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Techday NZ
3 days ago
- Business
- Techday NZ
Most IT leaders struggle to prove ROI from cloud spending
CloudBolt Software has released a report indicating that most IT leaders struggle to demonstrate return on investment (ROI) from cloud usage, despite claiming confidence in their organisation's FinOps maturity. The report, entitled "Performance vs. Perception: The FinOps Execution Gap," was conducted in partnership with Wakefield Research. It surveyed 350 senior IT leaders across various industries in the United States to assess the current state of Financial Operations (FinOps) practices regarding cloud cost management. The research identifies a notable disconnect between perceived levels of maturity in FinOps practices and the actual operational effectiveness in managing and optimising cloud costs. Although many respondents label their FinOps approaches as mature and automated, a substantial number reveal ongoing challenges in consistently demonstrating the value generated from cloud investments. According to the findings, 78% of IT leaders admitted to difficulties in consistently showcasing cloud ROI. When asked to define ROI, respondents primarily pointed to revenue growth (43%), followed by operational efficiency and productivity (36%), and cost savings (35%). The report also found strong acknowledgement of the rising impact of Kubernetes on cloud expenditure. While 98% of participants agree that Kubernetes is becoming a significant driver of cloud spend, 91% admit they are unable to optimise their Kubernetes clusters effectively, identifying a gap in operational capabilities as container adoption increases. Many organisations report relatively high levels of automation in their cloud operations. The study reveals that 66% of respondents say their environments are mostly or fully automated for cloud waste management and spend optimisation. Despite this, 58% indicate that identifying and remediating cloud-cost waste can still take weeks or months, raising questions about the true extent of automation achieved by these organisations. Kyle Campos, Chief Technology and Product Officer at CloudBolt, stated: "FinOps as a discipline is more sound than ever and continues to evolve effectively. But a good percentage of organizations may be taking a victory lap before even navigating the first turn. Through this research, it's evident that while a majority indicate they believe they've achieved FinOps maturity, the data shows they are still in the early stages of operationalizing and optimizing FinOps practices. Confidence in lieu of measurable progress obscures reality and hinders the improvement necessary for significant business impact." When identifying barriers to optimising ROI from cloud investments, 55% of respondents cited difficulty in linking cloud expenditure directly to business outcomes. Other key challenges include organisational misalignment and operational silos (48%), as well as issues related to inefficient resource management, such as poor tagging and inconsistent accountability (44%). The report also highlights the ongoing relevance of private cloud and data centres in driving ROI, with hybrid multi-cloud management identified as the top priority for 42% of those surveyed. Over the next six to twelve months, 39% of respondents expect hybrid cloud management to be a funded priority, second only to the optimisation of artificial intelligence and machine learning workloads (AI/ML cloud-cost optimisation), which was cited by 40%. Campos added: "Leaders believe they have visibility into their cloud spend. Yet without necessary governance, enforcement, and effective remediation, they are doing little to reduce the insight-to-action gap – the time it takes to go from 'we have a problem' to 'problem fixed and cost optimized.' This leads to persistent inefficiencies and inflated costs. Kubernetes and AI-driven workloads especially highlight this disconnect – rapid adoption without proper operational control and automated actions (both retrospective and proactive) is dramatically affecting return on investment. If FinOps practices are not focusing on continuous optimization and employing the capabilities to execute on that, organizations will continue to struggle to effectively show cloud ROI." The full report includes comprehensive data analysis and recommendations, addressing the existing gaps between FinOps perceptions and the realities of cloud operational performance.
Forbes
22-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
7 Free AI Courses To Sharpen Your Skills And Resume In 2025
In a recent survey conducted by Wakefield Research and sponsored by SAP, 74% of executives place more confidence in AI for advice than in their family and friends. Moreover, 55% of executives work at firms where AI-driven insights have already replaced or bypassed traditional decision-making processes. It's no wonder employers now expect virtually all employees to have a baseline understanding of AI concepts. The good news? I've identified seven reputable, free AI courses—most of which you can complete online in a single weekend. This micro-learning approach offers a practical solution for busy professionals. Each free AI course delivers specific skills to enhance your resume and signal to employers that you're prepared for the latest innovations. Created by AI pioneer Andrew Ng, this free AI course helps non-technical professionals understand AI's business implications without complex mathematics or coding. The curriculum focuses on practical frameworks for identifying AI opportunities, distinguishing between hype and genuine capabilities and developing a structured vocabulary for discussing AI projects with technical teams. This free AI course has trained over one million professionals on complex concepts like neural networks, machine learning algorithms, and Bayesian probability without requiring a mathematical background. Through interactive exercises and real-world examples, you'll gain insight into how AI systems make decisions and why they sometimes produce unexpected or biased results. Google's internal machine learning training program offers hands-on experience with TensorFlow, balancing theoretical concepts with practical implementation. While more technically demanding than other recommendations, this free AI course remains accessible to professionals with basic programming familiarity, teaching you to prepare data, select appropriate algorithms, evaluate model performance, and avoid common pitfalls that lead to poor results. Microsoft's course focuses on generative AI, the technology behind tools like ChatGPT and DALL-E, and covers foundational concepts like large language models, prompt engineering and responsible AI implementation. This free AI course explores practical business applications across departments and teaches specific techniques for crafting effective prompts that produce useful outputs while addressing implementation challenges and governance considerations. IBM's free AI course stands out for its emphasis on enterprise AI implementation and governance, exploring how organizations evaluate, select, and deploy AI solutions across functions. The curriculum provides valuable insights into AI project management, including stakeholder alignment, success metrics and change management considerations. At the same time, the course teaches frameworks for identifying high-value use cases and avoiding common implementation pitfalls that lead to abandoned projects. As AI systems increasingly influence consequential decisions, LinkedIn Learning's AI course addresses critical topics, including algorithmic bias, data privacy, transparency requirements, and emerging regulatory frameworks. The curriculum explores real-world cases where AI systems produce harmful or discriminatory outcomes, analyzing root causes and prevention strategies while providing practical guidance for evaluating AI systems against ethical principles and identifying potential risks before deployment. If you have basic programming experience and want a deeper technical understanding, offers a code-first approach to deep learning that starts with practical implementation rather than mathematical theory. This free AI course focuses on building functional models for real-world applications like image recognition, natural language processing and recommendation systems, teaching you to leverage pre-trained models through transfer learning. This technique delivers impressive results without massive datasets or computational resources. Adding these free AI courses to your resume requires strategic placement and framing: While these free AI courses provide a valuable foundation, true mastery comes through application. Consider these follow-up activities: In the race to stay professionally relevant, AI literacy has quickly shifted from a "nice-to-have" skill to a "must-have." The most valuable aspect of these free AI courses isn't just the knowledge gained. They provide the foundation for continuous learning in a rapidly evolving field. By honing these cutting-edge skills, you'll be better equipped to leverage new developments as AI capabilities continue advancing.
Associated Press
13-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Women and Heart Disease: Those Most at Risk Are Most in Need of the Conversation
The United States is at a tipping point when it comes to women's health, and heart health remains the deadliest concern of all.1 For more than 100 years, cardiovascular disease has been the leading cause of death in women, accounting for about one out of every three female deaths (more than all cancers combined).2,3 Medtronic is working relentlessly to ensure women receive personalized, evidence-based solutions, tailored to them. This May, during Women's Health Month and Mother's Day, we encourage people to make the pledge to talk to their mother or the women in their lives about heart health. From high blood pressure and irregular heartbeats to common conditions like heart valve failure (severe aortic stenosis)† and coronary artery disease, it's important today and every day to not skip a beat — learn your family history, risk factors, and the signs and symptoms of heart disease. Receiving the right advice at the right time can impact your life, and in the case of heart disease, may help save your life.1 One letter can help start a new conversation about what it means to take care of your own heart health. What would you say to your mother or a woman in your life if you knew it could change the course of her life? A new Medtronic-sponsored survey of women ages 30–50 sheds light on a gap in awareness and discussion around heart health, despite more than 60 million women in the United States living with some form of heart disease.‡ Women discuss sensitive topics like 'the birds and the bees' and body image — but heart health is left out of conversations at the doctor's office and dinner table. Heart disease can present differently in women, with symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, chest discomfort, or pain in the neck, jaw, or throat.4,5Learn more and talk to your doctor about solutions for heart disease and high blood pressure (hypertension). Learn more and take the pledge to talk to your mother or the women in your life about heart health today. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ‡ Medtronic engaged Wakefield Research to conduct a nationally representative survey to gain insights into consumer perceptions and awareness of heart disease in women, targeted to the 'daughters' that are sandwiched between taking care of their health, their children, and parents. The survey was deployed among 1,000 U.S. women, ages 30 to 50, with a living mother and a living child, between March 13 and March 17, 2025, using an email invitation and an online survey. Data has been weighted. More than half of U.S. adults don't know heart disease is the leading cause of death, despite 100-year reignFacts | Go Red for WomenChanging the way we view women's heart attack symptoms Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Medtronic
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
More Painful Than Combat: 91% of Veterans Say Debt Worsens PTSD In a New Study from National Debt Relief
Three-quarters of Younger Veterans with Debt are Still Paying off Amounts Incurred While Serving NEW YORK, May 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- National Debt Relief, the industry leader in debt settlement known for its unique approach to debt relief, today released the findings of a powerful new study revealing that many U.S. veterans face mounting debt, financial instability and emotional strain as they transition to civilian life. Conducted in partnership with Wakefield Research, the study polled 1,000 U.S. veterans ages 21 and older who are no longer in military service, offering a sobering look at the challenges faced after service. According to the findings, 91% of veterans who have completed their service believe debt can worsen military-related PTSD, an impact personally experienced by more than one-third (34%) of younger veterans. The survey also revealed that nearly 4 in 10 veterans (37%) face constant stress over paying bills, which rises sharply to 51% among Gen Z and Millennial veterans. "For many veterans, debt has become another battle to fight. When savings are low and debt tops $10,000 or more, even small setbacks can become overwhelming, especially when already carrying the invisible wounds of service," said Natalia Brown, Chief Compliance and Consumer Affairs Officer, National Debt Relief. "We see debt is weighing heavily on those who've served, especially in younger veterans, and many veterans may not realize there are solutions and support available to ease financial worry, giving veterans a clearer path to stability and independence from debt." Other key findings from the survey include: The majority of veterans have some type of debt (90%) 72% carry credit card debt – a third of those with credit card or personal loan debt owe $10,000 or more Medical bills are a source of current debt for 30% of veterans, including 44% of Gen Z / Millennials veterans Veterans who hold medical debt are more likely than others to feel afraid, overwhelmed or confused at the thought of paying off their unsecured debt (35%, compared to 22% of all veterans) Nearly a quarter of veterans (23%) have no money in savings at all 78% are concerned about their financial or job situation due to the current economic landscape – this concern increases among Gen Z and Millennial veterans (86%) While all veterans confront post-service struggles, the burden is hefty for younger generations. Among Gen Z and Millennial veterans, 77% of those with debt are still repaying amounts incurred during active duty, over half (54%) have worked longer hours than they'd like to stay afloat, and one in three (33%) are skipping meals or eating less because they can't afford enough food due to debt. "I've walked this road—both my wife and I served, and we know what it's like to face financial uncertainty after active duty," said Phillip Easton, Managing Director, The American College of Financial Services' Center for Military and Veterans Affairs. "This survey puts numbers to what so many veterans are quietly enduring: living paycheck to paycheck, struggling to find and build a career after service, and sometimes skipping meals just to make ends meet. But it's not just about dollars and cents—it's about dignity. Financial instability can take a toll on a veteran's confidence and sense of worth. Financial literacy and support to build financial health must be recognized as core pillars of a successful transition, not afterthoughts once the uniform comes off." Without the right resources, even the most resilient veterans can struggle to regain their footing. Many Gen Z and Millennial veterans leave service without the financial knowledge or support they need. For 43% of Gen Z and Millennial veterans, it took six months or more to find a job after leaving the military, and 28% admitted they didn't know how to manage their finances in those crucial first few months. These types of financial challenges can quickly snowball into high-interest debt, missed bills, and lost opportunities—fueling a cycle that's difficult to escape. "Debt isn't just a financial issue—it's an emotional and psychological weight," added Brown. "At National Debt Relief, we're committed to helping veterans build financial resiliency through trusted support and proven solutions, like debt settlement, so no one has to face these challenges alone." Debt settlement is an option for anyone with more than $7,500 in unsecured debt, like credit card debt, medical debt, personal loan debt or business debt. The National Debt Relief debt settlement program allows clients to get out of debt more quickly than minimum payments, avoid bankruptcy, and pay less than what they originally owe in manageable payments that fit their budget. Learn more at or call 1-800-718-0487 for a no obligation, free consultation with a certified debt specialist today. About National Debt ReliefNational Debt Relief is redefining the debt settlement journey. Our Whole Human Finance™ approach empowers, supports and guides our clients as they transform their lives by reclaiming their financial health and independence. As an accredited BBB A+ business and named the top-rated debt settlement company in 2023 and 2024 by Forbes Advisor, National Debt Relief has been recognized since 2009 for its human-centric approach to helping clients achieve financial wellness, and for helping hundreds of thousands of people resolve their debt and rediscover their whole selves. For more information, please visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE National Debt Relief Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Fast Company
05-05-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
This is how long small business owners think they can survive revenue shortfalls
Running a small business demands many skills, including ambition and resilience. However, nothing beats financial preparedness—especially as the Trump administration's tariffs loom. A new survey from TD Bank suggests that small business owners may not be as prepared for revenue shortfalls as they'd like to believe. Wakefield Research conducted the Financial Preparedness Survey among U.S. small business owners who have 100 employees or fewer and revenues of $100,000+ annually. Overwhelmingly, respondents reported that their business is equipped for whatever challenges the next 12 to 18 months may bring, with 94% saying they were ready. But most also admitted their business could not withstand temporary revenue shortfalls. In the survey, 72% of respondents said insufficient revenue for two quarters or less would cause them concern about their business's future. And, more concerningly, 43% said longer dips, for three to four quarters, would be catastrophic. In other words, their business would not survive the impact of more than two quarters where revenue fell short. With the impact of federal layoffs and tariffs already setting in, 99% of respondents said they are assessing overall preparedness more frequently. 'Now, more than ever, it is critical for business owners to be financially prepared,' Andy Bregenzer, cohead of U.S. Commercial Banking at TD Bank, said in the report. 'Business owners who invest the time to create a financial plan will be better positioned to face challenges and seize new opportunities.' Still, respondents were divided on how to gauge their readiness. More than half say a positive cash flow is a telltale signal for how well equipped they are, while 37% said enough capital to cover emergencies is the most important way to stay afloat. Small business owners are not the only ones who are. In a recent survey of 5,000 frontline workers, 52% said they fear they will be laid off, while 74% said they expect Trump's tariffs to impact their earning potential. Unsurprisingly, 77% of these workers said it's small business owners, rather than Wall Street, who will be hurt by tariffs.
