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Wildfires raise concern for community safety
Firewise tips help residents across the West reduce their homes’ risk from wildfire
August 16, 2012 – Dozens of fires sparked by high temperatures, severe drought conditions and strong winds have blanketed the western part of the U.S. including Washington, Montana, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada and California, making this fire season one of the worst in history for area residents. According to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), nearly 43,000 fires burning 6.4 million acres have been reported across the West since January, and officials predict more wildfires will erupt due to continued dry heat and increased thunderstorms across the region.
The Firewise Communities Program provides resources to help residents take on wildfire safety activities. Complimentary brochures, booklets, pamphlets, videos and much more can be found on the “information and resources” page of the website and ordered online through the Firewise catalog.
“This continued high heat and extreme drought, coupled with intense lightning storms, pose a greater threat to individual properties and neighborhoods across the West,” said Michele Steinberg, NFPA’s Firewise Communities Program manager. “It’s simply easier, in these conditions, for fires to start and burn out of control. But residents can do their part and take simple steps today to lessen the risk of damage if a wildfire occurs.”
Wildfire doesn’t have to burn everything in its path. In fact, cleaning your property of dead leaves, needles and branches, and maintaining your landscaping are important first steps. Below are additional actions you can take to reduce the risk of your home and property becoming fuel for a wildfire:
Clear leaves and other debris from gutters, eaves, porches and decks. This prevents embers from igniting your home.
- Create a “fire-free” area within five feet of the home, using non-flammable landscaping materials such as rocks, pavers and/or high-moisture content annuals and perennials.
- Remove dead vegetation from under your deck and within 10 feet of the house.
- Remove flammable materials (firewood stacks, propane canisters, dry vegetation) within 30 feet of your home’s foundation and outbuildings, including garages and sheds. If it can catch fire, don’t let it touch your house, deck or porch.
- If you have trees on your property, prune so the lowest branches are 6 to 10 feet from the ground.
- Don’t let debris and lawn cuttings linger. Dispose of these items quickly to reduce fuel for fire.
- When planting, choose slow-growing, carefully placed shrubs and trees so the area can be more easily maintained.
- Landscape with native and less-flammable plants. Your state forestry agency or county extension office can provide plant information. Firewise landscaping and plants list are also available on the Firewise website.
- Keep your lawn hydrated and maintained. Dry grass and shrubs are fuel for wildfire.
Learn more about how to keep your family safe and reduce your home’s risk for wildfire damage at www.firewise.org.
About Firewise
The Firewise Communities Program encourages local solutions for wildfire safety by involving homeowners, community leaders, planners, developers, firefighters and others in creating fire-adapted communities – places where people and property are safer from the risk of brush, grass and forest fires. Firewise is a program of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and co-sponsored by the USDA Forest Service, the US Department of the Interior and the National Association of State Foresters.
About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
NFPA is a worldwide leader in fire, electrical, building, and life safety. The mission of the international nonprofit organization founded in 1896 is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education.
InstallFree Releases First Cloud-Based Service to Enable Access to One's Files and Productivity Applications From Any Computing Device
application delivery service to help individuals create,
edit and share their files on any computing device using
full versions of their favored productivity applications.
Nexus's distinct technology ensures that its users can be
consistently productive regardless of where their files are
stored and across varied computing devices and operating
systems.
Nexus integrates seamlessly with Google Drive, Box, Dropbox,
SkyDrive and Office 365 to instantly deliver full-fidelity
versions of Microsoft Office and Adobe Reader, as well as
plug-ins like Java, Flash and Silverlight - on any computing
device with just a browser. In addition, Nexus includes
collaboration features allowing users to "broadcast" or
publish the files on which they're working by simply posting
a link to the invitee's Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn or
Twitter feed, or sending it via email.
Customers can start using the service by either creating an
account on http://nexus.installfree.com or using auto-login
with their existing Dropbox, Google Drive, Box or SkyDrive
accounts. Furthermore, InstallFree provides Google Drive and
Box web-apps from their respective app stores that enable
customers to set InstallFree Nexus as a default capability
for all files. Google Chrome Browser users will enjoy an
added benefit from an InstallFree Nexus for Gmail browser
extension to instantly view, edit, save and share MS Office
and PDF file attachments arriving on Gmail.
"In an increasingly connected world, people expect to store
and access their data from Google Drive, Dropbox, SkyDrive,
Box and Office365. People also expect to access their data
from a variety of devices like iPad, Android Tablets,
Chromebooks and PCs/Macs. We created Nexus to solve the
productivity challenge (BYOD) for customers to be able to
use applications like Microsoft Office across these cloud
storage providers and from any device," noted Rakesh
Narasimhan, CEO of InstallFree and former GM for Cloud Data
Services within the Server & Tools Business (STB) Division
of Microsoft. "After years of helping IT departments at
large enterprises design and manage systems for desktop
application virtualization, we adapted our experience with
virtualization in the enterprise to benefit customers in all
segments with InstallFree Nexus."
Licensing, a significant cost for customers across segments,
in terms of expense and complexity, is handled directly by
InstallFree by ensuring proper licensing arrangements with
application providers (e.g., Microsoft). Adding new
applications and upgrades to existing ones are completely
transparent to the users and managed on the InstallFree
cloud infrastructure, powered by Amazon Web Services.
Nexus is publicly available in two versions:
InstallFree Nexus Basic: A FREE version that includes:
-- The full LibreOffice (formerly OpenOffice) application
suite for creating and editing documents from any device or
browser.
-- Full-fidelity viewing of Microsoft Office files.
-- Seamless integration with Dropbox, Google Drive, Box,
SkyDrive, SharePoint, Office 365 and other storage services.
InstallFree Nexus Premium: A paid version that includes:
-- All the capabilities available in Nexus Basic
-- Microsoft Office 2010 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and
Publisher) subscription license:
-- $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year for academic
license for the full Office suite.
-- $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year for standard
(non-academic) license for a single Office app (e.g.
Microsoft Word).
-- $19.99 per month / $199.99 per year for standard
(non-academic) license for the full Office suite.
Both InstallFree Nexus Basic and Premium include a FREE
60-day trial access to the full versions of Microsoft Office
2010 applications. The free version of Nexus is available
now and the paid version will be available by the end of
August 2012. The service can be accessed directly from
www.installfree.com and customers can get started instantly
by logging in with their existing Dropbox, Google, Box or
SkyDrive accounts. Furthermore, InstallFree provides Google
Drive and Box web-apps that can easily be added from their
respective app stores.
More information about the various Nexus services and apps
is available at www.installfree.com/nexus/apps
Links to Videos:
InstallFree Nexus Overview: http://youtu.be/ggj1O0GpNvo
InstallFree Nexus for Google Drive:
http://youtu.be/SJ7dews_E40
InstallFree Nexus for Box: http://youtu.be/0mVeM1JDmXA
InstallFree Nexus Collaboration Demo:
http://youtu.be/N2H9k5hNmn4
About InstallFree:
InstallFree (www.installfree.com) was founded in 2006 to
solve the challenges of creating, sharing and managing
end-user environments. Headquartered in Stamford, CT, with
research and development in Tel Aviv, Israel, the company's
mission is to enable people to use the applications they
need on the devices they want, anywhere at any time. To
learn more about InstallFree Nexus, its features,
functionality and pricing please refer to our FAQ at
www.installfree.com/nexus/faq.
Emerson Network Power Addresses Customer Need for Integrated Services and Single-Source Accountability with Mosaic Site Services
Columbus, Ohio – Emerson Network Power, a business of Emerson (NYSE:EMR) and a global leader in optimizing availability, capacity and efficiency of critical infrastructure, today announced the launch of Mosaic Site Services. This innovative solution addresses the growing customer demand for a single source of expertise for managing all infrastructure service needs within a data center.
Mosaic Site Services, currently available to customers in the United States, gives enterprise data center managers the ability to eliminate the complexity and risk of supervising multiple service vendors. The offering provides a comprehensive set of preventive, emergency and assessment services coordinated by an Emerson Network Power Mosaic Service Manager. It also streamlines the service process, reduces costs and increases overall systems availability.
“Emerson Network Power has long been providing the individual offerings that are part of the Mosaic Site Services package, but has now put it all together to simplify data center operation and administration for our customers,” said Frank Bibens, president, Emerson Network Power Systems Global Services. “We have a ‘customer first’ mentality, and Mosaic Site Services is just one way that we are giving customers what they’ve asked for — an integrated solution on one contract with a dedicated, on-site expert to oversee all data center infrastructure service needs.”
The key feature of this new solution is that the Mosaic Service Manager serves as the single point-of-contact, accountable for infrastructure availability and coordination of all related service activities including scheduling execution, documentation, risk management, and ongoing follow-up. Having a Mosaic Service Manager on site and backed by Emerson Network Power, customers gain access to the industry’s best practices regarding availability, efficiency, safety and compliance — practices identified during its commissioning of more than 80 data centers and support of thousands more. Customers also get extensive service support through hundreds of highly trained technicians and field engineers certified by the InterNational Electrical Testing Association (NETA).
This integrated approach to managing data center infrastructure services provides advantages through several key capabilities:
- Applying system-wide knowledge identifies possible availability issues during all phases of the data center life cycle — a more extensive approach than viewing service from the component level.
- Coordination of preventive maintenance and emergency services by an infrastructure expert reduces the risk of errors that can occur when separate service providers are unaware of other service underway.
- Utilizing the Mosaic Service Manager’s expertise in monitoring and around-the-clock alarm management helps customers avoid nuisance alarms and provides fast response to genuine equipment problems.
With Mosaic Site Services, customers are assigned a Mosaic Service Manager who personally manages the preventive, corrective, diagnostic and engineering change services for their contracted equipment. This data center infrastructure specialist is specifically trained to enhance the value of critical support services in order to deliver high availability; optimize space, power and cooling capacity; and maximize efficiency.
For more information on other Emerson Network Power technologies and services, visit www.EmersonNetworkPower.com.
MySammy Productivity Management Software Announces New Promotion for Telecommuters
that specializes in productivity measurement solutions for
businesses, announced today a special promotion for
companies that employ telecommuters. For a limited time
only, these businesses will be offered a 90-day free trial
for company packages -- 60 days longer than the original
30-day trial offer.
MySammy's results-oriented productivity measurement software
provides employers and managers with detailed information on
how an employee's time is spent on a computer. MySammy
software collects computer usage information in order to
better evaluate employees' computer behavior and ultimately
increase their performance. This can be particularly useful
for businesses that employ telecommuters who work from home
or other remote locations.
According to an article published in July 2012 by the SHRM
(Society for Human Resource Management), the number of
people now telecommuting is almost double what it was
nationwide 10 years ago. With MySammy, managers of
telecommuting employees have 24/7 global, cloud-based access
to intuitive graphs and color-coded bar and pie charts that
provide data about productive, idle and non-productive
employee activity in a single glance. Managers can easily
view and simultaneously evaluate all users, a few users or
just one user.
MySammy enables managers to monitor employee computer usage
globally while at the same time minimizing sensitive data
collection in order to retain the user's privacy -- the
software does not collect screenshots; it collects only the
data needed for effective management evaluation of
"productive time."
"We believe MySammy provides managers with the ultimate
employee productivity measurement software," says Edward
Kwang, President of MySammy. "With the recent increase in
the number of people working from home, and the expected
continued increase in the future, MySammy will prove to be
an invaluable management tool that will not only measure
employee productivity, but provide much-needed information
to create a baseline performance standard for all employees,
which will aid managers in creating fair performance
evaluations for all employees regardless of their work
locations."
To take advantage of the new telecommuter promotion, visit
http://mysammy.com/telcom. Sign up for either the small or
larger business account, then enter "TELCOM" into the Promo
Code field. The telecommuter promotion runs until Oct. 15,
2012.
About MySammy, LLC
MySammy is a software company that provides enterprises, HR
departments and managers of telecommuters with a
feature-rich, results-oriented "productivity measurement"
software solution that enables employers and managers to
graphically view detailed information on how an employee's
time is spent on a computer. The solution provides
quantifiable time accountability measurement and collects
only the data needed for effective management evaluation of
"productive time" and avoids depriving users of their
privacy. For more information about the company, check out
www.mysammy.com and follow us on Twitter.com/MySammySoftware
and Facebook.com/MySammySoftware.
Sonke Computer Services Africa Signed as Intransa Reseller in Southern Africa
SCS Africa is a reseller for a number of Intransa SELECT and SELECT ELITE partners, including Cathexis, a recently certified Intransa VMS SELECT partner. SCS Africa, formerly Safmarine Computer Services, was established in 2006 with the goal of becoming a market leader in the information and communications technology space. The company brings turnkey solutions including software, networking, security and IT business solutions to the market. Intransa’s video-optimized platforms are built for the unique demands of video security and are integrated with security-oriented services for affordable and simplified local installations as well as for use in advanced cloud deployments. The new partnership extends Intransa’s reach into southern Africa.
“South Africa is booming. It’s one of the BRICS countries, made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, which accounts for 45 percent of the world's population and a quarter of its economy,” said Tom O’Leary, vice president, worldwide sales, Intransa. “In southern Africa security is a major issue and companies are increasingly looking at more sophisticated systems to ensure the protection of their assets and people.”
Suitable for individual deployments or as a scalable, cloud-based infrastructure, Intransa platforms deliver high definition (HD) video optimized servers and storage. Its solutions are designed to be affordable for single project security deployments with just a small number of IP cameras and a few days of recording, yet can scale cost-efficiently and easily to meet the big data needs of projects with hundreds or even thousands of cameras and months to years of video recording capacity.
“The IP physical security market is growing rapidly in southern Africa and we understand the need for selling products that are specifically designed for the 24x7x365, non-stop operational challenges of physical security applications, said Johan Coetzee, general manager, SCS Africa. “Intransa understands the importance of supplying products that are specifically designed for the video surveillance market.”
All Intransa platforms include Standard Warranty and Support, with 3 years of comprehensive system hardware and software coverage. Also included is GroundCrew™ phone-home, which monitors the health of fans, drives, power supplies and other system components, and notifies our warranty department to dispatch replacement parts in the event of a failure. Customers also have the choice of two optional upgrades, Advanced and Premium Support, each adding the CoPilot™ Video Network Troubleshooting Service and other feature enhancements. In addition, Intransa Pilot™ Live Monitoring is a separate service available for busy customers who choose to have Intransa Customer Support monitor their video system health, 24x7x365.
Intransa's award-winning products and services offer a complete infrastructure solution to meet a wide range of physical security needs, with the security industry’s widest range of certified VMS, access control, and video analytics applications from the security industry’s leading software vendors.
Skyera Set to Dramatically Change Enterprise Flash Adoption Landscape
Extending the life amplification of consumer-grade MLC Flash was an exciting challenge for the experienced engineering team that had already delivered world class flash controllers. Only a ground-up, system-wide approach to the design, development, and integration of all components in the technology stack – including the flash controller, RAID controller, storage blades, communication bus and network interface – could yield the 100 times life amplification required to exceed enterprise reliability and endurance.
“The ‘norms’ of solid-state storage have seen much change and improvement over the last few years” said Mark Peters, Senior Analyst at ESG, “But Skyera’s flagship product introduction challenges even the best of those new ‘norms’ and looks set to be a true game changer. Its compact, high capacity form, together with impressive longevity and – most notably and unapologetically – a dramatically-attractive price, promise to change the storage landscape; users who thought they could not afford solid-state are simply going to have to revise their thinking.”
Industry Firsts
Penetration in the mainstream enterprise storage market can be fueled by the latest generation of low cost 19/20nm consumer-grade MLC Flash. However, today’s flash controllers are simply not able to compensate for the limited write cycles of this new technology. Skyera is the first company to remove the barrier to life amplification without compromising the reliability, durability and performance demands for enterprise storage.
Skyera’s Flash controller leverages proprietary algorithms to dynamically tune the partitions during the lifetime of the Flash, allowing the controller to adapt to different Flash behavior as the media ages. The Skyera controller reduces damage that the flash oxide layer typically experiences on writes. With lower write amplification, adaptive ECC, and tight integration with Skyera’s RAID technology, the life of consumer-grade MLC is extended to a market-leading five years of enterprise usage. Additionally, the flexibility of the Skyera architecture enables the controller and ECC to adapt to future generations of higher-capacity Flash memory that will require different write parameters and more powerful error correction.
Tackling the Network Bottleneck
Higher performing solid-state systems can easily saturate the 10-Gigabit iSCSI channel between the network switch and the storage array. By combining switch with storage via a high-speed proprietary bus, Skyera has eliminated this bottleneck while simplifying data access. With 40 1-Gigabit and 3 10-Gibabit Ethernet ports, servers can connect via traditional Ethernet switches or directly to the flash storage without the cost and latency of an external switch or the consolidated storage network connection in the data path.
Skyera will be demonstrating their Skyhawk enterprise solid-state storage system at the upcoming Flash Memory Summit, August 21st to 23rd in Santa Clara, CA. For more information or to arrange an evaluation, contact Skyera at (408) 954-8100, or via email at sales@skyera.com.
About Skyera
Skyera Inc. is an emerging provider of enterprise solid-state storage systems designed to enable a large class of applications with extraordinarily high performance, exceptionally lower power consumption at the lowest cost relative to existing enterprise storage systems. Founded by the executives who previously developed the world’s most-advanced flash memory controller, Skyera is backed by key technology and financial partnerships designed to position it at the forefront of the hyper growth in the solid state storage sector. The company was featured in the Gartner report “Cool Vendors in Storage Technologies, 2012.”
STORServer announces version 4.5 of Archive Backup Client for OpenVMS
COLORADO SPRINGS –– STORServer®, the leading provider of proven data backup solutions for the mid-market, today announces the availability of version 4.5 of its Archive Backup Client for OpenVMS, which allows users to include their OpenVMS servers in their heterogeneous IBM® Tivoli® Storage Manager backup solution.
The updates to the enterprise backup software include a major enhancement to file backup speed and performance when backing up thousands of files in a single directory. In addition, ABC v4.5 supports the POSIX-style file systems introduced in OpenVMS v8.3, and provides various other minor enhancements and bug fixes. The performance update is also available in ABC v4.1.1.2, OpenVMS v6.2 through v7.1 on the Alpha platform, and OpenVMS v5.5-2 and newer on the VAX platform.
“These enhancements bypass a long-standing and well-known issue within the OpenVMS file system with these kinds of large directories,” said Steve Jensen, vice president of software engineering for STORServer. “We’ve verified backup performance improvements of nearly 30 times the throughput of the previous implementation. These updates are a really big deal for our current and prospective ABC customers.”
With ABC, users can backup, archive, restore, query and manage OpenVMS files stored on TSM servers as a logical extension to the online OpenVMS ODS-2 or ODS-5 file systems. Other features include:
- Protection of OpenVMS files stored on TSM servers
- Automation and scheduling saves time and resources
- Ad hoc backup and archive requests
- Full user authentication protects data
- Easy-to-use, flexible and familiar DCL-like interface
- AliasWise™ handling of complex alias file structures ensures accuracy
- Policy-based management and support of hundreds of storage devices
- Advance Encryption Standard 256 bit encryption
ABC v4.5 may be installed as a new product or as an upgrade from any previous version.
STORServer offers a complete suite of enterprise backup appliances, plus software and services for IBM TSM customers that solve today’s backup, archive and disaster recovery challenges. To learn more about ABC v4.5, visit http://storserver.com/BackupAgent.aspx. For more information on the company’s line of data backup solutions, visit http://www.storserver.com.
Quantivate Announces Public Launch of Mobile App for Business Continuity
Woodinville, WA, August 14, 2012 - Quantivate, a leader in Business Continuity, Enterprise Risk Management, Vendor Management, and Information Security software, has announced the release and general availability of the Quantivate Mobile App for iOS and Android mobile devices. The Quantivate Mobile App currently complements the company’s Business Continuity module and gives users access to their business continuity plans on mobile devices.
“In today’s mobile work environment we understand how important it is for staff and management to stay connected and know how to react in any incident,” said Quantivate CEO Andy Vanderhoff. “Now business continuity managers can ensure their staff has access to current BC plans in any situation whether they are in the office or on-the-go,” he added.
The Quantivate Mobile app will enable business continuity managers to:
- Synchronize the most current BC plans to iOS and Android devices.
- Access the most accurate contact details for key personnel.
- Distributing plans electronically with the click of a button.
- Push notifications to staff to ensure they have the most up-to-date plans available.
- Easily deploy and implement current incident management procedures and policies.
- Respond immediately with the most up-to-date plans and incident management procedures.
- Call phone numbers on plan call lists.
In addition to the current functionality of accessing business continuity plans, the company plans to continue development of the Quantivate Mobile App to complement their full suite of software modules including Enterprise Risk Management, Vendor Management, and Information Security.
“We are very excited about this mobile application, it will not only bring benefits to current business continuity managers, but the functionality we are adding in the near future is innovative,” said Vanderhoff. “Being able to deploy risk management, continuity, and compliance tools into the mobile workspace is game changing. Mobile integration will increase the availability of real time data reporting, inter-department collaboration, and cost savings across the enterprise.”
The Quantivate Mobile App is currently available to all Quantivate Business Continuity users at no additional charge. For more information visit: http://www.quantivate.com/app.php.
For sales information contact sales@quantivate.com.
About Quantivate
Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Woodinville, WA, Quantivate is a leading provider of cloud-based Continuity, Risk, and Compliance software and service solutions. The company has grown to become a leading provider of software that organizations in multiple industries use to manage their continuity, risk, security, and compliance needs. The company’s full suite of software tools includes Business Continuity, Vendor Management, Enterprise Risk Management, and Information Security.
eBRP Expands Channel Marketing Team
Toronto, Canada August 9, 2012 – eBRP Solutions, the leading provider of web-based, Business Continuity Management software has expanded its Channel Marketing Team with the recent addition of Nisar Khan as Senior Manager, Business Development. In his new role, Khan will assume concentrated responsibility for Partner and Channel relationships in the Middle East.
Khan, who had formerly been a Regional Sales Manager at AVG Technologies in Dubai, has extensive experience in the Middle East as a Sales Manager at Trend Micro in Dubai, Business Development Manager with Paramount Computer Systems in the UAE, and a Branch Manager at the Al Abbas Group (a division of IBM) in Abu Dhabi,.
“This position at eBRP Solutions is a fantastic opportunity to leverage my past experience and the goodwill established across emerging markets for the past 20 years”, said Khan. “eBRP’s award winning tools provide me the perfect platform to cultivate a loyal and engaged following of prospects, customers and top tier channel partners across the Middle Eastern market.”
eBRP has been expanding its sales and channel partner programs, with recent additions to its sales team in Australia and the UK. “The addition of Nisar Khan to our Team provides eBRP new opportunities to work with prospective clients and partners in the rapidly emerging BCM market in the Middle East”, said eBRP Director David Gray. “Nisar’s extensive experience working in that market will be a real benefit to both eBRP and to our future customers and partners.”
eBRP Solutions is the premier global provider of Business Continuity Management software supporting the entire BCM lifecycle. Award-winning eBRP Suite is available as a true SaaS (Software as a Service), or can be self-hosted. eZ-Planner is the industry’s most powerful entry-level software. Both products give Planners all the tools needed to supercharge their BCM program. Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, eBRP serves customers in a multitude of industries and institutions across the globe. For more information, contact eBRP at 1-888-480-3277 or visit www.eBRP.net.
QBE offers packaged protection for business owners
According to QBE Senior Vice President Arne Chatterton, owners of small- to medium-sized companies may now insure their businesses and business vehicles, and provide Workers' Compensation to their employees, through QBE's FlexBiz product.
FlexBiz offers tailored rating and expanded programs – including restaurants, motels and car care – along with pricing flexibility. "FlexBiz is fully integrated with the Business Auto and Workers' Compensation rating applications," Chatterton says. "This eliminates the need to enter duplicate information and provides one central place for client information."
Intuitive and easy to navigate, the online rating system eliminates the need to enter duplicate information and provides one central place for client information.
In addition, there is no Workers' Compensation payroll limitation. The Workers' Compensation portion of the package is available in all U.S. states except for Washington.
For more information on packaged protection for business, contact John LaPorta at QBE North America, 916.872.2780.
QBE North America is part of QBE Insurance Group Limited, one of the top 20 insurers and reinsurers worldwide. QBE Insurance Group's 2011 results can be found at www.qbena.com. Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, QBE operates out of 52 countries around the globe, with a presence in every key insurance market. The North America division, headquartered in New York, conducts business through its property and casualty insurance subsidiaries. QBE insurance companies are rated "A" (Excellent) by A.M. Best and "A+" by Standard & Poor's.
