The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today launched a global thought leadership platform to help frame and stimulate regional and global debate on vital development issues shaping the Middle East.
The “Middle East Exchange” will commission original articles from international experts including Nobel laureates, heads of state, academics and intellectuals. New articles will be published weekly in newspapers globally on a wide range of topics relevant to the region, from health and education to development and innovation.
UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs His Excellency Mohammed Al Gergawi discussed the project at a meeting with Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in Abu Dhabi on December 6. Speaking after the meeting, H.E. Al Gergawi said:
“The Middle East has spent too long in the global spotlight as a source of conflict and trouble. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid’s vision is for innovative and tangible solutions that benefit people’s lives on the ground. There is a huge appetite for practical ideas. The Middle East Exchange will be the number one global platform for positive voices and ideas for the Middle East.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7719851-mohammed-al-maktoum-global-initiatives/
https://youtu.be/Y6rIs220PXc More businesses are taking their products and services online than ever before. Consumers, for the most part, are feeling safer about completing online transactions – especially with businesses they trust.
But some entrepreneurs in the e-commerce world have never started their own business. Many are unfamiliar with how to run an e-commerce store. There’s no doubt that this is an exciting time to explore the e-commerce marketplace – especially for people who are testing it out while keeping their full-time jobs.
Having said that, business owners new to the online world should understand from the get-go that the e-commerce industry is one of the most lucrative targets for cyber criminals. News of the recent eBay hack is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities associated with online businesses. But big businesses aren’t the only ones getting hacked. More than 20 WordPress sites are hacked every minute of every day.
But there are a few basic things you can do to help prevent losing control of your website and your customer’s private information.
Choose a Secure eCommerce Platform
More than two third of all active e-commerce sites are using either Magento or WordPress’ WooCommerce. Why? Mainly because of their sophisticated security features. There are other factors as well, but what makes them stand apart is the extensive security. PrestaShop can be yet another choice with a proven security framework.
Keep your software up-to-date and, it should go without saying, keep your passwords unique and secure. Educate your clients, as well as your workforce, about your information security practices. Let them know how you are protecting customers’ credit card information and what they should do from their end to keep the financial information secure.
Implement SSL Certificates
SSLs (secure socket layers) are the de facto standard when it comes to securing online transactions. An SSL certificate authenticates the identity of users and encrypts data while at store and transit. Implementing SSL is essential for E-commerce websites to establish secure connectivity between the end-user systems and your website.
For tech-savvy buyers, the padlock icon with HTTPS in the address bar is an essential prerequisite for providing their personal details and credit card information. If the consumers believe that a vendor is doing everything possible to secure their transactions, they are more likely to do business with them.
Scan Your Site for Security Vulnerabilities
Although SSLs protect your transactions, they don’t protect your website. No matter which platform you decide to use, ensure that your server maintains PCI compliance requirements by running PCI scans on your server to validate whether you are compliant or not. Companies like Trust Guard not only scan your site for more than 75,000 known vulnerabilities, giving you detailed reports about its safety, but they also provide users with trust seals.
These small, digital images, when placed on your home page and checkout page, have been proved to drastically increase sales and conversion rates. They show potential buyers through accompanying certificates that you are serious about their privacy and security. It gives them the peace of mind they need to make the buying decision.
Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just are getting started, you should understand that keeping your site safe is your most important endeavor. Hackers can (and do) cause economic, legal and reputational damage every day. Keep your site safe and protected by following these three simple website security tips for your online business.
Today, the American Federation of Government Employees released a microsite site to raise awareness of the threat of privatizing the VA, and the negative impact it will have on veterans.
The site, The Fight Against VA Privatization, can be accessed at www.afge.org/VACall and offers viewers reports, data, photos, footage, and information about the largest health care system in the country tailored to the unique needs of our nation’s veterans.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8199531-afge-staff-the-va/
To outsource or not, and even if I do will I get it right? That’s the question on the minds of people who need some extra help in their lives but are unable to get it. Virtual Assistance is no longer a novelty, but ask someone who runs a small business, startup or is just too busy and can do with some help, if they would. And the overwhelming answer would be ‘I am unsure’. Yet there are millions of small businesses and busy individuals across the globe that need assistance, but are reluctant to try it because they are apprehensive.
‘GetFriday’, a leading global Virtual Assistance firm based in India that has been in service since 2005 was instrumental in making outsourcing accessible and more importantly, successful for busy individuals and small businesses across 60 countries.
Despite the numerous successful outsourcing stories of small-medium enterprises and individuals over the years, many first-timers remain indecisive about outsourcing, owing to the fears associated with sending off important work virtually to assistants halfway across the world.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7821451-global-virtual-assistant-everyday-getfriday/
