As many are aware, Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts International experienced cybersecurity breaches last week that resulted in the shutdown of casino and hotel computer systems from Las Vegas to New York. The breaches were executed by ransomware groups, who gained access through tactics like text messages and phishing emails. In the case of MGM, hackers posed as an employee and contacted the help desk to request a password reset. Caesars Entertainment quietly paid a $15 million ransom to the hackers. The breaches proved to be a logistical and financial nightmare, affecting reservations, casino floors, room accommodations, and other issues that cost both the guests and venues tremendously.

The cyberbreaches serve as a painful reminder to all that the need for cybersecurity is at an all-time high. Casino security is often regarded as near-impossible to penetrate, however, that doesn’t deter nor prevent attacks, as we already know by now; Where there is money to be had, there will be thieves and unfortunately, MGM and Caesars are all too familiar. Entertainment venues are certainly not stand-alone victims, with other major industries targeted including healthcare, education, and government agencies. 

As healthcare continues to go digital through artificial intelligence and other avenues such as telehealth and telemedicine, the need to software that can ensure safe, secure data storage and protection is imperative. Although the healthcare sector has not seen the worst of data breaches, it has seen some of the most expensive; Multiple incidents have occurred within the past year of leaked personal information about patients and residents that have cost facilities hundreds of thousands. The topic of cybersecurity is no longer about if you need it, but how to implement it for maximum effectiveness.

Here are some ways to protect yourself:

• Training: Strengthen your weakest link by making internal spam/phishing training obligatory for all employees. Most cybersecurity breaches occur due to human error. Make sure everyone is well-versed in recognizing potential sources of malware and malicious modes of communication.
• VPN: Strengthen your home network via VPN encryption to ensure no sensitive data can be intercepted by cybercriminals. Limit identity theft opportunities for cybercriminals by guarding your personal information and practicing discernment when probed for personal details.
• Passwords: Use strong, unique passwords and change them often. Use multifactor authentication. Make sure that your one-time passwords are up to date. Doing all the above limits the ability for hackers to key track and recognize password trends.
• System Updates: Keep your software and operating system up to date and invest in the best cybersecurity system you can afford. Remember, nobody is safe and an educated investment, thought pricey, may save you far more in the long run.
  
  

While the current state of the economy can be described as moody, in some industries, there is still potential for growth, namely in the cybersecurity sector.

Everyone knows that when there is an economic squeeze, businesses resort to self-conserving methods to keep their companies alive. Workforces are downsized, contracts are slowed, and executives everywhere search every nook and cranny for money-saving solutions. While the economic downturn has not allowed the cybersecurity industry to go unscathed, the need for it prevails, albeit in a more particular fashion.

As businesses search for savings, the key lies within platforms like Microsoft. Now, with tighter budgets and more stringent purchasing processes, businesses no longer want to spend money on individual products for individual problems ̶ they want a platform that solves all of them concurrently. As the saying goes, they want more bang for their buck. Microsoft is well known for its all-inclusive platform approach, and now that businesses are becoming exceedingly selective, cybersecurity is well on its way, too.

In addition to the economic conditions, cybersecurity has another motive to speed the transition to platform-esque systems. On July 26, the SEC announced that all public cybersecurity vendors will be required to disclose cyberattacks within four business days of the breach if they have a material effect. According to the SEC, the decision was made with the intention of “[hardening] the financial system against data theft, systems failure and cyber-intrusions.” What this means is that many businesses are forced to be more transparent about cyber breaches, giving executives the kick in the pants they need to become more acquainted with their cybersecurity solutions and improve their overall protection. Now that platforms have become the preferred management system for cybersecurity vendors, it is in the best interest of cybersecurity companies to evolve their approach to meet the growing expectations.

The increased vigilance paired with the watchful eyes of penny-pinching CISOs means there is a great opportunity for cybersecurity to expand into a more inclusive, multi-functional, and user-friendly platform that can meet the demands of businesses and individual clients. Improving the level of cyber protection is a mounting necessity across all industries, opening a gateway of opportunity for cybersecurity companies that choose to embrace the new market demands.

The short answer? Update your internet speed and services.

Slow WiFi is the arch enemy of productivity and revenue. It severely impacts the fluidity of facility operations, decreasing the level of performance of SaaS apps, customer relationship management (CRM) programs, and financial processing programs. Facilities lose valuable time waiting for programs to load, money on poor services, and confidence surrounding security breaches.

In the post-Covid era, businesses have come to rely on internet access more than ever, raising the standards for what internet speed and services entails. As companies continue to make the transition to remote work, strong and reliable WiFi has gone from preferable to necessary. Without it, companies are stuck with a bandwidth that’s unable to support high-speed uploading/downloading, video conferencing, VoIP calls, large data transfers, and cloud applications. As a result, facilities not only waste thousands of dollars on traditional landline phones but they end up barring themselves from entering the latest market of cloud applications altogether, as many cloud programs now rely on high-speed WiFi to support its function. Decreased bandwidth is also met with impatience on the client end, causing businesses to lose customers who don’t care to wait for pages to load or cannot trust a business’s ability to operate safely and efficiently due to unreliable performance.

The bottom line is, slow internet is like a big hole in your pocket. High-speed WiFi can patch it.

Top Benefits of High-Speed WiFi:

1. Seamless transitions from task to task allows for effective collaboration despite employees working remotely or those working while traveling. With access to high-speed internet, employees can collaborate through shared platforms, share files, print documents remotely, and perform tasks as if they were in the office.
2. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone service renders landlines obsolete, saving time and money by replacing in-person meetings with video conferencing when possible.
3. With the additions of Ethernet ports, companies enjoy resilient and strong WiFi signal that supports multitasking across internet applications without service arbitrary data cap limitations, ensuring that businesses can operate at consistently high speed.
4. Greater security means that expensive security breaches are preventable thanks to more agile disaster response, which depends on speed. Fast backups ensure that companies can efficiently secure customer information and any other sensitive material at all times.
5. Superior hardware comes with superior service providers, meaning that in the case of bad weather conditions, electrical interference, and physical breakdowns, issues are resolved swiftly, avoiding downtime and lost productivity.
6. Increased efficiencies quickly absorb more direct savings than the initial installation cost.

The state of the economy has hit many industries hard, with the healthcare sector being no exception. With increased labor and direct supply costs, inflation costs, as well as a growing demand for diversified care solutions, the passing of recent federal mandates has left many in the Senior Living & Care industry scrambling to keep up.

Despite the further pressures, there are some positive trends that point to future business opportunities for progressive Senior Care Facilities. Since late 2022, unemployment and inflation rates have decreased across the boards, whereas consumer spending has remained constant. Senior care facilities have also benefitted from the deceleration of new construction sites, causing occupancy rates in current facilities to increase in response to the perpetual demand for senior home and behavioral health care.

Consumer demands and expectations continue to grow and evolve over time, making room for senior care facilities to leverage their businesses in new ways.

Here are three ways to take advantage of the current trends:

1. Pinpoint your facility’s unique selling point. Consumers want to have the best of everything, and usually that means having access to something others don’t. A great way to promote your facility is by demonstrating how you provide an exclusive service or amenity along with everything else that is typically offered. Residents and their families want to feel as though they are in the best of hands, whether it comes down to facility layout, dining options, recreational activities, or social engagements. The demand for more diverse health and wellness solutions means that your facility has the ability to stand out if you keep your residents’ best interests in mind at all times.
2. Stay up-to-date on the latest technological advancements designed to manage facilities of your size and scope. The more accurately you can expedite critical decision-making regarding your facilities, the easier it will be to generate revenue. Invest in an all-in-one online dashboard like primeVIEW, which allows you to track important data relating to your real-time census, as well as your labor, financial and clinical systems. When it comes to post-acute care, having QAPI compliant data like this at your fingertips is invaluable to running a smooth and meticulous operation.
3. Reevaluate your marketing and sales approach. In an era that concentrates on wellness and lifestyle, consider how best to promote the superiority of your facility compared to your peers. Potential consumers want to feel as though their overall health and quality of life is going to be improved by choosing you, and a large portion of that has to do with the coordination of care provided. Create a comprehensive care model with wellness plans that your facility can execute seamlessly every time; Not only will it increase the level of confidence your current residents have in you, but it will demonstrate to potential consumers that your facilities are capable of consistently providing favorable outcomes and solutions for everyone. 

Thanks to the exponential growth of technology in recent years, the answers are always at your fingertips, if you know how to use it. In senior living communities, this presents a significant issue for its aging populations, many of whom missed out on the technology learning curve. As a result, technology not only remains a foreign concept to a majority of residents, but its benefits are often overlooked and underutilized due to lack of education.

As technology continues to advance, the need for increased accessibility in senior living communities grows, making it pertinent that personalized tech support services are provided to all residents. The benefits of these services are two-fold, positively impacting both residents and staff. By having qualified IT professionals on-hand, residents can learn how to make the most of the technologically savvy world we live in, which in turn allows them to regain their sense of independence and feel more connected to loved ones and the greater world around them. Staff, on the other hand, no longer have to tend to the additional responsibility of being tech support proxies and can focus on more pressing responsibilities. Providing services that make integrating technology simple for aging residents and staff alike dramatically increases the overall quality and sophistication of care.

Personalized tech support services cover many areas of senior care; from wearable health monitoring devices to smart home technology. Senior residents and their families deserve the highest level of care, and with the right instruction, technology can get them there.

Five Benefits of Personalized Tech Support Services

1. Residents learn how to independently navigate applications and devices designed to monitor their own health, increasing their sense of autonomy and allowing them to stay up-to-date on their medical records.
2. Hands-on instruction setting up networking tools such as Facetime, Zoom, and social media platforms keeps residents in touch with loved ones and the rest of the world.
3. Tech advisors help residents build a more comfortable living environment by introducing home improvement products such as voice-operated Alexa, which helps alleviate some of their common daily difficulties, such as having to stand up to turn off a light switch, close blinds, or tune into their favorite radio station.
4. Tech advisors provide a far more extensive background in IT solutions than staff, therefore they are better able to address technology issues promptly and effectively. This increases both the efficiency of facility operations and the level of day-to-day communication between residents, their families and staff. 
5. Residents feel more safe and secure in their homes, confident that they can rely on technology to alert necessary parties and assist them in the case of accidents, falls, and other emergencies.