By Gail Weinstein, Philip Richter and Steven Epstein ( December 18, 2024, 5:05 PM EST) — This article is part of a monthly column that delves into the most significant corporate law cases emerging from Delaware and offers practice points arising from recent court decisions. In this installment, we examine the most important and controversial Delaware court decisions and legislation from 2024…. Law360 is on it, so you are, too. A Law360 subscription puts you at the center of fast-moving legal issues, trends and developments so you can act with speed and confidence. Over 200 articles are published daily across more than 60 topics, industries, practice areas and jurisdictions. A Law360 subscription includes features such as Daily newsletters Expert analysis Mobile app Advanced search Judge information Real-time alerts 450K+ searchable archived articles And more! Experience Law360 today with a free 7-day trial. source

“SAP systems are prime targets for attackers due to their critical role in managing core operations for large enterprises, storing sensitive data such as financial transactions, intellectual property, and personal information,” according to Chris Morgan, senior cyber threat intelligence analyst at ReliaQuest. “Developing an exploit that can decrypt secure storage and facilitate lateral movement within SAP systems indicates a high level of technical expertise and effort, thus justifying a high price.” For example, ReliaQuest discovered an exploit targeting SAP systems that was being advertised on a prominent cybercriminal forum for nearly $25,000 (payable in Bitcoin) and initially listed in August 2020. The exploit purportedly facilitates lateral movement within targeted systems. “The post claims the exploit can use SAP Secure Storage to uncover credentials, elevate privileges, and eventually compromise additional SAP systems beyond the initial target,” according to ReliaQuest. source

By Andrew Levine, Winston Paes and Andreas Glimenakis ( December 19, 2024, 3:28 PM EST) — A recent Foreign Corrupt Practices Act action involving aerospace and defense company RTX Corp. and its Raytheon Co. subsidiary underscores the importance of risk management related to retaining and overseeing third parties, especially in higher-risk jurisdictions, and the promotion of a companywide culture of compliance…. Law360 is on it, so you are, too. A Law360 subscription puts you at the center of fast-moving legal issues, trends and developments so you can act with speed and confidence. Over 200 articles are published daily across more than 60 topics, industries, practice areas and jurisdictions. A Law360 subscription includes features such as Daily newsletters Expert analysis Mobile app Advanced search Judge information Real-time alerts 450K+ searchable archived articles And more! Experience Law360 today with a free 7-day trial. source

“At this point, I have real concerns about the impact of Matt Mullenweg’s words and actions on the overall image of open source software,” she added. “Even if he feels that WP Engine’s actions are unethical and the court is wrong, his actions are clearly having an impact on the WordPress ecosystem, including his own business. It seems self-destructive.” To put this move into context, the shutdown only directly impacts WordPress.org, whereas most enterprises using Automattic’s WordPress are leveraging WordPress.com, the commercial hosting site. But given the ripple effects across all of WordPress, it is likely that enterprise users would also be impacted. “The WordPress CMS is licensed under the GPL, so it is permanently available for free. However, a lot of WP’s value comes from themes and plugins,” Rosen said. “My understanding is that in some cases, the wordpress.org URL is hardcoded into WordPress, which can make it difficult or impossible to update your themes and plugins if they haven’t been added to the directory. It really depends on the particular website’s configuration.” source

Episode 102 CIO Leadership Live Middle East with Dr. Nasser Alamri, General Director of Information Technology at Saudi Arabia Institute of Public Administration 20 Dec 2024 12 mins CIO Leadership Live source

By Laura Posner ( December 18, 2024, 5:52 PM EST) — In the past two weeks, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed as “improvidently granted” — an order colloquially called a DIG — two securities class actions, Nvidia Corp. v. Investors, and Facebook Inc. v. Amalgamated Bank. DIGs are rare and are issued only when the Supreme Court realizes it shouldn’t have taken a case at the outset…. Law360 is on it, so you are, too. A Law360 subscription puts you at the center of fast-moving legal issues, trends and developments so you can act with speed and confidence. Over 200 articles are published daily across more than 60 topics, industries, practice areas and jurisdictions. A Law360 subscription includes features such as Daily newsletters Expert analysis Mobile app Advanced search Judge information Real-time alerts 450K+ searchable archived articles And more! Experience Law360 today with a free 7-day trial. source

The Basics Of The Merger Cohesity and Veritas’ merger just completed last week, creating the single largest data resilience provider in the market by revenue, with a combined total revenue of $1.7 billion in the fiscal year ending July 2024. The details of the merger mean that all the intellectual property and organizational resources for NetBackup and the Alta platform become part of Cohesity. The InfoScale, Data Compliance, and Backup Exec businesses were not included in the merger and have been formed into a new company with around 1,500 employees called Arctera, still owned by the Carlyle Group. Leadership Emphasizes Stability As most enterprises know, integrating even small acquisitions can be rocky. Cohesity’s leadership has the task of merging Veritas’ larger set of customers and employees into a single organization that is greater than the sum of the two companies’ parts. Sanjay Poonen and the rest of the Cohesity leadership have emphasized that they plan on making this merger a net benefit for all their clients. There is a focus on keeping customer data resilience platforms stable, providing expected updates, and exposing customers to value-added offerings from each portfolio. That’s all you can really ask for. Merging of development and building a unified product platform will happen, but it will be incremental to minimize disruption while maximizing value to customers. Future Value In Innovation And Packaging Cohesity’s novel data management focus and Veritas’ experienced professionals create a strong team. On the roadmap, expect Cohesity to lean into its infusion of generative AI functionality into its products and expanding that expertise into the NetBackup and Alta platforms. One simple example of easy innovation might be the expansion of Cohesity’s Gaia platform for retrieval-augmented generation from backups to include data housed in legacy systems backed up by NetBackup. Beyond AI, the consolidated team has a deep bench of expertise in all aspects of resilience: security, availability, and accountability. On the packaging side, the new portfolio is expansive, and Cohesity has an opportunity to disrupt the market just through smart packaging of the overall portfolio, addressing the pain points that many customers face about operating multiple data resilience platforms to address all their needs. Competition Continues To Be Fierce In A Consolidating Market Other vendors from the likes of Veeam, Commvault, Dell, Druva, IBM, OpenText, and Rubrik still represent formidable competition. Internal innovation to support new services like Entra ID, expanding SaaS support, feature evolution on data security, and more are driving change in the industry as customers ask for more capabilities. While the Cohesity and Veritas merger may be the latest in a series of acquisitions, it is not the only one. Some recent M&A activity over the past 18 months includes Veeam purchasing Alcion, Cirrus, and Coveware; Commvault purchasing Appranix and Clumio; and Rubrik’s acquisition of Laminar. These acquisitions tell a story of increased consolidation, especially as large vendors look to add new capabilities quickly to their portfolio. Other vendors in the space have largely focused on augmenting existing capabilities with specific features by purchasing smaller companies and integrating them quickly. For example, Commvault’s acquisitions further its depth and breadth in cloud backup, specifically AWS. Veeam added backup-as-a-service capabilities and ransomware incident response. Rubrik expanded its posture management capabilities. The Veritas acquisition is more massive, however, and promises to reset the competitive landscape as well as set up the company for an eventual IPO. What It Means For You As noted in the Forrester report, The Data Resilience Solutions Landscape, Q3 2024, customers have been opportunistically switching from ill-fitting backup solutions to modern data resilience-oriented solutions, especially as they adopt cloud architectures and generative AI capabilities. But the transition to new tools is often slowed by the need to maintain recovery capabilities for existing backups and the amount of production systems that those solutions must connect with. This makes the current market moment important both to vendors and to enterprise customers. Cloud and SaaS adoption have collided with generative AI transformations to make organizations rethink how they secure, back up, recover, and govern their data. Because data resilience solutions are sticky and will be with your organization for a long time, make sure that you properly assess your needs. Reach out for a guidance session and take advantage of tools such as the Forrester Wave™ evaluation of data resilience solutions or our Technology Resilience Maturity Assessment to make that sure you are on the right path to keeping your data resilient. source

Cryptocurrencies are no longer confined to the realm of tech enthusiasts — they’ve become a practical payment option for businesses of all sizes. In the U.S. alone, more than 2,000 businesses now accept cryptocurrency payments, with major brands like Starbucks, Home Depot, and Tesla leading the charge. For tech-savvy business owners and entrepreneurs, accepting crypto payments can open doors to a broader customer base, reduce transaction costs, and strengthen payment security. However, diving into this new world of payments comes with its own set of considerations and challenges. Key takeaways: Crypto payments offer global accessibility and reduced transaction fees, making them an attractive option for businesses looking to expand internationally or cut costs. Adopting crypto payments requires careful preparation, including setting up wallets, integrating payment processors, and addressing legal and tax obligations. While crypto offers benefits like faster payments and enhanced security, businesses must navigate challenges like price volatility, regulatory uncertainty, and complex tax implications. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to accept crypto payments confidently and seamlessly in your business. How to accept crypto payments as a business Accepting crypto payments can be straightforward when broken down into a few clear steps. Here’s how you can get started. Decide on retaining or converting crypto Before you begin, decide how you want to handle the cryptocurrency you receive: Retain crypto: Keeping payments in cryptocurrency can serve as an investment opportunity but carries the risk of price volatility. You’ll need a secure digital wallet and potentially a plan for managing tax implications. Convert to fiat: Automatically converting crypto into fiat currency (e.g., USD, EUR) ensures stability and simplifies accounting. Many crypto payment processors offer automatic conversion features. When making this decision, consider your business goals, risk tolerance, and local regulations. This choice will also guide your selection of a payment processor. Choose a crypto payment processor A crypto payment processor simplifies transactions and integrates crypto payments with your existing systems. Popular options include BitPay, Coinbase Commerce, and NOWPayments. For other options, check our list of the best crypto payment gateways. When choosing a processor, evaluate these features: Supported cryptocurrencies: Ensure it supports the coins you want to accept (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT). Integration options: Check for plugins or APIs for seamless integration with platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, or custom systems. Fees: Compare transaction fees, withdrawal fees, and other associated costs. Developer tools: Look for detailed API documentation, SDKs, and developer support for custom integrations. Set up your digital wallet A digital wallet is essential for receiving and storing cryptocurrency. There are two primary options: Custodial wallets: These are wallets managed by third parties (e.g., Coinbase, Binance). Custodial wallets are user-friendly and secure but rely on the service provider for private key management. Most web wallets are custodial wallets. Non-custodial wallets: These wallets provide full control of private keys (e.g., Ledger, MetaMask) and are ideal for businesses prioritizing security but require technical knowledge to set up and manage. Non-custodial wallets may be hot or cold–hot wallets, which are connected to the internet, making them more accessible, or cold wallets, which are stored offline, making them more secure. Some options for hot wallets are desktop wallets, mobile wallets, and web wallets. For cold wallets, the go-to option is hardware wallets. For maximum security, consider hardware wallets for offline storage of crypto assets. Integrate with your website or POS system Integrating crypto payment options ensures a seamless transaction experience for your customers, whether online or in-store. For e-commerce: Most crypto payment processors offer plugins for platforms like WooCommerce, Magento, and Shopify. For custom setups, use APIs to integrate directly with your website’s backend. For physical stores: Use QR codes to allow customers to scan and pay directly to your wallet or processor. Many POS systems now offer crypto support or can be upgraded with add-ons like Clover’s Crypto Integration or Shopify POS for physical stores. Display payment options and train your team Clearly display that you accept crypto payments on your website or physical store to inform customers. Ensure your team is trained on how to process these transactions, handle customer questions, and troubleshoot common issues. Visibility: Prominently showcase crypto payment options on your website, checkout pages, and physical store signage. For example, Add a “Pay with Crypto” button on your website. Team training: Train staff to manage crypto transactions, verify payment confirmations on the blockchain, and address customer inquiries. Ensure they can resolve issues like incorrect amounts sent or delayed confirmations. Benefits of accepting crypto payments Accepting cryptocurrency as a payment method can provide numerous advantages for businesses. Here are the key benefits. Lower transaction fees: Crypto transactions often have significantly lower processing fees than credit cards or traditional payment systems, saving your business money, especially for high-volume or international transactions. While card transactions can cost around 2% to 4% per transaction, crypto transactions can be as low as 0% to 2% per transaction. Faster payments: Unlike traditional banking systems, crypto payments are processed almost instantly, regardless of the sender’s or recipient’s location. This can improve cash flow and reduce delays in receiving funds. Global accessibility: Cryptocurrency will enable your business to accept payments from customers worldwide without dealing with exchange rates or international transfer fees; this is particularly advantageous for e-commerce and global enterprises. However, remember there are still a few countries like China where cryptocurrencies are illegal. Fraud protection: Blockchain technology ensures that crypto transactions are secure, irreversible, and transparent. This reduces the risk of chargebacks and fraud, offering businesses peace of mind. Attracting tech-savvy customers: Accepting crypto can differentiate your business and appeal to a growing demographic of tech-savvy customers who prefer alternative payment methods in an increasingly cashless society. Future-proofing your business: As cryptocurrency adoption continues to grow, integrating it into your payment options positions your business at the forefront of innovation, ready to adapt to emerging trends in digital finance. Drawbacks of accepting crypto payments While accepting cryptocurrency offers advantages, it’s important to consider the potential drawbacks. Price volatility: Cryptocurrency prices can fluctuate significantly

Microsoft also doesn’t elaborate on what it means by Windows 11 “compatibility issues,” so this is a matter of guesswork. However, it’s possible to imagine that new features that assume a TPM is available could cause instability on a machine lacking this facility. It could also affect drivers for older hardware no longer supported in Windows 11, although this would be likely to be an issue over the longer term. Meet the TPM Microsoft’s minimum requirements for Windows 11 cover several hardware components, including having enough RAM and a powerful enough microprocessor. But the most contentious issue is whether a PC contains or supports a Trusted Platform Module (TPM), specifically version 2.0, released in 2014. A TPM is a secure enclave for storing data such as cryptographic keys, certificates, and biometric information fundamental for the security of a PC, including those required for low level PC checks such as Secure Boot, or for the use of Microsoft’s BitLocker in its more secure mode. Having one is somewhere between a good idea and essential, as more and more software systems going forward assume one will be there at the root of trust. For a summary of the arguments in favor of upgrading to a system with TPM 2.0, Hosking’s blog is a good place to start. source

By Daniel Wilson ( December 20, 2024, 8:04 PM EST) — This year, the U.S. General Services Administration made dozens of awards for two massive, uncapped governmentwide deals, while the U.S. Department of Energy awarded more than $70 billion both for making nuclear weapons and cleaning up their legacy…. Law360 is on it, so you are, too. A Law360 subscription puts you at the center of fast-moving legal issues, trends and developments so you can act with speed and confidence. Over 200 articles are published daily across more than 60 topics, industries, practice areas and jurisdictions. A Law360 subscription includes features such as Daily newsletters Expert analysis Mobile app Advanced search Judge information Real-time alerts 450K+ searchable archived articles And more! Experience Law360 today with a free 7-day trial. source