Practical tips and advice for personal IoT security
The consumer Internet of Things (IoT) has exploded into the connected world, making domestic life richer, easier and more entertaining. Consumer IoT comprises a set of connected devices that have a discrete function, enabled or supplemented by a data-gathering capability through on-board sensors. In any home or office environment an individual may come into contact with 'smart' appliances or devices such as coffee machines, cameras, heating systems, locks, lights, health trackers, refrigerators and TV’s, to name a few.
Criticism of IoT security, or lack-thereof, has highlighted serious deficiencies in both design and implementation of IoT devices. Unfortunately, consumers are critically dependent on device manufacturers for the security of their devices. With a rushed and greater rate of adoption, a number of risks have been introduced, attracting close attention from threat actors aiming to steal valuable information and disrupt services. However, all hope is not lost -- at a consumer level, there are still a few basic techniques that can be used to protect IoT devices from attacks.
Building an agile IT budget
As the number of people working remotely increases, organizations are relying more heavily on IT to manage day-to-day activities. This new demand placed on IT infrastructure, especially cloud technologies, brings with it a change. Instead of building a budget in the background, IT professionals need to evaluate how information is going to be consumed by the organization going forward.
In light of the current climate, business priorities are changing. To build a budget that’s agile and can react to changes in service consumption, it’s up to IT professionals to work with the wider organization to really understand what’s important going forward. Many organizations are starting to look to cloud-based technologies as a way to mobilize their workforce in the long term. This means as users continue to work remotely, they will consume more bandwidth and data at an increasingly exponential rate. This increase in consumption has a direct impact on the IT department and subsequently the budget.
WinRAR 6.0 arrives with bug fixes and a host of new features
When it comes to compression software, there are two names that tend to spring to mind -- WinZip and WinRAR. Which you are more familiar with will depend on what you are using your compression software for, but over the years WinRAR has earned itself a place in many people's hearts.
25 years after its first release, WinRAR 6.0 is now available. There is, of course, support for the incomparable RAR format, but also for .zip, .tar, .jar, .lzh, .iso and more. This latest release includes a number of important changes and additions such as improved handling of extracting multiple archives simultaneously, and the addition of new command line switches to give you greater control over the extraction process.
The technological makeover of pharmaceutical manufacturing
Manufacturing has been revolutionized by technology. However, pharmaceutical manufacturers are only just beginning to see the potential of innovative product creation. The potential benefits of technology in healthcare are vast, and revolutionary techniques are clearing the way for a cost-effective, efficient, and tailored approach to medicinal production.
One study suggests that the cost of bringing a new drug to market is upwards of $985 million. This is then reflected in the cost paid by insurance companies and end-users. The need to accelerate technology to drive these costs down is essential, and innovation is key. Here we look at the technology which is allowing pharmaceutical manufacturing to be revolutionized.
The state of the public cloud in the enterprise
How are enterprises using the public cloud? How mature are cloud programs and operating models? What are the main technical and business benefits? hat is holding businesses back? What are the next steps?
At the beginning of 2020, the Contino team set out to answer these questions.
Pirated data risks: Remote teams need to become a first line of defense
The increasing number of news headlines that mention data piracy, theft and database hacking makes it clear that businesses need to treat data as a valuable asset. This is especially true of businesses with teams that work remotely, as these set-ups usually have fewer security protocols.
Most remote workers are working from their homes, and unless those team members are conscious of cybersecurity, they’re not likely to have intrusion detection systems and firewalls on their personal networks.
How to get a new tech job during a pandemic
Earlier this month, we took a look at how COVID-19 is impacting the technology job market, with a focus on precarious tech positions. In this piece, we want to explore a related question: if you are a tech worker who has recently been laid off or lost your job, which steps can you take right now to stay competitive in a tight job market?
Here are three tips for tech workers seeking jobs who want to set themselves apart from the pack.
How a hybrid integration platform can drive innovation
Digital transformation and the transition to the cloud can deliver agility, profitability, new revenue streams and lead to exponential growth. However, there are a number of challenges that can stop an enterprise from moving to a complete cloud solution. These include the need to adhere to data laws (where regulations and policies prevent companies from moving all their data into the cloud), the necessity of taking a phased approach to shifting existing systems in order to mitigate any negative impact on the business, and other requirements such as security and performance.
Moreover, the increasing complexity of integrating on-premises systems with cloud offerings -- which include software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications, vast amounts of data, and an explosion of APIs -- can overwhelm integration architects and developers. In this environment, connecting and standardizing an organization's data and business processes, across its entire application landscape, places a significant strain on traditional technologies, methods, and abilities.
Why do you need a global footprint for your cloud?
With the increased awareness around cloud solutions, most organizations immediately think about reducing cost and shortening time-to-market. As more ideas around cloud are discussed, other criteria like performance, security, compliance, workload segmentation, and how to integrate the cloud become more relevant to an existing environment. The profile of a global cloud footprint; however, is an equally important consideration.
It may be time to think about why having a standardized global cloud footprint matters. Here are ten good reasons why:
Next-gen PAM enables teams instead of holding them back
For the first time ever in 2020, the annual Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report included a section devoted to Privileged Access Management, leading with a jarring figure: 53 percent of all investigated breaches were due to the misuse of privileged accounts.
It makes sense that Privileged Access Management (PAM) would be vital to the security of an enterprise, as PAM controls access to administrative accounts -- or accounts that provide unlimited access to the systems which includes access to any sensitive data or important applications on that system. Bad actors gain access to these accounts by exploiting vulnerabilities like default and weak passwords, dormant accounts, and even leveraging social engineering tactics.
The data that's missing from your DX strategy: Tribal knowledge
In the field services industry, a crucial part of digital transformation is the move toward outcome-based and predictive contracts meant to minimize downtime and maximize service efficiency. But to be successful in the shift, these organizations (think: service divisions across manufacturing, medical devices, capital equipment, HVAC, commercial appliances, etc.) need to be able to utilize their service data to more accurately understand their workforce and operations.
That’s easier said than done. While many organizations incorporate and analyze easy-to-access data as part of their digital transformation strategy, most are leaving a business-critical element out of the equation: tribal knowledge from long-tenured employees. That's because this information is housed in non-traditional databases like filing cabinets, service records and even their minds, and previously, it's not been cost effective to gather and distribute. Couple this dilemma with the fact that many of these top subject matter experts are nearing retirement age and it’s clear that the field services industry has a hurdle to jump, and time is of the essence.
Avast Secure Browser lands on iOS/iPadOS for private browsing on Apple devices
Having already enjoyed success on macOS, Android and Windows, the security and privacy focused Avast Secure Browser has made its way to iOS and iPadOS. With security at the forefront, the undoubted headline feature of the browser is the integrated VPN facility.
On top of this, there is ad blocking and tracker blocking, both of which go a long way to improving your online experience and ensuring that your data does not fall into the wrong hands. The ad blocker is customizable, so you can choose to block absolutely everything, or opt to allow less annoying ads to be displayed.
Telematics offers hope in the nuclear (verdict) era
Fatal accidents are a tragic occurrence for all parties involved. The transportation industry -- including telematics providers -- should make preventing these tragedies its highest priority. With the use of telematics, the latest in video technology, and connected vehicles, many of these incidents can be prevented through consistent -- and proactive -- vehicle maintenance and continuous driver monitoring, coaching and evidence-based accountability, saving countless dollars across the industry and, more importantly, many lives.
For better or worse, the proliferation of civil cases with jury verdicts totaling more than $10 million, known as "nuclear verdicts," has significantly altered the business of fleet management. For instance, insurance premiums have doubled every several years while general inflation marches at a much smaller pace, according to The Wall Street Journal. When a nuclear verdict hits a mid-sized trucking company, it often triggers a ripple effect throughout the industry. While the company that faces the judgment could be bankrupted, others that have nothing to do with it could see their insurance premiums spike as well.
Advantages of remote onboarding
The world of work has changed, and remote work is no longer an option or perk. Teams worldwide have been forced to go fully- or mostly-remote, many with a weekend’s notice. As the months of working from home drag on, we’ve had to readjust our processes and systems -- one of which is employee onboarding.
The importance of a strong onboarding program can’t be overstated -- especially since only 12 percent of employees are happy with their organization’s onboarding programs, and 50 percent of new hires leave their organizations within their first 18 months. While remote work is associated with decreased retention, we can’t deny the outsized impact of an employee’s first few months on the rest of their tenure.
6 emerging technologies in 2021
Technology is always changing. Whether it’s delivery apps taking off because of a global pandemic or video games incorporating virtual reality (VR), technology holds an immense amount of power.
As 2020 comes to a close, many are wondering what the next year holds. The following six emerging innovations are fields that will develop further throughout 2021.
© 1998-2024 BetaNews, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Cookie Policy.