Category Archives: Cloud Hosting

EDITORIAL As CPaaS booms, is it time to starting adding AR, VR … – Telemedia Online

The CPaaS market has been a hot topic in telemedia for some time. While some in the industry argue that it is really nothing new, just cloud hosting of services many already offered, the fact that big business is embracing it to the extent that it is now predicted to be worth $42bn globally this year shows that either way, it is now very much an entrenched part of global business.

Indeed, eight out of ten businesses that employ this sort of tech met their financial targets in 2022, despite the worlds economies hitting some severe turbulence. Clearly, having the widest range of messaging platforms works.

And that is no surprise. Consumers are using a raft of platforms to communicate through and commerce needs to be there too. The big driver now is adding social media and social direct messaging channels to these platforms, as this is increasingly the preserve of how Gen Z and millennials want to interact.

But what of the younger generations, the Gen X and Y and even Gen Alpha? These young and very young consumers are soon going to be most businesses target audience they grow up so fast! and they are likely to do things very differently. We have already seen how ChatGPT and a growing number of generative AIs are starting to reshape how we interrogate the internet, with much of this driven by our kids. Similarly, the nascent metaverse bubbles along under the radar of the mainstream as its those kids aged under 15 who are the ones using it.

Likewise, the communications channels that these guys are going to use to interact with each other and, more importantly, the wider world of commerce, are also changing. Sure, research shows that US teens arent embracing helmet-based VR, but that doesnt mean that they arent looking to access the virtual world. No, they dont want a VR helmet that costs $3000, but they do want to play Roblox on their iPads and that, my friends, is the metaverse right there. Forget what anyone over 25 tells you about it; forget what Mark Zuckerberg thinks it will be: the metaverse is flat and the kids are already in it.

Similarly, the market for AR glasses, while super slow to get going, is also set to grow over the next 10 years as these youngsters come of age and look for a more all-encompassing internet-based life.

Finally, even the oldies are getting in on the new ways of connecting, with the majority of European consumers now owning and operating some sort of connected TV.

These are the things that CPaaS companies need to now be focussing on. While most have added WhatsApp and even Telegram, and while many are looking at how to work in Twitter, Facebook and TikTok, they should also have an eye on how connected TVs, AR glasses and the metaverse are all also going to be places and devices through which consumers will want to interact and message businesses.

Unlocking how to build these things into their CPaaS platform should now be an imperative. CPaaS has grown from nothing to huge in about three years. This next tranche of interaction platforms are probably at best two years away from mass adoption. Look at how quickly generative AI and AI in general as come to dominate the tech world.

How users in the metaverse, using AR glasses or VR for that matter will want to message firms remains to be seen, but at the very least it will be an adaptation of the messaging channels we have now. The trick will be getting the interface right and the reply channel sorted so that it is compatible with where consumers finds themselves wanting to message.

It will be challenging, but it needs to happen and, with AI already reshaping how the world works, it is now an imperative.

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EDITORIAL As CPaaS booms, is it time to starting adding AR, VR ... - Telemedia Online

HCLTech and Temenos deepen partnership to accelerate digital transformation in the banking industry – Content Media Solution

GENEVA and NOIDA, India, April 12, 2023: HCLTech, a leading global technology company, and Temenos, a leading banking software company, have expanded their partnership to accelerate the digital transformation of banks and other financial institutions. The latest collaboration brings together the extensive cloud hosting, implementation, and integration capabilities of HCLTech and Temenos open platform for composable banking and its state-of-the-art enterprise solutions that include core banking, digital banking, and wealth management.

Together, HCLTech and Temenos will enable banks and other financial institutions to progressively modernize at scale, accelerate their digital transformation and support their transition to the cloud to help them deliver omnichannel customer experience. HCLTech has a strong track record of delivering digital transformation services, including cloud migration, application modernization, and customer experience design, to some of the worlds leading financial institutions. The company is positioned to support its clients with end-to-end implementation, encompassing program management, consulting, integration, data migration, quality assurance, upgrade, and organization change management.

We are delighted to double down on our successful partnership with Temenos to enable financial institutions adapt to the digital-first economy and evolving customer preferences. The HCLTech-Temenos collaboration brings best-in-class capabilities to clients in the financial services industry, backed by proven track record and trust, said Sudip Lahiri, Executive Vice President, and Head Europe, Financial Services, HCLTech.

Ross Mallace, Executive Vice President, Global Head of Partners, Temenos said: We are delighted to extend our partnership with HCLTech, a proven partner for delivering strategic transformations of complex, mission-critical systems for financial services firms. Temenos cloud-native banking platform combined with HCLTechs expertise will help banks of all sizes to accelerate modernization timelines, reduce total cost of ownership and sustainably grow their business.

HCLTech and Temenos are already partnering to serve several global banks and have set up the HCLTech-Temenos Center of Excellence, which has over 250 subject matter experts. HCLTech plans to continue investing in the partnership with a vision to become one of the largest global partners in services for Temenos solutions.

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HCLTech and Temenos deepen partnership to accelerate digital transformation in the banking industry - Content Media Solution

My 5 Top Stocks to Buy in April – The Motley Fool

Investing in stocks ranks as one of the best ways to make money over the long term. That's obvious when you look at the past. And while history doesn't repeat itself, the factors that caused stocks to perform well over the last century will likely prevail over the next 100 years as well.

But which stocks are the best picks to enable you to make money? Like most investors, I have my own opinion on how to answer that question. Here are my top five stocks to buy in April.

Amazon (AMZN -2.09%) stands out as one of the most impressive companies in the world, in my view. It has transformed retail and created a huge cloud-hosting market. I like the stock right now for two primary reasons.

First, I think Amazon Web Services (AWS) still has tremendous growth prospects. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy predicts that AWS's market could expand exponentially over the next 10 to 15 years as organizations shift IT spending from on-premises to the cloud. I'm confident that Jassy is right and that AWS will among the biggest winners from this trend.

Second, Amazon is taking key steps to reduce its costs. The company could be much more profitable if it continues to work to maximize margins. My take is that Amazon's earnings will grow significantly over the next several years.

Few businesses have as clear of a pathway to growth asBrookfield Renewable (BEP 0.16%) (BEPC -0.24%). The demand for renewable energy will almost certainly increase as governments and corporations across the world scramble to reduce carbon emissions.

Brookfield Renewable is in a great position to help address the higher demand for renewable energy. The company's development pipeline includes 110 gigawatts of capacity, more than four times its current capacity of around 25 gigawatts.

I also like Brookfield Renewable's dividend yield of over 4.4%. Of the 12 high-yield dividend stocks in my portfolio, I view Brookfield Renewable as the best of the bunch.

Speaking of great dividends,Devon Energy (DVN 0.44%) currently offers a dividend yield of nearly 9.6%. But should you be worried about the oil producer's two dividend cuts in recent months? I don't think so.

Devon's dividend has two components -- fixed and variable. The variable portion is based on excess free cash flow. As you might expect for an oil company, excess free cash flow fluctuated with oil prices.

The good news for Devon's dividend (and share price) is that oil prices are likely to rise with Saudi Arabia announcing that it's reducing oil production. I expect that Devon will deliver tremendous total returns at least over the next few years.

The Trade Desk (TTD -2.42%) ranks as the biggest winner of these five stocks so far in 2023. Shares of the advertising technology leader have soared nearly 36% year to date. Is it too late to buy this high-flying stock? Nope.

Ad-supported connected TV (CTV) still has tremendous growth ahead. The Trade Desk's platform is ideally suited for helping advertisers buy CTV ads that provide the biggest bang for the buck. Also, only around 10% of the company's advertising spend currently comes from international markets. The Trade Desk has a major opportunity outside of the U.S.

The biggest concern for this stock is that its valuation is at a nose-bleed level. However, I think the premium price tag is worth it based on The Trade Desk's future prospects.

There's no healthcare stock that I like more right now than Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX 0.47%). The big biotech continues to deliver solid revenue and earnings growth thanks to its cystic fibrosis (CF) drugs. Those therapies currently have no competition in treating the underlying cause of CF. The nearest rival is at best years away from even having a chance at winning regulatory approvals.

Vertex is now one step closer to bringing a new blockbuster to market. The company and its partner, CRISPR Therapeutics, recently completed their submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for approval of exa-cel in treating rare blood disorders sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia. Vertex and CRISPR Therapeutics also await European Union approvals in both indications.

Two other pipeline programs could be launched by the end of 2024. Vertex expects to complete late-stage testing for non-opioid pain drug VX-548 by early next year. The company is also evaluating a triple-drug combo in treating CF in late-stage testing. Both products have the potential to generate annual sales of more than $2 billion.

John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Keith Speights has positions in Amazon.com, Brookfield Renewable, Brookfield Renewable Partners, Devon Energy, Trade Desk, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon.com, Brookfield Renewable, CRISPR Therapeutics, Trade Desk, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool recommends Brookfield Renewable Partners. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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My 5 Top Stocks to Buy in April - The Motley Fool

NYC Scion Says He Was Secretly Hoodwinked by Russian Oligarchs – The Daily Beast

The scion of a venerable New York family descended from 19th century railroad and shipping tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt says he was bamboozled by a U.S. private equity firm secretly fronting for a cabal of wealthy Russian oligarchs with direct ties to Vladimir Putin.

A group of financiers that Carter Burden III thought were providing a much-needed financial boost to his successful cloud services provider, Logicworks, were in fact responsible for its eventual collapse, forcing a fire sale for a fraction of the companys worth, according to a newly filed fraud lawsuit.

What Burden didnt know, and about which he says he was fed an ongoing string of lies by intermediaries, was that Pamplona Capital Management, the outfit that in 2016 bought a majority stake in Logicworks, was less than a proper investment fund and more of a shell company created to invest the personal fortunes of Mikhail Fridman, Petr Aven, German Khan, and Alexey Kuzmichev, according to him. The four oligarchs are all said to be connected to the Kremlin, and at least one has been credibly accused of international money laundering. (None of them are named as defendants in Burdens suit.)

For years, Pamplonas representatives lied to and obscured the truth from Mr. Burden to prevent him from learning the truth, states the 22-page lawsuit, which was filed in Manhattan Supreme Court on Friday and added to the public docket Saturday morning. Fights with regulators were conveniently explained away. Concerns from banks and outside investors were swept aside. And questions from Mr. Burden were either deflected or simply falsely answered.

Unaware of his new business partners true identities, Burdens Logicworks continued to thriveuntil Russia invaded Ukraine early last year, the suit says.

Soon, the four oligarchs with whom Burden, 55, had unwittingly gone into business became international pariahs cut off from the global banking system. Suddenly, Burden found his company had become kryptonite to banks, investors, and government regulators, according to his lawsuit.

On Feb. 28, 2022, Fridman, founder of the U.S.-blacklisted Alfa Bank, along with Alfa Bank president Aven who served as Russias minister of foreign economic relations in the early 1990s, when both Aven and Fridman were accused of having links with organized crime, money laundering, and drug traffickingwere hit with E.U. sanctions. A little more than two weeks later, Khan, who reportedly had a penchant for attending business meetings armed with a pistol, and Kuzmichev, who last year had a pair of yachts seized by French authorities, were added to the list. The U.K. immediately followed, slapping their own sanctions on Fridman, Aven, Khan, and Kuzmichev.

In the end, Burden says he was forced to sell his company. But by that time, few buyers had the stomach for it. Because Logicworks was saddled with serious legal and geopolitical exposure due to its Russian backers, Burden had to unload it at artificially deflated prices, his lawsuit says.

What was supposed to be a lifeline for Burden ultimately wound up costing him, he claims, tens of millions of dollars.

Burden, whose late father, politician/philanthropist/broadcasting mogul/art collector/man-about-town Carter Burden Jr., has been described as the premier example of a limousine liberal, founded Digital Telemedia Inc., a New York City internet service provider, in 1993. In 2001, Digital Telemedia shifted its focus to cloud-hosting services and rebranded as Logicworks. The company serviced clients in the financial and health-care sectors who entrusted it with managing highly sensitive, proprietary, and confidential information, according to Burdens suit.

As Logicworks grew, it found itself in need of a capital infusion, the lawsuit goes on. In 2011, Burden and his team sold a minority interest in the company to Seaport Capital Partners, a VC firm in the Wall Street area. Five years later, when Seaport opted to unwind its position, Logicworks decided to seek a majority investor that would buy out Seaports stake and a portion of Burdens, which Burden hoped would provide a necessary cash infusion and allow him to stay involved in the companys operations.

By Sept. 2, 2016, Logicworks had received 14 bids, the lawsuit states. One of them was from Pamplona Capital Management LLP, which, according to the suit, billed itself as managing more than $10 billion in assets for a variety of clients including public pension funds, international wealth managers, multinational corporations, family offices and funds of hedge funds.

Pamplona Capital said it wanted to acquire Logicworks for its new tech-focused fund, Pamplona TMT I, L.P., the lawsuit goes on. It would aim to maximize Logicworks longterm value, which meshed with Burdens vision.

At no time did either of any Pamplona entity (or any entity or individual working on their behalf) disclose Pamplonas true nature as the personal investment fund of the Russian oligarchs, the lawsuit states.

The transaction closed on Dec. 15, 2016.

In the fall of 2018, Burdens lawsuit says Pamplona executive Darren Battistoni approached him and his CEO about a co-investment opportunity in an IT management company. Pamplonas $40 million bid had already been accepted, according to the lawsuit. However, the suit explains, the Pamplona exec told Burden that the U.S. governments Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) had since intervened to prevent Pamplona TMT from executing the transaction; and, as a result, Pamplona TMT was seeking to fund the deal through other sources.

Alarmed, Burden asked what it was that prompted CFIUS to get involved. The answer he got, according to Burdens lawsuit, was that Pamplona TMT had simply been swept up in CFIUSs recent new enforcement protocol because it was based in the United Kingdom. New guidelines were coming out, and if they proved too burdensome, then Pamplona could avoid any trouble by simply redomiciling itself in the U.S.

What Mr. Burden did not know and could not know, however, was that Mr. Battistonis explanation was false, and was simply designed to placate Mr. Burden and prevent him from learning the truth: CFIUS had targeted Pamplona TMT not because it was domiciled in the United Kingdom, but because it was closely tied to men within Vladimir Putins inner circle, the suit states.

As 2019 rolled around, Pamplona remained under close scrutiny by CFIUS. During the first few months of the year, Burden finally learned that he had unknowingly gone into business with a crew of politically exposed foreign nationals. But he still didnt know their names or that they controlled all of Pamplona, he said.

That April, CFIUS forced Pamplona to sell a majority stake it had in Cofense, an internet security firm that works with Fortune 500 companies as well as the federal government. In response, Burdens lawsuit says Pamplona transferred its equity in Logicworks over to a brand-new investment vehicle it created called Deanwood TMT, an entityironically enoughwith even closer ties to the Russian oligarchs in Vladimir Putins regime.

By the middle of 2020, Logicworks found itself in a dire cash crunch. Banks and lenders had shunned the company, having been scared off by the CFIUS probes, the lawsuit says. And Logicworks needed money to continue its growth.

In July 2020, Burden contacted his bankers at JP Morgan, where he had a longstanding relationship. He asked about securing a loan to keep Logicworks solvent, according to the suit.

JP Morgan, in turn, informed Mr. Burden that the bank had learned that three of the equity-holders in Deanwood TMT were Russian oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Alexey Kuzmichev, it states. Mr. Burden was furious: he did not know who the three Russians were, how they were involved with Logicworks, or why their involvement should have any bearing on his companys longstanding relationship with JP Morgan. These protestations, however, fell on deaf ears; JP Morgan declined to issue a loan to Logicworks, and, soon after, also informed Logicworks that it had to close all of the companys accounts.

Burden says he had no choice but to begin pumping his own money into Logicworks, funneling some $7 million into its coffers. Even with its financial problems, Logicworks stayed afloat and in August 2020 even received a $315 million buyout offer from Accenture, according to the lawsuit. But after looking further into the company, the consulting firm withdrew its offer, it says. Logicworks was able to get a series of interim loans, though they still didnt stem the bleeding. At the end of 2021, Burden met with one of the Pamplona executives to discuss raising $50 million from a new minority partner.

LetterOne Group via Wikimedia Commons

Over lunch, Burden says the exec, Justin Perreault, told him that Pamplona wasnt interested in the proposal, and in fact, wanted to sell off its own stake in Logicworks. The Pamplona exec allegedly said they had always planned to exit the partnership after seven years.

This, of course, was a lie, the lawsuit states. Pamplona TMT, Deanwood TMT, and Pamplona Capital simply wanted to exit their positions because they could no longer hide their true nature as fronts for powerful Russians financing Vladimir Putins regime who were increasingly unwelcome to conduct business in the United States.

And, the suit continues, given their close ties to Putins inner circle, the Pamplona entities (including Deanwood TMT) knew one other thing: Russia was preparing for war.

In February 2022, Pamplona put Logicworks up for sale. It chose Guggenheim Partners, the investment bank that had initially connected the two companies, to solicit bids, according to the lawsuit. Logicworks would be able to command a price between $400 million and $600 million, Burden claims he was told.

On Feb. 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. All of Burdens partners at Pamplona were sanctioned by governments in Europe, and Guggenheim Partners backed out of representing Logicworks after it failed an internal Know Your Customer (KYC) test.

After losing Guggenheim, Logicworks and Mr. Burden reached out to a number of investment banks with the hope of moving forward with the sale process, the suit goes on. However, Logicworks was unable to get past any of the banks KYC processes.

In June 2022, Logicworks at long last found a bank, Jeffries, that was willing to take its business. Yet, few buyers Jeffries pitched on the deal were prepared to deal with the heavily sanctioned Russians.

After reaching out to more than 100 potential investors over the course of the next several months, Jeffries received only four indications of interestone of which, submitted by Snowhawk Capital Partners, was subsequently rescinded due to fund issues, Burdens lawsuit says.

Last October, one of Logicworks banks said it would not renew its loans, at any interest rate, according to the suit. That same month, it says, Silicon Valley Bank, which would later fail spectacularly, informed Logicworks that it was no longer comfortable keeping [it] as a client. In mid-December, the Logicworks board accepted a takeover bid from Cox Communications. The deal closed in February 2023.

Cox and Logicworks share the same vision surrounding the underserved public cloud managed services space, Logicworks CEO Ken Ziegler said in a Feb. 2 statement. This partnership creates a fantastic opportunity for us to step in and become a market leader. It enables us to continue to capitalize on the increasing demand in the market as well as broaden our opportunities for growth.

No sale price was ever publicly announced, and Burdens lawsuit doesnt reveal one. But based on Burdens core argument, Logicworks, which Burden had nurtured for decades, went for little more than a song.

Burdens suit accuses Pamplona, Deanwood, Battistoni, and Perreault of fraudulent inducement and aiding and abetting fraud. He is asking for a minimum of $1 million, plus punitive damages, interest, costs, and attorneys fees.

Battistoni, Perreault, and Pamplona officials did not respond to The Daily Beasts requests for comment. Emails sent to Fridman, Aven, Khan, and Kuzmichev seeking comment went unanswered.

Joshua Schiller, the attorney representing Burden in his suit, told The Daily Beast that he did not have a general comment at this time.

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NYC Scion Says He Was Secretly Hoodwinked by Russian Oligarchs - The Daily Beast

Visualnet Media Inc. Becomes a Zerify Reseller and Adds Rosa … – GlobeNewswire

EDISON, N.J., April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zerify Inc., (OTC PINK: ZRFY), the 22-year-old cybersecurity company focused on Secure Video Conferencing & Endpoint Security announced today that Visualnet Media has become a Zerify Reseller. Additionally, Visualnet Media is proud to welcome Rosa & CO. LLC as a new client, who will be using Zerify Meet to comply with compliance requirements.

Visualnet Media in one of the nations leading Security Hosting and IT Managed Service solution providers, says Mark L. Kay, CEO of Zerify. Their solution enables an entire corporate structure to be run remotely via their Secure Hosting facilities with the latest secure and compliant technology and solutions by custom tailoring each companies programs and needs with security always being baked into the infrastructure. Visualnet distinguishes itself from the competition by prepping companies for GDPR, PCI and HIPAA Compliance and running all company solutions from their facilities.

Rosa & Co. LLC has recently undergone a full migration of its IT platform with Visualnet Media, Inc in order to be GDPR and PCI compliant, says Heather Bingham Rosa Director of Operations. Through this process, we were introduced to Zerify by Visualnet Media, as a very viable option for running the company and client meetings. Because the industry is moving to a highly stringent requirement due to European regulations, Rosa needed a solution that would provide the level of security required by the industry. Rosa plans to use Zerify as its main video conferencing software for internal and external company meetings.

Adding Zerify Meet to our Secure infrastructure to deliver PCI, HIPAA and GDPR Compliant Network ecosystems via our Multi-State Secure Hosting facilities footprint, will help us deliver one of the most comprehensive solutions for the modern remote workplace,says Visualnet Media, Inc.s CEO and Chief Technical Officer Greg Wilson.

Zerify finally solves the security Issue for compliance allowing Visualnet Remote workers an alternative to unsecure Video and screen sharing platforms at the remote workspace by allowing for secure connections for Video, Audio and Screen Sharing via their impressive 2 factor authentication systems in both compliant Desktop and Mobile solutions, says Wilson.

As a reseller for Zerify, Visualnet Media can now offer their clients a range of compliance solutions, including the Zerify Platform, which enables businesses to streamline their compliance processes and improve overall efficiency. With Zerifys cutting-edge technology and Visualnet Medias expertise in network security, businesses can now access a complete suite of solutions to meet the compliance needs, says Kay.

To learn more about Visualnet Media, go to: http://www.visualnetmedia.com/

To learn more about Zerify Defender, go to: https://www.zerify.com/

About Visualnet Media, Inc:Serving customers since 2002, Visualnet Media is a full-service SOC Compliant Hosting Facility and Managed Security Service Provider helping solve technology challenges for any size business. Our Cloud based managed products and Hosting Facilities offer you the latest and most advanced technology for Interior and Perimeter Hosted and local Network defense solutions.

We specialize in Hosting your Remote Desktops, Servers, Applications, Data Files and Email in our Secure Hosting Facility. We have hosting plans in which you can utilize our Servers, or we can host your Servers in our Facility or we can build out your own Independent Hosting Facility and manage the entire process for you as well as manage the facility after completion of your project. We have been in business for 21 years providing our customers with trusted solutions from their local area networks to their web-based presence. We specialize in Cyber Security in all our designs and can safely and effectively migrate your business into the Cloud as well as assist you in maintaining your local area network securely with our Firewall and Managed Security Solutions. Have a project you need help with? Call us today with your project. We look forward to hearing from you! Get secure managed hosting, migrate your legacy applications, develop new solutions and learn about all that the Cloud and our Hosted Facility and Solutions can provide for you and your company.

About Zerify:Zerify Inc. (OTC PINK: ZRFY), formerly StrikeForce Technologies, is an Edison, New Jersey-based company with over two decades of experience in cybersecurity solutions. The company helps to prevent cyber theft and data security breaches for consumers, corporations and government agencies through powerful multi-factor out-of-band authentication and keystroke encryption along with mobile solutions. Zerify offers a video conferencing solution that uses no desktop and is entirely web-based, offering a five-level meeting security control approach designed to protect valuable information. Features include keystroke protection, anti-screen capture, and push and biometric authentication to keep businesses secure.

The technology also protects cameras, microphones and speakers, keeping computers and confidential data secure even when one is offline and not on a video conference. No other video conferencing service on the market, such as Zoom, Webex, LogMeIn, MS Teams or BlueJeans, offers these protections.

Zerify Contact,Mark L. Kaymarklkay@zerify.com(732) 661-9641

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Visualnet Media Inc. Becomes a Zerify Reseller and Adds Rosa ... - GlobeNewswire

Fed’s Williams says there are no clear signs of credit crunch – msnNOW

Getty Images

THE FED

There are no clear signs of a credit crunch in the economy following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, New York Fed President John Williams said Monday.

We havent seen any clear signs yet of credit conditions tightening, Williams said, during a meeting with students at New York University.

There have been periods in the past where banks have hunkered down and it has affected spending and employment, he said.

The Fed doesnt know if this will happen or how big the effect will be, and it will continue to monitor the data, he said.

Figuring out whether credit tightening can be a substitute for Fed interest-rate hikes is not a simple equation, Williams added.

Some Fed officials have said the banking stress raises the risk of recession. Others at the Fed have argued they have other tools to ease bank stress and that will allow the central bank to focus on containing inflation.

Overall, the extent to which the turmoil impacts the real economy over the next couple of months will be a major determinant of the Feds upcoming policy decisions, said Matthew Luzzetti, chief U.S. economist at Deutsche Bank, in a note to clients.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose slightly to 3.42% in trading on Monday.

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Fed's Williams says there are no clear signs of credit crunch - msnNOW

CloudIT Reinforces Culture of Cybersecurity with SOC 2 Type 2 … – HostReview.com

FAIRFAX, Va. (PRWEB) - ControlCase, a leading global provider of IT Security Certifications and Continuous Compliance Services, is pleased to announce that CloudIT, a leading Managed Service Provider (MSP), has completed their SOC 2 Type 2 Attestation of Compliance under the ControlCase Compliance Extend program.

ControlCase Compliance Extend is a partnership program that increases cybersecurity maturity for MSPs and their clients through compliance with frameworks, including SOC 2, ISO 27001, NIST, PCI DSS, HIPAA, and more. The program includes the education, technology, and assessment required for MSPs to attain compliance and assist their clients in achieving their cybersecurity compliance goals.

ControlCase is proud to partner with CloudIT, an outstanding MSP to work with, in delivering cybersecurity compliance assessments, said Mike Jenner, CEO of ControlCase. The CloudIT team is dedicated to lowering their clients' risk and has actively worked to ensure their people, processes, and technology are cybersecurity focused. The Compliance Extend program empowers leading MSPs, such as CloudIT, in effectively extending their services to assist their clients with their growing cybersecurity compliance requirements.

We are excited to be part of the ControlCase Compliance Extend program, said Vince Kent, CEO of CloudIT.

Our SOC 2 Type 2 Attestation of Compliance demonstrates that we have fulfilled stringent requirements for protecting and securing sensitive data. This achievement also brings immense advantages to CloudIT customers who now benefit from compliance inheritance towards their own assessments.

System and Organization Controls 2 (SOC 2) Trust Services Criteria provides reporting on the effectiveness of controls pertaining to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy at a service organization. SOC 2 reports are specifically intended to meet the needs of a broad range of users requiring detailed information and assurance about the confidentiality and privacy of the data processed within an organizations systems.

For more information on CloudIT Managed Services, please contact Jay Henningfeld at jhenningfeld@cloudit.co

For more information on ControlCase Compliance Extend and the related offerings, please contact Kimberly Simon at ksimon@controlcase.com

About ControlCase ControlCase is a global provider of certification, cybersecurity, and continuous compliance services. ControlCase is committed to empowering organizations to develop and deploy strategic information security and compliance programs that are simplified, cost-effective, and comprehensive in both on-premises and cloud environments. ControlCase offers certifications and a broad spectrum of cyber security services that meet the needs of companies required to certify to PCI DSS, HITRUST, SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, PCI PIN, PCI P2PE, PCI TSP, PA DSS, CSA STAR, HIPAA, GDPR, SWIFT, and FedRAMP. http://www.controlcase.com

About cloudIT At cloudIT,?we don't stop at?being a Managed Service Provider (MSP) or a Cloud Service Provider (CSP) or any other limiting category for that matter. We like to call ourselves a TSP, a Technology Service Provider, because when it comes to utilizing tech to better your business, well do it all. Whatever your needs are, weve got it managed for you. CloudIT?specializes in Cloud Hosting, IT Solutions, O365 Integration, and Hardware & Software Integration, along with award winning support. CloudIT?customizes managed?cloud, IT?VoIP, cybersecurity, and web design services for businesses across the US. We have 5 key service lines to meet all technology needs and a full-service staff of 87 experts to make the experience personalized and human.

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CloudIT Reinforces Culture of Cybersecurity with SOC 2 Type 2 ... - HostReview.com

Unilever Claims It’s a ‘Cloud-Only Enterprise’ – Slashdot

Multi-brand consumer megacorp Unilever says it has become a "cloud-only enterprise" with the help of Accenture and Microsoft. From a report: One of the largest and most complex cloud migrations in the retail goods industry, according to the company, will give Unilever "resilient, secure and optimised operations" as well as "a platform to drive innovation and growth." The Anglo-Dutch biz owns more than 400 brands, which include everything from ice cream to shampoo to toilet cleaner, and is set to use Microsoft's Azure as its "primary cloud platform."

According to the corporate blurb, the move will see Unilever employ "industrial metaverse technologies" that use real-time data from factory digital twins. It musn't have got the memo from Microsoft, which recently put a bullet in its own industrial metaverse masterplan. The cloud contract is also expected to help "achieve perpetual breakthroughs in research and development," says Unilver. Lastly, through Microsoft's partnership with the controversial GPT maker, it will use "Azure OpenAI Service across Unilever's business to drive increased automation, enabling better customer and employee experiences."

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Unilever Claims It's a 'Cloud-Only Enterprise' - Slashdot

Secure Cloud Environments on a Budget: Focus on the Essentials – Data Center Knowledge

As tech companies continue to lay off employees and cut budgets, data center managers will have to figure out how to get the most bang for their buck when securing cloud environments.

Even the largest companies are slashing costs. For example, Meta announced a $4 billion cut in February, which included data center budget cuts.

Related: Cloud Cost Optimization: How to Get the Biggest Bang for Your Buck

IT budgets are either flat or falling, said Juan Orlandini, chief architect and distinguished engineer at Insight. What we are seeing as a general trend is more scrutiny on the current spend levels.

Meanwhile, the security demands are higher than ever. According to a recent survey by computer and network security company Coalfire, 53% of security executives say that an expanded attack surface created by cloud migration is their biggest security concern.

Related: When and When Not to Go All-In on Cloud Migration

And Check Point Research reports a 48% year-over-year increase in cloud-based cyber-attacks in 2022.

The threats are growing faster than companies can keep up, said Holger Mueller, vice president and principal analyst at consulting firm Constellation Research.

You have to be a $5 billion or larger sized enterprise to afford the security team to stay on top of threats, Mueller told Data Center Knowledge.

Flat security budgets are hurting data center managers ability to defend their cloud infrastructure, said Nigel Gibbons, associate director and senior advisor at security consultancy NCC group. Theyre facing security breaches, downtime, inability to meet compliance requirements, and staffing challenges.

But there are ways to maintain, or even improve cloud security, without significantly increasing costs.

There are some obvious solutions that most companies are already doing. For example, second-tier cloud providers and colocation services can often offer better deals if their use cases meet your requirements. Automation is helping many data center managers reduce their cloud security costs as well, especially if they learn the tools that are provided as part of their cloud hosting providers service. And upskilling existing employees can help companies reduce the cost of finding new, experienced cybersecurity staff.

But theres a lot that data center cybersecurity teams can do to gain more return on their cybersecurity investments by focusing on core issues. That includes prioritizing spending based on risk and carefully eliminating redundancies.

Data center managers should identify the most critical security risks and prioritize security measures accordingly, said NCC Groups Gibbons.

Focus on securing the most important data and applications first, and allocate resources where they are most needed, he said.

This can be a less expensive way to improve security since youre focusing on the biggest risk reduction opportunities first.

But in the long term, it can lead to a short-term focus on ad-hoc solutions that might not be part of a bigger security strategy and could end up making security worse.

Another way to prioritize is based on long-term security needs.

For example, the single biggest cloud security challenge today for data center managers is the move to zero trust, said Dion Hinchcliffe, VP and principal analyst at Constellation Research.

Switching to zero trust is expensive, and so is maintaining the zero trust posture afterwards.

All of our networks are designed to be open by default, he told DCK. Thats the exact opposite of zero trust.

Switching everything over could take years, but government requirements and customer demand make it imperative. Its the 800-pound gorilla running around security, he added.

There are a lot of up-front expenses and enterprises might be forced to migrate to different cloud providers or use expensive third-party add-ons to move to zero-trust.

The public clouds were never designed for zero trust, said Hinchcliffe. And its their code, not yours. You cant control those machines, so you cant make some of their things ever be zero trust.

And when it comes to third-party security providers, he said, the general rule of thumb is that the more you spend, the better they are.

Then, once a data centers cloud environment is operating on zero trust principles, there will be ongoing costs to maintain that level of security.

Youre essentially trusting nothing on the network, he said. You're constantly re-authenticated, which actually creates a lot of new cloud traffic.

But data centers dont need to move everything to zero trust at the same time.

They can start with the highest-value systems and data, secure those, and then move on to the rest as time and budgets allow.

This creates the best of both worlds youre prioritizing the highest-value security projects, while keeping long-term security strategies in mind.

When faced with tight budgets, a company needs to make sure it isnt paying for too many tools or services.

Organizations often have multiple tools which overlap to some degree or another, and those could be reduced in number, said Insights Orlandini.

Its likely that reducing the number of tools will also free up budget that can be re-invested in training or better implementation of the remaining tools, he said.

Some amount of overlap might be necessary, but its important not to take it too far.

Overlapping isnt necessarily bad, said Ian Grobel, managing director, technology transformation practice at Ernst & Young.

But some enterprises take it to a ridiculous degree, Grobel told Data Center Knowledge. Wearing two sets of suspenders and three belts only increases your complexity.

There is also the SaaS evolution of the old shelfware. Back in the day, when companies would buy expensive enterprise software packages, they were often too complicated to install, and would therefore sit on a shelf until people got around to actually using them. Sometimes, nobody ever did.

Todays variant, said Grobel, is that companies sign up for SaaS tools, identity-as-a-service platforms, or other services then use only 10 or 20 percent of their capabilities.

By learning how to use the other features of the technology theyre already paying for, companies will, in effect, be getting more security for free.

In particular, many companies dont pay enough attention to what their cloud providers are offering, especially when new tools are being rolled out all the time.

I think that a lot of enterprises dont exploit enough of the hyperscaler-provided tooling that is out there, he said. Instead, they turn to outside vendors to provide the same services, paying money for features they could have gotten at no additional cost or for a comparatively small upgrade fee.

Due especially to the cloud providers' access to security data, they are very well positioned to offer AI and automation tools for things like security reviews and vulnerability scanning, he said.

And if they dont offer it yet, they soon may. So, by the time a company goes through a vendor selection process, does the trials, installs the new security technology and integrates it with their systems, their cloud providers service may be ready for use.

Read more:
Secure Cloud Environments on a Budget: Focus on the Essentials - Data Center Knowledge

Tishkevich strikes twice as Aberdeen Wings beat St. Cloud Norsemen – The Rink Live

The Aberdeen Wings defeated the hosting St. Cloud Norsemen 5-1 on Friday.

The Wings took the lead in the middle of the first period, with a goal from Nikolai Tishkevich . Luke Lindsay and Zachary Reim assisted.

The Wings' Jordan Ronn increased the lead to 2-0 with a minute left into the first, assisted by Patrick O'Connell and Nikolai Tishkevich.

Kade Peterson narrowed the gap to 2-1 early in the third period, assisted by Blake Perbix and Daniels Murnieks .

Zachary Reim increased the lead to 3-1 less than a minute later.

Patrick O'Connell increased the lead to 4-1 three minutes later, assisted by Devon Carlstrom .

Nikolai Tishkevich increased the lead to 5-1 one minute later, assisted by Zachary Reim and Luke Lindsay.

Next up:

The teams meet again on Saturday at 7 p.m. CST, this time in St. Cloud at St. Cloud MAC Arena.

Automated articles produced by United Robots on behalf of The Rink Live.

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Tishkevich strikes twice as Aberdeen Wings beat St. Cloud Norsemen - The Rink Live