May 2025 Tech Upload
| The NEW Digital Alliance would like to thank Aon, Carex Consulting Group and Werner Electric for their support as Strategic Level investors! |  |
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NEW Digital News
Register now for the 2025 New North Summit
Registration is now open for the 2025 New North Summit!
The 2025 Summit will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 5, and will feature a variety of presenters, plus ample networking time for attendees. Visit our New North Summit website to learn more!
Interested in becoming a sponsor for the largest regional economic development networking event? Contact us today at renee.torzala@thenewnorth.com or 920.336.3860.
Thursday, June 5, 2025
Lambeau Field Atrium
Green Bay, WI
REGISTER HERE for the SUMMIT
Upcoming northeast Wisconsin IT events
Boost Productivity with AI Tools
Thursday, May 15
9 am – 12 pm
Fox Valley Tech | D. J. Bordini Center
Thursday, May 15
1 pm – 4 pm
Fox Valley Tech | D. J. Bordini Center
Wednesday, May 21
8:30 am – 9:30 am
Tazza Coffee Shop – East (De Pere)
NEWDA IT Roundtable: Closing the Loop – IT Asset Lifecycle Management in the Circular Economy
Thursday, May 22
8 am – 9 am
Virtual (Zoom)
Chat Data(iku) with Snow Fox Data
Wednesday, May 28
12 pm – 1 pm
Virtual (Zoom)
Labor Market Insights: April 2025
(Photo credit: Carex Consulting Group)
New job reports were just released! Matt Duffy, of Carex Consulting Group, provides labor market insights for April 2025.
The U.S. labor market is showing mixed signals, with steady job growth tempered by rising layoffs and growing employer pessimism. March saw 228,000 new jobs added, driven largely by healthcare, while unemployment edged up to 4.2%. Job openings, hires, and quits remained steady, but signs of slowing momentum are appearing. Federal government layoffs heavily impacted recent data.
For IT and tech professionals, the outlook remains cautiously optimistic. While hiring has softened in some sectors, demand for digital skills, cybersecurity, and AI expertise continues to outpace supply.
Employers are increasingly focused on retaining top talent and enhancing workforce flexibility. Professionals with strong technical skills and adaptability will remain in high demand as organizations navigate an uncertain economic environment.
Companies that are investing in automation and digital transformation are likely to face continued talent shortages. As businesses strive to stay competitive, the need for skilled workers will drive long-term demand for technology-focused roles.
Read the full insights from Carex Consulting by clicking on the link below.
Microsoft Copilot Versions: Pricing, Use Cases and More
(Photo credit: HBS)
By Colin McCall
Heartland Business Systems (HBS)
Microsoft Copilot now offers a range of AI-powered tools designed to boost productivity across different platforms and industries. Copilot for Microsoft 365 integrates AI features directly into popular apps like Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, helping users draft emails, summarize meetings, and analyze data more efficiently. For individual users and creators, Copilot Pro provides enhanced AI capabilities within Microsoft 365 apps and priority access to the latest AI models.
Organizations looking to customize their workflows can leverage Copilot Studio, which enables the creation of tailored AI assistants that align with specific business processes and data. Meanwhile, Copilot for Service is built to enhance customer service operations by integrating with CRM platforms like Dynamics 365 and Salesforce, offering real-time information and suggestions to support customer interactions.
Pricing varies depending on the version: Copilot for Microsoft 365 is $30 per user per month, Copilot Pro is $20 per user per month, and Copilot for Service comes in at $50 per user per month. Microsoft has also introduced a monthly billing option for Copilot for Microsoft 365 (with a slight premium). Each version is designed to meet different needs, from improving day-to-day productivity to building customized AI solutions and enhancing customer service operations.
To explore more about each Copilot offering and which version might be the best fit for your organization, click on the link below.
Central Office Decommissioning Checklist
(Photo credit: SunCoast Communications)
Decommissioning a central office is a complex and critical undertaking that requires careful planning and execution. As technology evolves, older networks become costly to operate and maintain, making decommissioning necessary. To ensure a smooth, secure, and cost-effective process, SunCoast Communications (SCC Telcom), a global leader in asset recovery, has compiled a comprehensive checklist in collaboration with our trusted partner, Sadoff E-Recycling & Data Destruction. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to consider when decommissioning your central office.
5 Reasons Why a Decommissioning Checklist is Essential
- Reduce Costs
- Ensure Data Security
- Promote Sustainability
- Maintain Compliance
- Minimize Disruption
Your Central Office Decommissioning Checklist
Here’s a step-by-step checklist to guide you through the central office decommissioning process:
- Planning & Preparation
- De-installation & Removal
- Asset Disposition
- Finalization & Reporting
By utilizing this comprehensive checklist, you can approach your central office decommissioning project with confidence.
Other IT News
Five Misconceptions of Youth Apprenticeships
(Photo credit: New America)
Youth apprenticeships offer a powerful bridge between education and career, yet persistent myths continue to undermine their value. As interest in nontraditional career pathways grows, it’s important to clear up common misunderstandings about what youth apprenticeships actually involve and who they serve.
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Myth #1: Apprenticeships are only for those who can’t go to college
Apprenticeships are a valid postsecondary option that often include classroom learning and can lead to industry credentials or even college degrees. They complement, rather than replace, traditional education. -
Myth #2: Apprentices don’t earn a fair wage
Apprenticeships are always paid and offer competitive wages while allowing young adults to gain skills without incurring college debt. -
Myth #3: Apprenticeships and internships are the same
Apprenticeships are longer, more structured, always paid, and lead to industry-recognized credentials, whereas internships are typically shorter and don’t guarantee a job or credential. -
Myth #4: Apprenticeships are only for older workers
Many programs are designed for youth ages 16–24, offering high school students and recent graduates valuable early career opportunities. -
Myth #5: Apprenticeships are only for skilled trades
Today’s apprenticeships exist across industries like healthcare, IT, education, marketing, and finance—not just construction and manufacturing.
Youth apprenticeships are flexible, valuable opportunities that combine education and paid work experience across a variety of industries. By addressing these misconceptions, more students, families, and employers can recognize apprenticeships as powerful pathways to economic mobility and career success.
What AI Models are best for vibe coding?
(Image credit: Getty Images)
The rise of “vibe coding”—a term coined by AI expert Andrej Karpathy—marks a transformative shift in software development. This approach leverages large language models (LLMs) to generate code from natural language prompts, allowing developers to focus more on guiding and refining AI-generated outputs rather than writing code manually. While this method has democratized coding, enabling even non-programmers to create functional applications, it also introduces challenges. Notably, developers may accept AI-generated code without fully understanding it, potentially leading to undetected bugs or security vulnerabilities. Karpathy himself noted that vibe coding is “not too bad for throwaway weekend projects” but acknowledged its limitations for more critical applications.
A recent study by Backslash Security evaluated the security of code generated by various AI models, including OpenAI’s GPT and Anthropic’s Claude, using different prompting techniques. The findings revealed that naïve prompts—simple requests without specifying security requirements—consistently resulted in insecure code vulnerable to common weaknesses. Even when prompts included general security considerations or adhered to OWASP best practices, five out of seven models still produced code with vulnerabilities. Claude 3.7 Sonnet emerged as the top performer, achieving a perfect score with comprehensive security prompts, while OpenAI’s GPT-4o scored lowest, indicating significant variability in model performance.
These insights underscore the importance of cautious adoption of AI coding tools. While they offer efficiency gains, reliance on AI-generated code without thorough review can introduce security risks. Organizations are advised to implement robust code review processes, educate developers on the limitations of AI tools, and establish clear guidelines for their use. By balancing the innovative potential of vibe coding with diligent oversight, development teams can harness AI’s benefits while safeguarding against its pitfalls.
A New Era of Attacks on Encryption Is Starting to Heat Up
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Governments around the world are stepping up efforts to weaken encryption protections, sparking concern among privacy advocates. In early 2025, officials in the UK, France, and Sweden introduced measures that could compromise end-to-end encrypted communications, building on broader European Union initiatives and similar actions in India. Meanwhile, U.S. authorities, after years of skepticism toward encryption, have reversed course—now urging its use following major cybersecurity breaches tied to China-backed hackers.
These emerging threats take several forms. Some governments are demanding backdoors to encrypted services or access to user data, as seen in the UK’s secret order to Apple and proposed laws in Sweden and France targeting messaging apps like Signal and WhatsApp. Others are pushing for “client-side scanning” technologies that would scan private communications before they are encrypted, raising new concerns about surveillance. In extreme cases, countries like Russia and India have threatened outright bans on encrypted platforms.
Despite mounting pressures, privacy experts emphasize the vital role encryption plays in protecting human rights globally. Strong encryption safeguards not only privacy, but also freedoms of speech, expression, and association. As these new challenges unfold, the fight to preserve secure communication is expected to intensify.
Registration Now Open for Fox Cities Chamber AI Business Summit
Secure Seats NOW to Ensure Early Bird Pricing
The Fox Cities Chamber will be holding a regional AI Business Summit on Wednesday, November 5 from 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Hilton Paper Valley in Appleton. This is a premier event for businesses, innovators, and professionals looking to explore the power of artificial intelligence in the workplace. This one-day event brings 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.
Designed for businesses of all sizes and at all stages of their AI journey, the day-long program starts and concludes with engaging keynotes then has several breakout sessions throughout the day.
The opening keynote is “The Human Edge: Navigating AI’s Uneven Revolution in Business,” presented by Rebecca Ryan, APF, FRSA – Futurist. Ryan is a noted top 50 professional futurist, economist, best-selling author and entrepreneur. She is the founder of NEXT Generation Consulting through which she partners with government leaders across the country. Looking a generation ahead, she outlines strategies in urban planning, economic development and workforce development to ensure communities are well equipped for future trends and challenges.