In 2016, more than 2 billion records were reported stolen in breaches that occurred the same year and just-discovered breaches from the past. The Identity Theft Resource Center recorded 980 breaches during the calendar year, accounting for millions of stolen high-value records (including Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, medical, and financial information). These increasingly common incidences offer valuable cybersecurity …
Data Center Automation is the Way to Go
IT departments and data center personnel take on an ever-increasing set of tasks in today’s world. From compliance to application management, manual data management is more than a full-time job. If your data center team needs extra support, consider the opportunities in data center automation. Define Data Center Automation Companies define “data center” in several different ways. It may refer …
Who Needs To Lead Digital Transformation In 2017
The question of when digital transformation will be complete is a moot point these days. New technologies and digital trends will never stop. However, it’s likely that the people leading the charge will be the change from year to year. In a recent report from Altimeter, analysts found that CMOs lead the transformation in 34% of companies, while CIOs and …
UX: Strategy Matters, Too
Many people mistakenly confuse user interface (UI) with user experience (UX). An attractive and functional UI is crucial, but there’s more to effective UX than design alone. Strategy plays an integral role, too. User experience must be a top consideration when developing any product or software. Instead of hiring UX designers to execute strategic decisions, it’s important to include them …
Switching Between Devices and Platforms: Core to Collaboration
In this era of globalization, seamless collaboration is more important than ever. We need to communicate not only among ourselves, but also with other organizations and enterprises around the world. We also have more freedom in the ways we work, as the home and work spheres merge into one. No longer are we chained to a computer or wired-in piece …
Is Fog Computing Going to Take Off in 2017?
As the Internet of Things transforms into the “internet of everything,” companies are beginning to see some shortcomings in traditional cloud environments. Sending every piece of data to the cloud and back again creates a strain on the system. The solution for faster computing and connectivity may lie in fog computing. Understand Fog and Edge Computing If you compare computing …
A New Look For One of the World’s Great Brands – CES 2017
Panasonic USA invited me to spend a little time with them at CES 2017. What I didn’t know was that they were going to re-introduce me to a company that has not only evolved, but been reborn in the age of Digital Transformation. Back in 2004 I sold a lot of Panasonic product, mostly projectors and flat panel televisions (Plasmas) …
Security Monitoring: Safeguarding Your Cloud
Monitoring is a key component of cloud security. Firewalls, access controls, and encryption stand guard around the clock, but monitoring ensures every other security measure works properly. If cloud monitoring is not currently part of your cybersecurity strategy, consider incorporating monitoring activities this year. Why You Need Cloud Security Monitoring Measures Cloud technology appeals to businesses and IT departments because …
SMACtalk Podcast: Future of Sales with Lisa Graham and Colleen Francis
If you aren’t growing you’re dying! One of the oldest adages in business, but true by so many accounts. Even though social media and digital has changed the sales process exponentially, selling is still a core part of almost every business. The companies that are best leveraging new media, social selling and of course traditional relationship selling are going to …
Building a Digital Ecosystem that Benefits You
The digital landscape has changed remarkably in the past decade, and new advances in technology are paving the way for more revolution. Perhaps one way the digital transformation has changed business most is in the way we share information. In essence, the digital revolution has become the digital evolution. New advances in technology mean that businesses need to keep pace …