Category: Tech News

Protect Your Digital Privacy with These 4 Effective Tips

While many of us know that the internet can be a sketchy place, few people are aware of just how important it is to protect their own data and ensure digital privacy for themselves. Yes, it seems clear that bigger companies with financial or healthcare-related data need to be more careful, but ordinary folk? What do we have that hackers would be interested in accessing?

It turns out each of us has a ton of information that could benefit a cyber-criminal. The following will help point out some elements of digital privacy that you can apply to your everyday digital life to help ensure that you and those closest to you are safe from digital threats.

Use Alternative Search Engines

Yes, Google might be the most popular search engine available, but it’s far from being the most secure. Everything you do on Google is monitored and analysed. Sometimes this data is then sold to the highest bidder influencing everything from marketing to elections. Yes, your data can be used to help sway elections. Scary, right?

 

Avoid handing everything over to Google by switching over to an alternative search engine. Many are available, but one of the most secure is DuckDuckGo. You want a search engine that never stores your personal information, never stores your search history (meaning they have nothing to sell to advertising firms), and never tracks your searches whether you’re in private mode or not. 

You might be shocked to realise how biased the information you’ve been getting is when you see the difference in search results. If a search engine doesn’t store your information and use it to feed its algorithms, you end up with data and search results that are outside of your bubble. Be forewarned; for many people making the switch, this can be a scary realisation. Unknowingly, you might have been ingesting false or biased information for years, and suddenly those folks you adamantly disagreed with might not seem so crazy.

 

Blur Out Your Home On Google Street View

Google Maps has taken over navigation and resulted in fewer people than ever getting lost, but this isn’t to say that there aren’t considerations that need to be made. Burglars and other criminals often use Google Maps to figure out entrances or gain vehicle information (including license plate numbers if your car was in the driveway when the image was taken). To blur out your home, face, or vehicle, go to your address on Google Maps street view, click more options (three dots), click “report a problem,” click “report inappropriate street view,” adjust the window to make sure everything you want to be hidden is included and answer the questions presented about what you want to blur.

If this sort of guide feels shocking to you, you’re not alone. There are countless simple, step-by-step outlines to help make online security easier. Spend a bit of time finding a security information website that explains things to you in a way that you can understand. Tutorials and guides have been written for folks with all different backgrounds meaning that you will be able to find the information you need in a digestible way.

Update Your Software

You know those annoying messages you get on your phone and computer asking you to download updates that you keep putting off? It’s a good idea to go through with these updates because often, they include data security elements as hackers get more sophisticated, and so do anti-hacker elements of the software. Security bugs can leak valuable information, and software companies are constantly improving their security features.

 

Use A VPN

 

A VPN is a virtual private network. It adds an extra layer of security by disguising your data through encryption and hiding your IP address while you’re online. Not only does this help keep you safe while browsing the internet on public and open wifi networks, but it also keeps your information safe from your internet service provider. Yes, the internet company that is allowing you internet access in your home. A fun bonus of having a VPN is that you can access online materials that are limited to a single location, like Netflix in another country or free live streams happening all around the world.

The above tips can help you keep yourself and your data safe. It’s important that you don’t bite off more than you can chew right from the get-go. It’s far better to make a small tweak that you can maintain for years to come than to spend two weeks keeping yourself completely safe and burning out. Over time, you can add more and more tweaks to keep improving your privacy.

 

The Main Benefits Of Using Proxies For Business. #Proxies #Business #Tech

No matter what type of business you might be running, the danger of cyberattacks is always present. According to the latest trends, cybercrime will cost companies over $10.5 trillion every year by 2025. That’s why you should do whatever you can to secure your company’s data and servers.
Most traditional methods such as antivirus and antimalware software often aren’t enough to prevent hackers from breaching your systems. That’s why you should think about investing in a proxy server, for example, a Japanese Proxy, and appear as a private user from another country. Stay with us, and we’ll explain everything in more detail.

Web Proxy? What is it?

But before we get to the benefits of using proxies, we first have to explain what they are. Proxy servers are privately owned servers found in locations all over the globe. Most proxy providers have a server in dozens of different countries and across all continents. These servers generate real IP addresses, and the more there are, the better.
Every time you want to connect to the internet using a proxy, you connect through a proxy instead of connecting directly from your device. That gives you an extra layer of protection and can send hackers on a wild goose chase. Apart from that, proxies offer other benefits, but we’ll get to that in a moment.

What Proxies Do

Proxies act as a middleman between your device and the internet. When you want to access a website or a server, you leave your IP address. It works as a virtual postal address, and it helps the server send the information to the right place.
That’s how the internet works. The problem is, once a website or server gets your IP address, they can easily find out your location, browsing preferences, and other personal information. Proxies simply switch your original IP with another located far from your original location, making it impossible to track you down. As a company, proxies can provide you with all kinds of benefits that will help you improve your operation and stay safe from cybercriminals.

Genode Proxy

Main Benefits of Proxies

Now we get to the good stuff – the benefits. As we already explained, proxy services hide your original location, making it much harder for anyone to track your online activity. However, they also provide some other benefits that will undoubtedly help your business in the long run. Here’s what you can expect.

Better Connection Speeds

Proxy servers remember the files and websites you frequently visit, speeding up your connection and loading time. So, instead of loading everything from scratch every time you go online, proxies will display the information you need much faster, freeing up the bandwidth and upping the loading time.

Bypass Geo-Restrictions

You can also use proxies to bypass geo-restrictions and internet censorship. Some areas of the world limit the data and type of files you can access. For example, you can’t access some of the content in Japan, while Japanese people can. But, if you get a Japanese proxy, you’ll be able to use all Japanese websites even if you’re not in Japan.
Employee Internet Usage Control
You can also use a proxy server to limit internet use within your company. For example, you can create a list of websites or areas in the world you want to block. The proxy will simply prevent your employees from loading those websites while at work.

Common Business Uses

Now, when it comes to business uses, proxies have a very wide application. Professional proxy services like SmartProxy, offering over 100M+ residential IPs covering 195+ countries, are tailored to meet the needs of large-scale concurrent data collection and precise geolocation. They are mostly used for common practices such as competition monitoring, web scraping, gathering user reviews on your brand, and so on. Here are a few more applications:

Web Scraping

Finding the right information you need to improve your business is crucial for your success. However, most of your competitors and websites will try to prevent you from scraping their data. They can block you once they know your IP address, but if you mask it with a proxy, you’ll appear as a different user, so they won’t know who to block.

Better Security

Knowing what websites your employees visit and limiting their choice will go a long way in protecting your sensitive information. Not only that, since no one will be able to track your online activities, you will drastically reduce the chances of a cyberattack.

Conclusion

Proxy servers are definitely a must if you want to stay safe and hidden from cybercriminals. However, they can also help you conduct web scraping projects without interference, speed up your website, limit internet use within the company, and of course, help you bypass geo-limitations. Just like the example with a Japanese proxy. If you are interested in various proxy pools, visit Oxylabs website and learn more about proxies in multiple locations around the world.

SmartRoutes are aiming to transform the last-mile with their delivery route planner. #TheLastMile #Logistics #SmartRoutes

The explosion of online shopping over the past year has seen last-mile carriers come under increased pressure to meet the demands of consumers.  A Cork-based technology company aims to help couriers, logistics businesses, and retailers themselves to not only meet these demands but to open up new sales channels and scale their business with efficient delivery routes.

SmartRoutes Delivery Route Planner combines a desktop application that allows for the complete management of routes, vehicles, and drivers, with a mobile app (available on iOS and Android) that helps to make drivers’ work much easier and quicker.

 

Route Planning & Optimisation

When it comes to route planning, multiple vehicles and drivers, and hundreds of deliveries it can be almost impossible to plan manually in anything close to an efficient manner. To understand how they make the last mile more efficient, it’s important to understand the difference between 2 of their key features: route planning and route optimisation

Route Planning

Planning routes has long been one of the most challenging aspects of any delivery operation. As anyone who has worked in the transport space will know, it can consume hours every day ensuring you have routes ready for drivers arriving at the depot in the morning, confident that every order is on a dispatch.

SmartRoutes have solved much of this with an easy-to-use, desktop-based interface that allows you to import orders over API or through a spreadsheet and have routes created by the system in a matter of seconds. 

A lot of thought has gone into this, and they have some impressive features, such as an address validation workflow that ensures that drop-off and collection points are real, where they say they are, and easy for the drivers to find.

The ability to manage vehicle load capacities, driver hours, and load-balancing all make route planning more effective. Having all these factors accounted for by the technology, it can make the life of a transport planner or depot manager much easier.

Route Optimisation

If you consider route planning to be the way in which a human would devise the route for delivery drivers, you can think of route optimisation as the technology that ensures that the routes are as efficient as they possibly can be.

The results of route optimization can be drastic for any business that engages in multi-drop deliveries, saving upwards of 33% on distances traveled. With rising fuel prices in the immediate term and concerns around the battery range of EV’s in the medium-to-long term, this is something every delivery business should be investing in.

SmartRoutes uses a python-based algorithm that they have developed in-house to find the most efficient route possible. In layman’s terms, this means that you can simply input all of your orders or stops in one go, turn on your available drivers and vehicles, and their route optimisation algorithm will run every possible way the routes could be created in a matter of seconds. It then returns the most efficient routes for your available fleet to serve all those stops.

It’s an impressive use of technology to solve a very old problem. For a human to run the millions of variations of a few routes manually would take a very long time, but this route optimisation software brings a whole new level of efficiency to the very foundations of a delivery business.

Day-to-day Delivery Management

Beyond planning and optimisation, the software gives everyone involved in the delivery operation the full oversight from the office to the road that they need. A couple of the killer features are outlined below:

Live Vehicle Tracking Dashboard

Knowledge is power as they say, and knowing where your fleet of vehicles is at any given moment is critical to any last-mile logistics operation.

The SmartRoutes Mobile Driver App is GPS-enabled and can give a real-time overview of where drivers are on their route at any given moment. While it might seem a bit ‘Big-Brother’ for drivers, it can also be of benefit to them.

Not alone is it useful for depot managers to ensure that operations are running smoothly throughout the day, but it can be a game-changer for support staff as well. From one dashboard, they can see in real-time where drivers are on their route, accurate ETA’s for deliveries, and instant feedback on undelivered parcels from the live tracking dashboard. 

With an ever-increasing focus on customer experience, it also offers staff the ability to proactively reach out to customers who have missed deliveries to re-arrange a suitable time to re-schedule.

This can save hours of back-and-forth with drivers and gives a much better customer experience for the end customer. Drivers are happier that they can get on with their tasks without having to take calls from the office. Support staff are also having a better experience with customers, and the customer is getting full transparency.

A real win-win situation for everyone involved.

A mobile driver app that keeps the driver front-of-mind

As readers of the blog will have guessed, I was keen to get stuck into their mobile app and put it to the test. 

The layout of the app is very simple and a driver can view their route either in a list format or on a map with each drop marked in chronological order. Selecting a drop, the driver can see everything they could need; name, address, phone numbers, dispatch notes, and parcels/SKU’s that are to be delivered. There is also a built-in barcode scanner which eliminates the need for drivers to carry the bulky devices that we’ve become accustomed to seeing our local courier dragging around.

They can also capture photo proof-of-delivery and e-signatures from customers within the app, and this is fed back to the depot or office in real-time too. Again, this eliminates much of the back-and-forth communication that drivers despise.

Route Navigation within the app is done through the tried-and-trusted Google Maps. The familiarity is a big bonus for drivers. 

The Delivery Experience

Customer Experience has seen renewed focus for many businesses in recent years, as they look to provide a little something that larger competitors like Amazon lack. Attention to detail and a seamless experience for everyone are key to everything SmartRoutes do. Speaking with CEO David Walsh, he explained:

“Everything we develop within our software has the user in mind. The ‘delivery experience’ is something that many businesses have had to improve over the past year. I think the key for us is that it isn’t just about the end customer. It’s about a happy dispatcher, a happy driver, a happy customer, and a happy support staff member when something doesn’t go to plan. Everyone involved in the last-mile logistical operation needs to be happy for the end customer to have the desired delivery experience. We see getting that right as the way for couriers and logistics companies to remain competitive in the market.”

 

Features:

 

  • Route Planning
  • Route Optimisation
  • Route Navigation
  • Electronic Proof-of-Delivery
  • Barcode Scanner
  • GPS Live Vehicle Tracking
  • Territory Zoning
  • Customisable Delivery Windows
  • Automated Order Imports
  • Address Verification & Validation
  • Dispatch Notes
  • Customer Notifications (SMS & Email)
  • Real-time ETA’s
  • Customer Database
  • Driver Analytics
  • Parcel Track & Trace Portal
techbuzzireland talking to the smart routes team

 

GSMA, Counterpoint, realme, and Qualcomm announce 5G Summit on 3rd June, topic “Making 5G Global: Accessibility for All.” #5G

GSMA, Counterpoint, realme, and Qualcomm announce that they will hold a 5G Summit on 3rd June. The topic of the summit is “Making 5G Global: Accessibility for All.” Leaders from these companies or organisations will share their views on the global 5G development and opportunities from different perspectives.

Kalvin Bahia, Principal Economist, GSMA Intelligence

“5G represents an opportunity to accelerate economic growth in a post-pandemic world.”

 

Peter Richardson, VP & Co-founder, Counterpoint Research

“5G is a foundational technology that will fundamentally change how people live, learn and work.”

 

Madhav Sheth, VP of realme, CEO of realme India and Europe

“We believe 5G will be the biggest driver accelerating smart living for young people across the globe.”

 

Johnny Chen, Brand Director of realme

“Our phones will allow young people to express themselves in ways that go beyond physical spaces.”

Rajen Vagadia, VP and President, Qualcomm India & SAARC

“Qualcomm innovations are driven by enriched consumer experiences. The Snapdragon 778G 5G is a milestone platform that broadens smartphone possibilities.” Attendees will talk about “Making 5G Global: Accessibility for All” from different perspectives.

GSMA will share the opinions on comparing 5G growth expectations across emerging markets, barriers to 5G mobile internet adoption, and how it can boost growth in a post-pandemic world.

Counterpoint will focus on how 5G is changing the way people use technology, the trend of 5G spreading to lower price tiers, some numbers indicating key smartphone players in 5G, and the hot specs in the smartphone in 5G development.

realme will share some points on their role in the 5G era, why they believe 5G will become the most significant driver accelerating smart living for young people across the globe, surveys on young users’ increased demand with 5G, and some details around its upcoming product lines – broad range from lower tiers through to premium.

Qualcomm will talk about how it works together with smartphone makers to ensure the best performance, focusing on specific applications that are important in providing the whole 5G experience.

The summit livestream will start at 10:00AM GMT+1, 3rd June, you can watch the livestream on GSMA livestream channel or realme official social media channels.

 

GSMA livestream link below:

https://view6.workcast.net/register?cpak=4017110476703105

 

realme livestream link below:

https://youtu.be/KJIKMXQ40x4

Detection Technology unveils Aurora XS to address cost and reliability drivers of urban security market

Detection Technology, a global leader in X-ray detector solutions, today unveiled the Aurora XS to address the cost efficiency and reliability requirements of the urban security screening market. The Aurora XS adapts to versatile X-ray imaging systems, which secure safety on train and metro stations, and in public buildings and event venues, for example. The Aurora XS is available as a complete subsystem that includes detectors, a control unit, and software libraries for rapid time-to-market of cost-effective X-ray systems.

“Almost everything is extra small in the Aurora XS, the newcomer to our Aurora product family. The abbreviation XS in the name stands for small bill of materials, small mechanics, small weight, small pixel size, small carbon footprint, and last but not least a smaller price, which is the most important enabler for succeeding in this price-driven segment. With the Aurora XS, small efforts and less risk-taking are required to introduce X-ray systems to entry-level non-aviation security systems that are known for their small form factors,” summarizes Jyrki Still, CTO at Detection Technology.

“What is not small in the Aurora XS is innovativeness and reliability. The Aurora XS is built on a novel detector platform that is boosted by unique algorithms and an application-optimized, single-chip ASIC. These smart features make reliable dual-energy imaging with a single-layer sensor possible. In our view, we are the first in the industry to introduce such a simplified detector structure to the security market. This is a good example of our aim to simplify hardware by rethinking detector designs.”

Aurora XS

The Aurora XS has a durable structure with reliable mechanical and electrical interfaces, and a robust sensor for stringent radiation hardness requirements, and harsh imaging conditions such as humidity, mechanical stress, and temperature changes. With its robustness and simplified structure, the Aurora XS also enhances more environmental sound screening than conventional detector solutions in the segment. Furthermore, it supports safe and easy installation and maintenance.

The Aurora XS provides imaging performance that meets industry regulations and responds to urban security requirements, even at low X-ray flux. The low-noise Aurora XS features a fully digitalized data path. It is equipped with an application-optimized, single-chip ASIC, which effectively mitigates the impact of external electromagnetic interferences. The Aurora XS has a wide sensitivity range from 0.25 pF to 31.75 pF with 127 controllable gain-setting steps, which ensure adaptability for the entire range of the urban X-ray screening applications.

“The Aurora XS completes our offering to the security segment, as now our Aurora solutions cover all imaging needs from entry- to high-tier applications. The original Aurora detector series was introduced for mid-tier, and the Aurora CT for high-tier imaging, and now we have a perfect match for the entry level as well.”

Engineering samples of the Aurora XS are available immediately. Shipments in volumes will be available starting the second half of 2021.

Lonely Planet & Sony reveal incredible Irish locations. #sony #travel #lonelyplanet #staycation

With us all looking ahead for 2021 travel inspiration once lockdown measures have lifted; the top lesser-known locations across Ireland show we have unparalleled levels of beauty on our shores, Snapped on the Xperia 5 II; the handset comes with a professional-quality triple lens camera; complete with the Photography Pro feature which brings Alpha technology to the palm of your hand for fast and accurate AF/AE – allowing us all the opportunity to take incredible imagery from our everyday devices

From luscious green hills to quaint towns with colourful vibrance, Ireland is rich in stunning destinations. It’s no surprise then that with the restrictions on international travel, there was a significant rise in people staycationing; as well as an increase in search requests for places that were off the beaten track throughout 2020.

Sony Mobile and Lonely Planet have paired up to publish a photo series revealing the top less-frequented destinations in Ireland for 2021 so travellers can escape the mundane of lockdown once measures have been lifted and reignite the sense of wonder and discovery – including the pristine sandy shores of Lackan Sands and the sub-tropical Garnish Island, home to exotic plants and foliage from around the world.

Too often, these lesser-known tourist spots are overlooked with staycationers opting for the bigger cities to satisfy their wanderlust; they try to find places that are off the beaten track rather than opting for the bigger tourist spots, such as Dublin. With 2021 now underway, this photo series gives inspiration for the future to encourage us to explore our own shores; along with photography you can easily recreate yourselves.

Mizen Head Cliffs, Co. Cork, Ireland
Mizen Head Cliffs, Co. Cork, Ireland

Top lesser-known post-lockdown destinations from around Ireland  

  1. Mizen Head Cliffs, Co. Cork, Ireland (above)
  2. Lackan Strand, Co Mayo, Ireland
  3. Sky Garden, Russagh, Co. Cork, Ireland
  4. Birr Castle, Co Offaly, Ireland
  5. Garnish Island, Bantry Bay, Ireland
  6. Slieve Bloom Mountains, Co Laois, Ireland
  7. Sliabh Liag (Slieve League) Cliffs, Co Donegal
  8. Cobh, Co. Cork, Ireland

Tom Hall from Lonely Planet, said: “The pandemic caused us all to pause and re-evaluate how we travel, and now is the perfect time to update that bucket list with some of these under-the-radar places you might have overlooked in the past.”

Offered in Black, Xperia 5 II is available from retailers across Ireland.

Elevate your iPad experience: Twelve South introduces the HoverBar Duo #iPad

Twelve South, a leading designer of Apple accessories, today introduces the HoverBar Duo, an adjustable iPad stand that frees a user’s hands so they can do more and create more. Height adjustable with the ability to hold an iPad in multiple positions and angles, the HoverBar Duo includes a weighted desktop stand as well as a desk/shelf clamp to suit every iPad setup. The HoverBar is available now for £79.99 from Amazon.co.uk and Apple.

The HoverBar Duo is a useful stand that’s ideal for both personal and business use. Lifting the iPad camera up to eye level, users can have more natural conversations, showing their best side, whether they’re on a video call with work colleagues or face timing family and friends. The HoverBar Duo’s included iPad clip rotates 360-degrees enabling users to set their iPad or iPhone horizontally or vertically to ensure it captures their best possible angle.

Perfect for use at a desk, in the kitchen or workshop, the HoverBar Duo is incredibly versatile. Creatives can make use of its flexible arm stand to securely hold an iPad low to the desk, enabling them to capture hands drawing or crafting. Musicians could set the stand on a table for a virtual guitar lesson or on the floor to record the latest TikTok dance moves. The HoverBar Duo could even be clamped on a workbench to make ‘how to’ videos or positioned under a cabinet, allowing users to follow recipes while cooking rather than propping their iPad up against the olive oil. Portable, sturdy and stable, there are a long list of clever ways to use the HoverBar Duo.

hoverbar duo in use
overbar duo kitchen

The sleek HoverBar Duo puts an iPad into a comfortable viewing position, ideal for those who want to watch the latest Netflix series in bed or while waiting for dinner to cook. The adjustability of the HoverBar Duo also means that users could position their iPad right next to their iMac, external monitor or MacBook to serve as a second, or even third display. Even better, add a wireless keyboard and mouse to create a super comfortable mini desktop setup. When it’s time to recharge, users can do it without removing it from the HoverBar Duo.

The HoverBar Duo is available now for £79.99 from Amazon.co.uk and Apple.

QuietOn Launches QuietOn 3, World’s Smallest Active Noise-Cancelling Earbuds Specifically Designed to Improve Sleep Quality

Reinforcing its mission to optimize human performance through  improved sleep, acclaimed Finnish tech innovator QuietOn™ today announced the launch of QuietOn  3, the world’s smallest active noise cancelling earbud that significantly reduces low-frequency noise to  deliver Nordic calm and quietude regardless of one’s sleeping environment.  

The new QuietOn 3 earbuds are the first earbuds small enough to fit entirely inside the ear, making  them the only active noise cancelling (ANC) sleep solution that is comfortable enough for everyone,  including side sleepers. The superior comfort and pure Nordic quietude lets users enjoy a good  night’s sleep for better overall health and a readiness to tackle each day with a clear, rested mind. 

According to QuietOn CEO Jussi Lemiläinen, QuietOn 3 debuts at an ideal time – as consumer  interest in the benefits of sleep health is at an all-time high, thanks to better sleep education and new  tracking devices. 

“Everything that we want in life – professional success, personal well-being, physiological health – begins with a good night’s sleep. And a good night’s sleep begins with quietude,” Lemiläinen said.  “QuietOn 3 leverages breakthrough ANC technology to create a better environment for sleep,  effectively eliminating the low-frequency noises that so often disrupt our sleep.” 

Some of the most common noises that interrupt sleep are low-frequency sounds from heating  systems, appliances, traffic, airplanes, snoring and noisy neighbors. QuietOn 3’s ANC technology  eliminates ambient sound by automatically generating opposite waveforms to nullify the low  frequencies, resulting in a much quieter and more peaceful environment for sleep. 

“While white noise machines and other noise-masking devices help with lulling one to sleep, the  addition of a new noise to overpower background noises can actually prevent or disrupt deep sleep,”  continued Lemiläinen. “QuietOn 3 and its breakthrough ANC technology works to eliminate noise to  create a sense of calm and quietude that increases both quantity and quality of one’s sleep.” 

Additionally, by significantly reducing the earbud’s dimensions, QuietOn succeeded in making the  impossible possible – creating the first ANC earbud that fits entirely in the ear, with zero protrusion.  Engineering QuietOn 3 to be even smaller than previous versions was a challenge, but the company  exceeded expectations by reducing the physical size while increasing battery life. 

The size reduction can be traced to QuietOn 3’s sleep-focused design, which eliminates the need for  transmitters, receivers and other components typically found in music earbuds. The lack of these  audio-specific components also enables operation with zero electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation. 

 

To ensure maximum comfort, each pair of QuietOn 3 comes with four sizes of eartips. With no  wireless setup or connectivity required, and automatic charging in the included case, QuietOn 3  earbuds are always ready to pop in and provide more restful sleep. 

The QuietOn 3 earbuds charge in the included carrying case, which contains its own battery to  guarantee a full-charge at all times. A single charge provides 28 hours of use, so the earbuds have  the power to last all day, or for several nights.  

QuiteON 3 techbuzzireland

“The introduction of new technologies like circadian-based lighting and sleep trackers underscore that  high-quality sleep is now a central focus of people’s efforts to improve their general health and well being,” Lemiläinen added. “With QuietOn 3, we look forward to joining this movement by demonstrating the critical importance of quietude to sleep performance and, ultimately, overall  wellbeing and human performance.” 

Check out our QuiteOn review 

Unlocking the Value of Data at the Edge,Jason Ward, Vice-President and Managing Director, Dell Technologies Ireland

From the rapid growth in connected devices to the shift to ecommerce, organisations are struggling to manage the explosion in the growth of data. Edge computing is the answer to managing this data deluge and gaining business benefits from it. Many technology leaders in Ireland know it is no longer a nice to have, it is essential for businesses looking to innovate with real-time insights in a digital-first era. What’s more, as 5G connectivity comes on stream, those who embrace data at the Edge will reap the rewards on the road to recovery.

There is no doubt that the powerful convergence of cloud, AI and edge technologies will help organisations across Ireland to transform at speed. Paving the way for intelligent cities, homes and real-time services, turbocharged data management and processing power at the edge will drive businesses’ ability to consume more data. There is much to be gained for society as a whole, as well as the businesses that serve them when it comes to ramping up infrastructure at the edge – to seize today’s opportunities and prepare for tomorrow’s world.

As our lives become increasingly connected there is more data to be processed than ever. We’re no longer talking about gigabytes or even terabytes–the new unit of scale is the Zettabyte, equivalent to a billion terabytes. Our growing reliance on this data makes the evolution of core cloud technologies so important. Keeping up and staying ahead of the curve as these demands increase is already business critical – and requires an infrastructural step-up.

Jason Ward, Vice-President and Managing Director, Dell Technologies Ireland

The “5G Future SME Report”, by Amárach Research, highlights that the failure to invest in Ireland’s 5G network over the rest of the decade could see a significant loss of €12.6 billion in GDP by 2030. With 64% of Irish SMEs also believing effective 5G investment will be critical to Ireland’s economic recovery, it is clear that setting the groundwork now will serve businesses well as they look to grow over the coming months.

To feel the benefits of connected devices that provide real-time AI-powered insights, whether it’s in our factories, cars or shops, we need to embrace high performance computing. Then we can truly benefit from 5G speeds. This means firing-up the edge – and putting automation in the hotseat.       The recent launch of our PowerEdge Server provides a window into the future, revealing how the Zettabyte era will be managed – with automation, security and sustainability at its core. Only with turbocharged compute can the edge meet today and tomorrow’s challenges.

Overcoming data challenges with Automated Edge computing

In 2019, 53% of global data and analytics technology decision makers say they have implemented some form of AI or are in the process of doing so. By harnessing data for key insights, it enables them to respond rapidly to business opportunities, while maximising productivity. As these workloads grow there will be more demand on compute, speed and agility.

Today’s increasingly complex data landscape means many Irish organisations struggle to manage these workloads, applications, and data securely from edge to hybrid cloud. According to Gartner, 75 % of enterprise data will be processed outside a traditional centralised data center or cloud by 2025. So it’s imperative that these issues are addressed swiftly with modernised platforms that support their data-driven goals.

Ultimately, businesses must grow and evolve IT infrastructure to meet these challenges while keeping the lights on. In Ireland, our teams are at the forefront of these challenges. Thanks to their expertise and the work being undertaken in the 5G Edge Labs of Cork and Limerick, we are using the power of 5G and Edge Computing to bring next generation products and services to life .

However, the pandemic threw additional challenges into the mix, fast-tracking our hybrid working futures. It accelerated our reliance on hybrid cloud technologies, while spotlighting the need for greater efficiencies and security.

Cyber risks are obviously something front of mind for everyone right now and over the past year we’ve been reminding customers to increase their cyber security as workforces operated in a remote environment. Our latest Global Data Protection Index has shown that 82% of organisations globally have suffered from a disruptive event. Building proactive resilience and embedding trust into their digital transformation plans with security by design is key. This will help secure interactions, providing the ability to anticipate potential threats.

These challenges can be met with edge solutions that combine the compute power, to combat intense workloads at speed, with inbuilt automation to enhance productivity and seamless management. Apart from keeping businesses in Ireland competitive, getting to grips with the Edge will crucially enhance the sustainability of their data management too.

Edge tech

Sustainability is key to a future-proof edge

When we process data at the Edge, we are actually reducing a lot of power consumption, which is ultimately kinder to the environment – it also requires a smaller cooling footprint. The more we evolve edge computing to meet the needs of businesses and generate better outcomes, the more we accelerate inevitable adoption. The quicker businesses embrace the Edge, the quicker we can minimise resource heavy data transfers between devices and data centers. Dell is committed to, reducing the energy intensity of its entire product portfolio by 80% come 2030 – and by 2020 had already achieved a 69.9% reduction. Edge solutions are core part of this commitment.

What’s more, as Edge Computing lays the groundwork for 5G connectivity, it forms the backbone of a core technology set to help bridge digital divides – connecting those in more remote areas. Paving the way for 5G means preparing for a world in which everyone has access to remote learning, ehealthcare and digital public services. Understanding the bigger picture and human impact from today’s infrastructural decisions should empower businesses as they embark on their digital transformation journey.

Seizing future opportunities from the edge

As we look to the future, Edge technology can help to shape our digital future, driving innovation for business and helping to address societal challenges we face. It is imperative that amid today’s many challenges and opportunities, businesses and organisations in Ireland build their foundations with a long-term view, taking advantage of the immense compute power. There really is no other way to stay on top of the complexities of data-driven future