Jason Nelson

Many business functions, no matter the industry, use the Internet to send packets of communication which adjust inventory levels, charge credit cards, manage personnel profiles and much more. Since we’re in an ultra-connected society and there’s no going back, there are always online threats that we should be aware of including viruses, malware, trojan horses, ransomware, Social Engineering, man in the middle attacks, phishing and more. According to Verizon’s 2019 Data Breach Investigation Report , 43 percent of breaches targeted the data or processes of small businesses. Even though the threat of cyber attacks is high than its ever been, cyber security remains an afterthought for too many entrepreneurs and business owners — something they’re only focused on after the damage is done. Here are a few steps any diligent business owner who wants to ensure their operations run effectively and safely should take to protect their business data and maintain client and customer trust: 1....

It’s no secret that the eSports industry has been on a steady climb to the top these past several years. What began as small competitions between gamers has become a nearly billion-dollar industry. By 2022, the market is set to hit $1.79 billion, according to estimates from Newzoo. While most of the attention is on the games, teams, and growth of the industry, there are still other aspects of the eSports industry that entrepreneurs who are looking for an entry point to consider. 1. Sponsorship Streamers and Pro-Gaming teams need someone to pay for travel, entry fees, equipment, etc., in turn, they wear the company’s logo and build brand awareness. 2. Apparel Sports fans love to wear their favorite team’s logo, and eSports is no different. For example, Jinx.com — established in 1999 — was initially a place for hackers and geek-themed clothing, now it carries lines of clothing and apparel for gamers Anne Munition and Shroud . 3. Equipment Sites such as Newegg.com and BestBuy.com have...

We are living at the crossroads of the future, where automation , Artificial Intelligence, and code are being used heavily. Although the use of technology is increasing, it is neither new nor the first time workers have had to deal with the possible threat of being replaced by machines. In the film, Hidden Figures , NASA transitions from human computers to machine computers. Mathematicians, Katherine Johnson , Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson broke down gender and racial walls while learning how to operate the machines that had the potential to replace them. Today, we see more and more companies moving toward automation to cut costs and drive profits. ‌Technical innovations come at a rapid pace, but once these innovations are on the market, these machines and computers will need someone with the technical skills to keep production running. This is our opportunity as Blacks in America. Since we have not transitioned to a world of total automation, we have an opportunity to get the...

Social media has emerged as a blessing and a curse as it allows us to connect to people anywhere in the world at the simple opening of an app, but also to dangerously overshare in the heat of the moment. It is important to know how to safeguard our online activity and limit exposure when employers or potential employers may search through your social media history to see what we’ve been up to. Unfortunately, many of us have terrible online privacy and security practices that make it easy for us to fall prey and miss opportunities. Operational security is the practice of protecting sensitive information that if put together, can give a clear picture of your movements and habits. Traditionally, operational security was used in the military to protect information from spies. Now, we see that this is a practice Black people should embrace to protect ourselves from unwanted attention and reputation management. Data is the new gold. Trillions of dollars are made globally by companies that...