WHAT’S BUZZING
Cybersecurity professionals to be least impacted by layoffs
Despite looming recession concerns, cybersecurity teams will be least impacted by staffing cuts this year, according to a report by (ISC)2, a non-profit association of certified cybersecurity professionals.
Only 10% of organisations globally are likely to cut jobs in cybersecurity compared to other business areas, such as human resources (30%), finance (24%) and operations (24%).
The majority of respondents believe that a reduction in cybersecurity staff will lead to greater risks against cyberattacks, and recognises the challenges of building their cybersecurity team when skilled workers are in short supply.
The report also reveals that 88% of Singapore executives surveyed are likely to recruit cybersecurity talent that may be or have been impacted by layoffs at other companies in 2023.
See also: Younger consumers in Singapore more receptive towards AI agents
More than half (54%) will also prioritise rehiring and reinvest in cybersecurity professionals once economic conditions.
“The importance placed on cybersecurity professionals, even during uncertain economic times, suggests that top executives understand the critical need for a strong cybersecurity team now more than ever. This is not surprising given the upward trend in recent years, where a weakening economy combined with global political tensions has led to increased cyber threats. A key test for executives in 2023 will be their ability to sustain their commitment toward strengthening their organisations’ resilience against evolving cyberthreats amid emerging budgetary pressures,” says (ISC)²’s CEO Clar Rosso.
Global knowledge workers to work hybrid this year
See also: Nearly four in five Apac retailers will increase their tech investment in 2025
By the end of 2023, 39% of global knowledge workers will work hybrid, according to Gartner. The research and consulting firm defines hybrid workers as those who work in the office at least one day a week.
“Hybrid is no longer just an employee perk but an employee expectation. Many employees started to partially return to the office in 2022, but the hybrid workstyle will remain prominent in 2023 and beyond. To adapt, employers have been implementing a human-centric work design — including flexibility, intentional collaboration and empathy-based management — which suits hybrid employees,” says Ranjit Atwal, senior director analyst at Gartner.
For example, IT workers are more inclined to quit their jobs than employees in other functions as they look for greater flexibility, improved work-life balance and better career opportunities. Chief information officers can maximise retention and attraction of talent by resetting their employee value proposition with a more human deal.
Gartner also predicts that by 2025, 10% of workers will use virtual workspaces for activities such as sales, onboarding and working remotely.
However, those spaces should only be used for meetings and interactions that will be enhanced by them, such as brainstorming, product reviews, or social gatherings.
IN PICTURE
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Photo: Intel
Hsinchu’s fire station in Taiwan is now using a portable 5G network-in-a-box base station to better respond to disasters.
Designed by Pegatron — an electronics design and manufacturing company — and Intel, the solution delivers low-latency, multiparty voice and video communication and high-resolution video streaming to firefighters. This is crucial as Hsinchu’s firefighters operate in Taiwan’s mountainous areas, where cellphone networks can be damaged and connectivity options are limited.
The solution is powered by a portable generator and is highly mobile — it is about the size of a large suitcase and weighs about 18 kilograms. It fits in the trunk of a vehicle and can be carried as a backpack.
More importantly, it can be deployed in minutes on any terrain by using a satellite dish to establish high-speed network connectivity with satellites overhead.
Once a backhaul satellite connection is established, a 5G radio antenna establishes a 5G network within the immediate vicinity capable of delivering up to a gigabit per second of throughput available to up to 32 connected devices.
The system can be extended to host more users with the addition of more 5G cells.
DIGITAL LIFE
It may still be long till we can “live” in the metaverse so here are some gadgets to boost your current digital life.
Photo: Logitech
Designed for day-long comfort at the desk, Logitech’s Lift Vertical Ergonomic Mouse features a unique 57-degree vertical design that elevates and takes the pressure off the wrist for a more relaxing grip and natural forearm posture throughout the day.
Photo: Huawei
The Huawei MateBook E is a lightweight, portable 2-in-1 laptop featuring OLED Real Colour FullView Display. When coupled with the Windows app ecosystem and productivity peripherals — like the Huawei M-Pencil (2nd generation) — the Huawei MateBook E helps users work more efficiently no matter where they are.
Photo: Oppo
The Oppo Find N2 Flip offers a large cover screen with day-long battery life and SuperVOOC flash charging. It also features a 50-megapixel flagship camera system with a Sony IMX890 sensor, MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ power, and ultra-fast dual-SIM 5G connectivity.
