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Top Technology Trends for 2021

Technology is evolving day by day, enabling faster change and development, allowing growth to accelerate until it ultimately becomes exponential. However, not only are technological trends and leading technologies evolving, even more, has changed this year as a result of the outbreak of COVID-19, making IT specialists realise that their place in the contactless world will not stay the same tomorrow. And in 2020-21, the IT specialist will continue to research, unlearn, and re-learn (out of obligation if not required) continuously.

What does this mean to you? It means staying up to date with new technological advances. And it means keeping your eyes on the future to understand what skills you are going to need to know tomorrow to find a stable job and even learn how to get there. Most of the world’s IT population is sitting back, working from home, all bowing to the global epidemic. And if you want to make the most of your time at home, here are the top technology trends that you can look at and try out in 2021, and hopefully secure one of the jobs that these latest technology trends can create.

Artificial Intelligence AI & Machine Learning:

Artificial intelligence is a significant advancement that makes computer systems act and responds smartly, much like humans. This technology has been on the trend for a few years. Its adoption will only grow in the coming year. The explanation for this is the widespread implementation of AI programmes such as speech recognition, pattern recognition, forecasting and diagnosis.

If you look at it, apps like Netflix, Siri, Alexa, and Uber use artificial intelligence. And if you are searching for anything on the Internet, the search engine uses AI to provide better results.

The success of home automation is another significant explanation for the adoption of AI. Today, a significant number of users are using Alexa-based systems to automate everyday home activities, such as turning the lights on.

Machine Learning, a subclass of AI, is now being applied in all kinds of businesses, generating immense demand for experienced personnel. According to Forrester predictions, AI, machine learning, and automation will develop 9 per cent of new U.S. jobs by 2025, including robot monitoring experts, data scientists, automation specialists, and content curators, making it another new technology development that you must remember!

5G Technology:

As we all know, 3G and 4G technologies have enabled us to access the internet, use data-driven services, increase bandwidths for streaming on Spotify or YouTube, and so on. It is expected that 5G networks will revolutionise our lives. Enabling services that depend on advanced technologies such as AR and VR, alongside cloud-based gaming services such as Google Stadia, NVidia GeForce Now and more. It is planned to be used in factories, HD cameras that help improve protection and traffic management, smart grid control and smart retail.

Just about every telecommunications company including Verizon, Tmobile, Apple, Nokia Corp, QualComm, is now focusing on developing 5G solutions. 5G networks are scheduled to be launched globally in 2021, with more than 50 providers providing services in around 30 countries by the end of 2021, making it a new technological development that you must look out for.

Internet of Things IoT:

This technology has been on the trend for many years, which means that it is not a new technology. It enables us to connect millions of devices with UIDs or unique identifiers that allow us to send and receive data over a network. The only reasonable explanation for linking all these devices and offering them information is to communicate in real-time without ever interacting.

Again the adoption of smart devices and smart homes is a crucial factor for this technology to be embraced. From smart wearables, such as your Apple Watch, to smart homes, such as Alexa or Google home, all run on IoT. The growth in the uptake of these devices also increases the uptake of the Internet of Things.

Robotic Process Automation (RPA):

Robotic Process Automation or RPA is the use of software to automate business processes such as interpreting apps, processing transactions, processing data, and even replying to emails. RPA automates the routine activities people used to do.

As an IT specialist looking to the future and seeking to recognise emerging developments in technology, RPA offers a wide range of job opportunities, including developers, project managers, market analysts, solutions architects, and consultants. And those jobs are paid well. RPA will significantly reduce the burden, which is why it’s picking up speed, and that’s why we’re likely to see a trend in 2021.

Cybersecurity:

This technology has recently emerged like other technologies. The reason for the emergence is the continued growth of the risk of hacking. Malicious hackers who intend to access information illegally will not give up any time soon and will try to find ways to get through even the most robust security measures. It’s also partially because new technology is being adapted to enhance security. Cybersecurity will remain a trend-setting technology as long as we have hackers, so it will continue to evolve to protect against these hackers.

Edge Computing:

As the number of data organisations continues to grow, cloud computing shortcomings have been found in some situations. Edge computing is designed to help solve some of these issues as a way to bypass the delay caused by cloud computing and bring data to a data centre for processing. It may be on edge,” if you want, closer to where computing needs to happen. For this reason, edge computing can be used to process time-sensitive data in remote locations with limited or no connection to a centralised location. In such cases, edge computing will operate as a mini data centre.

Blockchain:

Blockchain can be defined as data that can only be added to, removed from, or modified. That is why the word “chain” is because you make a chain of data. Not being able to change the previous blocks is what makes them so safe. In addition, blockchains are consensually driven, so that no one party can take control of the data. With blockchain, you do not need a trusted third party to oversee or verify transactions. So, this is another trending technology for 2021.

Quantum Computing:

Next great technology trend is quantum computing, a method of computing that takes advantage of quantum phenomena such as superposition and quantum entanglement. This impressive technology trend also includes preventing the spread of coronavirus and developing new vaccines, thanks to its ability to quickly review, control, evaluate and act on data, regardless of source. Another area where quantum computing is used is banking and finance, credit risk management, high-frequency trading, and fraud detection.

Final Words:

The latest technology trends discussed above offer us the brightest and most well-paid career of all the emerging technologies around us. They are the future of the technology world, and they can affect patterns of work around the globe. They are likely to be found in the top 2021 technology trend.

The COVID 19 pandemic has propelled digital transformation to the top of the must-have in the minds of CIOs. It has been a go-to to allow organisations to enhance their customer experience and generate higher ROI. Businesses with a brick-and-mortar presence have changed their approach to developing a digital presence to remain competitive and ahead of their competition. Many have already started their journey of digital transformation, although others are in the development process.

 

The landscape of technology is diverse. While the pandemic pushed companies to embrace digital systems, such as automation, big data, digital workforce, etc., they were soon replaced by the next major wave of digital transformation. This new wave has introduced new patterns to shape the next standard. Here are the top ten digital transformation trends for 2021.

 

  1. Mainstream 5G:

We’ve heard about the benefits of 5G for years now. Still, it wasn’t until remote work, video conferencing and digital communication became the centre of our lives this year that the need for reliable access and more bandwidth became a true, tangible advantage that we could all wrap our heads around. Our dependency on phones, tablets and other devices – including an ever-increasing number of smart sensors – illustrates the need for a multi-lane highway that telecommunications companies already knew we would need. Businesses can not continue to be disconnected today, and 5 G deployments have become a crucial part of the solution. As we continue to work together and run a school from our homes, the importance of 5 G will become more and more mainstream in 2021.

 

  1. Hyperautomation:

Hyperautonomy is a hyperautomatic derivative. With end-to-end intelligence and digital automation, machines can become more and more autonomous, needing less manual intervention.

 

Progress in the field of self-employed cars is only one such example that will revolutionise the world of mobility and the logistics business. Such automated, autonomous devices prove to be important in the implementation of strict measures in situations such as the outbreak of COVID-19.

 

AI and machine learning approaches are now being developed and applied on a wider scale. The buzz associated with intelligent test automation attracts tremendous interest from global IT leaders. As the advantages of integrating AI and ML capabilities into processes such as test automation become apparent, the upward trend is anticipated in the coming months.

 

  1. Data and User Privacy:

As a result of the privacy issues of digital users, we can see organisations concentrating on user privacy and data privacy. Soon, this will become a unique selling proposition for many to jump over their competitors. This may mean that users would be able to allow/deny access to their data on apps, the web and other digital platforms in the next normal way. The user will be the owner of his results. Data protection has shaken even multinational associates, pushing them to comply with the latest rules laid down by the authorities. The EU has already joined the Compliance Policy with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other regions have followed suit.

 

  1. APIs – The Road to Cloud:

Cloud has already been incorporated by most organisations to create a smooth business continuity and to fasten the market. Application programming interfaces (APIs) are essential to developing economies of scale. From transforming legacy infrastructure to micro-services, APIs can help companies minimise data silos and create a collaborative experience. It will also help them turn fragmented applications into one data mart behemoth, allowing them to make important business decisions and growing their overall ROI.

 

  1. Remote Workforce:

What has been regarded as a potential transitional approach for the post-Covid world seems to evolve into a prolonged pattern. In addition to helping preserve employee wellbeing, this trend of operating remotely is fuelled by the performance and productivity improvements made possible by remote technology. While the pendulum will inevitably swing back to a balance between higher productivity and the importance of face-to-face collaboration, it is likely to shift the way we see work in the future permanently.

 

  1. Driverless Cars, Drones and Smart Cities:

I know we’ve been talking about them, literally, for years. But I think that with edge computing rowing and 5 G finally about to burst, we’ll see some innovations in the 2021 digital transformation trends in driverless cars, drones, and smart cities. Companies like Intel / Nvidia and BMW / Volvo are collaborating to put these emerging innovations into practice for real.

 

  1. eLearning:

Due to COVID-19, eLearning has made a breakthrough. Many people around the world are now learning online. eLearning solutions will continue to be the first option for organisations to train their employees as they provide greater flexibility and are easier to deploy.

 

In response to the effects of coronavirus on work, organisations like LinkedIn are trying to keep up with recent developments by taking steps to inform their users. Professionals across the globe continue to adapt to the new standard by constantly using online learning and learning new skills that are the most in-demand.

 

No wonder LinkedIn ranks # 1 among the top 10 most influential eLearning organisations. However, some 3500 organisations from around the world are collaborating on and implementing strategies for digital learning.

 

  1. AI Conversational:

I know, Siri still sucks, and it’s still hard to use voice to text to write a chat message. However, I do believe that in 2020 at least some sort of conversational AI will become useful.

 

Microsoft Conversational AI is working extremely hard to develop a platform that can not only hear correctly but also follow complex conversations and understand the complexities of emotion while continuing to evolve over time. Are we going to see it in everyday technology in 2020? Possibly not — but I hope the roots of this will be improved in the coming year.

 

  1. Blockchain beyond Crypto:

Blockchain was a 2019 failure. But coming in 2020, I do believe we’re actually going to see some practical use of blockchain cases outside cryptocurrency. We know that Amazon Web Services is already working hard, as are tonnes of other global leaders, including China’s Alibaba. What’s more, they’re actually putting together real-time use cases to go along with technology, particularly in terms of intellectual property, royalties, etc. I assume that things are finally going to take off this coming year.

 

  1. Reimagined Customer Experience:

It’s not just all about making the best products. The latest generation of millennials prefers comfort over loyalty. Build digital experiences that help modern web in the form of progressive web applications, true native UX-class mobile apps, smart chat-bots, conversational apps, wearables, and interactive experiences that exploit augmented reality. Organisations are seeking to optimise the use of components and back-end integration, contributing to cohesive and consistent experience across networks.

 

The next big thing in Customer Experience (CX) is to develop beautiful applications for any audience across any platform with no restrictions on user experience taking full advantage of the existing OS device for the native and full power of modern web browsers.

 

Conclusion:

In short, a new wave of digital technology trends will reduce human interactions, increase efficiency, initiate automation, and make life simpler. Organisations need to realise the value of this technology paradigm shift and exploit it to build digital communities and become future-ready firms to embrace the new standard with both hands.

To be able to operate your business-related functions successfully, you need to ensure that you have iPhone compatible with your organisation. This device is designed to make your job easier and help you enhance your productivity. All you need to do to ensure that you have the latest version of this iPhone is to ensure that you have a BYOD (bring your own device) compatible phone.

 

In this article, I will discuss BYOD compatible devices, and some amazing features of the iPhone 12 and its BYOD compatibility.

 

BYOD Compatible Devices:

BYOD (bring your own device) is a phrase that describes a company’s use of mobile devices, which may include iPads, PDAs, Blackberries and other cell phones and portable personal computers such as laptops. These are devices used by people who work from home or use their mobile devices to surf the web, check email and so on.

 

However, some companies do not allow the use of their mobile phones and portable computers, or that require employees to have certain specific training to use these devices, for example, to log into their company’s network. If you are interested in this field, then there is some useful information about the terminology that you need to know to be successful in this career.

 

Some companies allow their employees to use mobile devices, and some require specific training to be allowed to use these devices. A business can choose to provide the training, or they can choose to hire the appropriate individuals to do the training for them. Many of the training options available to businesses involve either training in software and hardware or by having a team of professionals to develop their own training. Some companies offer seminars or workshops with the option to download lectures and video files for later viewing.

 

One term that will need to be familiarised with is “BYOD Device”. You will likely see this term used when referring to these types of devices in the workplace, and it may be difficult to understand why. By this, I mean that the specific device that an employee is using is not a company-owned computer or even a mobile phone. Instead, it is a personal digital assistant, sometimes referred to as a laptop, tablet or smartphone.

 

It is important to understand how this device works before you are permitted to use it for your own purposes so that you will not be allowed to access certain areas of your company’s network that you should not have access to. It is also important to understand what the difference is between the specific types of device that you have to use and the company’s network before you become familiar with this term because you will probably find this term used quite often.

 

iPhone 12 – Some Amazing Features:

As the name indicates, the iPhone is a mobile phone that is designed for use by employees working on the go. The latest Apple mobile phones iPhone 12 provide an excellent opportunity for workers to conduct their business activities anytime, anywhere. The iPhone 12 is one of the most innovative and advanced devices ever created by Apple. These gadgets provide users with the capability to enjoy great applications and entertainment. These devices come with unique features which enable you to perform multiple tasks on one mobile phone.

 

 

The new iPhone 12 is an excellent piece of technology, but it has also caused a bit of a change in IT support. What was once considered a luxury item had become a necessity. A phone that can take the place of a personal computer is quickly becoming a staple gadget for busy people everywhere. And as Apple’s new line of products continues to expand, so too will the demands for IT support.

 

It also provides Cloud Services, which includes iCloud, iTunes, iBooks, and the App Store, are becoming more popular with consumers. The need for this type of IT support is not only a matter of convenience but also a matter of security. Cloud services store information about the user on servers around the world, so if someone breaks into your phone, they do not have access to all of your data.

 

iPhone 12 – BYOD Compatible Device:

One of the most common questions that iPhone users ask is, “Is iPhone 12 compatible with BYOD (bring your own device)? This question is an easy one to answer because the answer is yes. This device has been designed to meet the needs of an individual who wants a mobile device that can function as a laptop or a desktop computer in a smaller and more mobile form.

 

There are many reasons why one may want to bring their own device. Sometimes these reasons include travelling, business or pleasure. While on business, having your own portable computer means that you can check email and access documents while travelling. When you can carry your laptop around, you will be able to do a lot of your work from anywhere you happen to be. On the other hand, if you travel often, you can use your phone as an in-flight entertainment system.

 

Bottom Line:

The new Apple iPhone 12 is considered as one of the most sought after phones in the world because it has the best features and technology. But to keep it protected, you need to use certain accessories. When you are using the phone for business purposes, you should make sure that it is connected to the right network, and that is connected to the company’s infrastructure.

 

This ensures that the mobile phone is secured and will not be susceptible to hacking that can allow a hacker to gain access to your important information. Also, ensure that it is not being used for unlawful activities and that you know how to deactivate the device.

Introduction:

Numerous associations around the globe have requested that their representatives telecommute because of the Coronavirus pandemic. This has made network safety challenges for some organisations as they frequently scarcity on the experience, conventions, and advancements to empower remote workers in a protected way. DRP (Disaster recovery plan) depicts how an association will react to some random calamity situation, with the objective of IT support in business cycles and works and keeping up full business progression.

Challenges:

Remote work might be requesting and arduous remarkably in the beginnings. The preferences and solace that accompanies working from any spot are massive. However, the snags that telecommuters need to face may cause many issues and lead to the absence of work-life balance. Particularly, with the digitisation in business and mechanical advancement, the number of individuals working distantly will increase due to pandemic.

Cyber Security risk:

Numerous workers are telecommuting unexpectedly. They do not seem aware of the accepted procedures that accomplished telecommuters apprehend, for example, utilising a virtual private network (VPN) on public organisations provided by the IT support team or not sparing delicate data on their gadgets. Inexperienced representatives are the main source of network protection breaks, and the danger increments exponentially while remotely work. Social engineering, phishing threat, and malware attack enlisted as a cyber risk in remote work.

Secure connection:

Over two-thirds of organisations contemplate shared Wi-Fi to be a top worry for security, yet 61% realise their representatives utilise these associations for work. To diminish the weaknesses related to public Wi-Fi organisations, bosses can boycott the utilisation of unstable remote connections, Use geo-positioning to limit the spots from which organisation nexus can be gotten to, and arrange the utilisation of a virtual private network (VPN) for distant work.

Access Policies:

Regrettably, numerous entrepreneurs do not comprehend the necessities for a strong remote access strategy in disaster recovery. Network access is changing between all specialists, not only for remote workers. IT support is fundamental to forestall difficult issues like fraud, information penetrates, and information misfortune for disaster recovery in the pandemic.

Introduction:

Whether or not the effects of COVID-19 in the UK could lead to school closures, city lockdowns and movement restrictions. The virus has identified the importance of business continuity planning and ensuring that your business and technology can flex with significant disruption.

 

For several organisations, it has become a top priority to encourage remote working. Although offices have undergone a deep clean, some businesses have already introduced remote working, while many businesses are quickly rolling out remote working for workers who need to separate themselves. A few UK businesses have gone further and told all workers to work where possible from home.

 

Although the focus of many articles on remote work and coronavirus has been on deploying cloud services, IT support will be an essential factor for a successful implementation once you have the resources to enable a virtual workplace.

 

What cyber threats might affect you while working remotely?

Many organisations allow employees to work from home as the strategy increases productivity and, among other benefits, provides more flexible schedules. However, working remotely introduces some cyber risks that threaten the cybersecurity posture of the organisation. Therefore, before implementing such a move to benefit from numerous benefits, each organisation must be aware of the various risks associated with remote operation approaches.

 

  • The most obvious risk is that most of our activities are done online. After all, there is always the chance of a cybercriminal risking something on the internet.
  • In most cases, a home setup with a network connection and devices used to access sensitive corporate data may have inadequate security. For example, there may be a lack of an in-depth security strategy, such as the use of VPNs, antivirus solutions, firewalls, and intrusion prevention systems that are used to protect an enterprise.
  • Employees also use more than one device when operating from home to access sensitive information or for other work-related purposes. This complicates the efforts made to protect data because any device used is a possible entry point for system threats.
  • Home interaction work is increasingly based on Internet access compared to an office environment in which workers use secure communication networks and intranets to communicate and exchange information. This is a significant risk since the public Internet is unsafe and sometimes full of malicious actors. The connection used may contain several flaws that may be compromised to allow cybercriminals to intercept every piece of data transmitted over a wide-area network.

 

How to maintain a secure Remote Working Environment?

How do you maintain security when employees work remotely and your team shifts to a remote workforce? As remote work is becoming a more prevalent trend in business and given the recent outbreak of COVID-19, there is no better time for employees and companies to make progress in securing remote work.

 

The main objective of this article is to inform employees and business management, both small and large, of the tools and steps available to them.

 

Implement a Cybersecurity Policy:

If your business allows remote work, you must have a clear cybersecurity policy in place to ensure that every employee has secure access to company data. Without a strategy in place, any employee can easily become an entry point for a hacker to hijack the network of your organisation.

 

To avoid this from happening, establish a cybersecurity strategy that sets out guidelines that comply with home or travel security protocols. Policies may include the intended use of approved encryption messaging systems, such as Signal or WhatsApp; upgrading and patching computer security schedules, such as antivirus or anti-malware updates; and protocols on remote system wiping when lost.

 

Increase your Cloud Security:

Businesses need to ensure that security is integrated into cloud environments from the outset and continually reassessed to meet evolving demands. By resolving these concerns, you will better prepare your security team and the rest of your staff for a move to remote work.

 

Developing a cloud security plan is not just a one-off job. As the underlying stack shifts, you’re likely to modify the approach as well. You need a centralised strategy that avoids fragmentation when cloud computing grows organically across different business lines. To serve remote workers from all departments, you need the same level of protection across the entire organisation.

 

Encryption:

A Cloud services technology scrambling data in such a way that only authorised parties can interpret the details. If a hacker breaks into a company cloud and discovers unencrypted data, he or she can do any number of malicious acts with the data: leak it, sell it, use it for more attacks, etc. However, if suppose the company’s data is encrypted. In that case, the intruder can only find scrambled data that can not be used until they somehow discover the decryption key (which should be virtually impossible). Encryption helps avoid data leakage and disclosure, even though other security measures fail.

 

Other best practices for maintaining Cyber Security:

  • Establish a separate, external network dedicated to remote access only. If anything infects your server, it won’t spread to other areas of your network.
  • Set up a site-to-site VPN connection or use a secure remote service.
  • Keep your hardware and software maintained and tested, including remote devices for your employees.
  • Enforce strong password policies and get employees to use a password manager.
  • Set up session time on all teleworking links and automatic screen locks on all devices.
  • Manually configure employees’ device firewalls and anti-malware / anti-virus apps.
  • Add additional layers of protection authentication to company data on mobile devices.
  • Consider offering company-owned equipment for workers to use that can be managed and protected by an in-house IT team or the MSP.
  • Consider end-point detection and response or remote access logging to track what’s going on in your IT systems.
  • Arrange a professional IT support team to help your employees resolve their technical issues on time; it will also avoid hackers from attempting major security breaches.

 

Conclusion:

Remote work has risen sharply in recent years, a growing trend that does not appear to slow down in the future. As a result, it is strongly recommended that all IT organisations start and integrate remote work into their strategies. It has already been shown that there are many advantages for businesses that use this technique, such as talent retention, efficiency, enhancing the work-life balance of workers, etc.

 

Remote work, however, has its security threats and other issues that companies need to overcome before beginning the implementation of this activity. In this case, The Tech Guru suggests that every company refine its security policies and procedures and detail on how to protect remote employees from possible cyber attacks and how to deal with circumstances where they arise. The Tech Guru provides a wide range of IT support and cloud services that can secure your remote business network

Is working from home working for you?

 

At times working from home can throw up all sorts of situations that can cause you to be less productive.  Taking the dog for a walk, feeding, and schooling the children, making sure you are plugged into the Matrix – you do not want to miss that all-important email or Teams meeting!

 

Setting up a home office that suits your needs is extremely important.  You want to make sure you are relaxed and comfortable during your working day…. so here are a few tips that may help.

 

  1. Schedule: Sticking to a schedule is essential when you are telecommuting. You need to update your shared calendar, mentioning your availability. Working remotely comes with the added benefit of no commute; thus, you can start working earlier and end early, leaving additional time for your family.

 

  1. Performance analysis: Your manager needs to know that you are completing your daily tasks on time, not just sitting watching TV instead of working at home. It would be best if you gave daily updates via Zoom and send weekly updates via email to your entire team.

 

  1. Advantages your employer has from your flexible setup: Your work from home arrangement should be beneficial for both you and your company. Draft a proposal in such a way that shows significant positive changes in your work output, that favours the company. Suggest benefits like increased productivity, overhead cost savings, longer work hours, and fewer sick days for the employer.

 

  1. Communication with the team: Use time slots on your calendar. Mark all the slots you will not be available. This increases transparency between you and your colleagues working from the office. Also, share your contact number with the team for any emergency when working remotely.

 

  1. Remote work setup at home: Make sure you have a productive and practical workspace along with the proper tech and set up to work effectively from home. Be prepared with your flexible arrangement at home, including a laptop and other essentials like an internet connection, a standing desk and chair, a good pair of headphones, etc.

 

  1. Security: Keep in mind the security side of working outside of the office. We suggest the use of VPN’s and data encryption software. It would be best if you comply with the security guidelines of your IT provider.

 

Perhaps no industry over the past century has risen more than electronic devices. Mostly in the form of computers, electronic devices have become a part of so many standard products ranging from automobiles to communications and even to clothing and food products.

For companies that create electronic devices, having access to the highest quality electronic parts is essential. However, with this demand for parts of this type being so great, counterfeit parts are now on the rise.

Counterfeit Parts in Electronic Devices

In 2011, it was estimated that more than 50% of distributors in the electronic field had either detected or had counterfeit parts included in their devices. The problem is especially acute in the defence industry. In 2012, the Senate Armed Services Committee found more than a million counterfeit parts that were part of the supply chain to the Pentagon. It was not surprising that China proved to be the source of more than 70% of the counterfeit parts that were discovered.

The estimated cost to the consumer industry in terms of electronic devices is roughly $250 billion each year. Recently, a new study by the US Military concluded that about 15% of all electronic devices were either in part or made up of counterfeit parts.

Keep in mind that the term counterfeit is not used in the same context as counterfeit money. While counterfeit money is not real, counterfeit electronic parts are not fake. They are real and often will work close to the same parameters as the parts they have replaced. However, the main difference is that they have not undergone the rigorous testing and safety considerations compared to their real counterparts.

Counterfeit parts are essentially electronic parts created from lower-quality designs and materials that come from outside sources. The impact of such parts is considerable, ranging from poorer results to putting people into danger depending on what parts have been replaced.

One notable incident was the discovery in 2009 that NASA used counterfeit parts in the construction of their spacecraft and satellites. While the parts themselves turned out to be not a threat to the satellites or the astronauts who flew in the space shuttle, it did cost NASA a considerable amount of money and time to identify and replace the parts with those that met the high-quality standards that are required for both manned and unmanned spacecraft.

While it is quite possible that the counterfeit parts used might not have made much of a difference initially, their lower-quality designs and less extensive testing may have resulted in electronic devices in the shutting having to be replaced or repaired sooner. Or satellites that do not last as long in orbit because their parts are not fully tested to withstand the rigours of exposure to the radiation in outer space.

Improving the Standards for Electronic Parts

The real issue with detecting counterfeit electronic parts is that most of them are made well enough to go undetected at least in the initial stages. This is because opening, inspecting, and rigorously testing every electronic device that is sold is impractical. If the device passes its initial test and proves to be functional, it is considered good enough until further testing or when the device fails occurs.

To counter the rise of counterfeit parts, new procedures, materials, and devices need to be used to help identify the use of these parts even faster. One interesting solution is the creation of the self-erasing chip.

The Power of the Self-Erasing Chip

One of the most interesting and arguably promising new technology to combat counterfeit electronic devices is the self-erasing chip. With its development being accelerated at the University of Michigan, it is quite possible these chips may alter the way in which electronic devices are created.

The principle of the self-erasing chip is based on the material from which it is made. This new type of material keeps energy inside of it so that over a few days it will start to self-erase. The process is noted by the change in the colour that the chip emits. In addition to losing the information over a few days, a flash of blue light will also quickly erase the chip as well.

The self-erasing chip is a layer of semiconductor that is just three atoms thick. The layer is placed atop azobenzene, which consists of molecules that reduce in size when exposed to ultraviolet or UV light. The result is that the shrinking molecules pull on the semiconductor. This causes it to emit light in a different, longer wavelength.

The material used to create the self-erasing chip is like nanomaterial, which won the Nobel Prize. However, it is different in one regard in that it emits light in specific frequencies. This allows the material to be used in the self-erasing process.

Creating the chip is an exercise in patience. Once the molecules were made, they were floated in a single layer atop a container of water. A silicon wafer was then dipped into the water. The result was the molecule layer wrapping itself around the water. Next, it was layered to a semiconductor using a sticky substance to ensure that it would stay connected. If you were thinking of Scotch tape, that is pretty much the same principle.

The tape was placed on the semiconductor and then single layers were pulled away gently. The result was a layer of selenium atoms, followed by a layer of tungsten atoms, then another layer of selenium atoms which created a type of sandwich effect. At that point, a stamp was used to ensure the azobenzene chip that was coated would be transferred to the semiconductor.

The process of self-erasing takes about seven days assuming that it is not exposed to light during that time. However, if it has been exposed to either light or heat, then the erasing process speeds up. Conversely, if it is stored in a dark, cold area, then it may take longer for the chips to self-erase.

Because the light that is emitted has changed, the message inside is no longer legible. It does require the right type of light to read whatever message has been placed inside. This is the same principle as invisible ink that also self-erases.

The self-erasing chips are well-designed for stopping electronics that are crafted from counterfeit parts. Or, if a shipment of sensitive parts had been tampered with during its delivery. This is important because of the difficulty associated with the detection of tampering. Given that many devices which have been tampered with may still operate normally, the sensitivity of the self-erasing chip provides a level of protection that provides peace of mind for the owners of electronic devices.

How It Works

While it may sound initially that the self-erasing chip is part of the electronic device itself, it is most effective when its use is not part of the functional aspect of the device. This is most notable when the self-erasing chip is used in bar codes.

A bar code is used every second around the world to identify products for purchase in retail stores. These same bar codes using self-erasing chips can be placed on all electronic devices to help detect the presence of counterfeit parts.

For example, such self-erasing bar codes could be set to erase when exposed to light. So, such a bar code can be placed on the outside of the device, but inside the packaging. If the chip shows signs of erasure, then it may be concluded that the packaging was opened before it arrived at its destination. The bar codes may also be written on the chips or circuit board itself to see if the devices had been opened or the components replaced.

Another method that will require the length of the self-erasing chip to be extended is using them as hardware analogues inside authorization keys of software systems. This will provide fast results if the components have been replaced. Once the chip has been erased, a new message that can be recorded. This means that if you place a bar code on a chip for example, once it has been erased it can be rewritten and used again and again.

The possibilities of the self-erasing chip are considerable across several different industries. Although the self-erasing chip is still in the early stages in terms of development, the possibilities for helping to curb the use of counterfeit chips is remarkable. By having a fast detection system, counterfeit parts can be detected earlier and replaced before devices are put into use. This has profound possibilities for space, medical, and defence industries, especially if lives are on the line.

However, the self-erasing chip is just one part of the process to end the use of counterfeit chips. It will take a more comprehensive effort to ensure that the use of counterfeit chips is minimised in future products. This means that the chip will be one part of an overall approach to detect and eliminate counterfeit chips before the devices can reach their final destination.

Everything has come to a halt after the COVID 19 emergence, including government agencies, businesses and organisation all over the world. The asymmetric spread of COVID19 has disturbed the overall symmetry of companies around the globe. The need for remote working in the pandemic has also raised the need for strengthening cybersecurity policies against threats of remote working. Hackers have to speed up their social engineering tactics to target unsuspecting organisations to breach their sensitive information. The unsecured RDP endpoints as a security challenge, highlight the importance of strong IT support and cloud services like MSP for better disaster recovery and data backup. Before we look into how to maintain a secure remote working environment for businesses, let’s explore the crucial security challenges of remote working.

Security risks in a remote working environment

  • Use of personal devices with less electronic and physical layers of security over the public internet is an open door for hackers.
  • Remote working environments have weakened the vulnerability assessment and penetration testing the periodic application on the organizations. It is not easy for security professionals to implement security policies individually on every organisation’s individual working from home.
  • Asset management needs are challenging to handle in the remote environment as the IT assets of any organisations are not in a confined workspace, so organisations are facing issues in implementing security solutions such as ticketing systems, geofencing and predictive asset monitoring.
  • Using personal devices also increasing problems for employees to maintain backup and recovery systems.
  • Organisations are facing challenges in remote Management Regime, video training sessions to employees and regular network vigilance is difficult. So, employees less interest in these activities, also making hackers perform security attacks smoothly.

A secure remote working environment

Encrypted cloud services

The cloud storage and backup services help in maintaining a record of data for disaster recovery. MSPs (managed services programs) installation in PCs of remote workers also manages the end-user system with proactive actions of firewalls, antiviruses, backup, cloud integration, networking and cybersecurity on the go.

Cloud-based IT support platform

The cloud management suite helps employees in accessing the office security network through personal devices. It also helps in monitoring and securing IT assets on the cloud.

Endpoint protection measures

A secure connection through a robust VPN solution to the company network safeguards the IT infrastructure and is one of the best endpoint protection measures to fight against security threats.

Set a professional IT support team

A skilled IT support team helping employees resolving technical issues timely can also stop hackers from attempting major security breaches. Timely resolved issues also prepare your organisation against any future security threat.

Training sessions

Employees empowerment through video conferencing, introducing recognised security standards, defining security policies and preparing them against social engineering attempts to strengthen the IT security of any organisation. Also, train your employees for regular backup checkups and instant incident response. The more you sensitise your remote employees, the fewer chances are of security breach and threats.

Information Technology (IT) is the set of processes that involve the use of the internet, websites, and computers. We live in an era where technology is too advanced that almost everything is run through computers. Therefore, all IT-related tools and functions must be maintained and supported.

IT Support services provide support to IT-related issues including cloud computing, database management, and network setup. IT support services ensures IT-related functions are working flawlessly regularly.

Types of IT Support Services

 

Managed IT support service

A lot of IT support service providers working with small businesses are referred to as managed service providers. This type of service comes with a variety of features but enables businesses to service their networks on an ongoing basis at a certain rate.

It might seem expensive but it is less costly in the long run as it can help you avoid certain problems that can be too expensive to solve from happening in the first place.

Cloud computing

Cloud computing involves any type of IT service delivered over a dedicated cloud network or the internet such as a SaaS offering or cloud platform.

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service

VoIP is a platform that provides an online service that allows people to communicate with others through voice calls. This service can be used when needed or on an ongoing basis.

Network security

Cybersecurity is a necessity for all businesses. Therefore, responding and evaluating potential cyber threats is a crucial service for IT businesses. Network security is offered as a standalone or managed IT offerings.

Network Setup

It is a preliminary setup service for companies looking to install a network provider and get it running. You can get this type of service as a standalone but it is highly recommended that you purchase a managed IT package.

On-Demand IT

This involves providing IT support services that are on-demand. Instead of businesses paying a regular fee, they only pay for each service when it is needed.

Database management

A database is used by businesses to monitor and access data during the lifecycle. The database includes sales, finances, customer, and employee data. Conversely, data management involves organizing that data to make sure there is security, compliance, and performance of data-driven apps.

Things to consider when purchasing an IT Support Service

 

Response time and Service Level Agreement (SLAs)

Time taken for an IT support service to respond to issues is crucial. Some clients prefer immediate feedback while others may be happy to wait for a few hours. On the other hand. SLA provides a guaranteed level of service. It also states that issues should be responded to a specific time period.

What an IT support service does not cover

A support service should entail in detail what it covers and what it doesn’t. It is common for personal equipment like computers used in homes by freelancers not to be covered by the standard package.

Will the service support your applications?

IT support services usually take different approaches when it comes to application integration. Most support mainstream apps such as Microsoft Office or Dynamics CRM but less common apps may be unsupported.