We have talked about the many different sectors that have been shaped by big data in recent years. One of the professions most affected has been marketing.
The bedrock of today’s advertising methods and a requirement for delivering personalized experiences is data-driven marketing. As the name implies, it provides brands and companies with concrete insight into the techniques likely to draw consumers in and whether or not your campaign is producing the desired results. This article will discuss some key advantages and why every business needs to implement them.
1. Using data-driven marketing can connect you to customers
Every marketer knows the importance of finding the ideal customers. After all, not only are they more likely to convert and commit to purchases, but more importantly, they can be long-term customers who will sing praises of your products or services and encourage others to buy from you. With that said, you can learn many things from your target market that will allow you to lead them to your business.
With data-driven marketing, you can find out the best way to reach out to prospects. There are many analytics tools you can leverage to gain actionable insights. Even the news API are becoming more important in obtaining information on target audiences.
2. It is marketing’s future
Through data-driven marketing, companies can boost their returns and sales, thanks to all the information they’re able to collect about leads and prospective customers. Because of all the opportunities that it presents in building brand awareness and exposure, an increasing number of businesses depend on data to support their marketing efforts, and it’s a trend that’s likely to continue.
Companies that fail to adopt the same practices are unlikely to keep up with those that do. As a result, they’ll miss out on opportunities to attract customers and increase their sales.
3. Presents you with an objective assessment
Apart from its ability to elevate a company’s visibility and draw in more customers, data-driven marketing can also provide you with an unbiased and accurate evaluation of your tactics’, campaigns’, and strategies’ performance. If you understand the areas that you excel in or require improvement in, you’ll be able to address any concerns immediately to maximize your returns. And in the process, you’ll save yourself more money and time.
4. Informs you of where to find your customers
If you’ve ever thought about how consumers find your store or website, data can provide insights on it. Through marketing analytics tools, you’ll be able to learn how users came across your site. This also includes social media platforms. By having knowledge of the websites and social networking channels the intended audience frequents, you’ll be able to create an effective marketing strategy tailor-made to pull in the customers who will convert and make purchases from your company.
There are plenty of ways that companies can take advantage of big data to learn more about their customers and reach them more easily. For online marketers, one of the best ways is to use data mining to find new keywords to target for PPC marketing campaigns, which offer very high ROIs. They can use similar approaches when using social media marketing as well.
Conclusion
No one can deny the importance of data-driven marketing to any advertising campaign. When you get down to it, this strategy can inform you more about the target consumers, guiding them throughout their buyer’s journey and turning them into paying customers and brand advocates. Moreover, it minimizes the risks of mistakes and helps companies create more effective strategies that will yield the desired returns. You may be pleasantly shocked by the benefits.
The blockchain was developed in 2008 by Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonym of the inventor of bitcoin. There is still tremendous speculation about the true identify of Satoshi Nakamoto. Nick Szabo, Craig Wright and Dorian Nakamoto are some of the suspected investors. Regardless of who this man or woman really is, Nakamoto is a genius that made blockchain possible.
The blockchain was originally developed to make trading bitcoins secure and efficient. However, many other organizations have started using the blockchain for other purposes.
One of the biggest breakthroughs with blockchain in recent years has been the inception of new virtual coins. These bitcoin competitors are known as altcoins. They wouldn’t have been possible without existing blockchain technology.
Blockchain Makes Altcoins Viable Competitors to Bitcion
Altcoin, in essence, is any other Cryptocurrency that’s not named or is an alternative to BTC. The term was first introduced to indicate the replacements of Bitcoin. However, since then, it has been used as a marketing term to boost the sales of anything that’s not BTC.
So, how do they work?
Well, as we’ve said before, an altcoin is essentially a replacement of Bitcoin. Thus, they tend to work just like how any other Cryptocurrency module does. They are transferred over the blockchain just like bitcoin. Therefore, they wouldn’t be possible without the existing blockchain infrastructure.
We have previously stated that predictive analytics has made altcoins more popular than ever. However, the blockchain is even more important for their viability, since they simply couldn’t exist without it.
Each of them is built on the coveted blockchain technology and, therefore, can help you stay anonymous while making a transaction. Also, the security of these coins are quite high. Some of them even beat Bitcoin’s efficacy with regards to that.
So, if you don’t have enough money to invest in Bitcoin, opting for an altcoin can be a decent idea for you. But, before you do that, let’s know a little bit more about them.
Types Of Altcoins Made Possible with the Blockchain
Like food, altcoins come in loads of categories and flavors as well. And, each of them is quite unique just like the one sitting next to it. They wouldn’t exist without the blockchain. Here’s what you need to know about them.
Type – 1: Stablecoin.
A stablecoin is a type of Crypto asset that’s backed by the traditional fiat currency, like gold. So, they usually have a stable base of operation and don’t participate in the sense of volatility like Bitcoin. But, they’re still quite less popular and don’t have much of a value potential. However, the blockchain has made them potential contenders and they may prove to be a resilient underdog.
Type – 2: Payment Token.
A payment token, as you can guess from the name, is designed to be used as a currency. So, if you want, you can use the same to purchase something for your purpose. Or, you may hire an individual and avail of their services with it, just like traditional currency.
Type – 3: Security Token.
Unlike any other Cryptocurrency, a security token is more focused on the protective efficacy rather than anything else. Thanks to blockchain technology, you can tokenize almost any asset in the world. However, in that case, you’ll have to secure and hold them by yourself.
Type – 4: Meme Coin.
A meme coin, as the name implies, derives from some sort of a meme or a joke. For example, Dogecoin was first launched by mimicking the “meme personality,” Cheems. It gained quite a lot of popularity within a small period of time. But, now, it’s barely hanging in the zone.
Type – 5: Utility Token.
An utility token is generally used to provide a service or offering within a network. Like, you can utilize it to buy a storage space in a blockchain ecosystem and pay fees related to it. Also, it’ll be possible for you to redeem some sort of networking-oriented reward with it.
Should You Use An Altcoin?
Well, it’s on you.
If you want to take the risk and invest in something else, we’d definitely ask you to invest in an altcoin. But, if you don’t, sticking to Bitcoin won’t hurt you much at all.
And, for trading purposes, you always have bitcoin code with you. It’s quick and secure from every viewpoint. So, there’s no need to worry about anything.
In any case, we want you to make the decision for yourself. Hence, in this section, we’ll write a separate pros and cons segment regarding altcoins.
So, go through them and make the decision by yourself!
AdvantagesDisadvantagesIt has a higher rate of survivability.It has a little less liquidity than Bitcoin.It can improve upon the weakness of another Cryptocurrency effectively.The use cases of the same are quite difficult to determine.There are thousands of options to choose from in this aspect.They are yet to be valuable like Bitcoin. And, the potential is looking quite bleak too.
What Are You Going To Do?
So, at this point, you probably have quite a clear idea regarding an altcoin and their behavior. Now, tell us, how would you want to attend to this market?
If you ask us, we’ll suggest you opt for a popular altcoin, like Ether, at the beginning. Due to being made on Ethereum, it has a massive potential to grow in the market.
Besides, Solana is yet another coin that’s gaining traction out there. Hence, it’ll be best if you can invest in it to make some profit.
However, no matter what you do, don’t forget to check out the market trends beforehand. Or else, you might end up losing all of your money due to the notorious Crypto volatility.
The Blockchain has Made Altcoins Possible
There are a lot of great benefits of the blockchain. It has made entire new generations of cryptocurrencies possible. Some of them may even replace bitcoin at some point.
Blockchain technology was developed in 2008. The original purpose of the blockchain was to help sell cryptocurrencies.
However, blockchain has many other valuable purposes. It is helping new generations of cryptocurrencies make their way into the virtual ecosystem.
Since we live in a world disrupted by technology, we always expect something new from the developers, and our expectations are changing quickly. Technology has manipulated our habits, and now we expect some more from it every day.
Without the innovation and advancement of technology, the 21st century that you see now would not be this fast and smooth. Everything that eases the problems of our life, from phones to the internet, is the gift of technology.
We can now talk to people miles away from us instantly and also can search for random information by sitting in front of a device. This is the process that technology has given us so far, and we are obliged to take that.
On the other hand, blockchain technology is the best discovery of this era, and it has attracted a lot of attention from the public in recent years. Blockchain invented Bitcoin in 2008, and nowadays, people are very interested in using it for Bitcoin trading.
You can also engage in bitcoin trading easily through tools like the bitcoin era. The Bitcoin trading process relies on the distributed public ledger of Blockchain, and that gives you anonymity and security with your transactions.
Moreover, with the help of this trading process, you will be able to conduct transactions across borders without the involvement of third parties, and thus the transaction fees are far less compared to other traditional trading transactions.
What Is Initial Coin Offering?
This article is focused more on a unique process of fundraising, which is Initial Coin Offering (ICO). ICO is the process of releasing a Cryptocurrency that helps the developer raise funds for a particular project with the help of investors.
It works similarly to the Initial public offering (IPO), but IPO is generally used for raising funds for a company or particular organization.
ICO also can be used for utility support for a product or software. Investors apply and buy the initial coins, and they receive new Crypto tokens. The entire process is carried out over the blockchain.
These kinds of tokens generally represent the stake of a company or utility. IPOs are different because they consider you as part of the company, but ICO does not consider that.
How is an ICO Carried Out Over the Blockchain?
ICO is a kind of Cryptocurrency project to raise funds through investors. It can be initiated in various ways, but all of them rely on the blockchain to process payments and transmit the coins. Therefore, ICOs wouldn’t be possible without the blockchain.
The project manager of the ICO determines the structure of such coins and distributes them through the blockchain. There are a few ways to structure the coins.
1. Static Price And Static Supply
In this process, a company can set the goals and limits of the funding for the project. So, each token will have a preset price, and also the total token supply limit is fixed.
2. Dynamic Supply And Static Price
This is a process where the price is set already for the tokens, but the supply is dynamic. Through this process, the investors can be more than others.
3. Static Supply And Dynamic Price
In this process, the funds and goals can be dynamic with the help of static supply. Here the supply can determine the price of the tokens at the end.
White Paper Release
The whitepaper is a pitchbook that Crypto users use to set their parameters. Potential investors will come to you if they know your aim and goals, and situation as well. The whitepaper is there for you to determine your goals and choices.
As an investor, you will get few information like-
About the ProjectNeed of the projectHow much funds neededLimit of virtual tokensType of accepted paymentsPossibility of the project and investment.
What Happens to The Funds?
There are mainly two things that can happen to the funds for the investors. If the ICO fails to secure the actual investment it needs, then the project owner will return all the money to the investors.
On the other hand, if the ICO gets successful with adequate funds, then the money will be used to fulfill the project goals. The investors do not consider the owner, but the goal of ICO, to understand the importance of the project so that the value can be high in the future.
Blockchain Makes ICOs Possible But Doesn’t Eliminate All of the Risks
There are a lot of great things about the blockchain. It has made ICOs possible. Nevertheless, there are still risks when participating in an ICO that can’t be overlooked.
ICO can be easily manipulated. The scam is easy with ICO as the regulations to create an ICO are very few. So, it’s better for you to be cautious about the facts.
Moreover, the legal purposes are there with ICO. It’s not just about creating an ICO, but you have to show a legitimate goal to receive the funds.
Despite the massive popularity of cryptocurrencies and the blockchain infrastructure that has made them possible, many people still don’t know much about them. You will want to do your research if you want to either invest in bitcoin or become an expert developer for blockchain applications.
There is a lot of space for specialists to establish careers in both Cryptocurrencies and crucial business skills in the absence of a centralized authority. The blockchain and virtual currencies have the potential to revolutionize virtually every aspect of our lives by enabling functions that were previously handled by traditional financial institutions. The blockchain can also disrupt non-financial sectors in impressive ways. For example, some digital artists are using the blockchain to protect their copyrights.
If you understand how Cryptocurrency exchanges operate and the blockchain technology that makes these revolutionary transactions so, well, revolutionary, you will be at the forefront of a commercial world based on open-source, peer-to-peer (p2p) markets.
Best Bitcoin and Blockchain Learning Websites
Given below are some of the top websites that can help you understand Bitcoin and keep up with the Crypto trends.
Bitcoin.org
A wonderful source to understand the fundamentals is bitcoin.org. A look at the whitepaper on Bitcoin, which was produced by Satoshi Nakamoto, is available on the main Bitcoin website.
With millions of visitors each month, Bitcoin.org is one of the most well-known websites dedicated to Bitcoin. By reading its material, you may obtain a thorough understanding of how Bitcoin functions and its history.
The website has information for developers as well as suggested groups to join for Bitcoin discussion and debate. One of the finest places to start when you’re unfamiliar with Cryptocurrency is bitcoin.org.
Make sure to read the “What You Need to Know” section if you’re a beginner. Bitcoin Cash is the owner of Bitcoin.com (which is a fork of Bitcoin).
CoinDesk
A separate website called CoinDesk offers news and details on the world of virtual currencies. You may discover in-depth market analyses, suggested investment alternatives, and opinion pieces here.
A large collection of materials is also available on this website, including a definition of words and a list of merchants that accept digital currencies.
The industry benchmark for institutional-grade Cryptocurrency pricing, the CoinDesk Indices are quoted against a monthly trading volume of billions of dollars. The first publicly listed bitcoin fund and bitcoin ETF in the world are benchmarked by the CoinDesk Bitcoin Price Index (XBX), which is a spot reference rate for BTC.
Top-tier publications, including Axios, Bloomberg, Yahoo Finance, CNBC, The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Forbes, MarketWatch, USA Today, and CBS News, frequently include their premier writers and Cryptocurrency pricing.
Immediate Edge
A trading software program, the Immediate Edge, may rapidly and conveniently monitor the various Cryptocurrency exchanges in order to identify profitable trading opportunities. It will purchase Cryptocurrencies at a discount and afterward sell them for a profit.
The entire process has been automated, making it possible for everyone to trade and take advantage of this lucrative pie. The immediate edge is a powerful and successful software tool for Cryptocurrency trading.
Simple to Utilize – it makes sure that both novice and experienced traders can find it useful. Once you’ve made an account, the most recent internet security protocols will be used to secure your personal and financial information at all times.
Blockonomi
In order to cover all facets of Cryptocurrencies, fintech, and the blockchain economy, Blockonomi was established in 2017. It concentrates on providing you with up-to-date, unbiased news, information, reviews, and tutorials to aid in your comprehension of this novel technology.
The mission of Blockonomi is to establish itself as the leading, most dependable source of information in the blockchain sector.
Before an item is published, its journalists are expected to fact-check it and cite all quotes and data. Before publishing, an editor reviews each article.
CoinMarketCap
The most popular price-tracking resource in the fast-expanding Cryptocurrency market is CoinMarketCap.
Its goal is to provide retail consumers with impartial, reliable, and accurate information so they can make their own educated decisions. This will help make Cryptocurrency efficient and accessible to everyone across the world.
The worldwide blockchain business Binance Capital Mgmt, which operates the biggest digital asset exchange in terms of trading volume and users, purchased CoinMarketCap in April 2020.
The CoinMarketCap Cryptocurrency index is the most well-known one. Real-time data from all trading platforms, including daily percentage change, market capitalization as a whole, the volume of trades per day (by coin or exchange), and more. In this category, CoinGecko deserves special attention.
If you’re looking for a way to watch Cryptocurrency prices that is even more useful, here are 5 bitcoin portfolio tracking tools you should be aware of.
The Right Websites Can Help You Learn About Blockchain and Bitcoin
Other than the ones mentioned above, you can find useful information on websites like BitcoinTalk, CoidCodex, The Block Crypto, Wealth of Geeks and many more. They can all help you learn more about bitcoin and blockchain.
These websites can help you decode the trends and make better decisions when planning to invest a lump sum in the digital asset market.
Big data technology has become very important to the modern financial sector. A growing number of financial institutions are investing in data analytics, AI and similar technologies to improve their business operations.
One of the industries that has been heavily affected by big data is the credit card sector. In 2016, Nate Vickery of Datafloq talked about the changes that big data has created for credit card companies. Vickery points out that big data has helped companies fight fraud, give better offers to customers, identify trends and provide many new opportunities for both customers and merchants.
How do credit card companies offer all of these benefits? They have to collect data from credit card users, which is possible due to the electronic infrastructure that they have already setup.
In order to recognize the changes big data can create for credit card companies, it is necessary to recognize the different features that make these new developments possible. You will also need to understand the general nature of credit cards in the first place before you can understand the impact that big data is having on the industry.
How is Big Data Changing the Credit Card Industry?
Debit and credit cards may be helpful spending tools, but it’s easy to ignore the wealth of information contained inside each piece of plastic. Since they contain so much information, it is easy for merchants and credit card companies to mine this data to make highly nuanced decisions. It’s a good idea to get acquainted with the characteristics of your cards—front and back—so you can utilize them effectively.
Here are some details that you should know about credit cards, so you can recognize the changes big data has created for them.
What Exactly Is a Credit Card?
A credit card is a plastic or metal document issued to a person by a financial organization. We may get one from our bank and use it to make cashless payments. It also enables us to get money now and pay later. It’s called a “credit” card because the bank loans us money to use it to make purchases. It, like a debit card, has a spending restriction for purchasing goods or services or withdrawing cash from an ATM.
What Exactly Is a Debit Card?
A debit card is a form of payment mechanism that enables users to make payments by immediately deducting the payment amount from their account with a single touch. In terms of functionality, a debit card is quite similar to a credit card. It means you may use the debit card to make payments in the same way you would a credit card.
The major distinction is that when you use a debit card, you are using your own money, as opposed to borrowed monies in the case of credit cards. The adoption of debit cards reduces the need to carry cash.
What Is the Difference Between Credit, Debit, And Prepaid Cards?
The distinctions between these cards are obvious. A debit card uses the holder’s current account balance to make payments. Prepaid cards may be used to make payments for retail and online purchases, as well as ATM withdrawals, using pre-loaded cash. A credit card, on the other hand, pays using money borrowed from a financial institution.
There are several sorts of credit cards. Classic cards allow users to borrow money for payments in exchange for repaying the bank within one month (usually from the payment date). The credit limit for gold and platinum credit cards is greater. Payments on revolving credit cards are automatically deferred. Finally, rewards cards accrue perks and offers for cardholders.
Particularly popular credit cards among Americans, as we can see in the graph below. The majority of cards are carried by older users. In the third quarter of 2020, baby boomers (aged 56 to 74) carried an average of 4.61 cards.
Front of a Debit/Credit Card
Identification of the bank. This section contains information on your card’s issuer. Cards normally contain your lender’s name, but they may also include a logo for a special program. Some cards, for example, are imprinted with the names of incentive programs or retailers.Card Number. This is critical information on your debit or credit card. A card number is a 16-digit number that identifies your card issuer account. When making an online purchase, you must provide your credit card information. You should keep your credit card number secret since it contains sensitive financial information.Cardholder’s name. This is the individual who is permitted to use the card. That individual did not necessarily start the account; they may merely have access to it as an “approved user.” Only authorized card users may make transactions with a debit or credit card, and shops are urged to request identification before taking card payments.Smart Chips. If you look attentively at the front of your card, you will see a little metal processor on the right front side. Cards with smart chips are more secure than regular magnetic-stripe-only cards.
Smart chips make it far more difficult for criminals to utilize stolen card numbers. If your card contains a smart chip, try putting it into the machine rather than swiping it. This is because the smart chip adds a one-time-only code to each transaction, making stolen data less valuable.Expiration date. Each card has an expiry date, and when it does, you must renew the card or obtain a new one. The expiry date is critical since the seller may request it when you attempt to make a payment, particularly for online purchases. Your card’s expiry date assures that it is legitimate and operational.Logo of a payment network. It is critical to understand the sort of card you have. MasterCard, Visa, and Discover are common examples. When purchasing online, you’ll normally see a drop-down option where you may choose which network your card belongs to.
These logos are also useful if you want to use your card to pay for products or services. Merchants often display stickers or signs indicating which cards they accept. You may always inquire about extra cards.
The Back of a Debit Or Credit Card
Making payments entails more than just entering a credit card number. The back of a debit or credit card contains extra crucial information.
Magnetic stripe. This black bar, often known as the magstripe, contains all of your account information. It is constructed of millions of small magnetic particles. When you swipe your card through a card reader terminal, the reader reads the magstripe and utilizes it to conduct the transaction.Hologram. For enhanced protection, some cards have a hologram or a mirror-like region with a three-dimensional picture. It assists merchants in determining if the card is legitimate or not. Holograms are tough to create, and technology is always evolving. The hologram may display on the face of the card at times.Bank Contact Information. The rear of a debit or credit card also provides the bank’s contact information. If you need to contact the bank, look on the back of your debit card for contact information. Furthermore, if you misplace your card, the person who finds it may use this information to return the card to the bank.Signature box. This is another fraud-prevention strategy, although it is seldom effective. For the card to be legally legitimate, the cardholder must sign it here, with the purpose that this signature may be matched with a driver’s license or a signature presented at the register when a transaction is made.
You may verify that the individual using the card is the true owner of the card by comparing the signatures or the name on the license.
Security codes. Cards are printed with an extra code to assist in guaranteeing that anybody using the card number is using a genuine, original card. Merchants often demand more than just the card number and expiry date on the front of your card when accepting payments online or over the phone. The security code on the back adds another barrier for hackers who may have acquired your card information through merchant systems or using a skimmer.CVV, CVV2, CVC, CSC, CID, and other similar terms may be used to describe security codes. Most websites simply request a “security code” and give a little box in which to enter it.
Network Icons. On the reverse of the card, there may be an extra network logo. The logo is usually located in the lower-right corner. These emblems assist you in determining which ATMs are free to use. You may also use other ATMs, however, you may be charged a fee!
Credit Card Companies Track a Lot of Information that Can Be Leveraged with Data Analytics
Credit card companies are relying on big data technology more than ever. They are able to offer a lot of benefits to customers, because they store so much data on them with the various features they provide. Although the personal data credit card companies collect has raised valid privacy concerns, they are also very helpful.
Your card is a useful tool for making payments, but you can do more than simply carry it with you when you go shopping. Big data will make it an even more useful tool, as merchants leverage data to offer better deals and services. Make the most of your card by shopping online, getting cash, paying bills, and sending money to friends and family.
There are many ways that AI can help with the development and release of new products and services. Most of the discussion focuses on using AI to come up with the initial idea and automate the research process. However, companies can use AI for an equally important initiative – quality assurance. We talked about the benefits of data analytics for QA teams, but AI can be just as important.
Rajneesh Malviya, the Vice President and Global Head for Infosys Validation Solutions, has talked about the many benefits of using AI to improve the quality assurance process. Your company should consider these benefits.
AI is Crucial for Handling the QA Process When Developing New Products
The process of ensuring that your product or software is of the best quality for your clients is referred to as quality assurance testing or QA testing. QA refers to the processes that are carried out in order to prevent issues with a software product or service. These issues could appear as the result of an incorrect implementation of the features or access controls. Hence, teams ensure that users have the best quality product or software. AI has proven to be very useful in this process, as Malviya discussed.
This process can become very complex without the right protocols in place. Fortunately, AI technology can help immensely with QA professionals trying to make sure that they bring the best products to the market.
Performing Quality Assurance Testing with a Security Approach
AI technology has helped automate many of the QA processes. Companies are using RPA & Robotics solutions to streamline these processes more easily.
AI Can Improve Manual Testing in Addition to Automated Testing
AI technology isn’t just useful for automating elements of the testing process. They can also help companies improve the manual testing process in various ways.
One of the biggest benefits of AI for manual testing during the QA process is that it helps companies better train their employees. Companies can use machine learning tools to identify some of the most common product defects that would otherwise be overlooked. Employees can use these insights to examine products more carefully.
When conducting quality assurance testing, both the manual and automated approaches should be applied. When it comes to manual testing a lot of teams use the shift left approach while developing and testing software, especially in the early stages of development.
Testing manually gives you the ability to cover a wide variety of test cases with proper logic. Since a user fundamentally interacts with the look, feel, and UX of the product during manual testing, this methodology is seen as being vital. Manual testing is typically utilized for exploratory testing, testing for usability, and adhoc testing. AI may not be able to replace these aspects of the manual testing process, but they can certainly help streamline it.
On the other hand, there are situations when a couple of tests need to be executed repeatedly. In such cases, an automated technique has to be followed. It will execute the tests successfully and will save a significant amount of time and resources.
AI Can Help with Risk Scoring During the Testing Process
The primary objective of the risk-based testing technique is to identify the problems that pose the greatest risk during the testing process. Testing of this kind gives quality assurance teams the ability to prioritize and properly focus their efforts on the most severe risks that could result in issues with the application’s performance.
When a risk-based approach is taken, the team’s primary focus is on problems that could occur when the product is being used, such as adding negative values of a product, which could lead to an error and could cause the software to crash if the error is not handled properly. Therefore, using a risk-based approach improves the overall user experience and doesn’t require that much maintenance.
AI technology can be very helpful in this regard. One of the biggest benefits of using predictive analytics tools is that they can anticipate the likelihood of various problems arising with a given product. They have clear risk scoring algorithms that can significantly improve the QA testing process.
Using a Multi-Directional Testing Approach
It is always recommended to have multiple categories or steps of quality assurance testing. The product’s development team should be required to create automatic unit tests so that they can evaluate the quality of their code at the beginning of the development process. This will allow them to easily fix any problems that may arise in the initial stages, saving a significant amount of time. When everything is set, the quality assurance team will run smoke tests to ensure that everything is ready for implementation in production.
When you begin employing the multi-directional testing strategy in software development, it immediately indicates that a great deal of testing in a variety of directions will be carried out in depth. This type of multi-directional testing will ensure that all of the bugs have been fixed. After enormous changes have been made and the release criteria have been met, the QA team will ensure that all the functionalities are working seamlessly.
AI is Vital to the QA Process
QA testing has to be conducted to validate that the product we are providing meets the users’ needs and also delivers a higher user experience to them. Fortunately, new advances in AI technology have made it easier than ever.
More companies are using AI technology for different reasons. One of the most important benefits is that it will make it easier for the developers to fix any errors that may have been found during the initial phase or during the testing process. It will also ensure that the final product is of a high quality and will not result in any problems for the end users. As a result, QA needs to be carried out in a comprehensive manner and using the appropriate procedures, all of which are covered in this article.
Big Data and AI are, perhaps, the most important business technologies of the century, and they are intrinsically related. Every year, the use of AI algorithms and information sets grows and improves. Because of this, businesses become faster and more effective, and the public gets what they want quicker and more often.
But what is the state of AI and Big Data, right now?
In this article, we take a snapshot look at the world of information processing as it stands in the present.
Premise
Big data and AI have what is referred to as a synergistic relationship. AI is pointless without data behind it, and the quantities of data that are now used by businesses everywhere are nonnegotiable without the support of AI.
In other words, when you hear a discussion about AI, you can assume that the topic of Big Data is, at least peripherally involved. And when you hear about Big Data, you can make similar assumptions about AI.
Both are experiencing increasing importance, which has led to a massive uptick in data-related jobs. Below, we describe what some of these positions are, and how they are being framed in 2022.
Data Processing in 2022
Data processing jobs have been on the rise for the last several years and are expected to continue to increase by at least 25% through 2022. Similarly, digital forensics, data-based marketing, and other career paths with at least an adjacent relationship data are also gaining traction.
Currently, there is a movement toward what is called “composable analytics” in which data is taken from multiple streams and processed through AI algorithms to produce a single, clear information set.
Composable analytics allow businesses to cut costs on infrastructure while benefiting from highly accessible., organized information. As of 2022, it’s expected that approximately 60% of business organizations will combine data sets from three or more sources.
Less Grey Space
The current assumption is that approximately 70% of business-related data goes unused. There is so much information out there that even very large corporations with robust resources can’t handle all of it cleanly.
The Big Data is too…big.
In response to this problem, businesses in 2022 are looking to upgrade and invest in what is called their “data fabric.” Data fabric is essentially the digital architecture that connects an organization’s information technology.
Imagine the setup of your average software company. You have a billing department. Sales. HR. Then you have your executive suite and marketing. All divisions that have their own tech stack, complete with their own data sets.
Each branch of this hypothetical company may be able to access information that is relevant to its processes. The billing department, for example, might know how many people went in for account upgrades that month, or how many churned out. The sales department, however, might not know any of it.
Data integrations allow information to flow cleanly through separate divisions of the same corporate entity, creating the opportunity for big picture implementation of data.
With good data fabric, this same tech company can now take billing data and use it to bolster sales. It can take sales data, and use it to improve marketing. And, at the executive level, leadership can view everything, and use it to make long-term forecasts and strategizing.
Data Democratization
Data is no longer solely the asset of very large businesses. Because data analytic tools are now available at a relatively affordable rate, and there are more experts on information processing than ever, even small businesses can use this technology to their advantage.
True, in the context of mom-and-pop shops, the “bigness” of Big Data is relative. However, the processes being applied are largely the same. Small businesses use customer data and algorithms to improve their marketing efforts, hone their products or services, and, in short, find better ways to serve the public and run their operation.
Consumers are Benefiting
While there remains a degree of public discomfort surrounding the concept of Big Data and AI, in 2022, consumers have warmed slightly to these ideas. Part of this owes to a greater understanding of what Big Data is.
Though corporations do possess a significant amount of consumer information, it’s mostly anonymous. There’s so much of it that no one could feasibly associate the information with John from Delaware or Susie in Maine.
Consumers do, however, see the benefits of Big Data, in the form of improved products, personalized recommendations, and better overall service from the businesses they frequent.
Companies will need to get used to investing in the right infrastructure to make the most of their cloud capabilities. This is going to require them to invest in the best servers to connect with cloud services, especially if they want to host their own.
Investing in the Best Servers for Cloud Computing
For many businesses, the decision to buy used servers is a no-brainer. Refurbished servers may not offer the same bells and whistles as their new counterparts, but they usually still offer similar capabilities – at a fraction of the cost. Organizations that need servers for their databases or cloud computing can’t just go out and buy the first option that presents itself, though. It’s important to know what their needs are, so they can get a product that meets those needs.
Of course, one option is to buy refurbished servers online from a company like Alta Technologies. This lets you compare all your options before making a purchase, plus you can talk with an experienced representative who can guide you to the product that fits your requirements. They will understand the basis of your cloud strategy and make sure that you use the right servers to meet your goals.
It’s helpful to know the names of the best used servers to buy, but it’s even more helpful to know how to choose them yourself. To learn more about both, just keep reading.
What to look for in a server to meet your cloud computing needs
No matter what type of used server your organization needs, there are certain aspects you’ll want to look at. Choosing a reliable brand is good, but you won’t necessarily find the best server to meet your cloud computing needs from a big-name brand. What matters most is whether or not the server meets your required specifications. Since there are a lot of nuances with cloud computing, you will need to
Your server’s configuration is going to be essential for your cloud solutions. The main parameters to look at here are the processors, the storage, and the RAM.
Processors (CPUs)
Some servers come with one CPU, while others have multi-core processors. There are also options like multithreaded processors, which can enable a single processor to perform better than two or more lesser processors. You should also look at the processor’s clock speed, which will tell you how many instructions it can execute each second (measured in GHz). However, if a CPU has features like reduced latency, increased data throughput, subcycling, multiple threading, or multiple cores, this could make it more efficient than other processors that technically have a faster clock speed.
Storage
Scalability is key for any server, so you should have some idea of how much storage you’ll need. The type of storage you choose will also have an impact; there are a ton of options, so this is probably something you should discuss more in-depth with an expert. You could get servers with NAS, JBOD, or SAN storage, which can accommodate various types of drives. If you want the best of the best, SANs is one of the top options.
RAM
In general, more is more with RAM. Random Access Memory will help determine how fast a server can process data in different formats, so you don’t want to skimp on this feature.
Type of database
If you’re looking for a database server, you’ll need something built for the job. There are several different options, and they all fulfill different jobs based on their unique schema.
MS SQL Server
As a relational database management system, this server uses the Transact-SQL query language and is good for large databases. It’s a high-performance, secure, and reliable option, whether you’re retrieving information from on-premise locations or from the cloud.
PostgreSQL
Another relational system, the PostgreSQL is in full compliance with top management standards; it even has ACID support. It may not be as commonly used as some other kinds of database management systems, but it’s a great choice for complex applications and websites. It supports multi-versioning, and can be modified by more than one user with the assistance of MVCC. Its best features include mechanisms of transactions and replication, lack of restrictions for database size, and an expandable system of programming languages. Overall, it’s highly scalable and very advanced.
MariaDB
One of the more popular database management systems, MariaDB was developed with simplicity in mind. It’s compatible with applications that utilize MySQL, because it originated from the MySQL RDBMS. However, MySQL is no longer at the forefront of innovation, so a lot of users are switching to MariaDB instead. With an enhanced query optimizer and excellent functionality, this database management system is a top performer.
MySQL
Here’s one of the most common server databases. Server flexibility is provided through multiple tables, including InnoDB and MyISAM. Users can store data of either fixed or variable lengths, and web frameworks are utilized for basic configuration. As you’d expect of such a popular database, MySQL offers superior security and enough processing power to handle large quantities of data.
What else should you look at when considering different types of used servers?
Whether you’re buying new or used servers, there’s no reason to compromise on the most important features. Here are some key criteria to consider during your hunt for the right server:
Application development – languages used, web development, design toolsWorking environment – addressable memory size, hardware/software platforms, hardware requirementsSecurity – protection system, backup, crash recoverySystem architecture features and functional parameters – network capabilities, mobility, distribution, scalabilityData model – hierarchical, object, networkPerformance – query optimization, TPC rating, parallel architecture capabilitiesAdditional features – control over the various kinds of memory, auto-tuning of the system, implementation of the query language, search tools, support for triggers and stored proceduresProduct warranty – whether or not the seller offers returns or exchanges, product guarantees, routine technical support, or emergency technical support
Now that we’ve covered all that, here are some of the best options in used servers
Dell PowerEdge R940Dell PowerEdge R740HPE ProLiant DL580 Gen10HPE ProLiant DL380 Gen10HPE Apollo 6000 Gen10 System
You need the right servers to support your cloud strategy. Perhaps the hardest part of finding the right server for your organization is figuring out which features you need it to have. If you don’t have all the information already at your fingertips, try finding a reputable seller who can assist you in your search; they should know what they’re talking about. Once that’s done, you will have completed the hardest part of the job.
Cloud technology is becoming more important to modern businesses than ever. Ninety-four percent of enterprises invest in cloud infrastructures, due to the benefits it offers.
An estimated 87% of companies using the cloud rely on hybrid cloud environments. However, some companies use other cloud solutions, which need to be discussed as well.
These days, most companies’ cloud ecosystem includes infrastructure, compliance, security, and other aspects. These infrastructures can be either in hybrid cloud or multi-cloud. In addition, a multi-cloud system has sourced cloud infrastructure from different vendors depending on organizational needs.
There are a lot of great benefits of a hybrid cloud strategy, but the benefits of multi-cloud infrastructures should also be discussed. A multi-cloud infrastructure means when you acquire the technology from different vendors, and these can either be private or public. A hybrid cloud system is a cloud deployment model combining different cloud types, using both an on-premise hardware solution and a public cloud.
You can safely use an Apache Kafka cluster for seamless data movement from the on-premise hardware solution to the data lake using various cloud services like Amazon’s S3 and others. But keep in mind one thing which is you have to either replicate the topics in your cloud cluster or you will have to develop a custom connector to read and copy back and forth from the cloud to the application.
5 Key Comparisons in Different Apache Kafka Architectures
1. Kafka And ETL Processing: You might be using Apache Kafka for high-performance data pipelines, stream various analytics data, or run company critical assets using Kafka, but did you know that you can also use Kafka clusters to move data between multiple systems.
It is because you usually see Kafka producers publish data or push it towards a Kafka topic so that the application can consume the data. But a Kafka consumer is usually custom-built applications that feed data into their target applications. Hence you can use your cloud provider’s tools which may offer you the ability to create jobs that will extract and transform the data apart from also offering you the advantage of loading the ETL data.
Amazon’s AWS Glue is one such tool that allows you to consume data from Apache Kafka and Amazon-managed streaming for Apache Kafka (MSK). It will enable you to quickly transform and load the data results into Amazon S3 data lakes or JDBC data stores.
2. Architecture Design: In most system cases, the first step is usually building a responsive and manageable Apache Kafka Architecture so that users can quickly review this data. For example- If you are supposed to process and document which has many key data sets like an employee insurance policy form. Then you can use various cloud tools to extract the data for further processing.
You can also configure a cloud-based tool like AWS Glue to connect with your on-premise cloud hardware and establish a secure connection. A three-step ETL framework job should do the trick. If you are unsure about the steps, then here they are: Step 1:Create a connection of the tool with the on-premise Apache Kafka data storage source. Step 2: Create a Data Catalog table. Step 3: Create an ETL job and save that data to a data lake.
3. Connection: Using a predefined Kafka connection, you can use various cloud tools like AWS glue to create a secure Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connection in the Data Catalog. Also, you should know that a self-signed SSL certificate is always required for these connections.
Additionally, you can take multiple steps to render more value from the information. For example- you may use various business intelligence tools like QuickSight to embed the data into an internal Kafka dashboard. Then another team member may use the event-driven architectures to notify the administrator and perform various downstream actions. Although it should be done whenever you deal with specific data types, the possibilities are endless here.
4. Security Group: When you need a cloud tool like AWS Glue to communicate back and forth between its components, you will need to specify a security group with a self-referencing inbound rule for all Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) ports. It will enable you to restrict the data source to the same security group; in essence, they could all have a pre-configured self-referencing inbound rule for all traffic. You would then need to set up the Apache Kafka topic, refer to this newly created connection, and use the schema detection function.
5. Data Processing: After completing the Apache Kafka connection and creating the job, you can format the source data, which you will need later. You can also use various transformation tools to process your data library. For this data processing, take the help of the ETL script you created earlier, following the three steps outlined above.
Conclusion
Apache Kafka is an open-source data processing software with multiple usages in different applications. Use the above guide to identify which type of storage works for you.
The Department of Health and Human Services HIPAA Breach Reporting Tool shows that there were over 700 data breaches in healthcare organizations last year. Healthcare organizations need to utilize the latest technology to stop these attacks. Machine learning technology is especially important.
Machine learning technology is a double-edged sword in many facets of our lives. One of the biggest examples is with cybersecurity.
A growing number of cybersecurity professionals can use machine learning technology to fortify their defenses against cyberattacks. On the other hand, many hackers are also using machine learning to conduct more insidious attacks with each passing day.
The harsh reality is that organizations that don’t use machine learning to improve their cybersecurity strategies will be sitting ducks against tech-savvy hackers. Their strategies will be less effective with each passing day as hackers find more heinous ways to utilize AI technology to conduct vicious attacks.
Healthcare organizations will be some of the most vulnerable. They will have to find approaches to cybersecurity that make the most of advances in machine learning.
The State of Cybersecurity in Healthcare
It’s no secret that, in recent years, cybersecurity has been an important topic – especially in the healthcare industry. Namely, healthcare has been one of the biggest targets of cyber-attacks. This is because healthcare organizations hold important data that could be very easily exploited. In most cases, the main target of cyber attackers in healthcare has been patients’ information, like credit and bank account numbers, social security numbers, and personal data related to their medical state.
There are many ways to protect a healthcare organization, yet not enough organizations take the necessary measures to do so. We will discuss all about cybersecurity in healthcare in our article below. Continue reading to learn more about cybersecurity in healthcare, the different types of cyber-attacks, and how to protect your healthcare organization successfully.
Types of Healthcare Cyber Attacks
There are many different types of cyber-attacks that healthcare organizations can fall victim to. In general, these attacks can be categorized into four main types:
Phishing Attacks
One of the most common types of cyber-attacks is phishing. This type of attack usually consists of a malicious email being sent to an employee of a healthcare organization. In the vast majority of cases, the email looks like it’s from a legitimate source, but it actually contains malware that, once downloaded, can give the attacker access to the organization’s network.
Ransomware Attacks
Ransomware attacks have become increasingly common in recent years. This type of attack usually starts with a phishing email, but instead of just containing typical malware, it also has a ransomware virus. This virus will then encrypt all of the data on the organization’s network and demand a ransom be paid in order to decrypt it.
Denial-of-Service Attacks
A denial-of-service attack (DoS attack, also known as DDoS) is a cyber-attack that aims to make a healthcare organization’s website or network unavailable. This is usually done by flooding the organization’s servers with requests so that they can no longer handle legitimate traffic.
Insider Threats
An insider threat is a type of attack that is carried out by someone who already has access to the healthcare organization’s network. This could be an employee, contractor, or vendor. In the majority of cases, insider threats are pretty difficult to detect and can do a lot of damage.
Best Practices and Strategies Preventing Cyber Attacks with Machine Learning
There are many different steps that healthcare organizations can take in order to prevent and protect themselves from cyber attacks. Machine learning technology can be very helpful. Here are some of the most important ways to use this technology to thwart cybercriminals.
Educate Employees about Cybersecurity
One of the best ways to prevent cyber attacks is to educate employees about cybersecurity. Employees should be trained on how to spot phishing emails, as well as what to do if they receive one. They should also know how to properly handle patient data and understand the importance of encrypting all sensitive information.
If you want to educate your employees, you have to make sure that you are properly informed yourself. You will want to use machine learning technology to track the latest developments in cybercrime. New AI-powered applications can monitor malware, track the activities of known cybercriminals and otherwise collect data on developments in cybersecurity. This knowledge can help you inform your employees about the cybersecurity protocols that they can follow.
Implement Strong Security Measures
We have mentioned in the past that it is essential to use AI to protect against cyberattacks. One of the reasons that AI can automate many of the protocols needed to thwart cybercriminals. Machine learning can also detect possible attacks that would otherwise go unnoticed.
Healthcare organizations should use AI technology to implement solid security measures, like strong firewalls and intrusion detection systems. They should also have a secure process for handling patient data and make sure that only authorized personnel have access to it. All data should be appropriately encrypted, both in transit and at rest.
Regularly Back up Data
Another critical step that healthcare organizations can take is to regularly back up their data. This way, if they do fall victim to a ransomware attack, they will still have access to their data. It’s also essential to make sure that backups are stored off-site so that they can’t be accessed by the attacker.
You can use AI technology to automate your data backups. Machine learning technology can help determine the best times to backup your systems, so you can minimize the risk of losing valuable data.
Monitor Networks 24/7
Network monitoring is vital for all organizations, but it’s especially important for healthcare organizations. This way, the IT staff in the company can quickly spot any unusual activity and take steps to stop an attack before it does any damage. Again, machine learning is vital to network monitoring in 2022.
Machine Learning is Vital to Protect Healthcare Organizations Against Cyberattacks
We can conclude that cybersecurity is a crucial topic for all organizations, and healthcare ones are often the biggest target. There are many different types of cyber-attacks that they can fall victim to, and the consequences can be severe. A big cyberattack can cost millions of dollars in damages, as well as an irreparable stain on a company’s reputation.
That’s why it’s crucial for healthcare organizations to take steps to prevent and protect themselves from these attacks. By taking strong security measures, like educating employees, monitoring network activity, and backing up data, most healthcare organizations will be safe from all attacks.
