IT News: AI, IoT, Backup, Careers, DevOps, Tape (Sept. 27th, 2021)
Posted in Volume 282, Issue 4 - Sept 20th, 2021 — Sept 26th, 2021
Selections from the weekly newsletter, “IT News and Events.”
AI
Artificial Intelligence (AI) At The Edge: 3 Key Facts
As Artificial Intelligence becomes increasingly ubiquitous, it's developing a special relationship with edge computing. Consider these important factors as you develop your AI strategy
"Artificial Intelligence (AI) is moving from the realm of science fiction to widespread enterprise scalability. Even ten years ago, AI workloads were almost exclusively utilized by a small number of very profitable companies that had the resources to experiment and hire an extensive team of data scientists. Today, AI is used in a number of everyday tools, from language recognition to health care prediction and nearly every industry in between.
AI is also now deployed at the edge, not just inside massive data processing facilities. That trend will continue in the coming years. Here are three things that executives in any field should know to capitalize on the change..." [The Enterprisers Project , September 21st, 2021]
5 Ways AI Can Be A Game-Changer For Banks
Banks that take steps to adopt an enterprise-wide AI strategy will get a lead way, gaining an edge over their competitors
"With many organizations embracing cloud and related technologies to digitally transform, Artificial intelligence (AI) has gained traction across all industries. The Banking Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) is no exception. Even though AI adoption is at a nascent stage in banking and financial services, there are use cases to show that its potential to positively impact the industry is tremendous..." [CXOtoday.com, September 20th, 2021]
5 Ways That AI Is Shaping Analytics In 2021
It's no shock to anyone who works with analytics and data that AI is changing everything.
"From automating some of the data analysis processes of the past to new promising ventures with Big Data and machine learning, major things are coming to this element of business.
When it comes to AI shaping analytics, here are five things to watch for in 2021.
AI Transforms What We Do With Data
AI allows businesses and individuals to take part in data analysis in a brand new way. One of the top trends in AI for 2021 is that more people than ever are going to start looking into what role artificial intelligence might play in their professional lives..." [Business 2 Community, September 21st, 2021]
The Impact Of Conversational AI On Critical Services
AI could also be a game-changing communication tool for critical service providers. How? By empowering customer service departments
"As communication tools go, the telephone has had possibly the greatest impact on a person's ability to share information rapidly. Even before the advent of mobile phones, being able to pick up the phone and talk to someone was often the difference between life and death.
In recent years, however, a variety of factors, from evolving generational attitudes towards phone calls, to the economic impact of running large contact centers, have made it harder to dial a number, speak to someone and get or share information..." [ITProPortal, September 24th, 2021]
Machine Learning In Cybersecurity: The Risks And The Benefits
The size and scale of cyber-attacks has increased in recent years as a result of a number of factors, the key one being the remote or hybrid work culture imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic
The size and scale of cyber-attacks has increased in recent years as a result of a number of factors, the key one being the remote or hybrid work culture imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This has made cybersecurity a critical part of all organizations, irrespective of their size and type.
Machine Learning plays a crucial role here as it can collect, analyze, and prepare data without human interaction. In cybersecurity, this innovation makes a big difference as it can analyze past cyber-attacks and create individual defense reactions. [CXOtoday.com, September 23rd, 2021]
Machine Learning At The Edge: A Hardware And Software Ecosystem
Being able to deploy machine learning applications at the edge bears the promise of unlocking a multi-billion dollar market
"For that to happen, hardware and software must work in tandem. Arm's partner ecosystem exemplifies this, with hardware and software vendors like Alif and Neuton working together...
Edge computing is booming. The idea of taking compute out of the data center, and bringing it as close as possible to where data is generated, is seeing lots of traction. Estimates for edge computing growth are in the 40% CAGR, $50 billion area.
Whether it's stand-alone IoT sensors, devices of all kinds, drones, or autonomous vehicles, there's one thing in common. Increasingly, data generated at the edge are used to feed applications powered by machine learning models..." [ZDNet, September 21st, 2021]
How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing The Future Of Digital Marketing
According to a survey conducted by PwC, 72% of business leaders use AI for their business advantage. The Digital marketing world has been restructured immensely since the emergence of AI.
"It helps companies develop powerful digital strategies, optimizes campaigns, and improves return on investment.
Teleflora, a floral company in the US, used AI marketing to build new customers' profiles and improve customer loyalty. Using these historical data, Teleflora used AI marketing to predict the future customer behavior of different audience segments.
This is how AI is restructuring the digital market in today's time. It is a practice adopted by numerous brands to increase their sales and ROI. It is necessary to understand how this works..." [Business 2 Community, September 22nd, 2021]
Breaking Down Decision Intelligence - And Why It's Not The Same As Artificial Intelligence
Demystifying how businesses can use decision intelligence technology to supercharge growth and profit
"Despite Artificial Intelligence (AI) being long-heralded as the next evolution in dealing with business data, it is used as a catch-phrase or buzzword so often that the underlying meaning and value that it can bring has been lost. Yet the reality is, it's a technology with the possibility of going beyond human capability, able to read and analyze vast quantities of data, even creating forecasting models for future predictions. The key element that has been lacking in recent years is developing the understanding of how AI technology feeds into commercial decision-making and business growth. This is where the term decision intelligence comes into play..." [ITProPortal, September 21st, 2021]
IoT
Predictions For The Future Of IoT Sensor Technology
This article will explore predictions for the future of Internet of Things (IoT) sensor technology, as provided by IoT experts
"IoT has been evolving rapidly over the years, as more and more sectors find innovation gaps that can be plugged by the technology, and it's showing no signs of slowing down. From here, it's been estimated that the IoT sensor market will reach a value totalling $34.4 billion by 2024. Additionally, sensors have been getting smaller and more portable, allowing for more detailed datasets to be used.
With this in mind, this article will explore what the future of IoT sensor technology could have in store for organisations, according to experts in the space..." [InformationAge, September 21st, 2021]
Cyber Threats Haunting IoT Devices In 2021
With new technological advancements coming to light every day, the supply and demand for IoT devices has increased significantly.
"Humans have started relying on these devices for even the most basic everyday functions. In fact, as per a study conducted by IDC, 4 out of 5 people check their phones within 15 minutes of waking up! With IoT devices taking over our daily lives, cyber criminals are a little too ambitious to let the opportunity slide.
As IoT devices store, transmit and process so much essential data every day, they serve as the perfect target for cyber criminals. According to an article published by Cyber Magazine, IoT devices suffer an average of 5,200 cyber attacks every month. While businesses are reaping huge benefits from the IoT ecosystem, the risk of cyber attacks has increased exponentially as well..." [Secuity Boulevard, September 21st, 2021]
Internet Of Things (IoT) Security Trends 2021
While work from home has generated a whole new level of security threats, the Internet of Things (IoT) promises to up the ante even further."
Think about the havoc caused by hundreds of millions of people suddenly working from home. This severely weakened and, in some cases, overwhelmed corporate security defenses. IoT could magnify such challenges.
IoT may not be top of mind right now due to the scourge of ransomware. But it will no doubt rise again as the number of connected things grows exponentially. [Datamation, September 20th, 2021]
3 Common IoT Attacks That Compromise Security
Unpatched vulnerabilities and design flaws in IoT devices have become a gateway for threat actors to penetrate user and corporate networks.
The explosion of IoT technologies incited users and organizations to swiftly adopt IoT devices to enhance process control and boost productivity. The rise of connected devices has transformed the way users' data is processed and stored. Since IoT devices are smart devices and often interact with other devices over the internet, the personal information they collect makes them vulnerable to various security risks. [CISO MAG, September 23rd, 2021]
Backup
Backup Admins: Watch Out For These Ransomware Attack Trends
Ransomware attacks have evolved and present a new set of challenges for backup admins. Here are some recent attack trends to prepare for to keep data and backups safe
"The latest ransomware trends suggest that IT teams will need to be more diligent than ever. Organizations that fail to either put data at risk or may even bring organizations to the point where full recovery can be impossible. The repercussions from a ransomware attack can be enormous, and cost up to millions in lost revenue, ransom payments and recovery efforts..." [SearchDataBackup, September 22nd, 2021]
Cloud And Online Backups Increasing In Popularity, But Tape Usage Remains
15% of organizations are still using a combination of disk and tape backups, with 51% now using online or cloud backups, a research by Databarracks has revealed
The annual report surveys over 400 IT decision-makers in the UK on cloud, backups, cybersecurity, IT resilience and remote working.
Cloud and online backups gaining popularity
Cloud and online backups have continued to increase in popularity, climbing from 23% in 2008 to 51% in 2021
4% still use tape as their only backup medium, unchanged since 2012
Combined disk and tape use has declined from a peak of 29% in 2012, to 15%
Peter Groucutt, Managing Director of Databarracks, said: 'When we first started the Data Health Check in 2008, almost a fifth of organizations were still using tape as their only backup medium. By 2012, companies were moving to a combination of disk and tape or switching to online or cloud backup. [HelpNet Security, September 20th, 2021]
Defeat Ransomware With Immutable Backup Data And Encryption
Move beyond traditional security strategies to protect against the two most common types of ransomware threats
"The Director of the FBI recently described ransomware as posing a threat comparable in scale to the September 11 terrorist attacks. In light of these comments, and after several high-profile ransomware incidents such as the Colonial Pipeline attack, there should be little doubt that ransomware poses the greatest cybersecurity threat to organizations today.
Broadly speaking, cybercriminals take two approaches to ransomware: they encrypt data to prevent victims from accessing it, and they download confidential or sensitive information and threaten to release it to the public. These two approaches are not mutually exclusive - cybercriminals will often encrypt data and threaten to release it to the public if ransoms aren't paid within a certain timeframe. In fact, data extortion attempts now occur in 77% of ransomware attacks..." [Cyber Defense Magazne, September 21st, 2021]
Careers
6 Fundamental Skills Required To Pursue A Career In Digital Forensics
A digital forensics career is a rewarding field to pursue in 2021 and beyond. This article talks about the skills one must acquire to pursue a career in digital forensics.
"If you are interested in pursuing a digital forensics career, the time is ripe. Digital forensics is a lucrative career path to pursue in 2021 and beyond. The rise in cybercriminal activities stresses digital forensics specialists' importance in tracing the perpetrators and presenting their findings during criminal proceedings in court. Attackers use various digital devices to perform or execute malicious activities, resulting in digital crimes. The scenario requires the assistance of digital forensic investigation to crack the case..." [CISO MAG, September 21st, 2021]
IT Jobs: 4 Tricky Situations Facing Job Hunters Now
Many opportunities await IT job seekers these days, but so do challenges. Consider these four common conundrums and how to handle them
"It is a job hunter's dream market right now, with job openings hitting record highs month after month. The New York Times recently called this 'the job market we've been waiting for.' That's especially true for technology professionals, more in-demand than ever as organizations continue to double down on digital transformation and other technology-enabled business initiatives.
But a red-hot job market comes with its own challenges for job seekers. Combined with the potential of personal uncertainty ('Am I unhappy in my role, or just burned out?') and macro ambiguity ("Is remote work here to stay?), tech pros on the hunt for new roles are encountering some thorny issues..." [The Enterprisers Project , September 20th, 2021]
DevOps
Too Much Ops, Not Enough Dev - How To Fix DevOps
The promise of DevOps was to create a unified development and operations team
"Firefighters do more than fight fires. Sure, the often popular image is of them racing off to emergencies to douse flames, rescue people from burning buildings, and possibly retrieve the occasional cat from a tree.
But they do also work in fire prevention. Fire brigades also provide educational advice on the best way to avoid fires breaking out, provide guidance for organizations to keep their people safe, and campaign on fire prevention issues, for example the London Fire Brigade's campaign on sprinkler laws..." [ITProPortal, September 24th, 2021]
Tape
Fujifilm Releases LTO-9 Tape Series
Today's IT professionals need ways to securely store massive amounts of data while also limiting their effects on the environments and their budgets to boot
"Fujifilm released their new LTO-9 tape drives to serve the needs of environmentally-conscious organizations who need to archive data in this zettabyte age.
Balancing Storage Needs with Environmental Concerns
We sit at a trying crossroads in IT. Massive amounts of data are at play in the average enterprise, meaning IT staff need more efficient and effective ways to store said data. On the flip side, however, global climate concerns continue to grow, leading many organizations to consider more energy-efficient ways to store data as well..." [Gestalt IT, September 22nd, 2021]