The ITAM Roundup: 2/26/24
Google integrates Gemini AI into enterprise tools
(FYI - Bard is now named Gemini 😉) Google has replaced Duet AI with Gemini AI for Google Workspace, offering two plans, Gemini Business and Gemini Enterprise, to assist businesses in leveraging AI for growth. Gemini Business provides access to AI features like Help me write in Docs and Enhanced Smart Fill in Sheets, while Gemini Enterprise offers additional capabilities such as AI-powered meetings with language translation and meeting notes. Additionally, Google introduced Gemma, a new set of large language models designed to handle text and support developer innovation and collaboration.
Gagandeep Kaur
Killing VMware (Editorial)
Another week, another blog about dissatisfied VMware customers. Broadcom's acquisition of VMware has sparked discontent among customers and partners due to radical changes that include discontinuing numerous VMware products and shifting to subscription-based licensing. Concerns over price hikes, reduced support, and the elimination of perpetual licenses have led to apprehension among VMware users, prompting some to explore alternatives like Nutanix and Microsoft's Hyper-V/Azure Stack.
Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
JAMF warns: Many Apple-using businesses still aren’t secure
Jamf's Security 360 report underscores the lax security practices among Apple device users, with alarming statistics revealing widespread neglect of fundamental security measures. Misconceptions about macOS immunity persist among users, despite rising malware instances. To mitigate risks, organizations must prioritize security hygiene, implement robust defense strategies, and remain vigilant against evolving cyber threats.
Jonny Evans
Data centers in space 🛰️
Space-based data centers offer a solution to current limitations in information processing speed and capacity on Earth, driven by the growing demands of AI and data-intensive applications. Developed by NTT and SKY Perfect JSAT, the Space Integrated Computing Network leverages satellite networking and photonics technology to process and store data in space, reducing power consumption and speeding up data transmission. With the ability to gather and process data more quickly, space data centers promise improved communication resilience, reduced environmental impact, and enhanced connectivity services, with a launch planned for 2025.
NTT
Kyndryl bets on partnerships, consulting arm to redeem itself
Kyndryl is banking on its consulting arm, Kyndryl Consult, to drive growth amid a decline in overall revenue, with partnerships playing a key role in its strategy to diversify offerings. The consulting business, growing in double digits, aims to contribute close to 20% of the company's total revenue, leveraging an ecosystem of around 30 partners for expanded capabilities.
Anirban Ghoshal
Apptio Cloudability: 2023 Innovation in Review
Apptio's Cloudability (acquired by IBM) launched Financial Planning and Savings Automation tools to aid FinOps challenges, expanded integrations with Turbonomic and Oracle Cloud, and introduced policy-driven rightsizing with ServiceNow. These innovations aimed to optimize cloud spending and enhance efficiency for businesses, while investments in data and platform enhancements strengthened Cloudability's capabilities further.
PSV Ravi Kumar
Data replication: What is it and what are the advantages of using it?
Data replication, now considered essential for high availability and disaster recovery, involves updating data copies across multiple locations, ensuring data availability for users and customers. Various replication methods, such as snapshot, merge, and transactional replication, offer different levels of synchronization and performance.
Clay Jackson
The Top 8 SaaS Discovery Methods for 2024
The article explores various SaaS discovery methods crucial for IT managers, such as Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), which regulates access to cloud applications, and API Connectors, essential for accessing data from SaaS vendor portals. Additionally, it discusses Browser Plugins for monitoring software usage and Single Sign-On (SSO) for centralized authentication across applications, offering insights into diverse aspects of SaaS management and governance.
The Critical Need for Integrating Devices with Intune
The article highlights the critical importance of integrating devices with Intune, emphasizing the benefits of Entra ID Join over Hybrid Entra ID Join for security and manageability. It outlines how Intune enables organizations to adopt Zero-Trust security strategies, manage devices remotely, and deploy devices efficiently through features like Windows Autopilot. Additionally, it discusses the risks of not integrating devices with Intune, stressing the importance of device management in enhancing organizational security and compliance.
Jon Jarvis
Say hello to SQL Server 2022: How to upgrade easily and maintain support
SQL Server 2022 offers enhanced features for performance, security, scalability, and data virtualization, with updated licensing options for financial flexibility. The article emphasizes the need for compatibility checks with hardware and applications before upgrading.
Blair Loveland
Navigating Regulatory Challenges for AI in Finance
Institutions face regulatory challenges in deploying AI in finance, including data privacy, bias mitigation, and transparency requirements. Key regulations like GDPR and the Dodd-Frank Act impact AI use, emphasizing fair treatment and risk management. To navigate these challenges, institutions must adopt robust data governance, invest in explainable AI, and engage with regulatory bodies to anticipate and address future legal considerations.
Fredrik Filipsson
New ScreenConnect RCE flaw exploited in ransomware attacks
A critical authentication bypass vulnerability in ScreenConnect servers, CVE-2024-1709, is being actively exploited by threat actors to deploy LockBit ransomware payloads, despite recent law enforcement actions against the LockBit group. The flaw, alongside another high-severity vulnerability (CVE-2024-1708), allows threat actors to breach unpatched servers, prompting urgent warnings from security agencies like CISA. While law enforcement recently dismantled a significant portion of LockBit's infrastructure in Operation Cronos, the ransomware gang continues to operate, with affiliates exploiting these vulnerabilities to target various organizations worldwide.
