August 2023 Tech Upload
The NEW Digital Alliance would like to thank
Associated Bank and Community First Credit Union
for their support as a Executive Level investor!
NEW Digital News
Come learn and be a part of the Generative AI discussion.
Join your local IT leaders for a strategic deep dive into Generative AI. Interact with industry leaders from Gartner, Microsoft, TEKsystems, and Google. You’ll explore how others are positioning their organizations regarding Gen AI, discuss impact to your organization, and understand ways to pilot and POC the emerging tech.
Speakers:
Gartner: Carl Deal, Managing VP Executive Partner Program
Microsoft: Matt Adamyck, Technologist in Residence
TEKsystems:Adam Shea, Managing Director, Google Cloud
Google: Elaine Stephens, Head of Customer Engineering, Wisconsin
Note:
If your organization is interested in becoming a sponsor, please reach out to jason.mathwig@thenewnorth.com for details.
The NEW Digital Alliance (NEWDA) was created by Wisconsin-based tech leaders collaborating on increasing the tech talent within Northeast Wisconsin.
Completing the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification
The world of manufacturing is evolving rapidly, and Involta is meeting the challenge head-on with transformative technology and a skilled team of People Who Deliver. Involta recently welcomed John Kehoe to its team as Executive Vice President of Manufacturing. John hasserved on the Involta Manufacturing Advisory Board for several years and is a global industry leader that understands the connection between technology, cybersecurity and business growth and success.
For government contractors, the Department of Defense’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC 2.0) is the pinnacle of security and compliance. Partnering with companies with a strong CMMC score is essential—CMMC scores are ranked between -206 and 110, with a negative score reflecting the highest cybersecurity risk and a high score reflecting the lowest risk.
Involta recently worked with a third-party partner to complete a comprehensive CMMC 2.0 assessment and achieved compliance with 109 of the 110 CMMC 2.0 controls. Since 2007, Involta has prioritized security and compliance, and this security-first approach set the foundation for the CMMC 2.0 assessment.
For companies pursuing CMMC 2.0, Involta recommends:
- Work with a third-party partner with deep CMMC knowledge
The CMMC 2.0 assessment is intense. Companies are evaluated on 110 controls. Level 1 includes 17 controls that protect contractor information systems and user access. Level 2 includes 14 controls and 110 security controls defined by the National Institute of Technology and Standards (NIST). Level 3 includes Level 2 controls plus additional NIST 800-171 controls. It’s a complex process that will go much more smoothly under the guidance of a knowledgeable partner. - Prioritize security at every level of your business
Involta achieved compliance with 109/110 CMMC 2.0 controls and is considered a Level 3 expert on government-led cybersecurity assessments. Security is about more than protecting client environments and neutralizing threats, it’s about creating a culture of security that permeates an entire organization. People drive results, and your people also represent the greatest risk. Companies that lead with a security mindset—one that is set, upheld and enforced by a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)—certainly have a head start on completing a CMMC 2.0 assessment.
Interested in learning more about creating a culture of security for your organization?
TEKsystems Expands Partnership with Google Cloud
Partnership will deliver AI-driven solutions and superior customer experience through solutions that are built with Google Cloud’s foundation models and generative AI capabilities in Google Cloud’s generative AI ecosystem.
TEKsystems Global Services, a global provider of technology and business solutions, has expanded their partnership with Google Cloud, investing in development of advanced generative AI (Gen AI) solutions. The partnership will accelerate TEKsystems Global Services Gen AI strategy, bringing new AI-powered capabilities and experiences to customers. They are 1 of 5 global companies that we’re given this honor of being a launch partner to help customers identify/prioritize use cases and operationalize POC/pilots for this emerging technology. One of the reasons why they’ve been selected is that through their 5-year partnership with Google Cloud they’ve been 1 out of only 2 partners out of 5,000 that holds their data analytics, machine learning, and contact center specializations together.
TEKsystems Global Services, a Google Cloud Premier partner, has existing, proven capabilities supporting the full spectrum of Google Cloud initiatives. Building off the use cases that positioned the company to achieve Google Cloud specializations in Contact Center AI (CCAI), data analytics, infrastructure modernization and machine learning, TEKsystems Global Services Generative AI Practice will accelerate Google Cloud’s Gen AI solutions adoption. The practice will focus on driving operational efficiencies and financial resilience as well as generating net new revenue streams for their enterprise customers.
With deep expertise across retail, healthcare and life sciences, communications, media and entertainment, and financial services, TEKsystems Global Services will develop Gen AI use cases to drive real-world results. TEKsystems Global Services is actively working on integrating Gen AI capabilities into workflows to drive developer efficiencies and improved consumer conversational experiences for several large U.S. telecommunication providers. In addition, TEKsystems Global Services has built their own AI products and accelerators, such as the enterprise-ready, AI-based conversational platform TEKsystems.sAIge, which is powered by Google Cloud’s CCAI, and the company is proactively taking steps by applying large language models (LLMs) to related use cases to cut associated manual toil by up to 50%.
As a launch partner, their Generative AI Practice focused on driving operational efficiencies, promoting financial resilience and generating net new revenue streams.
Keep an eye out for future communications from Adam Shea, Director of Google Cloud at TEKsystems. Adam will be speaking at the NEWDA Summit on Generative AI on August 22nd. You can learn more about the program and network with him in person.
Associated Bank recognizes their first ever Registered Apprentice's
“Teach them how to think, not what to think.” – Chuck Olsen, State of Wisconsin Apprenticeship Outreach Representative for Emerging Apprenticeship Sectors (SE & SW WI Districts)
On July 17, Associated Bank held their inaugural Registered Apprenticeship Recognition Program recognizing their organization’s first ever registered apprentices, and what a remarkable afternoon it was. In fall of 2021, their technology team set out to reach, connect with and build tech talent in new ways and registered apprenticeship quickly became an integral part of their vision. Through their partnership with MKE Tech Hub Coalition and Apprenti that vision became possible, and has infused their team with eager talent with transferrable skills inspired to make the transition into tech and who demonstrate daily their willingness and desire to learn.
In addition, Associated Bank has expanded their technology registered apprenticeship program to cyber security and has been recognized as the first employer in the State of Wisconsin to hire a cyber analyst registered apprentice! With Wisconsin being the first state in the nation to have registered apprenticeship, we are proud to continue to support and drive the importance of this critical career pathway and diverse talent pipeline program.
Is Data Destruction Something You Can Do Yourself?
Every business produces data. We don’t care if you are in e-commerce or construction. You have digital data on computers and other devices, and much of that data is sensitive. Client information, bank account information, proprietary data, and more can all be exposed if those devices end up in the wrong hands.
Often, those devices will make their way into those wrong hands when the device has reached the end of its life. This is not when you should just store it in a closet, even a locked closet. Instead, you should reduce your liability as soon as possible, have that data destroyed, and recycle the device while you are at it.
We understand the desire to take matters into your own hands. It may seem cheaper at first and, especially if your business is small, doing things yourself may just be what you are accustomed to. However, we can assure you, this is not a matter that you should attempt to tackle on your own.
Formatting is usually the first option people jump to. After all, if you’ve ever done it before then you’d know that it appears to do exactly what you want it to do—delete all the data. We can assure you, this is not what formatting does. Instead, formatting merely flags all the data as junk so that the drive can feel free to write over it. Anyone with even basic computer skills and a desire to steal data can still get most if not all of the data on a formatted hard drive.
Regional News
Handshake: Network Trends
The class of 2023 is entering the workforce during a period of rapid change. The economy is uncertain, attitudes toward remote and hybrid work are ever evolving, and new AI technology could completely reshape how work is done.
How are soon-to-be new grads meeting this moment? Their research reveals five key trends:
- They’re adjusting their priorities. In particular, this class cares less and less about working for a big-name, fast-growing company. Between summer 2022 and spring 2023, we saw a 10 percentage point drop in the share of 2023 graduates who say company brand is a factor in their job search, and a 20 percentage point drop in the share who say a company’s growth rate is a factor.
- They’re confident in their skills and ready to keep learning. More than 70% of 2023 graduates say they have the skills they need to get the job they want. But they know they’ll need to work to keep up with evolving tech trends—about 75% plan to develop additional tech skills in the next few years.
- They’re tech-savvy, even if they didn’t major in a tech field. More than 80% of 2023 graduates majoring in non-tech fields have experience with one or more tech skills, such as data analysis or information technology.
- They’re split on the impact of generative AI. Among 2023 graduates who are familiar with AI tools like ChatGPT, a majority believe generative AI will impact their field, while a little under half are worried about how generative AI will affect their career.
- They want in-person connection. Although they appreciate the benefits of remote work, very few 2023 graduates want fully remote jobs, and a majority believe working in person at least some of the time will benefit their careers. More than 7 in 10 would prefer a hybrid work arrangement.
Winning w/ WI's Workforce: New Ways to Promote Workforce Participation
MADISON – How can employers, educators and communities boost local talent pools to strengthen Wisconsin’s workforce and help our economy thrive?
Strategies such as expanding apprenticeship, supporting veterans, tapping people with disabilities, and hiring justice-involved individuals will be at the forefront as the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) continues its “Winning with Wisconsin’s Workforce” forums. The statewide series of events highlights workforce development initiatives, available funding, resources to aid competitiveness, and local successes with worker recruitment and retention.
The free forums are organized by DWD, Wisconsin’s regional Workforce Development Boards, and local partners. Employers, educators, community leaders, nonprofit service providers, and more are encouraged to attend. Interested participants can learn more at the Winning with Wisconsin’s Workforce Events website and register for any of the upcoming sessions.
The upcoming forums will run from Aug. 10 to Sept. 28, 2023. They will build on events hosted in quarters one and two earlier this year. The third round of free events will focus on promoting workforce participation, highlighting strategies such as apprenticeships, teen employment, work opportunities for people with disabilities, job center resources, and more.
“The statewide series of Winning with Wisconsin’s Workforce events support employers, community leaders, and other stakeholders in their workforce development efforts,” said DWD Secretary-designee Amy Pechacek. “Attending one of these events near you will enable you to hear success stories, discover fresh workforce strategies, and network with industry professionals.”
As employers expand artificial intelligence in hiring, few states have rules
July 17, 2023
By Madyson Fitzgerald
As artificial intelligence finds its way into aspects of everyday life and becomes increasingly advanced, some state legislators feel a new urgency to create regulations for its use in the hiring process.
Artificial intelligence, commonly known as AI, has been adopted by a quarter of businesses in the United States, according to the 2022 IBM Global AI Adoption Index, a jump of more than 13% over the previous year. Many are beginning to use it in the hiring process.
State laws haven’t kept up. Only Illinois, Maryland and New York City require employers to ask for consent first if using AI during certain parts of the hiring process. A handful of states are considering similar legislation.
Is your workplace ready for flexible work? A survey offers clues
June 1, 2023
By: Phil Kirschner, Adrian Kwok, and Julia McClatchy
Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, many companies have implemented flexible work patterns in pursuit of better employee experience, real estate cost savings, and more sustainable operations. However, a McKinsey survey of real estate and employee experience executives from 50 companies reveals that most firms have only scratched the surface.
The survey asked how far along companies are in implementing 12 practices McKinsey has identified as key to developing effective and sustainable hybrid work strategies (for a description of the survey, see sidebar, “Our methodology”). Their responses suggest that many companies are targeting useful data and technologies and thinking strategically about on-site and remote work, but most are still struggling to strike the right balance in creating “true hybrid” work models. Even some of the most forward-thinking companies are leaving both performance improvements and more efficient real estate spending on the table.