Technology Insider: June Edition
Expera Information Technology Inc.
IT Experts for the New Era - Formerly Debian Information Technology.
In This Issue, We'll Cover:
Virtual Keynote: Unleashing AI for Your Business | June 26, 2024 | 11:00 AM
This talk will cover:
Expera at the FEI National Conference
We were at the Financial Executives International Conference, connecting with finance leaders from across the country. Everyone was talking about some aspect of AI at the event.
From the opening keynote, "The Future is Superhuman" with Shawn Kanungo, a globally recognized innovation strategist, to the session on "Leading the AI Charge" with Cam Linke, CEO of the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute, moderated by Leanne Clarke, CFO of IBM Canada, it was apparent that every organization needs to adopt AI or risk falling behind.
At our booth, many conversations centered around the real AI Apocalypse: the fact that if businesses fail to adopt these transformative solutions, they risk falling behind their competitors.
We’re looking forward to continuing to connect with everyone we met with at this amazing event! If you aren’t an FEI member or weren’t able to attend, don’t worry! You can keep up with our upcoming speaking events and conferences here .
5 Concerns Business Leaders Have About AI Adoption: Do Any Resonate With You?
?We’ve been providing our clients with kick-ass IT and Cybersecurity services in Calgary and beyond for over twenty-five years, enabling them to stay at the cutting edge throughout many changes in technology. The latest—and potentially one of the most exciting—developments in the business and technology space over the last two years has been the increasing buzz around, and adoption of, AI.
Our team has seen the shift noted by Microsoft’s Jessica Hawk when she noted, “Over the past year, the conversation has started to shift from ‘if’ AI can help a company achieve their goals—now it’s ‘how’ and ‘how fast can we do this’.
The increasing enthusiasm for these solutions is no surprise since AI tools can bring incredible efficiency and ROI to businesses across all fields.
According to Microsoft’s 2023 study, What Can Copilot’s Earliest Users Teach Us About Generative AI at Work, this AI tool brought serious benefits in terms of efficiency and productivity:
Five Key Questions To Ask Around AI Adoption
Whether you’re an early adopter who always planned on adopting AI at scale, or have more recently decided that it’s essential to stay ahead of the competition, it is important to have the right measures in place before implementing this tool, and to roll it out safely and securely.
The importance of not just rolling out AI, but doing so successfully, is essential, and it’s top-of-mind for many business leaders. Before implementing AI, ask yourself, do you share any of their concerns?
1. Does your business have an AI adoption plan in place?
Data reveals that 74% of Canadian leaders recognize the urgent need to adopt AI to stay competitive, but 59% are concerned that their organization lacks a concrete plan.
This highlights the need for:
At Expera, we’ve created some resources specifically for business owners in this area. You can join our mailing list to get a copy of our Guide to AI Adoption, along with an AI security policy template. These tools are easy-to-follow guides created specifically for business owners and executives.
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2. Do you know where your sensitive, business-critical data is, and have access controls in place before rolling out AI?
When it comes to risks associated with AI use , 80% of leaders cite the leakage of sensitive data as their primary concern. And, what’s more, over 30% of decision-makers say they don’t know where or what their sensitive business-critical data is.
An example we often give at talks is that AI tools don’t necessarily provide team members more access than they already have, but it does shine a light on where businesses need to implement better access control.?
Want to learn more? Sign up for our upcoming webinar on unleashing AI for your business .?
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3. Have you chosen the right tools? Do you need to worry about “Shadow AI?”
We often get questions like, “which is better, ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot?” at talks, conferences, and trade shows across Canada. This highlights a need to understand the tools and solutions available, especially since 79% of Canadian AI users are bringing their own AI tools to work.??
While this demonstrates that many workers are excited to harness these powerful solutions, “Shadow AI” (which refers to AI applications and tools given without the explicit approval or oversight of an organization's IT department)?can become a problem if staff are using less secure solutions or are inputting confidential data into these tools.
Because of this, businesses must ensure that they choose the right solutions in terms of security and functionality.?
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4. Have you considered the potential of people getting access to information they aren’t authorized for?
Another question business leaders have around AI adoption of AI is the potential of people within their organization getting access to information they aren’t authorized for as they adopt AI technologies. To give a simple example, if a document containing salary info is stored within a shared folder, it might not be obvious that it’s there, but with an AI tool, anyone with access to that folder will likely be able to quickly get the info by asking the AI solution for salary data. For this reason, it’s essential to carry out a thorough review of?permissions and access control measures before rolling out AI, ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to critical data and systems.
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5. Are you concerned about leakage of sensitive data outside of the organization?
In addition to concern about data leakage within a business, we also hear that business leaders are concerned about the leakage of sensitive data outside their organizations. To combat this, businesses should ensure that they use secure tools, have data encryption in place, conduct regular security audits, and establish clear data handling protocols. Our team is able to recommend Data Loss Prevention (DLP) tools and solutions like Microsoft Purview to monitor, manage, and protect sensitive information.?
Not Sure If Your Business Is Ready to Adopt AI??
If you’re ready to talk with experts who can help you tackle all of your AI adoption needs, get in touch with our team for a complimentary AI readiness assessment. We’ll help you evaluate your existing AI posture and help you determine what steps need to be taken to help you utilize AI to its fullest extent.
Why Is Cyber Security a Key Part of Major Sports Teams’ Game Plans?
When you think of your favourite sports teams, games, and fan experiences, cybersecurity probably doesn’t come to mind. But in today’s increasingly digital world, cybersecurity is a critical element that comes into play. Behind the scenes, sports organizations are prime targets for cyber threats, from data breaches compromising sensitive information, to ransomware attacks, to disruptions in game operations. As sports embrace advanced technologies and digital platforms, defending against these cyber risks becomes as crucial as the game itself.
This article will cover:
3 Common Types of Cyber Threats Sports Teams May Face
1. Ransomware Attacks
Depending on the type of ransomware attack, a sports team could be shut out from accessing critical systems, tools, or data.
And, this type of cyberattack is more common than you might think: in 2021, after a high-profile cyberattack that disrupted Manchester United’s operations, Infront.Sport reported that, “?According to the UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), more than 70 percent of sports organizations surveyed experienced some sort of breach.
2. Compromised Data
Cybercriminals will often target the sports industry because, “Sports teams, major leagues, global sporting associations, and entertainment venues are all home to valuable personal and business data”, according to Dark Reading .
Microsoft notes that “teams, coaches, and athletes themselves are also vulnerable to data loss on athletic performance, competitive advantage, and personal information.”
What’s more, it’s not just players who can be impacted: “Attendees’ personal identifiable information can also be targeted through vulnerable event digital amenities, like companion mobile apps, wireless hotspots, and QR codes with malicious URLs,” Microsoft highlighted.
A 2023 report from Lloyds Bank corroborates this: they found that fraudulent football [soccer] ticket scams on social media were surging.
3. Attacks on Venue Systems
Home field security is another critical part of the game plan for sports teams because , “Venue IT systems and arenas contain hundreds of known and unknown vulnerabilities that allow threat actors to target critical business services such as point of sale, IT infrastructures, and visitor devices.”
The Current Cybersecurity Landscape In Sports
While many sports teams take their cybersecurity seriously, not all have adequate measures in place. In 2022, Sports Business Journal reported, “Only about 1% of professional teams and leagues have adequate cybersecurity in place, warned Ekaterina?Carayanis, the director of cybersecurity and risk management for Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.”
For all of these reasons, ensuring that sporting leagues and teams have adequate protection and support in place to mitigate cyberattacks is critical, and we’re proud to be working with Acronis and supporting the Flames in their strong commitment to cyber security.
领英推荐
How ExperaIT Supports Cybersecurity In Sports: Our Role as an Acronis #CyberFit Partner to the Calgary Flames
This partnership is set to provide Acronis’ software and ExperaIT’s services to the Calgary Flames
As a Calgary-based team, we’re no stranger to cheering for the Flames at the Saddledome. That’s why we’re excited to announce that we can combine our passion for providing top-notch IT services with our connection to the local community as an Acronis #CyberFit Partner to the Calgary Flames. As a #CyberFit partner, we’ll be teaming up with Acronis, a global leader in cyber protection, to help enhance the Flames’ data protection.
Below, we've included some key excerpts from Acronis' recent press release, or read the full press release here.
Pat Hurley, RVP Americas at Acronis, stated “Acronis is solidifying its position in the Canadian market through impactful partnerships and expanding its infrastructure. With the launch of our Toronto Cyber Cloud data center last year, alongside our existing Vancouver facility, we're strategically meeting the growing regional demands. Driven by motivation to achieve excellence, fostering partnerships like the one with Expera IT and the Calgary Flames, showcases our commitment to provide unmatched opportunities to the MSP community. This latest #TeamUp partnership is yet another testament to our continued growth, innovation, and success.”
“We are excited to showcase Expera IT through the Acronis #TeamUp Program,” said Kevin Gross, VP of Partnership Sales and Broadcast at the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation. “Sharing the story of a local business that is dedicated to cutting-edge innovation aligns with the values of the Calgary Flames.”
“Expera IT is excited to embark on this journey with Acronis through the #TeamUp Program,” said Vince Fung, Founder & CEO of Expera IT, in the same press release. “We are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of data protection and management to drive operational efficiency and technological empowerment.”
Learn More
To learn more about our IT and cyber security offerings, book a meeting with our team !
Meet Our Team: Chris Nicholson, Support Analyst
Chris Nicholson brings a unique blend of interests to Expera IT. In his role, Chris primarily responds to emails and phone calls, addressing issues and ensuring they are directed to the right channels for resolution. One of the most challenging aspects of his job is keeping all the account environments organized in his mind. Chris' ?favorite core value is "Deliver Service that Wows, Stat!" because he believes in providing exceptional service to clients, and his favourite part of the job is providing excellent service and helping people.
He's not only dedicated to his job as a Support Analyst but also passionate about volunteering for special events and supporting his local Scouting group. Chris lends a hand to the local Rotary and Kin clubs, wearing multiple hats to help the community.
As a child, Chris had dreams of driving a Zamboni or working in the world of theatre and movies. His favourite movies include Top Gun, Star Wars, and Hackers, which also contains one of his all-time favourite quotes, "Mess with the best, die like the rest".
If you or anyone you know would be a good fit for our amazing team, visit our job board !
How to Put Generative AI to Work for Your Business
The rapid evolution of AI over the past year has been nothing short of revolutionary, particularly generative AI – technologies that generate text, images, video, 3-D models, and even code – which saw a breakout year in 2023. For example, in ChatGPT’s first month, it amassed 57 million users, making it the fastest-growing consumer application in history, according to research from investment bank UBS.
Despite its popularity, there’s an undercurrent of uncertainty among some business leaders. SMB leaders are asking big questions: What’s the real deal with AI (beyond all the buzz)? How do I actually get it to work for my business? How do we use this responsibly and keep our customers’ data safe?
The key to navigating these questions is all about experimenting with AI, focusing on the big wins it can bring to the table, and learning best practices for using the technology responsibly.
More Ways to Get AI to Work for You
1. Content Assistant: AI solutions can easily analyze thousands of online resources to craft job descriptions, and write SOPs, proposals, contracts, leases, and more.
2. Get To The Point: Generative AI can distill lengthy documents, articles, and e-mails into concise summaries, making it easier to grasp key points quickly.
3. Product Discovery And Innovation: Leverage AI to analyze customer feedback and market trends for new product ideas or improvements, speeding up innovation.
4. Data Analysis: Employ AI for deep data analysis, uncovering insights into customer behavior, operational efficiencies, and market opportunities.
5. Automate Routine Tasks: From scheduling to invoicing, AI can automate repetitive, time-consuming tasks, such as drafting meeting summaries or generating reports, allowing teams to focus on strategic work.
AI Best Practices
While AI can dramatically enhance efficiency and creativity, there are best practices to ensure its use is both effective and ethical:
1. Follow An Effective AI Implementation Roadmap: Before rolling out any AI tool, it’s essential to have AI policy and governance in place, ensure data hygiene, and that permissions are effectively managed. These measures prevent inaccurate results, or mishaps such as confidential salary info being accessible to all members of your team.
2. Depending On The Tool, Be Wary of Sharing Personal Information: To protect privacy, avoid using personally identifiable information (PII) or protected health information (PHI) with certain AI tools. For example, assume anything that you input into ChatGPT is public information.
3. Verify and Review: AI is a powerful tool, but it’s not infallible. It can sometimes inherit biases from training data or generate fabricated or wrong answers. Always review its outputs as you would a human co-worker’s work.
4. Experiment: The best way to understand AI’s potential is to experiment. Start small, like using prompts to write a social media post. As you gain confidence, integrate generative AI in places where it can add the most value, like automating routine tasks, enhancing creative processes, or improving decision-making with data analysis.
The Consequences of Ignoring AI
AI isn’t coming – it’s arrived. Driven by billions in investment and some of the brightest minds on the planet, it’s reshaping the business landscape in ways we’re only beginning to understand. Choosing not to integrate AI into business operations would be like refusing to use e-mail in the 1990s. Without it, you might soon find yourself in a world you don’t know how to work in.
Instead of viewing AI as a looming threat, see it as an opportunity to tackle old problems with novel solutions. Yes, AI is changing the business playbook, but it’s also empowering us to deliver extraordinary value to our customers in new ways, dream bigger, and achieve more.
Is Your Business AI-Ready?
Our team has created some amazing resources to help businesses ensure they adopt AI in the most effective way possible.
For example, we offer:
If you'd like to hear more about AI solutions, or have a specific question, don't hesitate to get in touch with us at [email protected].
4 Scams to Watch Out For
Keeping up with cybercriminals is like trying to nail jelly to the wall. Just as you think you’re up to speed, a new scam hits the headlines. Using new tech innovations like AI, scammers are getting much better at impersonating banks, healthcare providers, and…us. This year has been no exception, with many fresh scams hitting cell phones and bank accounts everywhere. Here are four scams to watch out for this year.
1. Phony Cell Provider E-mails
Increasingly, cybercriminals are taking advantage of cell service outages to scam customers. It’s happening all over the US with AT&T customers, who, after an outage, receive bogus e-mails offering refunds or credits.
How to avoid it: Never click on links or payment instructions in an e-mail. Always verify that any communication from a provider is coming from an official domain, like @att.com, or call AT&T directly using their official number or website.
2. Grandparent Scams
Grandparent scams have been around for a while, but the FCC reports more advanced versions involving impersonators or AI “clones” using a loved one’s voice (usually a grandchild) and sometimes a spoofed caller ID. The caller claims to be a loved one who’s in jail or has been in an accident.
Grandparents are often given a phony case number and are instructed to call an attorney. If they do, a series of other criminals conspire to trick them out of thousands of dollars.
How to avoid it: If you receive an urgent call like that, call your loved one directly to verify that they are safe. If they don’t answer, call other family members to see if they can verify the situation. Remember, the criminals will try to convince you to keep it a secret – don’t.
3. Check “Cooking”
Banks reported nearly 700,000 instances of check fraud in 2022, according to reporting by Associated Press. We’ve talked about criminals stealing checks from mailboxes, but recently they’ve started taking pictures of checks instead. Then they use off-the-shelf digital tools to make counterfeit checks, deposit the digital ones using a mobile banking app, or sell the checks online.
How to avoid it: Use your credit card as much as possible. When a paper check is unavoidable, skip your mailbox and take it directly to the post office.
4. Home Improvement Scams
In 2023, a study by JW Surety Bonds reported that one in 10 Americans had been a victim of a contractor scam, losing an average of $2,500. These scammers often demand up-front payments or deposits and then fail to complete the work, deliver substandard results, or disappear altogether, leaving homeowners out of pocket and with unfinished projects.
How to avoid it: Ensure the contractor is licensed and insured, get everything in writing, don’t skim the contract, and never pay the full fee upfront.
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