Barnsley Council elevates datacenter protection with Bitdefender GravityZone

Barnsley Council is a local government authority in South Yorkshire, U.K. Serving approximately 228,000 residents. Barnsley provides citizens with an array of public services including development, conservation, culture, community learning, and adult and children-support services. Learn why Barnsley ICT Technical Specialist Steve Furniss trusts Bitdefender GravityZone to protect their datacenter environment.

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MuleSoft

MuleSoft makes it easy to connect the world’s applications, data and devices. We provide a flexible, unified software platform that enables organizations to easily build application networks using APIs

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Enterprise Mobility

RAN Management and Orchestration Is Central to Operators Gaining Control Over Their Own Networks

Article | June 15, 2023

The promise of Open vRAN is to give back to mobile operators some form of control over their networks. The “open” refers to the opening of RAN interfaces. It is critical because it gives operators the possibility to buy the radio unit and the baseband unit from different vendors, rather than having to buy an integrated system, and therefore helps them diversify their suppliers and reduce their dependence on traditional vendors. The “v” refers to virtual. Virtualization is about disaggregating hardware and software and enabling the use of commercial off-the-shelf servers, instead of the usual purpose-built hardware, to run network functions in order to increase flexibility and reduce costs. Across Asia-Pacific, the announcements and activities from operators including Airtel, Axiata, NTT Docomo, Rakuten Mobile, Smartfren and Telkomsel indicate a growing appetite for open and virtualized radio access networks. In countries like India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, open RAN can for example help to address the challenges of remote connectivity and to deploy a network in places where it has been traditionally difficult to achieve a satisfactory return on investment.

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Network Infrastructure, Network Management

Blockchain in Business: A Technology for Success

Article | July 27, 2023

Blockchain technology has the potential to transform the way businessesoperate.As a result, it has gained tremendous momentum and is no longer the utopian dream of a few crypto enthusiasts. According to a Deloitte report that surveyed more than 1300 senior executives worldwide, 53% said blockchainin businessis a priority. Also, PwC highlights thatblockchain alone can add $407 billion to the GDP of the USA by 2030. Blockchain is cementing its position in the market and is expected to be worth $163 billion by 2027, according to Statista. The time has come for digital businesses to harness the power of decentralization and incorporate it into their everyday processes. You simplycan’t lose out on the business opportunities that this technology has tooffer simply because you are living under a rock. In this article, we will discuss how using blockchain for business can make a huge difference in your business process. Let’s first begin by looking at the challenges faced by traditional business models. Challenges Traditional Business Models Face A growing business encounters several challenges, and different problems demand different solutions. Mentioned below are some of the challenges that traditional business models often encounter. Time-Consuming Processes In a business operation, all processes function as separate entities. Teams often find themselves looking for, gathering, and analyzing the same data to make decisions. As a result, the teams must rely on a lot of third-party intermediaries to runtheir business processes smoothly. This adds to the time and complexity of the processes.Use of blockchain technology can help to effectively do away with this challenge. Lack of Security Data security is another area of concern that can be taken care ofby storing data on the blockchain. Data that is storedin the cloud or a centralized storage facility, is vulnerable to security breaches. The traditional business ecosystem, data, and stakeholders are unprepared for the considerably more intelligent and ever-changing hackingtechniques. As a result, important and confidential data can get breached and compromised. Payment Barriers Payment transactions are often more complicated, time-consuming, and costly due to the diversity of currencies and parties involved. Blockchain technology promises to make processing payments and other transactions around the world faster, safer, and cheaper by getting rid of the need for mediators like correspondent banks and clearing institutions. Payment barriers are another problem that the adoption of blockchain business models can ease. Shoot-up Your Business Growth with Blockchain Technology Blockchain in business is aiding the transformation of business across industries all around the globe. Blockchain is transforming supply chains, banking and financial services, healthcare, government, retail, and other industries. Here are some statistics that demonstrate blockchain's significance in strengthening industries: The financial sector contributes to around 30% of the market value of blockchain. (Statista) By 2028, the value of blockchain in healthcare will be $1189.8 million. (Vantage Market Research) By 2026, the value of blockchain in agriculture and food will be $1.48 billion. (BIS Research) In 2022, the blockchain market in the manufacturing industry will be worth $85.64 billion. (Globe Newswire) Accelerates Your Business Processes Blockchain is taking a central role in the ongoing digital transformation process. In digital transformation, time is one of the most critical factors that keeps you ahead of the curve. Moreover, business operations that use a blockchain to store and transfer data provide high levels of security. On this basis, you can create completely automated transactions in various business domains. This method is not only dependable and safe, but it is also exceedingly fast. Improves Your Online Security Encryption and validation are two significant advantages of mainstreaming blockchain technology. Every operation and communication that happens online will be encrypted. It protects against data alteration. Due to its distributed nature, you can verify that no one has altered even a bit by checking signatures across all nodes. Blockchain in business will be helpful for storage, private messaging (between companies/clients or friends on social media), safer DNS, and IoT security. Blockchain use in business will enhance cybersecurity, but this transformation won’t happen overnight, it will take years before it impacts the ways in which we use the internet. Eases Online Payments While online transactions are safer than ever, users' data is still at risk. However, this decentralized platform can make payments transparent and tamper-proof in the financial ecosystem. Decentralized blockchain technology protects data. Simply put, it allows you to make payments without a payment processor. Blockchain technology protects financial transactions by removing central points of failure and minimizing errors. This helps in saving time and money. In addition, blockchain technology ensures that transactions remain unaltered and only those involvedcan see the history. A Game-Changer in the Supply Chain & Logistics Anything that can conceive of as a supply chain, blockchain can vastly improve its efficiency - it doesn’t matter if it’s people, numbers, data, money.” - GinniRometty, CEO of IBM. The integration of blockchain simplifies supply chain and logistics work. The blockchain's decentralized nature ensures maximum transparency in every transaction in the supply chain, from raw material purchase and manufacture to distribution and sale of the finished product. At a minimal cost, each transaction can be promptly and readily documented on the blockchain. There are very few risks this way, because the final buyer can track a product's origin along the whole supply chain. Reduces Operational Cost Blockchain-based smart contracts are a boon. Businesses can make and receive online payments through some set guidelines. Brokers, escrow agents, and other intermediaries are excluded through smart contracts. Smart contracts are self-executing programs that safeguard the interests ofall parties. These contracts use unbreakable cryptographic code and automatically implement contract terms. Lastly, smart contracts keep track of all consumer, worker, and stakeholder activities. Many global corporations use smart contracts to perform essential HR and administrative tasks. What Does Blockchain Mean for Entrepreneurs? Blockchain technology is so much more than just a technology used for cryptocurrencies. For a commoner, whenever we talk about blockchain, the first thing they think of is bitcoin or cryptocurrency. However, for businesses and entrepreneurs, blockchain is more than just a cryptocurrency. Let's take a look at the ways in which blockchain technology can empower business leaders. Case Study Blockchaintechnology is being rapidly usedin the logistics industry.The main advantages include higher confidence in the system due to greater transparency, improved product traceability, and cost savings by eliminating manual and paper-based administration. One such example Tradelens, a blockchain-powered open and neutral supply chain network, is one example. It was founded by IBM and Maersk and has expanded to 150 members, including some of the world's largest logistics companies, including CMA CGM, MSC, ONE, and Hapag-Lloyd. In 2020, it claims to have made businesses 15% more efficient by letting them get rid of legacy data systems, manual document processing, and limited visibility. By 2050, it claims to have made them 15% more efficient. Final Thought Blockchain technology is theinevitable future, and its use is no longer restricted to crypto transactions. In the coming years, blockchain development solutions will be used ineCommerce marketplace, peer-to-peer financial transactions, content distribution, healthcare data exchanges, supply chain, and customer services. Blockchain applications are no more the pie-in-the-sky dreams of early adopters. This technology has the potential to revolutionize practically every sector and solve your company's greatest challenges. Smart and strategic use of new technologies, can make your company more secure, transparent, and ready for whatever comes next. FAQ What Is the Impact of BlockchainTechnology on Business Models? Blockchain implementations can minimize transaction costs such as negotiation and search expenses and eliminate intermediary costs. This means that by 2022, blockchain technology is expectedto cut costs in the financial sector by$15–$20. What Is the Size of theBlockchainMarket? The global blockchain market was valued at $1.57 billion in 2018 and is expected to more than triple to 163 billion USD by 2027. What Does BlockchainMean for Business? A blockchain is a digital record of who owns what, and it is constantly updated. The time, date, dollar amount, and participants in a transaction are encrypted into a "block" that is connected to other blocks to create a chain.

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Wireless, 5G

As 5G growth accelerates, CSPs have new opportunities for network differentiation and service growth

Article | May 18, 2023

Despite the COVID-induced interruptions in the first half of 2020, 5G preparations and deployment continued in earnest in the second half of 2020 and now the market – vendors, CSPS, OEMs – are ready to bring 5G to the masses of users. The arrival of Apple’s first 5G devices in 4Q20 marked the tipping point of global consumer readiness, now extending from early-adopters. After the initial phase of network launches that saw coverage built-out in major urban centres, 5G service providers should now focus on expanding coverage to as many areas of high-data demand as possible. At the same time, as CSPs gauge their 5G roll-out strategies, they shouldn’t ignore rural areas with limited-to-no high-speed broadband coverage. In many markets, particularly developing ones, CSPs should carefully assess network-sharing as a way to cost-effectively tap pent-up demand, especially given the accelerating remote working trend.

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Demand for compute remains strong in 1Q21

Article | May 20, 2021

Demand for data center compute continues to be strong and we believe 1Q21 would have been even stronger had it not been for the semiconductor supply shortage. We learned from vendors that the flow of server CPUs out of TSMC and Intel’s fabs was steady in 1Q21 but supply of other components necessary to build a server was tight, including power semis, BMC and PCB substrate.

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Spotlight

MuleSoft

MuleSoft makes it easy to connect the world’s applications, data and devices. We provide a flexible, unified software platform that enables organizations to easily build application networks using APIs

Related News

Wireless SD-WAN Provider Cradlepoint Raises $89M in Series C

Cradlepoint | March 10, 2017

The wireless technology provider Cradlepoint raised $89 million in a Series C funding round led by TCV. Cradlepoint develops wide area network (WAN) solutions based on 3G, 4G, and LTE networks. “We were the first company to introduce an LTE-based routing solution – for Verizon,” said Cradlepoint CEO George Mulhern.

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Ericsson Launches 5G Software Plug-Ins

Ericsson | June 17, 2016

Ericsson has created some software plug-ins for networks to evolve toward 5G, perhaps in an effort to generate some buzz around 5G while it goes through the sluggish process of spectrum deals and standards work. The software-driven plug-ins aim to bring 5G-like capabilities to existing networks with commercial availability targeted for 2017.Ericsson touts the plug-ins as a way to serve 5G use cases from mobile HD video, to driverless buses, to feedback-enabled drones. Ericsson’s marketing machine has been touting the use-cases angle of 5G. At Mobile World Congress in February, Ericsson CTO Ulf Ewaldsson, talked about network slicing as a way to use the same network infrastructure but create slices for particular industry verticals and their specific use cases.

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Customer care on a par with network quality for subscribers – Nokia

Nokia | June 09, 2016

Nokia said that as network quality improves, mobile subscribers are placing more importance on customer service and value when choosing an operator, with clarity of contract terms also an important factor. According to the company’s 2016 Acquisition and Retention study, customer care has a greater impact on loyalty than it did previously, with respondents stating that “better general services, self-service capabilities and effective complaint handling are increasingly important to them”. “Customer care is now basically on a par with network quality as a deciding factor to stay with a mobile provider,” the company said.

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Wireless SD-WAN Provider Cradlepoint Raises $89M in Series C

Cradlepoint | March 10, 2017

The wireless technology provider Cradlepoint raised $89 million in a Series C funding round led by TCV. Cradlepoint develops wide area network (WAN) solutions based on 3G, 4G, and LTE networks. “We were the first company to introduce an LTE-based routing solution – for Verizon,” said Cradlepoint CEO George Mulhern.

Read More

Ericsson Launches 5G Software Plug-Ins

Ericsson | June 17, 2016

Ericsson has created some software plug-ins for networks to evolve toward 5G, perhaps in an effort to generate some buzz around 5G while it goes through the sluggish process of spectrum deals and standards work. The software-driven plug-ins aim to bring 5G-like capabilities to existing networks with commercial availability targeted for 2017.Ericsson touts the plug-ins as a way to serve 5G use cases from mobile HD video, to driverless buses, to feedback-enabled drones. Ericsson’s marketing machine has been touting the use-cases angle of 5G. At Mobile World Congress in February, Ericsson CTO Ulf Ewaldsson, talked about network slicing as a way to use the same network infrastructure but create slices for particular industry verticals and their specific use cases.

Read More

Customer care on a par with network quality for subscribers – Nokia

Nokia | June 09, 2016

Nokia said that as network quality improves, mobile subscribers are placing more importance on customer service and value when choosing an operator, with clarity of contract terms also an important factor. According to the company’s 2016 Acquisition and Retention study, customer care has a greater impact on loyalty than it did previously, with respondents stating that “better general services, self-service capabilities and effective complaint handling are increasingly important to them”. “Customer care is now basically on a par with network quality as a deciding factor to stay with a mobile provider,” the company said.

Read More

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