Tuesday, October 06

Zimbabwe Records 70 More Covid-19 Deaths

Zimbabwe recorded 70 Covid-19 deaths yesterday, taking the overall death toll to 1 057 since March last year when pandemic broke out in the country.

In terms of new cases, the country reported 326 yesterday, a marked decline though from the over 1 000 cases that were reported in the last few days.

The seven-day rolling average for new cases fell to 536 from 588 on Sunday. As of Sunday, 255 Covid-19 cases were hospitalised cases with 74 being severe, 163 mild to moderate and 18 in intensive care units.

An update from the Ministry of Health and Child Care indicates that all 326 were local cases, with Mashonaland West having the highest cases at 66.
Harare had been dominating new cases in the last few weeks. Encouragingly, 627 new recoveries reported, taking the national recovery rate to 72,3 percent.

Active cases went down to 7 694 yesterday, with Harare having the lion’s share at 3 173. As of yesterday, Zimbabwe has now recorded 31 646 cases, 22 877 recoveries and 1 075 deaths.

During the festive season, the country recorded a sharp increase in Covid-19 cases with 1 342 cases and 29 deaths being reported in a week, marking the highest number of infections and deaths to be ever recorded since March last year.

After a week into the new year, the country recorded 34 deaths in one day on January 5. The number of deaths reached 500 on January 10 and two weeks later they have doubled to 1 075.

 
Acting Bulawayo provincial medical director Dr Welcome Mlilo recently said there are fears that the worst is yet to come hence the need for people to change their behaviour.

He said if the present trend continues, the country’s health care system may not be able to cope.

“We know that in Zimbabwe we don’t have the capacity that we are seeing across for example in South Africa. In situations like this, we all need to play our roles and I don’t think we have started paying for December festivities.

“The Covid-19 has a 14-day incubation period and we fear for the worst in few days to come because of the partying which happened during the festivities,” said Dr Mlilo. – Additional reporting Bulawayo Bureau

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Best Cloud Backup Solutions for Law Firms in 2026

Law firms are becoming major cyberattack targets.

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Why?

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Because legal firms store extremely sensitive information.

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Client contracts. Financial records. Litigation strategies. Corporate merger documents. Confidential communications.

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One ransomware attack can lock critical files and completely disrupt operations.

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That’s why more firms are investing heavily in the best cloud backup solutions for law firms in 2026.

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The old approach of storing files on a single local server is becoming dangerously outdated.

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Why Law Firms Face Unique Cybersecurity Risks

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Legal practices operate differently from many other businesses.

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Attorneys often work remotely, exchange confidential documents constantly, and manage enormous amounts of private client information.

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That creates multiple attack surfaces.

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Cybercriminals know:

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  • Law firms hold valuable data
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  • Smaller firms may lack advanced cybersecurity
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  • Downtime creates pressure to pay ransoms quickly
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  • Sensitive legal files can be exploited
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The risks continue growing every year.

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What Makes a Strong Cloud Backup Solution?

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Not every backup platform provides real protection.

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Some systems create a dangerous false sense of security.

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Experienced IT teams evaluate several critical areas.

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Immutable Backups

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Immutable storage prevents attackers from altering or deleting backup files.

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This matters enormously during ransomware attacks.

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Without immutable backups, attackers may encrypt both primary systems and backup copies.

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That leaves businesses trapped.

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Geographic Redundancy

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Strong backup systems store data across multiple locations.

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If one data center fails, systems can still recover quickly.

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Law firms handling high-value litigation often require advanced redundancy protections.

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Encryption Standards

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Client confidentiality matters.

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Cloud backup providers should offer:

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  • End-to-end encryption
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  • Encrypted file transfers
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  • Secure access controls
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  • Multi-factor authentication
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Weak security practices can create massive legal liability.

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Compliance Requirements for Legal Firms

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Law firms increasingly face compliance obligations involving:

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  • Client confidentiality
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  • Data privacy laws
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  • Document retention policies
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  • Industry regulations
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Cloud providers must align with these requirements.

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Choosing the cheapest solution without compliance review can become a major mistake.

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Common Backup Mistakes Law Firms Make

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Some firms assume cloud synchronization automatically equals backup.

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That assumption creates problems.

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If ransomware encrypts synchronized files, corrupted versions may spread instantly across systems.

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Other common mistakes include:

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  • Failing to test backups regularly
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  • Weak password management
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  • Limited employee cybersecurity training
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  • No incident response planning
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Technology alone is never enough.

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Why Managed Backup Services Are Growing

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Many law firms now outsource backup management to specialized providers.

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Managed services may help with:

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  • Continuous monitoring
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  • Threat detection
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  • Recovery testing
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  • Compliance management
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  • Disaster recovery planning
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That expertise becomes valuable during serious cyber incidents.

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Final Takeaway

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The best cloud backup solutions for law firms in 2026 combine security, redundancy, compliance support, and rapid recovery capabilities.

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Law firms can no longer treat backups as a simple IT task.

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Data protection has become essential for business continuity, client trust, and long-term operational survival.

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FAQ

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Why are law firms targeted by ransomware attacks?

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Law firms store highly sensitive data and often face pressure to restore systems quickly.

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What is immutable backup storage?

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Immutable storage prevents backup files from being altered or deleted.

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Are cloud backups enough for cybersecurity?

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No. Businesses also need strong access controls, employee training, and incident response planning.

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Term vs Whole Life Insurance: Compare Costs and Coverage

Life insurance can protect a family from financial hardship if a wage earner, caregiver, or business owner passes away. The challenge is choosing the right type of policy. Two of the most common options are term life insurance and whole life insurance. Both can provide a death benefit, but they work differently, cost differently, and fit different planning goals.

Term life insurance is designed to last for a specific period, such as 10, 20, or 30 years. If the insured person dies during the term and the policy is active, the beneficiary receives the death benefit. If the term ends and the policy is not renewed or converted, coverage ends. Because term life does not usually build cash value, it is often more affordable than permanent life insurance for the same death benefit.

Term life can make sense when the main need is temporary protection. Parents may choose a term that lasts until children are grown, a mortgage is paid down, or college costs are no longer a concern. Business partners may use term life to support a buy-sell agreement during key growth years. A family with a tight budget may choose term insurance because it can provide a larger death benefit for a lower premium.

Whole life insurance is a type of permanent life insurance. It is designed to last for the insured person's lifetime as long as required premiums are paid. Whole life policies can build cash value over time. The cash value may be borrowed against or accessed under certain conditions, but loans and withdrawals can reduce the death benefit and may have tax consequences. Whole life premiums are usually much higher than term life premiums for the same initial death benefit.

Whole life can make sense for people who want lifetime coverage, predictable premiums, estate planning support, or a policy that includes cash value. It may also appeal to people who have already built a strong emergency fund, retirement savings, and basic protection, and who want another long-term planning tool. However, it is not automatically better simply because it lasts longer.

The right choice depends on the purpose of the coverage. If the goal is replacing income while children are young, covering a mortgage, or protecting a spouse during working years, term life may be enough. If the goal is lifetime estate liquidity, legacy planning, or long-term coverage that does not expire, whole life may be worth comparing.

Premiums should be reviewed carefully. A policy is only useful if you can keep it active. Buying an expensive permanent policy and later canceling it can be costly. Before choosing whole life, compare how the same dollars could be used for term coverage, retirement contributions, debt payoff, emergency savings, or other goals. This is not an either-or decision for everyone; some people use term life for large temporary needs and a smaller permanent policy for lifelong needs.

Underwriting is another factor. Insurers may review age, health history, medication, family history, lifestyle, driving record, occupation, hobbies, and sometimes medical exam results. Younger and healthier applicants often qualify for lower premiums, but each company evaluates risk differently. If you have a medical condition, an independent broker may help compare multiple insurers.

When comparing quotes, look beyond the premium. Ask whether the policy is level term or renewable term, whether it can be converted to permanent coverage, how long the premium is guaranteed, whether riders are included, and what happens if payments are missed. For whole life, ask for an in-force illustration, guaranteed values, non-guaranteed assumptions, surrender charges, loan interest, and how dividends are handled if applicable.

Common riders include waiver of premium, accelerated death benefit, child term rider, and guaranteed insurability. Riders can add flexibility, but they can also increase cost. Only add riders that solve a clear need.

Life insurance is not just a product; it is a financial safety plan. Start by estimating how much money your family would need for housing, debt, childcare, education, final expenses, and income replacement. Then compare policy types around that need. A licensed insurance professional or financial planner can help you evaluate options based on your state, budget, tax situation, and family goals.