Blue Technologies Blog

Like businesses in all industries, legal firms are at risk of attack from cybercriminals. But there is an added layer of responsibility that comes with providing legal advice to clients — and that is ensuring that they understand how to keep their data safe as well. In many cases, law firms provide targeted guidance to clients such as boards of directors, C-suite professionals, and others on cyber risk and how to minimize it. 

Manufacturers are still feeling the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic, with disruption set to proceed well beyond 2022. As such, thought leaders are looking for ways to address the weaknesses in their operations and optimize systems using advanced technologies and, of course, the power of data. Because of the rapidly changing face of market conditions, long-term programs focusing on digital transformation are no longer providing real benefits. Instead, many are turning to shorter-term solutions to make the kind of strides needed in a hypercompetitive marketplace. 

As we continue to move through the worldwide disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic, we are seeing a huge uptick in the number of cyberattacks focused on small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). What is even more ominous is that many of these organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or nonprofits that provide much-needed services to underserved populations. The reason more nonprofits are finding themselves in the crosshairs of hackers is that they have the perfect combination of attractive features: they are typically easy to breach because they do not have the resources to stay on the cutting edge of cybersecurity protocols and they handle a lot of sensitive and confidential information.

Travel is back on the radar again as consumers begin to take advantage of loosened COVID restrictions to get out and explore their environments. In fact, this summer is predicted to be the busiest ever season for travelers — and those that serve them. With all this activity around traveling, hotels, motels, inns, campgrounds, and other lodging establishments are having to compete more capably to win customers. One of the foremost ways to target new clientele and foster loyalty and trust is to understand the wants, needs, and lifestyles of your target audience.

Healthcare workers are often underserved and undervalued. And now they are even at higher risk for workplace violence than the average worker across other industries. Studies show that if you are a healthcare worker, you are up to five times more likely to be a victim of assault than people in any other job. Some recent surveys even showed that almost 70% of nurses in emergency rooms have been kicked or hit while doing their jobs. 

BST Global’s report on the State of the AEC Project Lifecycle showed that the Architectural, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector is still accumulating data through all phases of its operations, but is remaining incredibly inefficient at processing — and getting the benefits of — this data. While project documentation is on the rise, many firms are still using old-school strategies such as paper spreadsheets to track work, leading to increased operational inefficiencies as well as reduced project success. 

It’s not news that the coronavirus pandemic affected the automotive industry, causing car dealers to struggle to keep a full inventory of new cars on the lot. This shortage of new cars drove up the price of used cars and motivated more consumers to choose a used car over new when purchasing a vehicle. This may seem like a boon for auto repair shops that make revenue on repairing used vehicles, but the opposite is true. Now, auto body shops are feeling the supply shortage pinch as well, as aftermarket industries bend under parts and labor shortages. 

Cyberattacks are increasing at an alarming rate, with a global spike of 105% in ransomware attacks alone in 2021 across all industries, with the health care industry experiencing a 755% increase in overall activity by cybercriminals. Data breaches are becoming increasingly common, with large enterprises such as Solar Winds and others making headline news. As a small business, you may be tempted to breathe a sigh of relief, thinking that you are too insignificant to warrant attention from hackers.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, manufacturers were just beginning to adopt tactics put forth by Industry 4.0, or the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The foundational technologies that makeup Industry 4.0 include human-machine interaction; advanced engineering, analytics intelligence; and connectivity, data, and computational power are extremely impressive. In fact, for manufacturers using digital solutions based on Industry 4.0 principles, the disruptions caused by COVID were lessened and they did better than their peers throughout the crisis. Importantly, some of these strategies can be advanced without major investments in technology as in the case of digital work instructions and performance management, allowing manufacturers to see big benefits with modest outlays of capital.

Winter storms and other strange weather patterns have affected at least one-third of the United States in recent years, with hurricanes and blizzards being among the most cited weather experiences. These extreme weather events have taken a toll on utilities, who have struggled to keep services available to all customers. Aging power grids, maintenance expenses, and the need for upgrades on legacy equipment are putting utilities at a great cost disadvantage as they strive to keep things running smoothly. In some areas of the country, utilities have been taken to task for higher than usual billing of specific populations during extreme weather events.