Author name: Johannes Zapotocky

Digital challenges with analog consequences

Digital and Analog in Dialogue / /

Prevention and security Two buzzwords that can be found in many areas, from health and finance to crime. The latter term, in turn, has many faces; one of which has been haunting the world since Tim Berners-Lee developed the foundations of the World Wide Web at CERN. Although it has been present everywhere in recent decades, the population, business and politics are still not aware of this initially invisible danger to the extent that would be appropriate for this type of crime: cybercrime. Companies, authorities and individuals are threatened and blackmailed digitally every day. Nevertheless, statements such as “Who wants anything from me?” or “I have nothing to hide” are still prevalent. However, these thoughts are long outdated, as reality shows that an overwhelming proportion of all cyberattacks are based on one premise: Opportunism. It can affect any person, any company, any organization. The damage itself is not caused by the intrusion itself but depends on the time it takes for hackers to move around the system unnoticed and collect data. Protective measures The following chain of knowledge can serve as the basis for effective defense: Security begins with prevention, prevention requires understanding, understanding means knowledge. All protective measures begin with the identification of potential weak points and gateways: e-mails, stolen identities, or compromised websites, for example, are a frequently used way for hackers to gain access to further infrastructure. Despite all the precautions taken, there is one certainty: there is no such thing as 100% prevention. Once a hacker has been detected in the system, it is necessary to react to this attack as quickly as possible and start by containing the attack, kicking the attacker out and repairing any damage caused – and ideally closing the door so that it can no longer be penetrated. Economic component Loss of production, reputational damage and the resulting loss of customers: anyone who has understood the potential dangers of cybercrime also recognizes the fact that spending on preventive measures is not only worthwhile but is limited compared to the costs in the event of damage. For similar reasons, expenditure is made in areas such as fire or liability insurance in the hope that it will never be needed. This applies to companies of all sizes, as the aforementioned opportunism is aimed at large corporations as well as SMEs. Summary Cybercrime has long since left the days of small-time crooks behind. Large-scale attacks are not carried out by masked jewel thieves, but by highly specialized teams of (self-taught) computer scientists and business economists, i.e. experts. The consequences of technical events can be felt far beyond electronic boundaries, which is why it is important to ensure a broad understanding. Let’s bring digital and analog into dialog! Find out more about applied digital prevention, trends in attacks in recent years, the theft of “stockpiled” data, deceptively real fakes and their impact on society, espionage in all areas of life and practical ways of dealing with attacks that have already occurred in the next few articles about cybersecurity. Footnotes

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ESG implementation in companies

Green-Thumb-Up!, It ain't necessarily so / /

Where there’s a will, there’s a way – concrete action makes all the difference The urge to change can only be fulfilled by someone who is willing to enter unknown territory. And to accept that the unpredictable can only be influenced to a limited extent. But as important as a strong will is, contrary to a common saying, it only counts on its own when concrete action follows. With regard to sustainability and the concept of ESG, the connection between drive and actual action is particularly important. Easier said than done! This is because regulations as reliable signposts are usually only issued with some delay. This can also make access to supportive public funding more difficult. Despite all these adversities in implementation, we receive many impulses that show how one can position oneself – also economically – with and in economic issues. One of these impulses comes from a Salzburg-based company that has not only taken up the challenge of ESG, but has also acted in advance of laws and regulations. This company operates in an industry that has not really made a name for itself in the past through environmental protection. Nevertheless, it is regarded as one of the most environmentally friendly companies far beyond Austria’s borders, as evidenced by numerous national and international certificates and awards. Although a single company may only have a small impact on overall emissions, the management initially acted as a role model without any regulations or obligations, but out of conviction. The result: a practical example of ESG implementation that is not mandatory for the size of a small SME and is therefore far ahead of previous standards. The path to becoming a green company without any initial legal stops was not an easy one, but this much can be revealed: the goals were achieved primarily because the entire team pulled together out of conviction – and continues to do so. This also resulted in an economic consequence, as the ESG implementation led to a new USP and created a completely new component of an “industry king” with a lighthouse character for marketing. The sum of small but decisive activities for a meaningful footprint is what progress means. This article provides impressive proof that corporate development towards ESG makes sense from both an ecological and economic perspective, motivates employees and brings decisive competitive advantages. Read more about this topic and the associated operation next week! We gladly accept suggestions for your own experiences with regard to the implementation of ESG! Please register! Footnote

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Green-Thumb-Up!

Green-Thumb-Up! / /

Stretched upwards, it signals approval, goodwill or simply positivity, but pointing downwards it could even act as a death sentence. It is often pressed to bring good luck, and in a double version it is also turned into fadesse. It can be used to describe fairy-tale characters or even to determine mathematical values. It is therefore a classic generalist and, apart from that, the smallest but strongest finger on the hand: the thumb. A special function is attributed to it when it comes to processes for nature. Even if the origin of the phrase “having a green thumb” is not clear, most people know what it means: if a person succeeds in growing even the most difficult plants, they are said to have the famous colorful Digitus Primus Manus and therefore a talent for handling plants properly. Although you can watch nature grow and flourish in many places, in public spaces or on your private balcony or garden, there is more to having “green fingers” than you might initially think. To quote another proverb: “No master has ever fallen from the sky”. Having an environmental awareness is just as important as acquiring knowledge. And regardless of whether people first acquire their green fingers theoretically or through practical experience (“learning by doing”), one thing above all can be assumed: a sense of sustainability. The combination of a sustainable approach to nature and a positive signal has led to the development of our Green Thumb-Up companies. These stand for the central tasks of Environmental Social Governance, or ESG for short. Our Green-Thumb-Up symbolizes sustainability in an ecological, economic and social sense. It starts where certificates (“greenwashing”), which are often only acquired due to external pressure, are limited in their function and motivates people to think and act responsibly on an ongoing basis. Which instruments are helpful for this depends on many factors. Green-Thumb-Up stands for initiatives by energetic individuals as well as companies. Feel free to contact us and get to know selected Green-Thumb-Up activities! Either use the contact form or write to office@emcp.org.

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Click & Collect as a local supply principle

It ain't necessarily so / /

Some opt for electric cars, give up flying or become politically active, while others save energy in the home or take direct action to plant new trees, for example. Nowadays, it is no longer difficult to get involved in climate and environmental protection thanks to the wide range of options available. Another contribution is made by our own diet; if done smartly and efficiently, it can make a significant contribution to sustainability and resource conservation. By 2050, an estimated 10 billion people will be living on Earth. An international group of scientists therefore investigated what kind of diet would be both healthy and ecologically sensible for the earth’s ever-increasing population. In a study from 2019, they presented the so-called “planetary diet”. This would double the consumption of fruit and vegetables, while halving the amount of meat currently consumed. Agricultural land could shrink, which in turn would lead to less water consumption and more greenhouse gas savings. In addition, this form of nutrition would be healthy. One of the most important, but at the same time most resource-intensive components with the largest CO2 footprint in modern food supply is logistics, in order to be able to supply people everywhere with fresh and healthy goods. But fresh does not just mean freshly harvested. It is now known that frozen goods are no different in terms of quality. On the contrary: the advantages of a longer shelf life with consistent storage of important micronutrients such as vitamin C or folic acid make frozen products a valuable and important area in food production and supply, both from an ecological and economic point of view. In combination with a suitable deep-freeze and logistics system, i.e. a pick-up station, and the increasingly important “regional” factor, producers could close the value chain between themselves and consumers without middlemen. Disruptive solutions that need to be considered, researched and implemented – the time is ripe! On the one hand, the click & collect principle is being used more and more frequently. A recent study by the Johannes Kepler University Linz shows that the number of retail goods ordered online but collected by customers themselves has more than doubled in recent years. On the other hand, purchasing psychology shows that branding on the internet – especially through social media – has led to an increasing willingness to buy familiar goods online. This breaks the link to the store, which consequently leads to efforts to distribute goods and associated information quickly and securely via alternative distribution channels. The resulting possibilities are manifold: local supply stations can be set up anywhere to provide consumers with their favorite goods – whether frozen or not – without having to make a detour to the supermarket, regardless of opening hours or public holidays. For example, large construction sites that have no markets nearby or settlements with poor infrastructure could also be supplied. Food can be ordered online at any time and also collected around the clock from a temperature-controlled pick-up station within a “home delivery radius”. From the field or farm directly to the consumer, without any loss of quality or ecologically problematic intermediate steps. Please let us know your opinion and ideas!We look forward to receiving impulses and tips on exemplary initiatives and companies.At Relations*Xperts, we showcase exemplary solutions, pilot projects and opportunities for meaningful and sustainable ESG engagement. Register here for more information!

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