Latest News from Techday NZ
Techday NZ
20 minutes ago
- Business
- Techday NZ
Cast AI unveils Database Optimizer to boost cloud efficiency
Cast AI has announced the launch of its Database Optimizer (DBO), an autonomous caching solution designed to improve performance and efficiency for cloud-hosted databases. The Database Optimizer offers a fully automated, plug-and-play caching layer that does not require application changes or manual intervention, according to Cast AI. The solution is aimed at simplifying database operations, specifically for DevOps teams, platform engineers and cloud database administrators who often face challenges with traditional, labour-intensive caching solutions. Dekel Shavit, Senior Director of Cloud Engineering at Akamai, commented on the product's approach, stating, "Autonomous caching is one of the most effective ways to optimize read-heavy workloads, and Cast AI's approach is brilliantly executed. DBO removes the need for manual tuning while delivering real-time performance gains and cost reductions. It's a strong addition to the Cast AI platform." According to Cast AI, the DBO agent automatically analyses data queries to detect repeat patterns and delivers instant cached responses, leading to a substantial reduction in load on primary databases. The company reports that this can result in a reduction of up to 90% of customer database hits, allowing organisations to downscale database resources and eliminate the need for read replicas. All of these optimisations can be achieved without code changes, manual cache management or other engineering overhead. Key features highlighted by the company include simplified database optimisation through actionable insights and turnkey deployment, a claimed tenfold performance improvement due to near-instant data delivery, and the capability to automate cache management in a no-code fashion. Julius á Rógvi Biskopstø, Chief Technology Officer and Co-founder at Flowcore, described the practical benefits observed from adopting Cast AI's DBO, saying, "One of the toughest challenges with database caching—especially in distributed systems like ours—is cache invalidation. But with Cast AI's DBO, it just works right out of the box. Our workloads are highly cacheable because we separate reads from writes, so integrating with the write channels was straightforward—even in clustering mode." Biskopstø continued, "We're now seeing cache hit rates of 80–90%, which is outstanding. On I/O-bound servers, cutting database hits by 90% has a huge impact—it saves money and significantly improves performance. Our services were already pretty fast, but DBO shaved off an additional 100 milliseconds, which makes a noticeable difference. If you're thinking about adding a cache, DBO is an easy choice." Laurent Gil, Co-founder and President at Cast AI, stated that DBO is designed to make database operations more efficient and cost-effective. Gil said, "Databases are one of the most expensive components in the cloud. It was a natural addition to our Application Performance Automation platform. Our DBO agent increases performance and reduces cost by caching any queries for which it detects a repeat pattern., DBO radically simplifies caching, slashes expenses, and requires no changes to how your apps are built. APA is the future of autonomous computing —high performance, zero overhead." The Database Optimizer is positioned by Cast AI as part of its broader Application Performance Automation platform, which leverages machine learning algorithms to automate cloud resource optimisation, cost management and performance enhancement.
Techday NZ
an hour ago
- Business
- Techday NZ
Strengthening cyber resilience in superannuation
In early April, cybercriminals infiltrated multiple superannuation providers using stolen credentials to drain half a million dollars, while four Australians saw their retirement savings vanish overnight. Investigators are racing to piece together the scale of the breach, emphasizing the growing cybersecurity risks threatening Australia's AU$4.2 trillion retirement savings pool. With 12.6 million superannuation members exposed in recent attacks, the question is no longer if fraudsters will strike, but how the industry can stay ahead in this battle. Even though the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) praised multifactor authentication (MFA) as "one of the most effective controls an organisation can implement" in 2023, the rapid evolution of cybercrime demands more sophisticated defences. Limits of MFA in a changing threat landscape MFA remains one of the critical security measures, requiring users to verify their identity with two or more credentials, which adds an extra layer of friction to deter attacks in the login process. However, cybercriminals are also adapting, using modern tactics such as phishing, social engineering and AI-powered techniques to bypass these defences. Recent superannuation breaches highlight another vulnerability in the digital landscape: inadequate password practices. Many individuals still reuse passwords across platforms, unintentionally simplifying the task for cybercriminals who exploit stolen credentials. Attackers often conduct these crimes unnoticed, causing considerable financial damage before they are detected. Trade-off between cybersecurity and user experience According to the True Cost of Fraud Study by LexisNexis Risk Solutions, Australian organisations saw a 66% year-on-year increase in fraud, with every dollar lost costing firms AUD$3.68. This trend highlights the urgency for a more adaptive and layered approach to fraud prevention. At the same time, customers today expect both security and convenience. Applying MFA to every interaction could be a more robust approach but excessive friction can lead to abandonment, indirectly discouraging users from monitoring their accounts due to higher friction, making them less likely to notice when they have become victims of an attack. A more nuanced, risk-based approach that applies the right level of security based on the context and risks of each interaction allows organisations to detect and disrupt complex fraud in real time without adding unnecessary friction. By aligning protection with risk, businesses can strengthen security without compromising customer experiences. A comprehensive defence strategy involves multiple layers, and each layer strengthens defence against fraudsters. This ensures that if one security measure fails, others remain in place to detect and mitigate fraudulent activity. Key measures should include identity verification, device intelligence, behavioural intelligence and real-time risk scoring: Risk assessments analyse contextual risk signals, such as device reputation, IP geolocation, network patterns and login behaviours. This allows institutions to assess the risk level of each interaction. AI models analyse these signals in real time to assign a risk score, deciding whether extra authentication is necessary. AI-powered identity verification ensures that the individual behind the digital interaction is genuine. Comparing identity details with public records and data from multiple providers further validates the authenticity of the identity. Fraud assessments assess risk associated with an individual's identity by analysing a combination of digital, physical and behavioural signals. With holistic behavioural intelligence, such as keystroke dynamics, device interactions and mouse movements, this approach builds a dynamic profile of each user over time, and deviations from this may signal potentially bot or fraudulent activities. Adaptive authentication: Apply stronger verification for high-risk scenarios dynamically, while maintaining a smooth experience for legitimate users. Recent cyberattacks targeting superannuation funds highlight the need for a more robust digital defence strategy. APRA's multi-factor authentication guidelines offer a solid foundation, but static approaches alone are not enough to manage dynamic threats. Industry players must take a unified, layered approach to safeguard Australia's financial system.
Techday NZ
2 hours ago
- Business
- Techday NZ
APJ region accelerates AI adoption as Dell rolls out new innovations
Artificial intelligence is moving at an incredibly fast speed in the Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) region, according to senior Dell Technologies executives who spoke at a media roundtable during the Dell Tech World conference in Las Vegas. As AI use cases proliferate and investment ramps up, the region is fast emerging as a global leader, both in adoption and ambition. "Asia Pacific is leading the way in generative AI spending, with 38% of AI investment in the region now focused on Gen AI, compared to just 33% in the rest of the world," said Peter Marrs, President of Asia Pacific, Japan and Greater China at Dell. "Even North America sits at 29%," he added, highlighting the region's rapid pace. Dell is positioning itself at the heart of this growth through its AI Factory and a growing ecosystem of technology partners, universities and governments. "There's not an industry that's untouched by AI, but financial services, healthcare, energy, retail and manufacturing really stand out. We're at the forefront of helping customers across these sectors," he added. Transforming business through AI factories The Dell AI Factory, a framework designed to help organisations scale AI, has quickly gained traction. "It's been a year since we announced it, and we've moved from having tens or hundreds of customers globally to thousands," said Chris Kelly, Senior Vice President of Data Center Solutions APJC at Dell. "Not only are more customers deploying it, but they're achieving real, tangible ROI." According to Danny Elmarji, Vice President of Presales APJC at Dell, the AI Factory has resonated because it provides a practical pathway for organisations to adopt AI at scale. "CIOs are trying to understand how to tackle AI inside their business. Unlike past technology shifts, this is fundamentally a business-driven initiative," he explained. Elmarji pointed to significant momentum in financial services, where generative AI is being used to recommend customer actions, automate fraud detection and transform digital banking experiences. In manufacturing, AI is powering digital twin capabilities and revolutionising fault detection, while in healthcare, early detection tools and enhanced electronic medical records are improving patient outcomes. AI is also driving change in retail, with computer vision enabling smarter inventory management, and in education, where Dell is working with universities to personalise learning and foster innovation. "We're building connections between the IT world, research and industry," Kelly noted. "It's about moving beyond pilot projects and making AI meaningful for everyday users." From modular data centres to sovereign AI The roundtable also showcased a unique customer partnership with South Korean AI education platform Elice. CEO Jae Won Kim described how Elice faced soaring costs when trying to provide deep learning environments for students and businesses. "We had to reduce GPU cloud fees by more than 90%," he said. The solution was a portable modular data centre powered by Dell servers, now used for everything from AI digital textbooks for five million students to sovereign AI workloads that comply with government requirements. "There's very limited data centre capacity in Korea for high-density AI workloads," Kim explained. "The modular data centre lets us host hundreds of GPUs, with liquid cooling for the latest chips. It's not just about education anymore – we're talking about a hybrid solution that could be deployed in Japan, Australia or anywhere data centre construction lags demand." Marrs praised the partnership, saying, "You really thought big, and you went and made it happen." Kim's advice for others: "AI is not going away. It's better to start early. If you're worried about investment, modular is the best way to start small and start fast." Innovation and ecosystem challenges Dell's announcements at the conference included a raft of new infrastructure solutions designed to cut energy costs, boost data centre efficiency and accelerate AI deployments of any size. The company's latest cooling technology can reduce energy costs by up to 60%, while new servers with AMD and NVIDIA chips promise up to 35 times greater AI inferencing performance than previous generations. Yet, challenges remain. "The biggest hurdles are people and ecosystem," Marrs acknowledged. "We need to educate the next generation of AI talent and work with governments to create the right regulatory and compliance frameworks." Kelly added, "Access to data centre space, power and cooling is going to be crucial. Requirements are moving so fast that what seemed high density a year ago now looks standard." To address these gaps, Dell is nurturing partnerships with universities, local ISVs and industry bodies, running hundreds of AI innovation days and investing in hands-on labs. "We're enabling partners to experiment in safe environments and bring AI to life," said Elmarji. Dell executives are optimistic but realistic about the scale of change. "We're delivering AI at scale in the largest and most complex use cases, but also helping small startups get started," Kelly said. "You don't have to spend a fortune – start small and grow. If you don't act now, you're falling behind." For Kim, the journey with Dell is just beginning. "It was a huge investment for us, basically a startup. We poured all our money into GPUs. But I think it will be a good journey," he said.
Techday NZ
5 hours ago
- Business
- Techday NZ
Is it time to re-think the business browser?
For Australian businesses, cybersecurity is no longer a peripheral concern - it's front-and-centre. With phishing scams, ransomware and data breaches growing more frequent and sophisticated, the cost of falling victim to cybercrime continues to mount. In the first half of 2024 alone, data breaches in Australia hit a three-and-a-half-year high - a figure that was immediately surpassed by a further 15% jump in the second half of the year. According to the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), the average cost of a cyber attack is rising too. Despite ongoing investments in firewalls, endpoint protection and cloud security, data breaches continue to rise. One everyday tool remains overlooked: the browser. Now the main gateway to cloud apps and sensitive data, browsers weren't designed with enterprise security in mind. Their broad access, lack of visibility, and limited control make them an easy and attractive target for attackers. This raises the question: Are browsers the overlooked weak link in enterprise cybersecurity and could securing them be the missing piece in closing today's growing security and privacy gaps? The overlooked risk in every workplace Modern browsers serve as enterprise workspaces, with employees performing critical operations across SaaS apps, handling corporate data, and managing transactions entirely through browser windows. But most businesses still rely on consumer-focused browsers, which are designed for casual use, not enterprise-level protection. While browsers enable productivity, they also open the door to a range of web-based threats - such as phishing attacks, malicious extensions, and drive-by downloads. Often, employees are unknowingly using browsers that lack the protections required to defend against modern cyber risks. Every time an employee logs into sensitive systems, uploads documents or interacts with data through an unsecured browser, they're expanding their organisation's attack surface - often without knowing it. Why browsers are now a prime cyber target Cybercriminals don't need to breach firewalls to cause damage - they just need to compromise a browser. Once inside, they can gain access to everything from cloud platforms and financial tools to intellectual property and private customer data. With remote work still prominent, browser activity now spans devices, locations and networks - making it harder for IT teams to maintain visibility and control. In the 2023–2024 financial year, phishing accounted for 23% of all cybercrime reports in Australia - making it the most common form of attack. While email is usually the entry point, the browser is where the real damage happens - when a user unknowingly clicks a malicious link, enters their credentials into a fake login page or downloads malware disguised as a legitimate attachment. Despite this, many organisations lack standardised browser policies. They allow third-party extensions without review, have no centralised visibility into browser activity and rely on employees to spot increasingly deceptive scams. A smarter way to work safely To address this growing risk, a new solution is gaining traction: the enterprise browser. Built specifically for business use, these browsers embed security directly into the browsing experience - without slowing users down or requiring complex integrations. They include built-in protections like data loss prevention, centralised policy enforcement, zero-trust access controls and AI-powered threat detection. Rather than relying on separate software layers, enterprise browsers secure sensitive activity at the source - where work actually happens. Solutions like Zoho's Ulaa Enterprise offer a familiar interface with a far more secure backend. IT teams can restrict downloads, block screen captures, manage login permissions and monitor for potentially malicious activity in real time - without disrupting user experience. As threats grow more sophisticated, AI is now essential to browser security. Enterprise browsers use it to analyse behaviour in real time, block phishing pages, categorise sites and stop users from interacting with malicious content. This protection lightens the load on IT teams, enables faster responses and adapts to evolving threats. For instance, if a user clicks on a fake login page, the AI can block input immediately - stopping the breach before it begins. Enterprise browsers offer a practical, cost-effective way to strengthen security without requiring major infrastructure changes. As hybrid work continues and employees - with varying degrees of risk understanding - increasingly use unmanaged devices, securing the browser is one of the most efficient ways to reduce risks. These solutions protect businesses by catching threats right in the browser, reducing the chance of mistakes or gaps in other security tools. They also support compliance by logging activity, protecting sensitive data, and helping businesses stay audit-ready as privacy regulations evolve. With built-in protections, businesses can keep security simple and easy to manage - saving time and money while staying in control. Simultaneously, enterprise browsers respect user privacy, helping to build trust in flexible work settings. For too long, browsers have been treated as consumer tools, even in professional settings. As more business happens online and cyber threats grow smarter, this outdated approach no longer holds up. Companies today need to rethink security, putting the browser front and centre in their defence strategy. Thanks to AI-powered enterprise browsers, businesses can now safeguard their most-used tool without slowing down teams or adding strain to IT. The solution isn't to stop browsing - it's to browse smarter.
Techday NZ
5 hours ago
- Business
- Techday NZ
Farmlands FLEX to deliver solar microgrids for rural sector
Farmlands has announced a partnership with Blackcurrent to launch Farmlands FLEX, a solar and technology joint venture aimed at reshaping energy sourcing and management in New Zealand's rural sector. Farmlands FLEX goes beyond solar panel installations by providing intelligent microgrid systems that are custom-built and managed to serve the specific requirements of working farms and orchards. The initiative seeks to supply farmers with greater energy independence, aiming to reduce power bills, maintain essential operations during outages, and potentially generate an additional income stream. Farmlands Chief Executive Officer Tanya Houghton said, "Rising energy costs are a huge concern for our customers. Finding solutions for on-farm energy needs have been a part of Farmlands' strategy for a long time." To support the profitability and productivity of farmers and growers, Farmlands offers five-year electricity pricing certainty through its partnership with electricity provider Meridian. In addition, Farmlands' fuel joint venture, Fern Energy, is now the country's largest rural bulk fuel provider after three years of operation. With Farmlands FLEX set to become a significant element of its wider service offering, Farmlands is positioning the new system as a response to ongoing industry challenges regarding energy reliability and affordability. Houghton stated, "The on-farm applications for Farmlands FLEX are wide-reaching - the 5am dairy shed power surge, keeping irrigation running during blackouts and protecting frost fans when electricity isn't available or there's an outage. Farmlands FLEX address real farm challenges." The new solution will be formally launched at National Fieldays, but Farmlands and Blackcurrent have indicated that information and consultation opportunities are available now for interested farmers and growers. Among the immediate benefits highlighted for Farmlands FLEX are up to 40 percent reductions in electricity costs, operational continuity during power outages, and the conversion of power expenses into a tangible on-farm asset. There is also scope for customers to generate new income through the sale of surplus energy to the power grid. The company cited examples where farmers have targeted electricity savings in the thousands of dollars per month, and one recent estimate indicated an annual savings of approximately NZD $55,000 for a single customer. Houghton encouraged farmers to begin their own assessments. "No need to wait for Fieldays, grab your power bill and call us to start talking about the options for your farm or orchard." Follow us on: Share on:
