#28 Story Points

Welcome back! Here’s a selection of tech news that will give you more to talk about with your coworkers than the latest memo from the CEO? ??

News sprint

1. Apple has just released public betas for iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1. These updates bring new Apple Intelligence features, including tools to rewrite text, a fresh, glowing look for Siri, a “Clean Up” tool to remove objects from photos, and more. #Apple
2. Snapchat is launching a new AI-powered tool that allows creators to generate videos. #AI
3. Dell is looking into reports of a data breach following a hacker's release of employee information. #Dell?
4. Ukraine's National Coordination Centre for Cybersecurity (NCCC) has imposed limitations on using the Telegram messaging app across government bodies, military sectors, and critical infrastructure, citing concerns over national security. #Telegram
5. The Walt Disney Company is said to be dropping Slack after a data breach in July exposed over 1TB of private messages and files shared on the company's internal channels. #security
6. Learn how alumni networks, such as those from PayPal, are crucial in starting new ventures. #business
7. Rex Woodbury talks about launching a brand in 2024. #marketing
8. Former CrowdStrike employees have stated that quality control was not included in their procedures. #itoutage

Retrospective

Comment from LLI’s team about Disney’s Slack data breach:

This massive incident is a stark reminder that even the most established SaaS platforms aren't immune to cyberattacks. As companies grow, their exposure to vulnerabilities increases, making it crucial to double down on their own security efforts, not taking anything for granted. Situations like this and rising SaaS subscription costs are prompting many organizations to reconsider their reliance on third-party solutions. We're beginning to see a shift, with more companies exploring the idea of building proprietary tools or consolidating their tech stack to reduce risk and expenses. It’s worth highlighting that 2023 was the first year in over a decade where SaaS adoption has declined, indicating that businesses are becoming more cautious and discerning about their software investments. This trend emphasizes how crucial and challenging it is, especially in the current “age of efficiency”, to balance agility, security, productivity, and cost-effectiveness.