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While the overall job market may still be struggling, for those in the field of big data, the opportunities are plentiful. We’re currently in the middle of a big data boom, where companies of all shapes and sizes are finding ways to use big data to grow and be more successful than ever before. Businesses are in the hunt for people that possess the right skills for big data jobs that have been rapidly emerging in recent years. Higher education is also responding, instituting programs and new degrees to keep up with the demand. In a field that is still ripe with innovation, changes are expected to happen on a fairly regular basis.

Ian Kilpatrick, chairman Wick Hill Group, specialists in secure IP infrastructure solutions, looks at the risks involved with mobile devices and how to secure them.

Mobile devices with their large data capacities, always on capabilities, and global communications access, can represent both a business applications’ dream and a business risk nightmare.

For those in the security industry, the focus is mainly on deploying “solutions” to provide protection. However, we are now at one of those key points of change which happen perhaps once in a generation, and that demand a new way of looking at things.

Companies have plenty of reasons to make bring your own device (BYOD) policies a part of their businesses. One of the main attractions, and a primary reason for adopting BYOD in the first place, is how using a personal device makes employees more productive both in the workplace and at home. Another consequence of using BYOD is that employees are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs. But with these benefits also comes the concern over BYOD cost. BYOD’s most vocal proponents say the policy ends up saving businesses money in the long run, but its critics maintain that bring your own device is ultimately costly.

Cloud computing, on a personal or business level, hasn’t been around for long. 2010 and 2011 were banner years for the implementation of cloud. There was some movement in the industry before that, but 2010 and especially 2011 were when things really started to take off.

If there’s one thing we as marketers have to admit we’re guilty of at times, it’s the use of buzzwords. Especially in the CMS world, acronyms (WCM, CXM, DXM) abound, and the latest terminology can feel like nothing more than the current fad. It’s true, the industry has a terminology overload, but it’s for this reason especially that, when they come around, game-changing concepts need to be explored and identified. Content-as-a-Service, or CaaS, is one such game-changer.

In a world where security threats seem to rise up every day, protecting vital business data is more important than ever before. Stories of large corporations suffering from security breaches seem to be a common sight in the headlines now. It’s something every company wishes to avoid, but finding ways to fight present and future attackers has proven challenging to say the least. For any business just starting out, in addition to providing quality products and excellent service, establishing effective network security is a must. Without it, the chances of losing customer data increases dramatically.

Who doesn’t like the idea of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) for business? Having employees use their own personal devices for work sounds like a great idea. For one thing, they’ll be more productive as they are already familiar with their devices. They’ll also be more satisfied with their work since they won’t have to struggle with learning how to operate a new smartphone or tablet. Plus, companies can save on costs since they won’t need to buy devices for their employees. So what’s the downside? For many business leaders, the chief concern no matter the BYOD policies enacted is that of security.

One of my favorite local companies, Blend Interactive, recently made some news this past week. Blend Interactive has named Karla Santi as their Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Santi has been a partner at Blend Interactive since the company formed in 2005, where, to the public, she served as Creative Director and, behind the scenes, handled a good chunk of operational oversight.

Blend Interactive is a web design, development, and strategy firm located in Sioux Falls, SD. Blend Interactive specializes in custom design, strategy and development for web and mobile, and is responsible for the annual Now What? Conference.