Avantor Announces Investment in Manufacturing and Distribution Hub in Singapore to Serve Rapidly Growing Asia Pacific Biopharma Industry

Wazzup Pilipinas!?




Avantor, Inc. (NYSE: AVTR), a leading global provider of mission-critical products and services to customers in the life sciences, advanced technologies and applied materials industries, today announced it will create a new manufacturing and distribution Hub in Singapore, by integrating its existing distribution facility with new manufacturing operations. The new Hub, which brings Avantor solutions closer to regional customers and strengthens global supply chain capabilities, will be fully operational early next year.

"The Singapore Manufacturing and Distribution Hub will enable Avantor to better serve the fast-growing Asia Pacific Biopharma market by facilitating shorter lead times, enhancing supply chain security and increasing capacity in the region," said Christophe Couturier, Executive Vice President, AMEA, Avantor. "The Hub will boost regional innovation and serve as an industry benchmark for Singapore and Asia Pacific's global quality and regulatory standards, and demonstrates Avantor's commitment to growing our presence in the region."

The new Hub will provide a range of services including quality control and inventory management expertise, and feature cGMP manufacturing suites and testing labs for process ingredients and excipients.

About Avantor

Avantor, a Fortune 500 company, is a leading global provider of mission-critical products and services to customers in the biopharma, healthcare, education & government, and advanced technologies & applied materials industries. Our portfolio is used in virtually every stage of the most important research, development and production activities in the industries we serve. Our global footprint enables us to serve more than 225,000 customer locations and gives us extensive access to research laboratories and scientists in more than 180 countries. We set science in motion to create a better world.

For more information, visit https://news.avantorsciences.com/home and find us on:
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Discover Philippines: Five Philippine Campsites for Outdoor Enthusiasts

Wazzup Pilipinas!?




It is a known fact that the Philippines is famous for its white-sand beaches, pristine waters, verdant mountains, and diverse landscapes.

However, much of the country’s tourism highlight is focused on the coasts--so much so that the majestic mountainsides are often overlooked and overshadowed. With the rise of avid mountaineers and camping enthusiasts, however, the spotlight has shifted to the country’s varied campgrounds—which intrepid individuals will certainly enjoy. Indeed, there is no shortage of campsites in the Philippines, with many of them having their own distinct character to appeal to different kinds of campers or hikers. Unfortunately, many are still not quite so keen to try camping owing to the many challenges that come with the outdoor activity.

Talks of camping in the Philippines are always interlaced with long travel times, pitching a tent, possible bug bites, things to pack for the trip, pitching a tent, building your own fire, and maybe, learning how to forage and cook your own food. With all that considered, it may seem like a trip to the beach is an easier excursion to plan logistically. But despite all of these, there is quite nothing like the experience of pitching your tent in the middle of a campground to afford you some time to finally disconnect from the world. After all, in modern times, most of us are connected to the internet 24/7 or are perhaps too immersed in our social media feeds. By camping in the middle of nowhere, you get to have a break from all that. Indeed, nothing beats being unplugged and getting to rejuvenate by reconnecting with nature. Just imagine waking up with no buzzing phone to bother you or no notifications to get back on—in your very own private corner of the world. Sounds like a riveting plan, right?

So, if you have finally decided to go on a camping trip, below are the best campsites in the Philippines:



1.) Fortune Island (Nasugbu, Batangas)

Located just a couple of hours away from Metro Manila, Nasugbu Batangas is a renowned beach town surrounded by crystal waters and fine sand. While Fortune Island is mostly frequented by beachgoers looking to pepper their beach trip with adventure, it is also an excellent choice for campers who are looking for a bit of a challenge. Fearless outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy this campsite for the added challenge: having to ditch basic amenities. At Fortune Island, campers are to give up electricity and running water in exchange for a myriad of activities such as swimming, light trekking, cliff diving, and relaxing under the sun. For campers who wish to update their social media feeds, Fortune Island offers an array of Instagrammable areas with its iconic Grecian pillar ruins that make for picturesque and scenic photos.



2.) Anawangin Cove (San Antonio, Zambales)

If you cannot decide between going to the beach and camping on the mountainside, you need not worry. The town of San Antonio is littered with plenty of beautiful coves where visitors can enjoy both beach lounging and camping. One of San Antonio’s many beach camps is Anawangin Cove, where the waters are cobalt blue, and the sand is grey but fine. Anawangin Cove’s waters make for the perfect morning swim. It is known as one of the best beach camping sites the country has to offer. Its peaceful ambiance is ideal for travelers who are looking for a little peace and quiet with a bit of adventure on the side. As the campsite is surrounded by tall trees and mountain landscapes, travelers are encouraged to go unplugged. There is no electricity and network coverage which compels visitors to disconnect themselves from the world and relax amidst nature’s best offers.



3.) Calaguas Island (Camarines Norte)

If you wish to visit one of the most pristine beaches in Luzon, look no further than Calaguas. Known as one of the most popular beach destinations, Calaguas Island has become a staple in many summer itineraries—especially for those who are looking to get away from the daily grind of the metropolis. If you are looking for the perfect island vibes, Calaguas Island’s powdery white sand and azure waters will certainly be to your satisfaction.



4.) BLOC Camp Site (Laguna)

One of the many challenges that come with planning a camping trip is the long drive it usually takes. Well, for those who are unable to do a prolonged drive to a campsite, you may opt to set up camp nearby, such as at BLOC Camp Site in Laguna. Perfect for those who are looking for picturesque mountainsides and lakes over beaches and the sea, this campsite in Laguna is a nearby alternative to far-flung campsites. It is the perfect place to go camping for individuals who are looking for an abbreviated version of an extended outdoor excursion. Located just a few hours away from the metropolis, this campsite is very accessible and surrounded by greenery—all complemented by a serene ambiance. Getting to the campsite may not require a long drive, but the serene environment is more than enough to make your escape perfect. Apart from camping, there is a myriad of activities to enjoy, such as swimming in the lake, paddle boarding, riding rowboats, or visiting an islet of your choice.



5.) Ten Cents to Heaven (Tanay, Rizal)

If you wish to wake up to the perfect view, then set up camp at Ten Cents to Heaven. The campsite’s name was not coined by accident but rather because it is one of the campsites in the Philippines that offers a generous panoramic view of the Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges and laguna de Bay. As the low-lying clouds tend to descend on the campsite, visitors often feel like they are closer to heaven, hence the campsite’s moniker. Apart from camping, Ten Cents to Heaven offers an array of sports facilities such as a four-lane zip line, wall climbing, a tower for rappelling, a rope course, a free fall, and a 4X4 adventure ride.





CONCLUSION

Camping may be an outdoor activity that has more challenges than the rest, but it is very much worth it. It may take a little bit of getting used to during your first time, but the experience will certainly be rewarding. You will learn more about yourself and discover that you can even do things you once thought you were not capable of.

Indeed, camping is an adventure that may push you to your limits but also allows you the opportunity to grow, evolve, and know more about yourself. More importantly, camping is an avenue for you to disconnect and reconnect with nature and your surroundings.

Microsoft announces general availability of Microsoft Defender for Business designed to boost small and medium business (SMB) security

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One in four small to medium-sized businesses has experienced a security breach1 in the past year and lacks the resources of large enterprises to protect themselves



On Monday, Microsoft Corp. announced the general availability (GA) of the stand-alone version of Microsoft Defender for Business. Defender for Business brings enterprise-grade endpoint security to SMBs, including endpoint detection and response capabilities to protect against ransomware and other sophisticated cyberthreats.

In April 2022, Microsoft surveyed more than 150 small and medium businesses in an online quantitative survey in the U.S. to better understand changing SMB security needs. The survey found that more than 70% of SMBs think cyberthreats are becoming more of a business risk. That concern is well-founded — nearly one in four SMBs surveyed reported experiencing a security breach in the past year.

Despite facing similar risks as enterprises, SMBs often lack access to the right resources and tools, including specialized security staff. Many SMBs still rely on traditional antivirus solutions for their security. Although 80% of SMBs state they have some form of antivirus solution, 93% continue to have concerns about increasing and evolving cyberattacks.

“Microsoft believes in security for all,” said Vasu Jakkal, CVP, security, compliance & identity at Microsoft. “We are proud to further deliver on that vision today. With the GA of Defender for Business, SMBs will get greater protection with simplified security to help them better protect, detect and respond to threats.”

With Defender for Business, SMBs get multilayered protection, detection and response, spanning the five phases of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) cybersecurity framework — identify, protect, detect, respond and recover — to protect and remediate against known and unknown threats.

Defender for Business comes with built-in policies to get customers up and running quickly. The automated investigation and remediation capabilities in Defender for Business help automate the type of work handled by dedicated SecOps teams, by continuously detecting and automatically remediating various threats.

“Automated investigation and remediation are a huge part of the product,” said Adam Atwell, cloud solutions architect at consulting firm Kite Technology Group. “It’s just happening in the background. Defender for Business makes our security so simple.”

Defender for Business is also included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium, our comprehensive security and productivity solution for businesses with up to 300 employees. Customers can also choose to buy it stand-alone for $3 per user, per month. Additional support for servers is planned later this calendar year with an add-on solution.

Microsoft Defender for Business product features:

 
Threat and vulnerability management helps prioritize and focus on weaknesses that pose the most urgent and highest risk to business. Proactively build a secure foundation for your environment by discovering, prioritizing and remediating software vulnerabilities and misconfigurations.

Attack surface reduction options help minimize attack surface (i.e., places where your company is vulnerable to cyberattacks across your devices and applications), leaving bad actors with fewer ways to execute attacks.

Next-generation protection helps prevent and protect against threats with antimalware and antivirus protection on devices and in the cloud.

Endpoint detection and response provides behavioral-based detection and response alerts so that you can identify persistent threats and remove them from your environment.

Auto-investigation and remediation help scale security operations by examining alerts and taking immediate action to resolve attacks for customers. By reducing alert volume and remediating threats, Microsoft Defender for Business enables customers to prioritize tasks and focus on more sophisticated threats.

Defender for Business and Microsoft 365 Business Premium give partners new opportunities to help secure customers at scale with value-add managed services. Both solutions integrate with Microsoft 365 Lighthouse, which was made generally available on March 1, 2022, so Microsoft cloud service providers can view security incidents across tenants in a unified portal.