Tue.Jun 20, 2023

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Disaster Zone Podcast: ‘Emergency Management’s Use of Social Media’

Disaster Zone blog

What are you doing with technology in general and social media in particular?

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Changes in the Ransomware Threat to State and Local Governments

State Tech Magazine

According to SonicWall’s 2023 Cyber Threat Report, ransomware has “been on a tear” for the past few years, growing 105 percent year over year in 2021. While the report found that attacks were down in 2022, ransomware targets still reported very large number of attacks compared to levels in 2018, 2019 and 2020. As always, bad actors are looking for opportunities to penetrate targets with minimal effort.

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Trending Sources

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Why do companies use biometric access control and authentication?

Open Access Government - Technology News

In today’s technologically advanced businesses, ensuring the security of information is paramount. As a result, companies are turning to biometric access control systems to bolster their security Biometric access control utilises unique physical or behavioural characteristics of individuals to grant or deny access to restricted areas, devices, or sensitive information.

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Mayors: There’s a mental health crisis in every city

GCN

It is causing drug overdoses and homelessness in cities across America. But with the debt deal to freeze spending, it is uncertain whether federal help is coming.

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The Ultimate Playground Inspection Handbook

Dive into the world of playground safety with this complimentary guide. It offers a detailed exploration of essential practices to ensure the utmost safety for children. Delve into inspection techniques, from assessing equipment conditions to evaluating surfacing materials. Gain insights into maintenance strategies to keep playgrounds in top-notch condition year-round.

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Partnerships Can Be the Fuel for Agency Modernization 

GovLoop

Agency leaders know they need to modernize, but many are running into roadblocks when it comes to implementation time, staffing shortages, and even an internal cultural resistance to change. These types of obstacles have led to 88% of federal IT professionals stating their agencies have fallen behind in their modernization plans. So how can agencies get back on track with their modernization journey?

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Why a one-size-fits-all approach to development may fall short

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

New research on human development from the McKinsey Global Institute reveals a rich picture of Morocco’s development over the first two decades of the millennium, but pockets of concern remain.

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Microregional data uncover a richer picture of development in Nigeria

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

New research from the McKinsey Global Institute provides a more nuanced, long-term view of Nigeria’s development progress from 2000 to 2019 that may help the country shape its future direction.

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Microsoft To Do web app launching for GCC High and DoD users

Microsoft Public Sector

Microsoft To Do is a task management tool that helps you stay productive, manage your day, and collaborate with your colleagues. We are pleased to announce that it’s now available for use by customers in GCC High and DoD tenants via the web app, as well as integration in Outlook on the web. Other platforms (desktop, mobile) are not available yet in GCC High and DoD.

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Resilient portfolio growth for energy companies in volatile times

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

Energy companies have faced considerable uncertainty. Those that can identify opportunities and act quickly can profitably grow their business in the years to come and increase their lead over peers.

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Signing the Waiver of Liability

Disaster Zone blog

The submersible is a cautionary tale.

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7 Signs Your Local Government ERP Is Holding You Back: A Guide for Small Municipalities

Local governments and municipalities serving populations under 200,000 face distinctive challenges in delivering efficient and effective services to their communities. To overcome these challenges, many rely on Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems tailored to their specific needs. Not all ERP systems are created equal, and some may hinder progress rather than support it.

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Net zero or growth? How Belgium can have both

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

As Belgium works toward net-zero emissions, it has opportunities to accelerate its progress while also pursuing green growth.

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Integrate grants into a diversified fundraising plan

Professional Grant Writer

So many nonprofits associate a fundraising plan exclusively with grant writing. But the truth is that grant writing is an extremely competitive process. The post Integrate grants into a diversified fundraising plan appeared first on Professional Grant Writer.

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The McKinsey Crossword: Heads Up | No. 133

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

Sharpen your problem-solving skills the McKinsey way, with our weekly crossword. Each puzzle is created with the McKinsey audience in mind, and includes a subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) business theme for you to find. Answers that are directionally correct may not cut it if you’re looking for a quick win.

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How to Accelerate Speed to Insight

GovLoop

One of the best measures of productivity when it comes to data is speed to insight — that is, how quickly employees can begin turning data into meaningful analysis. Unfortunately, employees often have to spend an inordinate amount of time doing the preliminary work of ETL: extracting data from various sources, transforming it into usable formats and loading it into a data lake or warehouse. “If it takes me all week to put together a report, is that really a valuable use of my time?

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Sustainable Facility Maintenance Management for Small Local Governments

Unlock the potential of sustainable facility management! This guide empowers small local governments to lead with climate-resilient infrastructure, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and more. Elevate your community's resilience, reduce costs, and embrace eco-friendly practices. Discover the role of facility maintenance teams in green cleaning, sustainability analyses, and infrastructure upgrades.

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Modernizing the mindset: An interview with Biswa Misra

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

To transform a century-old company, Biswa Misra helped AIA Group weave technology into its business strategy and tap into the consumer mentality.

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The Difference Between Equity and Inclusion

Disaster Zone blog

See if you agree.

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Anything but average: A subnational perspective on Kenya’s development

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

New research from the McKinsey Global Institute shows that both income and life expectancy in Kenya grew over the first two decades of the millennium, but growth was not uniform across the country.

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Citizen Management Software: An Affordable 311 Alternative

AccessE11

The problem: Dedicated 311 Systems are prohibitively expensive As residents increasingly demand easier access to services, the need for software solutions to meet this demand becomes crucial. However, smaller municipalities often face barriers due to the high cost of implementing new technology. Many self-service and dedicated 311 software solutions can be prohibitively expensive and may only be effectively utilized by larger centers.

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ASPA TIMES Magazine: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

PA TIMES Magazine is a publication of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA), a not-for-profit corporation. This edition focused on diversity, equity and inclusion in public administration, including guest columns, insights for the field and interviews with city government DEI officers about their work at the local level.

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Rewired to outcompete

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

Six signature moves led by the C-suite can build organizations that will outperform in the age of digital and AI.

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Strategies to Advance Solar in Small, Rural Towns

NLC (National League of Cities)

With solar energy becoming more economical in the past few years, communities of all sizes are looking to take advantage of its benefits. Communities can gain energy independence, minimize outages during natural disasters and reduce energy burden on low-income residents, all while advancing climate and sustainability goals.

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Secure Cloud Fabric: Enhancing Data Management and AI Development for the Federal Government

Government Technology Insider

In recent years, government agencies have increasingly turned to cloud computing to manage vast amounts of data and streamline operations. While cloud technology has many benefits, it also poses security risks, especially when it comes to protecting sensitive information. To address these challenges, agencies are turning to a secure cloud fabric that can ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of their data in the cloud.

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Get to Know NEPA and Get Federal Infrastructure Projects Moving

NLC (National League of Cities)

If you are a local government leader who has looked for federal infrastructure funding, you’ve seen the term “NEPA” in the terms and requirements under these programs.

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Proactive vs Reactive Maintenance: Making the Case for Preparedness

Discover comprehensive strategies for optimizing operations and achieving cost efficiency! This document offers insights into efficient inspections, data-driven decision-making, goal alignment, and resource optimization. It empowers local governments and maintenance departments to streamline operations and ensure significant cost savings. From aligning maintenance goals with community needs to leveraging data for strategic planning, this guide provides a roadmap for smoother, more reliable opera

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Anything but average: A subnational perspective on SA’s development

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

New research on human development looks beneath national averages to uncover an on-the-ground picture in South Africa that could help bring fresh clarity to business leaders and policy makers.

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Animal movement powers new GPS wildlife tracker

GCN

Instead of batteries, the device is powered by an animal's movements and can provide long-term location and health data for researchers.

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Season 6 Episode 13 – EEOC Eyes Making AI Tools Fair in the Workplace

GovCast

With artificial intelligence growing in popularity, there also is a growing interest in regulating AI to both protect American rights and ensure the technology is used and deployed fairly. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has an inherent interest in shaping policies and enforcing laws to ensure the American workplace remains fair for all.

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FEMA’s buyout program reduces flood risk. But does it deepen segregation?

GCN

A new study shows how federal money for managed retreat may also fuel white flight.

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Facility Maintenance Trends for 2024: What's Changing in the Industry?

This comprehensive article delves into the transformative trends reshaping local government facility maintenance in anticipation of 2024. From embracing smart technology for efficient management, sustainability's pivotal role to data-driven decision-making, workforce upskilling, and predictive maintenance strategies, each aspect is explored. Insights into outsourcing collaborations, digital twins, safety enhancements, and the broader industry evolution highlight the critical adaptation needed.

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June 2023 - Microsoft 365 US Public Sector Roadmap Newsletter

Microsoft Public Sector

Newsworthy Highlights How Microsoft 365 helps public sector organizations embrace generational diversity Empowering your workforce with modern productivity, collaboration, and security tools can help your agency embrace generational diversity and across four critical areas: recruitment, retention, productivity, and learning. Microsoft releases CMMC guidance to raise the security and identity baseline for Defense Industry Identity continues to be the most common way bad actors get through cyber d

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Manufactured Housing Is a Good Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing - Except When It’s Not: High-Level and Specific Policy Recommendations (Part 3)

The Stoop (NYU Furman Center)

Introduction The United States is in the midst of a severe shortage of affordable housing for low-and-middle-income (LMI) families as both home prices and rents have climbed faster than household income for many years, particularly during the pandemic. Recently, there has been a renewed focus on expanding the supply of manufactured housing (MH), known for being low cost, as one key method to help reduce that shortage.

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Alzheimer’s disease research portal enables data sharing and scientific discovery at scale

AWS Public Sector Blog

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 55 million people globally have dementia , with the most common form, Alzheimer’s disease, accounting for approximately 60-70%. The annual financial impact is estimated to be $1.3 trillion USD. Identifying causes of Alzheimer’s disease and developing diagnostics and potential cures for the condition requires multi-modal, multi-omics analysis.