Cloud & Big Data Executive, Baseball & Tennis Enthusiast, NFL fan, and Restaurant critic
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Steve Singer
How AI is changing business planning Original
Every organisation needs to plan. But with AI constantly changing, businesses need to improve their forecasting capabilities to adapt more effectively. Our conversations with senior business leaders reveal two common challenges that are consistently top of mind: growth and margins. Many are working out how to grow in a tough environment, improve efficiency and do more with less in an ever-changing marketplace. While the economic outlook is improving, there is still plenty of uncertainty.
Maryland Behavior Announces Statewide ABA Therapy Services for Children with Autism in Maryland
Maryland ABA provider offers individualized, BCBA-supervised services for children with autism, including in-home ABA therapy and family training. Families deserve clear guidance when starting ABA therapy.
Maryland Behavior Announces Statewide ABA Therapy Services for Children with Autism in Maryland
Maryland Behavior Announces Statewide ABA Therapy Services for Children with Autism in Maryland Maryland ABA provider offers individualized, BCBA-supervised services for children with autism, including in-home ABA therapy and family training. Families deserve clear guidance when starting ABA therapy.
Challenges and benefits: IT Security, four-day workweek
After a successful trial in the U.K., Australian company Oxfam Australia has become the first to trial a four-day week after a landmark bargaining agreement. The company agreed to a deal with the Australian Services Union to run a six-month pilot without losing pay to see how it impacts the workforce.
As Australian VPN exploits grow, Zero Trust is the way forward
GUEST OPINION by Steve Singer, Senior Regional Vice President, Australia & New Zealand at Zscaler: The uptake of remote access technology in Australia has heightened vulnerabilities and risks for enterprises, across various sectors, including government departments and agencies. With a remote and hybrid workforce becoming the new norm, Australian businesses are facing a greater risk of attacks and exploitation by cybercriminals.
Why your organisation needs a supply chain risk management strategy
There was a time when all IT security teams had to be concerned about was the resources housed within their on-premises, firewall-protected infrastructures. As long as threats did not breach through the walls, life was easy. Fast forward to 2022, however, and the picture is very different, Steve Singer, regional vice president and ANZ country manager at Zscaler, writes. Remote workers and cloud-based resources mean that the concept of a secure perimeter is now almost meaningless.
Why the cloud delivers more than a best-of-breed IT strategy
GUEST OPINION: Back in the early years of the twenty-first century, the role of IT teams was very different from what it is today. Needing to keep the corporate data centre humming, IT's time was spent managing racks of equipment, server, storage, and other networking point products provided by a slew of different vendors. It then fell on the IT team to stitch those point products together to form a technology platform that could meet the business's computing needs.
Five ways financial firms can get better value from hybrid IT
Faced with shifting customer demands and the emergence of new, nimble competitors, Australia’s financial sector has been forced to reinvent itself. by Steve Singer - February 22, 2022 0 comments Rather than relying on in-branch, face-to-face interactions, banks, and other firms have embraced cloud platforms and mobile-friendly user interfaces. The result is more productive staff and improved customer experiences.
How an active defence strategy can boost your organisation’s cyber resilience
GUEST OPINION by Steve Singer, Regional Vice President and ANZ Country Manager, Zscaler: Faced with a rapidly evolving threat landscape and the increasing likelihood of falling victim to an attack, growing numbers of organisations are taking a more proactive approach to their IT security. Rather than monitoring for attacks and reacting when they occur, security teams are taking the fight to their adversaries.
How to quickly regain control after a ransomware attack
With the number of ransomware attacks continuing to climb worldwide, businesses are focused on taking steps to avoid falling victim. Rigorous defence measures and user education sessions are being rolled out to reduce risks and lower the chances of disruption. However, while such steps are necessary, attention also needs to be given to how an organisation would gain control of its IT infrastructure should an attack take place.
How the pandemic is prompting the ‘re-networking’ of corporate offices
GUEST OPINION by Steve Singer, Regional Vice President and Country Manager – ANZ, Zscaler: The ongoing global pandemic has caused fundamental changes to businesses. Two of the most significant have been the widespread adoption of remote working and the increased usage of cloud-based collaboration platforms. When lockdowns began, many organisations were forced to channel traffic from home-based workers through existing virtual private network (VPN) links.
Will 2022 be your year of multi-cloud adoption?
By Contributor, Wed 19 Jan 2022 Article by Zscaler regional vice president and A/NZ country manager, Steve Singer. Transitional changes in technology are happening at an ever-increasing rate, and the pace is unlikely to slow any time soon. In the past, the strategic focus tended to be on shifting from a physical to a virtualised infrastructure. Rather than purchasing multiple boxes, servers were created in software and then decommissioned at the press of a button.
Will 2022 be your year of multi-cloud adoption? Original
By Contributor, Yesterday Article by Zscaler regional vice president and A/NZ country manager, Steve Singer. Transitional changes in technology are happening at an ever-increasing rate, and the pace is unlikely to slow any time soon. In the past, the strategic focus tended to be on shifting from a physical to a virtualised infrastructure. Rather than purchasing multiple boxes, servers were created in software and then decommissioned at the press of a button.
Key technology trends that will shape Australian business in 2022
GUEST OPINION: Battered and bruised from the harsh realities of COVID lockdowns, Australian businesses are looking forward to what they hope will be a much better year ahead. With restrictions easing and economic life showing positive signs, strategies are being drawn up to guide future growth. A key part of this process involves formulating plans for cybersecurity IT investment and deployments. There are a number of key trends that appear likely to influence these new technology plans during 2022.
Why identity sits at the heart of successful zero-trust deployments
The concept of zero trust security is increasingly understood within Australian businesses, yet many remain unsure about exactly how it can be implemented. Treating everything within (or connecting to) a corporate IT infrastructure as potentially hostile has required a shift in thinking for IT teams.
Reducing the threats posed by double-extortion ransomware attacks
They’ve been a thorn in the side of IT security teams for years, but now ransomware attacks are taking on a more sinister form. Since first appearing in the early 1990s, ransomware has carved a trail of destruction and financial loss around the globe. Organisations that fall victim must choose between being locked out of their digital data or paying a ransom demand. Now, attackers are adopting a new tactic.
Zero Trust Security: What The Strategy Means For Employees
Zero trust security is delivering strong protection for organisations battling a rising tide of cyber threats. However, less attention is given to the impact it will have on employees. Zero trust is a holistic approach to security based on the principle that no user or application should be inherently trusted. It starts with the assumption that everything is hostile and only establishes trust based upon user identity and context.
Busting the myths around scanning encrypted traffic
Constant scanning of encrypted data traffic is seen as a critical component of all IT security strategies, yet alarming numbers of organisations opt not to do it. As a result, they provide a tempting channel for cybercriminals to gain entry into their IT infrastructure and either steal data or cause disruption. On the other hand, the encryption hides their activity and enables them to act with immunity. The reasons for not scanning are varied. However, each can be shown to be without merit.
Ransomware’s ‘home truths’
GUEST OPINION by Steve Singer, Regional Vice President - Australia and New Zealand, Zscaler::It’s been a torrid year for cybersecurity infections, and the targets have been indiscriminate. It’s time we faced up to some ‘home truths’ about the situation, The repercussions of the Colonial Pipeline, JSA and Kaseya VSA product ransomware attacks may have spooked its attackers into laying low for a bit, but it won’t last.
Why digital adaptation is critical in a post-COVID world
GUEST OPINION by Steve Singer, Regional Vice President and Country Manager – Australia and New Zealand at Zscaler: When the global pandemic turned the world of work on its head in early 2020, many organisations had to radically rethink their methods of operation. Staff had to be equipped to work remotely and core processes and service delivery models rearchitected to operate effectively amid radically different conditions. In many cases, these changes now appear likely to become permanent.
Thinking beyond the VPN
When forced to allow the majority of staff to work from home when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, many organisations made boosting their VPN capacity a top priority. Now, more than 12 months later, growing numbers are choosing a different path. While VPNs were effective when limited numbers of people were working remotely, they were cumbersome and expensive to expand to meet the demands of larger numbers.
Opinion | Cambridge should put brakes on Blair mega-warehouse
By Steve Singer Special to Waterloo Region Record Mon., May 3, 2021timer4 min. read updateArticle was updated 1 hr ago The residents of Blair are upset and well they should be. Five years ago they agreed to a request by the City of Cambridge and a developer to create a low-impact industrial park at the corner of Old Mill and Dickie Settlement roads, comprising 14 building lots.
Taking strategic steps to defend against IT supply-chain attacks
by Steve Singer The massive SolarWinds cyberattack that was revealed in the closing weeks of 2020 has had an impact on thousands of organisations around the world. From the US Treasury Department and Homeland Security to software and mining companies, organisations are coming to terms with data losses and disruptions. These types of attacks are sophisticated and targeted in nature.
Opinion | Pandemic has taught us we need to start buying Canadian before it’s too late
By Steve SingerSpecial to Waterloo Region Record Sun., Jan. 10, 2021timer4 min. read When COVID-19 struck in March and we needed personal protective equipment, our cupboards were bare and the supply chain from Asia was in tatters.
Why now is the time for businesses to invest in information technology
GUEST OPINION by Steve Singer, ANZ Country Manager, Talend: Amid the confusion and uncertainty that has marked the COVID-19 crisis, many organisations have been hesitant to invest in new IT infrastructure. Preferring to wait until conditions become clearer, they are opting to stick with what they already have in place. While such an attitude is perfectly understandable, it’s unfortunately misguided.
Why smart cities will rely on edge computing for success
Talend By Steve Singer, ANZ Country Manager, Talend Thursday, 28 May, 2020 Despite living in a country full of wide-open spaces and beautiful rural landscapes, most Australians opt to live in cities. Indeed, even if the COVID-19 pandemic and the confinement of populations around the world makes it difficult for some people to live in cities, urban populations will continue to grow at such a rate that only a smart city strategy will improve the lives of all residents.
Perspective | Are teachers allowed to think — or expected to simply follow directions?
Last week, I published a story about the degrading exercise teachers go through in securing basic supplies for their students because the schools don’t. I asked teachers to tell me about their supply stories and received more than 1,200 responses, and they are still coming in. This is a look at another problem teachers face, by a teacher who faces it every school day: Are teachers really allowed to think for themselves, or are their days scripted for them by non-educators?
Why utilities can’t afford not to harness data
By Steve Singer, Talend ANZ managing director The extraordinary spread of smart technology, and the ready access it has provided to a mother lode of real time data, is changing the way companies deliver customer service in a slew of Australian industries, including the utilities sector.
Let voters fix Harrisburg school board – not state takeover | Opinion
Pushing the self-destruct button is the ultimate measure of last resort. But that’s how several Pennsylvania lawmakers are suggesting we fix the dysfunctional Harrisburg School Board. An election that could oust most of the very school directors responsible for the district’s troubles is less than a month away.
Why APIs hold the key to a killer customer experience
Article by Steve Singer, ANZ Country Manager, Talend The term API – Application Programming Interface – refers to the set of communication protocols or rules which allow an application to access the features of, or data contained in, another operating system or program. APIs can make it possible for companies to build rich and accurate profiles of their customers by aggregating data about them from multiple computer systems, inside and outside the enterprise.
Why moving data to the cloud presents future business opportunities
Information is being exchanged in ever-increasing volumes, so it is somewhat of an understatement to say that organisations today are facing a complex data landscape. Data exists in on-premises systems and in the cloud and it is used across applications and accessed across departments. Websites and social media platforms are constantly adding data to the mix within the enterprise, as well as new sources such as the Internet of Things (IoT) via sensors and smart, connected devices.
Data quality and the democratisation of AI
Constructing machine learning and artificial intelligence models is no easy task. Although there is a lot of noise around AI, the actual art and application of this technology does require a depth of understanding about mathematics, as well as the technical know-how to develop meaningful AI models and algorithms.
IT Brief Australia - How to avoid your data lake becoming a data ‘swamp’
Article by Steve Singer, A/NZ country manager at Talend In today’s highly competitive, always-on business world, organisations are seeking to gain an edge through digital transformation. As a result, many feel a sense of urgency to change everything they do - from manufacturing to customer service - in a constant pursuit of continuous innovation and process efficiency. Data sits at the heart of all these digital transformation projects.
LOOR
EARLY BIRD DEADLINE IS END OF DAY MARCH 15TH!Take advantage of the Early Bird Rates for the Susan Hood Trophy Race, the Lake Ontario 300 and 600 Challenges, and the LOSHRS races! Deadline to register AND make your payment, is end of day on Thursday, March 15th.Look at...
LOOR
For immediate release: Friday, May 4th, 2018 North Sails becomes exclusive sailmaker sponsor of the Susan Hood Trophy Race and the LO300/LO600 Challenges Lake Ontario Offshore Racing are pleased to announce North Sails as the exclusive sailmaker sponsor of the Susan Hood Trophy Race and the Lake Ontario 300/600 Challenges, both presented by DriveHG.
IT Brief Australia - AI and the cloud - a match made in heaven
Article by Steve Singer, ANZ country manager, Talend When it comes to technology trends, they don’t get much bigger than cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI). Together, they have the potential to deliver benefits to businesses that have previously been unimagined. Separately, the two technologies are already well established. The global AI market is expected to be worth almost $60 billion by 2025, up from $2.5 billion at the end of 2017.
Why customers remain lukewarm when it comes to Open Banking
Australian proponents of Open Banking who eagerly watched the UK launch earlier this year are likely to be feeling somewhat disappointed. Rather than setting the world of finance on fire, the concept has been met with a collective shrug. Under the Open Banking rules that came into force in January, large UK banks are required to make customer data available to third-party financial service providers.
IT Brief Australia - The benefits and challenges of adopting a multi-cloud strategy
Article by Steve Singer, ANZ country manager at Talend Cloud-based platforms have become a standard component within most enterprise IT infrastructures, however, many organisations find they cannot source everything they need from a single provider. As a result, increasing numbers are adopting a multi-cloud strategy in an effort to better meet their business requirements.
Getting the security / risk balance right in the public sector
As well as causing frustration for millions of Australians, the widespread problems experienced during the 2016 census shone a bright light on the importance of IT security in the public sector. During the census, a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack prevented many people from filling in electronic forms with their personal details. The result was a tedious wait for citizens and significant embarrassment for those in charge.
NAB cuts 1,000 jobs as ‘digitisation’ begins
NAB staff were informed by chief people officer Lorraine Murphy yesterday that “the next phase in transforming our business is underway, as part of a three-year process". In November 2017, InvestorDaily reported on the major bank’s plans to cut 6,000 jobs and create 2,000 new digital-focused jobs by 2020. A NAB spokesperson told InvestorDaily approximately 1,000 jobs will be cut every six months for the next three years.
Wells Fargo AM expands multi-asset team
Former Schroders head of advanced beta, multi-asset and head of portfolio construction and trading systems, Peter Weidner and Mark Brandreth, have been appointed as head of factor solutions and senior portfolio manager at Wells Fargo AM, respectively. The two senior appointments are the latest additions to Wells Fargo AM’s multi-asset team, which has now seen six new appointments since October.
Actuaries Institute deputy CEO steps into top job
Elayne Grace moves into the new role after four years as deputy chief executive and head of public policy, where she developed and implemented public policy strategy and managed research programs for the institute. She replaces former chief executive David Bell, who resigned in late 2017.
New ASIC boss outlines priorities
ASIC chairman James Shipton, who took over from acting chair Peter Kell on 1 February, appeared before the parliamentary joint committee (PJC) on Friday. In his opening address, Mr Shipton noted the duty ASIC has to the public, given that the financial services industry manages, as he put it, "other people's money".
Premium China Funds Management names new CEO
Paul Harding-Davis steps into the role from Australian Unity Personal Financial Services where he was head of advice for three years, according to a statement. During and prior to this, he also served as chief executive of Premium Wealth Management, which was founded by Premium China Funds Management (PCFM) executive chairman Simon Wu and subsequently sold to Australian Unity in 2015.
‘Advice-led’ IOOF stumbles on profit
IOOF's statutory net profit after tax for the half-year to 31 December 2017 was $45.2 million, down 39 per cent on the prior corresponding period. The result is largely down to costs relating to the acquisition of ANZ's OnePath pension and investments (P&I) business, which was announced to the market in October 2017 and is expected to settle in October 2018. IOOF's share price was down 2.33 per cent late Friday afternoon to $10.25 as investors reacted to the fall in statutory net profit.
Rating agencies disengaged from compliance
An ASIC report released on Thursday examined six major credit rating agencies (CRAs); Moody’s Investor Services, S&P Global Ratings Australia, Equifax, Fitch Australia, Australia Ratings and AM Best Asia-Pacific. The boards of CRAs, which are expected to establish and maintain compliance requirements of its Australian Financial Services Licence, did meet periodically to do so, but ASIC found that board engagement varied for half of the credit ratings agencies surveilled.
AFCA bill passes through Senate
The Treasury Laws Amendment (Putting Consumers First – Establishment of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority) Bill passed through the federal Senate on Wednesday. Minister for Revenue and Financial Services Kelly O’Dwyer and Minister for Small and Family Business Craig Laundy said that the new body would give consumers and small businesses access to “free, fast and binding dispute resolution”.
Fortnum hires former Centric Wealth CEO
Mr Castensen will be responsible for driving the business’ service offering and growth strategy, Fortnum said in a release, and will report to the company’s managing director, Neil Younger. “We are excited to have such a well-respected, experienced executive on board to support Fortnum’s growth initiatives and also work closely with our advisers to drive growth in their underlying businesses,” Mr Younger said.
Half of banks have no carbon target: report
Boston Common Asset Management has released a new report on behalf of 100 institutional investors analysing the climate change strategies of 59 global banks, including Australia's 'big four'. Overall, the report found that less than half of banks surveyed (49 per cent) are implementing risk assessments or 2-degree risk analysis – which means decision-making on many banks' portfolios is "not supported by robust data".
AMP adds 31 low-cost funds to platforms
Thirty-one external manager products with low fees have been added to AMP’s suite of investment platforms. The listed financial services giant launched its Advantage Funds range on Thursday, which has been available on its MyNorth, North, Summit, iAccess, PortfolioCare and WealthView platforms.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Steve
Contact Steve, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack