Cybersecurity can be a scary subject. We get it. It’s daunting and something you just want to ignore in hopes that nothing bad will happen to you.

Sorry friend, this subject is all TOO real to ignore. But we’re here. We got you.

We want to give you the knowledge to protect yourself from phishing attacks, ransomware, and other online scams. So here we go! But to start, a chilling reminder of our recent past:

• June 2018, MyHeritage—more than 92 million email addresses and HyHeritage account passwords were compromised.
• April 2018, The Facebook data breach—this was one of the largest misuses of personal data in history! In fact, just last month, Facebook revealed that 15 MILLION people had their personal info accessed by hackers.
• March 2018, Under Armour’s MyFitnessPal App—an “unauthorized party” gained access to 150 million user names, emails, and encrypted passwords from users of the fitness tracking app.
• July 2017, Equifax data breach—a quick calculation tells us that the 143 million potentially affected makes up a full 44 percent of the country’s total adult population.
• May 2017, WannaCry ransomware attack—this attack will go down in the books as one of the most successful malware campaigns in history.

So yeah, now more than ever you need to be educating yourself about how preventive cybersecurity strategies can keep you safe in a digital world of malicious criminals and hackers.

Cybersecurity awareness tips

1. Enable two-factor authentication
   1. This will make it harder for someone to access any of your accounts.
   2. This added layer of security can make a big impact.
2. Check a website’s SSL Certificate before using
   1. This will ensure the website is safe to use.
   2. Beware—hackers can copy a safe site if you click on a malware link. For example, links found in phishing emails.
3. Never save credit card information online
   1. This is a great basic tip to keep your bank account information secure.
   2. If that site is ever compromised, your card information will be, too.
4. Up your password game
   1. Think of a long password (10+ characters). Using a sentence instead of random letters is much more efficient. For example: eattacosonthe9th!!
   2. Never use the same password on different accounts.
   3. Never write down your passwords and store in a Word file; use password vault software instead.
5. Think twice before clicking an email link
   1. Not all links are created equal. Some seemingly safe links can wreak havoc.
   2. Phishing emails are becoming harder to detect. Look into social engineering training.

These basic tips can help you, your employees, and your business stay more protected when using your computer.

Emerald City Solutions is an information security company offering high-grade, professional IT business solutions using cutting-edge technology to help our customers modernize their business, protect valuable assets, and improve business connectivity. For more tips and tricks, check out Emerald City Solutions’ weekly blog or give them a call at 206.340.1616 to learn more about IT and cybersecurity services for your business.

The City of Bellevue is partnering with Govstream.ai to pilot new artificial intelligence tools aimed at improving the permitting process. The effort is focused on reducing permit delays, improving application quality, and helping staff manage growing workloads while maintaining customer service and review quality.

Bellevue and Govstream.ai identified three common challenges in the permitting process. Applicants often struggle to find information before applying. Applications are frequently submitted with missing information. Staff spend significant time working through multiple review and resubmittal cycles.

To address those challenges, the City is piloting several AI tools.

Permit Guide and Email Assistant

The first phase focuses on helping staff and applicants find information more quickly. A Permit Guide chat assistant helps staff research codes, GIS information, permit requirements, and other city resources using official Bellevue data. An Outlook-integrated Email Assistant can summarize email threads, identify applicable codes and site conditions, and draft responses with supporting citations. Bellevue's long-term goal is to make these tools available to the public for 24/7 self-service.

Application Assistant

The next phase focuses on improving application quality before submittal. Applicants upload project documents and the AI helps complete forms, identify missing information, and verify that required documents have been included. The system provides real-time guidance to reduce errors and incomplete applications.

The City is also piloting the Application Assistant with members of the development community. The initial pilot is focused on single-family homes, DADUs, and duplex permits.

First Review

The final phase would use AI to assist with initial permit screening. The goal is to identify basic issues early, route straightforward applications more efficiently, and allow staff to spend more time on complex reviews.

Early Results

The City reports a 30-percent reduction in routine permitting inquiries through its AI tools. Bellevue estimates staff currently spend roughly 20,000 hours annually responding to permit inquiries and hopes to significantly reduce that workload. The City has also established goals to:

• Reduce pre-application inquiry workload by 30 percent.
• Reduce permit resubmittals by 50 percent.
• Improve application quality and shorten review timelines.
• Support new home construction and economic development goals.

City staff reported positive feedback on the tools' efficiency and accuracy. Bellevue emphasized that AI will support, not replace, staff. Human reviewers will continue making permitting decisions while AI assists with research, customer service, application screening, and other routine tasks.

AI Pilot Expansion

Bellevue expects to expand the pilot over time, including a public-facing version of some of the tools later this year. If successful, the effort could improve permit timelines, reduce application corrections, and create a more predictable process for applicants.

For more information, see Bellevue's Innovation Partnership Webpage and the BDC January Meeting Slides.

This week, Shannon talks to Kevin Kartak of AAA KARTAK Glass & Closet about his 28 years as an MBA member.

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