How have machines dominated this world, and what is their purpose? What happened to the civilization here before? Scour every corner of a realm filled with ancient relics and mysterious buildings in order to uncover your past and unearth the many secrets of a forgotten land. Horizon Zero Dawn for the PS4 is discounted 32% right now on Amazon, so you can pick it up for just $39.88. See it on Amazon here.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
GE has always had technology as a core part of its offering. After all, you don’t build wind turbines, jet engines and gas plants without leveraging technology. But in recent years, the company has moved from being an industrial company that uses technology to an outright vendor of technology solutions.A core part of this approach is by powering what GE calls the Industrial IoT, that is all the connected devices that are used in industrial settings of every kind. Predix is GE’s platform for the industrial IoT, and it promises to connect machines, data and people to drive results. Predix offers a single platform based in the cloud that can reconcile all the disparate data feeds and information streams pouring out of the industrial IoT.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Both Gartner and Tech Insider agree, the Internet of Things (IoT) will be a major tech category, predicting 20.4 billion units and 23.9 billion devices, respectively, by 2020.They disagree, however, about where those devices will go. Gartner says two-thirds of the devices will land in consumer applications. Tech Insider says over three-fourths will land in government and business applications.+ Also on Network World: 5 things to think about for industrial IoT readiness +
Why is there such a big difference in forecasts? Which forecaster’s crystal ball is less occluded? Gartner’s forecasts depend on more stable, smaller IoT consumer islands, while Tech Insider’s forecasts depend on large clouds often built on evolving technologies.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
It’s a Linux world, and the rest of computing is just living in it – often literally, thanks to containerization. IoT, in all of its manifold forms, is no exception, and the Linux Foundation lists these seven projects as the key players in the march of connected open-source systems. Here’s a quick rundown.Automotive-Grade LinuxStarted: 2012Key Members: A mix of big car companies (including Mazda, Suzuki, Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Ford), and a diverse array of well-known tech names. Everything from carriers (China Mobile, NTT), silicon makers (Intel, ARM, Nvidia) to electronics powerhouses like LG, Samsung and Panasonic.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Space is significantly more data-center-friendly than earth, reckons a Los Angeles company that recently received a U.S. patent for a proposed galactic server farm and associated network.Cloud Constellation Corp. says it’s going to provide a way for organizations and governments to shift chunks of data around, without using the traditional terrestrial infrastructure that it says is slow, insecure and a legal minefield.“This concept will soon become reality,” president Cliff Beek says, writing in Nextgov about SpaceBelt. “Data will never pass through the internet or along its leaky and notoriously insecure lines. In-transit espionage, theft and surveillance become impossible.”To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
In my recent blog entry, I talked about the future of the traditional IT organization and the need for sound governance and processes in the implementation of IT solutions, especially if they are leveraged through cloud and outsourced solution suppliers.IT service management (ITSM) and IT infrastructure library (ITIL) have become the dominant approach and best practices for operational excellence in most IT organizations. Yet, I question why so many have implemented only four or five of the 26 defined ITIL 2011 processes given the strength and magnitude of guidance that the ITIL IT service lifecycle provides.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
While the cloud market is very competitive, enterprises are making it clear that when it comes to cloud, one size does not fit all. They can’t build their businesses by just relying on infrastructure-as-a-serve (IaaS) and committing to one vendor.These sentiments were echoed by Mary Meeker’s annual internet trends report, which found that companies are increasingly concerned about being locked-in with one cloud vendor. Citing data from Bain and Morgan Stanley, it was found that in 2015, 22 percent of organizations surveyed said they had concerns about using only one cloud vendor, compared with only seven percent in 2012.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Do you have a ball of tangled up wires and adapters somewhere in the bottom of your bag? This Universal Electronics Accessories Travel Organizer provides a flexible organization solution for your electronics and computer accessories. It helps make you better organized with all the small items and gadgets. Made of durable and weather-resistant nylon with well padded semi-flexible covers. It's compact size of 8.8“ x W 6.1"allows it to easily stored in you laptop bag or backpack. This travel organizers typical list price of $18.99 has been reduced 42% to just $10.98. See this deal on Amazon.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
The Lumi Quadcopter from WowWee averages 3.6 stars out of 5 on Amazon, which isn't earth-shattering, but at its currently discounted price you're sure to get your money's worth. EZ flight technology allows for instant drone stabilization, and for awesome aerial tricks with very little effort. But this Quadcopter also features a "Follow-Me" mode, where Lumi follows its pilot's every move. So where you go, Lumi follows. You can also program Lumi to perform custom choreographies to the beat of your music. If you're looking for a fun starter drone that won't hurt you in the wallet, you might want to consider this one right now. Its typical list price is currently reduced a generous 69% down to just $24.99. See this deal on Amazon.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
For network professionals looking to get the latest in training for new skills and certifications, there is no shortage of resources on the web, but how do you know which online offers are legitimate?+MORE AT NETWORK WORLD: Cisco certifications target business professionals eyeing software roles +One way is to go straight to Cisco. The company has a broad array of training tools available for a variety of different topics and price points, ranging from free to thousands of dollars.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Many a blog line has been penned on the rich topic of the Internet of Things (IoT) but not much has been written about the real world challenges between our today and the many promises of the IoT tomorrow. Technology considerations can easily blind us “techies” to more mundane realities but, when you work as deeply in the Smart City space as I do, it is difficult to avoid them. In my opinion, the technology challenges surrounding the IoT are relatively small compared to the real world challenges that are perhaps not so obvious.Some say the IoT is now, but I don’t believe that! I believe we are on a journey, and the trajectory of every vertical industry to this destination will be carved somewhat uniquely and at its own necessary pace. Healthcare is often touted as a darling of the IoT, but the privacy, security and regulatory issues here might never be adequately solved in a way that will allow this sensitive data to be leveraged up significantly into any wider value creating ecosystem. The automotive and intelligent transportation verticals, on the other hand, look more promising to me in terms of fast tracking their way to the Continue reading
Cloudbleed, WannaCry, ransomware, hackers. Each and every day, it seems, the tech community wakes up to news of another attack on data security and privacy. As IT professionals, we spend our days working to the best of our knowledge and ability to keep company information secure. Some days, however, when news of new attacks hit, it can feel like we’ll never get ahead. As soon as we learn one method of protection, the hackers have invented a new workaround.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
As new technologies like software defined networking, SD-WAN, cloud computing and the Internet of Things continue to grow in maturity and adoption, organizations are faced with transforming their networks to keep up with the changes.Many of these technologies involve using software to automate management of the network or to virtualize the network. Recent research from IDC suggests revenues from networking and communications software will grow from a $6 billion market in 2017 to a $12 billion by 2021.+ MORE AT NETWORK WORLD: Experts: The future of IoT will be fascinating and also potentially catastrophic +To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
If you were running Windows 10, then you didn’t need to worry about your box being hit with the leaked NSA EternalBlue exploit; but things change and now researchers have ported EternalBlue to Windows 10.After the WannaCry ransomware attack, some defenders focused on building detection rules to protect against the DoublePulsar backdoor implant; but beware as RiskSense researchers completely removed DoublePulsar. They warned that DoublePulsar is a “red herring for defenders to focus on, as stealthier payload mechanisms can be crafted.”While they are not revealing all the details about the exploit chain so attackers can jump on them, they hope white hat security researchers benefit from the technical overview of the exploit process “so that new generic and targeted techniques can be developed to prevent attacks.”To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Rewrite the rules of desktop typing. Logitech's K780 is the type-on-everything keyboard with full-size keys and a convenient number pad. Enjoy quiet, comfortable typing, on your Windows PC or Mac, and switch typing to your phone or tablet at the touch of a button. An integrated rubber stand holds your mobile devices within reach and always at the perfect typing angle. A generous two-year battery life virtually eliminates the need to switch out batteries. The K780 typically lists for $79.99, but right now is discounted 25% to $59.99. See this deal now on Amazon.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
For the past seven years, I’ve conducted Uptime Institute’s Annual Data Center Industry Survey (over 1,000 end user respondents from around the globe, conducted by email).Every year, some trend jumps out as the main theme. Maybe it’s because I’m turning 40 this year, but my takeaway from 2017 is that enterprise data center professionals need to relax—and reevaluate what’s important to their organizations.Over the course of the survey, I’ve watched our respondents wrestle with uncertainties as the IT profession continues to evolve. But the data from this year’s survey illustrates that many of the industry’s concerns are not coming to pass, meanwhile chronic management problems go untended.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
It’s hard to come by any enterprise that operates offline these days. Enterprise connectivity is now central to any digital workplace strategy. A tech-savvy workforce also demands robust, stable, and fast infrastructure that would enable them to be at their most productive. However, keeping pace with all the changes technology can be a real challenge for enterprises.Workplaces are also increasingly becoming collaborative. Projects are now utilizing remote teams where members can be geographically distributed all over the world. As such, the infrastructure must be able to accommodate remote access not just but cross-border as well. Mobile enterprise is also on the rise.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
The meteoric rise of cybercrime has caught many organizations unawares. Malware has spread from PCs to smartphones, phishing scams have grown more sophisticated, and ransomware is running rampant.You can hire hackers and botnets, or buy cybercrime software, complete with technical support, all too easily. The rapidly expanding Internet of Things is woefully insecure, creating many more access points that can be exploited by hackers.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Kalyan Ramanathan, VP of Product Marketing for Sumo Logic, dropped by to discuss the company's machine data analytics platform and a new pricing/licensing model for large enterprises that the company is calling "Cloud Flex."Ramanathan stressed that Sumo Logic understands that all operational and machine data cannot be treated the same. Some data is highly important while other data is of less importance. Some must be watched over the long term and other data has a very short life expectancy. Some data must be accessible at high speed and with low levels of latency while other data can be accessed at slower speeds.Unified Machine Data Analytics
The challenges all organizations face is that their IT infrastructure is increasingly complex and has many moving parts. Each of these parts is generating large amounts of operational and machine data. Analysis of this data can be very challenging because it is stored in many places and kept in many different formats. Sumo Logic's idea is to unify both the storage and to provide equal access to make predictive analysis much easier.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here