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OUR BLOG


Month: February 2023

Hybrid Cloud Myths and Reality in the Modern Era

Posted on February 28, 2023February 28, 2023 by Marbenz Antonio

Why hybrid cloud and edge computing represent a new paradigm for innov

Exploring the crucial role of IBM zSystems in IBM’s hybrid cloud environment.

At times, industry colleagues may discuss the idea of moving away from the mainframe or raise doubts about the ongoing relevance of the IBM zSystems platform in delivering unique value to their businesses. While public clouds, edge solutions, and distributed technologies all have important roles to play within a hybrid cloud setup, IBM zSystems remains crucial for numerous enterprise IT environments, including IBM’s own. This is due to its ability to offer the necessary performance, resilience, security, sustainability, and efficiency required for handling mission-critical workloads.

In this context, they help to debunk certain misconceptions and elucidate the significant role that IBM zSystems currently plays and will continue to play in IBM’s hybrid cloud setup, both in the present and the future.

Myth: The mainframe is no longer core to IBM’s own enterprise IT portfolio or strategy

Truth: IBM zSystems platform is a fundamental component of our hybrid cloud strategy, and as an organization, we heavily rely on it currently. This dependence is not only because they produce and distribute zSystems, but because it is, without a doubt, the most suitable platform for the tasks at hand. IBM operate nearly 600 applications, with at least one segment running on IBM zSystems, which constitutes over 65% of all financially critical applications. Business-critical functions like quote-to-cash, finance, and HR operations run on z/OS, z/VM, and Linux on zSystems. This includes IBM’s integrated enterprise resource planning (iERP) solution, our global credit system, accounting information repository, global logistics system, and our common ledger system.

Myth: The mainframe is expensive

Truth: The overall cost of maintaining applications on IBM zSystems can be lower than migrating to alternative platforms, owing to the platform’s extended lifespan, high utilization, and backward compatibility. By adopting a technology business management (TBM) approach, we are actively showcasing that applications hosted on zSystems can exhibit superior performance, enhanced security, and lower total cost of ownership in a contemporary operating environment. Numerous clients have also realized the benefits of utilizing existing capacity on IBM zSystems, which results in a reduction in public cloud expenses. Additionally, we employ “intelligent workload placement” by moving containerized application workloads across different architectures to optimize performance, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. This approach forms the core of a modern, efficient hybrid cloud setup.

Myth: Modern applications don’t run on the mainframe

Truth: IBM zSystems provides a secure, cost-effective, and energy-efficient platform for hosting contemporary applications. By incorporating Red Hat OpenShift and Red Hat Enterprise Linux on IBM systems, alongside continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines and Infrastructure as Code, it presents a compelling and contemporary environment that harnesses the expertise of agile developers.

Myth: If “cloud” is the destination, we should move applications off the mainframe

Truth: Absolutely not! Within a hybrid cloud ecosystem, the placement of application workloads must be optimized to cater to operational needs that balance factors such as sustainability, performance, agility, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. IBM zSystems outshines other platforms in several areas, including Infrastructure as Code, transparent operating system patching without application downtime, enhanced security, increased reliability, and a reduced environmental footprint. With the incorporation of CI/CD pipelines for applications on IBM zSystems, it bears a striking resemblance to operations on other cloud architectures.

Myth: We need specialized and antiquated skills to use the mainframe

Truth: Contemporary tools lessen the demand for specialized expertise in maintaining outdated technologies still used by certain business applications. Notably, IBM zSystems supports a range of modern technologies and tools, such as Python, YAML, Java, Kubernetes, and Ansible. To make the most of IBM zSystems’ capabilities, it’s necessary to possess proficiency in these skills, which are becoming increasingly essential in our team and the industry as a whole. By combining modern skills with the platform’s cutting-edge features, we can achieve all the benefits that a pivotal component of a modern hybrid cloud operating environment has to offer.

Myth: The mainframe is old

Truth: Would you regard a 2023 Ferrari as outdated? Neither would I. Despite being renowned for their backward compatibility, the latest IBM z16 and IBM LinuxONE 4 (specifically for Linux-only environments) are equipped with cutting-edge features such as embedded AI processors, pervasive encryption, and quantum-safe cryptography. With these innovations, contemporary IBM zSystems boast unparalleled performance, availability, and security, which have been trusted by renowned global entities like banks, insurance companies, airline reservation systems, and retailers, owing to their demonstrated transaction processing prowess and resilience.

 


Here at CourseMonster, we know how hard it may be to find the right time and funds for training. We provide effective training programs that enable you to select the training option that best meets the demands of your company.

For more information, please get in touch with one of our course advisers today or contact us at training@coursemonster.com

Posted in IBMTagged IBMLeave a Comment on Hybrid Cloud Myths and Reality in the Modern Era

Networking for the Modern Enterprise: Application-Centric

Posted on February 28, 2023February 28, 2023 by Marbenz Antonio

Networking for the application in a cloud-centric world - TechHQ

In today’s business landscape, companies utilize applications and services that are dispersed among on-premises infrastructure, multiple cloud environments, and intelligent edge networks.

As we approach 2025, the majority of enterprise data – approximately 75% – is projected to be generated and managed at the edge. Furthermore, due to the growing adoption of a hybrid work model, enterprise application users are increasingly mobile.

The changing demands of applications and users are beyond the scope of traditional networking models, such as conventional SDN solutions. As a result, NetOps and CloudOps teams are under mounting pressure. In the absence of the ability to provide networking for applications in a detailed manner and with limited tools to enforce policies in a dynamic setting, NetOps teams are finding it challenging to maintain fine-grained control of the network and promptly address the evolving requirements of the applications.

Understanding the obstacles in the way

To ensure a seamless experience for customers and employees, DevOps teams within the Enterprise Line of Business (LoB) are tasked with maintaining the performance and reliability of their applications. In this context, the way applications and services are interconnected is just as crucial as the applications themselves. Regrettably, NetOps teams are often brought in towards the end of the application development process, making networking an afterthought.

According to feedback from IBM’s customers, the three most common IT connectivity challenges that lead to deployment delays are:

  1. Multi-dimensional connectivity: Complicated processes involving DevOps, NetOps, and SecOps teams are resulting in prolonged provisioning times for establishing detailed connectivity between applications and services. It is not uncommon for network provisioning to take several weeks.
  2. Network agility: DevOps teams expect network automation to offer the same level of agility as they experience in the compute and storage domains. Unfortunately, network automation is frequently not as mature as computing and storage automation and falls short of fulfilling expectations.
  3. Lack of visibility caused by silos: The Operations (Ops) teams frequently operate independently, with their performance metrics and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) existing in isolation from one another. Consequently, troubleshooting degraded application performance can become convoluted and protracted.

Are we ready for DevOps-friendly, application-centric connectivity?

Reevaluating connectivity from an application standpoint can provide a solution to the aforementioned challenges, allowing DevOps teams to achieve self-service connectivity under the supervision of the NetOps and SecOps teams. By seamlessly integrating connectivity provisioning as an extra step in the CI/CD pipeline, DevOps teams can view the network as an additional cloud resource, resulting in straightforward, scalable, smooth, and secure application-level connectivity in any environment, whether on-premises, at the edge, or in the cloud.

This model also ensures consistent policy administration throughout all aspects of IT, significantly streamlining policy management and improving security measures.

By conceptualizing networks within the framework of applications and merging NetOps with DevOps and SecOps, enterprises can experience significant advantages, including:

  • Seamless auto-discovery across applications and infrastructure resources.
  • Single centralized management and policy control with clear mapping between business context and underlying network constructs.
  • The ability to make the network “follow the application” when services move across locations.
  • Elimination of silos between different Ops teams.
  • “Built-in” zero-trust security architecture owing to the ability to operate and connect at an individual microservice level, drastically reducing the attack surface.
  • Simplification of networks owing to the clear separation of application-level connectivity and security policies at the overlay, thereby resulting in a highly simplified underlay

 


Here at CourseMonster, we know how hard it may be to find the right time and funds for training. We provide effective training programs that enable you to select the training option that best meets the demands of your company.

For more information, please get in touch with one of our course advisers today or contact us at training@coursemonster.com

Posted in IBMTagged IBMLeave a Comment on Networking for the Modern Enterprise: Application-Centric

Business Transformation is more than just an IT decision

Posted on February 28, 2023February 28, 2023 by Marbenz Antonio

Five reasons why digital transformation is essential for business growth | IT PRO

According to a recent Raconteur article, the new IT plays a crucial role in the process of business transformation, which encompasses various tools such as cloud services, ERP software, CRM platforms, data lakes, and HR management tools. However, an organization needs to determine the appropriate IT to purchase and find ways to maintain a prosperous transformation beyond acquiring new hardware and software.

Initially, it is important to comprehend the concept of transformation. This involves identifying the destination for your business, determining the objective, and ascertaining if you help to expand. Scaling the organization as a whole is often a prerequisite for growth, which may necessitate adopting various technologies, in addition to hiring suitable personnel to assist with scaling efforts.

Currently, the process of transformation typically involves upgrading the methods used by IT to support a business. This involves shifting away from traditional in-house IT support towards outsourced cloud computing. Nonetheless, transitioning from server-based IT to cloud services could potentially result in exorbitant expenses to attain a “Rolls Royce” level of quality, whereas opting for a cheaper service may be more affordable but compromise on quality.

Normally, a business ought to possess a roadmap and a comprehensive comprehension of how the IT function, and the business will collaborate to implement novel technologies. This will be integrated into a business plan for the upcoming one to five years, which should contemplate how to scale the business, whether gradually or more ambitiously.

In the end, it is imperative to have honest discussions within your organization to ascertain what is genuinely necessary. Otherwise, you may fall into the trap of purchasing the latest “shiny new thing,” whether it is required or not. Developing a well-structured plan entails outlining all the essential elements and incorporating risk assessments to prepare for any potential complications.

The risks of relying on new technology alone to deliver business transformation

The majority of transformations are not without issues, particularly when they involve resolving challenging problems or unanticipated circumstances. Whenever you introduce new elements, specially customized configurations, it is essential to anticipate that something may go wrong. Therefore, it is critical to have monitoring systems in place to detect and manage any issues that may arise. You must also decide whether to rely on the in-house IT team to resolve these issues or to engage an outsourced service provider.

As part of the transformation process, you must consider who will be responsible for supporting the technology, along with governance and training for users. Additionally, you need to identify a liaison point who will communicate with any external support provider.

Sustaining a transformation – operations and culture

The Raconteur article briefly acknowledges the significance of considering the operational and cultural aspects of a planned transformation. However, what does this entail in practice when it comes to maintaining a successful transformation?

Undoubtedly, unexpected challenges will arise during any transformation. Therefore, it is crucial to have adequate personnel and processes in place, with a clearly defined support model that encompasses updates and upgrades. All these aspects should be systematically documented, including any associated costs or training requirements.

It is logical to have individuals who possess a deep understanding of the problems at hand and can effectively communicate with external support services regarding technical matters. It is crucial to comprehend the nature of their proposals and how much they will cost.

The ITIL 4 framework includes an entire section dedicated to service operations, with several elements of best practice guidelines that can assist in implementing transformational change within your organization.

An important component of this process is cultural adoption and the effective utilization of technology. As you introduce new technology, it is essential to establish user groups or communities that can provide feedback throughout the process. This approach allows you to incorporate feedback into future changes and engage more users. Ideally, this should address their primary concern of “what’s in it for me?”.

Failing to do so will result in negative experiences, which can cause people to lose interest and resist adopting new technology and workflows. It is crucial to bring people along on this journey, and approaches such as organizational change management within ITIL 4 offers a framework for helping individuals navigate change. Neglecting this aspect is, in my opinion, one of the most significant missed opportunities in business transformation.

A place to start with transformation

If you are creating an agenda for the beginning of a business transformation program, what key items should be included?

  1. Develop a comprehensive checklist of required items, including technology.
  2. Design a communication and outreach strategy to inform stakeholders of the upcoming changes, the rationale, the timeline, and how they will benefit.
  3. Create a plan for managing adoption and facilitating organizational change.

It’s important to keep in mind that transformation and modernization are ongoing processes. It’s never a one-time event, and even while maintaining current operations, you need to anticipate what’s next in terms of technology and the future of your organization.

 


Here at CourseMonster, we know how hard it may be to find the right time and funds for training. We provide effective training programs that enable you to select the training option that best meets the demands of your company.

For more information, please get in touch with one of our course advisers today or contact us at training@coursemonster.com

Posted in Agile, DevOps, ITIL 4, PRINCE2Tagged #Agile, DevOps, ITIL, ITIL 4, PRINCE2Leave a Comment on Business Transformation is more than just an IT decision

Building a Skills Required and Managing Digital Change

Posted on February 28, 2023 by Marbenz Antonio

5 Ideas for Developing Real-World Thinking Skills

An essential component of any digital transformation plan involves utilizing advanced tools for data management, analysis, and interpretation.

The significance of this lies in the fact that having a comprehensive understanding of data can enable organizations to achieve greater levels of efficiency. However, achieving this objective necessitates dedicating more time to utilizing data for making informed business decisions, which is not always the norm.

Usually, most of a team’s time and energy is spent on tasks related to collecting, refining, modifying, and analyzing data to determine its usefulness. This results in significant labor-intensive work that contributes little to no value.

A change in behavior is required to shift an organization’s approach towards a more business-oriented use of data, with a greater emphasis on achieving desired outcomes and reaping benefits, rather than simply producing outputs. It is only when data is leveraged intelligently that it can have a transformative impact.

An instance of benefits realization within this organization pertains to the payment collection process for the electricity it generates. In the past, this process was often time-consuming and could take over a month to raise a payment claim with a company. However, leveraging a deeper understanding of data allows the organization to track power generation in real-time and automate the payment claim process. This has led to a significant increase in efficiency, eliminating the need for hundreds of man-hours.

What are the skills required to implement such changes within organizations?

Developing the right skills

In addition to possessing data and machine learning engineering skills, organizations require individuals with expertise in change management.

An important aspect of this process involves training ourselves to ask the appropriate questions. For instance, in digital transformation, instead of inquiring about what people want (which usually centers on present needs rather than those required for a transformed future), they have learned to comprehend the tasks they perform. Their needs, and subsequently suggest suitable solutions.

Acquiring the skills necessary for achieving this objective requires a focus on continuous improvement, which can be gleaned from various best practice sources.

  1. PRINCE2 for the overall roadmap – The classic project management approach offered by PRINCE2, along with its association with program management, continues to be one of the most effective means of communicating with senior management regarding our initiatives.
  2. PRINCE2 Agile – understanding the agile world – Suppose your organization, like theirs, is transitioning towards a fully agile approach to software or product delivery, utilizing methodologies such as Scrum. In that case, PRINCE2 Agile can assist in managing ideas in a more sequential manner before engaging agile teams for development. This involves implementing two-week sprints, daily stand-ups, and a meeting every two weeks to review the roadmap with various individuals in the team.
  3. ITIL 4 and digital strategy – ITIL 4 has proven to be highly valuable in assisting me in devising a digital strategy. As the Head of AI Implementation, comprehending how digital strategy translates into practical implementation is critical for my role.
    How does collaboration between individuals possessing varying skills to work? In their organization, the majority of individuals do not necessarily require a deep understanding of the agile framework. Instead, they can approach these activities from a project perspective without needing to be directly involved with the framework.
    Pure developers must comprehend the broad business objectives but can concentrate solely on agile development without engaging in the planning of the roadmap.

A blended approach to best practice

In contemporary times, it is an inescapable truth that organizations undergoing digital transformation require appropriate tools for the job, necessitating the integration of diverse sets of best practice skills into their firms. This, in turn, gives rise to new breeds of individuals possessing innovative approaches and occupying novel roles.

Effective communication is also an important aspect of this process. Right from the commencement of a transformation, it entails fostering closer relationships with people and inspiring them about the anticipated changes.

Leveraging data for facilitating transformation, which may encompass machines and artificial intelligence, should not merely be restricted to the composition of computer code but should instead be viewed as a journey of progress that people must actively participate in and feel enthusiastic about.

 


Here at CourseMonster, we know how hard it may be to find the right time and funds for training. We provide effective training programs that enable you to select the training option that best meets the demands of your company.

For more information, please get in touch with one of our course advisers today or contact us at training@coursemonster.com

Posted in Agile, DevOps, ITIL 4, Lean, PRINCE2Tagged #Agile, #AgilePM, ITIL, ITIL 4, Lean, PRINCE2Leave a Comment on Building a Skills Required and Managing Digital Change

The Challenges of Securing Our Digital World Today

Posted on February 22, 2023February 22, 2023 by Marbenz Antonio

Action Plan 2023 - Internet Society

Is it possible for an organization to achieve complete protection against cyberattacks? Former US FBI Director Robert Mueller’s statement that “There are only two types of companies: those that have been hacked and those that will be” suggests otherwise. No organization can guarantee complete immunity from cyberattacks, and even if an attack has not yet occurred, it is probable that it will in the future. Furthermore, companies that have already experienced a hack may not become aware of it right away.

The detection of data breaches in 2021 took an average of 287 days, indicating that many organizations struggle with identifying complex cyberattacks and crimes.

In light of the contemporary cybersecurity landscape, it is crucial to establish strong governance, possesses a comprehensive understanding of cybersecurity, and foster a culture of awareness regarding cybersecurity. These measures are necessary to promptly detect and effectively manage cyber risks.

From Good Governance to Good Cybersecurity

The significance of effective IT/cybersecurity governance and leadership in achieving robust cybersecurity cannot be ignored. To establish such governance, organizations can refer to various models, frameworks, and standards such as the US National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), the US Federal Financial Institutions Examinations Council (FFIEC) Cybersecurity Assessment Tool, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard ISO 27000, and COBIT®. These resources outline the responsibilities of top management, highlight the importance of aligning IT strategies with organizational objectives, emphasize the significance of management support, underscore the need for preparedness to face IT and cybersecurity challenges, and stress the importance of effective IT risk management and reporting. Established organizations should have the flexibility to tailor these guidelines to fit their specific cybersecurity governance and management needs.

Cybersecurity vs. Information Security and Why it Matters

Some senior managers may not distinguish between information security and cybersecurity, which may result in a lack of recognition of the need to establish appropriate frameworks to handle challenges in both domains.

Although both cybersecurity and information security are grounded in the well-established confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA) triad, the majority of professionals tend to use the term cybersecurity even when referring to what is technically information security. Cybersecurity entails mitigating risks that jeopardize digital assets such as data or spreads through digital channels such as the internet. On the other hand, information security deals with risks that threaten assets, including information. For instance, cybercriminals may pilfer data that does not inherently possess a logical meaning and, at first glance, may seem unusable. However, from a cybersecurity perspective, the data could still be utilized to plan or execute additional attacks.

Distinguishing between cybersecurity and information security is crucial in tackling emerging threats, such as the widespread use of diverse digital devices (e.g., computers, tablets, smartphones, smart devices, and Internet of Things devices) for delivering or accessing digital services, and the rapid shift to remote work spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Creating a Culture of Cybersecurity

Given that guaranteeing the CIA triad underpins both information security and cybersecurity, how can organizations ensure its implementation? While the people, process, and technology (PPT) framework may offer some assistance, what if we reversed its approach?

By reversing the PPT pyramid, the people aspect assumes the top position, and the stability of the pyramid hinges on the behavior of individuals (as illustrated in figure 1). As with cybersecurity, one misstep by an employee can severely compromise the pyramid’s stability. Hence, organizations should foster a cybersecurity culture by embracing the notion that everyone bears responsibility for cybersecurity. To this end, providing regular cybersecurity training, promptly identifying risks, and regularly assessing employees’ proficiency in their respective fields are vital measures.

Establishing and maintaining a cyber-resilient culture within organizations, and steering employees toward making informed decisions regarding cybersecurity requires effective leadership. Although it’s feasible to implement suitable hardware and software cybersecurity risk management solutions, the level of cybersecurity protection ultimately hinges on the awareness, attentiveness, and conduct of each employee.

Figure 1
Figure 1—Importance of Cyberculture

Everyone’s Responsibility

The topic of cybersecurity is complex. Spreading the idea that security is everyone’s responsibility can be one of the strongest mitigation strategies for organizations without a specialized cybersecurity team. Organizations must adhere to cybersecurity frameworks and best practices when executing this approach, and security awareness training that is thoughtfully created and enthusiastically delivered should be a bare minimum need.

 


Here at CourseMonster, we know how hard it may be to find the right time and funds for training. We provide effective training programs that enable you to select the training option that best meets the demands of your company.

For more information, please get in touch with one of our course advisers today or contact us at training@coursemonster.com

Posted in CybersecurityTagged cybersecurityLeave a Comment on The Challenges of Securing Our Digital World Today

Forecasting 2023: Three Major Predictions in the Year of Risk

Posted on February 22, 2023February 22, 2023 by Marbenz Antonio

Top 5 Cybersecurity Predictions for 2023

As 2023 draws near, it’s only natural to reflect on the most significant security events of the current year and speculate on their potential impact in the coming year. The past two years have demonstrated that despite the advancements in data gathering, automated compliance operations, and SaaS technology, our world remains complicated and unpredictable.

Risk modeling professionals and analytics experts understand that we cannot accurately predict or completely control the world, but it’s crucial to prepare for the potential threats and opportunities that the upcoming year may bring. Below are three crucial risk management forecasts for 2023 that will significantly impact the risk management sector.

1. Internal assessments will become more important as security breaches hit the news

In 2022, cybersecurity breaches have been a widely discussed subject, with numerous notable instances gaining national attention. One such instance involves Joe Sullivan, who was in charge of security at Uber and was recently convicted of intentionally concealing a breach of customer and driver data from government regulators.

More specifically, Uber’s bug bounty program is currently facing criticism, and regulators are closely scrutinizing the ride-sharing behemoth’s practice of compensating “white hat” researchers up to $10,000 for identifying security flaws. This case has already triggered a transformation in how security experts approach data breaches, and its far-reaching impact is expected to extend into 2023.

Another recent incident that garnered attention was the FTC’s move to take action against Drizly, a company, and its CEO, Cory Rellas, for cybersecurity breaches that impacted more than 2.5 million customers. Noteworthy is that the FTC specifically singled out and penalized Rellas – a departure from their typical approach. This change in approach could signify a broader shift toward stricter enforcement by the FTC, particularly for entities that lack sufficient measures to secure and manage consumer data.

Lastly, Twitter came under scrutiny when Peiter “Mudge” Zatko, a former head of security and whistleblower, filed an 84-page complaint against the social media company. The complaint contained allegations of a wide range of cybersecurity deficiencies, including:

  • Poor access controls left the company in violation of a consent decree with regulators
  • Ill-defined roles and responsibilities for cybersecurity
  • An inability to segregate different types of data

To say the least, these accusations were not received well, particularly given Twitter’s recent challenges since Elon Musk’s acquisition of the company in October 2022. The company’s Chief Privacy Officer, CISO, and Chief Compliance Officer have all left their positions, and the FTC is closely monitoring the tech giant. As a result of the turmoil, numerous individuals are now resigning from Twitter en masse.

A key takeaway from these incidents is the significance of conducting thorough internal assessments, as they are essential in identifying vulnerabilities in your security program and ensuring their remediation. In light of these major news stories and their real-time consequences, we anticipate a substantial surge in internal investigations with adversarial discovery in 2023. The ongoing turmoil at tech giants such as Twitter and Uber has led to significant layoffs, underscoring the profound business ramifications of cybersecurity breaches, particularly during times of economic instability.

2. Cryptocurrency regulation will quickly evolve

In light of FTX’s recent downfall and the resulting economic turmoil, cryptocurrency has become a prevalent topic, even for those with minimal knowledge of the subject. Retail investors are now hastily withdrawing their investments after the once-revered cryptocurrency company, which had an initial value of $32 billion, experienced a sudden and dramatic decline in value, causing substantial losses and ripple effects throughout the market.

John J. Ray, FTX’s newly appointed CEO following the departure of founder and CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, claims that the company attempted to conceal the misappropriation of customer funds. Ray, who has previously led the cleanup efforts at Enron, conducted an evaluation of FTX’s management practices and identified deficiencies in areas such as record-keeping, system integrity, regulatory compliance, and the experience levels of senior management.

John J. Ray, FTX’s newly appointed CEO following the departure of founder and CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, claims that the company attempted to conceal the misappropriation of customer funds. Ray, who has previously led the cleanup efforts at Enron, conducted an evaluation of FTX’s management practices and identified deficiencies in areas such as record-keeping, system integrity, regulatory compliance, and the experience levels of senior management.

As if the existing security and compliance concerns were not enough to raise alarms for professionals and regulatory bodies, FTX’s problems were compounded when, just hours after filing for bankruptcy, the company reported “unauthorized transactions,” leading external analysts to suspect that the company had lost approximately $477 million in a possible hacking incident.

What are the implications of FTX’s collapse for security, compliance, and risk professionals? For starters, FTX customers may not be able to recover their assets, which could result in legal action. This type of legal battle could prompt regulatory bodies to reconsider how they monitor cryptocurrency. For example, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) may view FTX’s collapse as justification for increased regulations on digital tokens and exchanges, and Congress may be more likely to pass new regulatory laws as a result.

The cryptocurrency market’s volatility and its emergence as a new frontier of economic trade have exposed regulatory and security gaps that governing bodies are still grappling with, and we anticipate the emergence of new discussions and a surge in crypto regulation in 2023.

3. SMBs will have to increase security control monitoring to avoid cyber attacks

Smaller businesses are at a higher risk of being targeted by cyberattacks, but what makes them more vulnerable? In short, they lack the financial resources to effectively counter ransomware attacks, which is why they are attractive targets for malicious actors. For instance, multi-factor authentication has gone from being optional to being essential in the past couple of years due to the pandemic, which has caused an increase in remote work and more precarious security settings.

The implementation of additional security controls requires additional maintenance processes, which results in more manual work for IT security professionals. For instance, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) must convert GDPR compliance requirements into actionable breach notification controls or rapidly locate CIS Control Group 3 to assist with data disposal.

To prepare for applications and renewals of their cyber insurance policies, professionals in IT, security, and risk management will need to improve their evidence collection and organization. They may also want to consider using a tool that links risks to controls, helping them determine the amount of coverage they require.

Prepare for 2023 and beyond

As we navigate the uncertain road ahead, one thing is clear: automating manual processes for risk management and compliance operations will be crucial for adapting to the changes ahead. The upcoming year will bring more cybersecurity audits, new crypto regulations, and greater control management, leading to heavier workloads for IT security professionals.

Organizations seeking to integrate risk management and compliance operations can prepare for the anticipated changes by exploring new tools that can simplify workflows. Adopting the right tools that enable evidence, control, and risk management in a single platform can help security and compliance teams concentrate on adapting to upcoming regulatory changes and ensuring the safety and security of the organization.

 


Here at CourseMonster, we know how hard it may be to find the right time and funds for training. We provide effective training programs that enable you to select the training option that best meets the demands of your company.

For more information, please get in touch with one of our course advisers today or contact us at training@coursemonster.com

Posted in UncategorizedLeave a Comment on Forecasting 2023: Three Major Predictions in the Year of Risk

The Following Five Advantages of IT Certification can be Overlooked

Posted on February 22, 2023February 22, 2023 by Marbenz Antonio

5 best web design certifications to boost your skills

The importance of IT certifications is still a widely debated topic within IT, digital trust, and related industries. With an increasing number of certifications covering a diverse range of topics, aspiring professionals in the field often wonder if they should pursue an IT certification and what are the reasons behind it.

IT professionals often discuss the various advantages of earning an IT certification, which is well-known and widely recognized. However, there are some lesser-known benefits that are not often mentioned. In this blog post, ISACA Now will delve into five frequently overlooked benefits that IT certifications offer to both individuals and their employers.

What are the benefits of IT certification?

Before we explore the less recognized advantages, let’s review some fundamental aspects of the value of certifications. IT certifications offer numerous benefits, including several well-established advantages, such as:

  1. Knowledge – Whether you are interested in general, technical, specialized, or executive areas of digital trust, cybersecurity, privacy, risk, audit, governance, or any other related IT field, earning an IT certification is an ideal way to develop a strong foundation of knowledge or build upon your existing skills. Even if you already possess industry experience and expertise, obtaining a certification can help you expand your knowledge base, stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends and information, and further enhance your capabilities.
  2. Validation – Once you have acquired the knowledge and skills, IT certifications provide a convenient way to demonstrate your expertise to your colleagues, industry peers, and prospective employers. Adding certification abbreviations after your name on your LinkedIn profile and CV indicates that you have invested your time and effort into earning a valuable credential. IT certifications serve as recognized accomplishments that showcase your commitment to your field of expertise and validate your proficiency.
  3. Marketability – In today’s highly competitive job market, especially for security and digital trust professionals, IT certifications can set you apart from other job candidates. In-demand certifications give you a competitive advantage by highlighting your dedication to your profession and ongoing learning. Moreover, employers can have confidence in your skills and expertise as certifications establish a clear framework of topics, applications, labs, and exams that candidates must successfully complete to demonstrate their proficiency.
  4. Credibility – Having the endorsement of a well-respected organization lends credibility to your expertise and contributions to the industry. Your colleagues, coworkers, and employers will acknowledge the value of your input and work, knowing that it comes from a position of validated knowledge and experience. This recognition enhances your professional reputation and strengthens the legitimacy of your influence in the field.
  5. Earning – IT certifications can unlock new job opportunities that require certification, prepare you to qualify for managerial or executive positions, and potentially increase your earnings in roles where specific certifications are highly valued. Certifications not only enable entry- and mid-level professionals to advance in their careers, but they also provide established professionals with the opportunity to transition into positions that may be challenging to attain without the appropriate credentials.

Which benefits of IT certification are overlooked?

Although many advantages of IT certification are widely known and discussed, others are less apparent and may require additional effort on your part. However, these benefits are often highly valuable and worth pursuing. Some advantages extend beyond your personal career development and can benefit your employer and organization as a whole.

Here are five often-unnoticed advantages of earning an IT certification:

For you,

  1. Building a case for promotion – Asking for a promotion can be daunting, but having a strong case for yourself can boost your professional self-assurance and bolster your candidacy for the desired position. IT certifications can serve as concrete and measurable evidence of your relevant abilities and credentials for the next level in your career. Your superiors can acknowledge the effort you’re making to enhance your work and educate yourself with current resources, as well as expand your expertise in your area of specialization.
  2. Expanding your professional network – Earning a particular certification provides you with a shared language with other certified professionals in your industry, which can help foster new relationships. You effectively become a member of a community of professionals who have obtained the same credential, which expands your professional network. Whether you attend an industry event, such as a conference, participate in a conversation on an online forum like Engage’s certification communities, or simply chat with a colleague at work, sharing an IT certification not only provides you with the knowledge to exchange with others, but also offers a starting point for conversations. While earning your certification, you will gain a great deal of knowledge, but you may also gain just as much by conversing with your peers about it.
  3. Achieving professional and personal goals – Achieving goals is often easier said than done, and it can be challenging to stay on track without a practical and realistic plan of action. Pursuing an IT certification provides you with a concrete step towards expanding your industry knowledge, advancing your skill sets, pursuing executive roles, or even transitioning to a new field. This can be particularly helpful when working towards personal goals, such as learning a new topic or honing existing skills. By earning an IT certification, you can demonstrate tangible evidence of your efforts toward achieving your goals. Whether you are looking to further your education or to rededicate yourself to your craft, IT certifications offer practical proof of your commitment to personal growth and development.

    For your employee,

  4. Increasing job retention – During times of economic uncertainty, it is crucial to retain essential talent in a business. Investing in employees’ skills and knowledge is mutually beneficial for both the employee and the business’s future. As noted by ISACA Board Director Rob Clyde in an article for Infosecurity, cutting budgets in areas such as training, certifications, and high-impact security tools may be tempting for security leaders. However, this can lead to the loss of security professionals who will remain in high demand, and if not provided with the necessary resources and professional development opportunities to succeed, they may leave for a competitor.
  5. Accessing partner programs – To qualify for participation in specific partner programs, such as Google Cloud’s Partner Advantage, companies must maintain a certain number of certified employees with their partner organization. Meeting this requirement enables the company to continue receiving the advantages of their partner organization’s services, while also allowing employees to further develop their abilities and knowledge by obtaining and keeping such certifications. Moreover, this extends beyond the employees and organizations to customers and other professionals who interact and conduct business with them.

IT certifications offer a multitude of advantages for individuals, organizations, and industry peers. These include enhanced knowledge, validation, marketability, credibility, and earning potential, as well as access to promotions, a broader network, achievements, job security, and partner programs. Despite these many benefits, some of them are often overlooked. With the ongoing development and improvement of certifications, you have the chance to improve your education, skills, and commitment to your field.

 


Here at CourseMonster, we know how hard it may be to find the right time and funds for training. We provide effective training programs that enable you to select the training option that best meets the demands of your company.

For more information, please get in touch with one of our course advisers today or contact us at training@coursemonster.com

Posted in UncategorizedLeave a Comment on The Following Five Advantages of IT Certification can be Overlooked

Effective Risk Management for Agile Projects

Posted on February 22, 2023 by Marbenz Antonio

Tout savoir sur le risk management en entreprise à La Réunion

Enterprises are embracing digital transformation, incorporating emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, and devising novel ways to offer their products and services in a more efficient manner to succeed in the post-pandemic landscape. To achieve their goal of digital acceleration, which is to reduce the lead time to market, many enterprises are adopting Agile approaches for their business, technology, and process-oriented projects. Agile projects typically involve small, agile teams that work in short cycles called “sprints,” lasting usually two weeks, to develop and deploy solutions. The objective is to quickly implement changes in technology and business and to facilitate a faster time-to-market for products and services.

With the adoption of Agile methodologies, enterprises must reconsider their control functions, such as risk management, to keep up with the more frequent release cycles and build the ability to provide prompt advice to risk owners. To address this requirement, an Agile risk management process combines project and enterprise risk management practices with Agile methodologies to establish a flexible, risk-based approach to project delivery. This process enables enterprises to determine which risks can be tolerated in pursuit of digital acceleration while taking into account their risk appetite and tolerance thresholds. The aim is to assist enterprises in making informed decisions by integrating risk management into Agile delivery processes and creating a risk-driven culture.

What is Agile Project Delivery?

Agile project delivery employs a collaborative, iterative approach to project management that prioritizes the prompt and incremental delivery of a solution and emphasizes the business value and progress transparency. Instead of creating rigid schedules and tasks, Agile divides time into sprints, which are defined periods (typically lasting between one to four weeks) during which specific deliverables are planned and executed. These deliverables are determined based on a running list of requirements, which is planned one sprint in advance.

Before commencing the sprint cycle, the product owner solicits input from stakeholders to identify the objective for the solution and prioritizes the product backlog (as shown in Figure 1). During sprint planning, the developers select prioritized features from the product backlog, determine how to accomplish the sprint, establish a deadline for completion, and create a sprint backlog. Throughout the sprint cycle, the team conducts daily scrum meetings to monitor progress toward the sprint goal, discuss obstacles, and plan for the following day. The sprint concludes with a potentially shippable solution that is prepared for customer review and use. The team then conducts a sprint review of the finished solution and a retrospective analysis of the completed sprint cycle, utilizing insights gained to inform the subsequent sprint cycle. This process repeats itself with a sprint planning session to devise the next incremental solution.

‘A COBIT 2019 Use Case: Financial Institutions in Georgia
Figure 1 – Agile Risk Management Process

In Agile project delivery, the scrum team relies on frequent planning, objective-setting, and feedback loops to concentrate on the sprint’s objectives, ultimately leading to improved productivity, quality, and customer satisfaction.

What Is the Role of Risk Management for Agile Projects?

According to the 2020 Standish Group Chaos Study, Agile software projects have a threefold greater likelihood of succeeding than Waterfall, while Waterfall software projects are twice as likely to fail. Nonetheless, it is crucial to recognize that “Agile is not a cure-all.” The necessity for organizational agility has not removed the need to handle uncertainty, which is commonly referred to as risk.

According to ISACA, the risk is defined as “the likelihood and impact of an event,” which encompasses both opportunities for benefit (upside) and obstacles to success (downside). Risk and opportunity are interrelated. To deliver business value to stakeholders, enterprises must undertake numerous activities and initiatives (opportunities) that involve varying degrees of uncertainty and, as a result, risk. In Agile project delivery, it is necessary to examine this risk assessment to determine which risks are worth pursuing and what value can be anticipated in return.

How Is Risk Managed in Agile Projects?

The agile methodology does not provide a universal definition of risk or a standardized approach to risk management. As pointed out by project management expert Roland Wanner, “the Scrum Guide does not explicitly address risk management, except for these brief references.”

  • The incremental approach with sprints reduces risk.
  • Sprints increase predictability and limit cost risk to a maximum of one month.
  • Constant “Artifact Transparency” helps optimize (business) value and reduce risk.”

Despite the lack of explicit guidance on risk management, Agile methodology is described as risk-driven, and its implicit practices lend themselves to an adaptive style of risk management. For example, the flexibility of sprint planning is a response to uncertainty, allowing teams to tackle small portions at a time in order to ultimately deliver the completed solution.

Risk Management Limitations with Agile Project Delivery

While Agile methodology is naturally equipped to handle certain risks that arise during the sprint cycle, it is not the only type of risk that may occur throughout a project’s duration. In larger organizations, there may be additional risks related to the external, organizational, and project environments, such as corporate reputation, project financing, user acceptance of business changes, and regulatory compliance. Most Agile literature focuses on risks at the sprint level and does not address the management of this type of project risk.

A recent solution to address this challenge is to implement an Agile risk management process that customizes Agile methodologies to integrate project and enterprise risk management practices according to the specific risk context of the project, such as its size, complexity, and strategic significance.

What is Agile Risk Management?

The Agile risk management process, as illustrated in Figure 2, is a flexible and recurring cycle that is implemented per sprint, allowing for customization during the “setting context” stage to determine suitable project and enterprise risk management strategies to handle risk factors at the project level (e.g., project financing) and sprint level (e.g., meeting deadlines).

‘A COBIT 2019 Use Case: Financial Institutions in Georgia
Figure 2 – Agile Risk Management Process

Although the two levels, project, and sprint, may appear distinct, they function cooperatively during project execution. The scrum framework implements its practices, such as roles, events, and artifacts, to identify and alleviate risk throughout the project and sprint cycles. The Agile risk management process endorses these practices by tailoring them to the risk context, thus supporting the scrum framework.

1. Setting Context Step

To establish the risk context, the project team discusses risk during the project kickoff and at the start of each sprint. At the outset of the project, stakeholders, including the project team, customers, and subject matter experts, come together in a workshop setting to identify risks associated with the overall project and known requirements. These risks are evaluated by the stakeholders, who then decide on a course of action. To illustrate, the sprint cycle typically begins by addressing requirements with the highest level of risk, following the adage “Fail early; fail fast; fail cheaply.” A risk register is established for both project and sprint risks and is continuously updated throughout the project at various points in the sprint cycles.

2. Risk Assessment Steps – Identify, Analyze, and Determine

During the sprint planning meeting at the start of the cycle, the project team evaluates the risk associated with each requirement in the product backlog, as well as any new risk that may have arisen, and devises appropriate response plans. This process allows the team to identify potential risks and take planned actions, such as pinpointing features from the sprint planning session that present technical challenges without any clear solutions. The team may also opt to perform an architectural spike, or proof-of-concept, during the sprint in order to explore viable solutions.

3. Implementing Risk Response

When selecting items for the sprint backlog, the team takes into account the risks associated with each item, ensuring that the sprint can be delivered successfully while incorporating risk response tasks. One important outcome of this process is the updating of the product backlog to include risk activities related to product feature requirements. This ensures that future sprint cycles will include these risk tasks in their effort estimation and sprint backlog items.

4.  Monitoring Risk

There exist various scrum events and artifacts that aid in monitoring risks, such as:

  • Risk management is integrated into the daily stand-up scrum meeting, where the team discusses the progress of deliverables and identifies any potential risks that may arise.
  • The sprint review serves as a platform to confirm whether the solution aligns with stakeholder expectations. During this event, stakeholders can discuss any required solution modifications to address new business needs, which helps minimize the risk of delivering an unsatisfactory solution at the end of the project.
  • During sprint retrospectives, the project team examines any challenges encountered in the previous sprint and evaluates whether those challenges could pose a risk to the project and sprint levels.

To ensure successful Agile risk management, it is important to have a shared understanding of its significance and a collective dedication to the approach within the project team. Agile adopts a collaborative decision-making structure that necessitates active participation and the exchange of information among all team members regarding the association between solution requirements, risks, and opportunities. Risk ownership serves as the fundamental principle for Agile risk management.

Rethinking Control Functions

As organizations embrace Agile methodologies to realize their strategic goals through digital acceleration, they must re-evaluate their control functions, including risk management, to keep up with the frequent release cycles and build capabilities to advise risk owners in near real-time. To address this business need, an Agile risk management process can be employed, which incorporates best practices from project management and enterprise risk management with Agile methodologies to meet the demands for organizational agility.

 


Here at CourseMonster, we know how hard it may be to find the right time and funds for training. We provide effective training programs that enable you to select the training option that best meets the demands of your company.

For more information, please get in touch with one of our course advisers today or contact us at training@coursemonster.com

Posted in AgileTagged #AgileLeave a Comment on Effective Risk Management for Agile Projects

How Microsoft Endpoint Manager Can Reduce Your Need on Servers

Posted on February 21, 2023February 21, 2023 by Marbenz Antonio

What Is Microsoft Endpoint And Why Your Business Needs It - Micro Pro

What if we told you that your company could do away with on-premises servers for just $8 per employee, per month? That may be true for companies that already use Microsoft 365.

Depending on your requirements, renting a server will probably set you back some hundred dollars each month. A server may have cost thousands of dollars, but upkeep still costs hundreds.

The timing is now more than ever to completely move to the cloud.

That is, switching to the cloud will lead to monthly cost savings. Yet, those care costs fall short of fully recouping the actual cost of switching to the cloud.

Organizations can improve their cybersecurity using Microsoft Endpoint Management, enhance onboarding, and cut downtime for repetitive operations. Intune and Autopilot are two tools that help with this.

For companies adopting Microsoft 365, Microsoft Endpoint Manager is the first step toward a hybrid cloud. Ideally, your company will soon make a full transition to the cloud.

What is Microsoft Endpoint Manager?

Endpoint Manager, which combines Endpoint Configuration Manager and Microsoft Intune, is Microsoft’s unified device-management platform with a focus on endpoint security and “intelligent cloud actions.”

As a result of Intune’s success, Microsoft integrated it into a new platform. Endpoint Management aids businesses in securing and utilizing their cloud. Manage users, apps, and devices in a single location after deployment.

Configuration Manager and Intune are the two consoles that make up the platform. The former looks after clients and infrastructure that are on-site. The cloud-native management of software and devices is handled by Intune.

What is Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager?

The on-premises device management platform from Microsoft is called Endpoint Configuration Manager. Configuration Manager aids in the internal application, update, and full image deployment for on-premises devices and servers.

By automating boring activities, Configuration Manager enables businesses to maximize the use of their infrastructure and software. Active Directory is also used to improve organizational security through user management.

Configuration Manager abstracts hours of customization and restoration by producing a preset image to deploy to new devices. You are prepared to use a new device as soon as you set it up.

What is Microsoft Intune?

A graphic showing connected devices to Microsoft Intune

The mobile device management (MDM) and mobile application management (MAM) platform from Microsoft is called Intune. Unlike Configuration Manager’s emphasis on an on-premises deployment, Intune is a cloud-based management platform.

Access control for mobile devices like laptops and smartphones is made easier with the aid of Intune. This helps in limiting which personnel has access to what data. You can add additional security safeguards to non-company-owned devices using Intune.

Intune deploys full images to new devices, much like Configuration Manager does. Since it uses the cloud, devices may be accessed remotely and efficiently.

With identity and endpoint control through the cloud, Intune also adds more security. Businesses don’t need to employ an on-premises server because of its interaction with Azure Active Directory.

Organizations can combine their on-premises servers with the Azure cloud by using Azure sync. The ideal situation would result in a hybrid cloud.

What is Intune company portal?

Employees of companies that use Endpoint Management can securely access company resources through the Microsoft Intune company portal app.

Office apps, email, and OneDrive may all be accessed through the app by users whose company accounts have been enrolled in Intune. The enterprise portal can be used for single sign-on (SSO), which improves security across all apps.

How to enroll a device in Intune

Use a company account to go into the company portal and enroll a device in Intune. The portal will lead you through configuring your device and connecting to your company after you’ve signed in.

Co-Management with Endpoint Configuration Manager and Intune

Organizations may co-manage their environment with Configuration Manager and Intune to make the most of Endpoint Manager.

However, the only advantage of using simply Intune is the capacity for conventional operating system deployment. Wiping a device and loading the OS through a disk are both functions of Configuration Manager.

Organizations lose advanced security features like Advanced Threat Prevention and risk-based access management without Intune (ATP). Moreover, auto-provisioning through autopilot is impossible with Configuration Manager.

What are the benefits of Microsoft Endpoint Manager?

The use of Microsoft Endpoint Manager has many overall advantages. They will only discuss how it helps avoid the need for servers in this post.

Endpoint Security

First, Endpoint Manager helps with endpoint security all around the whole. Your most sensitive data or applications are only accessible to those who need them thanks to Conditional Access App Control via Azure Active Directory.

Conditional access controls can be configured for devices that access your cloud, as well as the apps that exist there.

Endpoint Manager can now enforce security policies, install your standard compliance standards, and impose access restrictions on vulnerable or non-corporately owned devices by registering devices with Azure AD.

Endpoint Manager products assist you in making sure that registered devices adhere to security standards. Only devices that are compliant, linked to your domain, and managed by Intune should be given access to the cloud.

When available, Intune will also roll out security upgrades to your devices. Your devices will instantly receive an update after a vulnerability has been fixed. There is no time to lose while fixes for known vulnerabilities are available.

Companies that purchase E3 licenses for access to Endpoint Manager also receive ATP.

Zero-Touch Deployment

With Intune and Autopilot, Endpoint Manager can automatically upload programs and settings to both new and existing devices. Zero-Touch Deployment is the term used for this.

As an example, let’s say your company hires a new remote worker. You are delivering a computer to their home office, but in order for it to be legal, your company regulations must be installed on it.

As soon as the device is registered with your cloud and Endpoint Manager, your settings using Intune and Autopilot go into effect. Even pre-shipment may be included in that.

As a result, there is no need to mail the device to your main office or IT team for configuration before sending it to the newly hired employee. All of the stuff is taken care of by Autopilot, so your new employee is prepared to work from day one.

Central Control Management

You can manage everything inside your cloud thanks to Endpoint Manager, which keeps everything in one location. Your wireless networks are managed.

Using Intune, you may add a profile to a group of users in your business, include settings that connect directly to your preferred Wi-Fi network, and then distribute built-in Wi-Fi settings to joined devices.

In this way, you can never be concerned about users connecting to a weak network. Only the ones you have created or selected.

How Endpoint Manager Takes You to the Cloud Exclusively

So, Endpoint Manager’s advantages are evident. But how can you access a magical, serverless place with those features?

Users who are already using Microsoft 365 for your business can access both your on-premises server and the cloud together.

User profiles that are managed by M365 are kept on Azure. These profiles are collected from the cloud and delivered to your server for your on-premise endpoints.

If you have distant users or individuals who are using personal devices, this could become a problem.

You are most likely using a virtual private network for remote user security (VPN). The cloud profile password will need to be updated if a remote user leaves for home and forgets it.

Unfortunately, they will also need to sign into the VPN with the same profile to sync it with the on-premises server they are trying to connect to.

The passwords for accessing the VPN and for changing the VPN password will not be the same, which means that if you forget the former, you’ll still need to remember it to update the latter. Additionally, changing your VPN password should only require an internet connection, not an internet connection and access to the VPN.

Endpoint Manager allows your devices to connect to your cloud environment through Azure AD, instead of requiring your profiles to first join M365 in the cloud and then sync with an on-premise server.

Because the device is registered in the cloud, any changes made to it are immediately updated and deployed back to the device. There’s no need for a separate server to serve information to the device since everything is already managed through Azure. As a result, there’s no need for a VPN to facilitate user-related changes.

By configuring policies in Endpoint Manager, information exchange is consistently secured, and the risk of data being sent to a compromised machine is eliminated.

For just $8 per user per month, you can shift your devices from the on-premises server to the cloud, leaving the server in the past where it belongs.

 


Here at CourseMonster, we know how hard it may be to find the right time and funds for training. We provide effective training programs that enable you to select the training option that best meets the demands of your company.

For more information, please get in touch with one of our course advisers today or contact us at training@coursemonster.com

Posted in MicrosoftTagged MicrosoftLeave a Comment on How Microsoft Endpoint Manager Can Reduce Your Need on Servers

The Best Plan for Most Businesses is Microsoft 365 Business Premium

Posted on February 21, 2023March 10, 2023 by Marbenz Antonio

The 5 best email hosting services for business in 2022 | Zapier

It is important for your organization to license the first 300 users under the Business Premium plan if you plan to use Microsoft 365. This particular plan offers exceptional cybersecurity features that cannot be found in any other M365 license, providing significant cost savings and peace of mind.

The surge in remote work has resulted in various gaps in organizational cybersecurity. However, despite these challenges, the trend of remote work is anticipated to continue growing without any signs of slowing down.

In the current scenario, ensuring the security of your organization’s perimeter is no longer enough. You need to strengthen the security measures for every remote employee, including their endpoint devices, other devices they use, and the data stored on each device, as well as the employees themselves.

The most efficient way to ensure protection is to have a robust defense system as close to the data as possible. This involves having top-notch security measures at the application layer, which starts with your cloud.

It is highly probable that your cloud and its functions are the most heavily utilized technology in your organization. Therefore, it is crucial to acknowledge that it should also be the most secure and well-protected.

A design depicting Microsoft 365 Business Premium vs E3

Microsoft 365 is a collection of applications that utilize the Azure cloud technology developed by Microsoft. This suite of applications is available in various plans tailored to meet the needs of home, business, and enterprise users, each offering different levels of pricing and features.

To illustrate, Microsoft 365 provides business plans such as Business Basic, Business Standard, and Business Premium, whereas enterprise plans include E1, E3, and E5. In addition, Microsoft has an Apps for a Business plan that offers its standard Office applications. These plans are available at different price points based on a per-user, per-month (user/month) fee structure with an annual subscription.

Microsoft 365 Business Premium Pricing

At the time of writing this post, Microsoft 365 Business Premium is priced at $22 per user per month. This fee has been recently increased from the previous rate of $20.

Microsoft 365 Business Premium Features

Microsoft 365 Business Premium offers excellent value for money, with several distinct features that set it apart. Although it may not have as many features as the high-end E5 plan, Business Premium is priced at only 39% of an E5 license.

Moreover, the features available in Business Premium are superior to those found in the lower-tier Business Standard plan and even outdo those in the higher-tier E3 plan, as we will delve into further.

To start with, Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes a comprehensive suite of productivity applications, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint Online, Planner, and Teams, among others. One of the standout features in Business Premium is Microsoft Intune, which is also available in M365 E3 and is a personal favorite of ours.

Microsoft 365 Business Premium also offers a 50 GB mailbox storage limit in Outlook, along with a 1 TB storage limit in OneDrive. Additionally, it includes Azure Information Protection, which encompasses Microsoft Purview Email Encryption.

Above all, Microsoft 365 Business Premium stands out for its advanced built-in cybersecurity features, which are not available in the adjacent plans. Let’s take a closer look at them:

Microsoft 365 Business Premium Security Features

With Microsoft 365 Business Premium, users can benefit from enterprise-level protection for both their data and themselves. This level of protection is not available in most other M365 plans, including the E3 plan, which is specifically designed for enterprises.

The majority of these features are included in both Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 (previously known as Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection) and Defender for Endpoint Plan 2 (previously known as Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection). Both of these defenders are integrated into Microsoft 365 Business Premium.

To begin with, Microsoft 365 Business Premium incorporates additional anti-phishing measures, such as user and domain impersonation intelligence, along with unusual character and sender alerts.

Microsoft 365 Business Premium also includes Safe Links and Attachments, a feature that checks potentially malicious data by subjecting it to a virtual environment. These capabilities provide coverage for Outlook, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams under Defender for O365 Plan 1.

All of these alerts are consolidated into real-time reporting that enables you to monitor the security of your environment.

Microsoft 365 Business Premium vs. Business Standard

When compared to Business Premium, Microsoft 365 Business Standard is simply a standard offering. Although the applications are available for use, they lack the advanced protection that Business Premium offers.

Business Standard doesn’t offer the security features that are typically expected by businesses as a standard.

Plan M365 Business Premium M365 Business Standard
Price per user, per month $22 $12.50
User limit 300 300
Outlook storage 50 GB 50 GB
OneDrive storage 1 TB 1 TB
Teams Yes Yes
SharePoint Yes Yes
Intune Yes No
eDiscovery Yes No
Azure AD Yes No
Anti-Phishing Yes No
Real-Time Reports Yes No
Safe Attachments Yes No
Safe Links Yes No
Single Sign-On (SSO) Yes No
Endpoint Analytics Yes No
Conditional Access Yes No
Multi-Factor Authentication Yes No

Business Standard will save you money but should cost you a lot of peace of mind because it costs $9.50 per user less per month than BP.

Keep in mind that it would take about 131 years to recoup the money you save with Business Standard at the average cost of a data breach ($4.24 million, per IBM).

Microsoft 365 Business Premium vs. E3

The seatbelts should function if you paid extra for a decent automobile, right?

Unfortunately, upgrading from Microsoft 365 Business Premium to Microsoft 365 E3 does not work like that (Not to be mistaken for Microsoft OFFICE 365 E3).

Only standard anti-phishing technologies, such as spoof intelligence, are included with E3. The remaining security measures are disregarded.

E3 license holders must acquire extra licenses for Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 ($2/mo) and Defender for Endpoint Plan 2 ($5/mo) in order to receive the same security capabilities as BP.

The price for a fully defended E3 license is just under twice as much as BP when combined with E3’s standard $36 per user/month fee.

Plan M365 Business Premium M365 E3
Price per user, per month $22 $36
User limit 300 Unlimited
Outlook storage 50 GB 100 GB
OneDrive storage 1 TB Unlimited
Teams Yes Yes
SharePoint Yes Yes
Intune Yes Yes
Endpoint Configuration Manager No Yes
Litigation Hold Yes Yes
eDiscovery Yes Yes
Credential Guard No Yes
App Locker No Yes
Azure AD Yes Yes
Azure AD Premium No Yes
Anti-Phishing Yes No
Real-Time Reports Yes No
Safe Attachments Yes No
Safe Links Yes No

As you can see, E3 offers some advantages, such as access to Azure Rights Management in the premium edition of Azure AD. The on-premises version of Intune, Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager, is also included in E3.

Defender for Endpoint Plan 1, which contains Block At First Sight, Endpoint Defender for Mac, Improved ASR, Tamper Protection, and Web Content Filtering, is included with E3 in terms of security. All are already included in Business Premium via Defender Antivirus, with the exception of Defender for Mac and Web Content Filtering.

Why is Business Premium the best option?

For small businesses with up to 300 employees, Microsoft 365 Business Premium is the best choice, to put it simply. Unfortunately, E3 and its required add-ons are the sole choices for every additional employee at 301 employees and above.

Business Premium offers the required security capabilities that are not present in either Business Standard or E3 for organizations with less than 300 users to license.

Businesses that need to license more than 300 users should do so by assigning Business Premium licenses to the first 300 users and additional enterprise licenses to those who want the extra capabilities.

 


Here at CourseMonster, we know how hard it may be to find the right time and funds for training. We provide effective training programs that enable you to select the training option that best meets the demands of your company.

For more information, please get in touch with one of our course advisers today or contact us at training@coursemonster.com

Posted in MicrosoftTagged MicrosoftLeave a Comment on The Best Plan for Most Businesses is Microsoft 365 Business Premium

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