Groupe Mutuel is undergoing a transformation. The insurer has sharpened its strategy and is increasingly focusing on the combination of health and pension provision. The associated rebranding was developed in collaboration with the agency MetaDesign Lausanne: Both the brand identity and the visual identity were revised and modernized (Werbewoche.ch reported). Department of Noise was called in to develop and execute the sound and music in line with the brand strategy. A comprehensive system of sound assets was created to help convey the brand message coherently and emotionally at all touchpoints. The new brand identity focuses on proximity to people and their lived serenity: Groupe Mutuel takes care of all its customers' health issues so that they can enjoy life carefree and without worries. This is also underlined by the "Real life" campaign developed by the Numéro10 agency, which has been running since Monday (Werbewoche.ch reported). The insurer also drew on the expertise and brand knowledge of Department of Noise for this campaign. "The campaign for the brand launch should pay 100 percent into the new brand. It was therefore obvious that the music should trigger the same feeling as the sound identity and come from a single source," explains Stéphane Andenmatten, Deputy Director, Head of Communications & Brand at Groupe Mutuel. "Our new sound perfectly supports our brand's sweet spot between empathy and optimism. It is a strong and versatile tool for us to emphasize our positioning in our communication." Groupe Mututel's new sound has been in use in various forms since the brand launch.

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Responsible at Groupe Mutuel: Stéphane Andenmatten (Deputy Director, Head of Communications & Brand), Fanny Genoud (Brand Project Manager). Jean Philippe Chevassu (Creative Director); Responsible at MetaDesign Lausanne: Carole Massanes (Global Account Director), Sophie Laird (Global Senior Account Manager), Leo Tissot (Account Executive), Isabelle Carvalho (Creative Director); Responsible at Department of Noise: Florian Goetze and Ph!L!pp Schweidler (Strategy, Creative Direction & Production), Michael Stuber (Strategy), Meng Tian (Project Lead).

March 31 is International Data Backup Day, World Backup Day. About its role are all IT managers in the clear - actually. But backup is still a broad field and a real backup is not simply done at the push of a button. Complex infrastructures require a backup strategy that must also keep in mind that backups are an important target for attackers. This view is shared by experts from IT security service providers Barracuda Networks, Bitdefender, ForeNova, FTAPI and NCC.

World Backup Day: a good time to think about what an effective data backup strategy needs to do.

"Events like World Backup Day are good times to think about what an effective backup strategy needs to do. A lot has changed in the last few years! More and more data is hosted in the cloud, ransomware is one of the biggest threats to data today. Does on-premise backup provide everything businesses need: Reliability and value for money? Is Office 365 data protected in the cloud? Is resiliency considered and air-gap copies of the data backed up? Is a solution in place that meets DSGVO requirements? How often are DR and recovery workflows run through? It's a lot to consider, but that's what's imperative if companies want to ensure they don't have to pay for a cyberattack or complete data loss with a complete business shutdown." Charles Smith, Consulting Solution Engineer, Data Protection, Barracuda Networks, EMEA

The convergence of cybersecurity and data protection is a top priority in times of the Ukraine conflict.

"The current conflict in Ukraine is making the entire IT sector a target for cyberattacks. Immediately before the invasion, HermeticWiper was used to attack the systems of Ukrainian government authorities and organizations with the aim of deleting data. Such attacks are also a threat in this country. They endanger not only information, but also systems and applications. Successful deletion of data and configurations of these systems or applications then becomes an ultimate threat to the functionality of digital processes - especially if IT managers are unable to restore systems, applications and data quickly enough. For this reason, the long preached protection of existing backups - the convergence of cybersecurity and data protection - is now a top priority. An endpoint detection and response (EDR) solution can protect backup servers. Managed detection and response (MDR) services need to reprioritize their security analysis criteria in light of the threats. Anyone reviewing their backup and disaster recovery plans now should also consider the protection of these backups against malware. They should also check in advance how quickly systems can be restarted." Jörg von der Heydt, Regional Director DACH, Bitdefender

Network Detection and Response also protects backups.

"Performing backups is a matter of course - at least in people's minds. Unfortunately, testing backups and seeing whether it is even possible to restore systems and information, and whether the data has integrity, is not yet the case. But it should be. The 3-2-1 rule with offline backups is also increasingly being taken to heart and word is also getting around that backups also fall under the remit of IT security. However, many CISOs and IT admins think primarily of protecting the endpoints, i.e. the backup server and the media. However, this is not enough, because professional hackers prepare the attack on the secured information and systems - the last reinsurance on which many organizations rely - in a targeted manner. A security-relevant event that occurs via the network perimeter and immediately encrypts, blocks or even deletes assets and against which an endpoint detection and response or a firewall does not protect, can only be immediately blocked by a defense at network level. Thanks to Network Detection and Response (NDR), which recognizes suspicious attack patterns, it is often not even necessary to restore digital resources. An NDR pulls further ripcords in an emergency: a predefined software playbook automatically initiates a VMWare snapshot as soon as a suspicious network incident is reported and saves the current system and information status before a potentially successful attack. Above all, NDR provides valuable assistance in analyzing an attack once it has taken place and shows when and how an attack was launched." Paul Smit, Director Customer Services, ForeNova

Don't be afraid of decentralized data backup - you just need trustworthy partners.

"Do the backups of critical business or project data really always have to be on-premise in your own system? Not from our point of view. With on-demand hosted solutions, automatic backups are standard. Many companies have already recognized the need for this, but there are still doubts about the security of decentralized solutions and data backups. The need for this is becoming ever clearer: the number of cyber attacks is increasing and the attacks themselves are becoming ever more sophisticated - 100% security of a company's own systems and information is virtually no longer possible. Decentrally stored backups make it possible to still access company data and systems in the event of a cyberattack or massive system failure. A trustworthy partner is important here, both when it comes to the solution and the data centers used. Data should only be encrypted and transmitted to servers within the EU. Automatic backups of relevant data in virtual data rooms are suitable for safeguarding daily project work." Ari Albertini, Chief Operating Officer, FTAPI Software GmbH

The right backup strategy is important - because after the attack is before the attack.

"Ransomware attacks - the preferred 'earning method' of cyber criminals - show just how important a backup is. When it comes to business-critical data or confidential customer information - the 'crown jewels' - the pressure to act immediately increases for companies and authorities. If this emergency occurs, those affected have three options: they can decrypt the files, pay the ransom or restore the data. However, suitable decryption tools are not always available and often not all information is available again after a ransom payment. In the worst case, further extortion stages follow with no guarantee of getting all the files back. We also recommend that you do not respond to ransom demands. This leaves backups as the 'last line of defense'. To make matters worse, criminals are also deliberately aiming to cause as much damage as possible. IT managers in companies and public authorities should therefore not only adhere to the familiar backup rules (3-2-1), but also require additional authentication before access and create unalterable backups - which they store offline, off-site or off the main network. And because after the attack is before the attack, IT managers need to understand how the hackers proceeded. After all, when reverting to a backup, the infrastructure with the same vulnerability that was exploited in the attack is used. In addition to a logging mechanism, they should also implement services such as Managed Detection and Response to detect any further suspicious activity on their network." Dr. Volker Baier, Principal Consultant Risk Management, NCC Group

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/world-backup-day-2022-was-experten-meinen/

Felfel has made a name for itself throughout Switzerland with employee catering. The Zurich-based company has now launched its own coffee brand with an all-round service to take office coffee to a level of enjoyment beyond fully automatic machines and coffee capsules: Gavetti aims to combine Italian coffee culture with modern convenience. The Zurich agency Allink brought the brand to life with a lot of Italianità and a wink. The Gavetti brand design was adapted to the most important touchpoints of the office coffee service, such as the packaging, the tableware and the control panels of the coffee machine.

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Responsible at Allink: Christoph Schlatter (Creative Director), Roger Lang (Art Director), Martina Kellenberger (Graphic Designer), Simon Zangger (Photo & Film Director). Responsible at Felfel: Branding Committee, composed of Daniela Steiner, Jonathan Lewin and Michelle Schmid.

The Austrian software company RUBICON is one of Europe's leading providers of IT solutions for the digitalization of central business processes in public administrations (eGovernment) as well as in the enterprise sector. With RUBICON IT Schweiz AG, the company has been based in the city of Bern since 2004, where it currently employs nine people. The development of tailor-made IT solutions takes place at the location in Vienna. RUBICON Switzerland draws on specialists from the parent company as needed.

Successful eGovernment implementations fuel demand

"Now that we have distinguished ourselves as a digitization partner for the public sector, our experience and expertise are increasingly attracting interest from the private sector," says Christoph Unger. The 42-year-old was previously responsible for the market development and establishment of Acta Nova for the GEVER system in the Swiss market. "We support Swiss companies in expanding their digital capabilities from A to Z - from electronic requests to execution and delivery," says Unger. As a digitization partner for administration and companies, RUBICON covers a wide range of needs. These include document and workflow management solutions based on Acta Nova. In addition, there is template and output management with Document Partner as well as high-availability server and application operation, expertise in the areas of databases and networks as well as auditing and software security via SignPath.

Federal administration: 26,000 people use RUBICON solution

The company's long-standing customers include SBB, Zurich's public transport operator VBZ and a large number of cantons and cities as well as over 900 Swiss municipalities. Since August 2021, over 26,000 employees of the Swiss Federal Administration have been using the RUBICON application Acta Nova across the country. This runs on GEVER, the federal government's digital platform for business administration, and guarantees standardized and stable document and workflow management. Since then, the processes have been gradually optimized during ongoing operations. RUBICON is also constantly developing the platform further. Acta Nova enables the digitalization and automation of business processes and offers interfaces to online forms so that data can be recorded quickly and easily and transferred without media disruptions. The software also automatically encrypts confidential documents and offers centralized data storage. At the same time, Acta Nova speeds up the issuing of permits, the response time to inquiries, increases the traceability of all processes and, last but not least, boosts administrative efficiency. As digitization also eliminates transport routes and mountains of paper, the use of Acta Nova also leads to substantial savings. Since then, processes have been gradually optimized during ongoing operations. The platform is also being continuously developed. Important topics include inbound and outbound management and digital interaction with countless business partners. Source and information: www.rubicon.eu

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/egovernment-rubicon-will-mit-neuem-schweizer-ceo-auch-in-der-privatwirtschaft-wachsen/

The NeoVac company has more than 50 years of experience in the use and storage of energy and water, and the yellow NeoVac cars are on the road as traveling brand ambassadors throughout the country. Dachcom's brand refresh takes into account the high brand recognition, but is still intended to point confidently and convincingly into the future. NeoVac's claim is to make energy smarter with a wide range of services, innovative products and clever solutions. This core argument should play a prominent role in communication. The overarching brand claim "Making energy smarter" gets to the heart of this in a memorable way. The doer mentality and focus on real results should be reflected in key messages such as "Making energy smarter", "Making buildings more sustainable" and "Making mobility fit for the future". The messages run through the entire appearance and are intended to do justice to the company in its many different forms. Visually, the new appearance is intended to impress with its generosity. More space has been given to the logo. A new visual world was also created. A particular focus was placed on connecting NeoVac's services with people. To make the brand presence more lively, short videos were also created that showcase the wide range of services in a simple way, can be used in a variety of ways and, last but not least, support storytelling. The new overall appearance was summarized in a brand movie, which was presented within the company and heralds a new chapter at NeoVac.

Information dissemination website

The central element of the appearance is the completely newly developed website Neovac.ch. It represents an important tool for information dissemination, since at NeoVac the information is numerous. In order to make the subject matter easy to grasp, a modular Pimcore solution provides the desired user experience. Information from the entire NeoVac world is united on the platform and is presented to the user in a target group-oriented, simple and modern way. One example of this is the newsroom, where a lot of company information is available quickly and easily via sticky navigation. Moving image elements also bring the website to life, making the multi-layered range of services even more tangible. Further measures such as brochures, mailings, trade fair appearances and online measures will be implemented by the agency and NeoVac on an ongoing basis in order to make the new website a consistent experience.

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Responsible at NeoVac: Michael Eugster (Head of Marketing), Lena Pfister (Marketing Manager), Sven Büchel (Digital Marketing Manager), Miriam Fritsche (Marketing Assistant), Ann-Christin Mudra (Content Manager). Responsible Agency: Dachcom.

Ozone, particulate matter and CO2 are substances that pollute our air. Fortunately, pollution in the air we breathe can now be measured very accurately. The manufacturer Microsyst has expanded its range of applications for the easy visualization of specific emission values: bright LED displays are coupled with the sensors using the Microsyst MKS software. The software of the emission displays adapts to the data protocol of the sensors and thus communicates easily and manufacturer-independently with any system. The connection is made via existing industrial interfaces, wired or wireless. A seven-color spectrum, variable display and character height and single or multi-line display ensure optimum visibility and legibility. An integrated brightness sensor and the pixel pitch of 4 or 8 mm guarantee optimum visibility. Whether indoors, outdoors, bright, dark, sunny or rainy: the LED displays can be read from up to 100 meters. The wide beam of the LEDs ensures a large viewing angle. Irrespective of this, simple displays for integration into metal panels or pillars are available as well as full-surface LED display panels. Thanks to the modular design, almost anything is possible, from small to large format: up to eight square meters of display area, or more if necessary after a technical check of the conditions on site, or multi-page versions. A programmable color changeover indicates when defined pollutant limit values are exceeded. In addition to numbers and letters, (warning) signs or instructions can also be set. More information: Microsyst

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/led-anzeigen-fuer-luftqualitaet/

In light of current events, LINK conducted a representative survey of the Swiss population on the war in Ukraine from March 17 to 21, 2022. The results paint a precise picture of how the Swiss assess the current situation and what they think about various aspects, including the admission of refugees from Ukraine or possible changes in their own everyday lives. Three out of four Swiss people are following the reporting on the Russian invasion of Ukraine somewhat (41%) to very closely (35%). The older the generation, the more closely they follow the news on the topic - while just under a quarter of 15-29-year-olds follow the coverage closely, the figure is over half for 60-79-year-olds. At the same time, the youngest generation surveyed is the most confident that the Russian attack on Ukraine will have little or no negative impact on their personal financial situation (44%). The older generations are significantly less optimistic in this regard. However, a majority of every age group is concerned about the current situation between Ukraine and Russia, and half of the population is very concerned. The possibility of Russia using chemical (85%) or nuclear weapons (79%) is a particular cause for concern in Switzerland.

Swiss population supports sanctions against Russia and is in favor of possible further ones

LINK wanted to know how the Swiss rate the Federal Council's currently implemented sanctions against Russia, among others, and what they think about possible further sanctions. In general, a majority of the population agrees with the Federal Council's actions and believes that the sanctions imposed are more or less correct. Only 48% approve of the restrictions on visa facilitation for Russians - just under a quarter of respondents think these go too far, while a fifth think they do not go far enough. Many other possible sanctions against Russia are supported by the Swiss population. For example, more than half of them would be in favor of export controls on high-tech products and software to Russia, while a quarter believe these could go even further. The situation is very similar when it comes to freezing all the assets of high-ranking Russians in Switzerland, for example. However, a quarter are also against the withdrawal of residence permits for Russian individuals who are close to the Russian government and live in Switzerland. An increase in the Swiss defense budget as a deterrent would also be unpopular - 40 percent are against it. It is striking that older generations agree more with the possible further sanctions listed or even rate them as not strong enough than the youngest generation surveyed (15-29 years).

Swiss support measures to help Ukrainian refugees - older ones more than young ones

More than 3.5 million people have already been forced to flee, and 12,000 Ukrainians have been registered in Switzerland so far (as of March 22, 2022). Against this backdrop, it is important to know how the Swiss population views various measures to support refugees from Ukraine. Seventy-one percent favor a Swiss program to resettle some Ukrainian refugees who fled the Russian invasion here. Of these supporters, most (46 percent) would accept a few tens of thousands of people into Switzerland. In general, a clear majority (78 percent) of the population believes that Switzerland has a moral obligation to grant asylum to people who have fled Ukraine.

Supply chains are disrupted: "Not available at the moment - or only available with a delay and at a high surcharge." This is the answer many companies are currently receiving when they want to order the materials and preliminary products they need for their production. Figures published by the IFO Institute illustrate just how tight supply capacities have been in many sectors for months. According to these figures, 70% of manufacturing companies in the DACH region are currently complaining about supply bottlenecks that are hampering their production. The automotive industry is the most affected (91.5 percent), followed by mechanical engineering (80 percent). Four out of five manufacturers of electronic products are also complaining about supply problems. It remains unclear which companies are specifically meant by this. After all, sensors and chips are installed in almost all technical devices today. This is why washing machines, razors and e-bikes are currently often said to be "out of stock".

Many supply chains are more fragile than thought

Until the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, many companies would never have imagined that their supply chains could prove so fragile. But then the virus arrived and led to a global slump in industrial demand. As a result, many manufacturers of primary products also reduced their production capacities. These are now lacking, as the global economy has unexpectedly quickly picked up speed again due to many government economic stimulus programs. As a result, strong demand is being met with reduced production capacities for primary products and extraction capacities for raw materials. Added to this: In the wake of the pandemic, the global transportation of goods is also still disrupted. In addition, quarantine regulations in Asia, especially China, are causing production facilities and ports to shut down time and again. This is exacerbating logistics problems and causing transport prices to rise. In addition, many companies are trying to replenish and expand their stocks of primary products due to the ongoing uncertainty. This is also exacerbating the shortage of goods and creating supply bottlenecks.

Purchasing maxims are reviewed

As a result of this new experience, many companies are currently rethinking their procurement management. While quite a few of them used global sourcing in purchasing before coronavirus in line with the maxim "buy where it's cheapest", factors such as security of supply are now playing an increasingly important role in their purchasing decisions alongside price and product quality. Many companies that were previously advocates of just-in-time production and stockpiling are now considering increasing their inventories again. Others are considering producing more components themselves again and relying more on local suppliers for procurement. In addition, quite a few companies are rethinking their previous strategy of minimizing the number of suppliers for cost and administrative reasons. Instead, they are considering bringing a second and third-party supplier on board for important preliminary products that they previously purchased from one supplier in order to reduce their dependence on individual suppliers.

Use software - if and as far as possible

For companies that are considering changing suppliers or would like to increase their number, this poses the following challenge: they must first gain an overview of potential suppliers and then evaluate them so that they can make a qualified selection. This process takes a lot of time. This is often a problem, especially for small and medium-sized companies without a large purchasing department. This can often be alleviated with digital supplier auditing procedures, in which companies first ask potential suppliers to what extent they meet their delivery requirements using an online questionnaire. Ideally, they can gain an initial overview of which suppliers are "hot candidates" within a few hours and use this information for their supplier selection and contract negotiations.

Companies are and remain decision makers

However, such software programs are only a tool to systematize and simplify the pre-selection of suppliers. When it comes to deciding whether to cooperate with supplier A or B, it is important to get to know the supplier's organization, especially for strategically relevant preliminary products and materials - in order to evaluate their self-statements, because paper is patient: Paper is patient. It is also important to adequately determine the strategic relevance of the individual products and services in order to arrive at the right evaluation and selection criteria, as the last few months have shown how quickly the lack of small parts such as seals, sensors and terminals can paralyze the entire production process. Getting to know the supplier and its organization personally is particularly important when it comes to selecting suppliers and service providers with whom the company and its employees have to work on an almost daily basis in the service provision process. The "chemistry" must also be right, and the extent to which this is the case can only be determined through personal contact.   To the author: Alban Maier is managing partner of the management consultancy Assention AG, Pfäffikon (www.assention.com). This supports manufacturing companies in analyzing, optimizing and redesigning their business processes, among other things.

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/stabile-lieferketten-als-erfolgsfaktor/

When did the industry stop thinking and start just thinking? And why? The irregular verb is regularly used in meetings, workshops and brainstorming sessions and has replaced the legendary "I think ...". Okay, that was also annoying when certain people started every sentence with "I think ...". Because they probably needed that, so that they at least heard from themselves that they were thinking, when no one else noticed. But that's another story.

Thinking about projects is always enough

So now we are only thinking everywhere. But anyone who only starts to think about something instead of giving it serious and sustained thought here and now is either ill-prepared or shirking their responsibility. The first is still forgivable. As fast as everything has to happen nowadays, there is no time to do in-depth research on a topic and document yourself. The days when people attended meetings well prepared or thought tasks through to the end are over. The ad hoc mentality is rampant everywhere and spreads unnecessary hecticness and extra work. Meanwhile, the few who are still well-prepared and make tangible suggestions are no longer heard in the "let's think about it first" chorus of their team members and superiors. The second - evading responsibility - is much worse. If you only think instead of thinking, you can't do anything wrong. After all, it is only a thought and has no claim to durability. The source of this thought-inflation is the project, Latin "proiectum", literally translated "that which is thrown forward or thrown down". And yes, projects are swarming everywhere at the moment. Marketing departments and agencies are hardly thinking, planning or developing anything for the long term anymore. No wonder in an industry where live streams, stories, now-players and instant messages are booming. Where the life cycle of agencies generally lasts less than five years and the years of service of clients in marketing departments are not even half as long. It's not worth thinking about it, thinking about it is enough. The result is often fast-food trash or hazardous waste instead of souvenirs for the future.

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* Benno Maggi is co-founder and CEO of Partner & Partner. He has been eavesdropping on the industry for over 30 years, discovering words and terms for us that can either be used for small talk, pomposity, excitement, playing Scrabble, or just because.

The safe handling of chemicals is a major challenge. Companies have to react flexibly to market requirements and the internal situation is subject to constant change: recipes and processes are optimized and rooms are repurposed, chemicals are banned, hazardous substances are replaced and quantities are adjusted. Existing knowledge is often lost due to staff changes. In addition, the legal framework is constantly changing and has corresponding consequences for user companies. Many things are in a state of flux. It is therefore essential to regularly check that chemicals are handled properly and in accordance with regulations in the company and to adapt to the new circumstances with sound know-how. If care is not taken when handling highly flammable, corrosive, toxic, environmentally hazardous or even highly explosive substances, there is a risk of personal injury, property damage or environmental damage with far-reaching consequences for companies. There is a comprehensive legal basis for the transportation, disposal, handling and storage of chemicals as well as for health protection and occupational safety. Companies are obliged to take safety measures. However, the practical implementation of these legal requirements raises many questions and is often a challenge for chemical processing companies, project managers, enforcement authorities and insurers. Gain the latest knowledge and expand your network at the "How to handle chemicals safely" event in Zurich on May 17, 2022. The conference is also recognized as further training by important specialist organizations. It will be held under the patronage of the SSI Association. The conference is organized by SAVE AG, which specializes in the practical transfer of knowledge between security experts on the topics of risk management, corporate security, building security, safety and health protection (AS&GS), fire protection, information and infrastructure security, civil protection, machine and process safety, accident prevention, natural and environmental hazards, guarding and integral security concepts. Further information and the complete conference program at: https://save.ch/event/chemikaliensicherheit-05-2022/

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/sicheres-handhaben-von-chemikalien/

"Hella Studio's bold creation, great commitment and impressive professionalism tipped the scales in our favor," says Nicolas Hugentobler, overall project manager at Rivella. The agency won the pitch against 4 national competitors and was commissioned to create a product identity for the new Enertea beverage line. (Werbewoche.ch reported).

Branding and packaging design for three starter varieties

In addition to the common Mate, the two rather unknown teas Guayusa and Cascara are bottled in Switzerland. The South American stimulants are extracted in a cold-brew process and combined with Swiss Alpine herbs. Hella Studio lent this activating blend a packaging design that is to embellish retail shelves with immediate effect. Hella Studio was in New York during the implementation and worked in shifts due to the time difference. In conjunction with illustrators and graphic designers from its own network, the agency assisted Rivella. The result is a clearly recognizable product identity that will run stringently through all communication measures. The product launch campaign was implemented by Bold. (Werbewoche.ch reported).

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Responsible at Rivella: Rahel Burri (Brand Manager); Nicolas Hugentobler (Business Developer and Overall Project Manager). Responsible at Hella Studio: Joëlle Lehmann, Kasper Kobel (overall responsibility and creative direction); Alba de Zanet, Rea Christ, Mathias Zimmermann (graphic design and illustration), Daniel Lerch.