Monthly Archives: February 2020

Many organizations are starting to realize the benefits of increased scale and velocity of application deployment in their businesses, according to F5 Networks.

This value, however, can bring significant complexity as organizations maintain legacy infrastructure while increasingly relying on multiple public and private clouds, implement modern application architectures, and face an evolving and sophisticated threat landscape.

At the same time, organizations are adopting more application services designed to accelerate deployment in public cloud and container-native environments, like service mesh and ingress control.

Survey data indicates this trend will accelerate as organizations become proficient in harnessing the data their application ecosystem deliverscreating advanced analytics capabilities and better business outcomes.

The survey shows that as companies manage legacy, multi-cloud, hybrid-cloud, and modern architectures to deliver applications, their requirements for app services are also evolving.

To address limited skill sets and integration challenges, organizations are choosing open ecosystems that offer standardization. Respondents prize application services that are both secure and easy to use.

80% of organizations are executing on digital transformation with increasing emphasis on accelerating speed to market. As organizations progress through digital transformation initiatives, IT and business process optimization initiatives mature.

Many organizations have moved beyond the basics of business process automation and are now scaling their digital footprint with cloud, containers, and orchestration. This in turn is driving the creation of new ecosystems and massive growth in API call volumes.

Organizations are leveraging the public cloud to participate in industry ecosystems, take advantage of cloud-native architectures, and deliver applications at the speed of the business.

However, organizations are much less confident in their ability to withstand an application-layer attack in the public cloud versus an on-premises data center. This discrepancy illustrates a growing need for easy-to-deploy solutions that can ensure consistent security across multiple environments.

Unsurprisingly, given the primary drivers of digital transformation IT and business process optimizationthe majority of organizations are automating the network.

Despite challenges, organizations are gaining proficiency and moving toward continuous deployment with more consistent automation across all key pipeline components: app infrastructure, app services, network, and security.

As newer cloud-native application architectures mature and scale, a higher percentage of organizations are deploying related app services such as ingress control and service discovery both on premises and in the public cloud. A modern application landscape requires modern app services to support scale, security, and availability requirements.

63% of organizations still place primary responsibility for app services with IT operations, yet more than half of those surveyed are also moving to DevOps-inspired teams.

Operations and infrastructure teams continue to shoulder primary responsibility for selecting and deploying application services. However, as organizations expand their cloud- and container-native app portfolios, DevOps groups are taking more responsibility for app services.

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IT and business process automation growing with cloud architectures - Help Net Security

Drishti cofounder and CEO Prasad Akella

Picture a factory. Employees toil at lines, doing the same task, repeatedly, in order to assemble a final product. A line stoppage or bottleneck can cost a fortune. So too can even the smallest of errors by any of the people tasked with detailed assembly work. What if the manufacturer could see what was going on, in real time, and fix any issues before they become real problems? Or come up with ways to make the process run smoother and more efficiently?

Thats the basic idea behind Drishti Technologies, a four-year-old startup cofounded by Prasad Akella, a 57-year-old Indian entrepreneur whos best known for leading the General Motors team that developed collaborative robots in the 1990s. With Palo Alto, California-based Drishti (the name is Sanskrit for vision), Akella uses computer vision, machine learning and real-time videos and analytics to make production lines run better. The goal: Use technology to help people improve their work increasing productivity and improving quality rather than replacing humans with machines. I realized that most manufacturing is still manual, and nothing has changed dramatically since Henry Ford, Akella says. Nobody had a handle on the processes. Other companies were focused on machines, but those are easy problems because a machine is a machine.

Manufacturing is a $13 trillion global industry, but coming up with solutions to its problems are hard. Akella and his cofoundersAshish Gupta, a serial entrepreneur, and Krishnendu Chaudhury, a computer-vision and deep-learning expert who is the companys chief technology officerhave toiled away, largely under the radar, for the past four years, with just $12 million in funding from Andreessen Horowitz and Emergence Capital at a valuation of $29 million, according to PitchBook. Today, Drishti hit a milestone, disclosing that it had signed on Denso, one of the worlds largest auto parts suppliers with $48 billion in revenue, as a client.

All told, Drishti has now signed on clients in the automotive, electronics and medical-device markets in the double-digits, according to Akella. Though he declined to identify any of the others, he noted that those customers have combined revenue of more than $600 billion. Building a product like this is an effort, Akella says. Customers like this are extremely demanding, and you only get one shot at them.

A Denso employee inspects parts for a bus acceleration sensor at the company's Daian plant in Inabe, ... [+] Japan.

Akella received a bachelors degree in aerospace engineering from the elite Indian Institute of Technology, before moving to the United States where he earned a Ph.D. in robotics from Stanford. He first immersed in manufacturing at General Motors, where he led the team working on collaborative robots in the 1990s. After leaving GM, he cofounded a networking startup and then spent time at big companies, SAP and Thomson Reuters, where his focus was data and analytics. By winter 2016, he was ready for a change. I was rethinking my life, and I said, You know what, I love trying to change things, given my age at that point in time, do I have the stomach to do it once more? Akella recalls. On vacation in Tahoe, I came to the conclusion I wanted to do it.

He knew he wanted to do something in manufacturing again, and realized that computer vision could help companies get a handle on their processes. He joined research center SRI International as an entrepreneur in residence to think more clearly about the problem and possible solutionsand get advice from computer-vision experts there. I might have a Ph.D. in robotics, but I dont know enough about computer vision, he says. While there, Akella lined up his cofounders: Gupta, whod previously worked on unstructured data aggregation at Junglee (acquired by Amazon) and business process automation at Daksh (bought by IBM), and Chaudhury, a computer vision and deep learning expert who previously worked at Google, Flipkart and Adobe. He also started quietly working with Denso and another large customer in the electronics space that he declines to name.

Denso started testing the Drishti technology on a demo line that makes engine-cooling modules at its Battle Creek, Michigan, plant a year and a half ago, and is looking to expand it on a trial basis to its Tennessee plant, likely in the first quarter of this year. Until Drishti came up with this technology, the only way to improve the productivity or efficiency of these manual operations was for an industrial engineer to go on the floor and make notes about bottlenecks and cycle time and do an analysis, Raja Shembekar, vice president of Densos North American production innovation center, says. That was a slow, laborious process, and for a manufacturer steeped in the Toyota lean manufacturing system of kaizen for decades it was also a tough way to get that last little bit of inefficiency to improve. This was a struggle for us, he says.

With Drishti, he says, Denso has seen double-digit improvements in some of its key performance indicators, though he declines to be more specific about those metrics. Key things that Toyota-affiliated Denso tracks are cycle-time variance (even a few seconds can add up), bottlenecks and standardized processes (the more standardized, the fewer errors). In one case on the test line, managers were able to confirm that a workers idea to rebalance a line to rid it of bottlenecks was smart before they made a costly change to operations based on someones gut. When a line launches, one station will have trouble today and create a bottleneck. Then you fix it, and the bottleneck moves somewhere else. Its a balloon, Shembekar explains.

While Denso is currently testing Drishti in its U.S. plants, Shembekar says that he believes it could be especially helpful for its factories in lower-cost locations like Mexico and Thailand, where turnover among employees is high. This tool will preserve jobs because performance in every category will improve and theres less reason for Denso to consider expensive automation, he says. He declines to say how much Denso is paying for Drishti.

Andreessen partner Frank Chen, who led the firms investment in Drishti, believes the startup can ultimately become the leader in a field that it is creating. They are trying to invent a new category, he says. We arent investing to make a small company, and hope they get bought by Black & Decker.

Drishti's technology offers a continuous view of what's happening on the factory line.

Getting there hasnt been easy for Drishti. Applying computer vision and machine learning to humans at work, who may be different shapes and sizes, holding their screwdrivers at different angles, or facing away from the camera, turned out to be an enormous technological hurdle. You need the neural networks so you can analyze gobs and gobs of videos, Akella says. Theres deep, deep, deep technology behind it. Thats part of what has taken us time.

But his background of designing machines to work with humans led him to persevere. Joint research by Drishti and A.T. Kearney found that humans on the factory line perform 72% of all tasks, suggesting that even as industry focuses on robotics and automation the future will be one of human-machine collaboration rather than robotic takeover. My perspective, as an entrepreneur in my 50s is different, Akella says. Im not doing this because of fame, but because I believe manufacturing needs transformation and I believe I can change the lives of people on the floor.

Original post:

How This Manufacturing-Automation Startup Signed Up Auto-Parts Giant Denso For Tech That Helps Humans Work Smarter - Forbes

February 18, 2020 Cimcorp, a manufacturer and integrator of turnkey robotic order fulfillment and tire-handling solutions, announced the appointment of Joel Kuusman to Manager of U.S. Operation and Technology Services. Kuusman originally joined Cimcorp in April 2014 as a site manager, overseeing on-site installations of Cimcorps automated solutions. Through his experience on numerous projects, Kuusman has acquired a breadth of knowledge in the companys systems and site work management, which he now brings to this new role. Namely, he will be responsible for leading the Cimcorp U.S. office in Norcross, Georgia, guiding its strategic growth and quality of customer service and after-sales support.

With a Master of Science in mechanical engineering from LUT University in Finland, Kuusman is an expert in technical equipment and industrial automation. For the past 17 years, he has helmed many on-site projects in various supervisory roles, including in mechanical maintenance, purchasing, quality control, process engineering and project management. Having spent considerable time living and working in the United States and Finland, Kuusman has a unique understanding of the two marketplaces and cross-cultural communication. This has enabled him to oversee Cimcorp automation projects in both countries.

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Cimcorp announces Joel Kuusman as Manager of US Operations - Automation.com

Power over Ethernet technology is highly viable for applications such as lighting, sensors, smart locks, thermostats, digital signage, and other building controls

A new report from Navigant Research examines the use of Power over Ethernet (PoE) in building automation and digital building applications, providing global market forecasts through 2028.

Market for Power over Ethernet Technology in Building Applications Is Expected to Grow Nearly 15% from 2019-2028 @NavigantRSRCH https://bit.ly/37JDB1l

PoE, an established technology for multiple IT applications such as internet protocol (IP) phones and Wi-Fi access points, has been gaining attention as a potential connectivity solution for building automation and intelligent building technologies. By supplying both low voltage power and a data connection to an end-use device, PoE is highly viable for applications such as lighting, sensors, smart locks, thermostats, digital signage, and other building controls.

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PoE-based solutions for buildings are generating excitement in the market due to their reliability, flexibility, and scalability, as well as the potential cost savings associated with reductions in cabling infrastructure and labor costs, says Sasha Wedekind, research analyst at Navigant Research. The primary market focus has been on PoE enabling a data network for lighting applications coupled with advanced sensing technologies ranging from people-counting sensors to air quality controls.

According to the report, the market for these types of PoE applications is young, and vendors are still developing and testing solutions. To overcome barriers such as lack of a clearly articulated value proposition, market players need to identify and grow appropriate market channels while working to increase consumer awareness.

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The report, Power over Ethernet for Digital Buildings, discusses these and other market issues. The 10-year market revenue forecast (2019-2028) is segmented by three categories: lighting applications coupled with advanced sensor technologies, lighting-only applications, and other building functionality applications such as HVAC controls, building access, and digital signage. The study is also segmented by new construction and retrofit projects, global regions, and commercial building types. This report does not cover PoE markets for IP phones, Wi-Fi routers, and IP cameras.

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Latest Automation Trends Show Power Over Ethernet Technology in Digital Building Applications - AiThority

The world of test automation and quality assurance (QA) still undergoing a tremendous sea change wrought by the advancing maturity of DevOps in the enterprise. That's why as a QA professional you must remain on your toes if you are to stay on a solid career track.

TechBeacon spoke with recruiters, hiring managers, and experienced practitioners in test automation and QA. Here's what they say are the five most essential roles, and the three most in-demand skills.

[ Learn whatyour team needs to know to start taking advantage of test automation with TechBeacon's Guide. Plus: Get the Buyer's Guide For Software Test Automation Tools ]

One of the best-established trends in the world of software quality is the shift at many organizations to "transform legacy quality assurance teams into quality engineering organizations," saidBinu Mathew, director of quality engineering and engineering services for Sungard AS.

Moving toward continuous delivery of software has required organizations to develop testing systems and automation that bakes continual quality checks into the development pipeline. That means quality professionals are no longer doing the tests, but aredesigning them to be done. And that requires an engineering mindset.

"As DevOps engineering continues to shake up how fast a software solution can be delivered to market with high quality, continuous testing is one of the key pillars. The role of a quality engineer with revamped, higher technical skills is essential to make this transition happen."Binu Mathew

Quality engineers are sorely needed because test automation keeps growing more complex and more extensiveto account for modern development architecture. A hallmark skill amongquality engineers is being able to troubleshoot automation tools, saidLucas Donlon, senior QA test engineer for BCA Technologies.

"I learned early on I had to be an expert with the tool I was using;I couldn't always rely on reaching out to the company for help. There are always quirks to automation, and you have to know how to overcome them to make quality scripts that execute how you want them to."Lucas Donlon

Some QA engineers are evolving to become QA analysts,working with product teams and analytics toolsto determine test cases, saidErik Fogg, founder of QA automation startup ProdPerfect.

"QA analysts are embedded with these teams as consultants or advisers, helping teach the developers good quality and testing practices, and holding them accountable to maintain quality code."Erik Fogg

The test automation engineertitle, often used interchangeably with quality engineer, differs in that it requires additional test automation-relateddevelopment skills.

"Test automation engineers are experts with the testing mindset and quite deep coding skills," saidAndrei Mikhailau, software testing director at IT services firm ScienceSoft. These experts candesign and implement a test automation solution, thenplan and develop automated tests, heexplained.

"Despite the urgent and continuous need, they are still difficult to find in the talent pool," he said.

One of the reasons organizations struggle to recruit superstar test automation engineers is that the role generally requires a rare combination of technical acumen and soft skills. That's due to the level of collaboration these prosneed to engage in, saidColin Ma,director of engineering at Finliand a longtime consultant in QA who hashelped large enterprises interview and hire QA professionals.

Test automation engineers communicate with QA leads, fellow test automation engineers, and the developers on the project,and they needstrong organizational skills as well,he said.

Theyneed to be willing to go back and forth with developers to understand features. "They need to know about the nitty-gritty details of specific features so they can create good test scripts," Ma said.

The software developer engineering in test (SDET) role is another evolving title that peoplesometimesconfusewith quality engineer and test automation engineer roles.

But while quality engineers tend to be QA experts who consult with developers and advise them on testing best practices, and test automation engineers are skilled coders who can write automated tests, SDETs tend to be the Renaissance folk of the quality world.

They're software developers by profession who also possess an expert-level understanding of the fundamentals of test theory and methodology. These are the true rock stars of the modern CI/CD organization,saidDavid Moise, president of Decide Consulting, an IT and software recruiting firm. He's been seeingthe requests for SDET roles increasing.

"The gap between developer and tester has been getting thinner."David Moise

There was a time not too long ago whenit wouldbe rare for a QA professional to understand SQL, he explained. Now it is more unusual to not have that knowledge. As software architectures have evolved, more projects are a collection of APIs, and the only way to validate these is to check the database entries made by them.

"One needs SQL knowledge to do that. The QA folk are always better off writing their own SQL than looking to get that from the developers."David Moise

This is just a microcosm of the needs driving SDET, but it illustratesthe role's growth.

Whether they use a title such as QA lead, QA manager, or quality engineer, many companiesare hiring quality professionals to serve as arbiters of accountability for the thoroughness and soundness of automated test coverage.

They play the role of a testing marshal, saidDavid Messinger, CTO of Topcoder, who frequently works with global brands on software development strategies. A testing marshal "looks for complacency in testing," ferreting out the it's-always-been-done-this-way attitude from quality checks, he said.

They also buildmeasures for accountability to make sure testers are exhaustive in their testing. "Someone to be able to monitor this across teams is a necessity," Messinger said.

Performance management, asoftware quality specialty area, is growing in prominence. Most organizations recognize that poor software performance is costing them due tolow conversions, dropped transactions, and low user loyalty. As a result, ScienceSoft'sMikhailau said,you'll see a rise in the number of performance test engineers leadingthe charge in this niche.

These pros are a breed apart, he said.

Especially rare: Senior-level experts who can participate in the full software development lifecycle, provide guidance on effective performance testing strategy, lead the design and implementation of a performance test framework, review requirements, prepare test plans, and review the work of junior ormid-levelspecialists,Mikhailau said.

The importance of test automation development skillsis rising across all of the crucial QA roles identified by recruiters and hiring managers.

QA departments are notwhere they want to be yet,saidDecide Consulting'sMoise. Most quality professionals and hiring managers believe that 85% to 90% of their test cases should probably be automated, but realistically have only gotten to about 10% to 15% automation coverage.

"Companies are looking to shift towardmore automated QA from the manual side. The demand for people with scripting and automated testing experience is high and will be even higher."David Moise

Manual testing skills and knowledge haven't gone by the wayside. In the age of automated testing organizationswill alwaysneedpeople who have solid understanding of both manual and automated testing skills, especially in those QA lead roles. "They're much needed in fast-paced and flexible agile and DevOps projects to define the best testing type for each case and effectively balance manual and automated tests at lower costs," ScienceSoft'sMikhailausaid.

At the end of the day, even when end-to-end testing is completely owned by development, a company will need quality experts who knowthe fundamentals of test theory and methodology.

The three most common competencies companies look for are general test knowledge, knowledge of specific test systems, and, for more senior candidates, a deeper project discussion about test methodology, saidShannon Hogue Brown, global head of solutions engineering at Karat, which designs technical interviews for large enterprises.

Tostand out in your interview, be prepared to have a general conversation about things such as the pros and cons of different testing methodologies, and "be ready to talk through specific examples of test cases for a detailed scenario," Brown said.

In a highly integrated DevOps environment, collaboration is crucial for both QAand test automation professionals.

Successful quality and test automation pros are the ones who see product managers, developers, operations staffers, and executives as peers and who strive to understand how their domain of expertise fits into the wider picture, saidMarcus Merrell, senior director of field services for Sauce Labs.

"They familiarize themselves with the company financials" andattend conferences that focus on the business, as opposed to specific QA-centric events,Merrell said.

More importantly, they check their ego at the door.

"I'd rather hire a person who works well with others and adapts to new processesthan a person who has all the answers but clearly won't fit culturally."Marcus Merrell

[ Understand quality-driven development with best practices from QA practitioners in TechBeacon's Guide. Plus: Download the World Quality Report 2019-20 ]

Ultimately the goal of both the quality employee and the employer isdiversity. QA and test professionals need to broaden theirskills as organizations demand more soft skills and coding acumen to bolster existing competenciesin quality fundamentals.

Meanwhile, organizations seeking to more seamlessly integrate quality functions into DevOps teams should work tobuild a culture of inclusion that creates a team with a broad base of professional and life experiences upon which to draw.

"Your customers are diverse, and your QA and development teams need to be as well. To develop and deliver software that meets your customers'needs, you have to understand their needs. And to understand those needs, you need people on your team who share their perspectives."Marcus Merrell

[Understandthe issuesand risks that come with SAP modernization with TechBeacon's Guide. Download: Ensure SAP Modernization Success with DevOps ]

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Test automation and QA career guide: Top roles and skills - TechBeacon

Israel-based online marketplace Fiverr on Thursday launched a tool powered by artificial intelligence for designing company logos.

The Fiverr Logo Maker asks users several questions about their business and style preferences, including the brand name, slogan and industry. They are presented with style options including a classic or modern look, fun or serious, and traditional or sophisticated.

The automated program then takes over and generates an array of logos in several seconds. Each branding option generated by the program presents several variations, with different colors, fonts and designs. Examples of the emblems are also projected onto cups, business cards and phone screens.

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The logos are based on the work of top designers on Fiverr, which are then adjusted by the automated tools to suit the specific users needs and preferences.

It is free for Fiverr members to try, but they must pay to download a branding package and gain rights to the logos. The branding package includes the logo in different formats, sizes, and colors, and a social media kit.

The tool seeks to combine artificial intelligence and human creativity amid fears that automation will replace jobs.

The power of Fiverr Logo Maker rests in its approach to combining the creative artwork designed by Fiverr community members and its intuitive AI algorithms that allow it to generate relevant, effective logos for businesses in a few clicks, the company said in a statement.

Automation will not displace human imagination and creativity, rather, the technologys impact will be in supporting and enhancing fundamental human capabilities. The future of work is one where AI supports more people, to create more with less effort, Fiverr founder and CEO Micha Kaufman said in a statement.

Fiverrs co-founder and CEO, Micha Kaufman (Courtesy: Yuval Taog)

As a company that puts our community first, we believe our approach to building smart AI tools not only supports their efforts in delivering exceptional work, but also bolsters their opportunities for work and earning potential, Kaufman said.

Fiverr connects business with freelancers offering digital services, such as copy editing or website consulting. The company said it has served over 5.5 million businesses and carried out over 50 million transactions. It supports freelancers in 160 countries working in 300 service categories.

The company went public on the New York Stock Exchange in June 2019. It trades under the ticker FVRR and has a market cap of $836 million.

It was founded in 2010 by Shai Wininger and Micha Kaufman.

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Fiverr launches AI-powered automated logo maker - The Times of Israel

Many people think thatenterprise service management(ESM) isall about adapting the concepts ofIT service management (ITSM)to other areas of the business.

That's not quite the case, and there are two things you should be concerned about.First, many ITSM implementations are really not service management; they are at best implementations of process management or IT operations management.

Many IT organizations missed the boat in terms of ITservice management.Yes, you can apply ITSMto justIT operations, but this method does not represent a complete approach to ITSM.Other parts of the IT organization, such as application development and information security, make significant contributions to the co-creation of value and business outcomes based on the use of technology.

Which leads to my second concern.If you extend this same approach to adoption of service management concepts into the enterprise, your ESM project will fail.

ESM isan organizational capability for delivering desired outcomes and value by leveraging the resources of the entire enterprise in a holistic, integrated way.

Here's why ESM must evolve.

[ Learn how to add AIOps to your playbook in TechBeacon's Guide. Plus: Download two reports: AI is Transforming the Role of IT | The State of Analytics in IT Ops ]

Many organizations are moving forward with what they are calling ESM.This typically involves expanding the use of theexisting ITSM tool more broadly into the organization.

One approach involvesestablishing a central service desk for the organizationcreating one point ofcontact forany issue or request. Organizations that take this approach may have some defined workflows, but those are often no more than a dispatcher of specific tasks to specific departments.

Many organizations expand the use of their IT self-service portals into enterprise self-service portals.This provides internal resources with a one-stop interface forrequesting and receiving certain defined products, service actions, or access to resources. But in many cases the requester must know exactly what they need in order to place the right request.

Another approach is to implement specific modules, or sets of prepackaged workflows, within the ITSM tool for specific use by other departments.These modules typically use the same vernacular used within that department; for example, an HR module would refer to an "employee," while anITSM module would refer to a "user."

The modules would also includepredefined workflows for specific activities performed within that department. This approach allows those departments to leverage the capabilities of the ITSM tool.

So, what's wrong with any of that? you might be thinking.

While extending the ITSM tool solution to other departments may improve the ROI of the tool,it doesn't necessarily result in an enterprise approach to service management.Infact, it may exacerbate and further reinforce any silo mentality that may exist within the organization.

And while data from various departments may be stored with a single ITSM tool, workflows typically don't cross departmental domainsunless additional modules, coding, or customization is done within the tool.

[ Find outwhat your team needs to know to roll out robotic process automationin TechBeacon's Guide. Plus: Getthe white paper Enterprise Requirements for RPA ]

Among other things, ESM should support workflows that themselves measureenterprisevalue streams.A value stream is the sequence of activities required to design, produce, and deliver a good or service to a customer. (See Value Stream Mapping: How to Visualize Work and Align Leadership for Organizational Transformation, by KarenMartin and MikeOsterling.)

Value streams already exist within every enterprise, although they may not be well-understood or documented.People within an organization may not understand their role or contribution within a value stream.Good ESM would address these issues.

Good ESM will help break down any silo mentality that exists within an organization.Frankly, organizations that are working within silos cannot react or respond quickly to changes in marketsand the overallbusiness.

The ability for enterprises to adapt and respond quickly in the digital age is critical.Good ESM allows the organization to act holistically, rather than as a collection of parts.

Good ESM results in defined and documented enterprise workflows thatin turncan be automated.Enterprise workflows that are well-designed and frictionless result in better experiences for both customers and employees.

ESMtools have essentially evolved as extensions of traditional IT service management software. ITSM tool vendors may see themselves as evolving into an ERP system for organization-wide workflows.

Unfortunately, today's service management platforms typically are extended into the enterprise by bolting on new modules for HR or procurement or other business areas. They don't necessarily handle end-to-end, cross-functional value streams without customization.

A true ESM system would handle these value streamsandenable process automation across a business's value streams.

Is this where ITSM platforms are going? So far, I'm not seeing that. But it's where the market needs to go.

But the huge lesson learnedfrom ITSM implementations that must be applied to ESM adoption is that it takes more than just technology to have an effective service management system.

Cultural change is the most significant challenge for ESM.The departments within many organizations are more focused on meeting their internal departmental goals and less on achieving organizational goals. ESM shifts the focus from individual departmental efforts to enterprise outcomes.

Many organizations suffer from the lack of cross-departmental views of the flow of information across the enterprise.Individual departments may know what they do, but they do not know how what they do fits in within the rest of the company.

Perhaps the most significant challenge facing ESM adoption is the lack of ownership for end-to-end outcomes. In most organizations, there is no individual, other than the CEO, whohas enterprise-wide responsibility for outcomes.

Typically, those reporting to a CEO have ownership of onlyspecific enterprise outcomes.For example, the human resources department is concerned onlywith human resources.The finance organization is focused only on financial systems. While individually each of these outcomes is important, no one owns the value streams that flow across the organization.

The most important aspect of ESM adoption is to make sure you put the "enterprise"into ESM. Here are some things you should do to get your ESM adoptions started correctly.

Invest in teaching the business about the business.Many employees are unaware of how the business operates outside of their own area or department.

Create customer journey maps. Once the domain of marketing departments, customer journey maps are a great way for the entire enterprise to understand how customers interact with a company. Customer journey maps follow an "outside-in"approach, looking at an organization from the customer perspective.Where are the touch points between the customer and the company?How does technology support those interactions?What company resources are involved within each of those interactions?

Engage in value stream mapping.If a customer journey map represents the outside-inperspective, value stream maps represent the internal, end-to-end view of the flow of information and goods from demand to delivery.How dovalue, information, andmaterials flow from customer demand to customer fulfillment? Where are the handoffs within the enterprise? How does technology support or enable those handoffs?

Just extending the use of an ITSM tool into the organization is not ESM.True ESM takes a holistic view of how an organization works together to deliver the desired outcomes and value for both the enterprise and its customers.

ITSM tools must evolve to support ESM by supporting and automating the end-to-end workflows that underpin the value streams of an enterprise.

[ Get up to speed on changing the IT services game with ESM in TechBeacon's Guide. Plus: Download the Forrester Wave for Enterprise Service Management ]

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Why ESM must evolve to automate end-to-end value streams - TechBeacon

Advances to ReversingLabs Titanium Platform Deliver Transparent and Trusted Malware Insights that Address Security Skills Gap

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ReversingLabs, a leading provider of explainable threat intelligence solutions today announced new and enhanced capabilities for its Titanium Platform, including new machine learning algorithm models, explainable classification and out-of-the-box security information and event management (SIEM) plug-ins, security, orchestration, automation and response (SOAR) playbooks, and MITRE ATT&CK Framework support. Introducing a new level of threat intelligence, the Titanium Platform now delivers explainable insights and verification that better support humans in the incident response decision making process. ReversingLabs has been named as a ML-Based Machine Learning Binary Analysis Sample Provider within Gartners 2019 Emerging Technologies and Trends Impact Radar: Security1.. ReversingLabs will showcase its new Titanium Platform at RSA 2020, February 24-28 in San Francisco, Moscone Center, Booth #3311 in the South Expo.

As digital initiatives continue to gain momentum, companies are exposed to an increasing number of threat vectors fueled by a staggering volume of data that contains countless malware infected files and objects, demanding new requirements from the IT teams that support them, said Mario Vuksan, CEO and Co-founder, ReversingLabs. Its no wonder security operations teams struggle to manage incident response. Combine the complexity of threats with blind black box detection engine verdicts, and a lack of analyst experience, skill and time, and teams are crippled by their inability to effectively understand and take action against these increased risks. The current and future threat landscape requires a different approach to threat intelligence and detection that automates time-intensive threat research efforts with the level of detail analysts need to better understand events, improve productivity and refine their skills.

According to Gartners Emerging Technologies and Trends Impact Radar: Security, Gartner estimates that ML-based file analysis has grown at 35 percent over the past year in security technology products with endpoint products being first movers to adopt this new technology.2

Black Box to Glass Box VerdictsBecause signature, AI and machine learning-based threat classifications from black box detection engines come with little to no context, security analysts are left in the dark as to why a verdict was determined, negatively impacting their ability to verify threats, take informed action and extend critical job skills. That lack of context and transparency propelled ReversingLabs to develop a new glass box approach to threat intelligence and detection designed to better inform human understanding first. Security operations teams using ReversingLabs Titanium Platform with patent-pending Explainable Machine Learning can automatically inspect, unpack, and classify threats as before, but with the added capability of verifying these threats in context with transparent, easy to understand results. By applying new machine learning algorithms to identify threat indicators, ReversingLabs enables security teams to more quickly and accurately identify and classify unknown threats.

Key Features Available now with Explainable Machine Learning, ReversingLabs platform inspires confidence in threat detection verdicts amongst security operations teams through a transparent and context-aware diagnosis, automating manual threat research with results humans can interpret to take informed action on zero day threats, while simultaneously fueling continuous education and the upskilling of analysts. ReversingLabs Explainable Machine Learning is based on machine learning-based binary file analysis, providing high-speed analysis, feature extraction and classification that can be used to enhance telemetry provided to incident response analysts. Key features of ReversingLabs updated platform include:

-- Explainable MachineLearning o Patent-pending Binary Machine Learning Classification Models o New threat-specific machine learning algorithms for a variety of malware types o Explainable Malware Classification Indicators in a human readable format that brings understanding to file classification for security analysts -- Explainable SIEM & SOAR ThreatIntelligence o Integration with leading SIEM platforms, including new or enhanced APIs for Splunk Enterprise and Microsoft Azure Sentinel o Integration to leading SOAR platforms including new or enhanced APIs for Splunk Phantom -- Explainable Threat Insight Dashboards o MITRE ATT&CK Framework Support: Explainable indicators mapped to the MITRE ATT&CK framework for actionable analyst remediation o File Intelligence Dashboard: Enhanced summary of the organizations overall security posture with at-a-glance views into top malware families investigated with human readable understanding broken out by type, and extracted network observables. o New Timeline Analysis Panel: Visualizes zero-day events identified by ReversingLabs before and in comparison to third party detection engines

Effective machine learning results depend on having the right volume, structure, and quality of data to convert information into a relevant finding, said Vijay Doradla, Chief Business Officer at SparkCognition. With access to ReversingLabs cloud extensive repository, we have the breadth, depth, and scale of data necessary to train our machine learning models. Accurate classification and detection of threats fuels the machine learning-driven predictive security model leveraged in our DeepArmor next-generation endpoint protection platform.

1, 2 Gartner, Emerging Technologies and Trends Impact Radar: Security, Lawrence Pingree, et al, 13 November 2019

About ReversingLabsReversingLabs helps Security Operations Center (SOC) teams identify, detect and respond to the latest attacks, advanced persistent threats and polymorphic malware by providing explainable threat intelligence into destructive files and objects.ReversingLabs technology is used by the worlds most advanced security vendors and deployed across all industries searching for a better way to get at the root of the web, mobile, email, cloud, app development and supply chain threat problem, of which files and objects have become major risk contributors.

ReversingLabs Titanium Platform provides broad integration support with more than 4,000 unique file and object formats, speeds detection of malicious objects through automated static analysis, prioritizing the highest risks with actionable detail in only .005 seconds. With unmatched breadth and privacy, the platform accurately detects threats through explainable machine learning models, leveraging the largest repository of malware in the industry, containing more than 10 billion files and objects. Delivering transparency and trust, thousands of human readable indicators explain why a classification and threat verdict was determined, while integrating at scale across the enterprise with connectors that support existing SIEM, SOAR, threat intelligence platform and sandbox investments, reducing incident response time for SOC analysts, while providing high priority and detailed threat information for hunters to take quick action. Learn more at https://www.reversinglabs.com, or connect on LinkedIn or Twitter.

Media Contact: Jennifer Balinski, Guyer Group jennifer.balinski@guyergroup.com

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ReversingLabs Releases First Threat Intelligence Platform with Explainable Machine Learning to Automate Incident Response Processes with Verified...

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MedEvolve, Inc., a leading provider of data-driven solutions that provide unmatched transparency, automation and accountability for healthcare organizations, today unveiled its AI-powered Financial Clearance Workflow Automation platform. The solution leverages visual cues and natural workflow automation to ensure resources are used effectively, financial data is transparent and accurate, revenue cycle risk is minimal, and any necessary follow up or action is easy to identify.

Financial clearance, known to many as pre-registration, comprises all the tasks a healthcare organization should complete before the patient arrives for an appointment. This ensures patients are aware and accountable for any balance owed (past, present and future), and that all necessary information has been verified or collected (demographics, benefits, eligibility, pre-certifications, etc.). Taking these steps allows the claim to move through the revenue cycle without issue or delay.

The number one thing healthcare executives are worried about is how to reduce spend and improve receivables -- and that has everything to do with identifying what you can control when it comes to financial assurances, said Matt Seefeld, Executive Vice President for MedEvolve. Our new platform facilitates work, actions and information required before the patient walks through the door, so practices eliminate risks up front and minimize the chances of missing out on revenue later. Its really about peace of mind and making informed decisions about your practice.

MedEvolve Financial Clearance Workflow Automation provides visual cues so practice executives know where each patient is in the financial clearance process, in real-time, and what needs to happen next. By ensuring that providers have financial sponsorship before delivering care to patients, practices can strengthen their revenue cycles and improve net revenues. Ultimately, providers improve patient engagement by offering more flexibility in scheduling and payment plans, as well as eliminating surprise billing.

People always ask me, what can I do to improve the back-end of the revenue cycle? and I always say, fix the front-end. There are a lot of people and processes involved between scheduling and billing, which means a lot of room for error, said Seefeld. Weve invested a significant amount of time and resources to find the smartest, most natural way for practices to gain transparency into their current processes, avoid denials, understand write-offs, improve training, establish accountability and more.

Financial Clearance Workflow Automation also helps to ensure that practices have the right people in the right positions. Providers can free up staff to focus on the necessary tasks, monitor productivity, establish accountability measures, and provide additional training where needed. On top of that, staff have visibility into their own performance, which boosts morale by empowering them to take ownership in their roles.

We knew our front desk staff were making mistakes, but we didn't know how to resolve them because we couldnt identify the problem areas. We didnt know what changes to make or where the mistakes were being made, said Maryanne Thompson, Controller for MidLantic Urology. Now, if I see Front Desk Denial: COB in our workflow, I can click to see who in which office isnt checking in advance so I can train that person. Our front-line staff feel empowered. They want to know if they missed somethingif they forgot to check insurance for example. It is boosting staff morale and were constantly improving based on the data.

Financial Clearance Workflow Automation joins MedEvolves full suite of solutions designed to eliminate staffing challenges and reduce the cost to collect. To learn more, visit http://www.medevolve.com.

About MedEvolve

MedEvolve empowers physician practices to work smarter with data-driven solutions that provide unmatched transparency, automation and accountability. Our suite of analytics software and services, including MedEvolve RCM Scorecard, is designed to uncover cash opportunities, identify problem areas and resolve issues quickly to improve financial, operational and clinical performance. MedEvolves Workflow Automation solutions eliminate the guess work from managing a practices revenue cycle and leverage AI to define what needs to be worked, when and by whom. In addition, MedEvolve offers Practice Management (PM) technology that can integrate with any EHR and, Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) technology and services. Visit http://www.medevolve.com to learn more.

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MedEvolve Announces Workflow Automation to Minimize Financial Clearance Risk for Physician Practices - Business Wire

In a report released yesterday, Scott Graham from Rosenblatt Securities maintained a Hold rating on Rockwell Automation (ROK), with a price target of $217.00. The companys shares closed last Monday at $198.74, close to its 52-week high of $207.94.

According to TipRanks.com, Graham is a 4-star analyst with an average return of 7.8% and a 63.6% success rate. Graham covers the Industrial Goods sector, focusing on stocks such as AO Smith, Pentair, and Ametek.

Rockwell Automation has an analyst consensus of Hold, with a price target consensus of $193.11.

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Rockwell Automations market cap is currently $23.09B and has a P/E ratio of 25.44. The company has a Price to Book ratio of 32.20.

Based on the recent corporate insider activity of 77 insiders, corporate insider sentiment is negative on the stock. This means that over the past quarter there has been an increase of insiders selling their shares of ROK in relation to earlier this year.

TipRanks has tracked 36,000 company insiders and found that a few of them are better than others when it comes to timing their transactions. See which 3 stocks are most likely to make moves following their insider activities.

Rockwell Automation, Inc. engages in the provision of industrial automation and information services. It operates through the following segments: Architecture and Software, and Control Products and Solutions . The Architecture and Software segment contains hardware, software, and communication components of its integrated control and information architecture which are capable of controlling the customers industrial processes and connecting with their business enterprise. The Control Products and Solutions segment combines a portfolio of intelligent motor control and industrial control products, application expertise, and project management capabilities. The company was founded in 1928 and is headquartered in Milwaukee, WI.

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Rockwell Automation (ROK) Gets a Hold Rating from Rosenblatt Securities - Smarter Analyst