July 2026 Tech Upload
NEW Digital News
Applications for Investor Mentorship Program 2026 Fall Cohort now live
This exclusive program is designed to connect experienced IT & digital professionals with emerging talent to support career growth, industry insight, and leadership development in Northeast Wisconsin’s tech community.
| Commitment Twice a month one-on-one sessions for 3 months (could be virtual or in person) |
Fall 2026 Dates August 12 – December 10 Includes welcoming and celebration events |
- Grow your desired skillsets through a guided mentorship
- Gain outside perspective from local IT talent
- Build relationships with likeminded professionals
- Expand your network
Click here to Learn more and Apply Now to be a mentor or mentee this fall!
Reminder: This opportunity is available ONLY to current investors of the NEW Digital Alliance.
Thank you to our investors.
The NEW Digital Alliance would like to thank the following for their support as Executive Level investors!
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Upcoming northeast Wisconsin IT events
49th Annual Sherry Anklam Memorial Award Golf Outing
Thursday, July 16
8:00 a.m.
Mid Vallee Golf Course
Organizer: NEW AITP
From Innovation to Impact-Turning AI, Security & Modern IT into Real Business Value
Thursday, July 16 & 23
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Virtual
Organizer: EDCi
IT Roundtable: Sherlock – Building an Agent That Becomes an Expert on Any Domain
Monday, July 27
12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Virtual (Zoom)
Organizer: NEW Digital Alliance
Showcase Your Brand at the Fox Cities Chamber’s November Business AI Summit – Vendor Applications Now Being Accepted
The Fox Cities Chamber is now accepting vendor applications for its AI Business Summit on Tuesday, November 3. This is the premier event for businesses, innovators, and professionals looking to explore the power of artificial intelligence in the workplace. This event will bring together industry experts, thought leaders, and cutting-edge businesses to discuss practical AI applications, emerging trends, and real-world case studies that are shaping the future of business.
Area businesses who would like to put their brand in front of decision-makers, industry leaders, and AI enthusiasts can now apply for a vendor table at the summit for just $500. Vendors at the AI Business Summit will gain premium access to an audience eager to explore the latest in technology, innovation, and business solutions.
Vendor perks:
- Prime Visibility – Vendor tables are located in the main ballroom, where attendees will gather for the keynote sessions, lunch, and closing speaker. This ensures maximum exposure throughout the day.
- Engaged Attendees – The AI Business Summit will attract professionals from businesses of all sizes throughout Wisconsin who are actively seeking tools, services, and insights to leverage AI in their businesses. This will give vendors the chance to connect, network, and generate valuable leads.
- Keynote Access – Vendors are not just exhibitors—they’re also participants. Vendors will have the opportunity to enjoy the keynotes, breakfast, lunch, and networking reception while also showcasing their offerings (breakout sessions not included).
- Strategic Breaks – With breakout sessions held in separate rooms, the main ballroom remains a central hub for networking during session transitions and breaks. Attendees will naturally stop by to engage with vendors during these times.
- Exclusive Networking – Beyond your table, take advantage of dedicated networking time to connect with industry leaders and potential clients throughout the day.
Spots are limited—interested vendors should reserve a table now to ensure availability and the opportunity to showcase their expertise, build relationships, and grow business at Wisconsin’s leading AI-focused event.
Labor Market Insights: June 2026
IT Labor Market Showing Signs of Improvement—But Hiring Remains Selective
The latest labor market report from Carex Consulting suggests the overall U.S. job market is healthier than many headlines imply, but IT professionals are still facing a challenging hiring environment. While unemployment remains low (4.3%), layoffs are minimal, and job growth continues to outpace replacement needs, hiring rates remain historically low, making it difficult for many candidates to land new roles.
The report notes that technology, finance, and other white-collar sectors continue to experience slower hiring than industries like healthcare and hospitality. However, there are encouraging signs for IT: AI-related hiring is increasing, IT consulting positions are growing, and nearly half of current job postings now require some level of AI-related skills. Rather than eliminating jobs, AI appears to be reshaping the skills employers are looking for.
Takeaway: The market isn’t weak, it’s highly selective. Organizations are hiring carefully, and IT professionals who continue building AI and emerging technology skills are likely to be better positioned as hiring improves.
Help Inspire the Next Generation of IT Talent
Looking for a meaningful way to give back to our future workforce? Inspire WI is seeking employers willing to host student job shadows and/or serve as guest speakers for local school districts.
By opening your workplace to students or sharing your career journey, you can help young people explore careers in technology, gain valuable career readiness skills, and better understand the opportunities available in Northeast Wisconsin.
If your organization is interested in participating, please take a few minutes to complete the interest form. Your responses will help Inspire WI connect students with meaningful career exploration experiences and potential future employers.
Thank you for investing in the next generation of technology talent and helping build a stronger workforce for our region.
Interested in participating?
Other IT News
Beyond the benchmark: Advancing security at AI speed
(Photo cred: Microsoft)
By Taesoo Kim
Microsoft
AI Is Reshaping Vulnerability Management
Microsoft recently shared how its AI-powered vulnerability detection system, codenamed MDASH, is helping security teams find and validate software vulnerabilities much faster than traditional approaches. Rather than simply scanning for known issues, the platform uses multiple AI models to identify, prioritize, and help remediate vulnerabilities across large enterprise environments.
The bigger takeaway isn’t the technology itself—it’s that vulnerability management is evolving from periodic scanning to continuous, AI-assisted security operations. As AI becomes more capable, organizations will likely need to rethink how quickly they identify, prioritize, and fix security issues.
AWS: The Next Evolution of AI Security Requires New Guardrails
By Riggs Goodman III and Christopher Rae
AWS
Securing the Next Generation of AI Applications
As organizations move beyond AI experimentation and begin deploying AI-powered applications, security teams are facing a new challenge: protecting systems that can make decisions and take actions on behalf of users.
AWS recently outlined an AI Security Framework focused on building security into AI deployments from the beginning. The framework emphasizes areas such as access controls, monitoring, data protection, and governance as organizations move AI projects from prototypes into production environments.
For IT teams, the message is clear: AI security cannot be treated as an afterthought. Organizations will need policies, controls, and monitoring strategies that evolve alongside their AI adoption.
AI Is Changing the Ransomware Threat Landscape
(AI generated)
By O’Ryan Johnson
The Register
Ransomware Is Evolving—And Recovery Plans Need to Evolve Too
Cybersecurity experts are warning that AI
is changing the ransomware landscape by helping attackers discover vulnerabilities faster and execute more sophisticated attacks.
Modern attacks are increasingly focused not just on encrypting files, but on disrupting entire environments—including virtual machines, infrastructure platforms, and backup systems. This raises the importance of testing recovery processes before an incident occurs.
For IT teams, the takeaway is straightforward: backups alone are not enough. Organizations need resilient recovery strategies, tested restore processes, and layered security controls to withstand increasingly advanced threats.
Five Billion Passkeys: A Milestone, Not a Finish Line
(AI generated)
By Megan Shamas
FIDO Alliance
Passkeys Continue to Gain Momentum
Passkeys are rapidly becoming the preferred alternative to traditional passwords. According to the FIDO Alliance, more than 5 billion passkeys are now in active use worldwide, and awareness and adoption continue to grow across both consumers and enterprises. Built on public key cryptography, passkeys help reduce the risk of phishing, credential theft, and password reuse while providing a simpler sign-in experience.
Although passwords won’t disappear overnight, the report highlights that organizations are increasingly incorporating passkeys into their identity strategies. For IT teams, now is a good time to evaluate where passwordless authentication can improve both security and the user experience.