A post pandemic world: A technologist's thoughts on professional and social change
It’s sometimes hard to imagine life returning to normal. Nevertheless, this pandemic, like those of the past, will eventually recede, but it won’t leave us unchanged. COVID-19 has already had a dramatic impact on our lives and how we interact, conduct business and obtain the products and services we need.
As chief technology officer of a technology service provider, it’s my job to consider how such events will shape business so we can adjust the services we deliver accordingly. Naturally, I have specific thoughts on topics like backup and disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS), but I also have to consider societal changes and the ways in which businesses and consumers will utilize technology moving forward. So, what will a world after COVID-19 look like? Here are a few observations and thoughts.
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Cohesity launches mobile app for its enterprise data management platform
Data management company Cohesity's platform allows enterprises to manage all of their data functions -- backups, archives, file shares, object stores, and data used for dev/test and analytics -- on a single platform.
It's now adding to its offering with the launch of a Helios mobile app which allows IT staff to monitor the health and performance of their Cohesity infrastructure, easily manage support cases, and get alerts about anomalies, including potential ransomware attacks to their production environment, while on the go.
F-Secure launches protection and response service to protect remote workers
With a sudden shift to remote working many companies are faced with lowering quality controls and making short term tactical fixes to support their remote workforce, increasing their exposure to threats and cyberattacks.
Security specialist F-Secure has launched a new offering based on its award-winning managed detection and response (MDR) service, F-Secure Countercept.
Microsoft reminds Wunderlist users to migrate to To Do as shutdown deadline looms
We've known for some time that since purchasing Wunderlist, Microsoft has planned to close it down. Not that it plans to leave users entirely in the lurch -- the company has its own To Do app as an alternative.
As we're now halfway through April, the shutdown date for Wunderlist is fast-approaching. As such, Microsoft has issued a reminder to Wunderlist users that now is the time to start migrating data across.
Google launches free YouTube Video Builder beta for time-strapped creators
Creating content for YouTube can be a simple matter of pointing a camera at your face and yammering away for a while -- but it can also be rather more complicated than this.
Not everyone has the time -- or talent -- to create impressive videos, and this is precisely why Google has released a beta version of a new YouTube Video Builder tool. It's a simple, free utility that helps you to create short videos by animating static images and text, and Google is promoting it now companies and individuals are finding new ways to communicate during the coronavirus crisis.
All core GitHub features are now free
When Microsoft acquired GitHub two years ago, it was clear that some things would change along the line. Microsoft lifted the private repository creation limit one year ago and worked for the last 18 months on making core GitHub features available for free for everyone, according to a new announcement.
GitHub CEO Nat Friedman announced the change yesterday on the official company blog.
Kaspersky launches new tool to control shadow IT
With many more people working from home currently the risks to business data from the use of potentially insecure applications is increased.
Kaspersky is launching a new version of its Endpoint Security Cloud, which will enable businesses to control the unauthorized use of potentially insecure applications and sites by employees whilst working from home.
Microsoft fixes multiple actively exploited zero-day vulnerabilities as part of Patch Tuesday
Microsoft's monthly Patch Tuesday security updates are always important, but the ones released this week are particularly important. Not only do the fixes address numerous zero-day vulnerabilities, but the security flaws they fix were being actively exploited.
In all, Microsoft has plugged 113 CVE-numbered vulnerabilities this month. 17 of these are marked as being critical, and 96 as important.
Microsoft announces extended support dates for older versions of Windows
Having already extended the end of service date for Windows 10 version 1709 because of coronavirus, Microsoft has now announced that it is doing the same for Windows 10 version 1809.
Just as with Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, the October 2018 Update will now be supported for an extra six months. Previously due to reach end of service on May 12, 2020, the Home, Pro, Pro Education, Pro for Workstations, IoT Core and Server editions of the operating system will now be supported until November 10 this year.
Silicon Power PC60 portable USB-C SSD is thin, fast, and beautiful
Solid State Drives are great for many reasons, two of which are speed and durability. They are much faster than mechanical hard drives, and since they have no moving parts, they are less likely to become damaged from bumps, drops, or excessive vibration. Another great thing about SSDs are their size. With portable solid state drives in particular, they can be quite diminutive -- much better for tossing into a bag or sliding into a pocket.
Today, Silicon Power unveils a new such drive that is not only very svelte, but quite fast too. The "PC60," as it is called, is a mere 11mm thin and just 80mm around. The squarish drive uses USB-C for connectivity and the ultra-fast USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface. It is thin, small, and fast, but also, quite attractive too. It even has a hole for attaching a carabiner, lanyard, or keychain.
Leviton launches DW15R Decora Smart Wi-Fi Tamper-Resistant Outlet
Having a smart home doesn't have to be an expensive affair these days. In fact, it can be downright affordable to add some intelligence to your residence. Want to turn on lamps with your voice? An Echo Dot can be had for less than $30, and Amazon is littered with inexpensive adapters that will turn your existing electrical outlets into "smart" outlets. If you want a more classy look, however, you are better off replacing the wall outlet entirely with a smart model (be sure to hire an electrician if you don't know how). Even though the functionality is essentially the same, it will simply look much better.
If you want a smart outlet, you should definitely stick to a reputable brand, and when it comes to electrical products, Leviton is one of the most trusted. Today, it launches the DW15R Decora Smart Wi-Fi Tamper-Resistant Outlet. The tamper resistance aspect is a must for homes with children, as the integrated shutters can minimize the possibility of injury or death if a foreign object is inserted. Best of all, it doesn't just work with lamps, but with pretty much anything that plugs into an electrical outlet, such as a coffee maker, hot iron, or fan. Convenience aside, you can have peace of mind when away from home by knowing you can always cut power to something you may have accidentally left on.
Satechi unveils portable USB-C Wireless Charging Dock for Apple AirPods
Are Apple AirPods good wireless earbuds? That depends on the user, really. They sound great and are jam-packed with advanced wireless technology, but if they don't fit your ear canals, they could end up causing extreme pain. Thankfully, the newer AirPods Pro solved this dilemma by providing replaceable silicone tips to help the user find a comfortable fit. Why comfort is a "professional" feature is beyond me, but hey, whatever.
One of the coolest additions to Apple's AirPods line is wireless charging cases. You can now charge the wireless earbuds by dropping them onto a Qi charging mat. But what if you need to charge them while traveling? Satechi has a new product that is perfect for just such a thing. The company's new Wireless Charging Dock leverages a direct USB-C connection, allowing you to plug it into an iPad Pro or MacBook without a wire. Best of all, it is very small, so you can easily throw it in a bag or slide it into your pocket.
Worldwide 5G connections set to reach 2.7 billion by 2025
In news that will dismay the legions of tin foil hat wearers who believe it's linked to coronavirus, data released by finance website Finbold has revealed that the number of worldwide 5G connections is projected to grow by twenty times to 2.7 billion by 2025.
The data predicts that by next year, the connections will grow by 180 percent to stand at 340 million. By 2022, the connections will be 810 million and later grow by 72.8 percent to hit 1.4 billion in 2023.
Why critical infrastructure businesses shouldn't wait for a cyber crisis to push for cultural change [Q&A]
Cybersecurity is important to any enterprise, but it's especially key to those that are delivering critical infrastructure.
But recent research from Nozomi Networks shows that often the development of a holistic security approach is being driven by events such as security breaches.
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