It seems that hacking data networks has become the new fad recently. With companies like Google, Sony, Nintendo, Lockheed Martin, and most recently Citibank, it appears that, with the exception of Lockheed Martin, the attackers are going after customer data. All this coming at a time when the internet is experiencing an evolution to a wireless, mobile (or cloud) network.
It’s a potential one step forward, two steps back moment and companies will need to start spending on their security in order to keep customer confidence up. Especially when most people, myself included, don’t really understand the how, where, and why these cyber attacks are possible.
The Corporate Perspective
Big business has been turning to the “cloud” to do business and maintain their data. If you haven’t heard of the “cloud” yet, it’s a broad term covering the evolution of the internet that allows corporations to store data, applications, programs, etc., on a virtual server. It allows both big and small businesses to have the use of all the new technology, without the cost of buying the new hardware.
Corporate spending will continue to be the bulk of the revenues for security companies. The more businesses that turn to the “cloud”, the more security that is required to protect those companies. With the latest cyber attacks hitting some major corporations, the spending will only increase to protect brand names, and keep them out of the headlines. Combine that with the fact that the “cloud” is still at the early stages of it’s life cycle, the technology to secure the “cloud” will continue to evolve. Continue Reading…
The best advice I’ve ever heard regarding investing is if you don’t understand the investment don’t put your money into it. Similar advice can be said about stocks and is the philosophy of some of the greatest money managers. If you don’t understand how the company makes money, don’t buy the stock. It’s a pretty simple idea, but often overlooked.
You see the terms large cap, mid cap, and small cap when describing a company, mutual fund, or ETF. What do they actually mean? How do they impact an investment strategy?
Have you ever had the small misfortune to wake up, take a shower, but have no hot water, or where you’re driving to work, only to get a flat. You hope these problems are just a quick fix. But when they’re not, you know it’s going to cost more than you want to spend. The good news is you have an emergency fund set aside just for these situations, right.
The tax filing deadline is fast approaching. If you haven’t filed your taxes yet, you’re not alone. According to the IRS, about 25% of all taxpayers wait till the last two weeks to file their taxes. For those sitting in that 25%, you have until the deadline of Monday, April 18 to file your taxes this year.