Should you accept a dry promotion?; Indian single malt on the map

Hello,

The world is slowly returning to normal.

After the massive disruption caused to Microsoft systems the world over by CrowdStrike’s configuration update, services from airlines to healthcare, shipping, and finance are coming back online. 

However, questions are now being raised over the cybersecurity firm’s dominance. Founded in 2011, it operates in over 170 countries, has about 29,000 customers, and reported more than $900 million in revenue for the quarter ended April.

According to the cybersecurity company's terms and conditions, CrowdStrike doesn't have to shell out anything more than a simple refund.

“The criticality of CrowdStrike as a security platform tends to, I think, outweigh some of those issues in the sense of customers can't afford to just turn them off and not renew because of one incident,” a Citizens JMP Securities analyst told Yahoo Finance.

The dominos, though, are just beginning to fall. Cybersecurity experts and agencies around the world are warning people about a wave of opportunistic hacking attempts linked to the IT outage.

ICYMI: Here are some startups trying to prevent another CrowdStrike-like outage.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Story 2024, YourStory’s third edition of the flagship summit spotlighting the state’s startup ecosystem, ended on a high note. 

From Thyrocare Founder Dr A Velumani, Veranda Learning’s Suresh Kalpathi, to Natural Salon & Spa’s CK Kumaravel, entrepreneurs from the state shared valuable insights into how their journeys began and brands grew.

Read about what all happened here.

In today’s newsletter, we will talk about 

• Dry promotion at work: Good or bad?
• Indian single malt on the map
• A traveller’s guide to Monsoon adventure

Here’s your trivia for today: Which creature has the strongest bite force in the animal kingdom?

Corporate

Should you skip dry promotion?

Did you get a promotion without a pay hike? This trend called ‘dry promotion’ is taking over workplaces. 

“Companies have started doing this again to maintain costs and budgets in slow economies, and also as a means to pass on the workload of laid-off employees to existing ones,” says Bhakti Talati, an independent work-life balance coach based in Mumbai.

Pros and cons:

• While it may not seem beneficial from a monetary point of view, a dry promotion can help employees who want to learn new skills. It also boosts the career graph of those scouting for new jobs.
• To ensure an employee doesn’t feel like a victim, employers must have an open dialogue with the individual to explain the reason behind their decision. 
• “If you’re accepting additional responsibilities without any interest or desire to grow, you will soon start complaining about it. However, if the role is in line with your career aspirations, and if you see yourself growing in this direction, it will be easier to fulfil your commitments,” says Talati. 

Wine and food

Putting Indian single malt on the map

As the second Indian single malt to be ever launched, Paul John Single Malt holds 28-30% of the domestic market share today. 

With recognitions including World Whiskies Awards 2020, Michelangelo Whiskey Trophy 2019, Spirits Selection Gold Award 2019, and awards for the Best Distillery and Best Master Distiller, the homegrown brand is available across 44 countries, with sales exceeding 21 million cases a year. 

Paving the way:

• From the plant to the fabricated potsills and other equipment—everything except the bourbon casks and the peat used in John Distilleries is made in India.
• Since 2018 the brand has also been launching a special Christmas-edition single malt whiskey each year with 7,000 to 8,000 bottles released globally, making it a collector’s item. 
• A single malt whisky should be had neat, or with very little water, John Distilleries Chairman Paul P John suggests. “This (educating the Indian consumer) will take a long time, and if we can achieve that, I think we will be able to crack the Indian model.”

Travel and leisure

A traveller’s guide to Monsoon adventure

India's monsoon season is one of a kind, where lush green landscapes, wellness treatments, and vibrant festivals await. India has much to offer for those seeking to discover offbeat places in the rain.

Chasing rains:

• The Western Ghats transform into a trekker's paradise during the monsoons, especially mist-covered trails winding through Coorg's coffee plantations, leading to breathtaking Abbey Falls and Iruppu Falls.
• The quaint village of Mawlynnong in Meghalaya—touted as the cleanest village in Asia—is another hidden gem. The village offers an escape from urban life and an experience of sustainable living practices.
• Rajasthan comes alive during the Teej festival—a celebration of the monsoon's life-giving rains. Women adorned in traditional attire sing songs and perform rituals, expressing their gratitude for this vital resource in the arid region.

News & updates

• AI adoption: Over 77% of Indian startups are investing in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), internet of things (IoT), and blockchain, according to a report by SAP India, in collaboration with Dun & Bradstreet. In 2023, 25% of the newly founded tech startups were using DeepTech.
• Friendly aid: India has agreed to positively consider providing Rs 1,500 crore to Bhutan as part of the Economic Stimulus Programme in the next 18 months. The issues covered under the bilateral cooperation include development partnership, energy, trade and investment, connectivity and trade infrastructure, technology etc.
• ‘Mind-blowing’: The Curiosity rover has made its most unusual find to date on Mars: rocks made of pure sulphur. And it all began when the 1-ton rover happened to drive over a rock and crack it open, revealing yellowish-green crystals never spotted before on the red planet.

Which creature has the strongest bite force in the animal kingdom?

Answer: The saltwater crocodile. It has a bite force of 4,000 pounds per square inch.

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