In December 2024, PowerSchool, a widely used educational technology platform, experienced a significant data breach affecting school districts across the United States, including several on Long Island. This breach has raised serious concerns about data security and privacy, particularly for businesses and organizations that manage sensitive personal information. 

At least ten Long Island school districts, including Uniondale, Roosevelt, Jericho, Hicksville, Glen Cove, West Hempstead, Lynbrook, Middle Country, Massapequa, and Smithtown Central, have reported being impacted by this breach. The compromised data may include the names, addresses, Social Security numbers, medical records, and academic information of students, parents, and staff.

In our hyper-connected world, ensuring proper "computer hygiene" is crucial for protecting personal and organizational data. Cybersecurity threats, like phishing, malware, and ransomware, are constantly evolving, making it essential to adopt preventative measures. Here are some key computer hygiene practices to maintain a secure and efficient digital environment:

Regular Software Updates

Outdated software is one of the most common vulnerabilities hackers exploit.

• Why it matters: Updates often include patches for known security flaws.
• Best practice: Enable automatic updates for your operating system, antivirus, and applications.

Use Strong, Unique Passwords

Long Island Business News has launched a special editorial section celebrating the incredible family-owned businesses that drive our region’s economy and community. From multi-generational legacies to first-generation founders striving to build a future for the next, these businesses span industries like hospitality, automotive, home & garden, law, and more.

Through perseverance, innovation, and hard work, these businesses have weathered world wars, economic challenges, pandemics, and natural disasters. Their resilience and commitment make them a vital part of Long Island’s legacy and future.

We’re proud to see Central Business Systems profiled in this feature, showcasing how family businesses remain a powerful force in our region.

Read the feature at Long Island Business News: Central Business Systems | Long Island Business News

1. Risk Assessment and Business Impact Analysis

• Identify Potential Risks: Evaluate threats such as natural disasters, cyber-attacks, hardware failures, and human errors.
• Determine Impact: Assess the potential impact of each risk on your business operations and data integrity.
• Prioritize Assets: Identify critical systems and data that are essential for business continuity.

2. Data Classification and Prioritization

• Classify Data: Categorize data based on its importance and sensitivity.
• Set Priorities: Determine which data sets require the most stringent backup and recovery measures.

3. Backup Strategy

In October 2021, Facebook rebranded itself as Meta, signaling a bold new direction centered on the metaverse—a virtual reality space where users can interact with a computer-generated environment and other users. This article delves into Meta's vision for the metaverse, its current projects, and what the future holds for this groundbreaking initiative.

The Metaverse: What It Is and Why It Matters

The metaverse represents the next evolution of the internet, where the physical and digital worlds converge. It’s an immersive, interconnected space where people can socialize, work, learn, play, and create in ways previously unimaginable. Meta aims to be at the forefront of this transformation, building the foundational technologies and platforms that will enable the metaverse to flourish.

Meta's Key Projects and Technologies