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Just how did remote working come to be a global phenomenon?

  • min read
    • You probably know the story by now – remote working is growing more popular by the day. Giving employees the chance to work more flexibly from a café, beach or front room of their choice is heralded as a clear way to improve staff productivity and morale. And working on the move also benefits employees who are often on the road. It's a logical move for employers looking to adapt and succeed in today's responsive world. But like most 'explosive' trends, remote working has been on the rise for quite some time already. The remote working phenomenon From humble farmhands to modern-day digital nomads, here's how remote working has evolved: Tech inventions have helped, too As you can see, remote working only really became possible after cloud computing was widely adopted. But there have been numerous technological advancements that have helped facilitate this trend. Here are the key ones: Mobile phones We love them, don't we? They've come a long way from the bricks of yesteryear, mind. Now, our trusty tablets and smartphones keep us connected wherever we go. Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) culture You, the airport, and the ability to access work emails from your own phone. BYOD culture means workers can stay on top of their work, wherever they are, right at their fingertips. Collaboration apps Platforms like Slack and Sharepoint allow remote workers to stay connected globally, and with the trusted help of cloud SaaS (software-as-a-service) solutions like Google Docs, you can work on documents and projects in sweet harmony from opposite sides of the world. Co-working spaces You know the ones. A home away from home for many modern-day remote workers. More often than not, these buildings are beautifully decorated with enough 'breakout spaces' to host everyone in a small business at once. Probably why they're so expensive. Virtual reality Whaaaaaat?! You heard right. Soon cometh the emergence of virtual-reality meetings. Just strap on a VR headset, dress your avatar for the occasion (no, not in the pajamas you're wearing!) and connect with colleagues from the comfort of your sofa. No more muffled conference calls (and no barking-dog-in-the-background avatar. Maybe). This is the future. Work anywhere, secure everywhere This is all well and good. But with the proliferation of remote working and flexible-working arrangements, what's the impact on cybersecurity? From malware and ransomware to decentralizing control of your IT networks, there are a few critical things you'll need to do to protect your business. Kaspersky's whitepaper on remote working has all the key data and recommendations on the future of remote working and how to keep your business and your employees safe… even when they're out sipping lattes in the café while collaborating on shared docs.
AI in healthcare

A vision of health: How will artificial intelligence revolutionize healthcare?

  • min read
    • Estimates say the global population will swell to almost 10 billion by 2050. Which begs the question: how will healthcare providers cope? Artificial intelligence may hold the key. But it's not all clear-cut: while some harbor apprehension about the impact of our health being heavily reliant on machines, many scientists and innovators are working round the clock to prove that AI tech can revolutionize healthcare. It's one of the world's biggest issues. The healthcare industry is crucial to everyone on the planet's well-being. So how can AI help? Put simply: by doing the more time-intensive work, AI will free up more resources for specific patient care, research and more than likely give healthcare professionals a few more precious hours sleep at night. But how? These pioneering uses of AI in healthcare today will blow your mind. Protein folding https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAJQbSLlonI In a nutshell: protein folding is the ability to predict a protein's shape. Why is that important? Proteins are a key part of the structure and function of body tissue and organs. When you understand the details of proteins, you get insights into how they function and how you can change those functions. Protein folding helps scientists understand protein's role within the body, as well as diagnosing and treating diseases believed to be caused by misfolded proteins, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's and cystic fibrosis. In the past, scientists relied on manual techniques that involved hours of trial and error, costing thousands of dollars per trial. Now, biologists are turning to AI as an accurate, time-saving alternative. Introducing Deep Mind's Alpha Fold, a 3D model for predicting protein structures based on artificial intelligence and many years of research. With the introduction of this new tech, scientists can design new, effective cures for diseases more efficiently while reducing the costs associated with experimentation. Win-win. Robot-assisted surgery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOod2AeVn4M 12 patients, one local hospital, and a very positive outcome. Researchers from the University of Oxford have completed the first successful trial of robot-assisted retinal surgery, with the help of Dutch firm Preceyes, the latter having developed the tech aimed at assisting eye surgeons. Each patient in the trial had a membrane removed from the back of their eye, but only six were operated on normally, the other half with Preceyes. OK, so the robot-assisted method took longer (four minutes compared to one), but the surgery report noted that the robot was able to perform the procedure with equal or better efficacy than in the traditional manual approach. The next step? Robotic surgical devices will be used for the precise and minimally traumatic delivery of gene therapy to the retina – a first for humankind. 3D imagery scanning Comparing 3D scans is a crucial part of a diagnosis, but as it can take two hours or more, there's been a desperate need to make the process quicker. Those calls have been answered: Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers have created a machine-learning algorithm that compares scans up to 1,000 times faster than the human eye. The algorithm works by 'learning' as it scans thousands of pairs of images. While uploading the pictures, it teaches itself how to align them perfectly atop each other before mapping all the pixels together at once. Image scanning can now take from one second to two minutes, depending on the computer. Which means, in theory, surgeons could find out how successful a completed surgery was right there and then, in the operating theater. Speeding up diagnosis with IBM Watson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7E1TJ1HtM0 IBM Watson, created in 2010, is an AI-operated database that helps healthcare professionals make medical decisions easier and quicker by drawing on past research sources. So far, Watson's uptake has been positive. Especially when you consider it's now in use at three of the top cancer hospitals in the US where it's speeding up DNA analysis in cancer patients, helping to make their treatment more effective. It's not just a one-trick pony, mind. Watson's power uses visual recognition to highlight points of interest in X-ray and MRI scans, speeding up analysis for doctors and their patients. Natural language processing (NLP) for clinicians https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6LHcsbIgQw Natural language processing is a branch of AI that converts human speech into written text. Let's take Dragon Medical One, for example.  A cloud-based speech recognition system, it allows clinicians to log a patient's diagnosis without a pen in sight. This gives the clinician more time to engage with the patient instead of writing notes. It's having quite an effect. Nuance Communications, creators of Dragon Medical One, claims to have helped Allina Health, a US not-for-profit healthcare system, boost their clinicians' productivity. Apparently, Allina Health saw 70 percent of their voice-based documentation automated and a 167 percent increase in the overall amount of documentation captured after adopting the system. What does this mean for cybersecurity? Yep, you guessed it: using more cloud-based and software-based solutions means a higher risk of a cyberattack. Granted, humans might be slower and less exciting, but they can't be hacked into…unless they have augmented bodies. That said, it's a small price to pay for a healthcare revolution.
cloud service

Can migrating to the cloud benefit your business?

  • min read
    • It's tempting to imagine the cloud as an actual cloud full of ones and zeros, but it's really a broad range of computing services such as virtualized IT infrastructures, storage, data processing and apps which are offered over a network. A public cloud is one where these services are available to anyone (either free or paid) and accessed over the internet. Most known examples of public clouds are Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure. A private cloud differs in that it's designed for the use of only one organization. A hybrid cloud, as its name suggests, combines elements of both. Many businesses also use multi-cloud strategies. This means they employ more than one public cloud platform and may also use a hybrid cloud. What sort of cloud is right for my business? There are advantages and disadvantages to all types of cloud. These tend to center around cost and security, a private cloud being both more expensive and, theoretically, more secure for protecting your business data. A company that wants quick access to its data from anywhere might use a public cloud – the market-leading suppliers of cloud storage have a strong focus on providing the highest level of security. A business which holds large quantities of sensitive data, such as legal and financial, and some tech companies, might choose a private cloud. Increasingly, however, many companies go hybrid – critical data may be stored privately, while less important information and resources such as apps are held in the public cloud. We're all heading for the clouds Cloud adoption is growing strongly. According to research by Kaspersky, 37 percent of small- to medium-sized businesses and 50 percent of all enterprises are either using the cloud or planning to increase their use of the cloud. There are good reasons for this. Maintaining IT infrastructure and the associated expertise in-house is expensive and keeping up to date with new technologies can mean running just to stand still. For these reasons, even large multinationals often buy in their cloud services. One of the other great drivers is changing working habits: increasingly staff is either distributed or working remotely. If everything they do is in the cloud, it can be accessed anywhere and from any device. Even so, Kaspersky also found that the speed of cloud adoption varies considerably by industry sector and geographical location. For small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), the arguments in favor of cloud adoption are perhaps the most compelling: the cost of maintaining IT infrastructure in-house is often prohibitive; as a result, many have 'made do' with technology that is far from cutting edge. Now they can buy everything in and have access to the same kind of IT and processing power as large companies. SMBs can use the latest productivity software; they can mine data to gain greater insights. What's more, cloud computing is also highly scalable. If you need more cloud services, you just buy them. It's like buying electricity – you just pay for what you use. Traditionally, SMBs have lacked the specialist skills and capabilities to set up infrastructure-as-a-service (Iaas), so they tend to use instead software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions, which are far simpler to implement and remove the need to maintain the underlying software. Security in the cloud Set featured image When the cloud was very new, security was a concern for businesses of all sizes. Much of this was down to the regular news of data breaches and anxiety around the idea that sensitive data might be stored 'off-site'. However, cloud security is generally highly secure; data is encrypted which reduces the chances of a breach, and a private cloud can be used for sensitive data. The cloud also allows you to store data within a certain country, which may be necessary to comply with data protection laws. For companies with distributed workforces who use multiple devices, the cloud can also have significant security benefits. Finally, cloud security offerings are now fully mature and offer a balance of peace of mind and ease of use. Businesses are starting to acknowledge that including cloud usage into their business processes may result in better security than they used to have when running them entirely on their premises. In some ways, what we're seeing with the cloud is the next development of the internet: greater speeds, better connectivity and improved security are making it possible for even more functionality to reside on the network so it can be accessed from anywhere. Some companies such as tech start-ups have jumped right in, but many companies are still getting used to this brave new world of location-independent productivity. However, in five years' time, it will be the norm for everyone. Is now the right time for your business to transition to the cloud?

Flexible working: Why your workforce (and finance director) will love you for it

  • min read
    • No sweaty morning commute. Lunch in the comfort of my home and, most importantly, bucket-loads more work done to a better standard. After swapping full-time for a flexible working arrangement recently, the benefits are clearer to me now more than they've ever been. So I'm celebrating how virtual offices are transforming the way we work for the better. And these amazing people around the world are enjoying the benefits too. First things first: working outside the standard 'nine to five' helps. A lot. Since switching, it's clear to me that my best work as a writer doesn't come within a constrained time frame. I'm free to spend my days doing things I enjoy, then buckle in for an evening of working from my laptop – sometimes at a café. Which brings me to my next personal highlight: no more offices. One previous situation springs to mind, a job I had a few years ago. A packed central city workplace, the humdrum of idle kitchen sounds, the crippling pressure of making small talk in the said kitchen and, for my sins, a bottomless biscuit tin which I spent most of my day slowly devouring. My motivation and productivity were at an all-time low. Now, having the chance to work anywhere, at any time, has given me a new lease of life. And I'm not the only one who feels that way. By having more responsibility in managing our workload, we can all create the best office in the world – and one that's right for you. And this is just the beginning for job flexibility. A recent LinkedIn study concluded that over the last three years, global job postings offering flexible working have increased by 78 percent. Here we go. Let's get flexible Dimension Data's research suggests that globally there will be a 40 percent increase in flexible arrangements over the next two years. Compare that with Forbes' findings on the US flexible-working market (it currently stands at 50 percent), and the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development's estimation that the UK's flexible-working market will reach 70 percent in 2020. We have a trend on our hands. This might sound great from an employee's perspective, but why should employers care? Happier workforce Flexible working will make your employees happier. By giving them an element of freedom over their hours, or where they work from, you're investing in their well-being. And it pays back. Psychologist Shawn Achor's inspiring TED talk explains how happier people are actually more productive. Happiness spreads: they'll have a little extra time they would have spent commuting to do something they love, like walking their children to school, supporting a family member or friend, or just getting some rest. The latter being particularly important for those who work long hours, travel a lot for work or live a long way from their workplace. It also helps those managing health conditions, or just people whose productivity doesn't necessarily flow during conventional working hours. I'm lucky enough to take a few hours out here and there if I'm not feeling 100 percent, which means I can recharge my batteries physically and psychologically. Something that, in today's fast-paced world of work, many don't have the luxury of doing. Increased productivity What happens when you mix flexible working arrangements with a happier workforce? Productivity goes through the roof. Or at least that's what this study from HSBC in the UK showed – indicating 89 percent of those surveyed believe flexible working is key to getting more work done. The amount I can do from home, a café or somewhere else in comparison to what I used to achieve in an office is, quite frankly, frightening. Talent attraction A recent Zenefits survey indicated that in the US, 77 percent of employees consider flexible-work arrangements when weighing up a job offer. Think about it: you're offered two jobs, one with flexible working, one without. Which one are you likely to take? It's a no-brainer, really. This is especially important if your business is looking to hire millennials like me. Why? A Global Shapers Survey noted that over 30 percent of under-30s place value on work-life balance when considering job opportunities. Flexible working – it pulls a crowd. If I were to move jobs, opportunities that offer flexible working in comparison to those that don't will always get my vote. Who could benefit? In short: everyone. More specifically, there are certain groups who might welcome it more than others – from parents who are juggling childcare with a demanding full-time job, to those desperately trying to coordinate multiple teams in different time zones. Flexible working is transforming the way employment, businesses and talent attraction work, but how will it impact cybersecurity? Protecting employees on the go With a growing tendency for workforces to work remotely and a burgeoning BYOD (bring your own device) culture, built-in security is not enough anymore. IT managers can increase their security budgets and reinvent endpoint protection to empower employees on the go. So if you want to reduce the number of security incidents while providing your employees with a flexible arrangement, you'll need to tool up. Home office and remote-working users aren't protected by the corporate firewall, so the data on their devices should be encrypted and their internet connection should be secured by a firewall or web controls. This requires endpoint protection with reach functionality, which also helps your IT team to meet compliance and security requirements by applying patches, detecting anomalies that could be cyberthreats, and controlling what websites and services employees can safely use. Find out more in this article about teleworking and cybersecurity. Flexibility in action As today's workforce becomes more connected, and our lives more hectic, flexible working arrangements that help staff support their lifestyles while meeting demanding job needs are more important than ever. If you're not already offering flexibility to your workforce, or thinking about it, my advice is this: do it before your competitors get there first.

Riding on the wings of change: Could drones be good for business?

  • min read
    • Let's not beat around the bush: drones haven't had the best press recently. From bringing down international airports to generally annoying park goers with their high-pitched sounds – it's not been their year so far. But are they a risk to our safety? In the right hands, I believe that drones are a force for good. They're changing the world for the better and they can help your business get ahead of the curve. Now, I'm not saying they don't come with their own set of… challenges. And London's Gatwick Airport control room team are going to think I'm bonkers. But they're genuinely helping to do some incredible things across the world. From emergency vaccine distribution to anti-poacher systems and even your pizza delivery, drones are making the world a safer place (who knows what would happen if you left the house to pick up the pizza). They don't just reduce human error from any equation, they minimize the time we need to spend doing menial tasks, so we can focus on more important work. Let's have a look at a few examples: Emergency vaccine deliveries In April 2019, Zipline launched a fleet of drones designed to carry medical supplies to Ghana's most remote areas. The drones have been flying test runs with blood and vaccines from one of four planned distribution centers. When fully operational, these drones will serve 500 clinics. A new view on agriculture https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkNdrTZ7CG4   By using drones to survey beautiful, luscious crops from above, there are many things we can ascertain about the land. Accurate information allows for optimal crop irrigation, fertilization and pest control. Reducing water and pesticide usage and maximizing crop yields benefits the bottom line and the environment. Right on. But it doesn't stop there. Planting crops can be a time-consuming and tedious process. Enter DroneSeed. This tiny flying machine tackles the issue at 350 feet per second, freeing up farmworkers to make better use of their time. They're also using the drones to plant trees and fight climate change. Next-generation retail deliveries https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HJtmx5f1Fc   Not as poignant as the other two, granted. But c'mon. You can't say that if you ordered a brand spanking new air fan on a sweltering-hot morning, and it was delivered to you 13 minutes later, you wouldn't be delighted. Amazon's recent Prime Air service aims to package up and deliver packages up to five pounds (in weight, not price) in 30 minutes or less. Could drones help make the working world safer? There's no two ways about it: drones are on the up. But, as they become more popular, we may see a case for them replacing the most dangerous or tedious jobs across many different industries. From data collection to delivery, drones have the ability to perform tasks that will free us up to focus on more important jobs and save us from potentially dangerous tasks. They're increasingly versatile. Some of the current uses include medical deliveries, traffic accident response, construction, and fire and rescue. In these cases, drone support could minimize workers' risk. For example, around 50 roofers are killed each year in the UK performing roof inspections in the construction industry (which is heavily safety regulated in this country). Replace that number with zero, and we've already made life-saving progress. How can you prepare your business for the future of drones? Now's the time to think about how drones can help your business reach new heights. Drone technology is already here; we have a choice to shape it for the better. The first step is overcoming some early challenges, of which there are a few. From creating air traffic management systems to addressing public noise and safety concerns – the right regulatory environment is key. Drone adoption is an incremental process, especially in large enterprises. The key to that process? Drone service providers (DSPs). DSPs make sure drones match customer needs. So whether you're in retail, logistics or another industry, when it comes to collecting data on drones and integrating them into your workflows, DSPs are critical. Are there safety implications? Yes: cybersecurity. If you're thinking about using a drone for your business, think about the data security implications. It doesn't get a great deal of press, but drones are just as easy to hijack as your company's servers. Watch this video about how easy it is to hack a drone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRr19hdsjoY Right now, many drone applications aren't capable of strong enough encryption to shield them from hackers. But, as sure as the rain falls, with proliferation comes preparation. It's time to make your business safer to clear the runway for the arrival of drone technology. This article represents the personal opinion of the author.
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About Secure Futures

Secure Futures magazine is your go-to business guide for opinions, trends and insight into the world of technology and cybersecurity. We help your business to bring on the future. Brought to you by Kaspersky, the global cybersecurity experts.

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