Green Office Blog

“Business Analysis is a disciplined approach for introducing and managing change to organizations, whether they are for-profit businesses, governments, or non-profits; by identifying and defining the solutions that will maximize the value delivered by an organization to its stakeholders”.  
Marta Magnuszewska, Special Investigation Unit Analyst

The working world as we know it has changed exponentially and everyone is pondering on what the new working world will look like. Uncertainty and fear are occupying the minds of most individuals now, which limits the ability to gain momentum.

To gain momentum, businesses have been forced to restructure and change the way they do things. Some businesses have found more efficient and cost effective ways of operating and functioning daily using a business analysis approach.

What is an Email-Borne Attack?
An email attack occurs when an email is used in an attempt to cause damage or harm to either an individual or an organization.

• 60% of Organizations Expect to Suffer from an Email-borne Attack

• 9 out of 10 successful cyber breaches involved some sort of phishing

As 2020 starts to wind down, your business might already be looking at planning and budgeting for the new year. Let’s face it, 2020 has been pretty dreadful for many businesses, and sustainability may as a result take a back seat in the 2021 budget.If you would like your business to operate more sustainably and even save a few costs (who wouldn’t?), take note of the following small changes and initiatives that can be implemented in any office environment on a budget that won’t break the bank.

There hasn’t been much joy that has come out of this Covid lockdown period, but if anything, it has highlighted the importance of the “small man” within our economy. Everywhere you look, particularly on social media, people are imploring others to ditch the reliance on large chains for goods and services – many of which source their goods from overseas - and instead support all things local. And I’m all for it!

With the world shifting towards a more digital way of life, it’s never been easier to get your hands on locally manufactured products, and getting them delivered to your door is a bonus! 

Greetings Eco Champions!

If you have been following Green Office’s blog, you will know that we are on an exciting One Planet Living journey! Green Office has always had sustainability front of mind in everything that we do. From recycling, to reducing water and electricity consumption, as well as ensuring that our customers are efficient and sustainable. However, it is all too easy for sustainability to become a box checking exercise, particularly when it comes to ensuring legal compliance – the heart of it is forgotten, the “why” is forgotten.

Greetings to all the Eco Champions out there!

In the spirit of Plastic-Free July, as well as keeping little people busy at home during lockdown (you can thank me later), I thought it would be fitting to share some fun ideas on reusing plastic bottles.  Although plastic bottles (PET) are one of the easier materials to recycle in South Africa, they are still problematic.  Anyone who has taken part in a beach cleanup after heavy rains can confirm this.  Plastic bottles are simply a way of life for many people, and that’s okay, however we do need to be mindful of what we do with these bottles after use.

As you probably know, the POPI Act has come into effect as of the 1^st of July 2020 in South Africa and companies have been given a further grace period of 12 months to ensure compliance, thereafter no mercy will be shown for companies found to be non-compliant!

So, the question is.....is your company compliant?

Now more than ever, businesses are looking to reduce costs wherever they can and understandably so.  Doesn’t this then provide the perfect opportunity to look into what items your business is throwing away and seeing how they can be reused, repurposed and recycled within the workplace.  There is always value in waste if you look for it, and the saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” has merit for those creative minds lingering in the office. 

The answer to the question “What is spreading quicker than Covid-19?” is……FRAUD! To be more exact, cyberthreats, cybercrime and cyberattacks.

Interpol has the slogan “Be Vigilant, Be Skeptical, Be Safe”. This relates to the general shift of focus from cyber defenses to focusing on the current health crisis playing out in the world today, with Covid-19 leaving no country unscathed.

So, the question is? How are you fairing when it comes to keeping the focus on a real threat to your personal information and fraud risk?

I don’t think I could be writing this blog at a better time.  When the planet was crying out for a break from humanity’s destructive ways, Covid-19 reared its ugly head, forcing us to stop what we were doing and rethink the way that we go about our daily lives.  Whew – perfect timing!  It always amazes me how nature always forces its hand when it matters the most.