Reaching the Cloud Summit - Cloud 9

Cloud Infrastructure offers Maximum Protection and Optimal Performance

By FCXPosted on January 31, 2024January 31, 2024Posted in Reaching the Cloud SummitNo Comments

Cloud Infrastructure offers Maximum Protection and Optimal Performance

A way to secure, connect and protect your business

(By Taslim Khan. This article was originally posted in the This is Queensborough – January 2024 Edition and has been amended for this format)

Welcome to 2024! The new year brings new opportunities as well as new challenges. The network infrastructure of a business is one of the areas that is always under threat. Network infrastructure is the engine a business runs on. To ensure optimal performance, this engine requires continuous maintenance and upgrades. Unfortunately, in today’s world, it has also become a prime target for malicious actors worldwide. Businesses regardless of size, operating in the US are particularly attractive to the hackers in Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, and many other countries in the world that are unfriendly to America. These threat actors exploit the Law of Averages. They target multiple businesses with the expectation that a significant number will succumb to their attacks, resulting in substantial ﬁnancial gains. Many small businesses are being subjected to millions of dollars in ransomware payments. Let’s ﬁght back. Let’s secure our assets and protect our business. While at it, let’s also improve performance and increase revenue.

A Case for the Cloud

Business people work conference and meeting in modern office handheld tablet young business woman smiling

Enter the Cloud. Cloud-based services encompassing Managed IT, Cyber Security, Back Up & Disaster Recovery and Uniﬁed Communications and Collaboration offer unparalleled protection and performance for businesses. Here are the inherent advantages/beneﬁts provided by Cloud based Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs):

All services and devices (endpoints) are managed and monitored 24/7/365 by engineers in Security Operation Centers (SOCs),
Geo-redundant and diverse locations with “Active/Active” failsafe infrastructure,
Compliance with all government mandates such as HIPAA, PCI, NIST, CIS, CISM, and many more,
Multiple locations and remote workers are no longer bound by geographical boundaries.

Also: Embracing the Future: Technology Predictions for 2024

The Security Aspect

Implementing a Managed Firewall and Endpoint Protection service such as Managed Detection & Remediation (MDR) for each laptop, desktop, server, router and switch ensures maximum security. Even if one or multiple devices are compromised due to user error (such as plugging in an affected USB drive or personal smart phone), the SOC can promptly isolate and quarantine that/those device(s) in real time preventing further spread.

Inbox Detection & Remediation or IDR service for emails will scan every email and automatically quarantine the malicious ones before they reach your inbox. However, as we all are very painfully aware how sophisticated these threat actors are in spoofing emails to make it look like that your colleague sent you this email – if you are doubtful, you can submit the email for security check before opening it. The IDR service, within less than a minute will give you a “red”, “yellow” or “green” signal. With that you can either proceed or delete with complete confidence.

Multi Factor Authentication or MFA protocol is the standard today in all government and enterprise environments. And for good reasons – it proves you are who you say you are.

Increasing Business Resilience

A Cloud server with Infrastructure as a Service & Disaster Recovery delivers significant advantages over a premise-based server. For example:

Op Ex instead of Cap Ex,
On demand scalability,
High level security,
Built in redundancy,
Lower energy cost.

Also, a backup server in a completely air-gapped data center offers the maximum protection against ransomware. In the event of a ransomware attack where the primary server is held hostage and is unavailable, the Cloud provider can spin up a new server in a completely different environment as early as 30 minutes. Ensuring this technology is in place increases business resilience; in the event of the same ransomware attack on a premise-based server it will take weeks if not months to recover that server. Your business simply cannot survive that much downtime.

Reaching Optimal Performance

A complete UC platform combines all modes of communications such as phone, video, instant message, content sharing and SMS/MMS text messaging – all on one platform and makes them available on multiple devices such as desk phone, desktop/laptop/tablet and smartphone.

Unified Communications & Collaboration offers advantages like:

Work from home? No problem.
Have staff in different time zones? Easy.
Need to reach out to 10,000 customers via text message? Done.
Need to be compliant to protect patient and client information? Yup.

In conclusion, a well-designed and professionally deployed Cloud infrastructure brings tremendous value to businesses of all sizes. Please consider a cloud migration for maximum protection and better performance.

Businessman wearing sunglasses walking along building

Why FCX is implementing its Cloud and AI Code of Ethics

By FCXPosted on January 16, 2024January 16, 2024Posted in Reaching the Cloud SummitTagged ongoing digital transformationNo Comments

Why FCX is implementing its Cloud and AI Code of Ethics

Slightly amended copy of original LinkedIn article posted on 01/11/2024 – By Iris Lentjes

Remember when the internet first emerged? How it has changed the way we communicate, socialize, collaborate, conduct business, and even receive healthcare? In a short span of a few decades, much has changed.

While certain newspaper articles are currently reflecting diminished enthusiasm around generative AI, and while it is not fully clear to the public what will happen next, we are now finding ourselves on the cusp of a similar revolution. This is because at FCX, we are witnessing the advent of powerful combinations within a cluster of technologies:

Data mining
Predictive analysis
NLP and other generative AI
Machine learning
Deep learning
Image recognition
Robotic technology

What makes the combination of these solutions impactful are powerful cloud computing and storage capabilities which are now available at manageable costs.

Although artificial intelligence is not a new concept, in my opinion, we are now at the point where it can deeply impact our daily lives just like the World Wide Web did. It could take a few decades; however, it is likely we will witness profound shifts in the way we work in much less time than that.

The Global Village

Because of the possibility of instant communication and instant access to a plethora of information due to affordable access to bandwidth and personal computers, many have shifted into feeling we are now citizens in a global village. We are no longer merely local participants and contributors; our involvement and impact tend to be much broader. We collaborate and compete with workers half a world away. The internet revealed how small our global village is and how deeply interconnected we are.

Shaping Society with AI

The technologies associated with AI will change our view of society and the world once more. It will take some years, but they have the potential to solve complex problems that have stumped us for decades and even much longer than that. With the progress of generative AI in 2024, as well as super computing, we can push the boundaries of our ingenuity and intellect already. Repetitive, mundane, and challenging tasks such as completing standard workflows or maintaining a certain set of functionalities within a reliable cybersecurity system can now be performed by machines. This could, in turn, liberate us to explore aspects of our humanity, ideas, or concepts we were previously unable to. More time will be freed up for creative and profound thinking. And so, this shift provides us with a unique opportunity.

The Responsibility of Business Leaders

But exploration of uncharted territory empowering people will only happen if leaders in the business world make an obvious choice and decide to leverage AI for that particular outcome. The business community needs to actively choose abundance, possibility, empowerment, and quality of life for all stakeholders involved. If we capitulate to our lower instincts such as fear of scarcity, invisibility, or insignificance and are impatient, we risk ending up with AI solutions that will increase disharmony, imbalance, and cacophony in the world. This cluster of technologies has the power to reflect our values and preferences as well as our philosophies and beliefs around our economic and monetary systems, just as much as the internet did and has.

We cannot turn away. Choice and aim will continue to matter. The development of this group of technologies can be slowed down, but it will not be stopped.

Ethical Considerations at FCX

At FCX, we have a choice in what solutions we wish to suggest to our clientele. As a result of the changes and outcomes we are witnessing, we felt it necessary to devise our own code of ethics around cloud computing and AI. Certain large corporations have already done so, and we too aim to step into the age of AI with our eyes wide open and with the right attitude. This is to best serve our clientele and their constituents ahead of what may arise.

If your organization has formulated an AI and Cloud Code of Ethics or is in the process of formulating one, I hope you might share it with us also in the comment section. We wish to be part of a community of responsible yet adventurous entrepreneurs and corporations who believe in the promise of technology to enhance and augment positive human capabilities.

Click here to access the FCX Cloud Solutions & Artificial Intelligence (AI) Consultation, Promotion and Implementation Support Code of Ethics.

Embracing the Future: Technology Predictions for 2024

By FCXPosted on January 3, 2024January 3, 2024Posted in Reaching the Cloud SummitTagged ongoing digital transformationNo Comments

Embracing the Future: Technology Predictions for 2024

January 3rd, 2024 – By Iris Lentjes

As we stand at the threshold of 2024, businesses in the US are set to undergo even further change as a result of technological advancements in the IT sector. Our key predictions represent impactful trends in the Cloud Services, IT and Software space. We predict executives and entrepreneurs will need to pay close attention to the course IT technology will take in the coming year to reap the benefits and stay on track.

Let’s take a look at the trends we anticipate to see in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), remote work and sustainability.

1. CYBER SECURITY EVOLUTION: A LAYERED APPROACH

While the flexibility and scalability of technological applications such as Cloud Infrastructure, Software as a Service, UCaaS and IoT have brought many benefits, the correct implementation of cyber security to protect valuable data assets will remain a priority in 2024. Most executives will continue to recognize that cyber security threats are making businesses vulnerable and will want to continue to implement the necessary solutions. To meet the demand, providers will be working diligently and gear up to introduce and expand comprehensive cybersecurity bundles. The solution sets will be layered, addressing vulnerabilities from multiple angles. While this promises a positive shift in accessibility with prices expected to rationalize, this trend will come with a caveat. Investments in robust cybersecurity infrastructures will be non-negotiable and therefore a new fixed added expense.

In an era where data is king, securing it will continue to be a top priority for businesses and a core part of digital transformation strategies.

2. AI INTEGRATION: A COLLABORATIVE DECISION

After the initial excitement and shock around the level of sophistication of generative AI in 2023, Artificial Intelligence will continue to be used in businesses, but decision making around which applications to implement will be a collaborative process. Customer Service, Operations, Logistics, Production and Marketing departments in various sectors will continue to benefit. The more innovative and creative stakeholders can be when leveraging this powerful technology, the greater the gain an organization can make.

However, as organizations prepare for AI integration, decision-making will evolve into a collective effort. A group of stakeholders within the company will need to deliberate over AI implementation and application investment. This due to the need to focus on ethics and accountability of implementation and presentation to customers and end users. Also, the AI journey demands thorough evaluation before investment. This due to cost of cloud migrations, design and programming, emphasizing the symbiotic relationship between technological advancement and responsible decision-making.

3. THE NEXUS OF AI AND REMOTE WORK: REDEFINING PRODUCTIVITY

When looking at the combined effect of AI and technology enabling effective remote work it seems logical to conclude that traditional work paradigms will be further revolutionized. Expect an impactful shift in human resources as AI takes the reins of routine tasks, freeing up employees to concentrate on higher-value responsibilities. This transformative dynamic necessitates an organizational embrace of change. Those who adapt swiftly to the evolving landscape of AI and remote work will undoubtedly lead the way in fostering enhanced productivity and job satisfaction.

4. RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY: A TWIN FOCUS

With AI redefining the very nature of work, businesses are turning their attention to resilience. AI will help either entrench or shift corporate objectives altogether. This will drive the c-suite to focus on preserving and enhancing core competencies so the company can pivot towards new directions. How work will be done will shift – the mission of the business may not.

Simultaneously, climate change and shifts in weather patterns will continue and efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle a more obvious choice around production processes. In response, businesses will become more aware of the need to direct their efforts towards sustainability initiatives. The dual commitment to resilience and sustainability underscores a conscious effort to not only weather the storms of technological change, but also contribute to a more sustainable future.

As we step into 2024, these predictions serve as guideposts for businesses navigating the intricate intersection of technology, ethics, and sustainability. Embracing change, fostering resilience, and upholding ethical standards will be the linchpins of success in the technologically charged years ahead.

2024 is here, and it beckons us to forge ahead with innovation, collaboration, and a shared commitment to a digitally empowered future.

Reaping the Benefits of a Cloud Consultant: Reasons for Engagement, How to Evaluate and when to Disengage.

By FCXPosted on May 22, 2023December 30, 2023Posted in Reaching the Cloud SummitTagged ongoing digital transformationNo Comments

Reaping the Benefits of a Cloud Consultant: Reasons for Engagement, How to Evaluate and when to Disengage.

C–Suite executives play an integral role in enabling the success of a company by making sure the right technology and partners are in place.

With the rapidly evolving IT landscape, it is becoming progressively difficult to stay updated on the latest technological advancements. Only 5 years ago, IT projects were mostly initiated by IT executives, however in 2023 operations and marketing executives as well as other important stakeholders play a significant role when deciding on technology procurement.

CHALLENGES IN THE CLOUD DECISION MAKING PROCESS

Because technology decisions can be complex, it is easy for a new project to get stalled or delayed because decision makers have a multitude of other responsibilities and do not always have their schedules aligned. And this can be challenging because even though 87% of companies believe digital will disrupt their industry, only 44% are adequately prepared for projected disruption due to digital trends.

To add to this, unfortunately, the technology marketplace is famously crowded and ascertaining accurate information complicated. And on top of that, most organizational leaders reassess their technology portfolio every 3–5 years as their term dates of a particular stack approach which means evaluations take place when decisions need to be made. There often is not enough time to get up to speed on what technologies are presently available, which will serve the organization best. A simple online search does not cover this need any longer in 2023.

What needs to happen however is for the whole team to be in–the–know. The team needs to be able to focus on driving business outcomes and getting the necessary technology in place as swiftly as possible. Effective collaboration while everyone is fully informed during the evaluation process is key.

LEVERAGING CLOUD CONSULTANTS OR TECHNOLOGY ADVISORS

Cloud consultants and technology advisors, on the other hand, live and breathe this marketplace daily, keeping track of trends, providers, pricing, and more, to offer the most precise and current advice. They quarterback technology projects for a living; they have the expertise to understand the project requirements and the decision maker’s point of view and can bring a team together. The consultant is an expert with a profound understanding of technology, covering from niche fields such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to the following services:

Data and cloud services

Cyber Security and disaster recovery

Hosting and content management

Software and hardware solutions as well as integrations

Sustainable IT and transformation

Voice, Messaging and Video (UCaaS, CCaaS, and SDWAN)

Cloud consultants are not restricted to advisory roles and can serve as invaluable partners in the development and implementation of businesses’ digital strategies. Using a holistic view and going through different fact–finding steps can support solidifying overall business objectives as well as implementing specific efficiency enhancing feature sets.

In addition, cloud consultants will negotiate on behalf of the client with a fitting provider or vendor to guarantee budgetary requirements are met.

As a matter of fact, in general, working with a consultant makes sense for most small businesses in particular. Almost half of small businesses (44%) have hired a consultant in the past. (Source: Clutch, 01/2021) And more that than one in three small businesses (39%) have hired an IT consultant, making it the most popular type of consultant small businesses hire. (Source: Clutch, 01/2021)

TOP 10 BENEFITS OF CLOUD CONSULTANTS:

To summarize, the top 10 benefits of employing a Cloud Consultant are as follows:

1. Provide knowledge to make decisions and consolidations in the best interest of the company. Providing technical direction throughout the purchasing process. Secure tailored strategy and solution planning.

2. Offer adept practices for cultural transformation when deploying new technologies. Planning the implementation and providing documentation for training initiatives.

3. Auditing technology stacks and specifying a business’s digital goals. This frees up time for the executive team to focus on driving business successes and strategies.

4. Lead you on navigating the IT landscape and leveraging emerging technologies.

5. Optimize the use of both technological and financial resources and future proofing the business.

6. Streamline to a single point of contact. Keeping an inventory of the technology stack and providing ongoing support for this stack.

7. Utilize artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning tools for customer service.

8. Offer thorough side–by–side technical and pricing comparisons. Delete pressure from quota–based supplier/carrier salespeople.

9. Leverage an extensive network of Cloud, IT, Telecom and Software service providers.

10. Vets the technical services market for the best fit for the client – search engines may support the client in fact finding however much information about how well providers perform in real life settings is not published online.

By enlisting a Cloud Technology Consultant, you can capitalize on these benefits and be confident that your business will be optimized and better served by the best available services in the marketplace. Make sure to do your research and vet the consultant/advisor you’re considering for a successful outcome.

HOW DO CLOUD CONSULTANTS GET PAID?

Like insurance brokers, some cloud consultants are also Technology Service Distributors (TSD) or brokers. As such, the initial consultation may be free of charge frequently. However, when working on custom or more complex projects a retainer fee will be added because the consultant will have to spend time researching the project.

The fact that consultants are remunerated by the service provider(s) may appear a bit conflicting; however, be assured that because a consultant is working with several different service providers. The goal is to deliver the best possible solution at the best possible price and support to the end user. Long term partnership with the end user is every consultant’s/TSD’s ultimate goal. Given the nature of this dynamic, typically customers/businesses can expect technology and vendor recommendations from Cloud consultants that is free of bias. This is a significant step up from dealing with any one carrier’s direct sales team.

Providers desire to make their solutions known to as many businesses and organizations as possible and consultants will do their best to be aware of as many technological solutions as possible without necessarily recommending them to a distinct end user. This tends to cause a bit of a demanding dynamic between the advisor and the provider and it’s the job of the consultant to make sure the end user does not have to through this process of selection or relationship building with the technology provider.

While providers benefit from not having to employ cloud consultants and therefore do not need to pay them a salary and benefits, they usually feel ambivalent about the fact that consultants will bring in various vetted providers for organization to choose from. Additionally, to serve their clients best, consultants fight for favorable contract terms and are not bound by quota, which leaves them free from the pressure to offer a certain set of services.

DEMONSTRATING ROI

According to The Predictive Index, 27% of surveyed businesses chose not to hire a consultant because the consultant could not demonstrate ROI. This is the most frequent reason for companies not using consultancy services (Predictive Index 03/2019).

FCX understands this and as a result we have created the Cloud Cost Calculator to provide insight.

EVALUATING CLOUD CONSULTANTS

When selecting a Cloud consultant to partner with, it is necessary to appraise their experience and success in the industry. So what should one look for in a consultant? Of course, make sure your consultant displays intelligence, expertise, flexibility and a future ready mentality as well as a successful track record of accomplishment.

Besides this, we suggest having following questions answered:

What sets your model apart from others?
How much experience does your team have in the field?
Can you demonstrate the benefits of your services?
What is your approach to handling complicated problems?
Can you provide illustrations of successful projects you have completed?
Who are your other clients?
Can you provide references?
Is your team keeping up with certifications?
Is your organization solvent and plans to stay active within the next 15 years in this area?

TRANSITIONING AFTER THE PROJECT:

It is up to the organization to engage the consultancy for ongoing support. When transitioning from a project phase to a maintenance phase the following considerations can be made:

In-house Expertise: If your organization has developed sufficient in-house expertise during the project, it may be feasible to handle the maintenance phase independently. The technology advisor’s role may have been primarily focused on the project’s implementation or specific technical aspects, and your team can now take over the ongoing maintenance responsibilities.
Established Support Mechanisms: If your organization has established support mechanisms or dedicated technical teams that can handle maintenance tasks, such as troubleshooting, bug fixing, and updates, it may not be necessary to continue engaging the technology advisor. With the appropriate resources and processes in place, you can effectively manage the maintenance phase internally.
Contractual Agreement: Sometimes, the engagement of a technology advisor is limited to a specific project phase, and their contract explicitly states that their involvement ends upon project completion. In such cases, it is natural to disengage from the advisor and transition into the maintenance phase, as per the agreed-upon terms.

It is important to communicate the transition plan clearly with the cloud consultant, expressing appreciation for their contributions during the project phase. Providing a smooth handover and documenting any specific knowledge transfer can facilitate a seamless transition into the maintenance phase while maintaining a positive relationship with the consultant.

Picking the right consultant is pivotal to the successful adoption and implementation of a cloud solution. With so many options available it can seem daunting; but it doesn’t have to be. By having the right questions and building a trusting partnership with your technology advisor, you can use their expertise and experience to make the best choice for your business. Ultimately, there are so many benefits from incorporating an cloud consultant within your business that it’s hard to ignore. By taking advantage of a cloud consultant’s experience and relationships, you can ensure that you are making the best decisions for the future of your business.

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