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        Flexibility is the biggest selling point that we have over our larger rivals. We give our clients the freedom needed to thrive in today’s fast-paced business world, organisations say to us that they often see higher quality work from independent consultants like us, this reason is the primary motivator when choosing us over a big firm. This means that we have the same skills and experience as the big firms, with added freedom and flexibility to let us focus and resolve client requirements.

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        Happiness hacks

         

         

        16 ways to add More Hours to the Day

        A twenty five hour day isn’t coming any time soon with Covid19. Twenty four is all that we get. However, with a bit of skill you can squeeze out a couple more hours to add to your day from personal and work time. Here’s how to have more :

        1. Work in blocks.
        2. Learn how to say no.
        3. Cut down on TV/Netflix.
        4. Plan you week in advance.
        5. Limit your social media time.
        6. Don’t be busy just to be busy.
        7. Don’t do everything…delegate.
        8. Unsubscribe from useless e-mails. Do some Triage:

        Take a 10-minute break after 1 hour of work.

        Prioritize work and schedule online facetime with friends and family, due to covid lockdown. 

        Only watch 1 hour of TV/Netflix at night to wind down once work is complete.

        Make a list of what has to be done for the week and on what days. 

        Don’t make excuses and find things to clean to procrastinate. 

         

        09. Exercise - Plan workouts during your work breaks (10 min chunks) so you can get the most exercising done throughout the day.

        10. Do most important tasks in AM.

        11. Be good at planning and organizing. 

        12. Disable notification for useless apps.

        13. Find tasks to eliminate or automate.

        14. One task at a time (no multitasking).

        15. Always set reminders on your phone.

        16.Write stuff down so you don’t forget.

        Don’t waste time re-writing texts. 

        AM is best for maximizing productivity.

        Use accurate time frames for task – make sure to have extra time in case a task takes longer than expected. They are distracting. 

        Use alarm app. 

        Make use of agenda and post-its.

         

        The final question isn’t just of doing things faster, but of doing the right things. Constantly measure and be aware of the actual value each of your personal and work activities brings. Those that don’t add much should be simplified or eliminated entirely to focus on those that work.

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

        7 Steps in implementing a Zero Trust Architecture

        In the past, cyber defences used to focus on a ‘perimeter’ consisting of geographical proximity. Therefore, everything within the security perimeter was confined to the office building. Today, fewer employees are required to go to an office to work since they can access an organization’s assets through mobile devices and cloud software, regardless of where they are located. Unfortunately, this gives cyber criminals more entry points to collect and damage an organization’s assets. 

        ZTA, developed by Forrester’s John Kindervag in 2010, is one of the best ways to secure any kind of cyber assets for most organizations. The basic principles of zero trust are:

        • -        Assume network is always hostile.
        • -        Assume internal/external threats are always present.
        • -        Assume internal network is not sufficient to equal trusted.

        As not all organizations looking to implement ZTA are doing so under the same circumstances, let’s look at the two different varieties of implementation:

        • Pure ZTA creation – This is also known as a ‘greenfield’ approach. New companies without cybersecurity architecture or those seeking a makeover of their existing systems are effectively starting over from scratch. 
        • Hybrid ZTA and perimeter system ­– More commonly, companies looking to incorporate ZTA into their cyberdefences will be integrating zero trust concepts into an existing perimeter-focused cybersecurity system. 

        7 steps to implementing a Zero Trust Architecture 

        Step 1: Identifying Actors

        The first stem is establishing the actors (who) of your system. This entails knowing who your users are, who potential threats may be, etc. This involves a process of detailed recordkeeping and account management, including:

        • -        All individual users and their characteristics
        • -        All nonperson entities (NTE) and their functions
        • -        All attributes and roles associated with every account

        Step 2: Identifying Assets 

        The second step is establishing the ‘what’ of your system. This requires you to develop and maintain a catalog of all individual resources of assets that are part of your system. This list includes, but is not limited to:

        -        Enterprise owned hardware

        Computers and laptops

        Mobile devices, tables, etc.

        All IoT devices (e.g. Belkin WeMo Smart Light Switch, Amazon Echo Plus Voice Controller, Google Home Voice Controller)

        -        Unowned assets that regularly connect to enterprise resources

        Employee devices

        Client devices

        Third-party devices

        -        Digital artifacts

        All software and applications

        User accounts and relevant data (see above)

        Certificates and other digital or virtual resources

        Step 3: Identifying Processes

        Completing the initial inventory means keeping track of all processes in your system. 

        Companies may not be able to catalog all the information in Step 2, therefore it is important to set up a system that can efficiently scan a new asset and index it immediately. That way, your database adapts over time as assets are added, removed, or changed.

        This requires not only identifying all the processes, but also categorizing and ranking them with respect to stakes and cybersecurity needs. Processes to be gauged in this manner include:

        • -        Protocols
        • -        Data flows
        • -        Work flows
        • -        Transactions
        • -        Structured events

        Step 4: Formulating Policies 

        This step is where you move on to the establishment of rules and practices. It is therefore important to utilize the information gathered over the cataloguing stages to gauge the importance of a given actor, asset, or process to the overall ZTA scheme and the broader cybersecurity of the organization.

        It is highly recommended to begin with smaller or lower-stake process or asset. For instance, an application used by a small and defined subset of users is preferable for first adoption than one used by all users.

        Once the right process or asset is chosen, policies regarding specific cybersecurity needs and means can be drafted. 

        The policies define:

        • -        Which credentials or authenticating factors are appropriate for access
        • -        What information is eligible for the algorithm calculating access approval

        -        How the algorithm for access is to be calculated:

        • Logistics of access approval and denial
        • Priority and relevance of information
        • Exceptional cases and exceptions

        Step 5: Producing Solutions

        The fifth step involves creating the solutions by putting into action all the data collection and policy planning. 

        Here, you draft a list of viable solutions or deployments of ZTA to be used on one or more candidates identified in Step 4. These solutions are also guided by the policies outlined in Step 4. 

        You must determine which solution to implement. Things to consider when choosing from your list of solutions include:

        • -        Does the solution enable data collection analysis?
        • -        Does it require installation of components?
        • -        Does location impact its efficacy?

        Once a solution is chosen, you materialize it through deployment. 

        Step 6: Beginning Deployment and Monitoring 

        The sixth step involves putting your solution in place, deploying it on and through the various components that make up your ZTA architecture for the selected candidate(s). Actual changes are finally implemented to your cyberdefence framework. 

        It is highly recommended to have one or more trial runs before deploying the solution in full force. Initial hiccups are likely, such as 

        -        The system may be overly cautious, not granting access where it should.

        -        The system may be improperly lax, granting more access than it should. 

        -        The system may no properly handle special cases.

        This step is not complete until the deployment of ZTA components on the chosen candidates is fully deployed. Once complete, you will have successfully implemented ZTA. 

        Step 7: Expanding the Framework

        This last step requires you to return to the fourth step. Insights from your first run through steps five and six will guide your decisions as you return to Step 4. 

        Once you decided that the initial ZTA deployment on chosen candidates is functional and stable, because: 

        • -        you are monitoring the ZTA and loggin all traffic,
        • -        changes and adjustments are few and minor, and
        • -        operation involves little to no maintenance. 

        At this point, your deployment is successful. Moving forward you need to identify a new round of candidates for ZTA deployment, then designing the plan – until you enable cybersecurity for the complete list of applications that require protection, it should include application, data and infrastructure in your model implementation.

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        We offer clients specialised consulting in areas that we deeply understand. Our services include:

        • - Skills To Envision, Design And Develop Enterprise Apps
        • - Talent For SaaS/PaaS/IaaS In The Cloud
        • - API Architecture
        • - Data Science Talent
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  • Noticing the Good at Work: How It Can Change Your Life

Blog

Noticing the Good at Work: How It Can Change Your Life
25 November 2015

But unfortunately for the large majority of those in the workforce, their job is the biggest source of stress in their life. This stress can come from everything from the commute, or frustrating co-workers, to strenuous daily tasks, the fear of getting laid off, or having to face the wrath of bosses or clients. Whatever the source of this stress though, study after study has proven that stress leads to very real health problems due to increased cortisol like high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. Not only that, but it takes a toll on mental health as well.

So how can you combat these stressors that you’ll inevitably face every day at work? Well, the answer is fairly simple. Choose to notice the positive parts of your day rather than dwell on the negative.

Negativity Changes Your Brain

By nature, our brains are wired to register and react to negative emotion. It’s an innate survival tactic that causes our brain to focus only on that negative emotion so we can get away from danger. And while this is useful if you have to run or fight for your life, in an everyday sense, focusing on this negativity can quite literally narrow your mindset. Focusing on the negative emotion causes your brain to shut off the outside world and limit the other options and choices that surround you.

It’s easy to let stress at work consume you and occupy most of your thoughts during the day. Oftentimes, it even spills over into conversations with friends, family, or other co-workers where you complain about this negative stress as a way to release it. Unfortunately though, this behavior, over time, can re-wire your brain into only ever seeing or talking about negative events. It can literally re-shape your brain as the synapses for these thoughts grow closer together. So how do you prevent that from happening?

How Seeing the Positive Benefits You

Positive thinking is a feel-good word that for a lot of people doesn’t carry much weight. Some people may see it as just having a false sense of reality, but research shows that it’s quite the opposite. Choosing positive thoughts over negative and stressful thoughts can help you build skills and see things in a way that those who focus on negative thoughts aren’t able to. Those who continually focus on positive emotions open their mind to more options and sense of possibility, and because of that they develop an enhanced ability to build skills and develop resources. Whereas negativity closes off much of the outside world, positivity breeds the development of valuable skills and resources for everyday life that last far longer than the emotion itself.

Choosing Positivity At Work

While for many, this might be easier said than done, anyone can make the choice to start noticing more positive elements of their work day. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to walk around with a grin on your face all day or never feel stressed about a deadline or project, but it does mean that you’ll need to adopt a different mindset than what you’ll find most people have in the office. Here are a few tips to help you do that:

  1. Don’t start your day with a negative attitude – If you walk through the door with a stressed or cynical attitude, your day will most likely continue with those emotions. If you don’t have time to take a few minutes to clear your mind try prayer/meditation in the morning before leaving home, utilize your transit time to take a few deep breaths and listen to music instead of world/business news to clear your mind of any negative expectations for the day.
  2. Don’t let negative emotions fester – As you already know, negative emotions can cause your brain to close off and only focus on that feeling. When a co-worker does something to annoy you or your boss lashes out at you for something that wasn’t your fault, try not to fixate on that experience for the rest of the day. Take a break and do something to take your mind off of those negative feelings so you can get back to the real task at hand.
  3. Pay Attention to Your Conversation Topics –In office culture, it’s quite common for co-workers to bond over complaining about things around the work place, whether it’s policies, administration, or environment. This is not only damaging to individual mindsets, but harms office culture as well. Try to notice when you’re quick to jump in on this complaining, and when you catch yourself playing along, make a conscious effort to either re-position the topic or politely excuse yourself.
  4. Write it Down – One of the best ways to solidify a memory is to write it down. Journaling is one of habits of successful people and they use it as a tool to gain insight, record goals, and live a better life. Whether you choose to hand write it or keep a simple file on your computer, make a habit at the end of each day to record three positive things that happened during your work day—even if it just happens to be the delicious lunch you had—and you’ll find yourself having a better attitude when you leave for the day.

When it comes down to it, choosing positivity really is a simple choice that pays off big time in the future. Making the conscious effort to notice even the smallest positive elements in your work day helps you have a better attitude about your job, a better outlook on job satisfaction as a whole, and as studies show, even helps you build life skills. Plus, it can even help you live longer as you train your brain to focus on the good instead of the bad, reducing stress levels along with way. With so many benefits that positivity can bring in your life, you really can’t afford not to choose it! Hopefully these simple tips will help you start noticing the good parts of your work day and by making a better workplace for others, we make ourselves better leaders.

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