Cloud Spending Reaches New Heights Amid Repatriation Debate
The digital sky is bustling with activity as businesses continue to invest heavily in cloud technology, despite a growing trend towards cloud repatriation—moving digital workloads from the cloud back to on-site data centers. This shift is stirring a debate within the tech industry about the practicality and economics of cloud services. Some experts argue that the initial rush to the cloud is being reconsidered in light of escalating costs and potential savings from repatriation. Offering a case in point, 37signals, a web software company, claims it could save around $7 million over the next five years by pulling out of the cloud. Others, however, caution against abandoning the cloud, pointing to the compromises in innovation and efficiency that may follow a return to on-premises solutions.
The Ongoing Evolution of Inclusivity in Tech
Inclusivity in the technology sector has markedly improved, manifesting in advances like accessible smartphones, IT programs equipped with specialized features, and a variety of assistive devices. Frances West, the pioneering former chief accessibility officer at IBM, shared insights with IT Brew regarding her two-decade journey championing accessibility in tech. Reflecting on the early days when the concept was relatively unknown—so much so that it would require inventing translations for the term in languages like Chinese—West has authored a book, *Authentic Inclusion Drives Disruptive Innovation*, documenting the evolution and its significance. The technology industry now embraces accessibility not as an afterthought but as a cornerstone for universal design and innovation.
Car Inspection: Securing the Modern Vehicle
Modern cars have left the garage and entered the realm of digital vulnerability, as they function increasingly as connected, data-generating computers. Security expert Bruce Schneier, a lecturer at Harvard Kennedy School, recently expressed concerns about vehicles, and by extension other Internet of Things (IoT) devices, becoming potential ‘spyware’, compromising user privacy and raising security risks. The intersection of automotive technology and cybersecurity has led to fears that the problems that plague computers, such as malware and phishing attempts, could transition to our cars, making the modern vehicle an avenue for digital intrusion.
E-Waste Piles up as Earth Day Calls for Recycling and Sustainability
On Earth Day, the issue of discarded electronics comes into sharp focus with a recent report spotlighting the staggering 62 billion kilograms of e-waste generated globally in 2022. The United Nations Institute for Training and Research emphasizes the pressing need for recycling and more sustainable practices to handle this growing problem. As technology continues to infiltrate every aspect of life, the disposal of outdated electronics represents a mammoth challenge to environmental conservation efforts worldwide, calling for immediate attention and action.
Trying to Find the Balance: Security Versus Productivity
Security professionals are in a bind, with more than two-thirds indicating that Single Sign-On (SSO) solutions fall short of fully securing employee identities. Often, the pursuit of heightened security feels like a zero-sum game against productivity. The recently released *State of Enterprise Security Report* by 1Password explores the emerging complexities in protecting business data, suggesting a departure from traditional security models as the tech landscape becomes increasingly sophisticated and interconnected.
