On July 19 2024, there was a significant IT disruption caused by a faulty software update to the Crowdstrike Falcon Sensor for Windows systems. The update led to widespread system crashes and the "Blue Screen of Death" (BSOD), affecting numerous sectors globally, including major airlines, banks, and media outlets. The incident grounded approximately 1,500 flights in the United States, disrupted banking transactions, and caused various media services to go offline.

Effective security and vulnerability management is crucial to safeguard organizations from ever-evolving cyber threats. At the core of these practices lies the Configuration Management Database (CMDB), a powerful resource that offers a centralized view of an organization's IT infrastructure. The CMDB plays a pivotal role in upholding robust security and vulnerability management strategies – empowering organizations to proactively identify, evaluate and address risks to their IT systems and data.

The SolarWinds IT Trends Report 2024 – AI: Friend or Foe? indicated tension in the IT industry’s outlook on artificial intelligence (AI). While there is excitement about its potential to drive productivity, concerns linger around data quality, security, and regulation. At the recent SolarWinds Day event, I sat down with Krishna Sai, Senior Vice President of Engineering, and Cullen Childress, Senior Vice President of Product Management.

Learning how to become a fractional executive begins with understanding the unique dynamics and demands of this role. Are you… From building the necessary skills to creating a personal brand and network, the journey is multifaceted but rewarding. This article is for: Fractional executives offer their expertise on a part-time or contract basis, making it an appealing career for those with a wealth of experience who seek flexibility and diversity in their professional lives.

While individual blue screen errors are frustrating, the recent global system crashes caused by a CrowdStrike update incompatible with Microsoft Windows have wreaked havoc across entire industries since early Friday morning. Companies ranging from the airlines, media, and banking industries have been facing significant disruptions, with thousands of customer-facing devices experiencing blue screens and causing widespread travel delays and chaos.

Voice-directed picking is an established method for hands-free order fulfillment in warehouses around the world. If you haven’t explored it to boost productivity, now's the time. As it has evolved, voice-based data entry – both text-to-speech and speech-to-text – can be installed into warehouse workflows quickly and economically, without changing your existing warehouse management or other enterprise systems.

You are probably already aware that managing changes within an organization is a complex yet crucial task. An effective Change Management strategy is essential if your business is looking to implement new technologies, optimize processes, or simply maintain operational stability. The key lies in adopting a structured approach that minimizes disruptions and maximizes benefits.

Change Management is a common term among business leaders, but what does it actually involve? It's well known that organizations need to adapt quickly to stay competitive. This is where a Change Manager steps in. Transitional periods can be challenging. You could be implementing new software, restructuring teams, or rolling out new business strategies. Having a dedicated professional guide these change processes can make all the difference.

At Cox Enterprises, employee experience has a direct connection to productivity. Technology errors, hiccups, and poor performance aren’t just frustrating, they can cause employees to disengage from their top priority work, slowing down crucial business projects. These problems impact employee satisfaction, retention, and turnover, creating reputational and financial risks that can hinder long-term success.

Continuously building upon the industry-leading Nexthink DEX Score and Experience Central, we are pleased to announce an extensive set of new, high-value features to amplify Senior IT Leader’s ability to manage all aspects of their employees' digital experience proactively and strategically. Building upon the capabilities described in Strategic DEX Management earlier this summer, the following capabilities have been added.