Service level agreements set the standard for deliverables and ensure that customers get what they pay for. But, what happens when the service quality doesn't quite match up to what's on paper? Most business executives agree that SLA breaches are relatively common. Companies make big promises initially, but very few of them can live up to them. Does that mean SLA breaches are inevitable, and what does this mean for emergency business communications?

The need for a remote government workforce has become glaringly apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Widening telework options has enabled government employees to do their jobs from home, reducing the risk of transmission and protecting both federal workers and citizens from harm. Regardless of the reasoning, the number of people working remotely tripled between 2019 and 2021. 

Did you know that employees cause 82% of data breaches? No, this doesn't mean that your employees are siding with hackers and leaving the door wide open to shady characters. It means that your employees might take action or make errors that create loopholes hackers exploit. That is what makes them the weakest link.

Critical Event Management (CEM) software is an end-to-end process that enables organizations to significantly speed up responses in emergency situations. For example, it helps hospitals and other vital organizations prepare for, respond to, and recover from events such as natural disasters, health crises, cyber attacks, and even power outages. It’s easier to ensure that everyone is safe and that the operation continues to run smoothly by staying connected and informed.

Alert fatigue is a phenomenon in which users of alarm systems become desensitized to the numerous warnings they receive. Here are some common examples of workers affected:

• Emergency responders

• Healthcare providers

• Security personnel

Is your company’s cyber security profile up to par?

The immediate reaction might be “of course!” But for many companies, the answer isn’t so simple.

Cyber attacks are more common than many believe. It’s estimated that 64% of companies worldwide have experienced a cyber attack, with an average of 30,000 websites hacked daily.

All too often, businesses approach emergency response, disaster recovery, and business continuity planning in the context of the “worst-case scenario,” which usually takes the form of some natural disaster that destroys an entire facility. Although it’s a worthwhile exercise to prepare for such a scenario, that preparation may not apply to less-destructive emergency situations.

Modern businesses rely on a vast array of internal and external infrastructure systems, including energy, ventilation, and data networking systems; software systems, both in local data centers and the cloud; and machines, vehicles, and other equipment to support their operations.

How an organization responds in the first 24 hours of an emergency can make the difference between minor issues and full-blown catastrophes. It’s critical to have a thorough, integrated notification system in place to help employees understand when an incident occurs, the scope of the damage, and what steps to take to remediate the issue.