(This post originally appeared on Forbes)
Here are five things in technology that happened this past week and how they affect your business. Did you miss them?
1— Want the phone with fastest internet in the U.S.? Don’t buy an iPhone.
A study conducted by OpenSignal found that Samsung devices download at 28Mbps, and iPhones at 20Mbps, making Samsung 8.2Mbps faster than iPhone downloads. The results are unexpected due to the fact that Apple only sells premium-priced phones, while Samsung’s models vary from premium to cheap. Priorities other than fast internet, such as facial recognition, camera innovation, long battery life, and application processors and graphics, appear to be what Apple is focusing on, according to OpenSignal. (Source: ZDNet)
Why this is important for your business:
Faster technology means more productive people. More productive people means more profits. Therefore, Samsung equals more profits?
2 — Google unveils advanced G Suite protection for high-risk employees.
At the New Tokyo summit this past week, Google announced their new protections for G Suite, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Cloud Identity customers. Admins in G Suite are now able to enroll high-risk employees in an advanced protection program, which will allow them to receive anomalous activity alerts automatically. “High risk” people are those that are more likely to be targeted for an online attack, such as IT administrators, CEOs and those who work in security-sensitive roles in finance and government. The program will require the use of two-factor authentication hardware keys as well as the ability to automatically block access to third-party apps. (Source: Engadget)
Why this is important for your business:
Don’t get too excited yet, friends. The features are only available in Japan, Canada, France and the UK. But we should be seeing them sometime soon here in the U.S. and I’m sure these features will be popular amongst by G Suite clients.
3 — HR tech startup TalentGuard snags $4M to help companies keep employees longer.
TalentGuard, a talent management SaaS (software-as-a-subscription), has raised $4 million and will use that funding to better engage with and coach employees. (Source: Crunch Base News)
Why this is important for your business:
TalentGuard is used mostly by big corporations. But the smartest small business owners I know are always keeping their eyes on what the big guys are doing. Why? Because ultimately they’ll want to do the same. So what are the big guys doing with applications like TalentGuard? They’re using it to better map out career progress of their employees, track certifications and competencies, plan and administer compensation, ensure that development and learning is on track, manage performance reviews and create strategies for succession. Employees are and always will be your biggest asset and applications like this are helping big companies make the best use of that asset.
4 — Windows is now officially irrelevant, and here is why that makes Microsoft happy.
The Justice Department has started an antitrust review of whether or not big tech companies have unfairly acquired and used market power against their competition, but they’re leaving Microsoft out of the picture. Despite Microsoft maintaining its monopoly over operating systems, Windows is not believed to be a vital influencer in tech anymore or able to use its Windows monopoly to harm competitors, effectively leaving the government out of Microsoft’s business. (Source: Computer World)
Why this is important for your business:
For those of us old enough to remember the days of Microsoft’s anti-trust struggles it’s amazing now to realize that Windows isn’t the dominant operating system anymore. That’s important to remember when you’re investing in technology. In a cloud based world, your computer’s operating system – be it Windows, iOS, Linux or something from Google – shouldn’t make a difference.
5 — An SMB study reveals the majority of small businesses aren’t taking cyber-attacks seriously.
A report recently released by Verizon shared that approximately 43% of all cyber-attacks target small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), edging closer to 50% for the last several years. However, another study—published by Keeper Security— detailed that 66% of individuals holding senior positions at SMBs do not feel threatened by the possibility of cyber-attacks, and 60% do not have a plan in place to prevent cyber-attacks from happening. Despite a 2018 study reporting that 60% of SMS that have been cyber attacked go out of business within half a year of the attack, SMBs do not seriously consider cyber security a threat until it is too late. (Source: CPO Magazine)
Why this is important for your business:
I’m not sure what it will take for business owners, CEOs and leaders to take cyber security more seriously. But let’s hope attitudes will change. At the very least, please get cyber insurance!
