June 2023 Tech Upload
NEW Digital News
2023-24 Investment Renewals
As we head into the summer season, that means our end of the fiscal year approaches for the NEW Digital Alliance. As we move forward into the 2023-24 fiscal year, it is time for investment renewals. At the last executive committee meeting, we approved a new investor structure that better aligns with our current vision for the future of the Alliance. We have went from a three tier investment structure down to two. Here are the new levels along with the benefits to each level:
Executive Level Members – $5,000
All the benefits of the Strategic Level, plus…
- Leadership position – member of the NEW Digital Alliance Executive Committee
- Access to resumes shared by local resources (interns, seasoned professionals)
- Promote open IT and digital career positions through our job board and social media posts
- Liaison to K16 – youth and adult apprentice (YA) opportunities
Strategic Level Members – $2,000
- Access to regional survey data (K12, college, employer)
- Participate in surveys related to aging workforce and diversity in IT, get local, regional and national trend data.
- Participate in the NEW Digital Alliance semi-annual meetings – listen to regional and national leaders talk about talent and technology while networking with regional leaders
- Promote your brand
- Recognition in our monthly newsletter
- Recognition as an investor across our four social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn)
- Promote your brand by highlighting your company website on the NEW Digital Alliance Investor page
- Included on Investor Thank You slide for event presentations
- Acknowledged in the New North annual and semi-annual reports, both print and digitally
- Acknowledged at the New North annual summit
- Network opportunities with Senior IT leaders, peers, vendors, educators, and students
- Invitation to join one or more committees and discussion groups
- Cybersecurity Roundtables (6x annually)
- Industry IT Roundtables (6x annually)
- Upskilling opportunities
- Talent Pipeline Development (2x annually)
- Industry/K16
- Nontraditional talent
We will begin to send out renewal invoices to current investors starting at the end of June for July payments for the beginning of the 2023-24 fiscal year.
June Cybersecurity Roundtable
FBI Cyber: Imposing Risk & Consequence
Join us for the NEW Digital Alliance cybersecurity roundtable discussion with FBI Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) Amanda J. Knutson. SSA Knutson will be sharing her cybersecurity knowledge on Imposing Risk & Consequence. Topics of this roundtable will include:
- FBI’s Cyber mission
- Case examples
- Information on current trends to include ransomware
- Cybersecurity recommendations & resources
- How to report Cyber incidence
- What to expect when engaging with the FBI during an incident
Come prepared to chat and interact with peers during this brown-bag style discussion.
NEWDA Investor Mentorship Program
Now accepting 2nd cohort mentors and mentees
Become a mentor or mentee
Learn more about what makes a good mentor or mentee and other details about the program the Investor Mentorship Program webpage. We are looking for both mentors and mentees for the 2nd cohort. If you are interested in becoming a mentor or mentee, reach out to Jack Brown at jack_brown@secura.net to apply or learn more.
The AI Revolution
Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to machines that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning, problem-solving, and decision-making. It involves using algorithms and machine learning models to analyze large amounts of data and learn from patterns in that data.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a rapidly evolving technology that has the potential to change the way we live and work. AI involves using computer algorithms and systems to simulate human intelligence, including learning, reasoning, and perception. Recently, AI has been used to develop technologies such as self-driving cars, facial recognition systems, and virtual assistants.
Have electronics you need to get rid of?
Getting rid of electronics can always be a bit confusing. What can you recycle? What can you through away? Where do you take equipment to dispose? Sadoff E-Recycling & Data Destruction highlights Wisconsin recycling laws and other important information on disposing of electronics.
Is it the Law to Recycle in Wisconsin?
Believe it or not, recycling is not the law in many states, but it is in Wisconsin and has been since 1990. How every county or municipality handles its recycling is up to them, as long as certain items—which we have outlined below—do not enter the landfill. Most areas provide waste pick up and trust in residents and businesses to separate these items out of their garbage cans. Often these areas do provide bins for specified recyclable materials as well as additional pick-up options for other materials. To find out how to get rid of any of these banned items, please refer to your local municipality. Most do not provide an option for electronics though they are banned. We will dive into exactly what electronics are banned in landfills below.
Solving the Cloud Costs Puzzle
How to Maximize Business Value with FinOps
From inflation to chip shortages to a historically tight labor market, organizations face a litany of economic challenges. And organizations are also navigating a growing set of economic and geopolitical disruptions, which makes it even more important to focus on actions that ensure they are maximizing the return on their technology investments. Organizations must find ways to increase efficiency and curtail costs to preserve their bottom line—CFOs are feeling the pressure from all sides.
But that doesn’t mean organizations can slow down the pace of change. As the world becomes increasingly digital, organizations are accelerating their rate of technology investment and strategically applying technology to enable business transformation. Cloud technology enables much of that transformation, promising to improve efficiency and competitiveness. However, with the rise of inflation, companies are struggling to manage the costs associated with cloud infrastructure and services. At the same time, two-thirds of organizations report that cloud compute resources are underutilized.
With growing cloud footprints, the challenge of managing cloud spending has become increasingly complex. Cloud spending can quickly get out of hand without proper financial management practices in place.
Cost Savings and Efficiencies with Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)
Implementing Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) on Azure Stack HCI in Waukesha School District
March 29, 2023
Heartland Business Systems
It can be difficult and expensive for school districts and organizations to support and provide access to a variety of devices and operating systems. School districts around the nation must continuously evolve and function with tight finances, scarce resources, and limited time to complete the tasks that need to be done. Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) in schools and organizations offer a solution to these issues, allowing you to build and run hybrid apps across datacenters, edge locations, remote offices, and the cloud.
Virtual desktops are advantageous in that they can be accessed from any location because the operating system is not running on the hardware that is used to access it. Virtualization allows companies to grow computer and networking capabilities without needing expensive hardware. In this blog article, we will discuss and explore the potential uses of virtual machines and the benefits they can offer your company or school district.
Regional News
Partnership & Sponsorship Opportunities for WI Tech Month 2023
WI Tech Month 2023, taking place in October, is an ambitious initiative aimed at uniting the state of Wisconsin around the shared vision of creating equitable opportunities and driving impactful innovation in both society and business. As we gear up for this month-long celebration, we are actively seeking partners and sponsors who are passionate about driving positive change in our tech ecosystem. I attached our updated partnership brochure that outlines the key pillar programs and opportunities to get involved.
WI Tech Month will revolve around four main pillars: tech policy & advocacy, entrepreneurship, STEM education, and community. We firmly believe that a collective effort is needed to foster a thriving tech ecosystem in Wisconsin, and we welcome your participation as a sponsor or an active partner in any of these areas.
As a partner, you will have the chance to showcase your organization’s commitment to innovation and community engagement. WI Tech Month offers a platform for educators, facilitators, leaders, and speakers like you to share their expertise and inspire others. We are looking for passionate individuals who are eager to host events, speak at workshops, or facilitate engaging discussions throughout October.
By joining us, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with a diverse and enthusiastic audience, and contribute to shaping the future of Wisconsin’s tech landscape. This is your chance to leave a lasting impact, foster collaborations, and position your organization as a leader in driving positive change.
If you are interested in participating or supporting an event in any capacity, whether as a host, speaker, facilitator, or if you know someone who would be a great fit for this initiative, we would love to hear from you. Your involvement is crucial in making WI Tech Month 2023 a resounding success.
Ready, Set, Secure – The Complete Approach to Cybersecurity
May 10, 2023
By: Emma Carpenter
Recently I talked about how we need to “step up security” on the heels of our Cisco Cybersecurity Readiness Index: Resilience in a Hybrid World report.
I wanted to take a closer look at the results across the 27 markets and what we can learn from customers in the “more prepared” category. While technologies for protecting devices and data have been widely adopted, more progress is needed across identity, networks, and apps.
To me, it’s like having car insurance that only covers the interior or tires – gaps in coverage affect the whole.
How Ready Is Your Organization?
Among the study participants, device security had the highest percentage of companies in the mature category at 31%. A similar trend was observed when it came to data security with 22% of organizations globally ranking mature.
Application workloads were the biggest drag on overall readiness. Only 12% of the organizations globally were ranked mature. As with identity management and the network, the challenge is deployment, with more than half of companies at either the Formative or Beginner stage.
Readiness varies across company sizes in an interesting way. The data shows that globally mid-sized firms of between 250 and 1,000 employees are best prepared, as well as those in emerging markets. This suggests that while larger organizations may have bigger budgets, they typically require more complex deployments, which can take longer to implement. It highlights that ‘tech debt’ continues to be a major driver of the readiness gap.
100 (Free) AI Courses
Some of the biggest changes – and opportunities – today are being driven by artificial intelligence (AI). We know how important building AI-related skills will be to navigating virtually every role and industry, whether you’re an everyday professional in fields like marketing or sales or a seasoned developer. That’s why we’re making over one hundred AI courses free through June 15, 2023 to help you succeed in your job and career.
Course topics include:
- Generative AI
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- Responsible AI
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Courses are offered in multiple languages. Check out all of the course topics and highlights: 100 FREE AI Courses.