier Maes explains in more detail.
Deploy no-code platforms: A no-code database platform combined with existing software products provides users with a single source of information at the front end. Using a customized database solution helps departments to bring together linked data sets from across the business - from sales, operations, marketing, R&D, product development and HR - on a central platform to significantly improve efficiency and performance. This gives all company departments the flexibility to feed other software applications and business processes with data. This reduces the cost of managing multiple vendors and eliminates the need for manual data validation and retrieval. Most importantly, these platforms can be developed quickly and efficiently to suit any business and its complex requirements. "Preventing the creation of data silos must be a priority for businesses in 2023. With the free flow of data and insights, it is easier to successfully implement digital transformation initiatives in modern organizations and take businesses to the next level. With a no-code database, the focus is on enabling non-technical users to create their own database to structure information and collaborate effectively," concludes Olivier Maes.
Based on the user journeys, it was possible to address the primary goals of the users on the website. The central topics here are submitting an incident report, contacting employees, and being directed to specific planning tools. These call-to-actions are brought together in a central location in the form of the contact and service tool. Integrated on all pages, it generates - without [...]
Editorial - January 24, 2023
Based on the user journeys, it was possible to identify the primary goals of the user on the website can be addressed. The central topics here are submitting a fault report, contacting employees, and forwarding to specific planning tools. These call-to-actions are brought together in a central location in the form of the contact and service tool. Integrated on all pages, it generates enough attention - without being disruptive - to always be found.
A clear and modern visual language was created for the website from the existing corporate design. The framework is provided by the independent typography and the reduced color palette. The visual language was completely redeveloped - a clear and factual product presentation by means of 3D visualizations combined with an editorial style of references and an authentic representation of the employees in their everyday situations.
The goal was to reduce and focus the website content to the most relevant information. To this end, the quality of each asset was greatly improved. Numerous 3D visualizations are designed to highlight the value of AS Elevators and demonstrate their versatile use. Each lift model has a soft configurator that allows users to explore the range of products and their possible features.
With the "Lift Stories" section, the print magazine is now digitized and seamlessly integrated into the website. Here, references are shown in detail, accompanied by lots of visual material and employee insights.
Responsible at AS Aufzüge: Andrea Schönholzer (Marketing Management), Leif Empen (Project Management), Anna Ziccarelli, Laura Truschinski (Project Team). Responsible agency: Home photo.
Stuiq invents "Berry
The new brand "Berry" stands for the transformation of two companies, value models and cultures that make it their business to create modern workspaces of today. New Work is more than just a beautifully designed space. The future of work demands new forms of collaboration from us - less everyday, more experiential. Stuiq develops the [...]
Editorial - January 24, 2023
The new brand "Berry" stands for the transformation of two companies, value models and cultures that make it their business to create modern workspaces of today. New Work is more than just a beautifully designed space. The future of work demands new forms of collaboration - less daily routine, more experience.
Stuiq develops the brand identity holistically with its holistic way of thinking and is responsible for positioning, naming, branding and awareness communication. Co-creation with the client is a key success factor. "Rebranding is an exciting and intensive process. Even more so when three companies have to be brought under one hat," says Patrick Waldis, CEO of Berry. "This requires experience, know-how, a whole lot of inspiration and people who see opportunities and not barriers. People who are courageous and can inspire."
The fresh brand gives 80 employees in Zurich and Lucerne the Berry spirit. How Berry positions itself? "Colorful, modern and never boring. And in every respect," says Stuiq CD Anna Kindlimann. To this end, eight combinations of logo colors and backgrounds were created that can be used in a variety of communicative ways.
Stuiq already teased the transformation before the launch of the new brand in order to generate attention and excitement. During the entire change process, Stuiq also closely accompanied the internal communication. According to the agency, the appearance and brand feeling offer the best prerequisites for a "love brand". Therefore, many surprises and fashion and lifestyle products were created, so that Berry is "worn" everywhere and triggers an experience at all touchpoints.
Cybersecurity: insights and forecasts for a challenging 2023
There have been some prominent examples of cyberattacks and data breaches in the last 12 months: Toyota suffered a data breach as a third party was able to gain access to a company server using credentials obtained from source code published on GitHub by a third-party vendor. Cisco also confirmed a cyberattack after an employee's login credentials were compromised [...]
Editorial - January 24, 2023
The year 2023 will also be challenging in terms of cybersecurity. (Image: VMware)
There have been some prominent examples of cyberattacks and data breaches in the last 12 months: Toyota suffered a data breach as a third party was able to gain access to a company server using credentials obtained from source code published on GitHub by a third-party vendor. Cisco also confirmed a cyberattack after an employee's credentials were compromised and the attacker was observed using machine accounts for privileged authentication and lateral movement in the environment. These breaches, facilitated by lateral strategies, mass phishing attacks, and sophisticated ransomware, significantly undermined network security. As we reflect on the past year, while it's important to acknowledge the many successes of security teams, it's also important to learn from the high-profile breaches, said Chad Skipper, global security technologist at VMware. He expects there will be these five key challenges for enterprise cybersecurity teams in the coming year:
1. innovative instincts tackle evasion tactics
Threat response innovation was the standout growth area in the industry in 2022. VMware's Global Incident Response Threat Report (GIRTR) found that cybersecurity professionals are actively deploying new techniques such as virtual patching to respond to incidents and combat cybercriminal activity. Although today's threat actors have an impressive portfolio of evasion tactics at their disposal, the research found that the majority of cybercriminals go undetected in the target environment for only hours (43 %) or minutes (26 %). Since threat response time is critical to network defense, it is very important to meet the savvy threat actors eye-to-eye in order to protect systems. Using innovative tactics to update response techniques is the first place to start to stop malicious intent before it escalates - and one to focus on in 2023.
2. the new battlefield
You can't stop what you can't see, and lateral movement within an environment is an increasingly large area of attack for security teams, forming the basis of a quarter of all attacks reported in VMware's GIRTR. These infiltration techniques have often been overlooked and underestimated by enterprises this year. In April and May of this year alone, nearly half of the attacks contained a lateral movement event, with most involving the use of remote access tools (RATs) or the use of existing services such as Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) or PsExec. It is likely that cybercriminals will continue to use the Remote Desktop Protocol to masquerade as system administrators in 2023. Looking ahead to the new year, CISOs must prioritize EDR and NDR integration to protect data centers, access points, and critical infrastructure that hackers can infect once they infiltrate external barriers.
3. unsupervised APIs
The next year will continue to see the evolution of first-party access tactics that cybercriminals use to try to gain a foothold in enterprises. A primary goal of such access is to conduct aggressive API attacks against modern infrastructures and exploit workload vulnerabilities within an environment. The majority of traffic within these modern applications is often unmonitored API traffic. This favors lateral movement, as cybercriminals, once they have penetrated the environment, continue to use evasion techniques to bypass detection of VDIs, VMs, and traditional applications. These initial access techniques become more attractive to malicious actors who are aware of enterprise monitoring limitations, and they will look for vulnerabilities.
4. deepfakes
This year has seen a sharp increase in deepfake attacks. Deepfakes have spread from the entertainment industry to business and enterprises. In fact, two-thirds (66 %) of businesses have reported experiencing a deepfake attack in the last 12 months. Because of this technology, security teams are struggling with false information and identity fraud designed to compromise a company's integrity and reputation. Deepfake attacks identified in emails, mobile messages, voice recordings and social media are flexible enough to become fraudsters' weapon of choice.
In the coming year, the number of deepfakes will continue to rise. Companies need to take proactive measures to mitigate the risk of falling victim to deepfake scams by investing in detection software and employee training to enable them to detect deepfakes.
5. the big red (digital) button
Critical infrastructure faces a year of vulnerability as cybercrime tools will undoubtedly evolve behind the lines. The majority (65 %) of respondents to VMware's GIRTR indicated that the increase in cyberattacks is related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Russia's digital offensive has ushered in a new era of warfare aimed at undermining critical industrial services and crippling infrastructure such as power grids. Ukraine's readiness to respond to threats is critical to its defense, and cyber tactics will undoubtedly become a central component of modern military conflict. Cyber warfare therefore illustrates that vigilance is the be-all and end-all of an effective cybersecurity strategy.
Security boot camp for 2023
Chad Skipper concludes: "As we move into a new year, the main goal of cybercriminals remains the same: gain the key to the organization, steal credentials, move laterally, acquire data and then monetize it. To improve defense effectiveness in the future, security teams must focus holistically on workloads, examine in-band traffic, integrate NDR with endpoint detection and response EDR, adopt zero-trust principles and conduct continuous threat hunting. Only with this comprehensive guide can organizations empower their security teams to meet the challenges ahead."
On February 24, 1991, Radio 32, based in Solothurn, went on the air for the first time and is now celebrating its 32nd anniversary. What began with eight employees in the economic area 32, developed according to its own information to the most listened private radio between Biel, Bern and Aarau. A new look for the anniversary year For its birthday, the radio station is treating itself to a new [...]
Editorial - January 24, 2023
On February 24, 1991, Radio 32, based in Solothurn, went on the air for the first time and is now celebrating its 32nd anniversary. What began with eight employees in economic area 32 has developed, according to its own information, into the most listened to private radio station between Biel, Bern and Aarau.
A new look for the anniversary year
For its birthday, the radio station treats itself to a new look. The new logo incorporates familiar basic elements of the previous brand identity: Certain elements of the 32-year-old brand identity, such as the circle with the number 32 and the bar with the radio lettering, have been retained in a modernized form. The new primary color green is intended to represent the rural broadcasting area as well as the down-to-earthness, reliability and joie de vivre of the listeners. The fact that nothing changes on the soundtrack and that the Radio 32 crew remains true to its listeners in terms of content is to be underlined by the campaign claim "The same in green" with a wink. Media designer and art director Oliver Fennel is responsible for the concept.