DIGITAL DIALOGUE By Jacque Brittain, LPC
Managing Industry News: Are You Staying Informed?
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n a recent article in our weekly e-newsletter, LP Insider, we asked our readers, “What makes a magazine a resource?” An article can be well-written, the messages can be meaningful, and the lessons life-changing; but none of it really matters if no one is reading. Information holds its greatest value when we put it to use. Of course, that same message applies to all of our media resources. What makes the material valuable to you? There is no single interest or motivation that determines what we chose to read or whether it will hold value. In many ways, adding value is in the eyes of the beholder. This is not only something that is unique to a particular individual, but can sway within any one of us based on our mood, our state of mind, or our course of action. Our ability to absorb information is an
Retail is an incredibly dynamic business. Naturally, this leads to exceedingly diverse loss prevention content that surfaces on a perpetual basis. As a result, staying current with important news and events and sorting through what is most relevant to each of us becomes a sizable task. active process. It takes a focused effort by the reader to recognize what they consider to be important. That’s why we feel that it’s important to provide you with informational options. This takes the learning process to another level, helping to keep you and your team informed, educated, and engaged. Retail is an incredibly dynamic business. Naturally, this leads to exceedingly diverse loss prevention content that surfaces on a perpetual basis. As a result, staying current with important news and events and sorting through what is most relevant to each of us becomes a sizable task.
Brittain is editorial director, digital, for LP Magazine. Formerly a director of learning design and certification, Brittain managed the development of the LPC and LPQ certification programs in collaboration with the Loss Prevention Foundation. Prior to that he was vice president of operations for the industry’s largest executive search and consulting firm. In his thirty-plus years in the LP industry, he has helped build and enhance many learning initiatives and provided career counseling for thousands of industry professionals. Brittain can be reached at jacb@lpportal.com or by phone at 704-246-3143.
It may not be prudent or realistic to try to stay informed on every story, investigation, or event that takes place on a daily basis, but it is still wise to explore industry-specific content that keeps us informed and engaged. We then must find ways to best manage our information and apply it within the framework of our day-to-day responsibilities. So, how successful do you feel that you are at managing this information? Do you consider yourself to be well-informed? Are you current on the latest and most compelling information related to the industry? Following is a summary of several topics that have been prominent in the news over the past few months with a focus on those that have drawn the greatest interest from our industry professionals. Examples have been provided to add perspective, but this is by no means a complete list of important industry topics and only provides a glimpse of current events.
Data Breaches Still Dominating the News
Cyber-criminals hacking into company databases has provided a relentless theme in every digital outlet early in 2014, with several retailers confirming breaches and several others currently investigating potential incidents both in the U.S. and internationally. Countless stories have flooded the newswires and discussion groups as companies and customers seek answers to a problem that has the potential to affect millions of retail transactions every day. Millions of customer accounts were compromised as a result of these breaches, with multiple reports of cyber-fencing of accounts as well as actual and potential use of the information by criminal factions. Congressional hearings have been held that have challenged existing practices while calling for additional controls, customer protection, and reporting standards. These stories have clearly drawn the interest and attention of the entire retail community with companies examining internal security tools, policies, and protocols to strengthen their existing programs. Many are restructuring their departments by adding new positions, redefining roles, and eliminating others to combat the threat. Loss prevention practitioners and solution providers are working closely with IT departments and other experts to improve security efforts. “Chip and PIN” credit cards, cyber-threat information sharing, and additional technology solutions are also being introduced and/or expedited in order to enhance controls and improve service. This trend is continued on page 68
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MARCH - APRIL 2014
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