ZTNA vs. VPN: What’s the difference?

Ineffective. Obsolete. Unrealistic.

These are just a few of the words commonly used by IT admins when discussing perimeter-based security approaches that incorporate VPNs.

Remote work policies have unleashed A new avalanche of security concerns, highlighting the inadequacies of old-school network security architectures.

In this article, we will explore the two approaches. With modern network security solutions, you will know how to reduce attack surfaces in private, public, and hybrid cloud environments.

What is ZTNA?

ZTNA is a security solution that implements zero trust security techniques with application-specific access permissions. The access of remote workers to corporate assets will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on role and context-based access controls, such as IP addresses, location, user groups or roles, and time constraints.

What is a VPN?

A VPN provides remote users with the same experience as connecting directly to a corporate network. All data is sent over an encrypted channel from the VPN client software to the VPN endpoint on the enterprise network before it is routed to its destination. By using perimeter-based security solutions, all business traffic can be inspected regardless of its source, protecting against eavesdropping.

ZTNA vs. VPN: What’s the difference?

1. Approach to Security

A ZTNA solution works by combining security automation tools with adaptive security policies to restrict or grant access to a company’s network. According to this principle, users only have access to the data and applications they need based on their roles. Organizations can effectively protect their networks with context-aware, risk-based security decision-making provided by ZTNA, which assumes every device or user is a potential threat.

VPN security takes on a completely different approach. Employees or other authorized users can connect remotely using VPNs, protected by firewalls at every connection point or on the device itself. To securely connect a user to the internet from their location, data is encrypted and transmitted through a virtual tunnel. ZTNA security is dynamic and based on real-time risks in a company’s environment, unlike VPNs that use a central entry point to authenticate users.

2. Complexity

In order to provide good performance and user experience, organizations that use VPNs for remote access must decide where to place VPN gateways. Due to their infrastructure-centric nature, VPNs are limited in capacity and number of entry points due to their reliance on appliances. Many organizations operate within hybrid cloud environments with hundreds, if not thousands, of endpoints connecting to the network, making VPNs less appropriate for on-premise environments and flat networks. As well as adjusting routing, organizations need to create firewall or access control list rules to authorize applications when using VPNs. Multi-Layered security, robust security intelligence, and automation are all required to manage this complexity and risk, which are all features of ZTNA technologies.

3. Performance

Performance is another difference between ZTNA and VPN. Due to the need to backhaul traffic to an enterprise data center, VPNs often have slower connections. As a result of the distance between a user’s location and the server’s location, the slower the connection will be the farther away the user is. Work-from-home applications with high data requirements, such as videoconferencing and digital workspaces, can be delayed as a result. ZTNA solutions are more scalable than traditional VPNs, but they take a lot of time to deploy and are not scalable when needs spikes. As a result of VPN-based security, connections are not as transparent as zero trust, especially if they are infected with malware.

If a user connects through their home network, happens to be on a public Wi-Fi network, or if a company wants to provide secure access for employees at different branches, VPNs provide some measure of protection. Today’s threat environment and the increased possibility of insider threats may make the traditional castle-and-moat approach to security less effective for many organizations. There is a risk in granting access to every user, even after the perimeter extends to employees’ homes and wherever they choose to work remotely. Organizations need to restrict access and verify identities in order to strengthen their security posture.

Privacy Is Dead, And Social Media Holds The Smoking Gun

We might find this contradictory, and it’s a little scary to admit.

Privacy must be prioritized in the digital age. Would you agree that secret blanket surveillance is obscene? There is no point in relying on the government to protect our privacy, as it would be like having a peeping to install your window blinds.

Today’s life is breathed by information. The smell wafts across electrified borders and passes through barbed wire-covered walls. It is no secret that social media has become one of the biggest phenomena of our time. A social media site allows you to connect with a wide range of people, experience things you wouldn’t otherwise have access to, and share your accomplishments and experiences.

There are sometimes bad things that follow good things. Our conversation discusses the so-called digital risks we willingly accept when embarking on another new social media life or living digitally and becoming concerned about how much of our real lives are projected online. The impact of social media platforms goes beyond shaping a person’s digital identity, but it can also affect their cyber security online and off.

Social media can boost or bust your account’s success. These are the 8 most common social media mistakes often overlooked, but with unpleasant results once committed.

1. Making Everything Public

The data will confess anything if you torture it.

Social media can be a great way to catch people’s attention, but it’s not wise to post everything publicly. When setting up our social media accounts, we often overlook changing the privacy settings. Almost all platforms automatically make your account public by default. This is not the kind of thing you want. People can stalk you more easily if you have a less private account. Keeping your account private will help you avoid these and more serious dangers.

2. Geotagging

Geotagging is extremely helpful. This lets people know where you are, whether it’s a foreign country or a restaurant where you’re dining. You’d be better off waiting until after you’ve left the specified location before making your location public if you insist on adding it to your post. In the same fashion, you should check in at a place on Facebook just before leaving, or just after you leave. Keeping your location secret keeps you safe while sharing your whereabouts.

3. Posting Too Much Online

It’s always better not to give too much away online, even if you have your accounts set to private. The internet is a permanent place, and whatever you put there will remain there for the rest of your life. Your private posts and information may still be accessible to hackers out there. Online, do not give out personal information, as doing so puts you at risk of identity theft and can even allow hackers to steal your money.

4. Falling for Click baits

By clicking dangerous links, you may land on clickbait sites that sell what they promise, or possibly extort you by not delivering what they promise. Today, this is everywhere on the internet, so surf safely and avoid opening links just for fun. Rather than letting yourself be taken advantage of, stay away from them because they’re fakes and frauds.

5. Making Friends Without Thinking Twice

It has become a trend and a form of competition to have more friends or followers but think twice before adding someone you don’t know, because they may not have the right intentions. Maybe you met this person at a party once, or perhaps you went to kindergarten together, or hey, you may have never seen this person in your life, but you have three mutual friends! – does that mean they should be allowed to see everything you’ve been up to?

6. Reusing passwords on multiple accounts

The first rule of cyber security hygiene. One password — one account. If one account is compromised, you won’t risk other accounts that use the same password. There is no doubt that managing the many passwords that users now can have, which can amount to fifty or hundred, can be challenging. Nonetheless, if you want to keep your passwords in one place and secure your account’s access, you can always choose a trusted password manager.

Passwords are like underwear: don’t let people see them, change them often, and don’t disclose them to anyone.

7. Spending Too Much Time Online

The more time you spend online instead of living in the moment and spending time with your family and friends, the more it will affect your relationships and health in the long run. Living your life as you are and to the fullest is more important than validation from the outside world.

8. Neglecting some security essentials

Among the most important security measures are enabling two-factor (2FA) or multi-factor authentication (MFA), securing social media accounts, and preventing strangers people from accessing your account. In the future, if you need to deal with a cyber-attack or data breach, these settings will save you a considerable amount of time. The majority of social media platforms provide tutorials on how to follow security essentials regarding your safety on them and how to apply them.

Social Media Risks in a Nutshell

Is there anything you’re guilty of making on social media?

No matter what the reason is, don’t feel bad about it. We cannot change the past, but we can learn from it.

By following the information above, you can avoid fatal social media mistakes that waste time, money, and resources and damage your reputation. You will be able to master social media marketing in less time and with better results, if you have a solid social media and content strategy, basic guidelines for your team, planning, and a basic analysis and review process in place. You will be able to accomplish your social media tasks in even less time and with fewer resources by using smart tools and plugins. Boost engagement, leads, and conversions with social media by leveraging its full power.

Can we improve our social media presence in any way? Your feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Why Automotive Technology Is Today’s Biggest Trend

It is no secret that automotive technology is improving every year. Every time there is a new bell or whistle in the automotive world, it’s worth talking about. Technology can enhance performance, improve efficiency, or simply make your daily commute a little more convenient.

Increasing levels of electrification, digitalization, advanced vehicle identification systems, and more, from F1 cars to compact cars, have brought about a change in the automotive industry. There’s no denying that technology is driving every industry in the modern world, including the automotive industry.

What’s next? Where are we headed? Throughout this article, we will explore the top automotive technology trends for 2022.

Wireless Technology

Around 30,000 parts and more than 100 million codes constitute an average car. Technology will likely continue to advance, so these numbers will likely rise even further. A smart car’s navigation system will use more information in the future.

Taking navigation to new heights is 5G technology’s goal for 2022. Several factors can be exchanged between two smart cars on highways, including weather patterns, traffic patterns, road conditions, etc. Future 5G wireless technology will enable all of these exchanges to be instantaneous.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Engines Making a Breakthrough

Electric fuel cell vehicles are expected to make their debut in 2022. Despite the technology itself being around for some time, more stringent emission control regulations have been necessary to advance the field significantly.

A hydrogen fuel cell produces only water and oxygen as a byproduct of its chemical reaction. Compared to fossil fuels or electric cars, this process is much more eco-friendly, as it is completely harmless to the environment.

Hydrogen fuel cell engines have been explored by many companies in recent years. This could very well lead to a breakthrough in hydrogen fuel cell engines in 2022.

Automotive Cameras

As of 2017, the automotive camera market was valued at over $11 billion, and by 2025, the market is estimated to grow to $24 billion. To improve driver safety, one of the dominant aspects of this trend is onboard cameras that can capture high-quality videos.

In an era where road accidents are increasing every day, this kind of technology is becoming increasingly valuable. The automotive camera market is expected to grow in 2022 as more companies enter the sector and more investments are made in developing innovative technologies.

Advanced Autonomy

There is no question that autonomous vehicles have taken off in recent years, and with good reason: most automakers see developing Level 4 autonomy (high driving automation) as crucial for future success in the mobility industry. Several environmental benefits are expected from self-driving technology, including a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, fewer accidents, and reduced travel and transportation costs.

Whenever we talk about autonomous cars, we can’t overlook Tesla. It is only a matter of time before Tesla’s autopilot mode reaches level 4 or 5 as it is currently at level 2. Very soon, however, it will be up to level 3 and it will be level 4 or 5 soon. It is safe to say that Tesla will transform their cars into a fully autonomous mode within a few short years in 2022 and this is a sector to keep an eye on.

Energy Storing Body Panel

The traditional batteries that have powered cars for decades come with several disadvantages. It can be disastrous if these batteries are damaged. The damage to batteries may result in toxic leaks or devastating fires, as well as less efficiency.

An energy-storing body panel is a safer alternative. Energy can be stored in these body panels and used when needed by the vehicle. Unfortunately, this technology is still in its infancy and is not fully tested. This technology is likely to be implemented soon since it has the potential to replace traditional car batteries excellently.

Perception Sensors

The senses of sight and hearing play a major role in how we drive every day. Smart cars are equipped with cameras, radar, LiDAR, and ultrasonic sensors that replace humans’ senses.  All of these technologies, however, have their limitations, so scientists are busy searching for solutions. We may see improved perception sensors in the automotive industry as early as 2022, a solution that is currently under development.

Augmented Reality

The gaming industry has become increasingly interested in Augmented Reality (AR) in recent years. Aside from gaming, Augmented Reality has many other applications.

The auto sector, for example, is testing a variety of AR applications at the moment. Features such as terrain mapping, road safety, and parking assistance may become available by 2022 as a result of these developments.

Big Data is the Next Big Deal!

There was a time when information was somewhat restricted and centralized before the internet. The only way to obtain information was by reading books, newspapers, talking to people, etc. Now that the internet has arrived, along with improvements in computer technology, information and data are soaring, and it has become an open system that allows people to access information without limitations.

Over time, social mobile applications and websites have become platforms for sharing data as the internet becomes more accessible around the world. As data grows in size, its value also increases, with this value being used in a variety of ways, but mostly for analytics and decision-making.

Besides this, big data is growing at such a fast pace that the big data analytics space is set to reach a whopping $103 billion by 2023!

Data is the new oil, but better.

In the same way that steam, electricity, and electronics propelled the three revolutions preceding it, data – and in particular the sheer volume created by the Internet of Things – is driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

During the early 2000s, the world produced approximately 1.2 zettabytes of data. In 2025, IDC forecasts that worldwide data will grow by 61% to 175 zettabytes, with 90 zettabytes created by the Internet of Things.

It’s no secret that data is the new oil, except that, unlike oil, it can be extracted easily (with the correct technologies, of course), and its supply is infinite. In addition, data can be used a myriad of times to generate new insights and unlock new potential.

What is big data?

“Big data” is the term used to describe large amounts of unstructured and structured data that businesses are inundated with daily. But what matters most is not just the type or amount of data, but what organizations do with it. Analysis of big data can lead to insights that improve decisions and give confidence in making strategic business decisions.

A big deal is made out of big data. As big data analytics becomes more mainstream, businesses will benefit from reducing their costs, making better decisions, and creating products that are demanded by customers.

To paint a clearer picture of: Why is big data important?

Because

1. Minimize Expenses:

By reducing costs in areas such as storing large volumes of data, big data technologies such as Hadoop and cloud-based analytics benefit an organization. Organizations are also able to identify more efficient ways to do business with the help of these tools.

2. Making faster, better decisions

Businesses can analyze information immediately and make fast, informed decisions using in-memory analytics and data from IoT, combined with the speed of in-memory analytics.

3. Social Media Monitoring

Social listening gives you the power to determine who is saying what about your business. Brand sentiment analysis will present you with the type of detailed feedback you can’t get from regular polls or surveys.

4. Customer Acquisition and Retention

Digital footprints reveal a lot about customers’ preferences, needs, and purchasing habits. By observing consumer patterns, businesses can tailor their products and services according to specific consumer needs. Ultimately, it boosts sales and ensures customer satisfaction and loyalty.

What’s next?

Currently, big data plays several crucial roles in business development.

1. Recruit the Best People

A CEO can’t run a company on their own. You must have a team of qualified individuals who can consistently add value to your business. To take your business to the next level, they must be able to collaborate seamlessly.

Thus, finding the right employees is not an easy task. In the wake of big data, candidates’ social media profiles and corporate profiles can be used to gather information about them. By doing so, HR can quickly identify and hire the best candidates.

2. Increase Brand Loyalty

Consumer expectations must be met by businesses to succeed. The more you can please your customers, the more likely they are to return for repeat service. Building stronger relationships and generating ROI are the best ways to do this.

Analyzing and mining big data can provide marketers with greater insight into customer behavior. Netflix, for instance, saved $1 billion on customer retention by utilizing big data. Also, you can use big data to improve your business offerings and performance. The more you please your customers, the more competitive you will become.

3. Increasing Workforce Productivity

There are many ways in which big data can be used to help in development, from boosting employee morale to boosting planning efficiency. By combining deep learning and predictive analytics, an employee can conduct better risk assessments and optimize processes.

Your workforce becomes more efficient and productive when they act upon comprehensive data. The fact that employees can make confident, proactive decisions based on quantifiable data also contributes to the confidence and proactivity of employees.

On the other hand, employees may make mistakes without big data. A consistent pattern of making mistakes can have a detrimental effect on productivity and revenue. Moreover, it can damage your online reputation by creating mistrust between you and your customers.

4. Re-evaluate Current Business Strategies

Digital landscapes continue to evolve. Identifying patterns within large data sets allows you to predict trends and changes in demand. To remain agile, you must develop strategies that adapt to these fluctuations.

Consequently, your business strategies must also be continuously analyzed. Maintaining optimal efficiency and staying competitive requires monitoring your strategies’ effectiveness. Furthermore, it can improve profitability by identifying low-risk opportunities.

By using big data organizational insights, businesses gain a better understanding of the factors that affect their success. Analytical techniques can help managers validate decisions and assess variables for flexibility, scalability, and viability.

5. Price Optimization

Businesses should price their products so that they don’t compromise on profits or lose competitiveness. The most effective price, however, can be difficult to determine.

Big data offers your business valuable insight, enabling you to build models that will help predict what customers will pay if circumstances change. Boosting profits by nearly 8% can be achieved with just a 1% price increase, according to a McKinsey report. This illustrates how vital it is to have the right pricing strategy.

6. Improve Sales Processes.

With the aid of customer analytics, entrepreneurs can target the right audience at the right time. It can help marketers provide more prompt customer service. Big data can help companies increase their operating margins by 60 percent, according to McKinsey.

Additionally, big data can provide accurate information about the market’s size, current trends, and future growth prospects. Marketers can, for instance, develop demographically-based sales strategies using segmentation.

Sales representatives are also given the ability to suggest items based on the tendencies and order histories of customers when sales and marketing are based on big data insights. Additionally, companies will be able to enhance existing products and services as a result of the combined results in addition to increasing revenue streams.

Over to you!

There has been an exponential growth in data and it will continue to grow. We must harness Big Data effectively to reap its benefits!

Looking to incorporate big data technology into your business? Are you ready to tap into the power of big data and boost the potential of your business? We will sit with you to identify the areas where big data can be most beneficial and work on its incorporation.

AR/VR Shape The Future Of Businesses Domains

Tomorrow’s tech will exist to be unseen

Technology has become an integral part of our daily lives, allowing us to be more connected, efficient, and smart. As human beings, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are 2 of the biggest technological boons that have radically changed the way we live, interact, and do everything else. In a way, AR & VR are transforming human lives in a faster and better way by giving rise to self-driving cars and gaming visors.

Virtual reality allows one to travel through space or ride a roller coaster from the comfort of their own home. Nevertheless, future virtual reality apps will surely go beyond what we enjoy today and change how people conduct business.

Alternatively, augmented reality uses the present environment and masks all other additional information overtop. It’s no secret that Pokémon Go is one of the most popular AR apps. Apart from this, apps like Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook offer users filters and animated images overlaid on their faces.

Surely you are wondering how these technologies will impact various sectors in the future. Virtual reality and augmented reality could revolutionize the way people work in a number of business sectors. We will discuss how AR & VR are shaping the future of businesses in 2022 in this blog.

“I do think that a significant portion of the population of developed countries, and eventually all countries, will have AR experiences every day, almost like eating three meals a day. It will become that much of a part of you.”- Tim Cook, CEO of Apple Inc.

Below are all the respective business domains:

#1 Retail

Retailers strive to provide the best digital and buying experiences to their customers. The barriers between physical and digital commerce are blurring and augmented and virtual reality can bridge them.

With the addition of virtual fitting rooms and retail augmentation, such as assessing the look of furniture in a consumer’s house prior to purchasing, the retail sector could contribute $204 billion to its GDP.

In order for your customers to buy something, you will need to give them a range of options and have them try it online before they can make a decision. The replacement of traditional retail stores will also require virtual showrooms.

#2 Manufacturing

Incorporating AR and VR into manufacturing will shift employment opportunities. You will receive virtual assistance from remote workers or devices as a technician in the manufacturing industry. As a result, manual labor will become easier, as you will be able to identify errors and markings more easily.

Streamlining manufacturing processes will also result in higher-quality items at a lower cost. The manufacturing process can be improved, human errors can be reduced, training efficiency can be improved, and time can be saved.

#3 Games and Entertainment

It is still common for most people to think of AR through the viral Pokemon GO app.

There is expected to be a tremendous surge in demand for VR games driven by Oculus Quest, the first all-in-one VR system.

By generating dynamic QR codes or paying for advertising, companies can make money selling virtual reality games in stores. It will enhance your revenue and bring in more customers if you invest in VR equipment and AR/VR games for your arcade.

Escape rooms in AR and VR are another potential business opportunity. Modern technology can be used instead of actually developing an escape room, much less designing numerous rooms like haunted houses and space stations.

#4 Real Estate and Construction

Real estate and construction are two industries that will greatly benefit from AR and VR. The building’s design or drainage issues can be detected by construction professionals, electricians, or plumbers by walking inside a VR building. In addition to reducing construction costs and project management times, it will also improve project management and time management.

Virtual tours are great for real estate businesses that want to show potential buyers the building they’re leasing or selling.

#5 eLearning on the Corporate Learning Landscape

Corporate training is improving thanks to eLearning. eLearning helps employees fulfill their training obligations. Companies of any size and industry can benefit from online training, say today’s savvy corporate managers. E-Learning tools are also gaining popularity in a new market. Today’s corporate leaders are beginning to understand that learning on demand – which includes methods for delivering adaptive, online education, methods for measuring learning, and skill gap identification – is better than developing courses that need multiple pages to progress through.

#6 Tourism and Travel

The tourism industry encompasses many modes of transportation, hotel reservations, hospitality, tours, sightseeing, local experiences, souvenirs, and so on. Thus, augmented reality business opportunities abound.

The Google Maps app has been updated to incorporate augmented reality. Navigation is a common use case, and directions appear on the screen when users scan the streets with their smartphones.

Apps with AR capabilities can provide directions, translate street signs, and offer sightseeing advice to tourists. With AR combined with Wi-Fi, beacons, or ultra-wideband, indoor navigation will be more accessible than ever.

#7 Advertising & Marketing

Creative use of AR can result in improved customer interactions while also increasing the likelihood of a sale.

AR may be used creatively to build customer interactions while also improving the likelihood of a purchase. Content that is enjoyable increases the likelihood of customers utilizing a brand’s mobile app. A unique and creative AR experience will surprise customers and competitors.

Advertisers can target their message more precisely by creating virtual experiences that capture the user’s full attention. In the same way that PCs and smartphones are the next central computing platforms, VR will be the next battleground for marketers and brands to compete.

As a result of AR/VR, customers will be able to experience unmatched product capabilities, receive more information, and become more loyal to the brand.

So what’s the Bottom Line?

As we have seen so far, new technologies will impact the world of business domains in a myriad of ways and the change has already begun.

It is expected that both Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality will grow rapidly in the next few years since they offer so many advantages that will fundamentally change the way business is conducted and make things easier to manage.

Are you looking to take your first step into the future of business with an AR/VR mobile app development project?

But struggle to find someone who will create it for you?

Then just drop us a message down below or click the WhatsApp Icon and we will be back within 24hrs business days.

Untapped Gold Mine Of METAVERSE That Virtually No One Knows

Could it just be a buzzword, the next internet, a video game, or a concept? Breaking down is what we’re here for.

In the Internet’s favorite buzzword: “METAverse,” you can find everything from Mark Zuckerberg’s virtual replica as he revealed Facebook-rebranded-as-Meta, live concerts in Fortnite, or digital art galleries in Decentraland.

Is this even a metaverse? Is it a virtual universe filled with endless possibilities? Is it speculative sci-fi based on a dystopian future of the internet? Or is it simply another way to classify extended reality (XR) — which encompasses augmented, virtual, and mixed reality technologies?

As I write this, I feel like I am describing the metaverse like I was describing the internet in the 70s and 80s. In the process of laying the foundation for the future form of communication, speculation swirled around how it would look and how people would use it. Everyone talked about it, but few understood how it worked or what it meant. Looking back, the outcome wasn’t what some people expected.

Nevertheless, with the metaverse slated to become an $800 billion market by 2024 and tech giants like Facebook, er, Meta, Apple, Microsoft, and Google investing big money in the metaverse, it’s time to define this vague and complex term.

So, what exactly is the metaverse?

The metaverse is simply a bunch of digital stuff that runs parallel to our physical existence. That might sound like the internet, and that’s because the metaverse is a bit like the internet, only with more dancing.

There has been a tremendous increase in the number of advancements in digital technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality, the internet, and blockchain, both of which are enabling new, exciting, and even profitable virtual worlds in the metaverse.

One thing is certain: Neal Stephenson coined the term in his 1992 novel Snow Crash to describe a virtual world widely used in a 21st-century dystopia. In Snow Crash, VR goggles-wearing users inhabit 3D avatars whose forms are their own, and the metaverse is portrayed as an outer-world market filled with virtual real estate.

Is it more than just a video game?

Video games appeared to have already adopted the most basic aspects of the metaverse, despite the metaverse being much more extensive than a video game. Online shooter games like Fortnite provide users with a personal avatar that they use to engage and interact with other players’ avatars, while gaining virtual currency for outfits for their avatar.

Second Life is another game that lets players experience virtual reality in which their avatars are able to shop, eat, and shower as they would do in real life.

Tech experts claim that Metaverse will take virtual reality to the next level, allowing people to float into the virtual world to do everything from host parties to getting married through digital avatars.

Metaverse is the talk of the town, but why?

Metaverse has attracted a lot of attention, much of it driven by technology companies who preemptively claim to be Metaverse companies, or create Metaverses in order to augment or enhance the digital and physical worlds of people. Additionally, activities that are taking place in different siloed spaces are currently going to be replaced with a single Metaverse, such as:

  • Dress and accessorize your online avatar
  • Constructing virtual homes and buying digital land
  • Taking part in virtual social activities
  • Shopping in virtual malls through immersive commerce
  • Experience immersive learning in virtual classrooms
  • Buy digital art, collectibles, and assets (NFTs)
  • Interacting with digital humans to onboard employees, provide customer service, and continue business interactions
  • An organization can extend digital business through persistent, decentralized, collaborative, and interoperable business models enabled by a Metaverse.

Can I imagine myself living in the metaverse someday?

According to some experts, most people will be part of the metaverse by 2030. In spite of the current obsession, the concept still requires considerable improvement. First, the required hardware will need to be readily accessible. Interoperability is another requirement – allowing you to move virtual items like clothing or cars from one platform to another. Experts consider this crucial. Besides figuring out who will act as the police, there will be legal and commercial challenges. Metaverses don’t guarantee that people will want to hang out there.

It’s possible we will live intermittently in the metaverse – we enjoy putting on VR goggles but don’t keep them on for very long. Or maybe a decade from now, we’ll laugh at this Wings Tech article, thinking how naive people were to question the metaverse’s rise.

Things are just heating up in the metaverse.

The metaverse is still in its infancy, and as technological advances in AR/VR continue to unfold, it is likely that the metaverse will play an increasingly prominent role in our lives – socially, economically, and culturally. Investing in the metaverse presents an attractive opportunity for investors that are trying to diversify and keep up with current crypto trends.

IoT and AI in Healthcare Are Poised to Transform the Industry

 

Currently, Artificial Intelligence is becoming a hot topic, and IoT integration is becoming a common practice among companies.

The healthcare industry has always been at the forefront of technological innovation, and the latest mandate is to harness the power of data to improve patient outcomes. With the advent of new technologies such as AI, IoT, chatbots, and blockchain, healthcare regimens can be improved to be more proactive and efficient for patients and employees alike.

By integrating these tech-digital breakthroughs further, healthcare providers are creating new avenues to differentiate their inpatient care and transform the industry.

We will explore how IoT and AI can be used to accelerate patient care by taking precautions. In the aftermath of COVID-19, IoT and AI will play an increasingly prominent role in healthcare.

1. Privacy and security are enhanced

A complex set of privacy regulations poses a formidable barrier to healthcare innovation teams. It is a challenge for healthcare organizations to adopt cutting-edge technologies without complying with HIPAA. New privacy laws in Europe, such as GDPR, and California, such as CCPA, are complicating the process. At the edge, data is processed locally rather than in the cloud, so the user retains control over it. If IoT applications can operate without having to collect and store all that sensitive patient information, compliance burdens become significantly lighter.

2. Reduced latency

Latency must be as low as possible for many healthcare applications. Wearable heart monitors, or hospital wristbands with connected sensors, are examples. In order to track patient health remotely, these devices collect patient data and transmit it to the cloud. A slowdown in data processing may prevent doctors from detecting a sudden change in a patient’s heart rate or blood pressure in time to respond. Real-time data processing will become more critical as consumer demand for health-related wearables grows.

3. Robot caregivers

The future won’t be dominated by machines, so don’t expect them to replace your family physician. Nevertheless, new developments in robotics and artificial intelligence have ushered in Industry 4.0, and automatic voice assistants powered by artificial intelligence will undoubtedly play a larger role in patient experiences in the near future. Doctors, nurses, and administrators will spend more time with patients (whether in person or via telemedicine) when these devices are used, rather than replacing them.

Winning Combos: Web Tech Stacks of Successful Projects

I always find it useful to have a few examples that illustrate their effectiveness under certain circumstances. As a result, we have listed two exemplary web development stacks below and their brief descriptions.

The Django + Python stack brings numerous benefits to web app developers because of their excellent cooperation, since Django is written in Python. Furthermore, these two technologies offer clean code and are easy to learn. Having these features simplifies and speeds up the development process, and when combined with the ‘all-inclusive’ functionality of both technologies, it makes the creation of custom web applications incredibly fast and efficient.

Stacks based on Python + Django may include MySQL as well as Javascript, Apache, and other technologies based on the project’s needs.

LAMP is an acronym that stands for Linux, Apache HTTP server, MySQL database software, and PHP programming language. This development stack is highly popular thanks to its high performance and flexibility.

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is an operating system-independent software that can be used to install a LAMP server on Windows. As an alternative to Linux, you can use MAMP (MacOS), BAMP (BSD), or SAMP (Solaris). The stack allows you to use Windows and Microsoft SQL Server (WASP) instead of Linux and MySQL.

Mean is comprised of MongoDB, Express.js, Angular.js, and Node.js, which function as a server runtime environment. Using both server-side and client-side Javascript, this concept is both server-side and client-side. The seamless integration of all its components ensures easy learning and use. Web developers do not use MEAN in its original form. Modern frameworks are stacked on top of each other, creating a new stack of components of the same type. A simple example of a custom stack that can be created using MEAN is as follows:

  • Main databases: MongoDB, PostgreSQL, MySQL, OrientDB;
  • Main Node.js frameworks: Express, Koa, Nest.js, Loopback, Sails.js, hapi.js;
  • Front-end frameworks: Angular, Vue.js, React.js;

Source: Light IT Global

Additionally, there is a growing trend toward “cloud-native” application development, which has the potential to radically alter technology stacks. A service-oriented approach allows building applications by separating them into separate services, each built with its own programming language and framework. It allows you to select the optimal technology for each service, implement it independently then test and update it simultaneously.

The cloud-native app is deployed and hosted on one of the cloud computing platforms that offer a full range of functionality available via various APIs, such as Amazon Web Services. The AWS platform provides more than 90 services, including database, storage, and machine learning.

Here are four technology stack diagrams associated with famous global web projects that illustrate the contents and scope of successful web development stacks:

Webflow vs WordPress: Which One Is Better for Your Next Site?

As you start building your website, one of the most important decisions will be which platform to use. Once you’re locked into one website builder, it can be very difficult to switch, so you need to identify which is right for your business, your budget, and your learning curve.

When it comes to building websites without coding, Webflow and WordPress are the two most popular choices.

They are often argued about on the internet, such as PC vs Mac, iPhone vs Android, and blue or gold dress optical illusion. In the end, you will decide for yourself which tool you will use and you will spend the rest of your life arguing its merits over the other. The decision is inevitable.

Or you may have already arrived at a decision, and you are here to find arguments supportive of that decision. In either case, keep reading. I’ve got arguments for both sides. If you haven’t settled on one yet, you should be able to after reading this post.

As highlighted above, WordPress is an open-source content management system (CMS) that you’ll need to install on your hosting server, whereas Webflow is a SaaS application that does everything for you.

Despite those similarities, there are much more significant differences between WordPress and Webflow. In the following eight sections, we will overview those differences:

Overview –  WordPress and Webflow

Beginner-Friendly – The ease with which they can be understood by an absolute novice

Costs – What is the average cost of launching a website?

Templates and design options – what are your web design options?

Ecommerce – Online selling is possible with it?

SEO – Your website can be easily optimized for search engines?

Addons & Integrations – Is it possible to enhance the platform’s functionality with additional features and third-party tools?

Support – Is it easy to get help when you need it?

WordPress: A popular choice

The WordPress content management system is written in PHP and is coupled with a MySQL or MariaDB database. Its features include a plugin architecture and a thematic template system.

Webflow: Sitebuilder for modern websites

Webflow is a visual website builder that uses zero code. Besides being a tool for making websites, it is also a CMS and hosting platform. Designers can create professional, custom websites in Webflow using its intuitive interface. It combines both features seamlessly. You can take advantage of the benefits of a visual editor with the added flexibility of building a custom website from scratch.

Now that we have talked about both platforms. Let’s see how they stack up against each other.

It’s the ultimate battle between the masters of CMS websites. And who doesn’t love a good fight scene?

We’ll be your objective and fair referee for this fight. Let’s begin.

Let’s discuss both platforms now. I’d like to present a comparative overview of both.

It’s the ultimate battle between CMS website masters. Aren’t fight scenes fun?

This fight will be decided by objective and fair referees. It’s time to fight.

1. Beginner-Friendly

Users aren’t generally programmers or coders when they start a new website. An easy-to-use platform is needed that doesn’t require the use of developers or specialized HTML or CSS knowledge.

Here is a look at how Webflow fares against WordPress.

WordPress

Over 40% of all internet-based websites use WordPress. With millions of users from all over the world and varying skill levels, that’s a lot of users.

It’s pretty easy to use. The learning curve isn’t too steep. Beginners must familiarize themselves with WordPress terms and concepts, including themes, plugins, posts vs pages, categories, and tags.

It is fairly easy to add content to your website. The block editor in WordPress makes this process very simple.

By using blocks, you can make your pages and customize the content. This enables you to create beautiful designs without writing a line of code.

With more than 57,000 plugins and thousands of free templates, WordPress lets you do just about everything you need without ever writing a line of code.

Webflow

A sleek backend dashboard lets you manage your website with Webflow. Content can be visualized through its interface. Content can be written and layouts designed with a live preview.

Templates for your project are available on Webflow, and you can edit them with their visual editor. Beginning users may struggle to find their way around Webflow’s visual editor due to its many features.

By clicking on an element, its properties can be changed. Adding new elements is also possible from the left panel by clicking the button Add New Element.

Design and development professionals will benefit from Webflow. There may be features that you miss as a content publisher, such as post types, categories and tags, discussions, and comments.

Winner – WordPress

2. Costs

When choosing a platform, most users take into account the cost of building a website.

When you first start an online business, you may want to keep your costs as low as possible while investing more as your business grows.

Comparing Webflow and WordPress costs and your options to keep costs low is key.

WordPress

It’s free to download WordPress, but you’ll have to pay for your domain name and hosting. In addition, you’ll be responsible for any third-party services you may require for your business, such as premium plugins, themes, and third-party services.

Website hosting starts at $7.99 per month (usually paid annually) and domain names usually cost $14.99 per year. If you’re just getting started, that’s not cheap.

The WordPress ecosystem is also very large. The WordPress.org plugin directory alone has more than 57,000 free plugins and thousands of free themes.

The use of free plugins and themes allows you to keep your costs low. There are free versions of most premium WordPress plugins and themes that you can use without paying.

Webflow

You can create a website with Webflow and host it through a subdomain with their branding with a limited free version.

Site Plans and Account Plans are the two types of paid plans they offer.

Site Plans enable you to use your domain name (domain price not included) and are priced according to the type of site you wish to create.

Besides Site Plans, there are also Ecommerce Plans, which allow you to set up your online store.

The cost of a site plan starts at $16 per month, and the cost of an eCommerce plan starts at $29. If you want to pay month-to-month, you’ll have to pay an additional fee.

Account Plans are also available. Multi-site projects can be managed through Webflow, or you can download the code and host it elsewhere. However, things like forms and eCommerce checkout may not work if you export the site code.

Winner – WordPress

3. Templates and design options

Websites are not always designed by designers. Using design tools as a beginner, you may not be able to create a website as well as one designed by a professional.

Let’s take a closer look at how WordPress and Webflow handle design customization and templates.

WordPress

WordPress offers thousands of themes (template designs) for your website. A large number of them are free to use and most of them are mobile-friendly by default.

To start building a website, you can choose from one of these professional WordPress themes. At any time, you can switch the theme of your website. The live customizer within WordPress makes it easy to customize them.

The design elements in WordPress are kept separate from the content, unlike Webflow. As a result, your website will have a consistent design.

Creating landing pages can also be done by using a theme and a page builder plugin. They also provide professionally designed templates that can be customized by you.

You can’t find the theme you want? Even if you don’t know how to code, you can use tools like Beaver Themer to create your very own templates and themes.

Webflow

Among the dozens of templates you can choose from on Webflow, there are several free and paid options. You can use any of them for any type of website as all of them are mobile-responsive.

Starting a new project allows you to choose a template. You cannot change the template after selecting one. You can choose a different template after starting the new project.

Templates can be easily edited. As a visual design tool, Webflow features a powerful visual editor in which you can customize any element of your website.

Site-wide changes will be made to elements such as headers, navigation, and footers.

Winner – WordPress

4. E-commerce

The website’s e-commerce features enable it to sell products online. To run and grow their business effectively, many businesses require a robust eCommerce platform.

Here are some ideas on how WordPress and Webflow can help.

WordPress

The most popular e-commerce platform in the world is WooCommerce, and it requires WordPress. Thousands of online stores around the world use this free WordPress plugin.

The WooCommerce extension/plugin system lets you easily integrate new features into your online store. Furthermore, WooCommerce themes are available for you to choose from so you can design a site that matches your brand.

In addition to PayPal, Stripe, Authorize.Net, and dozens of other payment processors, WooCommerce offers a multitude of payment gateway options

Besides the e-commerce plugin, WordPress offers several other shopping cart plugins. Easy Digital Downloads lets you sell digital subscriptions, or MemberPress lets you sell software downloads.

Webflow

There are fewer eCommerce features available with Webflow than with WordPress. You can sell 500 products for $29 per month with our eCommerce Standard plan.

The payment service they use is Stripe. Webflow also charges 2% per transaction with the Standard plan, in addition to Stripe’s transaction fee.

The process of adding products to your site is simple. Providing product details, images, and other choices is as simple as filling out a form.

Membership and subscription-based products are not suitable for Webflow. In addition to software, apps, music, and e-books, it is also possible to sell digital goods in the form of digital downloads.

Winner – WordPress

5. SEO

To increase your website traffic and rank higher on search engines, you should choose a platform that is SEO-friendly.

We’ll see which is better for SEO: WordPress or Workflow.

WordPress

There are many reasons why people choose WordPress to start a blog, including its search engine friendliness. Your rankings and traffic will be boosted easily since it follows SEO best practices.

Google search engine optimization is easy with WordPress’ built-in options.

WordPress has built-in features such as creating simple URLs, changing permalink settings, organizing content by categories, adding tags to blog posts, and editing image alt text.

Aside from that, many WordPress SEO plugins can assist you in optimizing your site. There is no such option in Webflow, so you will have to work with what you have.

Without hiring an expert, you can easily optimize your site using a WordPress SEO plugin like All in One SEO (AIO SEO).

In addition to adding title tags and meta descriptions to your blog posts, you can also add focus keywords and get page analysis suggestions.

Webflow

Webflow comes with features for optimizing your website for search engines. Each page of the website builder can have its title tag, meta description, and URL.

In addition to that, open graph settings can be modified. The content you share on social media can be edited. The option to prevent your website from being indexed by search engines is also available.

Furthermore, Webflow allows you to build a sitemap, update your robots.txt file, and more. To unlock advanced SEO features, you must upgrade to a site plan.

Webflow also provides 301 redirects so you can easily relocate blog posts.

Winner – WordPress

6.Add-ons and Integrations

It is simply not possible for any website builder to include everything. That’s why you need the ability to extend it using third-party tools and integrations.

Let’s take a look at how WordPress and Webflow handle that.

WordPress

WordPress plugins are what add real power to the platform. Imagine your WordPress website as an app. Adding new features is as simple as installing them.

It is possible to download over 57,000 free WordPress plugins. Premium plugins are also available. There are many features covered, such as creating contact forms, installing Google Analytics, adding SEO features, and backing up and securing your website.

There is no need for third-party services or tools for your WordPress site to grow.

WordPress integrates seamlessly with all of the most popular email marketing services, live chat services, help desks, and business phone services.

Webflow

The number of integrations between Webflow and third-party services is limited. You’ll need to follow the tutorials to learn how to connect each integration to your Webflow project, though some integrations work out of the box.

When you move your website to a different hosting service, some integrations may break. For instance, you may not be able to get your forms to work with your new hosting provider and you will need to troubleshoot and find solutions.

Winner – WordPress

7. Support – Webflow vs WordPress

Occasionally, even the best web developers need help. We’ll compare Webflow and WordPress’s support options.

WordPress

WordPress is an open-source software application driven by the community that provides a lot of free community support. WPBeginner’s Engage group on Facebook is another example of a resource site.

Google is a great place to search for answers to any WordPress-related questions. The WordPress community offers step-by-step guides and video tutorials if you prefer visual support.

A developer can easily fix things if you need more help. Since WordPress has become so popular, thousands of developers are available to help small businesses.

See our guide on how to get the most out of WPBeginner’s free resources or how to ask for and get WordPress support.

Webflow

A massive library of articles and tutorials is available at Webflow University. A wide range of topics are covered through video tutorials, how-to guides, and articles.

Additionally, Webflow provides email-based support Monday through Friday, between the hours of 6:00 am and 6:00 pm PT. It does have an automated chatbot, but it does not provide live chat support.

You can also access a Webflow support forum where you can ask your questions and get help from Webflow users, experts, and staff.

Winner – WordPress

Final thoughts on Webflow vs WordPress?

The answer depends on what it’s going to be used for.

In light of the above criteria, it is clear that WordPress is a better choice than Webflow.

If you’re looking for a new website, we have the experience and expertise to ensure everything proceeds smoothly from start to finish. Get started right now! Just tap on hire WordPress developer and you will be at your fingertips.

Have you nodded in agreement the entire time you’ve been reading this blog? If so, we’re always looking to gain new masters to join our team.

Heroku vs AWS: Picking the right one for your Application

Our lives have already been impacted by the Internet and computer technologies to an extent where we have to stay current. Every invention we have made as a civilization aims to improve our lives, so we are able to get the most out of it in the long run. Even though your web project might be a fully-featured web app or even just a small API solution, you might be in a position where all that’s left to do is to publish your work.

It’s hard to deny the impact that apps like Facebook, Instagram, and Netflix have had on our society. How have these apps appeared? To be able to reach their users, they need to become fully operational. A hosting solution is required. It is important for them to have a “home” in order to function as they do now. AWS, Heroku, and other cloud computing services are their homes.

What is Heroku?

Platform as a Service (PaaS) is the main feature of the Heroku cloud platform. The platform runs on AWS.

AWS Elastic Compute Cloud is much more complex to use than its services. Build, deploy, and scale quickly with high efficiency. Part of its popularity is that it has add-on capabilities supporting multiple management tools and alerts.

Heroku is known to speed up development cycles as the infrastructure part is fully-managed.

Dynos – The Heart of Heroku.

The Heroku application uses something called Dynos to run the process once it is set up. This is a lightweight Linux container that allows it to scale effortlessly. Dynos come in three types:

  • “Web” ones that deal with web-based processes
  • “Worker” processes have to do with background jobs or anything else you can input
  • “One-offs” are designed for one-time tasks like the migration of databases

Heroku enables you to add as many Dynos (or bigger Dynos, depending on the process) via the Command Line or the Dashboard. Dynos can decrease your app’s response time and increase RAM storage.

What is Amazon Web Services (AWS)?

Among Amazon Web Services’ services is Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), which is offered through Amazon Web Services. There are numerous cloud services offered by AWS. There are two popular and widely used services provided by Amazon:

  • Amazon Simple Storage (S3)
  • and Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2)

AWS S3 is an object storage built specifically for storing and retrieving data from the web.

Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) directs computing resources within Amazon’s computing environment.

With our service, you will have virtually unlimited scalability, performance, durability, availability, and security.

Comparison Table

Here’s a quick glance at the comparison table of these two popular PaaS.

Heroku AWS Owner Salesforce Amazon Host AWS EC Instances Pricing With a rate of $0.05/hour Rates start at $0.013/hour Service Type PaaS IaaS Program Languages Python, Java, Ruby, Scala, Go, PHP, and more Python, Docker, Ruby, NodeJS, Go, PHP, and more Complexity Non-techies will love it, as it’s quite simple and user-friendly It is a little sophisticated and requires professional expertise. Business Use Companies in the startup and small business sectors The size of the organization doesn’t matter Computational Skills Low High Deployment A comprehensive, ready-to-use solution Increasingly Difficult and Complex Management Tools Heroku CLI, App Metrics, Heroku Connect, and Heroku Status AWS CLI and Management Console Key Features The virtualization of containers (dynos), horizontal and vertical scaling, as well as software flexibility. A number of deployment options, App monitoring, and tracking, and flexibility to add or edit any service as needed

The Verdict? Heroku or AWS?

Truth be told? It depends on you and your organization. The sheer volume of choices made possible by Amazon Web Services (AWS) gives organizations of all sizes the ability to find what they are looking for.

The Amazon Web Services ecosystem has a rich set of tools, services, and apps that businesses can utilize. AWS can be complex to use, especially outside the Beanstalk platform, and requires knowledgeable DevOps specialists, either in-house or contracted.

The Heroku product is less intimidating and offers a single function.

There is no doubt that it streamlines app deployments and it does it well. The Heroku cloud platform may be a good option for startups and anyone who needs to deploy smaller apps without having a lot of technical know-how.

Both of these options are viable options depending on the organizational needs at hand.

AWS is an area in which Wings Tech has strong technical expertise. We’d be glad to walk you through your options as a technology partner and help you determine the most appropriate tech stack for your business.  We are available to help!