The urgency of data security and privacy can’t be overstated. In 2021, the global average cost of a data breach was $4.24 million, representing a 9.8% increase over 2020. Yet the immediate costs are a trifle when compared to the incalculable, lasting brand, reputation, and business damage that a data security incident causes.

Understanding the present threat

Risks associated with information security threats increase minute by minute. Bad actors with malicious intent are continuously evolving their strategies and attempting increasingly creative and sophisticated security breaches. The constant potential threat of cyberattacks and security breaches can be taxing on IT teams and organizations that need vigilance, resources, talent, and educational resources just to stay ahead.

The number of potential attackers is also expanding to include not only independent attackers and small groups, but also state-sponsored hacking organizations that are much better organized and funded. These larger groups can afford to devote multiple resources to breaching the defenses of small and large organizations over a long period of time—a level of commitment attackers once reserved only for the most strategic targets.

Infor prioritizes the safety of its customers and their employees. The Infor Workforce Management (WFM) team believes the strength of an organization is its people, and to keep businesses healthy depends on keeping employees healthy and safe. We are here to help, with information about relevant features and functionality that can help your organization respond to COVID-19 and evolve in the new normal.

Contact Tracing
Infor WFM includes configurable Work Detail Filters on both the Daily Timesheet and Supervisor Approval Worksheet. When an employee is identified as exposed to the COVID-19 virus, enabling these filters can help quickly find other employees who worked on the same team or the same department at the same time as that person.

Paid Sick
You can track COVID-19-related paid sick time separately from your existing sick policies. Define a special COVID paid sick time balance and track its usage on employee timesheets by defining a unique time code.

Dedicated to safeguarding your information

To protect the privacy of its customers and the safety of their information, Infor® maintains high standards of data security. Infor Birst® relies upon state-of-the-art and secure data centers, enforces strict internal product controls, and regularly audits its policies and procedures using third-party auditors.

The following sections of this white paper cover the key areas of Birst security in detail, including physical security, system security, operational security, reliability, and application and data security.

The key tenets of Infor Birst’s security initiatives are:

• Security is designed from the ground up in the application, network, hardware, and operational procedures.
• Birst is SOC 2 Type 2 audited, HIPAA/HITECH attested, and ISO-27001:2013 certified.
• Modern Tier-4 data centers that are SOC 2 Type 2 audited and are ISO 27001 certified or follow ISO 27001 policies.
• Infor’s global GDPR privacy program is independently validated by TRUSTe.
• Adherence to security best practices for code development, testing, and operations is followed.
• Regular external review of the policies and procedures for Birst security and operations is conducted.
• Regular penetration and vulnerability testing by third parties is completed.
• Birst personnel maintain security and privacy certifications.

The COVID-19 pandemic and related economic turmoil is changing the way we live and work. Business continuity is being threatened at unprecedented levels. Combined with the current complexities organizations are now facing, maintaining business continuity requires a new approach to common challenges.

Professional services organizations must consider methods that challenge existing systems and operations, while delivering differentiated services.

The next normal is here as a new post-pandemic era solidifies. Professional services industry leaders must respond to current crisis and simultaneously plan through recovery while considering the future. That means acting now, but also establishing better preparations for the next disruption by strengthening business continuity and readiness plans.