5 Big Data trends to monitor in 2018

Syncsort has released the results of its fourth annual Big Data survey, detailing the top use cases and challenges organizations face with Big Data initiatives.

Based on the results, there are five key trends that organizations should monitor in 2018.

1. The composition of the data lake has been shifting. The amount of Relational Database Management Systems and NoSQL databases increased this year. Relational Database Management Systems were chosen as the top source, surpassing traditional enterprise data warehouses. It also found that cloud repositories are gaining popularity.

2. Legacy platforms will continue to make significant contributions to the data lake. There was a 27 percent increase from last year in the amount of people who believe it is important to access and integrate mainframe data into data lakes.

3. Data quality and regulatory compliance were top challenges for many organizations. Forty percent of respondents cited these as significant struggles that they will continue to try to improve upon in the coming year.

4. Another trend is that data lakes will be kept fresher in order to support data use. Seventy-one percent of respondents listed ETL as the most compelling data lake use case, with advanced/predictive analytics and real-time analytics coming in second and third, respectively. Even though these case require up-to-date data, over 75 percent of respondents reported challenges with keeping their data lake in sync.

5. Finally, organizations will continue their investment in Big Data. Ninety percent of companies found that using Hadoop and Spark instead of legacy systems was valuable in saving money and driving data insights.

“We are seeing increased adoption of data lake initiatives where organizations are very focused on governance of the data in the data lakes, increasing benefits through advanced analytics and machine learning and deployment of hybrid environments including cloud,” said Tendü Yoğurtçu, CTO, Syncsort. “But those benefits can only be unlocked if organizations have access to enterprise data, can create trusted data sets and establish effective data governance practices. This propels them to a place where they can not only adapt to digital disruption, but take advantage of it so their businesses thrive.”

Source: sdtimes

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Microsoft unveils new AI development tools at its Connect(); conference

Microsoft Corp. today kicked off Connect(); 2017, its annual developer conference in New York, with the introduction of several new tools designed to help companies build artificial intelligence applications and other modern software.

The first additions are rolling out for Visual Studio, the company’s popular coding platform. Chief among them is a package called Visual Studio Tools for AI that lets developers quickly get started with a new project using their machine learning engine of choice. The bundle supports Microsoft’s CNTK framework, as well as popular outside alternatives such as the Google Inc.-created TensorFlow.

Once a machine learning model is ready, Visual Studio Tools for AI can be used to ship off the code to Azure Batch AI. It’s a service within Microsoft’s public cloud that provides a convenient environment for training machine learning models.

Specifically, the offering enables developers to have their AI applications practice on sample data until they become accurate enough for real-world use. At that point, a team can employ one of the new deployment tools that Microsoft is launching alongside the machine learning package to roll out the model to the target platform.

A company building an AI-powered mobile app, for example, would use AI Toolkit for Azure IoT Edge. The framework allows for models to be deployed to connected devices by way of Microsoft’s public cloud. Another new framework in turn lets companies run AI software directly inside their Azure SQL Database deployments.

Microsoft debuted the artificial intelligence tools alongside a number of more general-purpose products that should appeal to even more developers. Most notably, the company has unveiled a managed version of the popular MariaDB database and Azure Databricks, a new service based on the popular Apache Spark analytics engine. It’s the fruit of a yearlong collaboration with Databricks Inc., the recently funded startup that was founded by project’s creators to commercialize their work.

Back in Visual Studio, a new tool called Live Share aims to ease collaboration for development teams. Microsoft says that the capability will enable multiple programmers to edit and debug code in a single view a la Google Docs.

The company has also announced several smaller enhancements across its development and cloud portfolios that are being spotlighted at Connect(); as well. A complete list of the features unveiled at the event so far can be found here.

Source: Siliconangle

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Three questions to ask before you migrate apps to public cloud

Many firms assume public cloud is the best place to host all apps, but that's not always the case. Before you drink the cloud Kool-Aid, ensure it's a cost-effective move.

The public cloud is an attractive option for many enterprises because of its scalability, speed and pay-as-you-go model. But those benefits don't apply to all workloads -- in fact, some applications could perform poorly or cost more in the cloud.

This means, before you migrate apps to a public infrastructure as a service (IaaS) platform, you need to ensure the move will provide business value.

First, understand what your motivation is for a cloud migration. Do you want lower costs? Do you need more flexibility? Some businesses move to the cloud too fast, only because they assume they should, which could cause issues down the road.

Before you take the big step and migrate apps to the public cloud, start with these three questions:

1. How do I choose which apps to migrate?

Assess your application, and review its requirements -- for both performance and compliance -- to determine if it is a good candidate for the public cloud. Check if the application has any specific network needs or dependencies. Unless you also migrate the systems on which your app depends, including databases, latency could be an issue. Also, review an application's design before you migrate it to the cloud; those apps that frequently read and write to storage systems, for example, could end up costing you more off premises. In general, applications that are "bursty" or have frequent spikes in demand are a good fit for public cloud, while applications that run on a more consistent, predictable basis might be better left in-house.

Cloud providers offer tools, such as Azure Cloud Migration Assessment and Amazon Web Services (AWS) Application Discovery Service, to simplify the assessment process. AWS, Azure and Google also offer pricing calculators to estimate cloud costs.

In addition, determine whether the cloud provider you choose meets your security and compliance requirements. Look at where their data centers are located, especially if you have sensitive data that needs to adhere to strict compliance standards.

2. Which migration approach should I take?

After you decide which applications to migrate, determine a migration method. Two common options are rehost, also known as lift and shift, and refactor, also known as rearchitect.

The lift-and-shift process takes less time to accomplish than refactoring, since developers don't have to change the application's architecture or design -- they just move it as is. But while lift and shift is a simpler approach, it also has drawbacks. For example, if you migrate apps to IaaS without any modifications, they might not be able to take advantage of a key cloud feature: autoscaling. As a result, those applications will still operate the same way they would on an on-premises system -- at peak -- and the enterprise will pay for more cloud storage and compute resources than they actually use.

This makes rearchitecting, or refactoring, a better option for some legacy apps -- even if it's more time-consuming and costly. Lift and shift, on the other hand, is best for cloud disaster recovery.

Do not migrate apps to the cloud too quickly -- start with apps that are the most cloud-ready and that have the least amount of sensitive data. After you run a pilot, test the application, get a feel for the process and then move onto more critical applications.

3. What are my options for cloud migration tools?

Migration is a complex process that comes with risk and the potential for high costs. There are both cloud provider-native and third-party tools that can aid organizations through the process. If an enterprise needs to move large amounts of data to the cloud, it can also perform an offline data migration. This requires an organization to store its data on physical disks and then ship the disks to its cloud provider. While this method might seem old-school, it can be more cost-effective than a migration via a network if you have terabytes of data. Offline data migration services from top cloud providers include AWS Snowball, AWS Snowmobile, Google Transfer Appliance and Azure Import/Export.

Source : searchcloudcomputing.techtarget

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4 requirements of a low-code development platform

Many enterprises are adopting low-code platforms for their ability to enable a broad range of developers to rapidly build and deploy custom web and mobile apps—without the need for time-consuming coding.

Organisations focused on delivering applications for innovation, customer engagement, operational efficiency, or legacy migration are recognising the inherent business value and time-to-market advantages of low-code development platforms.

With business demand for custom applications soaring, it’s clear that traditional development approaches simply can’t keep pace. According to Gartner, through 2021, market demand for app development will grow at least five times faster than IT capacity to deliver it.

So what exactly is a ‘low-code’ development approach? How can it help organisations meet surging demand for applications? What are the key capabilities of a low-code development platform?

 The next step for IT and business leaders is to evaluate platforms carefully and choose the approach that meets your organisation’s needs, now and in future.

Defining low-code development

Forrester defines low – code development platforms as: Products and/or cloud services for application development that employ visual, declarative techniques instead of programming and are available to customers at low- or no-cost in money and training time to begin, with costs rising in proportion of the business value of the platforms.

There are several important features of any low-code development platform:

1. Model-driven development

Low-code platforms offer more intuitive ways to build applications, minimising the use of coding. Model-driven development (MDD) uses visual models for defining an application’s data models, business logic, user interfaces, etc.

This approach enables a range of users—from professional developers to citizen developers—to visually model full-stack web and mobile applications. Using visual tools can result in 10x productivity gains over traditional approaches. As capability matures and organisations begin to scale, some organisations have seen up to 20 times productivity.

2. Reusability

Productivity can be further accelerated with low-code development platforms that promote reusability through an App Store populated with out-of-the-box templates, widgets, plug-ins, business components, and connectors to emerging technologies.

The platform may also offer a private app store, whereby an organisation can distribute company-specific IP for reuse across development teams. In either scenario, building apps becomes more like visually orchestrating the necessary building blocks, versus reinventing the wheel each project.

3. Support beyond just the build phase

It’s easy to fall into the trap of viewing low-code platforms only as a way to speed the build phase. In reality, many platforms are designed to support the entire app lifecycle: design, build, deploy, manage and iterate.

As such, usually include collaboration tools, agile project management, cloud-native deployment, application governance tools, and feedback tools. This is an important part of the time-to-market advantage, with a seamless way to move apps along the lifecycle, particularly in terms of deployment.

4. Cloud-native deployment

Some low-code development platforms offer the flexibility to deploy and manage applications in the cloud of your choice, or even on premises. Offering automated deployment along with a cloud-native, stateless architecture enables out-of-the-box high availability and fail over to support large-scale deployments, particularly in an enterprise context.

Key benefits of a low-code platform

In many business sectors today, the barriers to entry for digital competitors are so low that new players are coming out of nowhere and disrupting industries through technology-led products, services, and business models.

To stay ahead of the competition, organisations must constantly find new ways to do things better, faster and cheaper; and to engage customers and partners in new ways. The challenge is that, while the demand for custom apps has never been higher, traditional development approaches simply can’t keep pace.

It’s clear that businesses need a faster way to deliver applications—and low-code development platforms provide a proven way to shorten time-to-value for new applications. The fundamental value of a low-code development platform is that it brings IT and the business together, enabling more rapid, iterative, and collaborative development.

Applications can be rapidly built, seamlessly deployed and easily changed—all without the need for low-level coding. In addition, these platforms provide an excellent communication mechanism to align business and IT stakeholders, thereby ensuring greater software quality and more successful business outcomes.

The next step for IT and business leaders is to evaluate platforms carefully and choose the approach that meets your organisation’s needs, now and in future.

Source : information – age

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3 Tips for Transitioning to DevOps in Financial Services

Anyone who works in IT for financial services understands the pressure to keep up with a competitive market, where customers expect all their services to be online and where regulations shift rapidly. It’s this pressure to continually deliver improved services at a fast rate that moved Freedom Mortgage, a top U.S. mortgage provider, towards adopting DevOps.

As the point person for driving the organization’s DevOps initiative, Ting Cosper, Director, Enterprise IT Change Management and DevOps, understood that adopting DevOps was not a luxury—their ability to respond quickly depended on it. But change does not come easy, and it was up to Ting to lay the groundwork for the transition. Ting talked about his experiences a few weeks ago at the XebiaLabs DevOps Leadership Summit. Below are 3 tips he shared for transitioning to DevOps.

1. Start with People and Processes

Ting’s team manages change management. Any changes to tools, systems and processes go through them. Their job is to make sure things are as solid as possible before sending software to production.

Inconsistency across groups in managing revisions and storing them to secure repositories was a key problem for them. On top of that, the team was using manual processes to deploy changes, which took a toll on their small staff because someone had to be on call nights and weekends to make them. It might have been tempting to immediately look for tools to address these problems. However, tools were not the main issue. Rather, it was the lack of standardization that was creating conflicts and burning people out.

So, if you’re considering doing DevOps and plan to dive into tools as your first order of business, Ting’s advice is to stop. Tools are important, but you can’t buy a tool that will “do DevOps.” Instead, Ting’s top priority was improving how people interact with each other and with technology to drive performance. He wanted to standardize their processes and reduce manual work that was hurting their efficiency and the quality of life for their employees. In addition, he needed to show management how the organization was losing money by continuing to follow the status quo.

2. Reflect and Document

Before he could convince anyone else to accept change, some reflection was necessary. Ting suggests that, before jumping into a DevOps initiative, think about what your organization is doing right and wrong. Maybe your developers are good but you fall short when it’s time to deliver, or maybe QA needs extra resources. Taking a hard look in this way helps you understand your processes: what you’re doing, where the waste is, and where you can improve. For Freedom Mortgage, their delivery team was very efficient with execution but fell short on documentation, which is crucial for communicating your intentions.

An important part of documentation is calculating the cost of your processes. After gathering metrics on their change system, Ting and his team were able show that, while there was a drastic drop in failed changes over the course of several months, the financial and human costs of doing so were too large. Their staff was consistently working weekends, and overtime costs were upwards of $200K in one year alone—excluding follow up on Monday to put out fires and have development do fixes. Show people, especially management, the ROI of hard and soft saves that will result from your plan and you’ll get their attention.

3. Find the Right Tools

Once you’ve figured out where to improve your processes, it’s time to look at DevOps tools. Ting’s team wanted to start by getting a better handle on their deployments, so they researched leading DevOps solutions companies. While product quality was a high priority, they also wanted a vendor who would share practical knowledge about getting their initiative going and scaling it in a controlled way.

They chose XebiaLabs because they preferred the interface and modeling feature of XL Deploy and believed that XebiaLabs would be their partner throughout the transition. Bringing in XL Deploy and XL Release is giving them a better handle on how to do their deployments and release software. XebiaLabs products also enabled them to show the larger community that there’s a better way to manage the pipeline and get software into production.

The Results So Far

Ting and his team began putting their new processes in place in January. Although it’s still early, they’ve already implemented controls that enable consistency across teams. And people are starting to see the benefits: there’s less conflict between groups, individuals don’t feel blocked from getting their work done, there are fewer budgeting issues, and it’s much easier to train new people or to cover if someone is sick or on vacation. It’s also simpler to expand or contract a team as needed for a project.

Do’s and Don’ts

Based on Ting’s experience, he offers some do’s and don’ts for successfully transitioning to DevOps:

Do…

• ·         prepare to be successful. Focus on the end-result and how the investment will pay off in the long run. Spread that message to all your stakeholders.
• ·         your homework and document everything. You are going to have to explain yourself every step of the way.
• ·         communicate and celebrate each milestone. If you make it a big deal, so will everyone else. Celebrate even small achievements, and highlight why they matter.
• ·         financial analysis. He or she who gathers the information decides how to tell the story. People will find ways to make it financially difficult to move forward, so make sure you have the data to justify your plan.

Don’t…

• ·         be discouraged by setbacks. Not everything is going to go smoothly. Setbacks will happen, but don’t let them deter you.
• ·         expect overnight results. Change comes with some frustration and pain, so be patient but consistent. Set an agenda and stay the course.
• ·         bite off more than you can chew. Don’t overpromise. Set realistic expectations right from the start and live up to them.

Finally, believe that what you’re doing will deliver value for the organization. Document your journey, practice patience, and press forward with confidence.

Source: blog.xebialabs

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5 Tips for Leading a DevOps Transformation in Your Organization

Change is hard.

It’s hard personally when we’re trying to build new habits to make us healthier, like eating better, working out, and getting enough sleep. It’s especially hard for organizations trying to do much the same thing: adopt new ways of working to produce better results

IIf you’re a believer in DevOps and have tried to help others see the light, you may have run into some…challenges, like:
• Lack of awareness or understanding of DevOps patterns and practices
• Opposition from thinking rooted in “the old way” of working, and
• Inability to relate to the perspectives of individuals in different roles and at different levels within the organization
Change is possible. It might be slow and bumpy, but it will be beautiful when it happens. It just takes time, persistence, and the right approach.
Here’s how you can lead change within your organization and be more successful in your efforts to bring others in different roles and at different levels into the DevOps movement.
1. Understand their priorities
We have to start by meeting people where they are rather than forcing them to come to us. That’s what leading is all about. We need to take the time to understand the different perspectives of the people we’re engaging and find out what they care about. The more we can connect what we’re trying to accomplish to what they care about, the more successful we’ll be. For example, an executive cares about accomplishing business goals and meeting the organizational mission. How can we demonstrate that DevOps helps accomplish those goals?
2. Appreciate the issues they face
Different people in different roles encounter different issues in their pursuit of what they care about and their goals. Discover what those issues are and try to relate to the challenges those issues present for people trying to do their jobs. For example, a middle manager might be faced with budget cuts, while still being asked to do more with less. How can we show them that DevOps helps address those issues?
3. Identify the target mindset
DevOps patterns and practices represent a new way of working, and that requires a new way of thinking. Conventional wisdom doesn’t always apply. In fact, in many situations, applying conventional wisdom is exactly the wrong thing to do. Remember the famous quote from Adrian Cockcroft, the former chief architect at Netflix, who said, “Do painful things more frequently so you can make it less painful.” Unconventional, to say the least, but exactly correct. How can you shift people’s mindset from wanting to control change to embracing change? Or managing through a “command and control” approach to empowering teams?
4. Develop your plan
Every organization is different and therefore every plan should be different. There is no “one size fits all” approach to leading change. What works for one organization in one context may be a total flop somewhere else. That’s why we have to take the time to understand our organization and the people in it, their goals and priorities, the issues they face, and how they think. Only then can we assemble the right set of tactics that will produce the kind of change we want. Do we need to start promoting collaboration and sharing? Do we need to map the value stream? Do we need to make work visible? Maybe. It depends on what you’ve discovered in your efforts to learn what makes everyone tick.
5. Execute your tactics
Once you’ve developed your plan, now it’s time to execute it. Start small and build on the successes over time. Don’t try tackling too much at once. Remember the lean principle of limiting work in progress? It applies to leading change, too. Other DevOps concepts that also apply here are frequent releases, fast feedback, and continuous improvement. Experiment with different tactics to see what works and what doesn’t, incorporate what you learn into your plan, and always keep trying to get better. Finally, realize your DevOps journey is never “done” – you’re always working toward “better.” For change agents, that should be an exciting thought.
If you want more information about how to lead change more effectively, check out the Leading Change whitepaper. It’s a great resource to help you relate better to others within your organization and create a plan to help your organization adopt DevOps patterns and practices. Good luck in your journey!

Source: Blog.xebialabs

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Microsoft Apps Give Business Users Flexibility Across PCs and Mobile Devices

Your smartphone gives you access to your small business when you are outside of the office. But when it comes to doing actual work, it leaves much to be desired. Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) has just announced two apps to let you continue working on your PC if you happen to initiate them on your iOS or Android device.

Microsoft Edge and Launcher Apps

Microsoft Edge for iOS/Android and Microsoft Launcher for Android will allow you to move between your phone and PC. Pages and other data you have opened on your phone can be accessed on your Windows 10 PC so you can save or continue working on it.

One of the challenges small businesses face when it comes to technology is compatibility. Microsoft’s approach to bringing iOS and Android to the Edge browser integrates the two largest mobile platforms with the largest PC operating system. For Microsoft, this is one way to keep Windows PCs relevant as more people make smartphones their primary computing device.

In an interview on ZDnet, Joe Belfiore, Corporate Vice President of Windows and Devices explained, “By far, the majority of our Windows 10 users have iOS and Android phones. But there’s no good system to unify PCs with these phones. These two (Edge for iOS and Android) apps will knit all this together for all our customers.”

Microsoft Edge for iOS and Android

With this app, users on their iOS and Android mobile devices will be able to carry over Favorites, Reading List, New Tab Page and Reading View from their mobile devices to their PCs.

You can sign up to test the Microsoft Edge for iOS and Android preview apps here.

Microsoft Launcher for Android

With Microsoft Launcher, Android users will have additional options, including recent photos, documents and more. Launcher also makes your most relevant and recent feeds available with just a swipe. But more importantly, for small businesses using Continue on PC, they can keep on working on images, documents and other files on their PC.

Availability

Microsoft Edge for iOS is available now in preview, with the Android version coming soon. Microsoft Launcher, on the other hand, is available now in preview for Android.

Both apps will be available as part of the Microsoft Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, which was released globally on October 17, 2017.

Source: Smallbiztrend

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Learning How to Code: The Best iOS Apps

One of the most powerful skills that can be acquired in an era of electronic and technological change is the ability to code various programs. While this may have been reserved for those who have a formal education, many online resources have been made available to enable everyone to learn. From basic programming to more advanced algorithms, the notion of learning to program has been democratized significantly so that anyone from anywhere in the world can begin. To further this elimination of barriers, apps can serve as a mobile source of education which this article explores in depth.

Encode: Learn to Code

Websites are one of the most popular things to start creating when a user wishes to learn how to code. As a basic but comprehensive guide on how to develop webpages, Encode takes users through step-by-step lessons that cover everything from images to styles. By offering the lessons in smaller portions as opposed to larger lectures, comprehension and retention is maximized, especially for beginners. Beyond just being able to learn how the code works, Encode enables users to also code right on the app with a series a tests and challenges to reinforce what they have learnt. Through learning HTML and CSS, real webpages can be created directly on the app with the ability to quickly refer to the lessons if needed. As an all-in-one tool for those who wish to learn the basics and fundamentals of web programming, Encode is a highly recommended app that gives lessons, the interface to code, and the ability to make real websites in a single location.

Khan Academy: you can learn anything

As Khan Academy is well recognized for providing learning materials for student beyond the classroom, a large portion of the available content is dedicated to teaching various aspects of programming. From basic web programming to mobile apps, Khan Academy covers nearly the entire realm of coding in the form of videos that are broken down into logical segments that are easy to follow. As the lessons are done through videos instead of text, it is much easier to follow along with the material which can be played multiple times and wherever a user is so that learning can take place from anywhere. With only the most qualified instructors to give the lesson, Khan Academy is perfect for those who are just starting out with programming to those who are professionals looking to expand their skillset. Given that so many programming languages are offered in the app, it is one of the best tools available on the App Store.

Learn to Code with Python

Python is one of the most sought after programming languages that are out there as a result of the applications that are possible to build with it. To learn Python right on the phone, Learn to Code not only teaches the fundamentals, but also lets users code right on the app so that no special program needs to be downloaded to begin. Furthermore, the app gamifies the learning process by introducing various badges when a user achieves a certain level or milestone in their coding career. In doing so, it becomes more of a game and challenge to learn the language as opposed to a typical classroom lesson. To further this, those on the app can engage in coding challenges that involves levels, experience points, and various rounds to make it significantly more fun to learn. With access to the community of Python coders, Learn to Code is a highly recommended app for those who wish to learn the language with a highly engaged and like-minded community.

Swifty: Learn to code tutorials for Swift

As Swift is the new standard for iOS apps, it is only natural to be able to program iOS apps right from the phone. Swiftly is a tutorial-based app designed to help beginners and experts further develop their skills ranging from the fundamentals of “ifs” and “variables” to “arrays”. Similarly to the previous coding apps, Swiftly also lets its users practice through incorporating challenges that can be completed to gauge how well a person is progressing in their learning. As learning to code can be a tedious task that is frustrating for many, the app implements various mechanisms to encourage motivation and consistency in learning. For example, by having achievements that can be earned once specific milestones have been met, users are encouraged to learn more while the streaks helps incentivize users to return to the lessons on a consistent basis otherwise the streak will be restarted. For those who are interested in learning how to develop apps for iOS, Swiftly is one of the most comprehensive tools that can help anybody learn or improve.

Mimo: Learn to code on the go

For an exhaustive curriculum that encompasses everything from websites to apps, Mimo is an extremely popular source of technical content for new and veteran developers alike. From websites to apps and even hacking, users can choose which field they would like to pursue and then be given the corresponding lessons. With challenges that make each lesson more engaging, no matter which field of programming a person may be interested in, they can learn at a much faster rate than simply reading books. Furthermore, one of the best features of Mimo is that real projects can be developed so that coding can be done whenever it is most convenient for the user right from the app. Similar to the other apps listed in this article, achievements can be earned as a means to encourage progress. With so many different languages available on Mimo, the app is one that is highly recommended for anybody looking to further their development skills.

As software and programming becomes increasingly important, the apps listed in this article can significantly benefit those who are new to coding or are professionals seeking to expand their skillset. From websites to algorithms, mobile apps have greatly contributed to the democratization of learning code from only those who are formally educated in the space to nearly anyone with a computer.

Source: Appolicious

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3 Helpful Ways For Developers To Improve IoT Security On Their Devices

Following these three simple tips, you can enhance your IoT security without creating a needless hassle or paying too much as a developer.

The much-beloved Internet of Things has come to fundamentally reshape how firms in virtually every industry operate. Nonetheless, the 21st century phenomenon that’s connected us all has some significant downsides, chief among them its vulnerability to outside attacks.

As consumers and producers of IoT gadgets alike are finding their privacy and security increasingly jeopardized, many don’t know where to turn to for advice. By following these three simple tips, you can enhance your IoT security without creating a needless hassle or paying too much.

Ensure your gadgets are patchable

A staggeringly large amount of everyday IoT gadgets sold on the market come equipped with pre-prepared passwords which are essentially impossible to change, or, even worse, are just entirely impossible to patch. In the ever-changing digital world of the 21st century, IoT devices need to be patchable so they can be updated to resist the latest trends in malware attacks.

While leaders of the industry such as Apple or Microsoft take steps to send out regular updates and prevent their products from being vulnerable to the latest attack, many smaller companies fail to do the same. As more and more computers and sensors become embedded in virtually everything in society – from our infrastructure to our businesses – an unpatchable nightmare is developing. If this problem isn’t remedied soon on the supply-side of the IoT, it could unravel into an unfixable mess.

Focus on simplicity

The IoT industry is already well-acquainted with the idea of simplicity, as it’s long been a hallmark of digital gadgets. Nonetheless, many firms don’t take the steps necessary to ensure that the process of using and, critically, updating their gadgets and software is as easy as possible on the consumer-end of things.

Companies responsible for protecting your device should make the process of patching their products as easy as possible for their consumers, many of whom may not be particularly tech-literate. Users should be alerted about the latest security breaches, and receive a number of messages detailing what specific steps they need to maintain their security.

Small measures like this, which help strengthen the weakest-link in most security structures, everyday human users, can go incredibly far in strengthening your IoT security. Making it simple and easy for your users to regularly change their usernames or passwords, for instance, is a relatively stress-free change developers of IoT gadgets and applications could make to remove some vulnerabilities.

As attackers rely on hijacking huge numbers of relatively under-protected (and sometimes entirely unprotected) devices, the small steps that make even a few gadgets harder to break into can have a huge impact on their ability to successfully carry out attacks.

Don’t rely on a silver bullet

Many producers and consumers of IoT devices often have unrealistic security expectations, meaning the battle has been lost before it’s even really begun. While guaranteeing perfect security is a pipedream, those tasked with securing the IoT aren’t entirely helpless, and shouldn’t rely on a magical silver bullet to come and save them.

There is no true consensus for what the best IoT security practices are – many different experts and companies take their own unique approaches to the problem, and their responses are often very different from one another. Rather than waiting on innovation to deliver a god-sent solution to their problems, security experts would be well advised to keep pushing the envelope and trying to develop multi-faceted approaches to security.

As Wind River points out in their white paper on IoT security, itself entitled “searching for the silver bullet”, security experts would be better suited to take the developments of the last 25 years and attempt to modernize them to meet today’s problems. Constant reengineering will be necessary to meet the ever-shifting demands of tomorrow, but IoT users would be letting decades of progress go to waste if they turned their backs on yesterday’s achievements.

Building security infrastructure “from the bottom up,” as Wind River encourages, is the only effective way to guarantee the IoT well into the future. While we’re unsure of what threats we’ll face from malicious hackers and software tomorrow, we can rest assured that expanding user’s access to security features and educating the public on common security-pitfalls is a step in the right direction.

As Wind River’s paper highlights, security cannot be thought of as an after-measure. Rather, producers of IoT gadgets and apps must commit the necessary funds – no matter how expensive – to ensure security as early in the development process as possible.

The IoT is far too wonderful to be sacrificed to malevolent attackers who seek to exploit gaps in its security. Companies and users alike must rely on their own determination and commitment to a new, ever-expanding set of security norms if they hope to benefit from the IoT well into the future.

Source: Networkworld

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DevOps Delivers Faster Software Releases And Happier People

The most rewarding aspect of DevOps is the impact on individuals. To see people that are genuinely happy, and derive happiness from their work

First, the good news: DevOps is much more than a process change that speeds up software development and deployment. It invokes cultural change to the point where peoples' at-work personalities can actually change -- for the better.

Now the bad news: Moving forward with DevOps often requires a "trigger event" -- such as a merger or CEO change -- to motivate the organization to fully embrace such change.

These are the observations of Rob Englund, independent IT management consultant, trainer, and commentator, who has helped bring about DevOps within New Zealand's largest government organizations. Englund, recently interviewed by RunAsRadio's Richard Campbell, said gaining executive support for DevOps and related transformation can be challenging, but once underway, there is a "blossoming" effect.

IT leaders in and of themselves find it very hard to be the initial disruptors, Englund points out.."You may be in an exploratory phase, with people trying some Agile, and some new tools, but there has to be some sort of trigger event, or some sort of emergency," he relates. "Once you've got the trigger, then it's a lot easier to get executive support and the hearts and minds of people. It's got to be something such as, 'were going to split the organization in two,' or 'we've got a new CEO who wants to change everything.'"

Because organizations let their dysfunctions build up to a point where it takes a massive undertaking to set a new course, technology-driven transformation has to happen with a "big bang," Englund relates. In the case of one large government organization he was working with, transformation had to be all-encompassing to lift the entire enterprise out of its calcified state. "It was everything -- it was a cultural problem, it was an absence of automation, it was lots of siloed thinking and no sharing, it was no measurement and feedback."

The new CIO in this instance had to take bold steps, involving DevOps, to move the organization into the 21st century, Englund explains. "He had to take bold pushes to get started on the journey. He just decreed were going to start doing cadenced releases. Everything going out the door is integrated to the core trunk, and just goes out the door."

One of the things about Agile, Englund says, is "you're going to release on demand, there's going to be lots and lots of little releases flying out the door. This was the opposite -- everything had to be integrated together, and all going out the door within six weeks."

The challenge here was that "spaghettified, massive dependencies and entanglements defeated the theory of rapid deployment," he continues. Initially, the organization was able to move to a six-week cadence of releases "with no technology -- they had mostly manual environment builds, mostly manual testing." As the organization was able to get up to speed with automation and new tools, it was able to reduce its release cycles to four weeks. By the end of the year, the goal is every two weeks, he adds.

IT service and ITIL-based efforts have not delivered in the past because they are hinged on executed processes, rather than broader organizational and people transformation, Englund states. He says he has seen people transformed as a result of initiatives such as DevOps. "The biggest reward for me is watching people blossom. There are people who are oppressed by the system, and unreasonable systems create unreasonable people. If you fix the system, most people blossom and turn into a different person. Suddenly, they're happy and cooperative and creative. For me the most rewarding aspect of DevOps is the impact on individuals. To see people that are genuinely happy, and derive happiness from their work."

Source: Zdnet

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What Makes An Internet Of Things (IoT) Platform Enterprise-Ready?

Answering the question of what makes an IoT platform scalable enough to excel in an enterprise needs to take into account application enablement, connectivity management, and data aggregation and storage. These and other insights are from a recent article by the Boston Consulting Group, Who Will Win The IoT Platform Wars? The report provides a useful framework for evaluating the enterprise readiness of the proliferating number of  IoT platforms available today.
The following key takeaways offer a glimpse into the IoT platform landscape and how enterprises can determine if IoT platforms of interest will be able to scale to their needs:

• Enterprise software & services (22%) and IoT start-ups (32%) offer the largest amount of IoT platforms today. 18% of IoT platforms are being developed and sold by industrial technology providers who are looking to shift away from their hardware-centric business models. Superior design, extensibility, intuitive user experience and incentives for developers to support their IoT platforms are what’s need to excel in the enterprise. BCG found that 65% of enterprise buyers have a strong preference for purchasing their IoT platforms from enterprise software and services providers.
• The real test of any vendor’s IoT platform is to see if it supports application enablement, data aggregation and storage, and connectivity management. Ideally, IoT platforms orchestrate applications, data, devices, systems, and processes providing business strategists with a scalable framework they can rely on to accomplish long-term goals. In reality the majority of IoT platforms today can’t provide this level of support to business strategies. BCG found that a scalable enterprise-ready IoT platform provides application enablement, data aggregation and storage, and connectivity management. The following graphic provides an overview of core IoT platform requirements.

Boston Consulting Group, Who Will Win The IoT Platform Wars?

• Just 14% of IoT platforms are enterprise-ready. IoT pure-play companies/startups lead all providers of enterprise-wide IoT platforms today. Enterprise software & service providers are next at 36% of all platform providers meeting all three criterion. In the next three years, the pace of IoT pure-play companies/startup acquisitions is going to accelerate as enterprise software & service providers look to gain needed new technologies quickly.

Boston Consulting Group, Who Will Win The IoT Platform Wars?

• IoT platform providers who earn developer loyalty have the best chance of dominating the market for years to come. Creating an open source IoT platform supported by a vibrant, growing community that excels at knowledge sharing is the most effective strategy for attracting developers. Additional criterion developers evaluate IoT platforms on are the potential to gain platform knowledge and improve their career prospects, and availability of high-quality APIs and available tools. The following graphic provides an analysis of what developers consider the most important criterion they consider when choosing an IoT platform to develop on. Enterprise software & service providers are using a variety of incentives including free training, certification, and the opportunity to earn cash bonuses for accelerating development and delivery of new applications on their platforms.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/

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Consumers Do Not Trust Innovation Technologies

Technological developments, such as artificial intelligence (AI), are being neglected over hacking concerns, despite it having the potential to change our lives.

A study carried out by IT and business change specialist, SQS, shows that the majority of the public is reluctant to buy into the latest tech products because of safety issues and malicious cyberattacks.

The study results found that 56% of survey participants are worried that their connected home apps could be hacked into; 40% believe break-ins would increase if connected home had a flaw; 80% looking to buy AI products said they might reconsider because of targeting by hackers; 52% think that home robots could fall victims to cyber criminals with malicious intentions and 48% claimed that they would not purchase AI technology at all due to cyber threats.

‘Stringent software testing and quality assurance must be carried out’

SQS’ CEO, Dik Vos, commented on the findings: “Emerging technologies should be embraced as early as possible if the UK is to gain an economic and technological advantage over countries who are willing to become early adopters. But for this to happen, the consumer trust issues that we have uncovered need to be addressed first.”

“Safety concerns and cyber vulnerabilities should be the top priority for companies developing innovative technology, rather than added as an afterthought or worse, once catastrophe has already struck. It is crucial that companies adopt a quality-first approach to gain the trust of the consumer. If advances such as AI, self-driving cars, home robots and connected houses are going to take off in the UK, stringent software testing and quality assurance must be carried out at every stage of product development to guarantee the safety of this technology,” he added.

SQS study concluded that emerging technology could severely affect the UK’s economic growth and to prevent this, businesses and organizations have a duty to prove to the public that every precaution has been taken to protect and safeguard technological developments and ‘human life’.

Source: Softwaretesingnews

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Top 3 Things Everyone Should Know About Cybersecurity In An IoT And Mobile World.

The stakes are getting a lot higher in cybersecurity. It's no longer just about a loss of productivity and profitability. Your compromised network could become a public safety risk.

Cybersecurity fears continue to grow as the digital revolution embeds itself in new parts of society every day. Here are the three things you need to know about cybersecurity in world that is increasingly dominated by mobile technology and the Internet of Things.

1. Mobile is now the standard

For the past decade and a half, mobile devices were bolted onto a company's IT strategy because the devices themselves were what professionals used when they were traveling or between times when they were sitting at a computer. Today, there's a lot more you can do on mobile and so mobile usage continues to skyrocket. As a result, every company needs to treat mobile like a central component of its IT, data, and cybersecurity policies.

2. IoT complexity brings tremendous risk

In the same way mobile devices changed the game for IT security over the past two decades, the Internet of Things is changing it again. IoT is connecting a greater diversity of devices to the corporate network, and with that brings much greater complexity and risk. And the scale is incredible. There are now over 3 billion smartphones in use in the world. There are already 8 billion IoT devices and we're still at the very beginning of the growth curve. That number will climb past 25 billion by 2020.

3. Cybersecurity is now a public safety concern

When mobile security became an issue, the biggest concerns were data leakage and loss of productivity and profitability. As IoT connects more parts of the world to the internet, it creates a greater attack surface for rogue players. That means public infrastructure like stoplights, bridges, water facilities, and power plants can now be attacked. And, vulnerable endpoints on your organization's network could be compromised to launch the attack. In other words, the stakes of the game in cybersecurity are higher than they've ever been and they will only get bigger in the years immediately ahead.

Source: ZDNet

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4 Careers For Software Development Graduates

Software development is not only the present; it's the future of technology. Any electronic product you've used in the past has been developed from some type of software or code, and because technology is growing daily, it means software development jobs are going through the roof. If you're interested in technology and you're thinking of obtaining a software development master degree via an online masters in software development course, have a look at some of the things you can do once you have the degree.

1. Software Developer

Developing software is key to the success of many technological developments and it means you'll easily be able to land a job as a software developer once you have acquired the relevant degree. This is pretty much the career you'll be heading towards once you're qualified, but there is so much more you can do if coding isn't at the top of your list.

2. Project Manager

Any software developer will need to know what they are doing, and many others will work within a small team that is managed by a project manager. A software development degree will give you the coding experience you need to lead others, but once you've done your time as a coder, there's no reason why you can't manage big projects. The important thing about developing your management skills is that the sky is the limit for what projects you'll be able to manage. From small-scale software designs to larger banking software designs, you'll have the chance to oversee anything.

3. Software Tester

Testing software plays a crucial role in software development. Software needs to be secure as well as user-friendly and it will be up to you to ensure the software is in perfect working order before it's released to the public for beta testing. The testing role is varied. One day you'll be testing the database design and another day you will see if any interface changes need to be made to make sure the software is easy to navigate.

4. Start Your Own Business

Once you have the relevant experience in software development, there is nothing wrong in thinking about your future and starting your own business. Your business will likely consist of a one-man band at first, but once you've established yourself as a top software developer, you'll find you'll have more contracts and you can take on other graduates that want to learn the trade. Anyone can get into software development without having a degree, but a degree will give you the opportunity to work at bigger development firms, and that is where you'll get the experience you need to start your own business.

Once you have obtained a software development degree, the world is your oyster. Many developers develop their own software and end up running large businesses that serve entities on a global scale, and once you've achieved the same, there is nothing from stopping you following suit.

Source: IT Businessnet

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Microsoft's Strategy To Seduce Android And iOS Users

One of the many points of interest that has come out of Microsoft’s recent Build Conference for developers is the continued push to have Microsoft’s services include and entice iOS and Android users. Windows Story Remix - which takes your images and allows you to edit them into short sharable videos - is a good illustration of this approach.
It is one that should be familiar to any keen watcher of Microsoft’s current mobile strategy. Windows Story Remix (which will be available in the Windows Creator Update) pulls in the images either from the host device or the OneDrive cloud storage portion of a user’s Microsoft account. Given that OneDrive is available for Windows 10, macOS, iOS and Android, and can be set up to automatically sync any photos or videos taken to the cloud; Story Remix becomes another hub that allows Microsoft to work with any of the major operating systems of 2017.
And the intention is for the Story Remix creation app to be available on iOS and Android as well as Windows 10.
Once more, Microsoft is offering a service as an application that effectively ignores your personal choice of operating system. You can start work on a Story Remix project on one device, move to another device and still have the work-in-progress available to you. Naturally you’ll need a Microsoft cloud account to make this work which means that there’ll be a nice mix of new sign-ups to the service or a reinforcement of the account’s value for existing users.
And that increases Microsoft’s chances of having a serious contender in the cloud-based platform revolution.

Source: https://www.forbes.com

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FinTech Startups in MENA Region Raised $100 Million in Last Ten Years, to Double by 2020

The report, The State of Fintech, by business support organization Wamda and online payment gateway Payfort, states that a sharp increase in funding activity will be expected this year with MENA startups aiming to raise $50 million in 2017. This is a significant rise from the $18 million it raised last year and a clear indicator that the region is keen to provide greater visibility to the sector.
The growth of the industry can already be seen. From 2012 to 2015, the number of fintech startups in the MENA region doubled from 46 to 105, with half of that number having been launched since 2012. This was driven by the fact that 86 percent of the MENA adult population don’t have access to a bank account. It’s projected that by 2020 there will be 250 fintech startups with the UAE placed among Asia’s most promising financial technology hubs.

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According to the report, almost three in four fintech companies are based in four countries. It found that four out of 12 countries host 73 percent of all MENA fintech startups. The UAE leads with 30 startups followed by Egypt with 17, and Jordan and Lebanon both of which have 15.
Payments Remain the Biggest Sector
Across all MENA countries, payment startups remain the most prominent industry with payments and lending startups representating 84 percent of the MENA fintech market.
Unfortunately, one of the barriers that fintech companies are experiencing in the Middle East and North African countries is the fact that they lack the trust that banks already have.
Not only that, but a lack of awareness of financial technology services or an understanding among the banked population means companies are losing out on the untapped potential market waiting for them.
Plans for Expansion
Of those surveyed, 98 percent (or 40 out of 41) fintech startups in MENA have said that they plan to enter new markets in the next two years. While the UAE remains a popular location, Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia are expected to become the next populous ones.
However, according to Faisal al Bitar, assistant investment manager at Oasis500, in Jordan:
One of the key challenges in Jordan is the lack of a fintech sandbox.
Supporters argue a national sandbox for Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt would benefit not only startups, but also banks and policymakers cautious about the impact of fintech on the stability of the financial system.
Source : https://www.cryptocoinsnews.com

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Security and Privacy Concerns Need to be Addressed When it Comes to IoT in the Financial Industry

The Internet-of-Things (IoT) is rapidly transforming the way banks interact with their customers. According to Jim Marous, Fintech expert and publisher of The Financial Brand, IoT is set to improve the customer experience and consequently, its relationship with its customers, by increasing agility and response time towards changing market needs.

With reduced reliance on manpower, it also helps banks lessen operating costs, he noted.
“The world of IoT is a network of Internet-connected sensors that can be embedded into physical devices that collect data and share it across the web with people, applications and other devices. The ability to measure and apply insight contextually has the potential to augment and disrupt commerce and entire industries,” said Marous.
In an IoT report by information technology consultants Cap Gemini, it cited General Electric who said the Internet of Everything had the potential to US$10 to US$15 trillion to the global GDP in the next 20 years. The report also quoted IDC, whose research estimates that by 2020, more than 40 percent of all data worldwide will be comprised of data gleaned from digital devices communicating with one another.

Keeping data secure

But concerns of security and privacy remain, as the use of IoT devices become more varied and more interlinked. A hack could spell widespread disaster for end users’ privacy, as attackers target unsecured web-connected devices such as webcams.

This is particularly so for the finance industry, as banks sit on sensitive data such as account numbers and past transactions. And many executives still see security as a barrier to IoT growth, in some cases even more so than interoperability and generating a positive return on investment.

“The ability to take advantage of the opportunities of IoT requires the banking industry to overcome consumer concerns around data security and privacy. With massive amounts of data being collected, security is the top concern for both banking institutions and consumers,” said Marous.

What should the finance industry take note of?

One area banks can focus on is collaboration, according to Cap Gemini. The report noted that IoT devices, will need to communicate within context among each other and among users. Once interoperability issues are resolves, the devices can effectively communicate with each other.

Devices will grow smarter over time, but until then, it could be risky to have IoT devices initiate actions without some governance, it added.

Cap Gemini noted that while the banking industry is usually ahead of the curve when it comes to safeguarding customer data, the challenges are increased exponentially when you take into account connected devices and multiple processors of insight.

Part of this challenge can be addressed through consumer education around how IoT can actually improve authentication and security.

For example, with IoT, devices can be used to track a person’s health. And as IoT devices evolve and grow smarter, they could detect whether a person requires medical assistance and intervention. This would ultimately save health insurance companies money

Source: http://fintechnews.sg

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