In the gaming world, one of the most popular types is the simulation category. These games are designed to closely imitate real-world activities. As the player makes decisions and analyzes current conditions the results of their choices and decisions impact what happens next in the game. These types of simulations are often used in role-play games, war games, or even business games. The whole point of such games is to teach the player something about their decisions and their environment.

The founder of the Boy Scouts, Robert Baden-Powell, once said “Be Prepared… the meaning of the motto is that a scout must prepare himself by previous thinking out and practicing how to act on any accident or emergency so that he is never taken by surprise.” Much like the Boy Scouts, IT departments must also embrace the “Be Prepared” motto. Emergencies and accidents are no longer a matter of “if” but “when”.

Technically awards season has ended, at least when it comes to Hollywood. There. were some big wins for Oppenheimer, and who wasn’t feeling the Kenergy? 2024 is also shaping up as a big year for 11:11, as we’ve already brought home several awards. And now we have been awarded the 2024 Cloud Computing Product of the Year Award for 11:11 Cloud , presented by presented by Cloud Computing Magazine.

Confucius once said famously, “A man who does not plan long ahead will find trouble at his door.” No truer words could be spoken about today’s cyberthreat landscape. According to Cybersecurity Magazine, ransomware attacks are predicted to surge from occurring every 11 seconds now, to every two seconds over the next decade. As such, business continuity planning has never been more significant to individuals and organizations.

It’s been nearly 365 days since the last World Backup Day, and we’ve got a lot to discuss. Let’s see, I completed my annual rewatch of The Sopranos. I took a deep dive into the SEC’s new cybersecurity rules and the nature of “materiality.” My wife and I finally agreed on a new sectional for the living room. What else … OH YEAH AND WE HAD A KID. Like I said, it’s been quite the year.

Much like our own blood, data is the lifeblood that flows through the arteries of business today. Organizations must ensure that data is protected appropriately based on that data’s sensitivity, criticality, and regulatory or contractual requirements. These protections are provided through administrative, technical, and physical controls. The primary goal of these controls is to provide preventative, detective, or corrective capabilities.

Earlier this week, we debuted our mini-series on the SEC’s new cybersecurity rules. In case you missed it — and, understandably, don’t have the bandwidth to backtrack — Part I explored how the (seemingly perpetual) explosion in data creation, data value, and IT complexity since the dawn of the digital age has come to shape our society. In particular, we note why these trends are responsible for our current IT predicament, namely, the rise in threats, risks, and regulations.

Prior to Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware at the end of 2023, there were more than 4,500 VMware cloud service providers worldwide. Today, that number has narrowed significantly, introducing seismic changes to the technology solution marketplace.

As the digital age unfolds, we continue to see seismic increases — decade-to-decade, year-to-year, and even month-to-month — in the amount of data we create as well as its value to us, both individually and collectively. From medical records, financial statements, and classified government documents to transactional processing systems, customer information, social media engagements, pictures of our pets, and so much more, data is the lifeblood of modern society.

The Roman philosopher Seneca once said, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” In Vegas, when you are on a roll, you are on a roll. To beat the odds, you must be smart and disciplined. Whether winning big at the tables or championships on the basketball court, there is no better feeling. Often athletes are asked what it means to win and they often don’t have the words to describe it. Winning, regardless of the endeavor, almost always is a team effort.