Falling Into the Digital Divide

America is at risk of falling behind in the digital world. A new report from the Joan Ganz Cooney Center (the creators of Sesame Street), Rutgers University and New America notes that middle and low income families aren’t keeping up when it comes to computers, broadband, Wi-Fi and Internet access in the U.S. While 94…

Why Some Big Data Efforts Come Up Short

Business and IT leaders recognize the importance of big data. But putting it to work presents growing challenges. A new report from consulting firm Capgemini, titled “Successful Big Data Implementations Elude Most Organizations,” found that global organizational spending on big data exceeded $31 billion in 2013 and is projected to hit $114 billion by 2018….

The Internet of Things Isn’t a Slam Dunk

It’s clear that the hype cycle for the Internet of things (IoT) has now reached maximum velocity. This year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas was rife with devices—everything from connected lights and water kettles to smart toothbrushes and locks—that are supposed to simplify and improve our lives in so many ways. There’s no…

Six Ways Businesses Are Behind the Times

It’s 2014, and the digital age is well under way. Yet, many businesses seem hopelessly behind the times. To catch up and keep pace, business and IT executives need to focus on these critical areas: E-signatures: Purchase a car, buy a house or try to sign a contract online, and you’re typically presented with a…

Preparing for the Big Data Deluge

By Samuel Greengard These days, discussions about big data and analytics are inescapable. Virtually every field—from medicine and financial services to manufacturing and science—is being redefined and rewired by the ability to put ever-growing data sets, both structured and unstructured, to work. And we’ve only just begun. The deluge of data will become a flood…

Six Tech Trends That Will Shape IT in 2014

By Samuel Greengard It’s time to pull out the crystal ball and examine some of the tech trends likely to shape the enterprise in 2014. Here are six trends that CIOs should keep an eye on over the coming months: Personal Clouds Roll Into the Picture.As adoption of mobile technology soars and the consumerization of…

CEOs and Tech: An Executive-Level Digital Divide

It’s hard to argue digital technology’s transformative effects. Yet according to a report from MIT Sloan Management Review and IT services and consultancy firm Capgemini, businesses are struggling to capitalize on technology trends like mobility, social media and analytics. And the problem starts at the top. A mere 38 percent of the 1,559 executives and…

Should I wait for Windows 8?

by Aaron Suzuki, CEO of SmartDepoy Until very recently, IT teams and their tools have controlled hardware allocation, the operating systems deployed throughout the organization, as well as the timetable on which new OS migration takes place. But with the potential for workers to bring their own Windows 8, with its Metro interface for touch…

7 Things to Know Before Moving to the Cloud

by Bill Abram, founder and president of Pragmatix Moving to the cloud requires a significant investment in a company’s IT infrastructure. While there are numerous benefits such as fully virtualized servers, automated hourly backups, secure hosting and built-in disaster recovery plans, it is crucial to read and understand the fine print. Before transitioning your company’s…

Effective Measures to Deal with Cloud Security

by Jennifer Marsh, software programmer with Rackspace Hosting It’s easy to see why cloud computing is causing a seismic shift in the business models of companies as well as in the everyday computing habits of the general public. You don’t have to look hard to see its advantages. Cloud computing reduces expenses (hardware, software, network…