Archive for July 18, 2023

Imply Joins the Connect with Confluent Partner Program

Posted in Commentary with tags on July 18, 2023 by itnerd

Imply, the company founded by the original creators of Apache Druid, today announced it has joined the Connect with Confluent partner program, an initiative designed to help organizations accelerate the development of real-time applications through native integrations with Confluent Cloud. This partnership brings together Imply and Confluent’s cloud-managed services for Druid and Apache Kafka, respectively, offering developers:

  • Real-time analytics on streaming data of any scale: Stream millions of events per second from Confluent Cloud to Imply Polaris, the cloud database service for Druid, with subsecond latency—making data instantly available for real-time analytics.
  • A connector-free experience: Ingest data from Confluent Cloud directly into Polaris without installing and managing a connector.
  • Cloud-native, fully-managed real-time architecture: Build real-time applications on Kafka and Druid without the production risk and infrastructure management, while accelerating time to value for real-time analytics use cases.

Organizations now have a simplified experience for analyzing Kafka streams via Druid, the real-time analytics database built for streaming data, as Imply and Confluent together have made it easier to power mission-critical and customer-facing applications with real-time data. These applications are used in a wide range of industries for a variety of use cases, including security and fraud analytics, product analytics, IoT/telemetry analytics, and application observability.

Introducing the Connect with Confluent program

Connect with Confluent gives organizations direct access to Confluent Cloud, the cloud-native and complete data streaming platform that processes more than an exabyte of data per year. It’s now easier for organizations to stream data from anywhere to Druid with a fully managed Kafka service that spans hybrid, multi-cloud, and on-premises environments. In addition, the program supercharges partners’ go-to-market efforts with access to Confluent engineering, sales, and marketing resources. This helps ensure customer success at every stage from onboarding through technical support.

A partnership built from open source

Imply, like Confluent, is founded on a popular open-source technology. Apache Druid is commonly deployed alongside Apache Kafka, the core technology behind Confluent, in leading companies where real-time analytics are a crucial aspect of product offerings, operations, and customer experiences. Today, many of the world’s industry-leading and digital-native organizations—including Netflix, Salesforce,  Citrix, and even Confluent itself—use Kafka and Druid together to gain real-time insights and deliver cutting-edge products.

Together, Confluent and Imply provide a comprehensive, cloud-native platform designed for real-time analytics applications. The integration provides:

  • Effortless scalability: Imply Polaris easily scales data ingestion right alongside Confluent Cloud to jointly handle millions of events per second.
  • A fully-managed experience: Imply Polaris and Confluent Cloud automate key aspects of infrastructure management, ranging from setup to backups and upgrades, providing an effortless, reliable service.
  • Reliability and security: Imply Polaris and Confluent Cloud equip teams with a reliable platform for real-time applications while upholding strict security and compliance requirements.

This collaboration builds upon open-source technologies to empower developers with a cloud-native, real-time architecture purpose-built for analytics on streaming data. Polaris’ native integration with Confluent Cloud gives organizations the opportunity to capitalize on the synergies between Kafka and Druid without the operational complexities and production risk associated with self-managing open-source technologies, accelerating time-to-value for real-time use cases.

Learn More: 

  • Visit the Imply website to learn about the integration with Confluent Cloud
  • Sign up for a free trial of Imply Polaris
  • Read this blog on how to ingest data from Confluent Cloud in Polaris
  • Watch this video to learn what Druid is used for

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QLED Philips Roku TV Models Now Available in Canada

Posted in Commentary with tags on July 18, 2023 by itnerd

Roku today announced the arrival of QLED Philips Roku TV models in Canada. The new range of Philips smart TVs offers advanced picture quality to consumers featuring QLED display technology, Dolby Vision, and 120 Perfect Motion Rate. Those features, combined with the Roku operating system (OS) make these TVs not just great to watch, but also easy to use. The QLED Philips Roku TV models will be available this August, at select Best Buy locations and available to consumers starting at $549.99 for the 50” model. 

The QLED Philips Roku TV models are available in four sizes ranging from 50” to 75” and include the following features:

  • 4K Ultra HD QLED Display – Quantum Dot LED technology on a 4K Ultra HD screen delivers an extraordinarily vibrant and life-like picture to enhance your viewing experience. See a wider range of color, contrast, and brightness in your favorite movies and TV shows. 
  • Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos® – The richer colours and greater contrast of Dolby Vision come together with the multidimensional sound of Dolby Atmos® to deliver a cinematic experience across your favourite entertainment.
  • 120 Perfect Motion Rate – 120 PMR delivers ultra-smooth motion sharpness to your TV. Showcase sports, movies, or any fast-paced scenery with incredible clarity, so you never miss any part of the action.
  • Sleek Borderless Design – Enhance the look of any room with a modern three-sided borderless display on an elegant, brushed metal stand.
  • Access to The Roku Channel – Stream an always changing selection of hit movies, shows, 115+ live channels, and award-winning Roku Originals for free.
  • Universal Search – Find new entertainment. Simply search by title, actor, or director to find shows or movies to watch.
  • Free Roku Mobile App – Control the TV via the mobile remote and use your mobile device as a keyboard—available on both Android and iOS.
  • Private Listening – Tune into your favourite entertainment without waking the rest of the house.
  • Automatic Software Updates – Receive new streaming channels and features automatically without lifting a finger.

The QLED Philips Roku TV models feature Quantum Dot LED technology on a 4K Ultra HD screen, delivering a wider range of colour, contrast, and brightness output compared to traditional LED TVs. The TVs also boast Dolby Vision which goes beyond ordinary HDR, with richer colours and brighter contrast to deliver stunning visuals. These advanced features are packaged in a beautifully designed TV with a three-sided sleek borderless display on a brushed metal stand to enhance the look of any room.

The Roku OS on these models offers consumers a wide selection of free and paid streaming channels in a simple-to-use TV experience, whether they love watching broadcast TV or are avid streamers. On the customizable home screen, all traditional inputs and streaming channels come together, allowing users to personalize their TV to their needs. To discover something new to watch, consumers can leverage the built-in universal search across the top channels, with results ranked by price. In addition, consumers have access to The Roku Channel, including the latest Roku Originals Morimoto’s Sushi Master and Match Me in Miami now streaming free.The QLED Philips Roku TV models will be available for purchase this August at select Best Buy locations. For more information, please visit roku.com or www.philips.ca.  

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Creative Announces Creative Outlier Free Pro+ und Outlier Free+

Posted in Commentary with tags on July 18, 2023 by itnerd

Creative Technology today announced the release of the Creative Outlier Free Pro+ and Creative Outlier Free+, the latest bone conduction headphones to join the well-loved Outlier series. Building on the foundation of its predecessors, these latest headphones bring an elevated open-ear listening experience with better precision and optimal sound conduction efficiency through the innovative adjustable transducers that adapt to the unique contours of each individual’s ears.

With the ability to customize the fit, users can now enjoy unrivaled comfort and stability, allowing them to focus on their music or calls without any distractions. Along with an added burst of vibrant color options, these latest Plus versions add a playful and colorful twist to the user’s everyday life.

For Creative Outlier Free+, users can choose between the classic yet stylish dark slate grey and matte black combination or make a striking statement with the lively dark slate grey and lime green fusion. The Creative Outlier Free Pro+, on the other hand, is available in midnight blue and matte black or midnight blue and fiery orange combinations. With these additional color options, users can now match their headphones to their personal style.

Designed for an active lifestyle, these bone conduction headphones are built to withstand the elements. The Creative Outlier Free+ has an IPX5 water-resistant rating, while the Creative Outlier Free Pro+ has an IPX8 waterproof rating and a built-in 8 GB memory, allowing users to experience absolute audio playback freedom while running, cycling, and even swimming. Together with seamless Bluetooth® 5.3 connectivity and an extended battery life of up to 10 hours, these headphones are the perfect companions, delivering impressive audio performance in any environment.

And that’s not all—Creative will also be launching a mini version of the bone conduction headphones in August 2023 that will be suitable for pre-teens and teenagers, allowing them to enjoy their favorite tunes and experience quality audio with a comfortable fit.

Creative Outlier Free+ is priced at US$99.99 and is available at Creative.com. For more information, visit creative.com/OutlierFreePlus.

Creative Outlier Free Pro+ is priced at US$149.99 and is available at Creative.com. For more information, visit creative.com/OutlierFreeProPlus.

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Guest Post: Gallup poll: Americans fear cyberterrorism more than nuclear war

Posted in Commentary with tags on July 18, 2023 by itnerd

According to a Gallup poll on world affairs, cyberterrorism is regarded by a majority of Americans as the most pressing danger to the United States. A staggering 85% of respondents identified it as a “critical threat,” surpassing all other concerns, the Atlas VPN team found.

Results are based on telephone interviews conducted February 1-23, 2023, with a random sample of 1,008 adults, ages 18+, living in all 50 US states and the District of Columbia. The margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.

Consensus on the severity of the cyberterrorism threat spanned across political affiliations, with both Democrats and Republicans rating it as a critical threat at a rate of 86%. Among Independents, 79% expressed similar concerns.

Gallup’s Mohamad Younis observed that since 2021, American citizens consistently perceive cyberterrorism as the foremost critical threat to vital U.S. security interests. Prior to that, international terrorism and the development of nuclear weapons by Iran and North Korea were the primary concerns. However, worry regarding these issues has declined over the past decade.

The Department of Defense also shares apprehensions about cyberterrorism. In a 2022 report, the department highlighted the significant threat posed not only by state actors like China and Russia but also by independent criminal organizations.

Mieke Eoyang, the deputy assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy, commented on the evolving landscape, stating that the capabilities once exclusive to state actors are now available for purchase on the dark web due to the emergence of non-state actors in the criminal cyber market.

Development of nuclear weapons remains concerning

The poll also revealed that respondents almost equally viewed North Korea and Iran’s development of nuclear weapons as the second most critical threat, with Iran marginally higher at 74%. Concerns about the nuclear capabilities of these two countries have consistently ranked high on the threat list, although this year’s responses fell about 10% short of previous record highs.

The survey unveiled notable shifts in public opinion regarding the military power of China, immigration, and climate change. Political biases became apparent as Republicans were more likely to consider China and immigration as critical threats, while Democrats perceived climate change as a greater concern.

The most significant disparity between political parties was observed in the areas of immigration and climate change. Immigration was regarded as a critical threat by 84% of Republicans compared to only 20% of Democrats. Conversely, climate change was deemed a critical threat by 85% of Democrats but only 21% of Republicans.

Parties agree on the importance of cybersecurity 

In contrast to other policy matters, cybersecurity has emerged as one of the few areas where lawmakers from both parties are actively investing and prioritizing.

On March 21, 2023, a bipartisan duo of senators introduced two bills designed to bolster the US cyber workforce and enhance the federal government’s ability to combat cyber threats.

The primary objective of these programs is to ensure that the government possesses the necessary cyber expertise to effectively “defeat, deter, or respond to malicious cyber activity,” as stated in a press release.

Since 2022, lawmakers have introduced and successfully passed several other bipartisan bills addressing cybersecurity concerns, particularly those aimed at safeguarding critical infrastructure such as the healthcare and energy sectors.

To read the full article, head over to:
https://atlasvpn.com/blog/gallup-poll-americans-fear-cyberterrorism-more-than-nuclear-war

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Students Value Higher Ed Websites but Find Navigation Frustrating According to New Research 

Posted in Commentary with tags on July 18, 2023 by itnerd

More than nine out of ten high school students say they use a higher education institution’s website to guide their college research process, still many find the navigation of these websites frustrating. This is according to the 2023 E-expectations Trends Report: Attracting, Engaging, and Enrolling High School Students, a study developed by Modern Campus and based on research conducted in partnership with Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL). This report provides insight into what high school students expect from colleges, and sheds light on how colleges and universities can attract, engage and enroll prospective students.

The bi-annual study explores the online expectations, experiences, behaviors and priorities of high school students across the United States in the process of searching for college. With the college search process now beginning early in high school for many students, this 2023 report presents many findings by high school year, showing how student behavior changes as they approach graduation. 

Despite higher ed websites being the top used resource for finding information, navigating them and finding the right information is still something that high-school students find frustrating. They expect and want these websites to be easily navigable and show personalized content. And as a result, despite their wide use, students indicate concerns around how helpful the websites truly are. About one in five 10th-grade and first-generation students said they do not find higher ed websites helpful.

The report also explores how high school students plan and research for higher education, what tools they use to gather information and what influences their journey and decisions. The study found that campus maps and virtual tours have been gaining influence in students’ decisions to enroll for a college/university.

Additional Key Findings:

  • The top three things about college websites students find frustrating: Hard to find information, confusing directions and hard to navigate
  • 93% students use a college or university’s website to get information
    • 58% use a search engine to find a college or university website 
    • 56% like or expect websites to show personalized content 
  • 50% take a virtual tour via college websites
    • 73% feel likely to enroll after taking a virtual tour of a college or university
    • The number of students who feel likely to enroll after taking a virtual tour has been consistently increasing for the past three years
  • 73% students’ parents/families help them with college planning

To explore the 2023 E-expectations Trends Report: Attracting, Engaging, and Enrolling High School Students in greater detail, visit https://resources.moderncampus.com/2023-e-expectations-trends-report-attracting-engaging-and-enrolling-high-school-students-rnl. 

Report Methodology/Respondent Profile

Between January 16 and February 20, 2023, nearly 2,000 high school students from all over the U.S. were invited to participate in the online survey. No personally identifiable information was collected. 

More than half of the respondents were in 12th grade, around three fourth were continuing generation and one third were from far west.

More than half of the respondents were female.  

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EnGenius Launches the World’s First Cloud Wi-Fi 7 Access Points for Enterprises 

Posted in Commentary with tags on July 18, 2023 by itnerd

EnGenius Technologies Inc., a leading provider of cutting-edge connectivity solutions, proudly unveils the first Cloud Wi-Fi 7 connectivity series for enterprises. The ECW536, the world’s first cloud-managed Wi-Fi 7 4×4 Wireless Access Point (AP) powered by Qualcomm’s Networking Pro Series explicitly designed for enterprise-level environments, marks the first launch in the series. Setting new benchmarks in wireless connectivity, the ECW536 empowers organizations to embrace the future of wireless networking with the all-new Wi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be) Standard and ultra-fast aggregate speeds of up to 18.8 Gbps.

EnGenius remains at the forefront as technology continues to evolve, driving innovation and pushing the boundaries of the Wi-Fi landscape. With the ECW536, EnGenius will proudly launch the world’s first Wi-Fi 7 4×4 enterprise-level access point, delivering unmatched performance, scalability, and efficiency for Enterprises. This also marks the first launch of EnGenius’s enterprise-level Wi-Fi 7 solution series managed on the EnGenius Cloud, that will help enable businesses to take advantage of the next generation of wireless technologies and cloud management. 

Key Features of the ECW536 Wi-Fi 7 Access Point:

  • Speeds and Capacity: The ECW536 leverages the power of Wi-Fi 7 for lightning-fast speeds up 11,600 Mbps (6 GHz), 5,800 Mbps (5 GHz), and 1,440 Mbps (2.4 GHz). Enjoy unparalleled performance for bandwidth-intensive applications and data-intensive environments.
  • Advanced Optimization: Equipped with cutting-edge 4×4 MU-MIMO, OFDMA, and 10 GbE Port PoE++ technologies, the ECW536 maximizes channel utilization, reduces latency, and ensures optimal signal and reception reliability. Benefit from enhanced network efficiency and seamless connectivity even in high-density deployments.
  • Future-Proof Connectivity: The ECW536 supports the latest industry standards and is backward-compatible with previous Wi-Fi generations. Effortlessly integrate into existing networks and devices, ensuring smooth transitions to the next wireless technology generation.
  • Simplified Management and Deployment: Manage ECW536 access points with ease through the centralized EnGenius Cloud platform and streamline provisioning, configuration, and firmware updates, saving time and resources. Seamlessly integrate into existing network infrastructures, minimizing deployment costs.
  • Enhanced Security: The ECW536 prioritizes network security, offering enterprise-level encryption protocols and comprehensive security features that easily protect sensitive data and safeguard the network from unauthorized access.

The ECW536 is scheduled to be available for purchase in early Q4 of 2023 through authorized EnGenius resellers and distributors. For more information about the ECW536, visit https://www.engeniustech.com/wifi-7-technology.html

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Cloud Range Appoints Cybersecurity Leader Galina Antova to Board of Directors

Posted in Commentary with tags on July 18, 2023 by itnerd

Cloud Range, the industry’s leading cyber range solution to reduce cyber risk across the organization, today announced that it has appointed Galina Antova to its board of directors to help propel the company to the next level, as it continues to be a global leader in the industry making organizations around the world more resilient against cyber attacks.  

Galina Antova is a respected cybersecurity leader who brings to Cloud Range a proven track record in building successful cybersecurity companies and over a decade of experience advancing the state of cybersecurity for critical infrastructure. As Co-founder and Chief Business Development Officer of industrial cybersecurity company Claroty, Antova played an integral role in growing the organization from its conceptual stage to a unicorn with over $100 million in sales. 

Antova will play a key role on the board of directors in helping advance Cloud Range through the next phase of company growth as it expands product offerings and capabilities to new and existing customers globally. Her experience driving growth will help Cloud Range continue to reach new audiences, guide new product development, and leverage new sales.

Before co-founding Claroty, Antova held the position of Global Head of Industrial Security Services at Siemens, where she established the industry’s first-ever comprehensive industrial cybersecurity offering for enterprise customers. Prior to Siemens, she held a number of technical leadership roles in IBM’s Provisioning and Cloud Solutions business. Antova also brings expertise from working with Fortune 500 companies on large-scale digital transformations and advising Boards, CISOs, and CIOs on leveraging cybersecurity as a competitive advantage. She frequently advises Boards, shareholders, media, and the public on the compliance and risk implications of security breaches in industrial networks and, in particular, risks relating to national security.

Antova is passionate about furthering women in technology. She is a Founding Member of Firstboard.io, a curated group of accomplished female executives in technology working together to increase the representation of women on boards and at the highest level of corporate governance and management. She also served as Program Chair for the Seed-to-A Program at All Raise, a program dedicated to guiding and supporting women entrepreneurs through all stages of funding and growth.

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Odessa City Pwned By An Insider

Posted in Commentary with tags on July 18, 2023 by itnerd

Odessa City officials announced late Sunday night that they are investigating a serious data breach believed to have been the result of a “former city attorneys forbidden access to the city of Odessa’s e-mail system after her termination.” City policy requires that the employee’s access to the City’s computer network be removed when that employee is terminated and that did not happen in this case.

 The local MRT news outlet quoted the City announcement from Sunday, “accounts assigned to a terminated high-ranking employee have been recently accessed, and sensitive information was transferred” and “an investigation has been launched.” It appears that the former city attorney whose firing was the subject of a contentious council vote last week is the one under suspicion.

Carol Volk, EVP, BullWall had this comment:

   “Much effort and expense goes into preventing external attackers from gaining access to sensitive data. What the City of Odessa breach reminds us of is that we must also acknowledge the potential risks posed by insiders. Municipalities and organizations alike must emphasize the importance of implementing strict access controls, regular monitoring, and employee awareness programs to mitigate both internal and external cyber threats effectively. By adopting a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity, organizations can fortify their defenses against a wide range of potential risks and safeguard sensitive information from unauthorized access or compromise.”

Insider threats are on the rise. So that means organizations need account for those threats when they plan out and implement defences to cyberattacks. Because these days you can’t trust anyone.

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