Category Archives: Cloud Storage
Why security teams need to focus on log management – SC Media
If organizations aren't currently incorporating log management and monitoring as a critical part of their cybersecurity strategy, they aren't seeing the forest for the trees.
Logs record every system event that takes place across a network, as well as when and how it happened. And because logs are so detailed, security teams can determine whether their devices have been breached by closely examining them, making log management a proven, proactive approach to detecting intrusions and safeguarding data.
Given the evolving nature of cyber threats, the shift from on-premises data storage to the cloud, and the sheer amount of data generated daily more than 2.5 billion gigabytes globally it's not surprising that this cybersecurity practice has accelerated.
According to Research and Markets, organizations worldwide are projected to nearly double their log management and monitoring spend from $1.83 billion in 2021 to $3.43 billion by 2026. Yet, while log management and monitoring spend has increased, understanding why it's a wise decision requires exploring the benefits that come with investing in these tools.
The importance of log management
Logs tie events together within a system and correlate what's happened across multiple systems. Log management keeps track of system and application logs to gain insights into user activity, vulnerabilities, security breaches, and other potential issues. They are often structured as encrypted text files, but can also include binary data such as images and videos.
Security analysts can review logs in the moment to determine if a system has been breached. The WannaCry ransomware attacks, for instance, infected hundreds of thousands of devices worldwide in May 2017 and brought organizations such as FedEx, Renault, and the United Kingdom's National Health Service to a standstill. Users could detect whether the malware was present on their computers by scanning server logs for files that were encrypted with a specific extension or connections that were made through certain TCP ports.
SOC analysts can also preserve logs for forensic analysis following intrusions. After Equifax was breached in 2017 and the Bank of Montreal was attacked in 2020, investigators reviewed log files to determine how attackers accessed each company's systems. Closer scrutiny of those logs by each organization in the moment would have detected the entries earlier and limited damage.
How the cloud changed log management
Log management and monitoring have become increasingly complex as more companies adopt cloud storage solutions. According to Netwrix, organizations have moved 41% of their workloads to the cloud and expect to increase that figure to 54% within the next 12-18 months. Additionally, 80% of businesses use the cloud to store sensitive data, including personally identifiable information of employees and customers.
Organizations have traditionally had unlimited access to very detailed logs because their data has been stored on-premises. When data gets hosted in the cloud, tenancy agreements prevent access to the underlying systems, thereby reducing visibility and making conventional logging methods impractical.
Companies also have to consider cost because organizations are limited by the price and capacity of their cloud storage plan. They must decide which logs are most relevant for a cloud-based monitoring system to review since a massive number of logs gets generated, and sending them all to the cloud isn't feasible.
That results in security teams having less insight into potential threats, so they must trust that cloud providers can detect any malicious activity before it becomes an issue.
Ensuring successful log management
Even the best-trained security operations analysts need help reviewing the significant number of logs created. That's why many companies turn to a security information and event management system, or SIEM.
A SIEM uses machine learning algorithms to correlate data from various sources, filter out routine events, and alert analysts to suspicious activities or patterns that may signal malicious actors are present.
Companies need to make smart decisions about how they allocate resources. Understand what the budget allows and the licensing models the companys cloud provider offers, as some models can restrict access to certain types of logs that could get used for meaningful monitoring efforts. If the provider gives the team logging tools or sets up a SIEM, find out what the gaps are and identify limitations. Even then, consider whether the team wants to move its logs back on-premises or find another provider that can offer better visibility into potential threats.
Many companies still find it difficult to automate incident response, so training the teams analysts to incorporate a SIEM and review and act on its alerts has become critical to successful log management. With these procedures in place, the company would have taken valuable steps toward reacting quickly once incidents occur or helping to prevent them altogether.
Three questions for organizations to ask
Ultimately, any log management and monitoring strategy still boils down to what the organization needs. Here are three questions for the team to ask:
Is the company trying to maintain compliance with regulatory standards? Is it trying to meet requirements for cyber insurance? And, does the company have a weak security posture that needs strengthening? A responsible approach to log management and monitoring can address them all.
Its important to comply with data protection laws and industry standards given how much sensitive information gets stored. Understand the cloud provider's approach to compliance and the scope of the agreement to ensure the organization is protected should an incident occur.
Likewise, the rising frequencies and costs of data breaches have led to rising cyber coverage thresholds. Most insurers now require staunch log management processes, and some even go as far as mandating a SIEM to monitor and alert potential threats before a policy can be issued.
Price and storage capacity shouldn't serve as limits when it comes to effective log management. Companies need access to as much data as possible for effective monitoring and protection the more data the company has, the sooner it can spot and address network intrusions.
Data breaches are surging in frequency today, and they're more costly than ever. A more vigilant approach to log management and monitoring, including the use of a reliable SIEM, can further safeguard the company against emerging cyber threats, regardless of whether data gets stored on-premises or in the cloud.
Brian Knudtson, director, product market intelligence; product manager, 11:11 Systems
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Why security teams need to focus on log management - SC Media
Best ClickUp Alternative for 2023 [Explore Project Management] – Cloudwards
Project management is a crucial aspect of any business, small or large. ClickUp has emerged as a top choice for many teams looking for powerful tools that can keep up with their growing demands. However, if you feel ClickUp is not the best fit for you, there are a number of ClickUp alternative options available.
Several other project management tools offer key features similar to ClickUp, and some may even have additional functionalities that cater to specific industries or project types. Factors to consider while exploring ClickUp alternatives include ease of use, pricing, team collaboration features, integrations and customization options.
In this post, well help you explore some of the best ClickUp alternatives that can streamline your project management and improve your teams productivity.
The key difference between Asana and ClickUp is the accessibility to versatile features in the free plan.
If youre looking for a budget-friendly project management solution with access to a variety of features, Asana is the better option.
The best free alternative to ClickUp is Asana.
ClickUp is one of the best creative project management software options, with dozens of features accessible in the free plan. However, if youre looking to focus more on other features like communication, advanced time tracking or automated processes, you should consider finding a ClickUp alternative.
The best project management software should meet your needs without causing you any inconvenience. ClickUp gives you access to unlimited tasks in its Free Forever plan, but if you want to access unlimited projects, you need to upgrade to a paid plan. Before upgrading, take a look at some ClickUp alternatives for your project planning needs.
We recommend you keep reading and check out our top 10 recommendations for an alternative to ClickUp. If you want more information on each of these software choices, feel free to check out our top project management software reviews.
Every business and project is unique. As a project manager, its your job to find the right kind of project management solution to fulfill all your criteria. Here are 10 that come with specific advantages you can leverage within your teams.
monday.com is our top recommendation for a project management software alternative to ClickUp.
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monday.com is one of the best project management software platforms for multiple projects. It has an easy-to-use UI that wont overwhelm newcomers and a broad set of features applicable across industries. You can seamlessly move around and arrange your files with its drag-and-drop feature.
You can also create private boards to break complex projects down into individual tasks. monday.com allows you to create, edit and organize your tasks, and tasks can be assigned to specific team members. Plus, you can attach relevant files to each task.
monday.com allows you to synchronize your data from other tools. You can integrate with over 200 applications, which helps further increase its functionality.
For example, you can schedule meetings on Google Calendar, track project progress with Asana, create to-do lists with Todoist and so on. However, keep in mind that integrations are only available in the paid plans.
monday.com is a user-friendly tool that you can use alongside other project management tools to increase overall productivity.
If youre only getting started with your business, you can opt for monday.coms free plan. However, there is a cap of two users, 1,000 tasks and limited access to its features. You can make the most of monday.coms integrations by trying their 14-day free trial and opting for a paid plan. Learn more by reading our monday.com review.
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Asanas board view provides an in-depth report, so you can stay on top of all your complex projects.
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If youre just getting started with a new business and are looking for the right project management solution, Asana is one of the best project management software options for startups. With Asana, you can manage projects in parallel and make sure everyone on the team sees your updates in real time, keeping everyone on the same page.
Asana has a chatbot instead of proper live customer support, but its friendly UI helps make that problem moot. You can create custom workflows to map out your regular processes, and the app automatically walks your team through each stage so users dont have to remember how to do it on their own each time a workflow is used. It also offers detailed reports to help you adjust your long-term strategies.
Asana is among the five best kanban apps we recommend and also excels with its Gantt chart and calendar view. Kanban boards include business workflows and every other feature, so if its your preferred view, Asana will serve you well.
With the kanban board, you can see the project status of all your tasks in a single visually pleasing page. Its easy to set triggers that automatically move the cards on your kanban board, making your workflows more tangible.
Track the progress of your project and team members with the Asana kanban board cards.
If youre running your business with a small team of under 15 members, you can go for Asanas free plan. It comes with unlimited free storage with a cap of 100MB per file. However, to serve a bigger team or access more advanced features, consider choosing a paid plan to unlock unlimited users and a project timeline view. You can learn more by reading our full Asana review.
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Trello can be used as a project hub for file sharing and project resource management.
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Trello has an intuitive interface that makes it easy to get started. The heart of Trello is its kanban board, a simple yet powerful drag-and-drop board that shows you exactly where tasks sit in the greater scheme of your projects.
You can switch between different project views to access information on your projects from multiple sources. The paid plan lets you access extra storage, commands, field customization and multiple project views.
With Trellos templates, you wont have to begin from square one. There are multiple prebuilt templates in the Trello community, each geared toward a different type of project or individual task. You can use a pre-existing template or customize and save your own.
For example, one set of templates is designed for marketing campaigns. One of our favorites, marketing content catalog, helps keep all your content fully visible no more letting a great image or post go unused because you forgot you had it. The plug-and-play template is a lot faster than designing your own warehousing system.
Get a head start on all your projects with Trellos vast template library and stay ahead of your project deadlines.
Trello has a very generous free plan, offering limitless users and integrations. However, the file size for uploads is limited to 10MB and only 10 boards can be used per workspace. If you want to up the limit, give one of their paid plans a look. Read our Trello review to learn more.
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Notion can help keep your thoughts and ideas organized and secure in one centralized place.
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Notion is a text-focused project management app that lets you merge important notes with key tasks. This tool is especially great for fully remote teams looking to create a centralized hub for documentation or an internal wiki for all teammates to access.
This project management tool uses a block editor thatll be familiar to any recent WordPress user, in which you can drag and drop blocks to organize your thoughts. You can change the nature of any block with a straightforward menu. Its also easy to communicate with team members. Just type @ and mention any person to draw their attention towards a certain block.
Notions powerful AI assistant helps you automate workflows, create task dependencies and assign resources to every task. It even helps you improve your writing by suggesting different alternative outcomes.
Say you often receive long messages and emails from your clients or teams. You can type in a command to summarize the information and put it in a table. You can also use the AIs editing tools to rephrase any information into a different tone or pick out significant numbers.
Automate and prioritize tasks with Notions advanced AI-integrated automations.
We recommend Notion as one of the best project management software platforms for freelancers. Solo workers can access almost all the features in the Notion free plan, including up to 10 guest invites. A paid plan extends the team size, removes the file upload limit and includes page history to track the actions taken by each user. The free plan provides a seven-day history view. Read our Notion review to learn more.
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Wrike is a great tool for managing multiple projects.
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Wrike is a project management platform that plays well with the other apps in your stack. Integrations such as Slack and Intercom can help you establish strong communication channels with your team and clients. You can also use marketing integrations with Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to promote your new products and services.
You can use Wrike as project management scheduling software. The features and functionality of Wrike are very similar to that of Asana. However, Asana is a better choice for newer project managers, thanks to its better-designed UI and Wrikes slightly permissive privacy policy.
Wrike helps break your workload into manageable chunks to avoid overburdening employees. You can set recurring tasks to automatically initiate the next course of action in your project agenda without having to spend time on permission and approval.
Arrange, organize and create tasks to work for you with Wrikes robust task management features.
You can access the board and table views in Wrikes free plan to get a complete overview of your projects. However, there is a limit on the total number of active tasks you can have. Paid plans give you access to key features like Gantt charts, but make sure you choose wisely theres a steep difference in price between plans. For more info, check out our Wrike review.
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ProofHub is a great project management tool, at an affordable price, for remote teams working together.
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ProofHub offers productive project planning and management features for you and your team members. You dont need to export all your data to ProofHub to be able to work efficiently much like monday.com and Wrike, its strength lies in integrations.
One integration lets you send and receive updates on your ProofHub projects without leaving Slack. You can schedule meetings, set reminders and manage deadlines for tasks directly from Google Calendar. All your data can automatically be synced to a cloud storage facility like Google Drive or Dropbox to keep it safe.
Other project management tools, like ClickUp, have a bit of a learning curve involved. However, ProofHub has a simple UI that any user can quickly understand and adapt to. Its easy to learn and teams wont have to undergo any special training to use it.
You can create, organize and manage your tasks with the simple drag-and-drop feature in ProofHub. Its event planning workflow can grant permissions, delegate tasks, add subtasks and grant priority to each task from the moment its initiated. ProofHubs visualized reports help you track and manage the time spent on every task.
Regardless of your team members physical location, ProofHub can be accessed and used by your entire team from anywhere and at any time.
ProofHub does not have a free plan, but it does offer a 14-day trial period. Moreover, ProofHub charges a flat price for an entire team instead of pricing by individual users, and there are only two plans to choose from. You can read more in our ProofHub review.
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Basecamps recently released lineup view gives you a birds-eye view of your project.
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Basecamp recently added a kanban board view to its existing to-do list and calendar views. While not the most feature packed, it sets itself apart by being full of information: not only can you see who is assigned to a task, you can also tell whos actively working on it, who is merely in the loop and what theyre all contributing.
One of the best parts of Basecamp is its constantly expanding notification system. Its full of ways to communicate both with and without direct messaging you can set important notifications to return later and use an availability status screen to let your team members know when and how you can talk on a given day.
While Basecamp has some great communication features, its actual use for project management is a bit more limited. Its most useful for teams that rely heavily on regular communication flows. If youre looking for advanced project management features with a focus on project and task management, try monday.com or Asana instead.
Basecamp is a great tool for close-knit teams. Its advanced communication features help you stay in touch with remote employees and clients, and collaboration is the road to getting things done with Basecamp.
Some of its best perks include replacing long email threads with a message board and campfire, two alternative channels that help you get straight to the point. You can share pending items and relevant documents with your team members and manage deadlines and meeting schedules directly from messaging platforms.
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Best ClickUp Alternative for 2023 [Explore Project Management] - Cloudwards
Batelco Launches Cloud-based OneOffice Productivity Suite – The Fast Mode
Batelco, part of the Beyon Group, launched Batelco OneOffice, a cloud-based suite that includes essential productivity tools to support the needs of a busy office team, through a secure, easy-to-use and cost-effective platform.
Batelco OneOffice offers online apps such as document editing and sharing, project management, secure email, real-time video calls and team chats. It also features live collaboration with team members and partners, as well as next-generation AI tools to streamline daily operations for businesses. Furthermore, a key differentiator is that each business will benefit from having a separate application sandbox, which means that they will have their own dedicated and independent storage on the cloud platform.
Customers will have access to features and functionalities similar to any other online collaboration tool, but at an affordable price with higher security.
Two competitively priced packages are available, basic and advance, with the advance package including additional benefits such as automated backups, long-term data retention, and 1TB cloud storage. By using Batelco OneOffice, customers can secure and access their data anywhere, optimize operations, while simultaneously reducing costs and improving communications.
Batelco General Manager Enterprise, Abdulla Danesh We are delighted to introduce Batelco OneOffice productivity suite, as we continually look for opportunities to expand our support towards the SME sector and diversify our product portfolio to cater to the different needs of their businesses.Batelco OneOffice is a highly secure platform that includes integral applications and tools for all types of businesses. The solution was designed to support businesses to run smoothly with more efficient operations at a great price point. Businesses, regardless of size, can excel by using modern-day digital tools, and here at Batelco we strive to provide just that.
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Batelco Launches Cloud-based OneOffice Productivity Suite - The Fast Mode
Investments in AI to drive cloud spending in 2023 – Wire19
The emergence of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has paved the way for significant advancements in the cloud computing industry. The year 2023 is expected to witness a surge in cloud revenue, driven primarily by hyperscalers the biggest players in the cloud market. With their vast computational power and resources, hyperscalers are well-positioned to leverage the potential of generative AI and drive innovation in cloud-based services.
Gartner predicts that by 2026, 75% of organizations will adopt a digital transformation model that is centered on cloud technology as the fundamental underlying platform.
It also forecasts the worldwide spending by end-users on public cloud services to reach $597.3 billion in 2023. This is a 21.7% increase from $491 billion in 2022. The growth in cloud computing is driving the next phase of digital business as companies strive for disruption through innovative technologies.
All segments of the cloud market are expected to see growth in 2023, with infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) forecasted to have the highest end-user spending growth at 30.9%, followed by platform-as-a-service (PaaS) at 24.1%. This growth in spending is expected to occur amid ongoing economic turbulence that is compelling many industries, including Big Tech, to exercise caution when allocating funds.
The growth of IaaS in the upcoming phase will be driven by factors such as customer experience, digital and business outcomes, and the virtual-first world. Technologies that facilitate closer and real-time interaction with customers, such as chatbots and digital twins, rely on cloud infrastructure and platform services to meet the increasing demand for computing and storage power.
Although cloud infrastructure and platform services are driving the highest spending growth, software-as-a-service (SaaS) remains the largest segment of the cloud market in terms of end-user spending. It is projected to grow 17.9% and reach a total of $197 billion in 2023.
Enterprises are increasingly investing in emerging technologies such as generative AI, Web3, and the metaverse, attracted by the benefits these technologies offer, such as streamlining business processes and creating novel customer engagement experiences. As these technologies are well-suited to public cloud architecture, hyperscalers are ideally placed to benefit.
Gartners VP analyst, Sid Nag, notes that generative AI, in particular, is supported by large language models that require high-performance and scalable computing capabilities to process data in real-time. As a result, cloud hyperscalers offer the ideal solution and platform for such applications. Many of the key players in the generative AI space are cloud hyperscalers.
While hyperscalers dominate the technology substrate of cloud computing, the leadership of the business application layer is more fragmented. Providers are now facing growing demands to redesign their SaaS offerings to enhance productivity and utilize cloud-native capabilities, embedded AI, and composability. This is especially true as budgets are now being driven and owned by business technologists. The resulting change is likely to ignite a wave of innovation and replacement in the cloud platform and application markets.
Source: Gartner
Read next:Securonix launches the industrys first Unified Defense SIEM platform
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Investments in AI to drive cloud spending in 2023 - Wire19
Beaufort Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for … – Department of Justice
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA Leonardo Rubio, 23, of Beaufort, South Carolina, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography.
Evidence presented to the Court showed that beginning in at least 2016 and continuing through June 11, 2021, Leonardo Rubio sought, received, produced, and distributed images, videos, and files containing child pornography using multiple cell phones, data storage devices, the Kik social media messaging application, and Dropbox online cloud storage. Rubios crimes were discovered after Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) special agents received a NCMEC CyberTip from Dropbox, which indicated Rubio had uploaded at least 10 images containing child pornography to their cloud service. The special agents then obtained a search warrant for Rubios residence located on the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort.
During a forensic examination of devices seized from Rubio, analysts located a total of 26,114 images and 1,505 videos containing child pornography involving prepubescent male and female victims ranging in age from 3 months to 14 years old. During interviews, Rubio informed agents he also had distributed between 150 to 200 images of child pornography to other individuals using the Kik messaging application. Rubio also admitted to sexually assaulting an 8- or 9-year-old relative, as well as photographing himself engaged in sexual contact with his wifes 7-year-old relative, when he was approximately 16 years old.
United States District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks sentenced Rubio to 168 months in prison, to be followed by a life term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Judge Hendricks further ordered that the defendant pay $69,000 to the 23 victims seeking restitution in this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allessandra Stewart is prosecuting the case.
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Beaufort Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for ... - Department of Justice
OpenDrives Announces Multi-Cloud Migration at NAB 2023 … – GlobeNewswire
LOS ANGELES, April 18, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OpenDrives, Inc., a global provider of software-defined data services and workflow solutions, announces multi-cloud migration, AI-enabled remote production, and backup and recovery workflows at the 2023 NAB Show.
As editing timelines tighten, AI demands more compute power and architectural shifts, and the need for scalable and portable data solutions grows. OpenDrives centralizes data access, management and movement, powered by the Atlas Core software platform, across all architectures for enterprise-scale media and entertainment industry heavyweights including Fox Sports, HBO, L.A. Kings and more.
No single vendor can optimize workflows at the individual company, team and workstation level, especially as cloud and hybrid deployments make managing data storage capabilities and accessing data more complex, said Izhar Sharon, recently appointed Chief Executive Officer at OpenDrives. Open integrations unlock powerful capabilities that help to ensure optimal workflow performance across complementary technologies. From multi-cloud migration to live editing and backup, OpenDrives empowers businesses with streamlined data operations and content delivery, and were thrilled to showcase this with our open ecosystem of partners at the 2023 NAB Show.
Built on open standards and open protocols adopted across the industry, Atlas Core facilitates interoperability with the Open ecosystem of technology partners, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Microsoft Azure and other cloud players such as Wasabi, to provide access to cloud storage and data services that enterprises leverage every day.
OpenDrives deploys containers directly on the storage solutions bringing enterprise applications, such as iconik, Archiware, CloudSoda, Axel AI and Betsol, closer to the target data that they use, eliminating the need for additional hardware. A single, portable software license moves with customers needs across any data environment, whether on-prem, cloud or edge.
Multi-cloud migration to power everything everywhere data availability for Fox Sports
Atlas Core and OpenDrives fully managed cloud solution Atlas Cloud Plus (ACP) centralize content across Fox Sports 10 onsite venue locations, multiple editing facilities and geographically distributed remote teams. Now, the leading live broadcaster has selected ACP to streamline content access from any location while enhancing tiering efficiencies for files migrated between AWS and GCP.
Cloud strategies are more complex than a one-and-done' infrastructure shift, said Kevin Callahan, VP of Field Operations and Engineering at Fox Sports. We need to access petabytes of data in real-time, especially in high frame rate 4K or future 8K formats, which requires flexible systems that optimize ingest and simplify cloud-to-cloud migration without having to rethink our data strategy with each architecture upgrade or switch. OpenDrives integrated partner ecosystem provides end-to-end performance that anticipates and scales with our growth.
Industry-standard support for SMB, NFS and S3 means OpenDrives can interoperate regardless of protocol, expanding the types of storage targets on-premises and in the cloud which are available to the software solution. This enables Atlas Core and ACP to accelerate and stabilize any workflow that is reliant on file transfer and dynamic data movement. By giving Fox Sports the ability to instantly launch containerized applications, including Signiant and Aspera, OpenDrives provides a resilient and adaptive storage platform enabling data access and movement from anywhere.
Were no longer moving data, we've evolved in a way where its moving with us, added Callahan. OpenDrives empowers hybrid data access and movement as mobile as our onsite studios and broadcast trucks. Adding multi-cloud support will only accelerate international data consolidation so that everything is always at our fingertips across editing and media lifecycle management.
Fox Sports will soon debut its Center for Excellence, a lab and testing facility for new and emerging workflow integrations and techniques in live sports production, such as miniature POV high-speed and digital cinema shell, drones and remote and cloud production IP. Continuing to push innovation boundaries to create a unique visual difference for viewers at home, from augmented reality to HDR and high frame rate, the lab will be a core pillar for the future of Fox Sports live broadcasting. OpenDrives software will provide the backbone to ensure seamless functionality with new camera and editing innovations, from R&D to viewers screens.
Containerization optimizes AI-enabled workflows, cloud and hybrid cloud asset management
Customers have a growing need for flexibility and performance in the cloud as its role shifts from storage target to content hub, said Sean Lee, Chief Operations and Strategy Officer at OpenDrives. Our cloud-focused solutions work seamlessly with partner technologies to drive business outcomes through scalability, data integrity, and ease of use to accelerate enterprise workloads and media workflows more easily and cost effectively with fewer operational headaches.
OpenDrives empowers enterprise-scale customers to optimize cloud deployments, created for individual data needs, while streamlining content development and delivery with solutions such as:
Software-defined data services and solutions future-proof ecosystem
NAB 2023 comes amid a period of significant growth for the company. OpenDrives has scaled its Atlas Core software platform from traditional storage services and data management to an expanded centralized ecosystem of data applications, solutions and services. Former Infinidat, IBM and Dell EMC executive Izhar Sharon joined OpenDrives as CEO in December of 2022. Solutions debuts, including containerized enterprise backup and recovery in partnership with BETSOL, have further expanded the Open ecosystem to deliver back capabilities that are critical for enterprise-scale businesses.
Company and partner-led solutions growth has helped earn OpenDrives recognition on the 2023 CRN Storage 100 List and Inc.s inaugural Power Partner Awards. InterVision Systems, Chesapeake Systems (CHESA) and Advanced Systems Group (ASG) are among the award-winning channel partners delivering OpenDrives vendor- and architecture-agnostic solutions.
There is no crystal ball for what will drive new data demands years from now; the explosion of AI shows how much can change in just a few months, added Sharon. At OpenDrives, what we do know is that the future of data is software. Whether tomorrows leaders need to edit 16K footage or generate AI video, they can rely on OpenDrives and the ecosystem of partners for powerful solutions that yield tangible business outcomes.
To learn more about OpenDrives, visit http://www.opendrives.com. To connect with the OpenDrives team, email hello@opendrives.com.
About OpenDrives
OpenDrives, Inc. is a global provider of enterprise-scale, software-defined storage solutions. Founded in 2011 by media and entertainment post-production professionals, OpenDrives is built for the most demanding workflows, from Hollywood to healthcare to enterprise IT, and for businesses large and small. OpenDrives delivers the highly-performant solutions to match individual performance needs, even for the most robust, complex and mission-critical businesses needs, on-premises and into the cloud. OpenDrives is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA. To learn more about OpenDrives, visit http://www.opendrives.com.
Press Contact
Lindsey HennOpenDrives PRl.henn@opendrives.com+1 (626) 893-4228
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OpenDrives Announces Multi-Cloud Migration at NAB 2023 ... - GlobeNewswire
7 best free alternatives to Microsoft Office – Sportskeeda
Modified Apr 21, 2023 20:01 GMT
Microsoft Office is quite famous and a great piece of software for handling common tasks, such as creating slideshows, creating documents, or keeping track of daily expenses in a spreadsheet. However, it comes with a heavy price tag, and if your company isn't paying for it, you might find it difficult to burn your own pockets. Even the Microsoft Office cloud subscription is quite expensive.
For this reason, let's learn about some of the best Microsoft Office alternatives that are free to use and great for business or personal purposes.
1) Google Workspace
Google Workspace offers Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides, and Google Forms for free. These are all web-based applications, though you can install them to run inside your browser via an extension.
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2) LibreOffice
LibreOffice might be the most similar application to Microsoft Office that you can get for free. There's a large community supporting this project. So, if you run into any trouble, help is just a couple of clicks away.
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3) WPS Office
WPS Office is one of the best free alternatives to MS Office, which is lightweight and has a solid interface. It provides a comprehensive suite of productivity tools with an easy-to-use interface, advanced editing capabilities, and convenient cloud syncing.
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4) FreeOffice
SoftMaker's FreeOffice is one of the best free alternatives to Microsoft Office, and it's available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android. It works flawlessly with all Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats, making it ideal for both personal and professional use.
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5) Apache OpenOffice
Apache's OpenOffice is a free, open-source alternative to Microsoft Office and a very prominent software suite. The latest version of OpenOffice has so many useful features, and it uses Open Document Format (ODF).
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6) Polaris Office
Polaris can be considered one of the best free suites, as it's extremely secure and business-oriented. Its beautiful and simple navigation makes it one of the most user-friendly office programs available.
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7) Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 is cloud-based and gives you a familiar Microsoft Office experience for free. It offers a wide range of apps that increase employees' productivity whenever and wherever they are.
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Purchasing a software subscription can be expensive, especially if you pay for a monthly subscription for multiple apps. If you're considering a free version of Microsoft Office, here are the seven best alternatives you can try.
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Edited bySijo Samuel Paul
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7 best free alternatives to Microsoft Office - Sportskeeda
Google’s Gallery app is the offline Google Photos alternative you’re … – Android Authority
Hadlee Simons / Android Authority
Google Photos is one of the more underappreciated Google success stories, and its not hard to see why. The app is more than just the default gallery app for Pixel phones and some other brands, bringing fantastic editing features and polished cloud backup functionality too.
In saying so, Im a little disappointed that my Pixel 7 Pro uses Google Photos as the default gallery app. Because lets face it, this isnt really a gallery app in the same way that Samsung, Xiaomi, and OPPO phones have a basic gallery app.
Why do I have an issue with Google Photos?
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
I feel like Google Photos is more of a cloud storage and photo editing platform than a straightforward gallery app. This is reflected in the default view being a unified view of your photos, combining snaps stored in the cloud with locally stored photos. In fact, you have to hit the library tab and then the camera folder to only see locally stored snaps, which is the antithesis of any simple gallery app.
Google Photos is great, but finding local files is buried several layers deep.
It doesnt help that I live in a country where mobile data is relatively expensive, so having this default Google Photos view isnt ideal when out and about. This is especially true as I have a secondary device contributing to Google Photos. That means using (or even opening) Google Photos on my primary phone when away from Wi-Fi can use some mobile data. Toss in needless notifications for things like collages and memories, and its clear that youre not looking at a simple, offline-focused gallery app.
Say hello to Gallery
Fortunately, Google has had a solution of its own for several years now in the form of the Gallery app. Launched in 2019 as Gallery Go, this 11MB app was initially positioned as a lightweight gallery app for Android Go devices. Google has since renamed Gallery Go to Gallery, suggesting that Google also recognizes the value of a stripped-down gallery app.
You only need to launch the Google Gallery app to see why this is a refreshing departure from Google Photos. Open the app and youll immediately see a photo stream containing your locally stored photos and videos only no need for any extra steps here. Its the kind of simplicity Im used to seeing when using the pre-installed gallery app on a Samsung or Xiaomi phone.
Google's Gallery app is the stripped-back gallery app I've been wanting on my Pixel phone.
Its definitely a stripped-down app, but Gallery still comes with a handful of useful features. These include one-tap editing, some categorization smarts (e.g. people, selfies, nature, food, documents), and face grouping. Youve also got basic editing tools such as rotating, cropping, and a few filters. Otherwise, theres an edit in option so you can quickly open an image in your favorite photo editor if you need a few more tools.
Needless to say, you probably wont find the Google Gallery app all that handy if you frequently use Google Photos editing suite. But this basic approach works for me as I just want a simple, performant gallery app to, you know, view my phones photos and videos.
The Gallery app clearly isn't for everyone, but there are plenty of alternatives if you want an offline-focused image viewer.
Gallery isnt the only app of its kind either, as there are loads of great gallery apps for Android. But Id also give a nod to the SimpleGallery apps if you want a straightforward picture and video viewer.
In saying so, the one somewhat worrying thing is that Google hasnt updated the Gallery app since November 2022. This wouldnt ordinarily be a problem as the simple nature means you shouldnt expect frequent updates to begin with. But this sort of thing usually doesnt bode well for Google apps and services.
A complementary experience
Hadlee Simons / Android Authority
I definitely dont plan to stop using Google Photos any time soon, as its smart categorization and editing features are fantastic additions. The cloud storage functionality is also as handy as ever, even though Im a recent convert to a lifetime cloud storage service (thats a conversation for another time, though).
348 votes
Still, there are times when I just want a pure gallery app on my Pixel that lets me quickly view photos and videos, without reaching out to the cloud. And the Google Gallery app perfectly fits my needs in this regard.
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Google's Gallery app is the offline Google Photos alternative you're ... - Android Authority
Lenovo aims to be the most powerful tool provider in the generative AI gold rush – PingWest
Lenovo Group first set out its strategic goal to "go beyond a PC maker" in 2017. Now that six years have passed, how is it going?
At the company's 2023/24 North American Kickoff Event held on Tuesday in Charlotte, North Carolina, the answer was given out.
"In the latest fiscal quarter, non-PC business contributed 41% of revenue, up 9 percentage points year-on-year," Yang Yuanqing, Chairman and CEO of Lenovo, said on stage.
The annual April Kickoff Event is an integral part of Lenovo Group's corporate culture, and it is held in the company's major markets, including China, North America, Europe and more. This year marked the first time the North American Kickoff returned to in-person since the pandemic outbreak, with over 700 Lenovo employees from across the US gathering at the venue.
Over the past year, Lenovo Group's PC business has faced significant challenges due to weak global demand. According to a report by market research firm Canalys, total PC (including desktops and laptops) shipments in 2022 were 285 million units, a 16% decrease from 2021. Although Lenovo maintained its position as the global leader with 68.125 million units shipped, it still represents a 17% decline compared to 2021.
Despite the difficulties, Lenovo Group's bet on non-PC businesses is paying off. The Solution & Services Group (SSG) and Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG) maintained strong momentum, with revenue growth of 23% and 48% respectively in the previous quarter, both reaching new highs.
"SSG and ISG are expected to become the next profit engines for Lenovo Group. Especially ISG, which achieved a revenue of $2.9 billion in the latest quarter, marking the third consecutive quarter of revenue exceeding $2 billion," said Matthew Zielinski, President of International Markets and the International Sales Organization (ISO) at Lenovo, to PingWest.
Matthew is a veteran in the tech sales field. After joining Lenovo Group in 2018, he served as President of the North American Intelligent Devices Group (IDG), responsible for Lenovo hardware sales in the United States and Canada. Prior to this, he served as Vice President and General Manager of chip firm AMD.
As the pillar of Lenovo Group's 3S strategy, ISG provides customized services such as servers, storage, cloud computing, edge computing, and HPC for customers of all sizes. The 3S strategy includes Smart IoT, Smart Infrastructure and Smart Verticals.
The solid result of ISG business can be attributed to strong market momentum in edge-to-cloud servers, storage and software, as well as the company's investments in AI-driven edge computing and hybrid cloud, Matthew explained.
Taking a closer look at the ISG business: server revenue increased by 35%, hitting a record high, and Lenovo became the third largest server company in the world (after Dell and HP); storage revenue more than doubled, making Lenovo the fifth largest storage service company in the world; software revenue rose 52%.
The generative AI frenzy is expected to drive drive further growth in the ISG business. Whether it is the ChatGPT's highly human-like conversation performance, or the stunning image-creating power of Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, and DALLE, all rely on computing infrastructure, that is, high-performance servers, storage, data centers, and so on.
In addition, AI workloads are very different from traditional cloud applications built around web servers and databases, and therefore often require special hardware and software configurations to realize optimal performance.
And that's where Lenovo comes in. It is the only company in the world that offers everything from hardware design and manufacturing to IT infrastructure construction to cloud storage and cloud computing services, and has been vigorously developing products optimized for AI workloads for years.
In this new round of AI boom, Lenovo has undoubtedly become the most indispensable underlying service provider, providing tools and resources to other participants, just like the person who provides the shovel in the gold rush.
"We have the capabilities to design these solutions that customers want, and we have hardware that can plug in to these solutions that we build, and we are geographically diverse...We can be a one stop shop for all enterprise solutions, really from the pocket to the cloud," said Matthew.
As more and more companies adopt ChatGPT-like products, the demand for computing power will increase, and Lenovo Group aims to meet customer needs from edge to cloud with AI-powered edge and hybrid/multi-cloud infrastructure innovations.
Looking ahead, Matthew believes that the next few years to be significant for the acceleration of AI technology. "By 2025, data creation is expected to double - customers need a new IT architecture that goes beyond the data center to provide real-time business insights and drive transformation," he said.
In this context, the ISG business will continue to benefit from the global ICT infrastructure upgrade. "So we are very excited about the future. I think we are very, very capable of becoming the next $100 billion IT company," the executive said.
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Lenovo aims to be the most powerful tool provider in the generative AI gold rush - PingWest
New Independent Tests of Endpoint Protection Reveal Marked … – BlackBerry Blog
Endpoint security is crucial but some solutions use too many system resources while blocking too few attacks, which can cause numerous negative business impacts. How can organizations determine which EPPs (endpoint protection platforms) are both lightweight and effective? Independent research and testing can help.
BlackBerry commissioned The Tolly Group a leading independent test lab and provider of third-party validation servicesfor the tech industry to evaluate several endpoint protection platforms. Specifically, Tolly Group tested the CylancePROTECT EPP and several competing solutions.
The testing looked at the following:
The analysis occurred in a fully updated Windows 10 environment. The testing was conducted both online, where the endpoints were cloud-connected, and in an offline scenario where the internet connections of all the endpoints were disabled. This was done to force the endpoints to rely only on local information when examining the malware.
The results of these tests are extremely eye-opening.
Tolly tested CylancePROTECT as well as Microsoft Defender for Business, Sophos Intercept X Advanced with XDR, and Trellix Endpoint Protection Platform.
We are pleased to announce that the Tolly report showsCylancePROTECT achieving a market-leading 98.9% detection rate for both online and offline tests. Competitors solutions performed significantly worse, allowing 9x more malware at their best, and a whopping 52x more malware at their worst.
At the same time, competing solutions required full (100%) CPU utilization to complete the necessary steps, while CylancePROTECT utilized just 5% of the CPU. In addition, the Microsoft, Sophos, and Trellix solutions took significantly longer to complete the scanning and blocking processes: One of the solutions took 6 hours to do what CylancePROTECT completed in only 27 minutes.
Another key finding in the research reveals an Achilles heel exists for many endpoint protection platforms if their cloud connection is disrupted, they become much less effective.
Over the past five years, the market has shifted towards an always-on approach, where cloud computing is seen as a requirement for effective cybersecurity. However, this over-reliance on cloud computing and cloud storage exposes organizations to unnecessary risk.
The Tolly analysis reveals that disabling the network connection or limiting cloud access for the endpoint significantly reduces the efficacy of some cloud-native (read cloud-required) EPPs. In effect, this inbuilt cloud reliance provides a convenient kill switch for attackers: Shut off the connection, and the device becomes substantially more vulnerable to exploitation.
CylancePROTECT was the lone exception to this cloud-dependent limitation during testing. It detected 98.9% of malware when connected to the cloud and the same percentage when offline.
At the same time, the research found Microsoft Defender for Business detected just 81% of the samples in offline testing. Trellix Endpoint Protection Platformdetected only 64% of the samples while offline. Finally, Sophos Intercept X Advanced with XDR detected a meager 42.4% of the samples when disconnected from the cloud.
Unlike its cloud-required competitors, CylancePROTECT has no built-in kill switch, making it consistently effective against modern malware even in isolated or non-connected environments.
The fact that CylancePROTECT performs at the top of the field regardless of network connection also proves it is uniquely positioned to protect OT (operational technology), including air-gapped and highly secure environments.
Now lets add context to the test results that show CylancePROTECT utilizing 5% of CPU in the tests, and competing solutions utilizing 100% of CPU. Imagine the impact on resources, especially if you are protecting a significant number of endpoints.
The shift toward cloud computing for endpoint security tools has paradoxically resulted in significantly higher CPU utilization for many security solutions. Despite having the benefits of cloud connectivity, theoretically offloading computing resources from the local device, these cloud-dependent solutions remain burdensome for devices. This increased usage alsodrives up the total cost of ownership (TCO) over time for IT and security teams. Additionally, high CPU utilization can negatively impact end users, leading to slower load times and sluggish performance.
In contrast, CylancePROTECT provides a better end-user experience by consuming minimal system resources while still delivering best-in-class protection. Its lightweight design means it is imperceptible to end users, regardless of connection status, while its efficacy in protecting endpoints remains uncompromised. Furthermore, using less CPU can yield a longer lifetime for devices by limiting the workload for the system.
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New Independent Tests of Endpoint Protection Reveal Marked ... - BlackBerry Blog