How The Combination Of AI And IoT Improves Biosecurity Food Safety From Farm To Fork

Watch this video to learn how combining the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and IoT (Internet of Things) can dramatically improve biosecurity food safety, extend shelf life, bring produce to market faster and fresher, and reduce spoilage.  Applying this innovation from Epic IO enables protection of the food supply chain around the clock.

Keep in mind that the critical foundational piece to the success of any IoT application and its ecosystem is network quality. That said, we are uniquely positioned to source and custom design the right IoT solution (including Epic IO) for any IoT application you may have…. including network connectivity, sensor technology, data analytics tools, and network security. All at ZERO cost to you. Simply ask us at the following link and we’ll make it happen.

IoT Network Solutions

How Digital-First Can Transform The Patient Experience

 

A digital-first strategy prioritizes the use of digital technologies and platforms in business operations and customer engagement. The ultimate goals are to improve overall efficiency, reach a wider audience, and offer a significantly better customer experience. Digital technologies that are part of this approach include mobile applications, social media channels, and websites. This allows businesses to engage with customers based on how they prefer to interact. 

 

Many of our clients ask us how they can help their organizations better visualize a digital-first strategy for their specific vertical. It’s a great question, and the answer differs depending on which vertical you are servicing. Let’s start with healthcare companies (e.g., clinics or insurance providers). There are several ways for these organizations to adopt a digital-first approach for an improved patient/member experience: 

• Implementing Electronic Health Records (EHRs): EHRs enable healthcare providers to store patient data electronically and access it from anywhere, anytime. This not only improves the accuracy and completeness of patient information but also increases efficiency and reduces the risk of errors associated with manual record-keeping. (Do you notice how your doctor’s office doesn’t have manila file folders lining their walls anymore? That’s progress!) While you probably aren’t in the business of selling EHRs, you certainly have an opportunity to sell the technology that augments the experience. For example, in a healthcare contact center, the users may be using EPIC and Cerner, but through FreedomFire Communications’ portfolio, they have access to the software that handles interactions (calls, emails, texts, etc).

• Telemedicine: Telemedicine enables patients to receive medical consultations and treatment remotely, through video conferencing or other forms of digital communication. This can help healthcare companies reach more patients and provide access to care in remote or underserved areas. With everyone getting used to remote workforce dynamics, several provider-patient interactions occur digitally. With the wide adoption rates of telemedicine due to the pandemic, FreedomFire Communications is seeing a significant spike in digital engagement technologies to support patients across several channels, including chat, email, and social media platforms.

• Digital Marketing and Communication: Healthcare companies can leverage these components to reach, engage, and retain patients, including using social media, email marketing, and online advertising to promote their services and build their brand. There are several platforms that can assist marketing teams to proactively identify patient feedback across multiple digital channels. For example, if a patient shares an experience on a social forum, the team can address the experience directly with that patient.

• Mobile Applications: Healthcare companies can develop mobile apps that enable patients to access health information, track their symptoms and medications, communicate with their healthcare providers, and make appointments – all to promote a more seamless consumer experience that patients have come to expect in today’s Amazon era. In other words, “There’s an app for that!”

• Big Data and Analytics: Healthcare companies can use big data and analytics to gain insights into patient behavior, treatment outcomes, and other health metrics and use this information to improve patient care and inform decision-making. For example, suppose I’m a patient who consistently ignores phone calls, but answers quickly via SMS. In that case, a healthcare company could automatically remind me via SMS about things like upcoming appointments and prescription refills.

• Cloud Computing: Healthcare companies can use cloud computing to store and manage vast amounts of patient data securely, as well as support other digital initiatives such as telemedicine and EHRs. While the cloud was once a scary word for healthcare leaders (“You want me to put my precious patient and business data where?!”), it is becoming more widely accepted as the industry standard. It offers significant security and cost benefits not typically available with on-premise solutions and protects sensitive data against intruders, natural disasters, sharp demand increases, etc. 

• Cybersecurity: With the increasing reliance on digital technologies, it’s critical for healthcare companies to have strong cybersecurity measures in place to protect sensitive patient data and prevent cyber-attacks. Just consider the increasing popularity of ransomware attacks, with 56% of global healthcare organizations reporting at least one attack during the pandemic. The impact for healthcare isn’t just operational, as it extends to patient length-of-stay, poor patient outcomes, and complications in medical procedures.

As the healthcare sector becomes more and more competitive, this is the perfect time for healthcare technology leaders to have conversations around digital-first opportunities with their organizations’ leadership. As always, FreedomFire Communications is here to help. 

Restaurant Technology News, Tips, Insights, And More … Pay Attention!

 

The emphasis on digital transformation in today’s business world has had a profound impact across the restaurant industry specifically … from supply chain to kitchen to table. Resulting technology advancements in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning (ML), SDWAN, and cybersecurity have enabled many restaurant organizations to achieve noticeable improvements in operational efficiency, marketing impact, customer experience, cost management, POS security, and much more. The options available to you for innovative restaurant technology applications and digital strategies are numerous. You simply need to decide what is the best fit for your specific organizational goals, environment, and customer base.

 

Of course, it’s wise to not just follow the crowd and jump right in with both feet. You need to be smart about it. This article will share some resources available to you that will help you make informed decisions on adopting the right restaurant technologies and digital strategies for your organization.

1. First, you absolutely need to keep abreast of latest news in the restaurant technology sphere covering what works and what doesn’t, practical tips and advice, and actual use case examples. The Digital Restaurant podcast is a hub for restaurant technology, digital strategies, and off-premise dining innovation. With 100+ podcasts and videos, they offer expert analysis, industry interviews, and trend explorations.

Their purpose is to equip food service professionals and enthusiasts with the insights needed to excel in a digital-first industry. You can join them for the latest tech solutions, management tips, and thought leadership in restaurant digitization via their YouTube channel here => Digital Restaurant and learn more about them at their website here => Digital Restaurant

Here’s an example of one of their videos for you to check out….

2. Here’s how to build smart, connected restaurants that use Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) capabilities to maintain food quality and safety in the kitchen, preserve products in cold storage, manage queue depths, measure and monitor foot and vehicle traffic, and maintain cleanliness and sanitation. Using IoT with AI/ML will help to maintain cost efficiency and improve operability.

You can download the PDF here => PDF

3. This article shares how combining the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and IoT (Internet of Things) can dramatically improve biosecurity food safety, extend shelf life, bring produce to market faster and fresher, and reduce spoilage. Applying this innovation enables protection of the food supply chain around the clock.

How The Combination Of AI And IoT Improves Biosecurity Food Safety From Farm To Fork

4. There are too many companies who think that their Point-of-Sales (POS) systems are merely a responsibility of their cashiers. They literally forget that their POS systems face multiple-levels of risks, e.g., networking issues, open ports, cyber-attacks, accessibility issues, communication with a chain of their numerous back-end processes. More often these POS systems also communicate with the company’s most sensitive data, such as Personally Identifiable Information (PII) of their customers.

Your company should see your POS systems as high-threat environment and devise a targeted security strategy accordingly. This article discusses how you can do just.

How To Protect Your POS (Point of Sale) Systems From Cyber Threats

For FREE help designing a customized restaurant technology strategy for your organization … and sourcing the required technologies to support that strategy … simply ask us at FreedomFire Communications

To Get A Cyber Insurance Policy Approved Today You Absolutely MUST Understand This

 Although recovery costs continue to outpace coverage, companies today are investing more in network security to lower premiums and yield better policy terms for cyberinsurance.

This is apparently due in-part because insurance providers are incentivizing companies to improve their cyber defenses, not only by meeting minimum cyber defense standards, but also linking premium costs and depth of coverage to maintaining those standards.

It seems like that should just be common sense.

Insurers are starting to refrain from going all in offering cybersecurity insurance (in a manner of speaking) by offering lower limits of cybersecurity coverage; tightening cybersecurity insurance contract terms, conditions, and restrictions; and being more selective of the markets (e.g. industries) to offer cybersecurity insurance (at whatever limits and terms). They are also increasingly denying claims on existing policies. This is the challenging landscape faced by organizations seeking approval of a new cybersecurity insurance policy or renewal of an existing policy.

This podcast episode below of “Unscripted”! dissects the groundbreaking Merck cyber insurance case, offering a unique perspective on cyber risk management. This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating cyber insurance complexities, highlighting key lessons from the Merck-NotPetya incident. The discussion offers insights into policy exclusions and the evolution of cyber-related insurance coverage. The basic message is that cyber-insurance providers are playing hardball with current and prospective policy holders … rightfully so.

Pricier premiums for cybersecurity insurance is an unfortunate but obvious consequence (for policy holders) of the rising number of costly data breaches, ransomware, and other security attacks occurring in the world today. For example, the losses incurred by cyberinsurance providers from the Crowdstrike incident are likely to mean that the cost to insured organizations for new policy approvals and existing policy renewals will continue to trend up for at least the near future. Providers aren’t stupid…they’re making a business decision.

Cyber loss modeling (to providers and insured alike) reminds us of the saying: “man plans, God laughs”.

Cyberinsurers are waking up to the risk they’ve taken on and the potential cost and losses they could incur…not a comfortable position for them to be in (they are in the business of making a profit after all). Providers are responding accordingly with the trend of rising costs to insured…. that makes sense. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing either, as it forces companies to finally “get serious” about their cybersecurity efforts (funding, staffing, strategy, etc….. increasingly scrutinized by the underwriters before approval of policies) or risk being exposed with no coverage.

We strongly believe companies should view cybersecurity as a business issue rather than just an IT problem. EVERYONE in an organization, from top management to individual employees, is responsible for cybersecurity. Companies should approach cybersecurity similarly to health and safety, with a culture that promotes vigilance and proactive measures.

The need for constant vigilance and proactive measures in cybersecurity cannot be understated (cyberinsurance notwithstanding). Businesses must invest in comprehensive security solutions, yes … but they absolutely MUST also foster a culture of awareness to effectively mitigate risks.

We’ve had too many “watershed moments” in Cybersecurity the last few years. The unfortunate consequence is that we have officially entered the 21st Century game of cyberwarfare. We’ve always talked about the importance of Cybersecurity, and now we’ve been hit in the face HARD. The implications of this moment are simple: you get serious about Cybersecurity, right now, or you wave the flag of surrender.

If you do the former with focus and budget, you are in better position to protect your business. If you do the latter, you simply let your systems, networks, data, and e-commerce be “owned.” Cyber insurance isn’t going to come in on a white horse to save the day, or your business. The only thing that will work is to accept the reality that this is warfare. Adopt the posture of a warrior, focus your budget, amass your tools, and step up your game.

It’s painfully obvious that cyberinsurance costs for new policies and renewal of existing policies is going up. Insurers are also increasingly denying coverage outright if you don’t have your stuff together. They’re also increasingly denying claims when the insured should have done better/more. That makes a lot of sense, they should be. The risk to insurers is too high given the threat environment and the still lagging lack of emphasis (e.g. staffing and funding of cybersecurity strategies/initiatives) by too many organizations.

The message to companies is take it seriously, or not. If not … you’ll pay the price, literally. That also makes sense.

Pay now or pay later … it really is that simple. Or put another way … if you’re more concerned about the “bottom line”, you won’t have a “bottom line” to be concerned about for long. You’ll be out of business.

Having Cyber Insurance doesn’t guarantee you will get a claim paid out either. With a staggering number of claims being denied, it’s crucial to understand why.

Cybersecurity insurance promises peace of mind. But for this company, it became a legal nightmare.

In 2013, Cottage Health suffered a major data breach. Tens of thousands of patient records were exposed online. They thought their multi-million-dollar insurance policy with Columbia Casualty had them covered.

Then, everything turned upside down.

Instead of covering the losses, Columbia sued Cottage Health, claiming they didn’t comply with the security protocols outlined in their policy.

Suddenly, the insurance that was supposed to protect them became the center of a high-stakes legal battle.

Here’s what you need to know to avoid a similar fate:

✅ Don’t just skim your cyber insurance policy. Read it in detail. Are there exclusions for things like negligence or compliance issues?

✅ Ensure every answer you provide in the application process is correct. A single mistake could cost you millions in coverage disputes.

✅ Stay vigilant and assess your practices regularly. Insurance won’t save you if you’re not following the cybersecurity protocols you promised.

In the end, a U.S. federal court dismissed Columbia’s lawsuit. It was a positive outcome for Cottage Health, but the process was costly and stressful. Plus, don’t expect those sme legal results today. Times have changed.

Many businesses make the mistake of thinking that once they have cyber insurance, they’re fully protected. However, the reality is that cyber insurance has its limitations. It might cover some financial losses but won’t repair your reputation, recover lost customers or undo the damage caused by a breach. That’s an unpleasant fact you need to be aware of.

The main takeaway of this article is clearly explained in the below video. It explores the surprising reality of cyber insurance to understand how difficult it really is to obtain a cyber insurance policy, and how difficult it is to actually make a claim. The point being that if you aren’t taking cybersecurity seriously and putting in place a solid cybersecurity strategy upfront (with the requisite tools, resources, staffing, culture, and funding) …. don’t expect cyberinsurance to ride in on a white horse and save the day for you. That’s not how it works. If you’re not serious enough to put in the effort you won’t get a policy request approved (new or renewal) or a claim approved either. Cyberinsurance providers are getting much tougher in this regard….and rightfully so. It’s time to wake up to this reality.

Everything You Need To Know About Cyber Insurance

 

For FREE help addressing everything you need in a cybersecurity strategy to improve your chances of getting a cyberinsurance policy approved or renewed simply ask us at FreedomFire Communications.

For Supply Chain Management….IT Infrastructure Is Critical

 

You are the weakest link – goodbye.

No business is an island, and companies working in fast-moving supply chains are expected to operate in a more joined-up way than ever before. Information is increasingly their lifeblood: modern supply chains are no longer simply about transforming raw materials into finished goods, but about sending information as quickly as possible the length and breadth of the chain. This information controls the delivery of materials, the size and timing of production runs, the particular geography in which production will occur and every detail of the distribution and delivery of goods. It is increasingly used to tune the chain to customers’ real-time requirements, so that they get what they want, when and where they want it.

“The pressures now placed on any business which works within a supply chain are immense,” explains Gill Hawkins, Marketing Director at Star. “In particular, large multinational companies have more and more power over those who supply them with product.” Such companies play an orchestrating role within their supply chains. They are investing in IT infrastructures which facilitate the flow of information up and down the chain. “As a result,” Hawkins adds, “they are enforcing increasingly high levels of IT connectivity on the people who do business with them.”

The Internet is key to such connectivity. It is transforming the way in which many supply chain processes, such as purchase-ordering, are carried out. Large companies are spearheading on-line procurement initiatives, setting up on-line auctions and e-marketplaces, with which they expect suppliers to connect. They use e-mail, which is fast becoming the standard method of communication among supply chain partners. They are Web-enabling their core business systems, so that their information is available 24/7 to suppliers and customers – and they expect their suppliers to do the same. The expectations which they have of their partners’ connectivity are rising daily.

The goal of today’s supply chain may be the seamless, end-to-end electronic transfer of information over the Internet, but it is not yet the reality. There are numerous supply chain members without the right level of connectivity between their systems and those of their partners. Most companies will have experienced the frustration of having a supplier with a slow, unreliable e-mail system which throws a spanner into the works of their own stock-ordering process or a distributor with an inefficient, off-line logistics system which is unable to inform its customers of delivery delays.

Then, there are the partners with connectivity, but a cavalier attitude to Internet security – risking compromising the integrity and confidentiality of supply-chain information and risking bringing down their customers and suppliers’ systems. Since information is so critical to today’s supply chains, any company which lacks commerce-enabled business processes, supported by good Internet connections, efficient IT systems and the right attitude to security, may find itself sidelined from them.

“Most companies will have experienced the frustration of having a supplier with a slow, unreliable e-mail system or a distributor with an inefficient, off-line logistics system.”

“Smaller businesses are especially vulnerable,” Hawkins points out. Their significant customers are unlikely to wait for the small companies’ IT infrastructure to catch up. In a global market, large companies can always find new partners which have equipped themselves with the right level of connectivity to play. If companies are to survive in the Internet enabled supply chains of the twenty-first century, they require the right IT solutions. “If businesses aren’t careful, they will find themselves making the wrong decisions on IT investment, excluding them from supply chain opportunities,” Hawkins remarks. “Getting the right advice when setting up and maintaining IT infrastructure is a business-critical issue,” Gill adds.

“Making snap decisions internally about what software, hardware and Internet services to use is a high-risk game.” “You know you’ve got the right IT partner,” says Gill, “if it asks about your business, who your customers are and what those customers expect from you, in terms of communications technology. It should understand your business aspirations before suggesting an IT solution. That’s when you can tell whether it wants you as a long-term partner, rather than a short-term revenue win.”

A company may fulfil all of its customers’ connectivity requirements, but still be perceived as the weakest link in the chain, if it doesn’t carry its suppliers with it – helping them to adopt best practice, too. The hard fact is that if a company fails to invest in the right connectivity, it loses opportunities for not only itself, but also its suppliers and customers. No company wants to be viewed as the weakest link by its business partners, because, in today’s supply chain, it can mean commercial suicide.

For FREE assistance in custom designing just the right network architecture and bandwidth solution for your supply chain management application(s)…. including end-to-end network security…. simply ask us at FreedomFire Communications.