Recently, WordPress has been the target of a coordinated distributed brute force attack that targets the "admin" user name. There is really no reason for the attacks as WordPress has done nothing to warrant this. It appears to just be an easy target.

In addition to the attack on the core platform, a lower-level attack has since been launched against popular WordPress plugins, like WPSuperCache and W3TotalCache.

Though we have taken steps to mitigate these issues for our clients, it is critically important to ensure your scripts and plugins are up-to-date.

Having out of date scripts or plugins installed is like having a very nice house, with a very nice door with a very nice deadbolt on it that you simply choose to not engage, effectively leaving your door wide open to anyone what wants to walk in and do as they see fit with your property.

As a web host, we provide the house, the door and the lock. We also hand you the key to the lock on the door, but we cannot force you to engage that lock, we can only highly encourage you to do so.

So please remember to check your WordPress or Joomla dashboard and ensure that everything is up-to-date.

Meteorologists Philip Klotzbach and William Gray at Colorado State University's Tropical Meteorology Project released their predictions for the 2013 Hurricane Season on April 10th. The Colorado team predicts 18 tropical storms in 2013, of which nine will be hurricanes. Their 2012 forecast was far below what actually formed.

This year is expected by the team to be an above average season. "The tropical Atlantic has anomalously warmed over the past several months, and it appears that the chances of an El Nino event this summer and fall are unlikely," Klotzbach said. "Typically, El Nino is associated with stronger vertical shear across the tropical Atlantic, creating conditions less conducive for storm formation." The lack of a predicted El Nino last year was one of the causes of the poor forecast in 2012, says Gray. "We thought an El Nino was coming," he said, but it never formed. He also added that seven of the 10 hurricanes that developed in 2012 were in the northeastern Atlantic, far from land.

For the entire U.S. coastline, there is a 72% chance of a major hurricane making landfall in 2013. Specifically, for the East Coast, including all of Florida, the chance of a major hurricane strike is 48%, while the chance along the Gulf Coast from the Florida Panhandle to Brownsville, Texas, is 47%. The full forecast from the team is available here.

What this means for most of us on the Atlantic Coast is that it is time to review our preparedness plans.  It is a good time to remember the three rules -  1) Have a Plan, 2) Make a Kit, and 3) Stay Informed. 

You can download a copy of ntb group's checklist here to get started on your plan and review how to protect your business by visiting our business continuity section.

When disaster strikes, there is one common occurrence that can be counted on. That is people showing up willing to help. In fact, insisting on helping. Too often, the professional responder community has seen these people as problems instead of assets. The fact is that volunteers can be either a huge asset to the professional responder OR a huge problem.

Most of us want to help in some way. Those of us who are trained professionals are there and working at what we do. How can we utilize those that just "want" to help? The key is TRAINING. Having untrained, unknown individuals wandering about is just dangerous. It is a danger to them, to us and to disaster victims. It is the coordinated, trained volunteer that becomes a force multiplier for the professional. There are a number of organizations that can provide volunteer guidance and training. These organizations work with the professional community so we know how to best utilize them and acknowledge them as "credentialed" volunteers. First, as a professional Emergency Manager, I encourage people in my local area to get trained. The American Red Cross is a world class organization when it comes to disaster response. They provide FREE training to their volunteers. There are few things that the non-professional can do that are as rewarding as running a disaster shelter, or helping to find a place to stay for a displaced family. And us in the firefighter and police world like to see that Red Cross truck role up to a disaster scene with hot or cold drinks, snacks and a smile. Another thing I talk about in my community is VOAD. Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) is an national umbrella organization for groups that want to help in disaster response. Our local chapter has members from non-profits, faith based and community service groups. VOAD coordinates these various groups, some training is provided and each group gets an understanding of what they can and should do to help. Lastly is CERT or Community Emergency Response Team. This federally funded Citizen Corps program was started after 9-11. It provides comprehensive training to civilians that want to take a lead role in supporting disaster response. CERT programs exist in many areas of the US. To find one near you just visit http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/. And for those of you "non-professionals" that want to feel really, really good about yourselves......go visit one of these groups and volunteer. You'll be glad you did.

Plan to Stay In Business!

Consider this; according to the Florida State Emergency Response Team (SERT) almost 40% of small businesses that close due to a disaster event NEVER re-open. What would you do if the building where your business is located was damaged or destroyed in a disaster? Where would you go to continue providing services to your customers? Would you have the correct resources? It’s more than just technology. You’ll need the ‘tools’ that make your business work, whether it’s key personnel, products, equipment or supplies. A disaster plan that identifies your most important resources will help ensure that your business is prepared to survive during unexpected and difficult times! Business Continuity is a process that will help you prepare for disasters and ensure that you stay in business after a disaster. We always tell our business continuity clients that they must “PLAN to stay in business”.

Why Plan for a Disaster?
The number of declared disasters has more than doubled in the last 20 years. Small to medium size businesses are most vulnerable to the long term affects of a disaster. Small businesses do not have the resources that major companies have to respond to and recover from disasters. Yet small businesses represent 99.7% of all employers in the US and account for almost 75% of new jobs added to our economy. Businesses can be hurt indirectly when a disaster strikes customers, suppliers and distributors. The impact of the disaster can be felt far from the epicenter.

In our role as professional emergency management consultants, we see time and time again how decimated areas experience pain in trying to recover. When local businesses cease to function, recovery takes longer and becomes more painful. The jobs and wages created by local small businesses are the lifeblood of the recovery process.

There is a lot of emphasis in the Business Continuity world about worst-case scenarios. We all see in the media the impact of earthquakes, tornados, floods and hurricanes. But small business must plan for and prepare for small disasters as well. The most common form of disaster in the US is a single structure fire. Though contained, this can wipe an unprepared small business out as thoroughly as a Category 5 Hurricane. In large-scale disasters there is often a large amount of public and private support from FEMA, Red Cross and dozens of other agencies. For small disasters, a business owner may easily be on their own. As I write this article, we are watching the Swine Flu move to a pandemic stage. Is YOUR business prepared?


Benefits of Planning for a Disaster
Preparedness enhances recovery from: business disruption, financial losses, loss of market share, damages to capital assets, equipment or inventory. Being prepared provides a higher level of security and wellbeing for you, your family, and employees. It also generates credibility with your customers, vendors, supply chain and the local community and creates financial strength. Consider the peace of mind and reliability we feel since Publix Supermarkets (not a small business) installed generators in most of their stores to ensure that food will be available after a disaster event.  

Start of Hurricane Season
The arrival of June 1st means the arrival of summer fun! But it also means the arrival of hurricane season for residents of the eastern seaboard and gulf coast states.

We watch and listen closely to various experts and their predictions of how many storms. Will this be an average season? A below average season? Or a higher than average season? The truth is that the average does not matter. If there is only one storm….and it’s headed to YOU….it’s a bad hurricane season.

June is a good time to review your Hurricane Preparedness Plans. And here are some quick, simple tips.

Have a hurricane plan, that includes evacuation and be prepared to implement it.
a. When local officials order an evacuation….it is time to leave!
b. Identify ahead of time where you could go if you are told to evacuate. Choose several places--a friend’s or family member’s home in another town, a motel, or a shelter.
c. Keep a full tank of gas in your car if an evacuation seems likely. Gas stations may be closed during emergencies and unable to pump gas during power outages. Plan to take one car per family to reduce congestion and delay.
d. Leave early enough to avoid being trapped by severe weather.
e. If any family members have “special needs” (medical needs), check with and register with your  local emergency management agency.

Have a “hurricane go kit” packed and ready with:
a. Water and non-perishable food for 3-5 days
b. Battery operated radio and batteries so you can get important information from local officials
c. First aid kit
d. Flashlight with extra batteries
e. Maps
f. Copies of important documents: driver’s license, Social Security card, proof of residence, insurance policies, wills, deeds, birth and marriage certificates, tax records, etc.
g. Comfortable clothing, bedding, blankets and towels
h. Unique family needs such as prescription medications, pet supplies, infant supplies or any other unique need your family may have
i. Hand sanitizer or anti-bacterial soap
j. Keep a checklist. Download and use ntb’s “Your Emergency Preparedness Kit” from http://www.ntb-group.com/

Prepare your home
a. Review your insurance coverage with your insurance company.
b. Cover all of your home's windows with pre-cut ply wood or hurricane shutters to protect your windows from high winds.
c. Plan to bring in all outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans and anything else that is not tied down.
d. Keep all trees and shrubs well trimmed so they are more wind resistant.
e. Secure your home by closing shutters, and securing outdoor objects or bringing them inside.
f. Turn off utilities as instructed. Otherwise, turn the refrigerator thermostat to its coldest setting and keep its doors closed.
g. Turn off propane tanks.
h. Ensure a supply of water for sanitary purposes such as cleaning and flushing toilets. Fill the bathtub and other large containers with water.

Prepare your business and Plan to stay in business
a. Carefully assess how your company functions, both internally and externally, to determine which staff, materials, procedures and equipment are absolutely necessary to keep the business operating.
b. Identify operations critical to survival and recovery.
c. Plan what you will do if your building, plant or store is not accessible.
d. Consider if you can run the business from a different location or from your home.
e. Develop relationships with other companies to use their facilities in case a disaster makes your location unusable.
f. Learn about programs, services, and resources at U.S. Small Business Administration.

Stay Informed
a. Listen to your local emergency management and elected officials
b. Stay informed by visiting the National Hurricane Center at http://www.hurricanes.gov
c. Visit the ntb group website at http://www.ntb-group.com for more information, checklists, plans and updates.