Author: Peggy Smedley
Peggy Smedley and Walt Szablowski, founder & executive chairman, Eracent, dig into the topic of cybersecurity, discussing the impact of all these breaches on businesses and their customers. He says the key here is these hackers are taking over your life and taking over a business—everything you do is monitored and controlled by hackers. They also discuss: Examples of companies that have been hacked and the amount spent on ransom. How and why hacking is a business—and how that operates. How to protect your business from hackers. eracent.com (3/21/23 – 814) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine…
Peggy Smedley and Gerald Kasulis, vice president of business operations, NordPass, talk about the challenges SMBs (small-sized and medium-sized businesses) are struggling with when it comes to cyber criminals today. He says when it comes to data breaches and hacks historically, we are used to seeing large organizations get breached—but recently we have seen a huge increase in SMBs getting breached. They also discuss: The big mistake SMBs are making in terms of password management. Why it is so hard to do password security. The importance of education in protecting our data and our businesses. nordpass.com/business-password-manager (3/21/23 – 814) IoT,…
South Carolina is becoming an automotive state and manufacturing hub, bringing jobs for the next generation. As someone who has written about the importance of American-made manufacturing, it is so encouraging to see many companies bring production back to the United States, and I am particularly excited to see it happening here in what is now my own home state. I am not typically one to hand out accolades in the political world (this is not about politics), but in this case I can say I am proud of the efforts of Governor Henry McMaster and his mission to build…
I have been touting that we need to reach Millennials and Gen Z if we want a vibrant workforce in construction right now. Those who are already in the workforce can help fill in the gaps we are missing. As I have said, we need to show them what is possible and inspire them to do something innovative with technology. If we do, the rewards will be big for all involved—the individual workers and the company. That is the urgent need facing our workforce today—but we also need to be prepared for what is coming next. What is coming next…
Developing innovative, life-changing solutions comes with hurdles—such as getting U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Admin.) clearance for medical devices. Let’s look at one example of the process to bring such a device to market. Steven LeBoeuf, president and cofounder, Valencell Inc., began his career at General Electric, where he pioneered innovations in solid state materials, multiwavelength optoelectronic devices, high-power electronics, nanostructured materials and devices, and biochemical sensor systems. In 2006, he founded Valencell and is now the inventor of more than 100 granted patents in the field of wearable biomedical sensing. In a recent conversation, I sat down with him…
Peggy Smedley talks all about cybersecurity, narrowing in on how the U.S. government is taking action with its National Cybersecurity Strategy. She outlines the details of the strategy and gives her thoughts about what needs to happen next in businesses. She also discusses: A historical look at what this administration has already done with security. The complex threat environment we currently face and the state of technology. The objectives of the National Cybersecurity Strategy. peggysmedleyshow.com (3/14/23 – 813) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, 5G, cloud, sustainability, future of work,…
Peggy Smedley and Mike Rogers, former congressman and chairman of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee, talk about if education is still a key component to security. He says education is constant because it is easy to get into a pattern where you think you are okay, and then get complacent. They also discuss: The purpose of defining a nation state. Examples such as a case a few years ago where Russians were inside an electric grid. How to be more vigilant in our businesses so the bad guys don’t get in and how to prepare the next generation to secure…
Opportunities for sustainability exist everywhere—in our homes, in our communities, and even in our modes of transportation. Today, let’s examine if automated services—including automated vehicle technology used in cars, transit, and automated parking—could lead to greater sustainability for all. But before you drive away, keep an open mind. A February article from npj Urban Sustainability digs into this topic. As the primary source of road traffic pollution, vehicle emissions degrade air quality and endanger human health. The ICCT (Intl. Council on Clean Transportation) estimated global carbon dioxide emissions related to transportation will increase significantly in the future, growing more than…
The worker shortage statistics are rather bleak. Last year, the AGC (Associated General Contractors of America) indicated 91% of construction firms are having a hard time finding workers to hire, which is driving up costs and project delays. This challenge seems to be stagnant—or potentially even getting worse. The 2021 numbers suggest 89% of contractors had a hard time finding workers. So, it seems we are trending in the wrong direction. The reality is this is a problem that is impacting nearly every construction company in nearly every niche, as research shows nearly identical results were reported by contractors that…
The manufacturing industry is ripe for innovation, as it continues to embrace the IoT (Internet of Things) and AI (artificial intelligence). In fact, McKinsey suggests 50% of organizations’ revenue will come from new business models and products by 2026. And the way some manufacturing companies are talking this just might happen. What’s more, this is exactly the conversation I was having recently with Melissa Durbin, sales director, digital and application innovation, Microsoft, as we discussed digital platforms for manufacturers. She explains in just the last six months the company has been having more conversations with chief innovation and chief digital…