By: Joseph Imperato, Sr., Partner, XSolutions Consulting Services, LLC Introduction The threat to a business from the outside is well-known and even expected, but sometimes the threat comes from within. Management doesn’t want to think about it, but the insider threat is very real. As managers, we have to ask ourselves, “why would an employee intentionally hurt the very company that pays them? The reasons vary, of course, but there are a few that come to mind:
Here’s the issue—human behavior can’t be easily predicted, and a business needs to take the approach of training their workforce to fend off cyberattacks and installing internal controls to mitigate inside threats. Have you ever read a questionnaire from an insurance company for cyber-insurance? Notice how they seem to dwell on internal controls. Unfortunately, many companies have been seriously harmed by malicious employees. Offsetting the Risk Establishing accountability will lessen the risk of internal dangers. Some behaviors should trigger alarms:
This is why strong internal controls are a must for all companies. Network activity must be watched for unusual behavior and immediately investigated when found. Companies that do not have the resources internally should use a Managed IT Services Provider (MSP) specializing in security. It’s A Two-Front WarBusinesses are battling criminals on two fronts—outside threats and threats from within. While inside threats are not pleasant to think about, they’re real and must be anticipated. This is where security systems shine and can save your business. A good MSP will employ all of the latest protective tools, such as Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), Security Awareness Training for your employees, and a Security Operations Center (SOC). They’ll keep watch over your network and take immediate steps when unusual activity is detected. Conclusion The days are gone when the only thing a business needs is a good antivirus program. Cybercrime has advanced far above that. Small-to-Medium size businesses (SMBs) need much more to protect themselves. Managed IT Security is not as expensive as you may think. Look into it now! Be safe. XSolutions is an IT Services Provider serving New York (NY), New Jersey (NJ), and Connecticut (CT). We provide Managed IT Services | Managed IT Security | Backup & Disaster Recovery| Cloud Data Protection. Call (845) 362-9675 for a free consultation.
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By: NPZ Law Group, P.C. The President announced that the United States will be putting in place strict protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 from passengers flying internationally into the United States, by requiring that adult foreign nationals traveling to the United States be fully vaccinated. This policy means that we will no longer be implementing the current 212(f) travel policies for individual countries as of early November, and will be moving to a consistent, stringent requirement for all international air travelers coming to the United States. Specifically: Starting in early November, foreign nationals traveling to the United States will be required to be fully vaccinated and to show proof of vaccination prior to boarding an airplane; The current requirement for everyone to show proof of a negative test taken within 3 days of boarding a flight will remain in place for all fully vaccinated travelers. CDC will continue to strongly recommend against air travel by Americans who are not fully vaccinated; however, all unvaccinated travelers who return to the United States and are not fully vaccinated will be required to, prior to boarding an airplane:
CDC will also issue a Contact Tracing Order that will require airlines to collect comprehensive contact information for every passenger coming to the United States and to provide that information promptly to CDC upon request, to follow up with travelers who have been exposed to COVID-19 variants or other pathogens. These requirements will apply globally. This policy means that we will no longer be implementing the current 212(f) travel policies for individual countries as of early November, and will be moving to a consistent, stringent requirement for all international air travelers coming to the United States. Q&A Q: Why have you kept the previous policies in place for so long? Why make this change now? What changed between now and January when you took over this system and kept it in place for 8 months? Maintaining the prior system while vaccinations ramped up around the world was the most effective way to keep Americans safe. Now, nearly 6 billion shots have been given globally and dozens of countries have strong vaccination rates. This new system allows us to implement strict protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 from passengers flying internationally into the United States, by requiring that adult foreign nationals traveling to the United States be fully vaccinated. Q: Why are you announcing it now if it won’t be active until November? What are next steps? Announcing the changes now gives the appropriate amount of time for strong implementation. Airlines and other private businesses need some lead time to make business decisions about travel later in the year and to prepare for putting the changes in place. CDC will be replacing the current Global Testing Order with an updated approach that requires vaccination for foreign nationals, tightens the pre-departure testing requirements, and adds a post-arrival testing requirement for unvaccinated travelers. They will also be issuing a new Contact Tracing Order. DHS, FAA, and State will also be working to develop the directives and processes for implementing these changes via the boarding process with airlines and through consular affairs offices. So, we are going to take the time to get this right. Q: Won’t this change increase travel to the United States? Doesn’t that add to risk at a time when hospitals are overflowing in many parts of the country? This enhances the protections for the American people by requiring ALL foreign nationals to be fully vaccinated before boarding a plane to come to the United States, with very limited exceptions. It will also require American citizens and residents who are not vaccinated to test within a day of boarding a plane rather than three days, which will provide stronger protections against infected people boarding planes. Q: Isn’t this just an admission that the travel restrictions do not make sense? Maintaining the prior system while vaccinations ramped up around the world was the most effective way to keep Americans safe. Now, nearly 6 billion shots have been given globally and dozens of countries have strong vaccination rates. This new system allows us to implement strict protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 from passengers flying internationally into the United States, by requiring that adult foreign nationals traveling to the United States be fully vaccinated. Q: What proof of vaccination status will you accept? We will be requiring proof of vaccination status to be presented before boarding. The type of proof required will be worked out as the detailed implementation plan is developed in the coming weeks. Q: What vaccines will you accept? We will look to CDC to guide which vaccines will be accepted, as part of their standard role in determining who is considered fully vaccinated for the purposes of recommended or required international travel protocols. Q: Are you planning to end Title 19 restrictions on non-essential travel at the land border? Title 19 is being extended for another month through October 21, and we do not have further updates to that policy at this time. Q: What are you doing to step up mitigation at the land border, if anything? Or instead are you going to have an inconsistency where unvaccinated people can cross the land border but not get on a plane? The administration is announcing a move to a safer and more harmonized global approach to international inbound air travel, and our focus will be on implementing those changes. We do not have any updates to the land border policies at this time. Q: Who will be excepted from the full vaccination requirement for foreign nationals? The exceptions will be very narrow, such as for children; COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial participants; and, humanitarian exceptions for people traveling for an important reason and who lack access to vaccination in a timely manner. But let me stress that these will be very limited exceptions. And we will be requiring that people who receive these very limited exceptions agree to get vaccinated upon arrival. Q: Won’t requiring vaccination be highly inequitable, especially for countries with low vaccine access? We believe that the vast majority of people who can travel internationally to the U.S. will be able to access a vaccine. For those who have a compelling and urgent reason to come to the United States and are not able to access a vaccine in a timely manner prior to departure, we will have in place very limited exceptions for which they can apply. And we will be requiring that people who receive these very limited exceptions agree to get vaccinated upon arrival. Q: What additional mitigation steps are you taking beyond the vaccination requirement? We have extended the masking order through January 18, 2022. CDC will also be stepping up pre-departure and post-arrival testing requirements. CDC will also be putting in place a contact tracing order. Q: Why not take down 212(f) now? We are taking down 212(f) for the countries to which it applies today concurrent with the early November start of the new system. Q: When will the policies be finalized and made public? We anticipate these policies will be effective by early November. If you have any questions or need any additional information about US or Canadian Immigration and Nationality Laws, contact the immigration and nationality lawyers at the NPZ Law Group. If you have more questions about how these laws in the US may impact you or your family, contact the lawyers specialized in US Immigration and Nationality laws at our law firm. You can also send us an email at [email protected] or you can call us at 201-670-0006 (x104). In addition to that, we invite you to find more information on our website at www.visaserve.com By: Rachael Bell, Content & Communications Director, NJCPA With so many New Jersey residents and businesses impacted by remnants of Hurricane Ida, the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJCPA) is offering a Disaster Recovery Guide that provides recommendations on how to replace personal identification cards, document damage and losses for insurance claims, avoid disaster-related fraud and amend tax returns. NJCPA’s free Disaster Recovery Guide provides a list of state and federal agency contacts as well as contact information for most major insurance agencies servicing New Jersey. It explains the necessary steps to take regarding replacement documentation for autos, homes, mortgages or proof of marriage. It also outlines what IRS forms may provide further information. “In light of the recent flood damage in the Garden State, the guide provides some practical advice for residents and businesses,” said Ralph Albert Thomas, CPA (DC), CGMA, CEO and executive director at the NJCPA. “Knowing where to turn to replace damaged or lost information in a disaster can mean a world of difference.” The Disaster Recovery Guide is available online at njcpa.org/recovery or by contacting the NJCPA at 973-226-4494 or [email protected]. Thinking Winter? You Are If You’re Already Planning Your Business’s Year-End Holiday Promotion9/9/2021 By: Debbie Barnett, President & Founder, Barnett Design, Inc. It’s tough to get into the winter holiday mode when you’ve been in flip flops for months. But wrapping up your year-end promo now will give you peace of mind and can help your wallet. Here are eight tips to get you going on what can be a fun and rewarding project. 1. Define your budget. Think about how much you’re budgeting for the entire project—including the core item, additional “support” items (we highly recommend including an edible treat*), custom-printed insert, wrapping, and packaging, etc., and don’t forget shipping/delivery costs! 2. Make a recipient list. Though this will primarily be your clients (list each individual that you will give to), you may choose to include other business colleagues or a significant vendor for whom you would like to show special appreciation. You may also choose to include your staff on the recipient list. ***Be sure to include a good number of extras for last minute add-ons. 3. Consider your audience. Once you’ve compiled your list, brainstorm gift ideas that will work for all of your recipients regardless of age, gender, size, etc. What desires/needs/qualities do all of your clients share? What kind of items would be appealing to all of them? 4. Concept is the key. Whether you’re going for clever, unique, elegant, fun, or another angle, it’s all in the idea. Come up with a specific theme that supports the personality of your business and lends itself to creativity. Develop a fresh visual presentation and carefully crafted writing (a clever or compelling promotional line, heartfelt message, etc.). Focus on messaging that isn’t holiday-specific, but expresses gratitude and wishes everyone well. How would you like the recipient to feel when they receive your package? Our clients regularly tell us “We can’t wait to see what you come up with this year!” 5. Make it memorable and reusable. Whether you’ve allotted $5 or $50 for the core item, you want your clients to keep it, love it, talk about it, and use it year-round. We love themes that are multi-seasonal—custom chocolate snowmen in a branded ice chest, for example. Think outside the usual. Or, if it IS “usual”, then choose the best one in its category, presented in a unique way. Many of our year end promos have been so well received that clients have asked if they can “purchase another one for a family member”, or they tell us they have to “hide their item at home to keep another family member from taking it!” 6. Customize and brand as much as possible. This can mean silkscreening, embroidery, digital printing, vinyl decals, engraving, or wood burning, etc. It’s ideal if you can get your branding imprinted on the core item, but if you can’t, there are other ways to customize. Make sure the item clearly connects to your brand in some way (think concept!). Find an item that is available in your branded color or in the color of your concept/theme. Perhaps you can attach a custom, promotional gift tag, add branded wrapping, or include a smaller, coordinating branded item that works with the overall concept. 7. Get your order in. Benefit from “early bird specials”. Don’t get stuck with rush charges, backorders, or heart-sinking messages like, “This item will be back in stock in January”. Order plenty of shipping supplies. 8. It’s gotta get there. When you’re choosing an item, consider how you’ll wrap and ship or deliver it. How heavy is it? How large is it? How durable is it? Which shipping method is most economical, reliable, and timely? Here’s yet another reason to start early — better and lower cost shipping options! If time and logistics allow, consider delivering personally. Start early, have fun, and enjoy the creative process. With a little advance planning, you’ll have clients talking about your promos for years to come. *If including an edible item, consider dietary needs, allergens, and perishability. It’s best if one item works for all, though on occasion, we swap in a different treat for a few recipients when needed. Debbie Barnett is the Founder and Creative Director of Barnett Design, a 100+ award-winning creative studio. The Barnett team is known for their fresh, fun approach and effective, unique design and writing solutions for branding, packaging, ad campaigns, websites, marketing materials, and more. By Marc Demetriou, CLU, ChFC, CDLP, SVP of Mortgage Lending/Branch, Manager, Guaranteed Rate In the 1980s, the mainstream media shockingly reported that half of American marriages ended in divorce. Now forty years later, there’s some good news and bad news regarding divorce stats. The good news is divorce rates are down, from approximately 50 percent to 39 percent in 2020.1 The bad news is the divorce rate in America is still too darn high. Which means that there’s still a lot of heartache and a lot of broken homes, literally and figurately. So, how do divorcing families deal with a divided house while also trying to sell it? Each state makes its own rules As anyone who has ever been through a divorce knows: there are no “typical” divorces. For example, if you live in a “community property” state, assets that were accumulated during the marriage are split fifty-fifty. But as they say: “the devil’s in the details.” If your spouse moved into a home that you already owned and the spouse’s name was never added to the house’s title, things could get complicated in a divorce. Community property states include Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and sometimes Alaska. In the remaining 40 states, marital assets are distributed in a relatively fair manner. But sometimes “fair” is not the same as “equitable.” Judges are human, with human frailties and biases. And let’s not even talk about prenups. If a spouse signed a pre-nuptial before saying “I do”, most judges will treat that agreement as a legal document. Judges love documentation. It’s less work for them. The three main options for selling the marital home Many real estate and financial experts say that there are three main ways3 to divide property in a divorce:
Other joint decisions are crucial as well There are other decisions5 that need to be resolved jointly that will directly affect the sale of the marital home as well, such as:
Divorce can be a painfully emotional process for all concerned. But keeping a level head, being pragmatic, and maintaining reasonable expectations can help ensure that neither spouse loses their shirt when the martial home is finally sold. Again, consulting a tax attorney (especially one who has experience working with divorced couples) can help both parties move forward with open eyes.
Marc Demetriou “The Divorce Lending Expert” is an SVP of Mortgage Lending & Branch Manager at Guaranteed Rate and is currently licensed in all 50 states successfully serving his clients in traditional and reverse mortgages. He consistently ranks in the top 1 percent of mortgage originators in the U.S., according to leading industry sources Origination News, Mortgage Executive and Scotsman Guide. In his home state of New Jersey, Marc has been featured in NJBIZ's "40 Under 40" and is called upon frequently by the real estate, finance, accounting and legal communities as a trusted expert and speaker. |
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