The growing challenge of secrets management in DevOps and how automation can help
The age of agile software development and the cloud has caused an explosion in enterprise secrets. From passwords, encryption keys and APIs, to tokens and certificates, digital secrets are what control access when data is transferred between applications. They’re essential to maintaining the security of that data, and in turn, the successful operation of digital enterprises. A top emerging security challenge It’s no surprise, then, that secrets are extremely valuable to threat actors. Businesses need a robust secrets management strategy in place in order to not only effectively manage the respective secrets across their lifecycle, but also protect them from compromise. This is becoming a significant challenge within DevOps specifically, with Thales’ Data Threat Report finding that secrets management was identified as the top emerging DevOps security challenge by respondents. The number of non-human entities – such as apps, APIs, containers and microservices – has also significantly increased in the past few years, adding to the complexity. Applications have become more agile and flexible, increasingly relying on APIs to draw on other sets of data and services. DevOps teams in particular, who are right at the centre of creating and managing these applications, therefore have their secret management challenges. With dozens of orchestrations, configuration management and other tools used every day, these operations rely on an array of automation and other scripts that require secrets to work. Compromise could lead to software supply chain attacks, impersonation, or worse. From an operational perspective, expired or unmanaged secrets can also cause system outages. Figures from the likes of the ITIC have put the cost of IT downtime at a minimum of $5,000 per minute, much of which will have been caused by misconfiguration, expired certificates, or other such issues that having rigorous secrets management in place would eliminate. Eliminate ‘security islands’ The tight deadlines and high expectations of modern software development often mean productivity is prioritised over security, to ensure speedy delivery. Secrets might for instance be hardcoded into applications or configuration files, to allow swift access to other applications and work quickly. If those credentials have privileged access, they can be extremely powerful in the wrong hands. Manually sharing secrets, or keeping them to a limited few also creates ‘security islands’, where only a small group in an organisation have specialised access no one else does. This can be a major brake on productivity – not to mention increasing the chances of employees seeking workarounds or turning to shadow methods to get what they need to get done. Centralising the verification and generation of new credentials and secrets reduces the amount of manual work needed, and allows developers’ workflows to continue more easily. It’s important to say this is not the fault of developers, who are often under extreme time pressures to deliver new builds and applications and aren’t necessarily motivated to dwell too long on the security implications. Instead, it is the responsibility of IT leaders to establish the tools and environment needed to ensure developers can easily incorporate good secrets management practices into everything they do. Keeping secrets out of source code Secrets need to be kept separate from the source code, and using a centralised vault will help with that – developers can use an API call instead to bring the necessary secret in when they need to. A management policy that can support dynamic secrets is even better because these are time-limited. As they automatically expire, even if they are somehow compromised they will be of no use in attacking a business. This is where automation comes in. Secrets can be set to automatically generate and rotate at a predetermined frequency, alongside their storage and distribution. By removing the human element from the secrets management process, you eliminate the use of default, hardcoded, or even duplicate secrets. Any secrets management policy – including those like Zero Trust -determined by the organisation becomes far easier to govern and enforce. A crucial part of DevSecOps While most cloud providers have at least one service that offers secrets management, such as AWS’ secret manager, or Azure’s Key Vault, in a multi-cloud world, organisations may find it more effective to use a cloud-neutral secrets management solution that can work across multiple cloud providers, as well as any on-premise locations they might have too. Centralised secrets management additionally makes logging access, monitoring usage and sending alerts more feasible – not to mention being able to scale access management with the scale of applications as they grow. There are also numerous government regulations around the world that mandate specific controls for efficient secret storage and access, from GDPR to HIPAA – with secrets management tools helping to achieve compliance. Alongside measures like strong encryption, firewalls and regular patching and updating, a good secrets management platform complements these measures and therefore helps fortify overall cybersecurity resilience. Get in touch For event sponsorship enquiries, please get in touch at olliver.toke@31media.co.uk or calum.budge@31media.co.ukFor media enquiries, please get in touch with vaishnavi.nashte@31media.co.uk
Software standards at risk as QA teams face new levels of pressure
Digital quality is integral to the development and rollout of new services. Yet managers and development teams alike often underestimate the value of quality assurance (QA). As a result, many of the checks and balances required to deliver high-quality digital experiences are overlooked, putting companies at risk of losing customers and harming their reputations. Rob Mason, the CTO of Applause, believes the situation could reach boiling point in 2025 as businesses race to release new apps and features, placing more pressure on under-resourced QA teams. His predictions below offer caution and advice to organisations that want to ensure digital quality across the software development lifecycle. The quantity of substandard software releases will increase: In recent years, companies’ main strategy for staying ahead of the competition has been twofold: invest in developing new features and be the first to release them to market. Novelty and speed were prioritized above all else. Requirements like usability, accessibility, payments and localization took a backseat. And this has simply resulted in superficially shiny products that don’t actually deliver value to users. QA teams now face a pressure cooker. They are being allocated fewer and fewer resources to test digital experiences that are getting more and more complex. Unless QA teams are given the time and space to influence decision-making, we will see this situation reach a boiling point next year as companies start to register its impact on customer retention, revenue and reputation. Complexities of Gen AI testing will heap more pressure on QA: Gen AI has brought new challenges for QA teams. Unlike traditional software, Gen AI’s non-deterministic outcomes have introduced a new level of uncertainty into testing that is new territory for QA professionals across the board. It’s a steep learning curve, yet many teams have not received retraining support. Add onto this the potential reputational damage that inaccurate, biased and toxic responses could cause companies, and QA teams suddenly find themselves under new levels of pressure. In 2025, QA will be integral to Gen AI’s success. Inaccuracies, hallucinations and biased content continue to plague LLMs and serious slip-ups could lead to media headaches or even legal action on top of user churn. Proper training and testing are the foundation of high-quality Gen AI products, making embedding QA into the earliest stages of product development critical to business success in 2025. Businesses risk losing overworked and undervalued QA professionals: QA teams, at companies that don’t appreciate the role quality assurance plays in business success can find themselves in a catch-22 situation. Insist on ensuring products meet the highest quality guidelines and they risk not meeting the demands of the business. Neglect quality or even just do the bare minimum and they could face the blame when customers complain about bugs and poor user experiences. On top of this, QA teams today tend to be understaffed, face dwindling budgets and may be struggling to adapt to new technologies like Gen AI. If companies want to retain and attract top QA talent in 2025, they need to take action. Most importantly, they need to involve their QA staff earlier on in the development process to ensure their concerns and advice are heard from the start. The most mature businesses recognize the strategic role QA plays in defining product roadmaps and appreciate that quality is the new frontier in winning and retaining customers. Get in touch For event sponsorship enquiries, please get in touch at olliver.toke@31media.co.uk or calum.budge@31media.co.uk For media enquiries, please get in touch with vaishnavi.nashte@31media.co.uk
66% of LinkedIn Users Believe AI Should Be Taught in High Schools
Artificial Intelligence (AI) should be introduced as a subject in high schools, given its growing importance in job postings. This is the opinion of LinkedIn’s community, surveyed by OPIT – Open Institute of Technology, an EU-accredited academic institution led by Professor Francesco Profumo, former Minister of Education, and Riccardo Ocleppo, Founder and Director. According to the survey, 66% of LinkedIn users think it is essential to teach AI in high schools. Additionally, 72% observed an increase in AI-related mentions in job postings, while 48% stated that AI proficiency is a key requirement for the companies they applied to. AI is primarily used for text generation (38%), research and analysis (38%), and translations (23%). The survey was conducted among OPIT’s followers, a global audience of approximately 8,000, as part of the institution’s October 2024 academic year launch. Participants included professionals, students, and tech enthusiasts, providing valuable insights into current perceptions and trends surrounding AI. The findings highlight a growing recognition of AI’s transformative role. AI is no longer a distant concept but a reality reshaping everyday work practices. Companies and professionals are rapidly adapting to remain competitive in a market where AI skills are increasingly indispensable. “The growing awareness of AI‘s importance in the workplace suggests that professionals are actively integrating these skills into their daily practices. This shift opens opportunities for innovation and professional growth,” explained Riccardo Ocleppo, OPIT’s Founder and Director. “The technological transformation we are witnessing is reshaping the job market, with AI becoming central to this evolution. Rather than fearing it, we must study and understand it to harness its potential fully. At OPIT, integrating AI education across all degree programs is a key focus. This approach equips students with the tools to succeed in a rapidly changing professional landscape driven by digital advancements.” Innovative Degree Programs to Meet AI Demands Since September 2023, OPIT has offered a bachelor’s degree in Modern Computer Science and a master’s in Applied Data Science & AI. In September 2024, four additional programs were launched: a bachelor’s in Digital Business and master’s degrees in Enterprise Cybersecurity, Digital Business & Innovation, and Responsible Artificial Intelligence. These additions bring OPIT’s total offerings to six-degree programs. The strong demand for its Computer Science and Digital Business degrees has led OPIT to reopen applications for January enrollment. Currently, OPIT serves over 300 students from 78 countries, with the largest contingents from Italy (31%) and Europe (36%), followed by North America, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. “Introducing AI education at the high school level is crucial,” Ocleppo added. “This ensures students are better prepared for university studies and equipped with foundational knowledge beyond superficial or recreational use of this technology. Today’s rapidly advancing AI landscape requires university faculty to stay up-to-date with new developments and emerging applications. This connection between teaching and innovation is critical, as traditional methods quickly become obsolete. Transferring these cutting-edge skills to students is not just beneficial but essential.” Get in touch For event sponsorship enquiries, please get in touch at olliver.toke@31media.co.uk or calum.budge@31media.co.ukFor media enquiries, please get in touch with vaishnavi.nashte@31media.co.uk
Key AI Predictions within the growth and sustainability sector
As Artificial Intelligence continues to chip away at the environment, next year, data centres will face a pivotal moment. Facilities will start to realise that there isn’t enough energy. Companies that were influenced by competitive urgency and rushed into AI, now face decisions regarding cost and sustainability of the technology. For example, some AI in-house setups cost upwards of $300,000 in hardware alone. Check out the predictions below to learn about AI growth and sustainability. The predictions also cover data centre accountability, tech-savvy Gen Zs, the rise of AI agents, the role of digital twins in data centres and more. Entries are now open for the 2025 AI Awards. Check out all the award categories here.rr Balancing AI Growth and Sustainability – Mark Fenton, Product Engineering Director at Cadence In 2025, data centres will face mounting pressure to reconcile AI’s surging energy requirements with strict sustainability goals, sparking an industry-wide rethink on AI applications. The infrastructure required to deliver on AI is poised to drive a 160% increase in data centre power demand. This challenge is creating a pivotal moment for data centres to support high-density compute loads while advancing their environmental commitments. Companies will face a new crossroads. Many that initially rushed into AI, driven by competitive urgency, will now reevaluate its financial and energy impact, with some in-house setups costing up to $300,000 in hardware alone. This shift is likely to push organizations toward selective, high-value AI applications that provide stronger operational returns, including within data centres themselves. However, demand will still remain at a high level, stretching capacity to its limits. As such, tools like digital twins will be essential for data centres to meet AI goals sustainably, allowing operators to proactively manage power, integrate renewable sources, and optimize cooling measures to meet AI’s GPU usage demands. With these advancements, data centres can help organizations make AI investments both impactful and environmentally responsible. Data Centers AI Era Revamp – David King, Senior Principal Product Engineer, Cadence Data centres will face a pivotal moment next year as energy usage, especially to power AI, continues to rise. Facilities will start to realize that there really isn’t enough energy. While newly built, AI-optimized facilities can be better suited to handle these requirements, retrofitting older data centres to support increased power as well as cooling is required to meet demands. However, it is costly and complex. This pressure is prompting operators to plan both infrastructure upgrades and invest in purpose-built facilities designed to power AI. Amid these changes, digital twins will be crucial for enhancing data centre efficiency and sustainability in both new and existing data centres. By simulating physical facility environments, digital twins allow operators to optimize power distribution, improve cooling techniques, and test energy changes, helping to maximize resource use and reduce stranded capacity. This technology not only makes the most out of existing space, it also supports sustainable growth, setting a new standard for energy-efficient, AI-capable data centres. EU’s 2025 Energy Efficiency Directive Will Prompt Data Center Accountability – Mark Fenton, Product Engineering Director at Cadence The EU Energy Efficiency Directive’s new reporting requirements, starting in May 2025, will mark a significant step in measuring energy and water usage within the data centre industry on a wide scale. By establishing initial data points, the directive will enable an ongoing comparison of industry performance, potentially paving the way for new regulations or targets that promote greater energy efficiency. The results will likely reveal a diverse landscape, where some companies, particularly within tech, show measurable progress, while others lag behind, exposing varying levels of commitment to environmental goals. What’s more, with public interest in data centres’ resource use on the rise, these findings could invite heightened scrutiny, especially if data points to excessive energy consumption or local grid strain. This may lead to “naming and shaming” by the media, heightening societal pushback even further. However, the EU’s transparency-driven approach and heightened scrutiny should encourage data centres to adopt greener practices and utilize tools like digital twins, both to meet compliance standards and mitigate public backlash. Ideally, this will set a new benchmark for sustainability and accountability across the sector. Gen Z’s Purposeful Mindset Will Help Close the Skills Gap – David King, Senior Principal Product Engineer, Cadence From 2025 onwards, the data centre industry will see a substantial generational shift as seasoned professionals retire and younger, tech-savvy talent bring in specialized skills in AI, automation and sustainability. Traditionally focused on physical infrastructure, data centre roles are evolving to require advanced technical skills like proficiency with simulation software such as digital twins. These tools are crucial in modern data centres for optimizing energy use, airflow, and resource allocation, marking a proactive shift toward efficiency and sustainability. Get in touch For event sponsorship enquiries, please get in touch at olliver.toke@31media.co.uk or calum.budge@31media.co.ukFor media enquiries, please get in touch with vaishnavi.nashte@31media.co.uk
How Smart Cities are Bridging the Digital Divide With AI
Urban populations are expected to account for 68% of the global population, putting unprecedented strain on cities’ infrastructure. This rapid urbanisation is exposing critical gaps that compromise residents’ quality of life, from inefficient essential services to grid and water-management deficiencies. The implications are particularly profound for underserved communities, where infrastructure and basic services may already be lacking. Municipal leaders, policymakers, and sustainability directors are now grappling with the challenge of ensuring their cities evolve in a way that is both technologically advanced and equitable and inclusive. Connectivity is at the heart of this challenge. In the United States alone, an estimated 14.5 million people still lack access to reliable broadband, creating vast “broadband deserts” that exacerbate social and economic divides. These areas, often rural or underserved urban communities, are left behind in a digital age where access to high-speed internet is no longer a luxury but a necessity. This issue transcends technology—it strikes at the core of equity and social justice. It’s also one of the key reasons programs like BEAD have garnered so much attention, including among AI experts developing connectivity solutions. Ensuring that all citizens, regardless of their geographic location, have access to healthcare, education, and other critical connected services is vital for fostering inclusive rural and urban growth. Four Steps to Bridge the Digital Divide The consequences of inadequate digital infrastructure are profound. Without connectivity, cities risk deepening existing inequalities, particularly in low-income or remote areas where residents may already face significant barriers to accessing essential services. Network operators around the world have begun leveraging AI to address the digital divide and identify areas where broadband can be brought to underserved communities. In the process, their AI solutions are accelerating the speed at which city leaders can improve residents’ quality of life and help them benefit from the digital revolution. Based on our experience working with these operators and city leaders, we’ve identified four steps to start using AI to bridge the digital divide: To fully utilise the power of AI in smart city initiatives, city planners must first establish a strong data infrastructure. AI, as many organisations have learned the hard way, requires good data. If datasets are incomplete, inaccurate, or inaccessible due to organisational silos, even the best algorithms in the world will be ineffective. Building a strong data foundation involves not only collecting and managing vast amounts of data but also ensuring that the data is accurate, up-to-date, and securely stored and processed. With well-organised data, AI can help city and telecom leaders make more informed decisions about where to build new connectivity infrastructure or how to optimise the existing network to expand coverage without additional capital investment. By prioritising data governance and integrating data from various departments, municipalities can also establish data-driven control rooms to better monitor their connectivity infrastructure and generate actionable AI-driven insights, leading to more efficient and equitable urban management. As cities increasingly incorporate AI into their operations, it’s essential to keep the needs and experiences of residents at the forefront. A citizen-centric approach ensures that technology deployment is guided by the actual needs of the community rather than by technological possibilities alone. Surveys and other feedback mechanisms help city leaders better understand residents’ actual priorities and challenges. For example, a new AI-driven outdoor recreation app may sound cool, but if citizens are more concerned about improved healthcare access and remote education opportunities, it’s better to explore how AI can tackle those larger, more pressing priorities. AI can also be used to tailor services and improve transportation systems, but city leaders must first understand the biggest challenges that, if solved, will directly improve the quality of life for residents. To future-proof smart city projects, city planners should focus on AI solutions that are both scalable and adaptable. A prime example is Sand Technologies’ innovative approach to optimising fibre rollout and cell tower placements to improve access for residents worldwide. As a leading global AI solutions company, Sand Technologies has helped telecom leaders and forward-thinking governments use advanced geographic information systems (GIS) and AI-driven models to increase broadband coverage while reducing costs dramatically. This strategy not only enhances citizen connectivity but also allows network operators to launch innovative new services while saving public-private partnerships millions of dollars in infrastructure investments. Scalable AI solutions allow cities to start small, with pilot projects, and expand as the technology proves its value and additional funding becomes available. Flexibility is equally important; as cities evolve, the AI systems in place must be capable of integrating new data sources and adapting to changes in urban dynamics without requiring complete overhauls. Some of a city’s biggest challenges—climate change, population growth, and technological disruption—demand that mayors and city planners develop long-term resilience strategies. AI-powered scenario planning tools can help municipalities anticipate future risks and plan accordingly. By using digital twins and analysing huge datasets about critical areas—the impact of extreme weather events, demographic shifts, and evolving energy and water demands—city planners can simulate various scenarios and strategies to ensure the city’s infrastructure, services, and governance structures remain resilient for all residents over time. A Look to The Future of Smart Cities The concept of smart cities has been around for decades, and many municipalities have made incredible progress toward their goals. Now that more mayors, planners, and citizens are interested in AI, it’s exciting to consider how much more smart cities in the United States and worldwide can achieve. Improvements in several critical areas are within reach with AI, from sustainability and healthcare to agriculture and closing the digital divide. And that’s just the beginning. But where, specifically, should city leaders start? The smart city AI journey must begin with data—not just the data a city manages, but also the data it has about residents’ quality-of-life priorities. By keeping citizens at the centre of their smart-city plan, leaders can identify the areas where AI, digital twins, and other technologies can be applied for the greatest impact. That journey is almost always tied to connectivity improvements; the smartest city is often the most connected. Finding ways to leverage
Attack surface management
Attack surface management: you can’t protect what you can’t see By Marios Kyriacou Wikipedia defines the attack surface of a software environment as “the sum of the different points where an unauthorised user can try to enter data, extract data, control a device or critical software in an environment.” It goes on to say. “Keeping the attack surface as small as possible is a basic security measure.” This is not easy. The attack surface in any corporate IT environment can be huge, and the rapid rise of remote working brought on by COVID-19 massively increased the attack surface of many organisations. Any CISO trying to rein in the ever-expanding attack surface of their IT environment is likely to be facing a losing battle. They will devote significant resources to making penetration as difficult as possible, stress testing their systems and identifying potential threats. Those activities are essential, of course, but a comprehensive understanding of that attack surface would enable other security initiatives to be deployed more efficiently and make them more effective. A decade ago, I ran a specialist penetration testing business called The Security Bureau. What soon became clear was that our customers could not tell us what should be tested: they were unsure which of their assets were exposed to the Internet. Since then the challenge of identifying the Internet-facing attack surface, let alone the entire attack surface—which is much larger—has increased enormously for almost every organisation. It’s an adage that you cannot protect what you cannot see. Being able to identify every external facing asset is an essential first step in protecting them. There was a need back then, and therefore a business opportunity. So, in 2018 I launched Informer and the Informer External Attack Surface Management (ASM) Service, which combined asset discovery with penetration testing of those external facing assets. The service continually scanned and mapped an organisation’s digital footprint—including web domains, subdomains, IPs, and cloud services—and tracked changes over time, providing valuable intelligence for enhanced human-driven offensive testing (eg, penetration and crowdsourced testing). And we’ve been evolving Informer ASM ever since. Earlier this year the company was acquired by Bugcrowd, the leading provider of crowdsourced security. There are strong synergies between the two companies, and we are exploiting these to help organisations meet the ever-growing challenges of ASM. When I launched Informer, ASM was in its infancy. Back in 2021, according to Straits Research, the ASM market was worth about $0.5bn. At that time less than 10% of organisations had formal ASM programmes in place. It’s estimated that 60% will have them by 2026. And the ASM market has grown to $1.4bn in 2024. Straits Research forecasts a 27.7% CAGR to 2032, taking the value of the market to $9.1bn. It is not difficult to see why the ASM market is experiencing such growth. It reflects the growth, not only in size but in complexity, of attack surfaces in corporate IT. I mentioned that COVID-19 induced remote working. Another factor increasing the number of entry points even faster than Covid-era remote workers is IoT. According to one report, there will be 18.8bn connected devices by the end of 2024 and 41bn by 2030. The disconnect between operational technology and information technology in many organisations has long made securing these a challenge. The growth of remote work and connected devices has massively increased the number of entry points. Other developments present much more sophisticated challenges for ASM. The use of AI by both corporate IT and cybercriminals is possibly the most significant and challenging development. It creates new attack surfaces whose vulnerabilities can be difficult to assess and that can be difficult to protect. And of course, AI is being exploited by cybercriminals to accelerate their efforts and craft more complex attacks. Every year for the past several years Bugcrowd has surveyed the ethical hacker community to gather its views on a variety of IT security issues and challenges. Bugcrowd publishes its findings in its annual Inside the Mind of a Hackerreport. Not surprisingly AI features prominently in the 2024 edition, as both a security tool and a security threat. Seventy-seven per cent of those surveyed are already leveraging AI in their hacking activities, and 82% believe the AI threat landscape is evolving too fast to adequately secure. While security vendors are racing to provide security solutions that secure the AI attack surface, ethical hackers responding to Bugcrowd’s survey were split almost 50/50 on whether existing security solutions meet the needs and risks of AI. Meanwhile, 50% say AI has already had a positive impact on their hacking activities and 77% are already leveraging AI in their work. Almost half of the hackers surveyed believe AI will never beat them in value or effectiveness, because AI is still only as good as the human creativity that drives it. Humans are truly creative, and good hackers bring a level of creativity that AI lacks. They think outside of the box, which gives them an advantage over machine learning models and predictive AI. However, AI can be an enormous help. A task that could have taken hours can take just a few minutes. As one respondent said: “AI is great for helping to understand error conditions in binary protocols that I’m not as familiar with.” AI could also help organisations to get a clearer picture of the ever-expanding attack surface and potential weaknesses in their defences. Expect significant developments as ASM tools leverage AI to address the new challenges that AI will create. We intend to leverage AI to shrink the effective attack surface faster than the bad guys can exploit AI to open it up. Get in touch For event sponsorship enquiries, please get in touch at olliver.toke@31media.co.uk or calum.budge@31media.co.ukFor media enquiries, please get in touch with vaishnavi.nashte@31media.co.uk
4 key AI Predictions for 2025
As the insurance industry navigates a rapidly evolving landscape, Fadata looks ahead to 2025 and highlights the key developments and trends in insurance and digital transformation. Entries are now open for the 2025 AI Awards. Check out all the award categories here. Based on the close collaborations between Fadata and its clients, the major trends that Fadata predicts will shape the future of insurance are Internalization, Prevention, Cloud Migration, Embedded Insurance, Ecosystem Development and Talent Transformation. These six trends are driving transformative changes across the sector, with insurers adopting innovative approaches to address customer needs, operational efficiency, security, risk, and market demands: Bring it in: Internalisation of processes In 2025, insurers are increasingly expected to internalise key operations. Insurers are looking to streamline operations, reduce costs, and boost data security, all of which can be achieved by the enhanced control of processes that internalisation affords. Insurers can also achieve greater agility in responding to regulatory changes, market shifts, and customer demands by taking control. Shifting to SaaS models, insurers are also able to work directly with out-of-the-box software providers that can support them through implementation and beyond. Already, Fadata is supporting this shift, working with customers to build efficient internal Centres of Excellence for critical business processes, providing training and assisting with setup to enable them to insource their business’s critical knowledge and become self-sufficient. This trend reflects a growing emphasis on efficiency and customization to support customer-centric insurance. Prevention First: Prevention-Driven Insurance Models Proactive risk prevention is becoming a cornerstone of the insurance industry. By aligning incentives focusing on customer safety and financial well-being, prevention-driven insurance models can reduce claim frequency and create opportunities for insurers to engage with policyholders in more meaningful ways. By emphasizing prevention in 2025, insurers will not only lower costs, but will improve customer satisfaction, fostering loyalty by supporting them in maintaining their health, safety, and assets. The frequent environmental catastrophes are an example where the insurer can proactively play a role to avoid being impacted severely. Fadata expects more insurers to adopt technology that enables them to leverage the data required to deliver prevention-driven insurance. Accessing data is of course key; from IoT devices in health, life and building insurance, aerial imaging in building and disaster insurance, and telematic tracking devices for auto insurance, to AI, ML and blockchain for fraud detection, risk assessment and predictive tools. Insurers can access a wealth of data that will help customers avoid claims through early alerts and preventive support, which also enables lower premiums for customers. Time for migration: To the Cloud Cloud-based solutions are making digital transformation more cost-effective and serve as the most effective host to make the best use of digital tools, supporting more seamless integration of third-party technologies. Flexibility & scalability: Increasingly, the flexibility and scalability in the Cloud are appealing to agile insurance companies that recognise the need to adapt quickly to market changes and the value in responsiveness for modern insurance, which is set to continue in 2025. As insurers consider the cost of digital transformation, Cloud solutions become increasingly attractive as they reduce infrastructure costs. They can also reduce hardware investment through more efficient scaling up and down, for example in the event of natural disasters when scaling up quickly to handle large amounts of claims is essential. Security: Cloud solutions also offer a level of security that can otherwise be costly to achieve and maintain for insurers. They offer robust, heavily invested security measures, already in place, and regular security updates applied with ease and speed as threats change. In 2025, with the rising threat of cyber-criminal activity, more insurers will be looking to foster a culture of security awareness, and the Cloud will be a top consideration. Distribution shift: Embedded Insurance Embedded insurance is increasing in relevance. Customers are seeking more value during their purchasing journeys, businesses are looking to satisfy these customers and generate new revenue streams, and insurers want to reach untapped customer segments – this leads to a need for embedded insurance. Making insurance more integrated, accessible, and customer-centric, this significant shift in insurance distribution is becoming a major catalyst for transforming the insurance landscape. Thanks to APIs and core platforms, the integration of insurance into digital platforms is made easy. While more readily available real-time data with advanced processing is enabling businesses to offer their hyper-personalised insurance offers. Already typical with travel, product and e-commerce, broader adoption of embedded insurance is expected in 2025. With sectors such as real estate and healthcare, expected to. offer contextually relevant insurance coverage seamlessly integrated into the transactions or usage experience of their goods and services. The rise of digital platforms: Ecosystems The main drivers for leveraging digital ecosystem models in 2025 are improving customer engagement and broadening market reach. Customer experience has become critical to insurance business success and the ecosystem model enables the means to add value, deliver a slicker user experience, and create more personalised products and communications. Through strategic partnerships, platform ecosystems are fostering innovation, bridging the gap between technology experts and InsurTechs to make adoption easier to apply and manage, with integrations made seamlessly and terms often pre-approved for simplicity. This collaborative approach allows insurers to diversify and stay relevant in an increasingly competitive market. How insurers and developers embrace the ecosystem movement, the benefits for insurers, their customers and the industry, and what to consider when selecting an ecosystem, are the most prominent considerations. Fishing the talent pool: Developer transformation As the industry embraces Artificial Intelligence, data analytics, and automation, there is a rising need for talent skilled in data science, cyber risk, and technology integration. Notoriously glamourless, insurance to date has been a tech-driven industry with less appeal for developers than other industries. However, the demands of digital transformation, including AI, data analytics, and automation, are attracting fresh developer talent. Gen-z in particular wants to work with cutting-edge tools, platforms and technologies; legacy systems and outdated programming languages do not factor in their career path. Now,
How 5G and AI are revolutionising industries for the next billion users
As the insurance industry navigates a rapidly evolving landscape, Fadata looks ahead to 2025 and highlights the key developments and trends in insurance and digital transformation. Entries are now open for the 2025 AI Awards. Check out all the award categories here. Welcome to the Future: How 5G and AI Are Revolutionising Industries for the Next Billion Users Written by: Prianca Ravichander, CMO and Head of Global B2B2X Monetisation at Tecnotree Imagine a world where your devices predict your needs before realising them. Your morning coffee order is placed automatically as you approach your favourite café, and the car that picks you up seamlessly reroutes around traffic, saving you precious time. A world where factories run autonomously, cities respond dynamically to your movements, and businesses connect with you in ways so personal it feels like magic. This isn’t the distant future. It’s happening now, powered by the game-changing duo of 5G and AI. These technologies are reshaping industries, breaking barriers, and unlocking new realms of possibility. For Chief AI Officers, CTOs, and CEOs, this moment isn’t just about keeping up—it’s about leading in a world where speed meets intelligence. The Era of Instant, Intelligent Action Thanks to 5G’s ultra-low latency, massive bandwidth, and always-on connectivity, AI is no longer limited by lag or infrastructure constraints. Instead, we’re witnessing the dawn of real-time intelligence: Autonomous vehicles react to split-second changes in their environment with near-zero delays. Retail platforms deliver personalised offers while customers browse, adjusting dynamically based on their interests. Smart factories predict machine failures before they occur, reducing downtime and maximising efficiency. Every action is informed, instantaneous, and intelligent. This is the new normal, moving at the speed of thought. Welcome to the Age of Predictive Experiences At the heart of this transformation lies experience management, powered by embedded AI and enabled by 5G. Businesses now have the tools to create not just responses but proactive engagements. For example: A telecom provider that knows when you’re likely to run out of data and offers you the perfect plan upgrade right when needed. An entertainment platform that adjusts your recommendations based on your time of day, mood, or recent preferences. A healthcare system that predicts and prevents illnesses before symptoms even appear, using AI insights from real-time biometric data. This isn’t about serving customers—it’s about knowing them, anticipating them, and delighting them. The Next Billion: A Tidal Wave of Opportunity With 5G rolling out globally, the next billion users are coming online—many for the first time. These users bring diverse needs and untapped potential, offering businesses unparalleled opportunities. Here’s how 5G and AI are making it possible: Hyper-Localised Experiences: AI learns regional languages, cultural nuances, and even hyperlocal buying habits, ensuring every interaction feels personal. Scalable Inclusion: From micro-financing for rural entrepreneurs to e-learning platforms tailored to underserved communities, businesses can expand inclusively, driven by AI insights. Efficient Infrastructure: 5G optimises connectivity in remote areas, making previously unreachable markets accessible for the first time. For leaders, the question is simple: Are you ready to meet the next billion where they are—and take them where they want to go? Breaking Barriers, Creating Ecosystems The pairing of 5G and AI doesn’t just enable better processes—it fosters entirely new ecosystems. Consider these groundbreaking applications: Smart Cities: AI and 5G optimise traffic flow, reduce energy consumption, and ensure public safety by connecting every sensor, signal, and system. Media & Entertainment: Real-time streaming with adaptive storytelling that evolves as viewers interact, creating truly immersive experiences. Manufacturing: Fully autonomous production lines that learn, adapt, and improve without human intervention. These ecosystems don’t just respond to demand; they anticipate and create it, unlocking exponential growth and innovation. Redefining Competitive Advantage In this world, thriving businesses embed AI and 5G into their core DNA. This isn’t about bolting on new technologies; it’s about building systems that learn, adapt, and act autonomously. Next Best Offer (NBO) and Next Best Action (NBA) as a Service orchestrated through APIs are no longer just tools but the foundation of future-ready enterprises. With access to these APIs from Tecnotree Moments for AI-driven experience management, organisations can: Create seamless, end-to-end customer journeys. Deliver hyper-personalised interactions in seconds. Redefine engagement by predicting—not reacting to—needs. What will set industry leaders apart is their ability to pivot in real-time and offer value before it’s asked for. Leading Ethically and Sustainably While the possibilities are thrilling, leaders must navigate this new frontier responsibly: Transparency: Build AI systems that are explainable and fair, ensuring trust in every interaction. Sustainability: Leverage efficient algorithms and green infrastructure to reduce the energy footprint of 5G and AI. Human-Centric AI: Empower human oversight, ensuring thoughtful and empathetic decision-making. Innovation without responsibility risks eroding trust—an outcome no leader can afford. The Time to Act Is Now 5G and AI are not distant opportunities—they are today’s reality. The leaders who stand out in this era will embrace proactive intelligence, radical personalisation, and inclusive ecosystems. Imagine a future where every customer touchpoint becomes a moment of delight, every operational process becomes seamless, and every market becomes accessible. That future isn’t just possible—it’s here. Will you shape it, or will you be shaped by it? Get in touch For event sponsorship enquiries, please get in touch at olliver.toke@31media.co.uk or calum.budge@31media.co.uk For media enquiries, please get in touch with vaishnavi.nashte@31media.co.uk
The partnership that will prevent vape sales to minors
Johnston Retail Services has partnered with Privately SA to bring the AgeAI app to Ireland, helping to prevent vape sales to minors and avoid the risk of costly fines 20 November 2024 – Stores across Ireland can now benefit from a pioneering AI solution that can estimate someone’s age with almost 100% accuracy, thanks to a new partnership between Dublin’s Johnston Retail Services and SafetyTech company Privately SA. Privately’s AgeAI app provides automated and highly accurate facial age estimation, removing the guesswork from age checks and mitigating the risk of fines for selling vapes to children. It is 100% anonymous, with no images transmitted or stored, GDPR certified, and helps protect staff by reducing the need for unnecessary ID checks for adults who are a source of major conflict. A 2023 study revealed that more than one-third of young people aged 13 to 16 in Ireland currently vape, and almost one-quarter of 10 to 12-year-olds said they had tried vaping. “Underage vaping is a problem in Ireland, and there’s a pressing requirement to prevent sales to minors,” said Deepak Tewari, CEO, of Privately SA. “But store owners and managers need help, and our partnership with Johnston Retail Services delivers that, with an automated, accurate and speedy solution that allows staff to avoid the confrontation that comes from requests for ID and turning people away.” Johnston Retail Services works with most nationwide Irish retailers, including Applegreen, Centra, SuperValu, An Post, and Dunnes Stores. It helps retailers transform by providing innovative solutions that grow revenue, enhance customer experiences, and fortify the foundations of retail success. The deal with Privately SA will see Johnston Retail Services bring AgeAI to stores in Ireland. It requires minimal setup, and it’s no burden to customers. People look at a screen that instantly notifies whether they appear above a certain age. If there’s a positive indication, checkout continues. If it is not, an ID request can be made. AgeAI is already in use with hundreds of independent vape stores in the UK due to Privately SA’s partnership with the retail trade association Our Vape Advocacy. Bringing AgeAI to Ireland is a breakthrough in helping to combat underage vape sales, and an essential use of innovative technology, according to Brian Hurley, Commercial Director at Johnston Retail Services: “Ensuring your operation has a technology focus is now more important than ever. Those who adopt and embrace the technological solutions available tend to reap more success with much less effort than one may think.” “Enforcement of age-restricted selling is no doubt going to become more and more prevalent. AgeAI is extremely simple, affordable and an indispensable tool that we are excited to be able to offer our customers to help with this legal selling requirement.” Privately is a SafetyTech startup whose child safety apps have protected more than 100,000 children in the UK and worldwide. During the past year, Privately has carried out almost one million age check transactions in retail environments. Get in touch For event sponsorship enquiries, please get in touch at olliver.toke@31media.co.uk or calum.budge@31media.co.uk For media enquiries, please get in touch with vaishnavi.nashte@31media.co.uk
Winners Announced for the North American Software Testing Awards 2024
Toronto, Canada – The winners of the North American Software Testing Awards 2024 have been officially announced, marking an inspiring evening dedicated to recognising excellence in the software testing and quality engineering industry. Organised by 31 Media, the awards ceremony took place on November 27, 2024, in Toronto, Canada, and gathered industry leaders and professionals to celebrate the outstanding achievements of companies, teams, and individuals across North America. The program, encompassing 16 categories, provided a platform for businesses of all sizes and sectors to showcase their innovation, technical skills, and commitment to quality. Participants embarked on a journey that culminated in an unforgettable awards evening, where achievements were recognised, and connections within the software testing community were strengthened. We extend our sincere gratitude to our 2024 sponsors – QA Mentor, IBM, Infoya, and Perforce – whose support was integral to the success of this event. Their contributions and shared commitment to advancing quality in software testing made this celebration of excellence possible. Additionally, we would like to thank our dedicated panel of judges for their commitment, expertise, and integrity in evaluating entries, ensuring a fair and robust selection process. Their role was pivotal in celebrating this year’s exceptional talent. Access the full list of 2024 winners here: NASTA 2024 winners Participate in the Asia Pacific Software Testing Awards 2025 With the European awards concluded, we now look forward to the upcoming Asia Pacific Software Testing Awards. This independent program celebrates remarkable achievements across the Asia Pacific region and the UAE, featuring 15 categories to recognise the best in digital technology and software testing. Judged with impartiality and transparency, the Asia Pacific Awards provide an equitable platform that celebrates true excellence. Finalists and winners alike gain increased visibility and access to invaluable networking opportunities within the global testing community. Showcase your expertise and enhance your brand’s visibility, we encourage you to participate in the Asia Pacific Software Testing Awards. Entries are open now – submit yours to join a legacy of excellence and success! Enter here About 31 Media 31 Media is a prominent tech industry event organiser. We strive to continuously push the boundaries and explore innovative ways to improve our offerings including our renowned award ceremonies, conferences, and workshops. These market-leading platforms serve the software testing, DevOps, and digital transformation communities and provide professionals with unparalleled opportunities to enhance their skills, exchange insights, and stay at the forefront of industry advancements. Get in touch For event sponsorship enquiries, please get in touch with oliver.toke@31media.co.uk For media enquiries, please get in touch with vaishnavi.nashte@31media.co.uk
