Archive for category: News

Infor recently announced that Bahrain’s Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Co. (ASRY), the leading ship and rig repair yard in the Arabian Gulf, has gone live with Infor CloudSuite Industrial Enterprise. This powerful cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) system enables the company to digitize its business while raising its efficiency, sustainability and ability to innovate. Per the press release, through installing Infor CloudSuite Industrial Enterprise, ASRY will be able to keep track of orders involving thousands of specialist parts and components, both for servicing customers and for running and maintaining its own operations specially concerning its substantial scale and scope of business. Additionally, by deploying Infor CloudSuite Industrial Enterprise, ASRY has unified and automated all of its major business functions, including procurement, accounts, and supply chain management. This has enabled it to improve its efficiency, while giving management a single source of truth for all business transactions. The solution allows ASRY to seamlessly integrate with its partners, allowing it to secure components more quickly, thus improving repair and fabrication times, and enhancing customer experience. Moreover, the move to a multi-tenant cloud environment also means ASRY benefits from continuous innovation from Infor, with software updates and upgrades taking place automatically as soon as Infor implements them. The solution was implemented by Infor’s Consulting Services team.

 

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In today’s business landscape, data is the driving force. Effective data management is thus critical at the core of an organization. With growing data, businesses need to be prepared and implement strategies to efficiently collect, store, process and utilize their data. Marketing strategist Ovais Naseem shares an informative article on Data Science Central on how to master efficient data management. Below, we will explore Naseem’s best data management strategies to help your organization harness the power of data for informed decision-making, improved customer experiences, and competitive advantage.

Firstly, you must establish clear data objectives. What is your goal for having all this data? is it customer insights, streamlining operations, product development, or something else? Armed with these well-defined objectives, Naseem says, you can strategically shape your data management initiatives to systematically gather and oversee the most pertinent and invaluable data.

Ensuring data governance and quality in data management strategies. “Data governance involves establishing policies, procedures, and practices for data management. Additionally, it ensures data accuracy, consistency, and security. To maintain high data quality, consider implementing the following strategies in detail: data quality management, data validation and verification, data cleansing, and data classification: Furthermore, categorize data based on importance, sensitivity, and regulatory requirements. This step is crucial for setting access controls and implementing security measures accordingly.”

Data security. “Data breaches, with their potential for financial loss and reputational damage, underscore the importance of prioritizing data security. To delve into the intricacies of safeguarding data, consider the following strategies: encryption, access control, and regular audits.

Selecting the right tools for efficient data management. “Selecting the right data management tools is crucial. The choice largely depends on your data’s nature and volume. Delve into the details of data storage solutions: relational databases, NoSQL databases, and cloud storage.

Data integration. “In many organizations, data is distributed across various systems and formats. Data integration is the process of combining data from diverse sources into a unified view. Dive into the intricacies of data integration with these strategies: ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes, data warehouses, and API integrations.

Data backup and recovery.  “Data loss can be disastrous. Implement a comprehensive backup and recovery strategy, paying attention to the following details: regular backups, redundancy, and a disaster recovery plan.”

Data lifecycle management. “Not all data is equally valuable or relevant. Implementing data lifecycle management helps you prioritize data based on its importance and use. Explore the stages of data lifecycle management in detail: data creation and collection, data storage and access, data archiving, and data deletion.”

Data documentation and metadata. “Comprehensive documentation and metadata management are vital components of data management. Moreover, metadata provides valuable context and information about your data, making it easier to understand and use. It is crucial to pay attention to these details in data documentation:

• regarding metadata structure, it is essential to develop a standardized format that includes details such as data source, format, creation date, update history, and usage instructions
• Additionally, focusing on data lineage is crucial. It involves tracking the origin and journey of data through various systems and processes, ensuring transparency and accountability”

Data privacy and compliance. “In an era of strict data regulations like GDPR, CCPA, and HIPAA, prioritizing data privacy and compliance is non-negotiable. Delve into the complexities of data privacy with these strategies: data classification, consent management, and compliance audits.”

Data analytics and reporting. “Data management isn’t solely about storing and securing data; instead, it’s also about deriving insights from it. To delve into the detailed aspects of data analytics and reporting, consider the following strategies: data analytics tools, data visualization, and data-driven decision-making.”

Data management, done effectively and efficiently, is the cornerstone of success for businesses today. By implementing Naseem’s strategies, you’ll be well-equipped to make informed decisions, optimize operations, and stay ahead of the competition in the data-driven world.

 

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Infor recently announced that Saint-Gobain Distribution Norway AS, a leading distributor of building materials in Norway, plans to deploy Infor CloudSuite Distribution Enterprise. This cloud solution is designed specifically for distribution companies to replace multiple on-premises legacy enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Per the press release, the contract with Saint-Gobain Distribution Norway is for 10 years, and the scope is expected to include several countries in the Nordic region. With the responsibility for providing support services in management, HR, finance, sustainability, business development and IT across all its companies, Saint-Gobain Distribution Norway expects the new ERP platform will be the foundation for tomorrow’s solutions that will allow it to give its customers the best service possible. Moreover, being a cloud solution, Saint Gobain Distribution Norway is looking forward to heightened levels of security against cybercriminals. “At the same time, functionality is at the forefront because the solution is developed with customers in the distribution industry worldwide by solving ever-new needs and requirements for relevant functionality, such as volume-based pricing. Our cloud solutions also provide unrivalled reliability, security and stability. This combination is one of our most substantial competitive advantages,” says Erlend Skaar-Olsen, country manager of Infor Norway.

 

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Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are a complex infrastructure for your business. Your important data is housed in these systems, thus they need to be secure. With the latest trend of moving to cloud ERP coupled with the rise of cyberattacks, it is now more than ever important to ensure proper security to your ERP systems from any potential threats. Juan Pablo Perez-Etchegoyen, chief technology officer of cybersecurity company Onapsis, shares an article on WaterWorld.com highlighting four simple steps for water utilities – and to the extent every industry – to protect their ERP systems from cyberattacks.

1. Gain visibility into ERP landscapes. “Organizations need comprehensive visibility into their cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments to identify, assess and prioritize risks while eliminating system blind spots. Security teams require tools for real-time monitoring of business-critical applications to preemptively detect threats and vulnerabilities, even before vendor patches are available. ERP applications’ complexity demands inclusion in business continuity and incident response plans.”
2. Utilize actionable threat intelligence. “In addition to collaborating with government agencies, utility organizations should explore solutions that offer a comprehensive perspective on threats affecting their operational systems. Timely and impactful threat intelligence can provide valuable insights into malicious actors’ tactics, techniques and procedures. Such intelligence can also offer early warnings about emerging ransomware campaigns, while delivering actionable information to the security teams entrusted with crafting and enacting security measures.”
3. Streamline patch management, cloud migration. “Effective management of ERP applications, particularly regarding patching, is paramount for minimizing vulnerabilities. Given the rapid exploitation threats, especially for SAP systems, a streamlined patch management process is crucial. A dedicated vulnerability management solution focusing on the application layer helps identify missing patches, validates proper application and facilitates prioritization based on severity.”
4. Harmonize security and compliance functions. “Ensuring the security and compliance of ERP business applications is crucial as they handle sensitive data, including financial, customer, employee and intellectual property information. However, identifying risks to these systems is often challenging and manual. Utilities organizations, responsible for delivering critical services and adhering to numerous industry regulations, face legal and financial penalties for non-compliance. Regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) impose strict requirements, and non-compliance can result in severe consequences, including substantial fines, data breaches and damage to public trust.”

Addressing threats in ERP applications as early and often as possible is essential to mitigate the risk of data manipulation and financial turmoil as well as ensuring adherence to regulatory standards.

 

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