Today's Tech Digest - Jun 08, 2020

Once again, Australian government agencies fail cyber security audit

Australian government agencies have turned in yet another poor showing in the latest audit of their information-security controls, but newly implemented cloud technology could help protect them against their ineptitude by locking data against compromise. ... Ten of the examined agencies complied with requirements around restricting administrative privileges, four were using application whitelisting for security protections, and three were on top of patching operating systems and applications. Just two agencies complied with guidance around multi-factor authentication, while just one agency had successfully implemented application hardening and one had successfully implemented controls over the use of macros in productivity suites. Although all entities regularly back up “financially significant data”, their lack of compliance with PSPF guidance around backups—only six entities were conducting daily backups in line with requirements—suggests many remain exposed to cyber attacks such as ransomware, defence against which has been tied to having a strong backup framework and effective data recovery mechanisms. Many of the examined entities cited complexities in existing systems as the reason they had failed to implement so many controls, with many progressing application consolidation plans for “lowering their attack surface and minimising risk.”

Tom Peters does not have all the answers

Peters visited our Salesforce office in Boston and spent 4 hours talking with our employees. He listened with interest and was completely present in the moment. He simply volunteers his time, hoping to teach and be taught. He is fiercely curious, practices radical transparency, and believes every word and every sentence that he tweets about. I have been following Peters for nearly a decade and I have admired his generosity, patience, integrity, benevolence, and unwavering commitment to sharing his knowledge, including mistakes and lessons learned. If I could describe Peters in three words, it would be: Honest, passionate, and caring. ... You will see a masterclass by Peters on humanity, leadership, business core values, and important guiding principles for entrepreneurs and community leaders. Personally speaking, my conversations with Tom Peters are equivalent to reading several meaningful books or attending a couple of semesters of graduate school in humanities. The best teachers are lifelong students. As you watch the video with Peters, you will notice the tall bookshelves behind him and the ladder to the right of the room. I only imagine Peters climbing the ladder to find and re-read his favorite books on the top shelves.

Office Everywhere: Remote Work Going Forward

If creating a positive company culture is at the top of the list, leaders need to find innovative ways to engage employees when after work happy hours are no longer possible. The absence of face-to-face interactions can cause people to feel unmotivated and disengaged, so reinforce your organization’s values through virtual celebrations, team-building exercises, and increased merit recognition to substitute in-person social interactions. Helping teams understand their role in the success of the company will help retain talent even when the market rebounds. Organizations may also look at recruiting efforts as a remote workforce can level the playing field for those who can’t physically be in the office, like parents who are primary caretakers for their children. At home, parents have the flexibility to meet the school bus or drop kids off at practice while also doing their job. Employers who embrace a more flexible and family friendly working environment can attract a diverse set of talent in the long run. Advancements in technology -- pervasive high-speed internet, cloud infrastructure, security, collaboration platforms, devices, and services -- empowers people in the office.

FCC Delays Law Banning Your ISP From Charging You 'Rental Fees' For Hardware You Already Own

Several things here. One, keep in mind this FCC did absolutely nothing for nearly two years as a major telecom monopoly charged users $10 for absolutely nothing. And the very first time they take substantive action on the issue, it involves delaying implementation of a law that actually helps. This is, for those playing along at home, the kind of "hands off approach" to regulation that the FCC loves to (falsely) claim spurs investment and innovation. In reality, finding creative new ways to rip off captive customers is as innovative as US telecom tends to get. Two, there's really nothing about a pandemic that would make it difficult to stop charging people bullshit fees. Three, the FCC's effort to "keep people connected" during this crisis consists of an entirely voluntary, temporary pledge to not kick users offline during the pandemic. It's a pledge many ISPs are simply ignoring, knowing full well the FCC just gutted much of its authority over telecom as part of the net neutrality repeal. Keep in mind the only reason anybody is doing anything about this is thanks to a law that required a miracle to pass.

Chief AI Officer: Executives discuss the role, pitfalls, and business philosophy

From telehealth chatbots to smart elevators, an increasing number of organizations across industries are looking to leverage AI to enhance their business model. As companies begin to adopt these technologies, there's a steep learning curve and numerous legal and ethical concerns to consider. "With the explosion of data we've seen over the last decade, many companies are struggling with how to use AI and automation to better access and utilize all of this information, in a safe, efficient, and ethical way," said Vijay Narayanan, chief AI officer at ServiceNow. "For example, businesses need to ensure customer data is never used without getting their permission first, and bias always needs to be eliminated. The role of the CAIO is to help lead a business through these steps to ensure the technology is used correctly." It's clear that many organizations will look to adopt a CAIO or similar roles to cater to these needs. However, there are pitfalls organizations can make when incorporating a new executive alongside the existing suite. As is the case with any position, cultural fit and philosophy are key. Business philosophy and long-term objectives will certainly play a central role as companies recruit CAIOs or promote individuals internally for this new position. It's imperative that organizations also ensure that the CAIO complements the existing executive suite.

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