Category Big Data, Cloud, BI

The Future of AI: High Quality, Human Powered Data

The Future of AI: High Quality, Human Powered Data

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has significantly altered how work is done. However, AI even has a bigger impact by enhancing human capabilities. Research conducted by the Harvard Business Review found that the interaction between machines and humans significantly improves firms’ performance.

Successful collaboration between humans and machines enhances each other’s strengths, including teamwork, leadership, creativity, speed, scalability, and quantitative capabilities.

How Humans Collaborate with Machines

For the successful collaboration between machines and humans, humans are required to carry out three crucial roles:

Training the machines to carry out specific roles.Explaining the outcomes of those tasks.Sustaining the responsible use of machines.

Human labeling and data labeling are however important aspects of the AI function as they help to identify and convert raw data into a more meaningful form for AI and machine learning to learn.

Artificial Intelligence, in turn, needs to process data to make conclusions.

AI also needs continuous process monitoring to ensure that errors are tracked, and there is efficiency. For instance, although an autonomous vehicle can drive independently, it may not register surroundings like a human driver. Therefore, safety engineers are needed to track these cars’ movement and alert systems if the vehicles pose a danger to humans or buildings.

More and more business owners are adopting AI and other machine learning technologies to automate their decision-making processes and also help them uncover new business opportunities. However, using AI to automate business processes is not easy. Businesses use data labeling that allows AI systems to understand the environments and conditions in the real world accurately.

Human involvement in AI is possible through human labeling. This massive undertaking requires input from groups of people to help correctly identify objects, including digitization of data, Natural Language Processing, Data Tagging, Video Annotation, and Image Processing.

How Artificial Intelligence is Impacting Data Quality

1.      Elimination of Human Mistakes

Many believe that AI will replace human intelligence, which is not far from the truth. Artificial intelligence has the potential to combat human error by taking up the tasking responsibilities associated with the analysis, drilling, and dissection of large volumes of data.

Data quality is crucial in the age of artificial intelligence. The quality of data encompasses a wide range of factors, including accuracy, completeness, uniformity, and authenticity. However, analyzing heterogeneous data and then interpreting it into one or more structures has been challenging. The biggest challenge has remained the early detection of data issues which also remains unknown to the data owners.

Before AI, the human factor was necessary for typing data. Therefore, errors were rampant, and specific data quality was impossible to achieve. Fortunately, AI eliminates the human factor, therefore significantly improving data quality.

2.      Faster and Better Learning

Although the primary goal of AI is to enhance data quality, not all data collected is of high quality. However, Ai uses algorithms that can screen and handle large data sets. Even with these technologies, systemic prejudices are unavoidable. Therefore, algorithm testing and training on data quality are necessary.

3.      Enhances the Identification of Data Trends to Aid Decision Making

AI and Machine Learning ensure that data trends are identified. The domain experience explains data patterns to be used in commercial decision-making. In addition, the domain is also responsible for identifying unexpected data patterns to avoid the loss of legitimate data. Also, it ensures that invalid data does not influence the outcome.

4.      AI and Machine Learning Enhance Data Storage

Information and training are also lost when a data storage device is lost. However, Artificial Intelligence continues to progress and will help collect and store helpful information over time.

5.      Assessment of Data Types for Quality

While different metrics can be used to determine data quality, accuracy is the primary focus since it is easy to change for different data sets and concerns for decision-makers. Data quality is crucial in Artificial Intelligence and automated decision-making. Assessing the accuracy of data requires the identification of data types to determine their accuracy. This requires the identification, interpretation, and documentation of data sources.

Conclusion

The digital transformation is on, and many businesses are jumping onto the AI and machine learning bandwagon. This has resulted in larger, more sophisticated data streams, posing challenges to data quality. It is only reasonable for companies to invest in AI and machine learning as they provide data safety, protection, and collection tools.

However, the move toward AI and machine learning will require the involvement of the human factor trained in AI algorithm programming. AI will be directed toward different fields, including robotics, automated scheduling and learning, general intelligence, and computer vision. For these fields to mature, there will be a need to generate and access massive amounts of data.

The collected data will have to be broken down into a format easily recognizable by the AI systems. As AI enhances task automation, big data will continue to grow larger. Even as more data for analysis and learning is available, AI will continue to grow.

If your company has not yet invested in AI and machine learning, then it is time. However, you need to understand that machines cannot work independently and that you need to invest in experts who will work collaboratively to ensure data quality.

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How to Protect Data Within an App With RASP Security

How to Protect Data Within an App With RASP Security

When data security within apps is discussed, most people think of WAF.

However, a web application firewall is limited. A trusted security tool focuses on the traffic going in and out without considering what happens to sensitive information circulating inside the application.

In cybersecurity, this creates a major blind spot that could result in a data breach.

To regain control over sensitive information and prevent data from being manipulated or leaked in cyberattacks, companies rely on RASP.

How does RASP security operate and protect data within the app?

RASP Security Basics

Runtime Application Self-Protection (also known as RASP) is a cybersecurity tool designed for applications and cloud environments.

What makes RASP different from other security solutions such as firewalls and WAF? It operates within the app to protect the application and information inside of it.

Once it’s deployed in the application, it seeks signs of broken protocols and vulnerabilities that might put the assets of a business at risk.

Another feature that separates it from other solutions is that it’s self-protecting. It runs when the app starts and doesn’t require heavy-duty management to defend the assets.

Most businesses combine security solutions that focus on perimeter security (such as WAF) with RASP, which is dedicated to app protection from within. In that way, they have a layered system that protects the company.

This software has become popular with businesses and developers because it can be used anywhere there is a need for it and defends the application in real-time.

Many organizations have been shifting to cloud-based environments and have discovered the need for solutions they can personalize to their own needs as they adjust to a novel technology.

This security tool for applications also takes a lot of legwork from IT teams that already have heavy workloads. Namely, it can remove potential threats and hacking attempts without requiring human intervention.

Although, companies that have security teams often use it to flag unwanted behavior within the app.

Preventing Cyberattacks

The most obvious way RASP prevents data leaks and manipulation is by protecting an application from hacking attempts. To ensure that everything is covered, RASP can mitigate:

Well-known attacks on the systemAttempts at zero-day exploitsCommon vulnerabilities within apps

Known hacking methods that could compromise data include social engineering (e.g. phishing) and malware injection. RASP can discover and mitigate early threats — before they turn into incidents.

The solution detects and removes known threats automatically, giving the teams that manage security more time to dedicate to more pressing and complex tasks.

Zero-day attacks, or attempts at hacking with methods that aren’t yet known to cyber experts, can make a difference in whether a business will continue to operate following the hacking.

During zero-day attacks, hackers exploit vulnerabilities that have been in the system, undiscovered. RASP utilizes grammar-based methods to discover such attempts and mitigate them early — without the necessity of patches.

Common flaws for applications are listed on OWASP’s top 10. Sensitive data exposure currently takes second place on the list of most concerning weaknesses. Errors in cryptography that protect the data can expose sensitive data to the public.

The number one weakness that apps face (according to OWASP) is broken access control. This vulnerability allows threat actors to access restricted parts of the app.

Flaws create major gaps in the security that criminals can exploit to get into the system and obtain data. RASP is continually updated to seek signs that the app is exposed to vulnerabilities listed in OWASP.

Having an Overview of Compromised Data

A major part of data security is having control over the data that is within the application — knowing where it is at all times and who has access to it.

It’s also crucial to know whether someone is attempting to get unauthorized access to this sensitive data.

In case of a hacking attempt, RASP offers you a bird’s eye view of your information.

Integrated within your app, the tool can point at the exact part of the system the threat actor is targeting and thus which sensitive data has the potential to be compromised.

Besides knowing which techniques they’re using, you can learn more about who is targeting your infrastructure with malicious code.

Customizable For Different Applications

The same vulnerability that can lead to incidents such as a major data breach within one app might not be a prevalent issue in another.

Therefore, it’s important to customize the policies that govern the security app based on the unique needs of the organization.

For example, an HTTP request that won’t compromise one app might target and exploit the sensitive components of another.

Deployed on the cloud, RASP observes the behavior that’s occurring within the app. It collects data and mitigates threats in real-time.

The longer it runs on the app, the more information it has to compare the attack surface with its various states.

The result is the security that utilizes machine learning to determine and pinpoint activity that is out of the ordinary for the application.

What it essentially does is it considers the context within which the specific behavior occurs to decide whether there is an attempt at a cyber breach.

Applications Are Evolving; Security Should Too

Web apps nowadays are not the same as their early predecessors.

New features and technologies such as containers and cloud environments have resulted in apps that can’t be protected with traditional WAF solutions.

Modern applications require protective tools that can keep up with the technological evolution that is taking place.

Unprotected applications are vulnerable to exploits depicted in the OWASP top 10 and any new zero-day attacks.

RASP protects applications more thoroughly, simply, and accurately. The security is deployed to seek changes within the app in real-time and mitigate the threats right away — without putting sensitive data at risk.

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How a Danish Bitcoin Trader Discovered the Wonders of Analytics

How a Danish Bitcoin Trader Discovered the Wonders of Analytics

We have talked at length about the benefits of analytics in the financial sector. Global companies are projected to spend nearly $5.9 billion on financial analytics technology this year.

Most of the discussions about the role of data analytics in finance have centered around traditional financial businesses, such as insurance, mutual funds, money management and other financial institutions.

However, data analytics can be just as beneficial in the bitcoin trading sector. We recently pointed out that traders can use analytics to deal with concerns about ongoing price volatility.

One trader from Denmark recently talked about the role of analytics in trading cryptocurrencies. She told us that data analytics has helped her boost her profits considerably.

Denmark Bitcoin Traders Are Leveraging Analytics to Boost their Profits

When it comes to Bitcoin trading, Denmark is one of the most popular destinations in Europe. The country is home to a large number of exchanges and brokerages that offer easy and convenient access to the world’s largest cryptocurrency. Bitindex Prime is one of the best platforms that can help you in gaining guidelines about bitcoin trading.

Many bitcoin traders have started using analytics technology to improve their profits even more. We recently interviewed a trader that preferred to be kept anonymous. She told us that she increased her bitcoin profits 150% after she started using data analytics tools to forecast price movements.

“You would be foolish to invest in bitcoin without leveraging all of the best technology available,” she said. “Traders are no longer ad hoc investors with no financial background. Some of the largest companies in the world are trading bitcoin, so you need to have as much of an edge as possible. Data analytics tools can help you assess the state of the market and make timely trading decisions.”

Many other investors in Denmark are using data analytics to identify the profitability of bitcoin and other cryptocurrency trading opportunities. Data analytics tools can help traders predict the impact that major socioeconomic events will have on bitcoin prices. They can also use analytics tools to make better trading decisions based on technical analysis theories, which can be even more helpful with bitcoin than with efficient financial markets such as global equities.

If you’re looking to trade Bitcoin in Denmark, there are a few things you need to know. In this guide, we’ll give you an overview of the Danish Bitcoin landscape, including the exchanges that operate in the country and the regulations that apply to them. We will also help you figure out how to use data analytics to be a smarter investor.

Exchanges that operate in Denmark

There are a handful of exchanges that operate in Denmark. These include:

Coinify: One of the largest and most well-known cryptocurrency brokers in Europe, Coinify offers users the ability to buy and sell Bitcoin via a variety of methods, including credit/debit cards, bank transfers, and e-wallets.

LocalBitcoins: A peer-to-peer Bitcoin exchange that allows users to buy and sell Bitcoin directly from each other. LocalBitcoins is available in virtually every country in the world, including Denmark.

Bitstamp: One of the oldest and most well-established cryptocurrency exchanges in operation today, Bitstamp offers users the ability to buy and sell Bitcoin (and other cryptocurrencies) with EUR, USD, and GBP.

Kraken: Another long-standing cryptocurrency exchange, Kraken offers users the ability to buy and sell Bitcoin (and other cryptocurrencies) with EUR, USD, CAD, GBP, and JPY.

Coinmama: A broker that allows users to buy Bitcoin (and other cryptocurrencies) with a credit or debit card. Coinmama is available in over 190 countries, including Denmark.

These are just a few of the exchanges that operate in Denmark. For a full list of exchanges that serve the Danish market, see our exchange finder tool.

Rules and regulations

When it comes to cryptocurrency regulation, Denmark is relatively permissive. The country has taken a hands-off approach to regulation thus far, allowing the cryptocurrency industry to develop and mature without heavy-handed intervention from the government.

That said, there are still some rules and regulations that apply to cryptocurrency exchanges operating in Denmark. For example, exchanges are required to implement know-your-customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) measures. These measures are designed to prevent financial crime and protect users from fraud and identity theft.

In addition, Danish exchanges are required to obtain a license from the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA). This license allows exchanges to operate legally in Denmark.

Getting started

If you’re ready to start trading Bitcoin in Denmark, the first step is to find a reputable exchange that operates in the country. Once you’ve found an exchange that meets your needs, you can sign up for an account and begin buying and selling Bitcoin.

Bitcoin trading is legal in Denmark. The Danish Tax Agency has issued a statement saying that Bitcoin is not considered a currency or an asset, and therefore is not subject to tax. However, the agency also said that if you profit from buying and selling Bitcoin, you will be taxed on your earnings.

There are several exchanges where you can buy and sell Bitcoin in Denmark. The most popular exchange is Kraken, which offers a variety of currencies including the Danish kroner. You can also use LocalBitcoins, which allows you to trade directly with other users.

Bitcoin trading is popular in Denmark because of the many benefits that it offers. For one, it is fast and convenient. transactions can be made easily and quickly, without having to go through a bank or other financial institution. This makes it ideal for those who want to make international payments or send money to friends and family members living in different countries.

Another advantage of bitcoin trading is that it is relatively anonymous. While there are some ways to trace a transaction, most people prefer to keep their identity private when dealing with bitcoins. This makes it an attractive option for those who are concerned about privacy or do not want their transactions to be public knowledge.

Lastly, bitcoin trading in Denmark is also tax-free. any profits made from trading bitcoins are not subject to Danish taxes. This makes it an ideal way to invest in the country, as there is no need to pay tax on any profits made.

Despite these advantages, there are also some risks associated with bitcoin trading. One of the biggest risks is that the value of the currency can fluctuate rapidly. This means that investors could potentially lose a lot of money if they do not know how to trade properly. It is also important to remember that bitcoins are not regulated by any government or financial institution, which means that there is no one to protect you if something goes wrong.

How Can Data Analytics Help as a Bitcoin Trader?

There are a lot of ways that you can use data analytics technology to be smarter about trading bitcoin. Here are a few ideas worth exploring:

You can use data analytics to look at historical impact that various events have had on the market. You can train your analytics tools to identify correlations between bitcoin prices and factors like major hurricanes, new developments in the war in Ukraine, discussions global leaders are having about regulating bitcoin and other factors. You can use data analytics tools to monitor social media. You can find links between certain trending topics on social media and bitcoin prices.You can track patterns that would otherwise be unnoticeable. Data analytics and AI technology can identify patterns that most people would miss.

There are a lot of great reasons to use data analytics as a bitcoin investor, as Masha Prusso pointed out in Entrepreneur. You will want to be aware of these benefits.

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What Data-Driven Companies Must Know About NoSQL Database

What Data-Driven Companies Must Know About NoSQL Database

Big data technology is a double-edged sword for many companies. They are discovering that there are countless benefits of investing in data in business.

Unfortunately, making use of big data is a challenge for many companies. They have accumulated large amounts of data, but struggle to analyze it. Only around 12% of their data is properly analyzed.

The issue is that it is difficult to manage data without the right infrastructure. One of the most important things companies need is a database.

NoSQL databases are the alternative to SQL databases. They come in different types and provide flexible schemas, allowing them to easily scale with high user loads and large data amounts. Today we’ll discuss what NoSQL databases are, what types of them exist, as well as their advantages and disadvantages they offer to data-driven businesses.

Let’s jump right into it. 

What are NoSQL databases and where did they come from?

A “NoSQL database” is an umbrella term that covers all types of non-relational databases – that is, all non SQL databases, as the name suggests. While SQL databases store data in rigid relational tables, NoSQL databases provide more flexibility.

NoSQL databases became possible fairly recently, in the late 2000s, all thanks to the decrease in the price of data storage. Just like that, the need for complex and difficult-to-manage data models has dissipated to give way to better developer productivity. Some of the most popular NoSQL databases currently are: Redis, MongoDB, Couchbase.

According to the DB Engines rankings, SQL databases are still the most popular choice among developers. However, NoSQL databases still have their place in the software development industry, and you will soon find out why.

What are the types of NoSQL databases?

NoSQL databases are split into types depending on the format they use to store data. The four main types are:

Document databases. These store data in JSON-like documents, with each document containing pairs of values and fields. The values can be anything from strings and numbers to booleans, objects, and arrays.Wide-column databases. This type of database stores information in dynamic columns, rows, and tables.Key-value databases. This type of database is relatively simple. Here, every item contains keys and values.Graph databases. Databases of this type store data in edges and nodes. The latter are usually used to store information about concrete objects, such as people and locations, while edges store data about their relationships between each other.

What are the benefits of NoSQL databases?

There are a number of advantages that come with using NoSQL databases, which generally make them more versatile and easier to use. Here’s why you may want to choose these over their SQL counterparts, whether you are a solo developer or part of a custom web application development company. 

Ease of use

The process of operating NoSQL databases is notably more smooth. For instance, a lot of them use data structures similar to those of popular programming languages, which allows developers to store information in the same way they write their solution’s code. This reduces the overall amount of code and number of possible bugs, thus leading to faster development.

Flexible schemas

As a whole, NoSQL databases have far more flexible data models like data catalogues, which make editing the information in them very easy. For example, integrating new features into an application and scaling it is a lot faster with a NoSQL database.

Fast queries

NoSQL queries are often faster than those made in SQL ones. That’s because SQL databases normalize data, so a query for a single object will require the system to collect data from several different tables, and this process becomes longer and longer as the tables expand.

In contrast, NoSQL databases specially store data in a way that encourages faster queries – there, the information that is typically accessed together is stored together as well, so the system doesn’t need to scour through the whole library to find the necessary objects or entities piece by piece.

Ability to scale horizontally

SQL databases are primarily aimed at vertical scaling, which implies migrating to bigger and more powerful servers when the current one is unable to meet the growing requirements. NoSQL databases give you the cheaper opportunity of scaling horizontally by hooking up additional servers to the original one, removing the need for total data migration.  

What are the disadvantages of NoSQL databases?

Like any other technology, NoSQL databases have certain limitations.

Lack of ACID support

One of the most common drawbacks of most NoSQL databases is the inability to carry out ACID transactions between multiple documents. While single record atomicity is available for many applications given appropriate schema design, there are still a lot of apps that require ACID support across multiple records.

Bigger space requirements

As mentioned above, NoSQL databases are optimized for fast queries, not for compact information storage. Since they don’t reduce data duplication as well as their SQL alternatives, NoSQL databases tend to require more storage space. Though, nowadays this disadvantage is seen as pretty minor, as storage is generally cheap and a number of NoSQL databases support file compression.

Sometimes too specialized

NoSQL databases are usually honed for a specific purpose. Graph databases, for example, are great for analyzing data relationships, but won’t be too useful for some everyday processes, such as range queries. That’s why you need to carefully consider the requirements of your project – in the end, you will likely need to use several databases at a time.

Data-Driven Businesses Should Consider Using NoSQL Databases

As companies become more dependent on big data, they have to consider the importance of investing in the right databases. NoSQL databases are perfect for developers that prefer flexible schemas, fast queries, ease of use, and quality horizontal scaling. They are divided into types based on the way they store their data, falling into the document, key-value, graph, or wide-column category. However, developers need to remember that many NoSQL databases lack ACID functionality, might require more storage space, and won’t always be able to meet all project requirements on their own.

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AI Technology Helps Facilitate Bitcoin Trading in Djibouti

AI Technology Helps Facilitate Bitcoin Trading in Djibouti

We previously mentioned that AI has helped make bitcoin mining more popular in the UK. However, developing economies also benefit from AI as they invest more in cryptocurrencies.

Djibouti is a country in Africa that is starting to become more dependent on artificial intelligence technology. A 2018 report by UNESCO shows that AI technology is transforming the continent and Djibouti is among the countries benefiting.

One of the many reasons that Djibouti is being impacted by AI technology is that it is starting to invest more in bitcoin. AI has made bitcoin trading a lot more viable in Djibouti and other parts of the world.

AI Helps Djibouti Become a Major Bitcoin Trading Hub in Africa

When it comes to Bitcoin trading, Djibouti is one of the best countries in Africa. The country has been a major player in the cryptocurrency game for quite some time now, and its people have reaped the benefits.  Explore Biticodes if you want to gain proper information about bitcoin trading.

One of the reasons that bitcoin trading has become more common in Djibouti is that it has increased its access to reliable AI technology. There are many reasons that AI technology has helped with bitcoin trading:

AI helps traders anticipate future price movements by looking at past market trends. It allows traders to take advantage of technical analysis strategies that have been used in other markets in the past. Predictive analytics tools have made it easier for traders to spot trends that would otherwise be missed. Traders in Djibouti can use these tools to compete with sophisticated traders in more established markets. AI helps traders find the right partners to connect with. Companies like TradeConnect use artificial intelligence to identify brokers and financial institutions that traders can connect with. This is especially important for traders in remote countries like Djibouti were traditional financial institutions are lacking. AI helps traders make predictions based on qualitative data, such as geopolitical events and announcements about the cryptocurrency industry. Regular traders may have a hard time quantifying the likely impact of these events, especially if they live in a country like Djibouti where they don’t know as much about the industry. AI helps them understand the likely impact these events will have on the market.

If you’re looking to get involved in Bitcoin trading, Djibouti is a great place to start. The country has been a major player in the cryptocurrency game for quite some time now, and its people have reaped the benefits. As you can see from the points listed above, AI is helping them take advantage of the developments in the cryptocurrency market even further.

Djibouti is home to one of the world’s largest Bitcoin exchanges, bitFinance. This exchange allows users to buy and sell Bitcoin, as well as other cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum and Litecoin.

The bitFinance team is composed of experienced professionals from the banking and tech industries. The exchange is also backed by a number of venture capitalists, including Tim Draper, one of the most well-known names in the Bitcoin world. They use sophisticated AI tools to help manage their exchange, which helps level the playing field between developing and developed economies.

bitFinance is just one of many Bitcoin exchanges operating in Djibouti. Others include LocalBitcoins, which uses AI algorithms to allow for peer-to-peer trading, and Mexico, which offers a platform for buying and selling Bitcoin as well as other digital assets.

The government of Djibouti has been supportive of the cryptocurrency industry. In 2017, the country’s central bank issued a statement saying that it sees “great potential” in Blockchain technology.

This supportive stance has helped to make Djibouti a hub for cryptocurrency activity in Africa. In addition to the exchanges mentioned above, a number of Bitcoin ATMs have been installed in the country.

When it comes to Bitcoin trading, there are a lot of things that you need to know. First and foremost, it is important to understand that Djibouti is not really considered a financial hub. However, this doesn’t mean that trading in Bitcoins here is illegal. In fact, many people have been doing it for quite some time now.

The best thing about trading Bitcoins in Djibouti is the fact that there are very few restrictions. This means that you will be able to trade without having to worry about any legal issues. However, you should still be careful about the exchanges that you use. Make sure that they are reputable and have been around for quite some time.

Another good thing about trading Bitcoins in Djibouti is the fact that the costs are relatively low. This is because there are no middlemen involved. You will also be able to get your money faster since there are no bank delays.

If you want to trade Bitcoins in Djibouti, you need to find a good exchange. Again, this is where AI can be helpful. AI tools help traders identify good trading partners. One of the best places to start looking is online forums. Here, you will be able to interact with other people who are also interested in trading Bitcoins. This way, you will be able to learn from their experiences and also get some tips on what works and what doesn’t.

When it comes to finding a good exchange, it is important to make sure that they offer competitive rates. There are a lot of exchanges out there that charge high fees. You need to make sure that you are not paying more than what you should be.

It is also important to check out the customer support of the exchange. This is because you will need to be able to get in touch with them in case you have any problems. Make sure that they have a good reputation so that you can be sure that you are dealing with a reliable company. AI tools can help you review these platforms to determine their trustworthiness.

When it comes to finding a good exchange, it is also important to make sure that they offer a wide variety of payment methods. There are a lot of exchanges out there that only accept credit cards. However, if you want to trade Bitcoins in Djibouti, it is better to find an exchange that also accepts other forms of payment such as PayPal.

When it comes to finding a good exchange, it is also important to make sure that they have a user-friendly interface. This is because you will need to be able to use the exchange easily. There are a lot of exchanges out there that have a complicated interface. If you are not comfortable using it, then it is better to find another exchange.

When it comes to finding a good exchange, it is also important to make sure that they offer good customer support. This is because you will need to be able to get in touch with them in case you have any problems. You should make sure the exchange uses AI tools to enhance customer support. We have mentioned in the past that AI can help make customer support more efficient through the use of chatbots and other tools. You want to find an exchange with similar services.

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Agile Technology and Big Data Improve the State of Cybersecurity

Agile Technology and Big Data Improve the State of Cybersecurity

The risk of data breaches is rising sharply. The number increased 56% between 2017 and 2018. Fortunately, new technology can help enhance cybersecurity.

Big data technology is becoming more important in the field of cybersecurity. Cybersecurity experts are using data analytics and AI to identify warning signs that a firewall has been penetrated, conduct risk scoring analyses and perform automated cybersecurity measures. As the demand for cybersecurity solutions grows, the need for data-savvy experts will rise accordingly.

Agile helps with making the software development process faster and maintaining the quality of software. It is generally thought that when something is done in a hurry, it doesn’t get done properly. However, Agile technology defies this rule of thumb, especially when developers leverage big data effectively.

Agile helps improve the quality of the work being done. Hence, without any doubt, a cybersecurity team can work alongside an Agile environment. They can take advantage of the benefits of Agile to create data-driven cybersecurity solutions. This can help them mitigate the risks of data breaches and other problems that threaten the state of their networks.

Using Agile is a new way to improve the state of the tech industry, especially for cybersecurity engineers who often trust waterfall methodology. They can take data-driven approaches to develop powerful applications that can significantly reduce the risk of cyberattacks.

The main difference between the agile approach and waterfall methodology is that Agile relies on continuous development and testing, whereas waterfall methodology is a linear life cycle. Agile works by implementing various phases throughout the software development process, but the waterfall methodology requires every aspect of one phase before moving on to the next phase. 

Organizations should consider how cybersecurity will impact software development in an Agile workflow. Below are the things to consider:

1.      The advantage of the cloud should be taken.

Companies are moving to the cloud as it offers high levels of security. One of the beauties of the cloud is that it does not take a massive investment of upfront capital. Many cloud providers use the consumption model, which makes good financial sense for most companies, allowing them to develop their software in a secure environment without any significant upfront investments.

For example, Microsoft Azure offers a wide range of products across an entire ecosystem, allowing enterprises the flexibility to choose the tools and development environment that will work best for them without compromising security.

This broad range of services should be an essential consideration for enterprises to choose between different cloud providers. It should include the incremental costs of securing on-premise when doing evaluations.

2.      Categorizing data

Proper data categorization is one of the critical aspects of data security in agile development. Developers should look closely at the data and its use and determine the correct category for the data. Companies are taking time to get detailed data categorization, with levels ranging from confidential to restricted to high business impact.

On the other hand, some companies declare all their data to be within the highest restriction levels without knowing the relative level of risk. This can result in companies in security dangers since they are focusing on everything at once. Instead, companies should assess where security resources realistically need to be focused. Taking more time with data categories will result in a slow and critical look at companies’ data risk.

Financial services and health care require a high level of data and information security, and there are still ways to create data categories for more security.

3.      Security by default and design

Now companies have started implementing security programs in their businesses. One of the most important steps is to educate the employees in developing and implementing solutions such as the concept known as “security and privacy by design and default.” By informing people involved in the business, irrespective of their role, it is easier for them to integrate security and privacy controls into everything they do from the beginning.

Dedicating specific roles to security within the project is a good idea. For example- data protection lead and security ambassadors will help security across the entire business. Conducting an education program for all employees to be informed and participate in the company’s security is essential.

4.      The practice of good defense

Cybersecurity in an agile environment means a comprehensive approach to identify if there are any gaps or concerns. It includes using data analytics to coordinate testing, create AI algorithms to automate processes and learn from simulated attacks to ensure security at every development step. This can be achieved through penetration testing, simulated attacks, and application scanning.

An automated process of security testing creates more robust applications. Through initial threat protection tactics, businesses can implement and enhance the attacks to assess factors to improve overall cybersecurity. For cybersecurity, automated attacks should be run at every stage of development. Data analytics and AI technology make this possible.

5.      Expecting the unexpected

There is always a possibility that things won’t always go as per the plan. So, be sure to have the right people in place so that they can manage any security incident that happens. It is important to ensure that no steps are missing. One of the advantages of cybersecurity is that it continues to advance every year.

Companies switching to agile development should not fear compromising their security. Instead, they can take advantage of the security and cost savings of the cloud. Agile development will consider security at every design stage, conduct practice tests, and test the security process.

By keeping the above recommendations, companies can gain confidence by embedding cybersecurity in businesses

What should you know about the disadvantages of cybersecurity in an Agile environment?

One of the issues in agile is that the software is constantly changing, which can give a chance to potential hackers. The Agile software environment changes due to the fast nature of evolution.

Big Data and Agile Are Twin Pillars in the Quest to Develop Better Cybersecurity Technology

More organizations than ever are trying to protect their data. Agile technology and big data make this easier.

With the current cyber threat, demand for cybersecurity is growing. Big data and Agile development can help improve defenses.

Organizations are deploying agile operating models and new ways of working to innovate faster and build better products. Cybersecurity must carefully work into each increment to deliver sufficient security and quality results.

Agile security can make life easier for developers and will benefit the consumers the most. Agile security will be able to build basically secure systems that work. An agile framework can create efficient processes for cybersecurity across an entire platform while using resources.

And if you want to be a part of cybersecurity, but approach it in an agile, efficient, waste intolerant way – consider someone like Scrum with Style, a highly recommended training provider with hundreds of successful online and offline courses already held.

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5 AI-Powered Plugins For Your Website

5 AI-Powered Plugins For Your Website

Slightly more than a decade ago, artificial intelligence (AI) was famously used in the manufacturing industry through robots. You could use these robots in warehouses to ease product handling. However, AI and related machine learning have extended to the online space. If you’ve been monitoring your eCommerce shop using human agents, you’ll likely get overwhelmed if your shop grows exponentially. In addition, there are other aspects of your customers that you may not be able to track without using appropriate plugins powered by AI technology.  

In that light, you need to assess your website, whether created through WordPress or other software, so you can install relevant plugins to aid in monitoring and managing your website. Plugins are critical because they offer you 24/7 support for your online processes.  

To give you more insight, here are examples of plugins that you may find beneficial for your website:

1.     Translation Plugin 

Nowadays, you can use most of the world’s languages online. As a result, you need not limit your customers’ experience to just one language. Therefore, to tackle this challenge, a translation plugin is the game-changing tool you need. But, you need a plugin that’s compatible with your website. For instance, if your website is created using WordPress, you require a WordPress translation plugin. However, go for plugins that offer tens of languages and high translation accuracy.  

When looking for a translation plugin for your website, there are essential features that you need to consider. You should consider critical specifications, such as content detection, outstanding customer support, a one-stop-shop translation interface, language customization, SEO optimization, auto-redirection, and in-context editor.

2.     Chatbots 

Having one human agent might be sufficient if your site receives few customers. However, when your business grows, you might require a robust option to handle hundreds of customers. To that effect, a chatbot comes in handy. Chatbots are powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning technology. They employ complex programming algorithms that help them function like human beings. They can respond to your customers’ questions like your human agents.  

They’re usually trained through machine learning to learn patterns of human communication in specific settings for them to respond appropriately. For instance, installing a chatbot on your ecommerce website comes with many benefits. It can explain the payment process to your customers who are stranded. In addition, your bot can explain to your customers where to find specific products.

3.     AI Assistant 

An AI assistant is also called a virtual assistant or digital assistant. AI assistants are designed to understand voice commands of natural language. After that, the AI assistant is supposed to do the task the user commands. In a nutshell, you can install an AI assistant plugin to help your customers with purchase decisions or redirect them to specific pages on your website. Moreover, intelligent AI assistants can send discussions with customers to the admin via email.  

In addition, AI assistants can perform tasks traditionally done by personal assistants, such as taking dictation, placing phone calls, scheduling meetings, reading email or text messages aloud, searching for phone numbers, and reminding you about your upcoming appointments.  

Since AI assistants can work around the clock, they help improve productivity and investment returns.

4.     Speaker 

A speaker is another excellent tool you can use on your website. You can use this plugin to transform the content on your website into a human-like voice. However, for a better return on investment, go for speakers that support as many languages as possible. Speakers use a technology called speech synthesis markup language (SSML), which puts speech into every article on your site. A speaker can pause, read numbers, or intonate as humans do.

5.     Cookies 

If you’re wondering what a cookie is, worry no more. It’s a small text that can implant itself on the device of your website’s visitor. With a cookie, you can collect vital information to analyze how your website is functioning. In addition, a cookie can help you track your visitors’ activities, such as search patterns and purchasing patterns. 

Information regarding your customers’ behavior on your website can help you in your personalized marketing efforts. For instance, you can watch the products your customers like to purchase together. In that case, you can recommend similar products to your customers. 

Final Thoughts

Plugins are essential for increasing the functionality of your website. Therefore, to serve your online customers better, you may consider having specific plugins. In that case, installing plugins, like cookies, speakers, AI assistants, chatbots, and translation tools, might be the game-changing option you need to transform your customer experience.

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Steps Laptop Owners Must Take to Mitigate Risks of Data Loss

Steps Laptop Owners Must Take to Mitigate Risks of Data Loss

Data loss is a growing problem, as companies become more dependent on data than ever. The cost of data loss can be massive for many companies.

A data center outage can cost $7,900 in losses every minute. However, the cost of losing data on a regular computer can be significant as well. Many people store valuable company data on their laptops. Some people also store cryptocurrency wallets on their personal computers.

You may not realize how much valuable data rests on your laptop until it is no longer accessible. You will need to take the right steps to protect it.

Protecting Data on Your Laptop is Essential

We all want our laptops and computers to run safely and efficiently. This ensures that our work can be completed in good time, and we won’t spend time recovering hacked files. It is worth noting that network hacks are common in businesses of all sizes. Such attacks can significantly eat into your bottom line and shouldn’t be taken lightly.

You will probably recognize the importance of protecting your laptop data even more when you stop to think of all the valuable documents that you store on it. You might have tax returns, cryptocurrency wallets, work documents and a lot of other important data.

Therefore, it is imperative that you take steps to minimize the risk of data loss on your laptop. In this guide, we will look at some tips that you can use to keep your laptop running safely and efficiently.

Use a Microsoft Exchange

Microsoft Exchange is a school or work email account that only runs on Windows operating systems. With this account, you will be able to improve your communication and productivity. It also protects your sensitive data and comes with data loss prevention capabilities.

If you run an organization, you can use a Microsoft Exchange Server to prevent members of your organization from accidentally sending sensitive data to unauthorized people.

Use a Firewall

Data breaches are becoming more common than ever. Over 4.1 billion data records were compromised in the first six months of 2019 alone. You don’t want your laptop to be the cause of a data breach.

Using a firewall is essential for businesses as it ensures that your device is not vulnerable to attacks. You may notice that firewalls affect the performance of your computer slightly, but this is worth it since attacks can paralyze your entire business. Windows and macOS devices have firewalls pre-installed, but you will have to enable them before you go online.

You might be surprised by how much a firewall can do to protect against a data breach. You would rather be safe than sorry.

Update Windows, Drivers, and Apps

Windows continually issues security and driver updates, and you should always download and install them. This helps to protect your system from malicious attacks. Hackers may discover security loopholes in outdated programs, so you should also take the time to download and install updates to your apps.

End Tasks that Are Consuming Resources

If your device is suddenly running a lot slower, it is likely that there is a new program that is consuming resources. You can consider shutting down certain apps that use a lot of data, and if this doesn’t work, you can go to the task manager and click the ‘Processes’ tab.

You can sort the apps based on the resources they are consuming. To close a program completely, you should right-click the application and click the ‘End Task’ button.

Stop Programs from Running on Startup

You may have noticed that some programs run whenever you start your laptop. Such programs can use a lot of data and slow down your laptop, which is why you need to stop them from running on startup. That said, you need to leave a few essential programs to always run, including your antivirus software.

To disable programs, you should access the task manager by right-clicking the taskbar or hitting Ctrl+Shift+Esc. You can then click the ‘Startup’ tab and disable unnecessary apps. For improved efficiency, you should especially disable high-impact programs.

Take Steps to Protect Data on Your Laptops

We have talked about changes in the designs of laptops in the past, but we haven’t talked as much about the risk of data loss or data theft with them. You have to take the right steps to protect your sensitive data.

There are many ways of ensuring that your laptop runs safely and efficiently and that the data on it is safe and secure. You should consider using Microsoft Exchange and installing a firewall. It is also important to update your operating system, drivers, and apps.

Finally, you should stop certain programs from running on startup, and you can even end programs that are taking up too many resources.

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Data-Driven Employee Reviews Are Less Biased and Unfair

Data-Driven Employee Reviews Are Less Biased and Unfair

Data analytics technology has changed many aspects of the modern workplace. A growing number of companies are using data to make more informed hiring decisions, track payroll issues and resolve internal problems.

One of the most important benefits of data analytics is that it can help companies monitor employee performance and provide more accurate feedback. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of a data-driven approach to conducting employee performance reviews.

Data Analytics Helps Companies Improve their Employee Performance Reviews

Managers state that delivering employee performance reviews is the second most dreaded and despised task they need to do. The first is firing an employee. This is understandable knowing how flawed and unfair a traditional employee performance appraisal system is.

Chris Westfall, the author of numerous books on management, thinks that poor communication between managers and employees is a serious issue affecting numerous businesses. According to statistics, an astonishing 62% of managers are reluctant to talk to their employees about anything, while one in five business leaders feel uncomfortable when it comes to recognizing employees’ achievements. This communication breakdown may be the reason why traditional feedback isn’t working.

These findings illustrate the benefits of shifting towards a data-driven approach to monitoring employee performance. An article in HR Voices titled Data Analytics in HR: Impacting the Future of Performance Management underscores some of the benefits. The authors state that data analytics saves managers time and reduces the risk of inadvertent bias.

“Using a software platform for data gathering and analytics is a huge time saver, and the application of verifiable facts and numbers to measure progress minimizes the bias that’s inherent in the old-school method of performance management,” the authors write.

Andy Przystanski of Lattice makes a similar argument. New HR analytics tools can use data to make better assessments of employee performance. They can even use data visualization to get a better understanding of individual and collective employee performance. They can make some unexpected insights based on data analytics tools.

One of the biggest flaws of traditional employee performance reports is that managers usually deliver them annually, focusing on things that are fresh in their memory. This approach to performance evaluation can’t paint a real and comprehensive picture of employees’ efforts or results. Performance and productivity fluctuate and you need real-time insights into these metrics to better understand overall employee performance.

Furthermore, when feedback isn’t data-driven it can be susceptible to managers’ opinions of an employee. And when feelings rule over accurate information, employees receive biased data that can lead to conflict within your teams.

Finally, traditional employee reviews are often vague, containing a single sentence or a phrase. They can also be time-consuming, requiring managers and employees to fill out numerous forms and handle tons of paperwork.

If you want to transform the employee performance appraisal process and make it more actionable and insightful, you can reach out for data collected via monitoring software for employees. By analyzing this information you’ll gain a better understanding of how your employees spend their time at work and create a transparent, objective, and actionable feedback.

Here are three ways that software for employee monitoring can help you to modernize the employee performance evaluation process and meet the employees’ requirements for more frequent objective feedback.

Annual Performance Evaluation is Time-Consuming

One of the reasons why managers may dread giving traditional feedback is that the entire process takes up so much of their precious time. If you want to be well prepared to deliver annual feedback, you and your employees need to fill out countless forms, wait for their approval, then you need to set and host performance appraisal meetings, and finally, deal with tons of paperwork.

And you’ll be doing this every year without any clear purpose or benefit for your employees or clients. This is because annual feedback isn’t based on relevant performance metrics and data that can show you what steps you need to take to improve employee performance or when it’s time to reward outstanding achievements.

Luckily, with the help of employee tracker data, you can create weekly, or monthly evaluations, identifying areas that need improvement and also recognizing effective practices. This monitoring software for employees can show you the time your employees spend on specific tasks, apps, and websites they use to complete these tasks and their productivity levels throughout a specific time.

You can use this information to create a real-time, objective, and most importantly timely feedback that can help your employees overcome specific issues and fulfill their potential. Or you can use it to celebrate stellar employee performance.

Traditional Feedback is Vague, Cryptic Without Clear Outcomes

Many employees state that their stress levels are skyrocketing when it’s time for annual performance reviews. They are worried that their managers will focus only on their most recent outcomes and productivity rates, forgetting to look at the big picture and recognize their overall contribution to the team or company. And their worries are justifiable.

This is especially true when managers compile annual evaluations in one sentence like “Good job” or “Your work needs improvements” without specifying what work aspects employees excel at or what steps they need to take to become more productive.

By doing this you show your employees that you aren’t invested in their professional development or, what’s worse, you fail to recognize their achievements. This attitude may frustrate your team members, motivating them to start looking for a more supportive and appreciative workplace.

If you want to prevent this worst-case scenario from happening, use real-time employee tracking system data to track your employees’ day-to-day performance, This information will help you record all the tasks and projects your employees have completed effectively over the year and also identify issues they’re struggling with, suggesting solutions on the spot.

In this way, you can set meaningful performance evaluation outcomes, provide additional support to employees in need, and promote top performers enabling them to develop personally and professionally. And you can use employee tracking data to keep an eye on their progress.

Data-Driven Approaches to Employee Performance Reviews Can Improve Fairness and Reduce Bias

There is no denying the fact that HR analytics is changing the state of the workforce. When your feedback isn’t data-driven it can often be clouded by your personal opinion about a specific employee. This is one of the main reasons why many employees think that traditional performance evaluations aren’t fair and they are a thing of the past. 

Therefore, you should foster open communication, offering frequent feedback based among other significant factors on data collected via monitoring software for employees. This is especially important for managers running remote teams with employees that may feel unseen or detached from the rest of the team.

When using employee monitoring reports to complement employee feedback, you’ll eliminate bias by offering accurate and objective performance insights. This will promote much-needed equity in the workplace where every employee will be valued by their achievements and dedication to the team rather than by favoritism.

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SQL Server and the Cast Function for Data-Driven Companies

SQL Server and the Cast Function for Data-Driven Companies

A growing number of businesses are relying on big data technology to improve productivity and address some of their most pressing challenges. Global companies are projected to spend over $297 billion on big data by 2030. Data technology has proven to be remarkably helpful for many businesses.

However, companies also encounter a number of challenges as they try to leverage the benefits of big data. One of their biggest frustrations is trying to manage their IT resources to store data effectively.

One of the biggest challenges they face is managing their SQL servers. This entails knowing how to use their cast functions properly. Keep reading to learn more.

Problem Statement

When dealing with Structured Query Language (SQL) and programming in general knowing the data types available to you in a given framework is pivotal to being efficient at your job. 

Using the wrong data types for your tables can cause issues in the downstream applications which connect to the database, other databases joining to your data and Extract Transform Load (ETL) packages that extract data out.

In this post we will investigate a key function to help with the complexity that is presented with all these data types. In SQL Server this comes in the form of the CAST command. Cast allows you to change data type X to data type Y with varying restrictions. Some data types are unable to be cast to others and there are implicit data conversions and potential precision loss effects to be mindful of.

Syntax

–THE EXPRESSION FOR THE CAST OPERATOR WILL BE THE FIELD OR VALUE BEING FOLLOWED BY “AS” AND THE TARGET DATA TYPE.
SELECT CAST(EXPRESSION)

–FOR A SINGLE VALUE
SELECT CAST(1 AS VARCHAR(1))

–FOR A FIELD
SELECT CAST(MYFIELD AS FLOAT) FROM …

Data Prep

Let us first build a temporary table with some example data and data types.

–CREATE AN EXAMPLE TABLE TO TEST CAST EXPRESSIONS
IF OBJECT_ID(N’tempdb..#CASTEXAMPLE’) IS NOT NULL DROP TABLE #CASTEXAMPLE
CREATE TABLE #CASTEXAMPLE
(
ID INT IDENTITY(1,1),
XFLOAT FLOAT,
XVARCHAR VARCHAR(10),
XBIT BIT,
XXML XML,
XDATETIME DATETIME,
XDECIMAL DECIMAL(5,2),
XNUMERIC NUMERIC
)

–INSERT 1 ROW OF DATA
INSERT INTO #CASTEXAMPLE
(XFLOAT,XVARCHAR,XBIT,XXML,XDATETIME,XDECIMAL,XNUMERIC)
SELECT 3.14,’PIE’,1,'<?xml version=”1.0″?><Root><Location LocationID=”1″><CityState>Salem, Alabama</CityState></Location></Root>’,GETDATE(), 100,50.01

–VIEW THE TABLE DATA
SELECT * FROM #CASTEXAMPLE

–CREATE ANOTHER EXAMPLE TABLE
CREATE TABLE #CASTJOIN
(
ID INT IDENTITY(1,1),
YVARCHAR VARCHAR(10),
YFLOAT FLOAT
)

INSERT INTO #CASTJOIN
(YVARCHAR,YFLOAT)
SELECT ‘3.14’,3.14

SELECT * FROM #CASTJOIN

Examples

Now that we have some data loaded, let’s take a look at some examples.

First lets look at the concept of explicit casting, explicit casting means that you will have to use CAST() to change the data type.

–EXPLICTLY CONVERT THE XFLOAT FIELD TO BINARY

SELECT CAST(XDECIMAL AS VARBINARY) as VarBinaryResult FROM #CASTEXAMPLE

In this example the decimal value 100.00 is converted to its binary value.

–EXPLICTLY CONVERT THE XFLOAT FIELD TO BINARY
SELECT CAST(XDECIMAL AS VARBINARY) as VarBinaryResult FROM #CASTEXAMPLE

This example fails, because in the #CASTEXAMPLE table, the value is a string ‘PIE’ which cannot be represented as an integer data type. However, if the VARCHAR value happens to be a valid integer value the cast will be successful.

–EXPLICTLY CAST THE XVARCHAR FIELD TO INT

SELECT CAST(XVARCHAR AS INT) as IntResult FROM #CASTEXAMPLE

But how can we be sure that this value is indeed an integer? 

To verify our cast was successful we can utilize the sp_describe_first_result_set stored procedure which accepts a tsql string argument. For this procedure we will need double ticks in our string  literal `1` in our query string. 

–CHECK THE RESULT DATATYPE WITH sp_describe_first_result_set
sp_describe_first_result_set @tsql = N’SELECT CAST(”1” AS INT) as IntResult FROM #CASTEXAMPLE’

We can also validate the original data types of the temporary table we created.

–CHECK THE #CASTEXAMPLE TABLE
sp_describe_first_result_set @tsql = N’SELECT * FROM #CASTEXAMPLE’

The contrast to explicit casting is implicit casting which means that this conversion is taken care of for you automatically by SQL Server. 

An example of when implicit joining comes into effect is if you are joining on a table with different data types. In this situation SQL server will recognize the data types need to be converted and do the conversion for you. This can add some compute cost to your query, so when dealing with one-to-many relationships it’s good to keep this in mind.

–IMPLICITY CAST ON JOIN

SELECT CE.XFLOAT,CJ.YFLOAT
FROM #CASTEXAMPLE AS CE
JOIN #CASTJOIN AS CJ
ON CE.XFLOAT = CJ.YVARCHAR

–PRECIOUS LOSS

When using the CAST() function you should also be aware of the potential of lost precision. This occurs when converting decimal to numeric or numeric to decimal data types in SQL Server. 

Use the Cast Function Properly

In this post we discussed the syntax and use case for the SQL Server CAST() function. We covered the implicit and explicit cast functionality and the performance impacts that different data types can have when joining tables. Also we covered how to check a query results of a TSQL query to validate data types from the CAST() function.  This is an important part of SQL database management and monitoring.

Cast is a very widely used function in SQL Server, database objects such as views and stored procedures can also use the CAST() function so understanding the functionality and how to use the function efficiency can save you time and effort! Be sure to experiment with different implementations of CAST() and make note of what works well for your specific environment. 

For a better experience, try SQL autocomplete to assist with the various data casting options.

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