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Category Archives: Tech Trends

DevSecOps DevOps
Posted on Author Roxanne Demakis Categories Tech Trends

DevSecOps vs. DevOps

In today’s post, we’re going to explain the differences and similarities between DevSecOps and DevOps. 

If you are looking to modernize your application development process, you’ll almost certainly have to choose between these two options.

This article will help you get a deeper understanding of their similarities and differences so you can decide which application development framework is the best for your business. 

Let’s start.

What is DevSecOps?

DevSecOps, which stands for development, security, and operations, automates security integration at every stage of the software development lifecycle.

DevSecOps DevOps team

DevSecOps automation is a logical and necessary evolution in the way development teams think about security.

It is evolutionary because the application and infrastructure security are seamlessly integrated into Agile and DevOps processes and tools using DevSecOps.

It deals with security vulnerabilities when they arise, while they are easier, faster, and less expensive to resolve.

Application and infrastructure security become a shared responsibility for development, security, and IT operations teams with DevSecOps.

Speed and security are the two key advantages of DevSecOps. Development teams produce better and more secure code faster. 

What Is DevOps?

DevOps is a philosophy that consists of three foundations: organizational culture, process, and technology and tools.

Its goal is to help developers and IT operations teams collaborate to build, test, and release software more agilely and faster than traditional software development processes.

The goal of DevOps is to break down boundaries between two traditionally separate teams: development and operations.

Development and operations teams collaborate across the whole software application life cycle, from development and testing to deployment and operations, in a DevOps methodology.

DevSecOps DevOps

What Is the Difference Between DevOps and DevSecOps?

The use of intelligent process automation and a consistent approach for developing collaborative development cycles are common elements of DevOps and DevSecOps methodologies.

DevOps is known as the practice of merging development and operations and DevSecOps is a subset of that that mainly focuses on security.

Although the ideals are not mutually exclusive, their objectives are different.

Now we’re going to explain some of the main differences between DevOps and DevSecOps:

Methodology

DevOps is a software development methodology that strives to close the gap between development teams (Dev) and IT operations teams (Ops)

This is done by bringing people, processes, and products together to create high-quality applications and services faster. 

Throughout the software development lifecycle, developers and IT operations staff cooperate and work together.

On the other hand, DevSecOps is a methodology that incorporates security into every step of the development process and is integrated into the DevOps process.

By automating security and deploying security at scale, DevSecOps optimizes the DevOps strategy.

Approach

DevOps is a cultural concept that encourages the agile movement inside a system-oriented framework. 

DevOps is seen as extending the concepts of agile software development in some ways.

DevOps is all about increasing productivity and efficiency in order to shorten the product launch cycle.

DevSecOps has a different approach because by validating all building pieces without slowing down the development lifecycle, DevSecOps principles emphasize security first strategy. 

The goal is to build security into the architecture from the start.

DevSecOps DevOps virtual

Goal

The main goal of DevOps is to break down organizational silos that arise when there is a lack of adequate collaboration between different teams within an organization.

They strive to embrace a culture where teams can join together and work in tandem by establishing and automating a continuous delivery pipeline.

The goal of DevSecOps process is to integrate security practices into the continuous integration pipeline and shift security activities across the development lifecycle.

In the overall development process, the DevSecOps techniques assure application security.

What Will You Use for Your Business?

Now that you have a deeper understanding of both methods, you can decide what method you want to use for your business. 

Automation is becoming an increasingly significant aspect in development as DevOps and other similar approaches evolve.

One significant distinction between these two approaches is how they value delivery speed over security:

One puts it above all else (DevOps), while the other improves security, making it more than a side issue.

Depending on your priorities, you can choose the method that fits the best within your business. 

But if you’re still unsure about what is the better solution for your business, we can help you.

Demakis Technologies specializes in providing IT solutions, strategies, and security options for businesses regardless of size, structure, or industry.

From cybersecurity to managed services, our team of professionals can help you develop the tech infrastructure, roles, and activities required by the modern business landscape.
Please CONTACT US to get in touch with one of our experts and find out how we can help you make the first step.

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DevSecOps software
Posted on Author Roxanne Demakis Categories Tech Trends

DevSecOps in Software Development: A Complete Guide

In this post, we will explain the meaning of DevSecOps and its role in software development.

We will also address:

  • The difference between DevOps and DevSecOps.
  • Benefits of DevSecOps.
  • How to implement DevSecOps.
  • DevSecOps in the cloud

Let’s begin!

What is DevSecOps?

DevSecOps (short for development, security, and operations) is an approach to software security and development. With DevSecOps, security is introduced early in the software development life cycle (SDLC), which allows teams to address security issues as fast as they would normally tackle issues with development.

Binary code data software

Without DevSecOps, security issues are handled at the end of development cycles, and all the testing is done by a separate QA team. 

DevSecOps creates an environment where security is a responsibility shared among development, operation, and security teams.

In fact, it’s expected that 90% of software development projects will be following DevSecOps practices by 2022.

DevSecOps vs DevOps

DevOps is a set of practices, tools, and philosophies that help increase the optimal productivity of software development cycles. 

In organizations that adopted DevOps, development and operations teams that used to be siloed now work closely and share responsibilities with a goal to build, test, and deliver software in a faster way.

The main difference between DevSecOps and DevOps is that DevSecOps adds security practices to the overall idea of shared responsibility introduced by DevOps. 

DevSecOps integrates security in every segment of the development cycle without compromising the speed.

Since DevOps is focused on increasing the speed of software development and deployment, and DevSecOps is geared towards both speed and security, DevSecOps can be seen as a natural extension that improves DevOps security benefits. 

Why Is DevSecOps Important?

Here are three main reasons why DevSecOps is becoming a preferred security solution:

Female scientist looking at the monitor screen in research room. Chief of development working with test tubes in the background.

#1 Improved quality of code

With DevSecOps, teams review and test the code for security issues throughout the process. That way, each new problem is solved before it can cause damages.

#2 Faster software delivery 

When teams identify and solve bugs and security issues as soon as they appear, it leads to faster product delivery.

#3 Cost reduction 

Detecting and fixing errors and vulnerabilities in the early stages of development significantly reduces the operational cost of the project.

DevSecOps Implementation

Implementation of DevSecOps workflow starts with planning. Deciding when, where and how security checks will be done is key during this stage. 

Organizations need to assess their old security practices and find ways to bridge the gap between the two methods.

Next, organizations should educate team members about cybersecurity and make DevSecOps part of their culture. 

Each member should understand all the main security practices and their own role in the process of protecting the software, particularly against cyber security threats.

After that, it’s time for building and testing. Automated tools create a script and introduce a variety of features, and testing principles are introduced to the pipeline.

Introducing automated security tests will help maintain the speed of a DevSecOps cycle and integrate security checks into CI/CD pipeline.

DevSecOps Architecture
Key components of DevSecOps are:

  • Application/API Inventory
  • Custom code security and analysis
  • Open source code security
  • Threat investigation
  • Runtime prevention
  • Compliance monitoring
  • Security training
Casual businessman with vr goggle sitting by workplace with his hands in front of himself touching virtual stuff

Using managed services is a great way of integrating all of these features into your tech stacks.

DevSecOps and the Cloud 

Cloud technologies such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and IBM Cloud are on the rise. 

It is common for organizations that adopted DevOps to also migrate their activities to the cloud.

Although many teams are looking to switch to cloud computing, they may face difficulties in the process, and this is where DevSecOps kicks in: 

Since DevSecOps is all about seamless introduction of security, it reduces risk during cloud migration by automating security control throughout the transition.

According to a survey on global security trends in the cloud, 45% of IT security professionals consider that using DevSecOps in the cloud would improve the security of their cloud environment.

With DevSecOps, there are factors that help achieve successful migration to the cloud. To make a smoother transition, teams should do code analysis throughout the process to maintain software health and avoid delays.

Also, automated testing – a key component of DevSecOps, and continuous investigation of threats will allow teams to switch to the cloud faster.

DevSecOps Security Tools

To implement DevSecOps with less friction, you can choose from a variety of application security testing tools (AST). Here are the four main categories of AST:

Static application security testing tools (SAST)

SAST tools are used to scan code and spot errors that might cause software issues and weaknesses.

Dynamic application security testing tools (DAST)

DAST tools interact with software the way a hacker would and pinpoint weaknesses with high accuracy.

Interactive application security testing tools (IAST)

The role of IAST tools is to analyze runtime of web applications and spot vulnerabilities.

Software composition analysis tools (SCA) 

SCA tools are used to detect vulnerabilities and license risks in open source and other third-party components.

Teams can also get their security processes facilitated by using some of the free DevSecOps tools available as open-source.

Ready to Implement DevSecOps?

If you are ready to take your security to the next level, CONTACT US today.  Let Demakis Technologies and one of our team members assist you in your efforts to improve the tech infrastructure, processes, and services of your business.

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big data Business
Posted on Author Roxanne Demakis Categories Tech Trends

What Is Big Data Analysis & Its Importance

What is big data analytics? Why is it important in 2021? In this article, we’ll give you the answers to these questions and you will get to know more about big data business.

Plus, we’ll explain how to collect big data and use it and the relationship between big data and data mining.

So if you’re looking to harness the power of data-driven decision-making and management, you’ll enjoy this article.

Let’s begin.

What Is Big Data?

Big data is a term that describes extremely large volumes of data, or data sets, that contain a variety of structured or unstructured information depending on its importance and purpose for the organization that collects it.

Big data innovative forms of data collection, data processing, and data analytics, as well as technologies to perform these tasks, before businesses can use that information.

Companies can use big data to gain enhanced insights that enhance the decision-making, market and operational activities, and process automation capabilities of the organization.

big data business intelligence

Features of Big Data

To generate the best results and insights from big data, it has to have these four basic characteristics, often referred to as the four V’s of big data:

Volume

The sheer volume of data that’s required for gaining insights and business intelligence is what makes big data “big”.

Variety

For it to provide valuable business intelligence, big data has to contain a variety of both structured and unstructured data.

Structured data is information that’s defined by a set of rules. For example, money always has a number with two decimal points; names are written in text; dates have patterns that express days, months, and years.

Unstructured data is information without these rules. For example, audio recordings, images, tweets, or blog comments are all unstructured data, as they express human thoughts, ideas, and emotions

Making sense of them is what gives businesses insight into the human behavior of consumers and customers.

Veracity

Veracity is what defines the trustworthiness of the data, as there are always inconsistencies between the collected data and the real world.

Velocity

Velocity refers to the frequency at which companies have to process incoming data in a given timeframe.

There is also a fifth characteristic of big data that many overlook:

Value

The value of big data relates to the intelligence gained from collecting, processing, and analyzing information. But also the practicality of making decisions and applying what you learn to real-world situations based on that intelligence.

How Can You Collect Big Data?

what is data analytics solution

Organizations capture data in many ways and from numerous sources. This is called data mining.

Typically, the data that they collect has to do with consumers and their behavior, and can be broken down into four groups:

#1 Personal Data

Personal data refers to identifiable information about individuals such as people’s name, age, gender, date of birth, Social Security numbers, and location. But also unidentifiable information like browser cookies, IP address, device IDs, and type of internet connectivity.

#2 Engagement Data

This kind of data provides information about consumer interaction with a businesses’ site, social media pages, paid ads, emails, text messages, and customer service activities.

#3 Behavioral Data

This group of data details how consumers behave in their relationships with organizations and includes information about purchase history, product use, repeat actions online, and qualitative data such as time spent on page, mouse movement, and on-page heatmaps.

#4 Attitudinal Data

This group includes detailed information about consumers’ experiences when dealing with a company. For example, customer satisfaction, purchase criteria, and desirability of products all represent attitudinal data.

Due to privacy and personal data laws, companies have to ask for permission to collect this data and protect the rights of consumers and users online.

So how do you actually capture all of this data?

Big Data Collection Methods

To capture as much consensual information about users, companies use a variety of ways to collect data online. Here are a few ways companies gather big data business intelligence:

  • Sign up forms
  • Online accounts
  • E-commerce purchases
  • Order requests
  • Newsletter subscriptions
  • Gated content
  • Loyalty programs
  • Gameplay and quizzes
  • Social media activities
  • Satellite imagery
  • Buying big data from providers
big data collection

What Is Big Data Mining?

Once you capture and collect big data, it’s time to mine it. But what exactly is data mining?

Data mining is the process of analyzing large volumes of raw data (data sets) to extract meaningful information, including the patterns, irregularities, and connections within that data.

Because of data mining, individuals and organizations can generate statistical forecasts that predict business risks, opportunities, and outcomes within the context of big data.

But also patterns in human behavior that help them attract, persuade, and convince people to use their products, services, or content.

But what is then the difference between data mining and data analytics?

What Is Big Data Analytics?

Data analytics is the process of examining extracted data to identify actionable information that helps organizations make informed business decisions based on the captured data sets.

To do this, data analytics deploys various technologies such as complex software solutions and applications to analyze the data (data processing) and mine it for meaningful inputs and patterns.

But also analytical techniques such as behavioral psychology, statistical algorithms, predictive models, forecasting, and what-if analysis.

Thanks to data analytics solutions, organizations can gather valuable business intelligence that answers queries about their products, services, operational efficiency, and performance.

So what’s the difference between data mining and data analytics?

Think of it like this:

Imagine big data as a really big lake of information. To reach any point on the lake, you need a boat. That’s data analytics. But to make the boat move in any direction you also need a paddle to push the water. That’s data mining.

Big Data Business Intelligence: The Key to Data-Driven Business

Big data in business isn’t a new invention. From Amazon and Walmart, through Netflix and Apple, to American Express and Capital One, there are many examples of companies using big data to reach their business goals.

Technically, it’s the key to unlocking the path to a data-driven business.

So, are you ready to start using big data?

We can help you with that!

At Demakis Technologies, we specialize in cybersecurity, support helpdesk, and managed services that can help you collect data, keep it safe, and operate the tech infrastructure that lets you gather meaningful information from big data.

To find out more, please CONTACT US and get in touch with one of our IT professionals.

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telecommunication industry covid-19
Posted on Author Roxanne Demakis Categories Managed Services, Tech Trends

COVID-19 Impact in Telecommunication Industry

COVID-19 has had a huge impact on business since its outbreak. The situation isn’t different in the telecommunication industry.

So in this article, we explore the disruptions caused by the coronavirus and its effects on the market.

But also the trends and challenges facing the telecommunication industry in 2021.

Let’s begin.

Industry Opportunities

Unlike other sectors, COVID-19 has had a positive impact on the telecommunication industry in 2020 and 2021.

The biggest opportunity came about from the ongoing shift to remote work.

As more businesses move towards the New Normal and the remote workspace, they are driving the demand for networking infrastructure and connectivity.

Because of this, many players in telecom – from broadband providers to mobile and data center operators – have profited from the surge in traffic.

So the telecom market is performing better than other industries.

In fact, the industry is projected to grow by a steady 5.4% CAGR from 2021 to 2028, according to forecasts.

Several elements impact this growth:

#1 Rising Connectivity

telecommunication industry school coronavirus

According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), there were an estimated 4 billion Internet users at the start of 2020.

Of those users, 3 billion are located in developing countries. But that means that there are another 3 billion people around the world who remain disconnected.

As these people gain access to the internet, the impact of digitalization will only spur the growth of the telecom market in the future.

#2 Increasing Reliance on Technology

When the coronavirus pandemic first emerged in 2020, quarantines, social distancing, and national lockdowns meant people had to rely on technology to remain connected with one another.

This wasn’t reserved only for business, but people relied on the internet, voice, and video communication to remain connected in their personal lives, as well.

This means that the flow of traffic and data on the internet tripled overnight in 2020, and it’s unlikely that it will drop significantly in the coming years.

#3 Emerging New Technologies

Innovations like 5G network connectivity, the Internet of Things, and big data are all major telecommunication industry economic factors.

As these new technologies emerge, they will need a global optic change, a new network infrastructure, and ongoing telecom management to support them.

This is also where the communication sector’s biggest risk has appeared:

telecommunication industry coronavirus

Telecommunication Industry Challenges

Despite the tremendous market growth, telco disruption was a big deal in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The area of the industry that was hit the most by the virus was the optical communication assemblies.

Here, we’re talking about the network cabling suppliers that provide the necessary fiber optic cables and components for the development of high-capacity bandwidth infrastructures.

In fact, as a direct result of the pandemic, the global production of fiber optic cables dropped by 25% in 2020. Most notably in the Chinese province of Wuhan, where cable assembly and other operations take place.

At the same time investment in the area of telco network development has also dropped by -1.4% in 2020.

Because of that delayed delivery of network components, 5G and fiber optic network build had to be delayed until the end of the pandemic.

Likewise, telecommunication suppliers had to lower the quality of mobile and communication networks – including putting data caps and suspending users – to accommodate the growing traffic.

This has come at a bad time, as most companies have adopted the remote workplace model.

But at the same time, the remote workspace environment hurts telcos and customers alike.

Some telecommunications elements cannot work or suppliers can’t duplicate them easily which opens up network infrastructures to cyber attack and lowers their security.

So in 2021, the goal will be to overcome these challenges, and there are already new solutions on the horizon:

New Telecommunication Trends

telecommunication industry impact covid-19

The latest trends in the telecom sector cover all areas of the industry.

From workforce, through finance, to supply chains, here are the top emerging trends to look out for in 2021 and beyond:

Crisis response

For the time being, the telecommunication industry and IT services are cutting down on business development, especially when it comes to building new infrastructures.

This is helping companies take steps to provide continuous delivery of critical bandwidth speed, connectivity, and data flow.

Workforce

To overcome security threats in the remote workplace, telecom suppliers are investing more money into cybersecurity services.

This is helping them and their customers make the transition to the remote environment, without compromising the security of their technology.

Operations and Supply Chains

Because of their inability to expand their networks, telecom businesses are taking a step back to reassess their supply chains and operations.

This is helping them uncover wasteful processes and weak links that affect connectivity, including using data mining and analytics to identify customers that are most likely to be affected.

Finance

Despite the market growth projections, many are taking a closer look at their financial reports to cut costs and avoid additional debt loads.

This is helping them audit their spending and capital expenditure, which in turn allows them to remain solvent and develop new financial projections in line with the COVID crisis.

Brand Strategy

Lower bandwidth speeds and issues with data flow and connectivity have been a major telecom disruption to brand reputation.

To minimize any long-term impact, companies have reevaluated their cost structures and are investing more capital in their operational resilience, job security, and B2C relationships.

New Network Infrastructures

Despite manufacturing and supply chain delays, the telecommunications industry is still planning to move towards 5G connectivity and expand the global fiber optic cable network.

It is only a matter of time before the industry becomes stable enough to move forward with these plans.

The question isn’t if it will happen, but when, and businesses across the board have to be prepared for this change.

So…

Are you ready for these new trends in telecommunications?

If not, don’t worry. We can help you with that.

At Demakis Technologies, we provide network cabling services that help you develop tech stacks and infrastructure to support these latest trends.

Please CONTACT US to get in touch with one of our professionals who can explain everything and help you make that transition, step-by-step.

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internet of behavior
Posted on Author Roxanne Demakis Categories Tech Trends

IoB: The Internet of Behavior

This is a guide on a new extension of the Internet of Things (IoT) called the Internet of Behavior (IoB).

In this guide, we’ll explain:

  • What IoB is?
  • What breakthrough led to the Internet of Behavior?
  • How it extends the use of IoT in business.

So if you want to learn more about IoB and implement it in your organization, then you’ll enjoy this article.

Let’s dive right in.

IoB: An Extension of IoT

Understanding the Internet of Behavior (IoB) starts with the Internet of Things (IoT). But what is IoT?

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of interconnected physical devices that collect and exchange data on the Internet. This new layer of connectivity created a platform where all the “things” on the Internet (people, technology, applications, services, and domains) can share information.

But IoT devices and the “things” on the Internet generate their data. More often than not, these data sources include user and consumer data.

For example, a single smartphone can send information about the device: IP address, the apps that you use, browsing history, and its physical location. 

But because of the newest IoT trends, the phone can now connect to other devices in your home, e.g. a laptop, and access the data that it generates.

Businesses can then gather this information using business intelligence (BI), Big Data, Customer Data Platforms (CDPs), and other data mining tools. 

All of this data gives businesses valuable insight into the behaviors, interests, habits, preferences, likes, and dislikes of consumers.

This has come to be known as the Internet of Behavior (IoB).

So…

What Is the Internet of Behavior?

The Internet of Behavior (IoB) is a process of collecting and analyzing user-controlled data using behavioral psychology in business. The goal is to find patterns in behavior that reflect the habits, interests, and preferences of users on the Internet.

internet of behavior mobile

The outcomes of those behavioral analytics inform decision-makers, for example, how to develop and market products or services, design the user experience (UX), or engage consumers online via search experience optimization (SXO). 

As a result, conducting IoB requires interdisciplinary collaboration in five fields: 

  1. Data analytics – to process and analyze the collected data.
  2. Statistics – to map out the various patterns in behavior based on data.
  3. Behavioral psychology – to make sense of the analyzed data.
  4. Business psychology – to develop strategies based on patterns in behavior.
  5. Ethics and law – to protect user data and ensure consumer privacy.

From a technical point of view, IoB leverages existing technologies that focus on individual users such as Big Data, geo-targeting, and facial recognition.

How Does IoB Contribute to Business?

There are three main ways you can improve your organization by implementing IoB:

#1 Changing Consumer Behaviors

internet of behavior Iob

As one of the emerging trends in information technology, IoB has a lot of potential in the future of business. 

In fact, Gartner’s Top Strategic Technology Trends for 2021 supports this statement by saying:

“The IoB is about using data to change behaviors.”

So IoB doesn’t just allow you to capture, analyze, understand, and respond to a variety of patterns in human behaviors. It also enables businesses to influence consumer choices, interactions, and values by shaping the customer experience according to those behaviors.

In that sense, companies can create a personalized, data-driven value chain that centers its activities, products, campaigns, and supporting services around an experience that engages consumers through their preferences.

#2 Accessing Untapped Markets and Audiences

At the same time, a company can use IoB to uncover what it perceives as negative online behavior. Potentially, you could use IoB to find out why people don’t engage with the brand or your marketing campaigns, or, more importantly, why they aren’t buying your products or using your services.

This may be particularly useful if you want to access a previously untapped market or target audience. For example, IoB could lead you to behavioral patterns that help you create a positive social media impact on antisocial teens, which you can use to engage Gen Z consumers.

#3 Accelerating the Digital Transformation

internet of behavior kids

For IoB to work, a business has to adopt the latest trends in information technology so it can create a multi-channel personalized experience across all formats and platforms.

Besides integrating data collection and analytics software, this will require discarding legacy solutions. This means using software suites that rely on APIs and cloud technology. 

That allows you to centralize how you manage interactions with consumers and personalize every experience. From sending unique notifications and updates, through apps and social media, to how you maintain and manage the interactive interface.

If you’re interested in finding out more about IoB and IoT, Demakis Technologies can help you. We are a professional digital solutions provider that’s a leader in the IT industry.

Our managed services can help you implement and maintain all of the tech solutions that we’ve mentioned today, while our cybersecurity services can protect the data of you, be it sensitive business data or that of your customers.

Please CONTACT US today to get in touch with one of our professionals who can create a step-by-step plan centered around your business and technology needs.

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