How to speed up software development (without killing morale)
In the wake of the pandemic, IT leaders are under increasing pressure to deliver solutions fast. But many CIOs are finding the steps they’ve taken to iterate quickly aren’t enough to support increasing business demands. Maico Amorim modified by IDG Comm. (CC0) As a startup serving the highly competitive gaming industry with its 3D interactive streaming platform, Polystream needs to deliver new capabilities quickly. Cheryl Razzell, the company’s vice president of engineering, and Simon Sparks, head of talent, call speed…
How Microsoft will end Office’s perpetual licensing
Microsoft in September announced that the next version of its on-premises Exchange Server will be available only as a subscription-based product. What does that say about its licensing plans for Office? Gonin / Getty Iimages Microsoft may have hinted at how it plans to end its decades-long practice of selling Office as one-time-payment licenses. During the Redmond, Wash. company’s Ignite technical conference, held virtually last month because of the pandemic, Microsoft announced that the next version of its on-premises Exchange…
How low-code platforms are transforming software development
Drag-and-drop platforms enable developers to assemble applications without manual programming. Toyota, ConocoPhillips, and GlobalTranz are among those enterprises leveraging low-code to create business value. Getty Images Coding sprints conducted via agile aren’t the only options CIOs have to fuel faster application development. Enterprises are increasingly using low-code development platforms to arrange application components, including data and logic, via a drag-and-drop interface — think virtual Lego blocks that developers can move with a mouse and snap into their creations. Low-code differs from…
Working from home? Slow broadband, remote security remain top issues
For workers whose home has become the de facto home office in recent months, broadband connectivity and security are ongoing issues, according to a Navisite survey. Valentin Russanov / Getty Images Unreliable home broadband connectivity is the primary technical challenge businesses are having to deal with as remote working continues during the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s one takeaway from a survey of 100 C-level executives and IT professionals in the US by Navisite designed to highlight the biggest headaches for…
12 leading Israeli AI startups to watch
With a population steeped in technical knowhow and entrepreneurship, Israel has gained the reputation as “the startup nation”. Here are leading Israeli AI startups pushing the boundaries of what the technology can do in a variety of fields, from security to analytics. Thinkstock When the coronavirus wave began to wash across the global economy, Israeli startups initially braced for the fallout with a round of cost cutting and hiring freezes. However, the country’s tech innovation industry has proven surprisingly…
What is IFTTT? How to use If This, Then That services
With 18 million users running more than a billion applets a month, IFTTT wants to become a service that connects pretty much everything — though some users say it still has room for improvement. Thinkstock/Pexels Remix You’ve no doubt heard of software as a service. Those who are deeply into IT will nod their heads in recognition when acronyms such as IaaS (infrastructure as a service) and PaaS (platform as a service) are tossed around, too. But here’s one…
15 IT management certifications for IT leaders
IT management requires both technical skills and the ability to manage teams, projects and processes. These 15 certifications will help you showcase your IT management skills and abilities. Thinkstock IT managers are often responsible not just for overseeing the IT infrastructure in an organization but overseeing IT teams as well. To succeed as an IT manager, you will need to understand the fundamentals of security, data storage, hardware, software, networking and IT management frameworks — and how they all…
How to set up a work-from-home ‘office’ for the long term
During the pandemic, and likely well afterward, many people will work outside the office. Here’s what you need to do so your home workspace will support your work — and won’t wreck your body — over the long term. Galen Gruman/IDG Working from home is hardly a new phenomenon, but the COVID-19 pandemic has made it an unplanned requirement for many office and knowledge workers. Even as the coronavirus crisis eventually recedes, many employers will have…
