Most Software Engineers Know Nothing About Hardware
While most software engineers would want to believe that there is not a need for
them to know the intricacies of hardware, as long as what they are using offers
support for the software they want to use and build. But on the contrary, a user
offered a thought-provoking take, suggesting that understanding hardware could
bolster several fields, such as cybersecurity. “I think it would help in
programming to know how the chip and memory think only to secure the program
from hackers,” he said. This highlights a practical benefit of hardware
knowledge that goes beyond mere academic interest. Moreover, software engineers
who know a thing or two about hardware can create better softwares and build
good software capability on the hardware. This perspective suggests that a
deeper understanding of hardware can lead to more efficient and innovative
software solutions. The roles of software engineers are also changing with
the advent of AI tools. For over a decade, a popular belief has been that a
computer science degree is all you need to tread the path to wealth, especially
in a country like India.
Network teams are ready to switch tool vendors
For a variety of reasons, network management tools have historically been sticky
in IT organizations. First, tool vendors sold them with perpetual licenses,
which meant a long-term investment. Second, tools could take time to implement,
especially for larger companies that invest months of time customizing data
collection mechanisms, dashboards, alerts, and more. Also, many tools were
difficult to use, so they came with a learning curve. But things have changed.
Most network management tools are now available as SaaS solutions with a
subscription license. Many vendors have developed new automation features and
AI-driven features that reduce the amount of customization that some IT
organizations will need to do. ... For all these reasons, many IT
organizations feel less locked into their network management tools today. Still,
it’s important to note that replacing tools remains challenging. In fact,
network teams that struggle to hire and retain skilled personnel are less likely
to replace a tool. They don’t have the capacity to tackle such a project because
they’re barely keeping up with day-to-day operations. Larger enterprises, which
have larger and more complex networks, were also less open to new tools.
Reducing CIO-CISO tension requires recognizing the signs
In the case of highly critical vulnerabilities that have been exploited, the
CISO will want patches applied immediately, and the CIO is likely aligned with
this urgency. But for medium-level patches, the CIO may be under pressure to
defer these disruptions to production systems, and may push back on the CISO
to wait a week or even months before patching. ... Incident management is
another are ripe for tension. The CISO has a leadership role to play when
there is a serious cyber or business disruption incident, and is often
the“messenger” that shares the bad news. Naturally, the CIO wants to be
immediately informed, but often the details are sparse with many unknowns.
This can make the CISO look bad to the CIO, as there are often more questions
than answers at this early stage. ... A fifth example is DevOps, as many CIOs,
including myself, advocate for continuous delivery at velocity. Unfortunately,
not as many CIOs advocate for DevSecOps to embed cybersecurity testing in the
process. This is perhaps because the CIO is often under pressure from
executive stakeholders to release new software builds and thus accept the risk
that there may be some iteration required if this is not perfect.
Strategies for combating AI-enhanced BEC attacks
In addition to employee training and a zero-trust approach, companies should
leverage continuous monitoring and risk-based access decisions. Security teams
can use advanced analytics to monitor user activity and identify anomalies
that might indicate suspicious behavior. Additionally, zero trust allows for
implementing risk-based access controls – for example, access from an
unrecognized location might trigger a stronger authentication challenge or
require additional approval before granting access. Security teams can also
use network segmentation to contain threats. This involves dividing the
network into smaller compartments. So, even if attackers manage to breach one
section, their movement is restricted, preventing them from compromising the
entire network. ... Building a robust defense against BEC attacks requires a
layered approach. Comprehensive security strategies that leverage zero trust
are a must. However, they can’t do all the heavy lifting alone. Businesses
must also empower their employees to make the right decisions by investing in
security awareness training that incorporates real-world scenarios and teaches
employees how to identify and report suspicious activities.
From sci-fi to reality: The dawn of emotionally intelligent AI
Greater ability to integrate audio, visual and textual data opens potentially
transformative opportunities in sectors like healthcare, where it could lead
to more nuanced patient interaction and personalized care plans. ... As GPT-4o
and similar offerings continue to evolve, we can anticipate more sophisticated
forms of natural language understanding and emotional intelligence. This could
lead to AI that not only understands complex human emotions but also responds
in increasingly appropriate and helpful ways. The future might see AI becoming
an integral part of emotional support networks, providing companionship and
aid that feels genuinely empathetic and informed. The journey of AI from niche
technology to a fundamental part of our daily interactions is both
exhilarating and daunting. To navigate this AI revolution responsibly, it is
essential for developers, users and policymakers to engage in a rigorous and
ongoing dialogue about the ethical use of these technologies. As GPT-4o and
similar AI tools become more embedded in our daily lives, we must navigate
this transformative journey with wisdom and foresight, ensuring AI remains a
tool that empowers rather than diminishes our humanity.
Unlocking DevOps Mastery: A Comprehensive Guide to Success
From code analysis and vulnerability scanning to access control and identity
management, organizations must implement comprehensive security controls to
mitigate risks throughout the software development lifecycle. Furthermore,
compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements must be baked
into the DevOps process from the outset rather than treated as an
afterthought. Moreover, organizations must be vigilant about ethical
considerations and algorithmic bias in environments leveraging AI and machine
learning, where the stakes are heightened. By embedding security and
compliance into every stage of the DevOps pipeline, organizations can build
trust and confidence among stakeholders and mitigate potential risks to their
reputation and bottom line. DevSecOps, an extension of DevOps, emphasizes
integrating security practices throughout the software development lifecycle
(SDLC). Several key security practices and frameworks should be integrated
into the DevOps program.
Composable Enterprise: The Evolution of MACH and Jamstack
As the Jamstack and the MACH Architecture continue to evolve, categorizing the
MACH architecture as “Jamstack for the enterprise” might not entirely be
accurate, but it’s undeniable that the MACH approach has been gaining traction
among vendors and has increasing appeal to enterprise customers. Demeny points
out that the MACH Alliance recently celebrated passing the 100 certified
member mark, and believes that the organization and the MACH architecture are
entering a new phase. The MACH approach has been gaining traction among
vendors and has increasing appeal to enterprise customers. “This also means
that the audience profile of the MACH community and buyers is starting to
shift a bit from developers to more business-focused stakeholders,” said
Demeny. ”As a result, the Alliance is producing more work around
interoperability understanding and standards in order to help these newer
stakeholders understand and navigate the landscape.” Regardless of what tech
stack developers and organizations choose, the evolution of the Jamstack and
the MACH architecture are providing more options and flexibility for
developers.
The Three As of Building A+ Platforms: Acceleration, Autonomy, and Accountability
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If the why is about creating value for the business, the what is all about
driving velocity for your users, bringing delight to your users, and making
your users awesome at what they do. This requires bringing a product mindset
to building a platform. ... This is where I found it very useful to think in
terms of the Double Diamond framework, where the first diamond is about
product discovery and problem definition and the second is about building a
solution. While in the first diamond you can do divergent thinking and
ideation, either widely or deeply, the second diamond allows for
action-oriented, focused thinking that converges into developing and
delivering the solution. ... Platforms cannot be shaky - solid fundamentals
(Reliability, Security, Privacy, Compliance, disruption) and operational
excellence are tablestakes, not a nice-to-have. Our platforms have to be
stable. In our case, we decided to put a stop to all feature delivery for
about a quarter, did a methodical analysis of all the failures that led to the
massive drop in deploy rates, and focused on crucial reliability efforts until
we brought this metric back up to 99%+.
Training LLMs: Questions Rise Over AI Auto Opt-In by Vendors
"Organizations who use these technologies must be clear with their users about
how their information will be processed," said John Edwards, Britain's
Information Commissioner, in a speech last week at the New Scientist Emerging
Technologies summit in London. "It's the only way that we continue to reap the
benefits of AI and emerging technologies." Whether opting in users by default
complies with GDPR remains an open question. "It's hard to think how an
opt-out option can work for AI training data if personal data is involved,"
Armstrong said. "Unless the opt-out option is really prominent - for example,
clear on-screen warnings; burying it in the terms and conditions won't be
enough - that's unlikely to satisfy GDPR's transparency requirements." Clear
answers remain potentially forthcoming. "Many privacy leaders have been
grappling with questions around topics such as transparency, purpose
limitation and grounds to process in relation to the use of personal data in
the development and use of AI," said law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher
& Flom LLP, in a response to a request from the U.K. government to
domestic regulators to detail their approach to AI.
Data Owner vs. Data Steward: What’s the Difference?
Data owners (also called stakeholders) are often senior leaders or bosses
within the organization, who have taken responsibility for managing the data
in their specific department or business area. For instance, the director of
marketing or the head of production are often data owners because the data
used by their staff is critical to their operations. It is a position that
requires both maturity and experience. Data owners are also responsible for
implementing the security measures necessary for protecting the data they own
– encryption, firewalls, access controls, etc. The data steward, on the other
hand, is responsible for managing the organization’s overall Data Governance
policies, monitoring compliance, and ensuring the data is of high quality.
They also oversee the staff, as a form of the data police, to ensure they are
following the guidelines that support high-quality data. ... Data stewards can
offer valuable recommendations and insights to data owners, and vice versa.
Regular meetings and collaboration between the data steward and data owners
are necessary for successful Data Governance and management.
Quote for the day:
"Pursue one great decisive aim with
force and determination." -- Carl Von Clause Witz
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