As we enter 2024, the data landscape is witnessing a surge of transformative changes, building on the significant advancements made in 2023. We’ve seen breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms, Large Language Models (LLMs), enhanced data analytics capabilities, and notable strides in cloud computing.

These developments have not only reshaped how organizations are using data, but also started to redefine how organizations operate and strategize. Now, as we look forward to this year, the data landscape is set to evolve further, set against the backdrop of continuous AI innovation. From the consolidation of the AI market to revolutionary changes in data management, we're entering an era where data is not just a tool or a nice-to-have, but a driving force. With another year of revolutionary change ahead of us, here are the developments that will dictate data strategy in 2024.

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Cyber awareness and Cyber Awareness Month (CAM) have faced allegations of fearmongering in the past, but this isn’t -- or shouldn’t be -- the case. At times, some vendors or individuals arguably exploit worries about cyber threats to market their products or convince people of their necessity.

But this is a delicate balance to strike. While it is true many security professionals are already struggling under the weight of their responsibilities, Cyber Awareness Month is a time for home truths. The grim reality is that cybercrime is getting worse. According to the Veeam Data Protection Trends Report 2023, 85 percent of organizations suffered at least one cyber-attack in the preceding twelve months, an increase from 76 percent experienced in the prior year. So, in many ways, our current approaches are failing. Does that mean Cyber Awareness Month is failing too? 

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Satechi has unveiled its latest charging product at CES 2024: the 145W USB-C 4-Port GaN Travel Charger. This new charger harnesses the power of GaN (Gallium Nitride) technology to offer a compact yet powerful charging solution.

The charger boasts four USB-C PD ports, supporting a combined power output of 145W. With two USB-C PD 3.1 and two USB-C PD 3.0 ports, it can safely power up to four devices simultaneously, including high-powered devices like the 16-inch MacBook Pro and Lenovo Legion Slim 7i.

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Industry giant IBM is today announcing a collaboration with ERP specialist SAP to develop solutions to help clients in the consumer packaged goods and retail industries enhance their supply chain, finance operations, sales and services using generative AI.

This involves embedding IBM's watsonx enterprise-ready AI and data platform and AI assistants, into SAP solutions to create new generative and traditional AI solutions focused on addressing the complexities of the direct store delivery business process and product portfolio management.

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More than 10 percent of enterprise employees access at least one generative AI application every month, compared to just two percent a year ago, but there are security risks as a result.

New research from Netskope shows ChatGPT was the most popular generative AI application in 2023, accounting for seven percent of enterprise usage. The number of cloud apps the enterprise accessed also increased by an average of 19 percent per year, with users jumping from 14 to 20 different apps in just two years.

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Information Security Handbook is a practical guide that’ll empower you to take effective actions in securing your organization’s assets.

Whether you are an experienced security professional seeking to refine your skills or someone new to the field looking to build a strong foundation, this book is designed to meet you where you are and guide you toward improving your understanding of information security.

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AI is growing in popularity and this trend is only set to continue. This is supported by Gartner which states that approximately 80 percent of enterprises will have used generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) application programming interfaces (APIs) or models by 2026. However, AI is a broad and ubiquitous term, and, in many instances, it covers a range of technologies.

Nevertheless, AI presents breakthroughs in the ability to process logic differently which is attracting attention from businesses and consumers alike who are experimenting with various forms of AI today. At the same time, this technology is attracting similar attention from threat actors who are realising that it could be a weakness in a company’s security while it could also be a tool that helps companies to identify these weaknesses and address them.

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As the prevalence of natural disasters and cyberattacks increases, it becomes essential that leaders prioritize robust infrastructure. Oftentimes, communications capabilities, including contact centers and customer service support lines, are the most vulnerable during emergencies -- which is exactly when these functions become most necessary.

Well-maintained and protected infrastructure is even more important when you consider the ramifications of an outage. Organizations take 212 days on average to detect a breach and 75 more days to contain it -- that means nearly a year of interrupted operations post-attack. During this time, consumers may be unable to receive critical, even life-saving information.

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Satechi has just rolled out refreshed versions of two popular devices -- the Stand & Hub for Mac mini (and Mac Studio) and the Thunderbolt 4 Slim Hub Pro. These upgraded gadgets, being showcased at CES 2024, are already up for grabs.

The revamped Stand & Hub for Mac mini and Mac Studio now boasts an NVMe SSD enclosure -- it is no longer limited to SATA M.2 drives. This feature could be a game-changer for users looking for swift data transfer speeds and additional storage -- all streamlined through a single cable.

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New research from cyber resilience company Red Sift shows that 33 percent of publicly traded companies worldwide are not protected by the DMARC email standard, though this is down from 70.5 percent in 2022.

However, in light of Google and Yahoo's new rules for bulk senders -- those sending over 5,000 emails daily -- which come into force on February 1st and are aimed at reducing spam, not using DMARC is a problem.

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The Kodi Foundation is gearing up to release the next version of its popular home theater software, Kodi 21 'Omega', but it is ensuring that users of the current 'Nexus' generation don't get forgotten.

Today the team announces the release of Kodi 20.3, the last release from the Nexus line, and although it doesn't come with any real new features, you'll still want to install it.

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Closed AI products like Bard and ChatGPT (ironically from OpenAI) have already delivered a practical, powerful chatbot experience and are being employed by many businesses.

Open AI by contrast is still in its early stages and has not seen wide adoption. We spoke to Mike Finley, CTO and co-founder of AnswerRocket, to find out the differences between the two and how they're set to develop.

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Less than two weeks into 2024, and Windows 10 users are being treated to their first update of the new year.

The KB5034122 update is a significant security release which also addresses a variety of bugs in Windows 10. Among the problems the updates fixes are two related to smart card usage, and a scroll bar issue.

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Microsoft has released its first batch of cumulative security updates of 2024, including the KB5034123 update for Windows 11. While the security fixes are a good reason for installing this particular update, there are plenty of other enticements too.

The KB5034123 update addresses various non-security issues including Wi-Fi connectivity problems and a bug that caused Windows to shut down. The update also ushers in new lock screen options thanks to the addition of a "richer weather experience" complete with dynamic, interactive weather updates.

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Satechi has announced its latest offerings in wireless charging technology at CES 2024 -- the 3-in-1 Foldable Qi2 Wireless Charging Stand and its counterpart, the 2-in-1 Foldable Qi2 Wireless Charging Stand. Both products employ the advanced Qi2 technology, a step up from the traditional Qi standard, ensuring more efficient and faster charging capabilities.

The 3-in-1 model is designed to simultaneously deliver a 15W charge to an iPhone, 5W to AirPods, and 5W to an Apple Watch. Its 2-in-1 counterpart offers similar functionality but with a focus on iPhones and AirPods -- no Apple Watch support. The stands are foldable, emphasizing portability and ease of travel. Both models boast a premium-grade aluminum enclosure, a vegan leather base, and a soft silicone charging puck. The robust hinges are engineered for durability, promising long-term reliability.

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