CIO Influence brings you a weekly treasure trove of insights from top IT leaders. Uncover the latest advancements and innovations that unfolded between October 25th and November 1st. Stay ahead of the curve with updates on industry trends and breaking news in cloud computing, data management, cybersecurity, and transformative technologies. Immerse yourself in expert perspectives on emerging trends and get an exclusive glimpse into upcoming IT events and essential terminology. Don’t miss out on what’s shaping the future of technology!
Tech Trends Weekly: What’s Happening in IT
IT Security News of the Week
AppDirect and Centripetal Partner to Offer Intelligence Powered Cybersecurity
Centripetal, the global leader in intelligence-powered cybersecurity, announced that it has partnered with AppDirect, a leading platform that connects technology providers, advisors, and businesses to simplify the buying, selling, and management of technology. This collaboration marks another significant step in expanding the Centripetal partner community of intelligence, highlighting the growing influence of Centripetal’s cybersecurity ecosystem.
“We are thrilled to have Centripetal join the AppDirect partner ecosystem,” said Adam Knudsen, Senior Director, Strategic Provider Relations at AppDirect.
XM Cyber Revolutionizes Vulnerability Management with a Threat-Led Approach to Prioritizing Remediation
XM Cyber, the leader in continuous exposure management, today announced the launch of its innovative Vulnerability Risk Management (VRM) solution, extending its Continuous Exposure Management Platform.
The key capabilities of XM Cyber’s Vulnerability Risk Management include:
- Prioritizing High-impact Risks: Organizations can now focus on vulnerabilities that present the greatest risk to the business with contextualized views that allow prioritization based on various risk attributes and threat context, from exploit likelihood to business impact risk.
- Validation of CVE Exploitability: The solution takes the guesswork out of CVE risk analysis by correlating exploit kits and attack techniques to CVEs and validating their exploitability in the customer’s environment.
- Mobilizes Remediation Efforts: Security teams are equipped with the justification, prioritization, and remediation guidance needed to accelerate closed-loop vulnerability patch management.
The Latest in Cloud Technology
IPVanish Adds Secure Browsing & Cloud Backup to its Leading VPN Plans for Increased Consumer Protection
IPVanish, the award-winning VPN provider owned by Ziff Davis, today announced the launch of IPVanish Advanced, a comprehensive suite that includes the all-new IPVanish Secure Browser and Cloud Storage powered by Livedrive.
With Secure Browser, IPVanish is taking their protection to the next level. IPVanish Secure Browser operates entirely in the cloud, creating a disposable browser window that isolates user activity in a virtual environment to provide:
- Malware and Virus Protection – blocking malware, spyware, viruses, and malicious downloads when opening suspicious links or search results;
- Enhanced Web Anonymity – eliminating session tracking, cookies, targeting, and digital device fingerprinting;
- Risk Isolation – preventing threats from compromising a device by operating all web browsing in a cloud sandbox.
Kentik Launches The Cloud Latency Map, A Free Tool For Measuring Global Cloud Connectivity
Kentik, the network observability company, today launched The Cloud Latency Map, a free public tool that allows anyone to explore the latencies measured between over 100 different cloud regions located around the world. For the first time, users can identify recent changes in latencies globally between various public clouds and data center regions.
Transformative Advances in Data Technology
EPRI Launches Initiative to Enhance Data Center Flexibility and Grid Reliability
EPRI today announced the launch of a new initiative—DCFlex—to explore how data centers can support the electric grid, enable better asset utilization, and support the clean energy transition. The initiative’s founding members include Compass Datacenters, Constellation Energy, Duke Energy, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), Google, Meta, New York Power Authority, NRG Energy, NVIDIA, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), PJM Interconnection, Portland General Electric, QTS Data Centers, Southern Company, and Vistra Corp.
Zettabyte Partners with Chief Telecom to Revolutionize AI Computing with Energy-Efficient Data Center
Zettabyte, the leading AI data center builder and operator, announces a major expansion at Chief Telecom Inc. Taiwan’s top data center provider. By securing significant power capacity at Chief Telecom’s LY2 data center, Zettabyte aims to set new standards in AI computing efficiency and sustainability.
Zettabyte is launching advanced AI services in 2025, generating strong interest with a customer waitlist. Key highlights include:
- Liquid Cooling Technology: A first for Taiwan, this system will significantly reduce energy consumption and environmental impact.
- Zware Software: Their proprietary software enhances GPU efficiency, optimizing AI workloads across multiple servers and data centers.
- Collaboration with Wistron: Partnering with Wistron to create custom AI-optimized hardware, Zettabyte aims to boost performance and sustainability.
Essential IT Reads: Insights for Professionals
Curate or Crumble: The Role of Data in Shaping Language Models
This article delves into the critical role of data curation in developing high-performance language models, particularly for specialized and nuanced applications. It emphasizes that the success of AI systems depends on the quality and relevancy of their data inputs, which must be meticulously curated to ensure accuracy, adaptability, and domain-specific expertise. Readers will learn how generic LLMs often fall short when handling complex tasks and why tailored data curation is essential to align AI outputs with professional standards, especially in sectors like tax law and regulatory compliance.
Key takeaways include practical strategies for data curation—such as collection, cleaning, annotation, integration, and continuous maintenance—and their impact on AI reliability. The article also highlights challenges associated with using pre-trained models, such as biases, privacy concerns, and resource demands, underscoring the need for customization and ongoing updates.
Zero Trust Architecture for Cloud Data Security: From Identity to Data Layer
This article provides a deep dive into Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) and its role in enhancing cloud data security. In today’s digital landscape, traditional security measures, which rely on perimeter defenses, are no longer sufficient as businesses increasingly move their operations to the cloud. The Zero Trust model addresses these challenges by assuming no inherent trust and enforcing continuous verification at all interaction levels, from identity to the data layer. Here’s what readers will gain:
- Identity Verification: Learn how trusted identities are foundational, with multi-factor authentication (MFA) and Single Sign-On (SSO) ensuring access only for verified users.
- Device Security: Discover how ZTA mandates rigorous checks to maintain device compliance and prevent compromised devices from accessing data.
- Network Security: Understand the use of microsegmentation and least privilege access to limit potential breaches and lateral movement within the cloud.
- Application and Data Layer Security: Explore how Zero Trust extends protection to applications and sensitive data through encryption, segmentation, and real-time monitoring.
- Continuous Monitoring: See how behavioral analytics powered by AI ensures proactive threat detection and response.
Voices in Tech: Your Weekly Insight Roundup
CIO Influence Interview with, Corinne Koppel, SVP, IBM Consulting, Americas
Corinne Koppel, SVP of IBM Consulting, Americas, highlights IBM’s strategic efforts to enhance client engagements through Oracle consulting advancements and technology-driven transformations. She discusses IBM’s acquisition of Accelalpha to strengthen Oracle Cloud Application services and introduces new generative AI solutions, expanding the consultant network certified in Oracle and IBM technologies.
Koppel emphasizes that hybrid cloud and AI are pivotal for scaling business productivity and navigating multi-cloud complexity. IBM’s approach, “hybrid by design,” aligns technology with business goals to drive scalability and ROI. She also underscores the significance of robust business cases for tech investments, balancing efficiency with security, particularly for industries like manufacturing facing rising cyber threats.
CIO Influence Interview with John Qian, CISO at Aviatrix
John Qian shares his career journey, challenges CISOs face, skill gaps in IT, AI’s role in cloud management, and best practices for CISOs.
Key Points:
- Career Path: Started at Cisco, led security initiatives at Zoom during rapid growth, now CISO at Aviatrix, focusing on enhancing security in cloud networking.
- Top CISO Concerns: Data exposure, lack of visibility, misconfigurations, and human error.
- IT Skill Gaps:
- User Experience: Improve communication of security to non-technical teams.
- Automation: Upskill in automation and Infrastructure as Code (IaC).
- AI Literacy: Promote responsible AI use.
Tech Buzzwords: Key Terms You Should Know
Anonymous FTP: Archive sites that allow Internet users to log in and download files and programs without needing a specific username or password. Usually, you can use “anonymous” as the username and your email address as the password.
Applet: A program that can run on any computer, regardless of the operating system. Many applets are available for download from various websites on the Internet.
Case-sensitive: Typically refers to a data input field where lower-case letters are not considered the same as their upper-case counterparts. For example, “data” is different from “Data” or “DATA.”
Degauss: A process used to eliminate magnetism from computer monitors. Flat-panel displays do not have a degauss button, as they do not accumulate magnetism.
Brand Highlights: Weekly Focus and Updates
Cisco is a global leader in networking and cybersecurity solutions, providing innovative technologies that empower organizations to securely connect and automate their operations. Founded in 1984 and headquartered in San Jose, California, Cisco offers a comprehensive portfolio of products and services that enable businesses to transform their digital landscape, optimize performance, and enhance security across their networks.
CEO – Chuck Robbins
Recent Launch – Cisco Unveils New Cisco 360 Partner Program to Accelerate Value and Innovation, Launching in 2026
IT Events Ahead: Your Guide to What’s Coming Up
QCon San Francisco
Date: November 18 to 22
Location: San Francisco, CA
—Learn from software leaders at early adopter companies on the trends and practices to inspire your decisions, workflows and roadmap.
React Summit US
Date: November19 to 22
Location: Hybrid | New York, NY
—React Summit offers a hybrid format with both remote and in-person participation. The first day will be streamed from the New York venue including hybrid networking features and interactive entertainment; and the second day, as well as the numerous free workshops, will be streamed to the global audience online.
FutureIT New York
Date: November 21
Location: New York, NY
Find groundbreaking strategies to empower your business with breakthrough data, AI, and emerging technology. Picture yourself at FutureIT New York, a one-day supercharged event for tech professionals in New York metro area.
TechServe Alliance Executive Summit 2024
Date: November18 to 20
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
The premier networking and educational event for the IT & Engineering Staffing and Solutions Industry — The TechServe Executive Summit. Connect with industry peers — IT & engineering staffing firm owners and executives, and managers — and learn about the trends, opportunities, and challenges confronting the industry in a rapidly changing environment.
[To share your insights with us as part of editorial or sponsored content, please write to psen@itechseries.com]
