Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Companies can face data-security challenges with cloud storage and access management.</li><li>Data-security posture management can help identify risks and protect data.</li></ul>Companies handle troves of data, including financial information, customer details, and proprietary content. While much of that data is stored in the cloud, company leaders might not always know exactly where it is, who all has access to it, or how secure it truly is.Dan Benjamin, the senior director of product management at Prisma Cloud, a cloud-security platform made by Palo Alto Networks, said that incorporating data-security posture management into cybersecurity strategies could help solve many of these problems.He described DSPM as a set of cybersecurity technologies that can help companies "discover, understand, and protect their data." This is crucial, as an IBM report published in 2023 estimated that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ibm.com/topics/data-security-posture-management">82% of data breaches</a> involved data stored in the cloud.Clouds and the data they contain are vulnerable for several reasons. For one thing, Benjamin said, "the sheer amount of data in the cloud is larger than the amount of data that's on-premises," or <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/artificial-intelligence-data-privacy-on-premises-information-technology-solutions-2024-8">stored on a company's own hardware</a>. Organizations also often use several cloud systems and sometimes lack a solid <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/peter-wang-talks-artificial-intelligence-and-on-premises-infrastructure-2024-8">security strategy for maintaining, updating, and securing data</a>.Liat Hayun, the vice president of product management and research of cloud security at the cybersecurity company Tenable, said cloud environments' flexibility makes them attractive to companies. Clouds make it easy for companies to store and move data around, but they're also difficult to monitor.While DSPM can help, Hayun said, many organizations haven't embraced the technology.<h2 id="500962ef-2e5d-401c-aa84-3745209e9825">How DSPM safeguards data</h2>Benjamin said DSPM helps organizations answer three key questions: "What data do I have? How is it being used? And how is it being protected?"Hayun said the software continuously identifies where a company's data resides and classifies it based on its sensitivity level, such as personally identifiable information or intellectual property. It then analyzes the controls around the data, including <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-respond-to-ransomware-attack">who has access to it and how secure it is</a>; identifies vulnerabilities; and recommends ways to address a problem.Julie Madhusoodanan, the head of cybersecurity at LinkedIn, described DSPM as a combination of risk identification, reporting, and mitigation."Think of it as having a security guard who regularly checks where your data is stored, who has access to it, and how it's being used," she said.If something looks off — for example, sensitive information is being stored in the wrong place, or someone has access to data they shouldn't have — DSPM software can alert a company's security or information-technology teams to resolve the issue "before something bad happens," Madhusoodanan said.Other cybersecurity solutions focus on securing devices or systems that house or process data and often identify vulnerabilities and risks after they happen. Madhusoodanan said DSPM is designed to protect the data itself and "can proactively block risks from being inserted into the system in the first place."<h2 id="38f8e7b1-fe20-45f3-ac0f-8e4e65aafba3">Why DSPM is a beneficial security measure</h2>Any organization that collects, maintains, and processes data — no matter its size or industry — is <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-to-know-about-sec-cybersecurity-rules-and-guidance">at risk of a breach</a>, Madhusoodanan said. Investing in DSPM, she added, can help "give organizations a clearer picture of the risk their business is carrying," manage that risk, and heighten security.For example, LinkedIn uses DSPM to assess threats and plan mitigation strategies. Madhusoodanan said the technology had improved the company's response time and accuracy in addressing vulnerabilities.Benjamin gave an example of a financial company he worked with: It used DSPM and discovered that some financial reports were being copied to a cloud that <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-companies-can-respond-to-cybersecurity-risks-after-layoffs-2024-9">belonged to a former employee</a>. The tool identified the issue so the company could secure the data.Benjamin said DSPM could also reduce the likelihood and impact of a data breach. Breaches can cost a company millions of dollars, damage its reputation, interfere with operations, and cause compliance problems if sensitive data is compromised.Hayun said DSPM could ensure that companies don't take unnecessary risks with data and make them feel more secure in scaling up their data programs, enabling them to grow their business.Benjamin said that while DSPM could benefit most companies, the technology is especially advantageous for those in regulated industries, such as finance or health, or with a lot of customer data.<h2 id="087ddab0-b09f-4ff6-b341-21bcf3c50adf">Some companies face challenges implementing DSPM</h2>Companies implementing DSPM tech can struggle with hiring the appropriate staff, lacking internal resources, selecting a DSPM vendor or tool, and getting executive buy-in, according to a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://normalyze.ai/company/from-reactive-to-proactive-dspms-transformative-role-in-data-security/">report from Normalyze</a>, a DSPM provider.Madhusoodanan said that DSPM strategies can't be implemented in silos and that stakeholder buy-in is critical. "This is where leaders face the biggest friction and why fostering a security-centric culture is key to getting leaders on board," she said.She added that it's essential to ensure everyone across an organization understands and is focused on the company's data-protection strategies so that the organization can make accurate risk-mitigation decisions.Hayun said DSPM enabled organizations to use data effectively and securely — and in compliance with regulatory bodies."They can build guardrails around how the data is used and allow their teams to run within those guardrails without concern," she said.

How data-security posture management could make your cloud systems less vulnerable

<ul><li><keyword id="20940216" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Synology" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Synology" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Synology">Synology</keyword> launched several new products at the Synology Solution Exhibition 2024.</li><li>The company has registered double-digit growth in India in the last three years.</li><li>We speak to the company’s <keyword id="22416016" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="joanne-weng" source="keywords">Joanne Weng</keyword> to learn more about the company and its plans in India.</li></ul> Taiwanese <keyword id="20653112" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="storage-solutions" source="keywords">storage solutions</keyword> provider Synology<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/synology-introduces-new-products-aimed-at-data-protection-and-scalability/articleshow/110711086.cms"> introduced</a> several new products aimed at offering <keyword id="20285436" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="data-management" source="keywords">data management</keyword> and protection needs of business organisations at the Synology Solution Exhibition 2024 held in Taiwan. The company announced products such as ActiveProtect, the new GS Series and surveillance solutions at the event. The company also offers Network-attached storage (NAS) devices. Business Insider India spoke with Joanne Weng, Director of International Business, Synology during the event about the company’s operations in India and its future plans. To start, can you tell us about Synology's mission and its recent focus on the Indian market? Synology's mission has always been to simplify IT management, making it accessible for everyone from tech-savvy users to those with minimal technical expertise. Recently, we've been focusing on expanding our presence in India, recognising the country's immense potential as a key market for our solutions. Can you share some insights into Synology's performance in India? Our performance in India has been impressive, with consistent double-digit growth over the past three years. The Indian market is among the top five for Synology in the Asia-Pacific region, reflecting the growing demand for reliable and scalable data storage solutions. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for our products has remained strong, highlighting their relevance in supporting business continuity. How has Synology built its local presence and support in India? We recognise the importance of being present in the market. We've invested in building a dedicated team to look after the Indian market, working closely with local partners to provide on-ground support and consultation. Our strategy of selling through channels ensures that customers can get the help they need from partners familiar with their specific requirements. How does Synology ensure ease of management for its users? Our solutions are designed for easy setup and management, ensuring minimal hassle for users. We focus on user-friendly interfaces and pre-configured settings, making our products accessible for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) as well as large enterprises. This approach helps streamline IT management, allowing users to focus on their core business activities. What steps does Synology take to set itself apart in terms of flexibility and scalability? One of our core strengths is the flexibility and scalability of our solutions. As businesses grow, their data storage needs evolve, and Synology offers scalable solutions that can adapt to these increasing demands. This makes us an ideal choice for enterprises experiencing rapid growth, especially with emerging technologies like AI that require robust data management capabilities. Security is a major concern for businesses today. How does Synology address this? Security is a top priority for us. Our solutions come with end-to-end encryption and other advanced security features to protect data. We have a dedicated PSIRT Team that collaborates with global security organisations and ethical hackers to ensure our products remain secure against evolving threats. Additionally, to strengthen our backup solutions, the upcoming ActiveProtect appliances will include features like air-gapping and isolating backup copies in a secure environment to protect against ransomware attacks. How does Synology maintain a customer-centric approach? Customer feedback is extremely valuable to us and drives our continuous improvement efforts. We work with organizations like Gartner for peer reviews to ensure we are meeting customer expectations and delivering high satisfaction levels. This customer-centric approach is a cornerstone of our strategy, ensuring that our products and services evolve in line with user needs. What can we expect from Synology in the future, especially in the Indian market? Looking ahead, we plan to continue focusing on the Indian market, leveraging our robust product portfolio to meet the growing demands of enterprises. Our upcoming products are set to offer even greater scalability and performance, catering to businesses with extensive data management needs. We're excited about the future and are committed to supporting the evolving needs of businesses in India. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/the-biggest-ipos-in-indias-history-lic-to-paytm-companies-that-have-raised-the-most-funds/articleshow/111690863.cms">The biggest IPOs in India’s history – LIC to Paytm, companies that have raised the most funds</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/its-raining-discounts-maruti-suzuki-hyundai-tata-motors-and-others-offer-discounts-on-cars-as-sales-slowdown/articleshow/111688501.cms">It’s raining discounts – Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Tata Motors and others offer discounts on cars as sales slowdown</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/jio-vs-airtel-vs-vi-prepaid-plans-comparison-plan-benefits-and-price-comparison-after-tariff-hike/articleshow/111512587.cms">Jio vs Airtel vs Vi recharge plans comparison – plan benefits and price comparison after tariff hike</a>

Synology bets big on the Indian market amid strong growth, growing demand

June turned out to be a blockbuster month for thematic/sectoral <keyword id="19929240" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mutual-funds" source="keywords">mutual funds</keyword>, which managed to amass Rs 22,351.69 crore during the month, the highest amongst all equity mutual funds. Overall, equity mutual funds saw <keyword id="19967545" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="inflows" source="keywords">inflows</keyword> worth Rs 40,537 crore, whereas debt mutual funds saw significant outflows of about Rs 1.07 lakh crore. Within this category, liquid and overnight funds saw maximum outflows. As Himanshu Srivastava, Associate Director – Manager Research, Morningstar Investment Research India noted, since June is a quarter end month, debt-oriented schemes, as expected, witnessed a net outflow. Only funds with a duration profile of less than 1 year, like low duration and money market funds, saw inflows. "The net outflow across the board could also be on the back of investors shifting towards equity markets in expectation of better returns, as the equity markets continue to touch all time high levels after the election results were announced. Between May and June, the number of folios in the debt segment fell from 7,091,977 to 7,013,214, which is a drop by 78,763 folios. In May, the number of folios fell by 26,088 folios". "Moreover, uncertainty over the interest rate cut cycle has also been keeping investors in tenterhooks. With no clarity on the probable timing for the beginning of interest rate cut cycle, investors, for a time being, would have decided to adopt a wait and watch approach and stay away from categories which are exposed to interest rate risks such as Dynamic and Gilt", he continued. <h2>SIP figures touch all-time highs</h2> As <keyword id="22344564" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="AMFI-data" source="keywords">AMFI data</keyword> further revealed, the number of new SIPs registered in June 2024 stood at a staggering 55,12,962. With this, the total number of SIP accounts in the country reached 8,98,66,962, inching up marginally from 8,75,89,485 in May 2024. SIP contributions also stood at an all-time high of ₹ 21,262.22 crores in June 2024 as against ₹ 20,904.37 crores in May 2024. The AUM of retail folios, which comprise of equity, hybrid and solution oriented was Rs 36,32,226 crores for June 2024. In <keyword id="22344565" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hybrid-schemes" source="keywords">hybrid schemes</keyword>, multi-asset allocation funds garnered Rs 3,453.12 crore in June, and Arbitrage funds saw inflows worth Rs 3,836.58 crore. The only hybrid scheme to see net outflows were conservative hybrid funds, which shed Rs 130.57 crore. June marked the 40th consecutive month of positive inflows for <keyword id="20210668" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="equity-funds" source="keywords">equity funds</keyword> since March 2021. As Feroze Azeez, Deputy CEO, Anand Rathi Wealth Limited highlights, "SIP numbers are hitting peaks every month, accumulating a stellar ₹21,260 crore. This strengthens the fact that Indian investors are resilient and are participating in the long-term growth of the market. The overall market behaviour supported by numbers suggests that investors are strategically positioning themselves with cautious yet optimistic approach for long-term growth". Last month, the Indian MF industry hit the Rs 60 trillion mark for the first time. Exactly 10 years ago, in 2014, the industry's AUM stood at Rs 10 lakh crore. Just 6 months ago, its AUM was Rs 51 lakh crore. Anand Vardarajan, Chief Business Officer - Key Clients &amp; Alternate Investments, Tata Asset Management underlines that is growth is a huge validation when it comes to expanding retail investor's base and investors themselves choosing mutual funds as a reliable investment vehicle for wealth creation. This is further underscored by the fact that the addition in six months is equal to what the industry has seen in ten years ago! <h2>Large and Mid Cap funds find investors </h2>After garnering consistently high inflows in the recent past, small cap funds amassed Rs 2,263.47 crore, a slightly sobering figure. Midcap funds saw inflows worth Rs 2,527.84 crore. On the other hand, inflows in large-cap funds dipped at significantly to stand at Rs 970.49 crore. Far more investments went towards the large and mid-cap funds, which saw inflows worth Rs 2,912.19 crore. Melvyn Santarita, Analyst – Manager Research, Morningstar Investment Research India notes that these substantial net inflows can be attributed to the election results announced earlier in the month. Investors have remained optimistic and invested on policy continuity and anticipated reforms, expecting stability within the coalition government at the Centre. It was this optimism that propelled markets to new all-time highs. The multi-cap category witnessed the second highest net inflows in June 2024 among the equity-oriented categories amounting to INR 4,708.5 crores which was its 3rd highest net inflows ever over a monthly period. Categories which are biased towards the large-caps segment like flexicap (Rs 3,058 crores) and Value (Rs 2,027 crores) saw robust inflows during the month. "While markets have been in a prolonged bull run, there are concerns about overvaluations in certain areas, particularly in the mid and small-cap segments. Consequently, investors may be opting to invest in large-cap segments, where valuations are more favorable", Santarita highlighted. "However, they also continued their investments in mid and small caps, since the returns generated by mid and small cap segment over the last few years haven’t got unnoticed. Hence, the categories having substantial exposure in these two segments have witnessed strong net inflows. It is important to note that mid and small cap segments are highly volatile. While they can give exceptionally high return in up markets, they can fall equally hard in down markets. It’s important for investors to take exposure in these funds in line with their risk appetite", he cautioned. However, Hitesh Thakkar, Acting CEO, ITI Mutual Fund is confident of the immense wealth creation opportunities mutual funds will offer in the coming 5-7 years to retail investors. "Mutual fund is one of the preferred, transparent &amp; cost-effective investment products in India and is well accepted by retail investors. The trend is positive for Mutual fund industry future growth. There are chances that Industry will cross milestone of ₹100 lakh crores AUM by 2030”, he says. <h2><keyword id="19895579" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gold" source="keywords">Gold</keyword> continues to glitter </h2>Net flows in Gold ETFs continued to be robust in June 2024, standing at Rs 726 crores. However, this was slightly below the net flows witnessed in May (Rs 827 crores). "Over the years, Gold has gained prominence as an effective diversifier, prompting many investors to include Gold ETFs in their portfolios. Gold prices also saw some slight correction in June which spurred buying from investors", underlines Santarita. However, the reason why inflows in gold ETFs have remained patchy as compared to equity is due to the significant gap in the returns offered. "Gold has done fairly well over the last year but dwarfs in comparison to how equities. Also, some investors could be choosing to opt for a risk-on approach to investing with the anticipation of a reversal in rate cycle going ahead", he continues.

Mutual fund AUM crosses the Rs 60 lakh crore mark, SIP nos. and AUM touch all-time highs

Equity <keyword id="19929240" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mutual-funds" source="keywords">mutual funds</keyword> saw inflows worth Rs 40,537 crore during the month. On the other hand, <keyword id="20671790" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="debt-funds" source="keywords">debt funds</keyword> saw outflows to the tune of Rs 1,07,357.62 crores. Out of this, liquid funds saw the maximum outflows of Rs 80,354.03 crores. This is generally attributable to investors withdrawing money to meet their advance tax obligations. Overnight funds also saw outflows to the tune of Rs 25,142.72 crores. <keyword id="20296225" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="thematic-funds" source="keywords">Thematic funds</keyword> saw massive inflows of Rs 22,351.69 crore, the highest in <keyword id="20210668" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="equity-funds" source="keywords">equity funds</keyword>, and were the investor's favorite during June 2024, as per <keyword id="22344564" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AMFI-data" source="keywords">AMFI data</keyword>. About 50% of the inflows in this category came from 9 new NFOs (new fund offers) in this category, which amassed Rs 12,974 crore. In terms of inflows, multi-cap funds came a distant second, garnering Rs 4,708.57 crore last month. Amidst <keyword id="22344565" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hybrid-schemes" source="keywords">hybrid schemes</keyword>, multi-asset allocation funds, which garnered Rs 3,453.12 crore in June, and Arbitrage funds, which saw inflows worth Rs 3,836.58 crore remained investor favorites. The only hybrid scheme to see net outflows were conservative hybrid funds, which shed Rs 130.57 crore. <h2>Large-cap funds see moderate inflows</h2>Inflows in small cap funds tapered at Rs 2,263.47 crore, slightly below inflows seen by midcap funds, which stood at Rs 2,527.84 crore. However, inflows in large-cap funds sobered significantly to stand at Rs 970.49 crore. Investors clearly took a far greater liking to large and mid-cap funds, which saw inflows worth Rs 2,912.19 crore, which is reflective of investor's growing confidence in the Indian stock market, and their increasing desire to diversify their investments and take risks. As of June 30, 2024, the AUM (<keyword id="20257654" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="asset-under-management" source="keywords">asset under management</keyword>) of the Indian mutual fund industry stood at Rs 61.15 lakh crore. It took the MF industry 6 months to cross the Rs 60 lakh crore threshold, from the Rs 50-lakh crore mark. During the month, the number of new MF folios also stood at an all-time high of 19.04 crore. <h2>SIP Inflows at all-time high, <keyword id="20050894" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gold-etfs" source="keywords">Gold ETFs</keyword> glitter hard</h2>SIP inflows for June surpassed the Rs 21,000-crore mark, standing at Rs 21,262 crore, as against Rs 20,904.37 crore in May 2024. Passive mutual funds (ETFs, Index funds) also registered a solid growth, with index funds gathering Rs 5,071.82 crores and other ETFs pulling in Rs 9,134.06 crores. Gold ETFs registered the highest month-on-month growth, gathering Rs 726.16 crore in June. Out of the 17 NFOs which were up for subscription last month, 9 belonged to the thematic fund category, while 2 were index funds. Cumulatively, these NFOs amassed Rs 15,227 crores.

AMFI Data: Debt funds see major outflows, thematic cap funds attract Rs 22,351.69 crores in June 2024

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Temu was the most downloaded app by Gen Z in the US in the first 10 months of 2024.</li><li>Users aged 18 to 24 downloaded the app nearly 42 million times from January to October.</li></ul>America's Gen Z is really here for Temu.The Chinese online marketplace was the most downloaded app by Gen Zers in the first 10 months of the year. It was downloaded nearly 42 million times by this group.That's according to the app analytics firm Appfigures, which pulled data from iOS and Android users between the ages of 18 and 24. Some Gen Zers are under 18, but Appfigures excluded them from their findings, citing privacy concerns for juvenile users.The data represented in Appfigures' findings shows the number of downloads made by this demographic between January 1 and October 31 and represents US data only.The report found that TikTok came in second place for total downloads in this time period, with 33 million downloads. Meta's Threads app was downloaded 32 million times.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/temu-is-on-a-quest-to-take-over-america-2024-2">Temu</a>, which is owned by the Chinese company PDD Holdings, sells everything from home goods to motorcycle accessories, all at low costs. The app is characterized by massive discounts, with vouchers popping up while browsing.Sory Park, a project manager at Daxue Consulting, a China-focused market research firm, said Temu has effectively gamified countdowns and rewards."It has also added gamified elements including countdowns and rewards to its shopping experience, which increases user engagement and drives users to 'buy now or never,'" Park told Business Insider.<h2 id="72a51851-fc58-417c-8349-04becd1fb6b3">Affordable, accessible, personalized</h2>Temu is growing rapidly, and its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boomers-gen-x-love-temu-chinese-shopping-app-2024-1">popularity extends well beyond Gen Z</a>.PDD Holdings reported revenue of $13.4 billion for the three months ending June 30. That's an increase of 86% from the same period the year before. In February, it <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/temu-spends-millions-super-bowl-ads-effort-win-us-users-2024-2">spent millions of dollars on Super Bowl advertisements</a> to win over the US market.However, Amazon — which was downloaded 15 million times this year by Gen Zers in the US, per Appfigures — still has a hold on the online shopping market.Amazon made $61.4 billion from online sales in the three months ending September 30, a 7% increase from the same period last year.On November 13, Amazon launched its Temu-rival discount store, Amazon Haul, in which all products are priced at $20 or less.Jim Whaley, the CEO of the New York-based market research firm OvationMR, said Temu is popular with Gen Z because it provides a shopping experience that's affordable, accessible, and personalized."Gen Z values a highly curated shopping experience that delivers both variety and convenience at accessible price points," Whaley said.Gloria Gan, a lifestyle analyst at the UK-based market research firm Mintel, said Temu is making inroads with Gen Z because of the generation's "tech-savviness and frequent online shopping habits."Gan said that while Amazon has a dominant market position, Temu is also a force to be reckoned with, thanks to its efficient online service and value-for-money offers.In response to BI's query, a Temu spokesperson told BI the company has "strived to make a positive impact on people's daily lives by offering a broad selection of quality products at affordable prices."Amazon did not respond to a request for comment.

The app data has spoken, and Gen Z's love for Temu is real

India's services sector showed robust expansion in October, per the <keyword id="22267674" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="HSBC-India-Services-PMI" source="keywords">HSBC India Services PMI</keyword> (Purchasing Managers' Index), which rose to 58.5 last month, up from September's ten-month low of 57.7. October's figures managed to exceed even the long-run PMI average of 54.1, largely on the back of a strong sales pipeline and elevated demand. Employment, or job creation in this sector accelerated to its fastest growth rate in 26 months. Anticipating solid, sustained demand in the near term, firms added new employees at the most rapid pace in over 2 years. October also saw <keyword id="23834175" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="input-costs-rise" source="keywords">input costs rise</keyword> at their fastest pace in 3 months, indicating renewed demand and economic activity in the country. The ISM Services PMI, an indicator of the economic health of the US, also exceeded expectations, reaching 56.0 compared to the forecasted 53.8, suggesting strong growth within the services sector. "During October, the Indian services sector experienced strong expansions in output and consumer demand, as well as job creation, which achieved a 26-month high," said Pranjul Bhandari, Chief India Economist at HSBC. The sector saw increased business activity across multiple fronts, with export sales showing significant growth and companies reporting stronger demand from international markets including Africa, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and the UK. However, industry experts remain cautiously optimistic about the sector's prospects. Suman Chowdhury, Chief Economist at Acuité Ratings &amp; Research, noted that while the October recovery is promising, several factors warrant careful monitoring. “The recovery in the PMI indices in October 2024 is promising for the second half of the fiscal after the dip in several high-frequency indicators in September 2024. Industrial and service activity has expectedly received a boost from the anticipated spike in consumption demand in Q3 FY25, driven by the festivities and the marriage season," she said. Chowdhury added that it will be crucial to monitor the sustainability of these PMI indices at these elevated levels, given the reported weakness in urban demand in Q2 as flagged by FMCG companies. She also noted that potential increases in wholesale and core retail inflation, combined with higher input costs and wage pressures, could delay expected interest rate cuts. RBI governor Shaktikanta Das also noted that inflation and CPI figures for October might be elevated, pushing ahead any chances of interest rate cuts in the near future. Acuité Ratings &amp; Research maintains its GDP growth forecast at 7.0% for FY25 while acknowledging the multiple downside risks that will require close observation in the coming months.

India's Services Index jumps to 58.5 in October as employment grows the fastest in 26 months

<ul><li><keyword id="19899640" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="AI" source="keywords">AI</keyword> will replace 50% of <keyword id="21771459" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="middle-management" source="keywords">middle management</keyword> roles in 20% of organisations by 2026.</li><li>By 2029, AI's influence is set to extend into the boardroom, with 10% of global boards predicted to use AI-generated insight.</li><li>This strategy aims to cut labour costs while boosting productivity.</li></ul>As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to evolve alongside human usage, it is reshaping organisational structures, decision-making processes, and even the boundaries of technology's impact on daily life, according to <keyword id="19955158" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gartner" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Gartner" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Gartner">Gartner</keyword>. By 2026, 20% of organisations will use AI to reduce more than half of their current middle management roles. "Through 2026, 20% of organisations will use AI to flatten their <keyword id="21339348" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="organisational-structure" source="keywords">organisational structure</keyword>, eliminating more than half of current middle management positions," said the report. This strategy aims to cut labor costs while boosting productivity, as AI takes over tasks like scheduling, reporting, and performance monitoring. However, the shift could disrupt traditional mentoring pathways and leave junior employees with fewer development opportunities. Concerns over <keyword id="19999151" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="job-security" source="keywords">job security</keyword> and increased management responsibilities for remaining staff may also pose significant challenges. By 2029, AI's influence is set to extend into the boardroom, with 10% of global boards predicted to use AI-generated insights to challenge executive decisions. This development will empower board members to rely on data-driven guidance, thereby reshaping leadership dynamics and reducing the influence of maverick executives. While AI insights may initially seem at odds with the traditional views of board members, their growing effectiveness will likely lead to broader acceptance. By 2028, <keyword id="19896272" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="generative-AI" source="keywords">generative AI</keyword> is expected to play a key role in corporate branding, with 30% of S&amp;P companies likely to use AI-specific labels, such as "xxGPT," to distinguish their products and create new revenue streams. As the GenAI landscape becomes more competitive, companies will need to adopt specialized models tailored to their industry to maintain a competitive edge. Security concerns surrounding AI agents will grow in the coming years, with Gartner predicting that 25% of enterprise breaches will be linked to AI agent abuse by 2028. As AI agents expand rapidly into more complex use cases, businesses will need to enhance their security measures to protect against both external threats and malicious internal actions. To address these security challenges, "Guardian Agents" will emerge as a solution. By 2028, 40% of Chief Information Officers (CIOs) are expected to demand autonomous agents that can track and oversee AI activities, ensuring compliance with security, ethics, and data management standards. Finally, the shift to microgrids is set to accelerate, with Fortune 500 companies expected to invest $500 billion by 2027 to mitigate chronic energy risks and support the growing energy demands of AI. Microgrids offer a more sustainable and cost-effective energy solution, enabling companies to reduce their reliance on traditional power grids and better manage day-to-day operations. With inputs from ANI. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/webstories/afcons-infrastructure-ipo-gmp-risk-factors-and-all-you-need-to-know/slidelist/114490954.cms">Afcons Infrastructure IPO – GMP, risk factors and all you need to know</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/upi-refund-scam-to-digital-arrest-scam-here-are-most-common-online-scams-in-india/articleshow/114428011.cms">UPI refund to digital arrest scam, here are some online scams you need to be aware of</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/waaree-energies-ipo-allotment-how-to-check-allotment-ipo-gmp-listing-date-and-more/articleshow/114508632.cms">Waaree Energies IPO allotment – How to check allotment, IPO GMP, listing date and more</a>

By 2026, 20% of organisations will use AI to reduce 50% of middle management roles: Gartner

<ul class="summary-list"><li>VCs are lobbing cash at the presidential election and key congressional races, FEC data shows.</li><li>While most VCs favored Democrats, a16z's crypto giving dwarfed all other donations.</li></ul>America is bitterly divided over politics, and the tech industry — once portrayed as a liberal bastion — is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/election-a-distraction-silicon-valley-wants-to-be-over-2024-8">no different.</a> Among the sector's investor class, these disputes typically play out behind closed doors, with checkbooks rather than <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/silicon-valley-political-divide-twitter-elon-musk-kamala-harris-2024-8">angry social media posts</a>.This election cycle, investors at the top venture capital firms have plowed tens of millions of dollars into the election, both backing their favored political candidates and just cannily promoting commercial interests.Business Insider trawled political donation data released by the Federal Elections Commission to see how employees at VC firms have donated by candidates and political entities as the hotly contested race enters its final phase.The data is limited, focusing only on a subjective grouping of 10 high-profile firms, and cutting off at varying points over the summer. More recent FEC donor data will be released in the days and weeks ahead of the November 5 general election, often the most turbulent time in any cycle.The sheer volume of donations captured in the FEC filings underscores the significance of the tech constituency in the political arena, how the Silicon Valley elite has embraced politics of late, and just how flooded by money modern American politics has become.<h3 id="dd94bff4-8a0b-4fe4-8f40-59db1deb3131">The big spenders</h3>For venture capitalists, talking politics can invite scrutiny — or worse, turn off founders seeking funds for what might be the next big thing. It's part of the reason why many firms won't take positions on political issues or push a candidate on their employees.While that hasn't stopped individual investors from voting with their dollars, many VC firms are quick to point out that donations do not represent the organization's political stance.Except when they do.Andreessen Horowitz, or a16z, is the sole firm in our dataset to make political contributions directly. In this election cycle, it contributed $47 million to groups working to elect blockchain-friendly candidates, including Fairshake, a titanic crypto-industry backed super PAC. The firm is all-in on crypto, investing in Solana and Yuga Labs, and launched a $4.5 billion investment fund focused on this area in 2022.While the names of the firm's founders, Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, also appear on filings for donations to these groups, a16z says on its <a target="_blank" href="https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/article/contributing-to-fairshake-pac/">website</a> that these contributions come from the firm, not the founders personally. Though the distinction a16z draws between itself and its founders might be slightly artificial, given Andreessen and Horowitz created, own, and named the firm after themselves.For all the brouhaha about Andreessen and Horowitz putting <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-vcs-in-silicon-valley-2024-7">millions of dollars</a> behind Trump's latest bid for the White House and Horowitz hedging his bets with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/read-ben-horowitzs-email-a16z-saying-plans-donate-kamala-harris-2024-10">a planned donation to Harris</a>, the data shows the two are a rare breed among venture investors: relatively bipartisan donors.Horowitz sent roughly 59% of his personal political contributions to Republicans and a little under 40% to Democrats, while Andreessen more strongly favored Republicans this election cycle, with 64% of his donations.In the time period covered by the data, a16z even eclipsed Greylock, where outgoing partner and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/silicon-valley-billionaires-investors-kamala-harris-mark-cuban-reid-hoffman-2024-8">Democrat megadonor</a> Reid Hoffman has personally pumped nearly $30 million in recorded donations into the presidential election and key congressional races.Investors at Founders Fund, which has backed SpaceX and Palantir, are nearly 100% Republican in donations, though the bulk of contributions came from Keith Rabois, who left the firm in January to rejoin Khosla Ventures. Employees of venerable firm Kleiner Perkins are the opposite, giving almost entirely to Democratic causes, as is the case for Y Combinator, the colossal startup accelerator.Like Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital is largely bipartisan. Unlike a16z, its biggest donors are largely split on party lines. Michael Moritz, who left the firm midway through last year and continues to serve as an advisor to Sequoia Heritage, its wealth management group, gives to Democrats, while Sequoia partner Shaun Maguire donates to Republicans.<h3 id="3ae3c5f1-4f98-4417-8e68-d3e367656034">Number-crunching</h3>When a candidate's campaign or other political entity receives political donations, they must report it either quarterly or monthly to the FEC, along with information about the donors, including the donor's employer. The federal agency processes these filings, before releasing them in a searchable format on its website.The data analyzed for this story cuts off on August 31 for entities that report donations on a monthly basis (including presidential campaigns, national party committees, and some PACs), while the cut-off for entities that report quarterly (including Congressional committees and some PACs) is June 30. (The filing deadline for Q3 data for quarterly filing entities was October 15, but this data isn't yet readily available in full online.)Business Insider selected 10 venture capital firms to focus on, taking into account fund size and cultural and industry significance. The list encompasses employees ranging from general partners and firm founders to marketers and executive assistants.The findings should not be interpreted as an exhaustive accounting of all venture capital investors' donations to date, but as a comparative analysis of how some of the industry's most significant players have approached political giving over the summer as the election heated up.Business Insider divided the recipients into three categories: Democrat-aligned, Republican-aligned, and unaffiliated — a grouping that includes both bipartisan groups like Fairshake and independents like West Virginia senator Joe Manchin, as well as organizations like The Lincoln Project, run by self-described Republicans but in practice supporting Democratic causes.<h3 id="383b71f4-35bb-4d3d-9fd8-a1daae48b9df">Hoffman vs. Horowitz</h3>Hoffman, the top individual donor, has developed a reputation as tech's Democratic Party standard-bearer. In this election cycle, records show his efforts include $2 million to help fund an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2024/01/31/billionaire-reid-hoffman-spent-2-million-on-bidens-new-hampshire-write-in-campaign-fec-records-show/">unusual write-in effort</a> for President Joe Biden in New Hampshire, and millions to joint fundraising committees for Harris after Biden dropped out. Hoffman also <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/05/us/politics/nikki-haley-reid-hoffman-donation.html">gave $250,000</a> to a super PAC supporting Nikki Haley, the last major candidate to challenge Trump for the Republican nomination.Most donors more closely resemble Hoffman than Horowitz: clearly partisan, with an overwhelming majority of their donations going to support one party.Vinod Khosla of Khosla Ventures is another of the biggest donors on the Democratic side of the aisle, with more than $3 million in recorded donations during the time period to recipients including the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Harris' presidential campaign. Khosla's giving puts him just above John Doerr, chairman of Kleiner Perkins and architect of cleantech investing, though he hasn't managed funds for the firm in a decade.Sequoia Capital's Doug Leone is one of VC's most prolific GOP-aligned political donors, giving his almost $3.8 million to the National Republican Committee and other causes.The vehicle of choice for many of these donations is via super PACs, a controversial political fundraising tool that can raise unlimited funds — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/candidate-taking-receipts/contribution-limits/">bypassing FEC limits on donations</a> to candidates and other committees — but cannot directly coordinate with candidates. Asides from Fairshake, some of the biggest super PACs out there favored by VC investors include Future Forward PAC, a tech billionaire-linked Democrat-supporting group, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-trump-america-super-pac-2024-10">America PAC, a right-wing entity founded by Elon Musk</a>.Investors also gave to several joint fundraising committees, which take money for multiple candidates or organizations. They, too, became favored over the years because a joint fundraising committee allows candidates to rake in cash while sharing the costs of fundraising — think website hosting fees, high-end hotels, and catering for splashy Hamptons fundraisers. The most well-loved committees in our dataset were the Harris Victory Fund and Harris Action Fund, the joint fundraising efforts between the Harris campaign, the Democratic National Committee, and state Democratic committees.Reached for comment by Business Insider, none of the named investment firms agreed to make employees available for interviews about their political giving. Perhaps, from the donors' perspectives, they don't need to: They're already putting their money where their mouth is.Have a tip or a story? Connect with Melia Russell via email at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:mrussell@insider.com">mrussell@businessinsider.com</a> or by phone at (603) 913-3085. Reach Rob Price at <a target="_blank" class="" href="mailto:rprice@insider.com">rprice@businessinsider.com</a>. For sensitive matters, use the Signal app on a non-work device for encrypted messaging.

Venture capital is going to war over the election. Here's the data to prove it. 

Dear reader, Another week comes to an end, and with it, a fresh roundup of stories shaping the business and finance landscapes. This week, we explored data that challenges the idea that large IPOs automatically lead to large returns—18 of India’s biggest IPOs fell short of expectations. On the investment front, experts debunked the popular advice of ‘<keyword id="23577643" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="buying-the-dip" source="keywords">buying the dip</keyword>’ and suggest a better approach for long-term success. And in the world of <keyword id="19963428" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="quick-commerce" source="keywords">quick commerce</keyword>, recent incidents like bizarre notifications and uncalled-for freebies piqued social media's interest. For stargazers and romantics, the upcoming <keyword id="22852367" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hunters-Moon" source="keywords">Hunter’s Moon</keyword> offers a beautiful setting for a moonlit night. And for career climbers, we have insights from a <keyword id="21560867" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="product-manager" source="keywords">product manager</keyword> who landed a $180,000 role at <keyword id="19904352" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Cisco" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Cisco" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Cisco">Cisco</keyword>, sharing <keyword id="21767233" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="resume-tips" source="keywords">resume tips</keyword> to help you stand out. Dive in, and enjoy this week’s highlights! <h2>Top stories of the week</h2> Do large IPOs guarantee large returns? Data suggests that 18 of India's biggest 30 IPOs did not generate solid returns A study of India’s top 30 IPOs reveals that a majority—18 of them—failed to deliver substantial returns to investors. Despite the hype surrounding large public offerings, data shows that a company’s size or popularity doesn’t always correlate with strong post-IPO performance. Investors are urged to manage their expectations and conduct thorough research before jumping into large IPOs, as high-profile launches don’t guarantee hefty returns. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/do-large-ipos-guarantee-large-returns-data-suggests-that-18-of-indias-biggest-30-ipos-did-not-generate-hefty-returns/articleshow/114302378.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Read more</a> Free tomatoes to i-pill notification, recent quick commerce incidents that sparked outrage Recent incidents in India’s quick commerce sector have sparked widespread outrage, ranging from offering free tomatoes as promotional giveaways to sending unsolicited I-Pill notifications to customers. These occurrences highlight issues around <keyword id="19999043" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="consumer-privacy" source="keywords">consumer privacy</keyword>, safety, and inappropriate marketing strategies. As rapid delivery services continue to expand, so do concerns about their ethical and operational practices. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/free-tomatoes-to-i-pill-notification-recent-quick-commerce-incidents-that-sparked-outrage/articleshow/114315992.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Read more</a> Why "buying the dip" is not always good advice, and the right time to start is now The age-old investment advice of ‘buying the dip’ may not always hold true, especially in unpredictable markets. Experts argue that waiting for stocks to drop before investing could result in missed opportunities, as market timings are nearly impossible to predict. Instead, the best strategy for long-term investors may be to focus on consistent investing, with the right time to start being now. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/why-buying-the-dip-is-not-always-good-advice-the-right-time-to-start-is-now/articleshow/114253456.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Read more</a> Why this week's Hunter's Moon is the ultimate backdrop for the perfect moonlit date night The upcoming Hunter’s Moon, which will grace the skies this week, offers the perfect opportunity for a romantic, moonlit night. This full moon is not only visually stunning but also holds cultural significance, symbolizing harvest and abundance. For those seeking an atmospheric, nature-infused experience, this celestial event promises to be the ultimate backdrop for a memorable date night. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/article/why-this-weeks-hunters-moon-is-the-ultimate-backdrop-for-the-perfect-moonlit-date-night/articleshow/114317181.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Read more</a> A product manager shares the résumé that helped him transition from consulting and land a $180,000 role at Cisco Transitioning from consulting to a high-paying role as a product manager at Cisco, one professional shared the resume that helped him land the $180,000 job. His strategic approach included tailoring his CV to highlight relevant skills and experiences, positioning himself as the perfect candidate for the tech giant. Aspiring product managers can take notes on crafting resumes that stand out in competitive job markets. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/a-product-manager-shares-the-rsum-that-helped-him-transition-from-consulting-and-land-a-180000-role-at-cisco/articleshow/114232654.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Read more</a> <h2><h2>Web Stories </h2> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/webstories/india-canada-tussle-a-timeline-of-escalating-tensions-under-trudeaus-regime/slidelist/114283096.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">India-Canada Tussle: A timeline of escalating tensions under Trudeau’s regime</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/webstories/india-canada-tussle-a-timeline-of-escalating-tensions-under-trudeaus-regime/slidelist/114283096.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/webstories/the-weirdest-guinness-world-records-ever-set/slidelist/114288059.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">The weirdest Guinness World records ever set</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/webstories/the-weirdest-guinness-world-records-ever-set/slidelist/114288059.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/travel/india/webstories/from-amber-to-gagron-indias-unesco-world-heritage-forts-to-explore/slidelist/114282776.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Amber to Gagron: India’s UNESCO world heritage forts to explore</a> </h2>

Weekend wrap: IPO myths, quick commerce gone wrong and more

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Microsoft told customers that a software bug caused inconsistent collection of log data.</li><li>The bug affected key security products, including Microsoft Sentinel and Entra.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-punts-365-ai-bundle-pilot-tests-copilot-2024-9">Microsoft</a> is telling customers that it failed to consistently collect log data for several important cloud services, according to an update viewed by Business Insider.A log is a record of events within a program, such as account sign-ins. This record of events could include instances of unauthorized access to networks and accounts. If logs are not recorded properly, then any records of potential problems are lost and the company and its customers may have missed intrusions.Between September 2 and September 19, "a bug in one of Microsoft's internal monitoring agents resulted in a malfunction in some of the agents when uploading log data to our internal logging platform," Microsoft wrote in the customer notification.There's no evidence of cyberattacks stemming from this incident."This issue did not impact the uptime of any customer-facing services or resources -- it only affected the collection of log events. Additionally, this issue is not related to any security compromise," the notification explained.Affected products included Microsoft Entra, an identity-management service. Microsoft Sentinel, a security information and event-management product, was also impacted, along with Microsoft Defender for Cloud and Microsoft Purview, a data loss prevention product."Microsoft Sentinel customers may have experienced potential gaps in security related logs or events, possibly affecting customers' ability to analyze data, detect threats, or generate security alerts," the update warned.BI asked Microsoft to comment on this episode on Thursday and Friday. Spokespeople Frank Shaw and Jill Austin, along with the company's outside PR firm WE Communications, didn't respond to multiple requests for comment. This is a particularly a big deal for Microsoft because the company has been saying that <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/internal-microsoft-email-shows-security-leadership-shakeup-2023-12">security</a> is a top priority. It recently introduced a Security Futures Initiative, largely in response to its mishandling of security incidents, including what the Department of Homeland Security called "<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-security-issues-government-report-chinese-hacks-2024-4">cascade</a>" of errors that allowed Chinese hackers in 2023 to access thousands of cloud customer emails.The idea was that Microsoft would make security its first priority in everything. It's become so important that every Microsoft employee will be evaluated on a "core priority" of security in performance reviews, according to an excerpt of an email shared with BI."If you're faced with the tradeoff between security and another priority, your answer is clear: Do security," Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella wrote in an email to employees in May."In some cases, this will mean prioritizing security above other things we do, such as releasing new features or providing ongoing support for legacy systems," the CEO added. "This is key to advancing both our platform quality and capability such that we can protect the digital estates of our customers and build a safer world for all."Are you a Microsoft employee or someone else with insight to share?Contact the reporter, Ashley Stewart, via the encrypted messaging app Signal (+1-425-344-8242) or email (<a target="_blank" href="mailto:astewart@businessinsider.com">astewart@businessinsider.com</a>). Use a nonwork device.

Microsoft tells customers it lost log data for key security products

<ul class="summary-list"><li>As the chief AI and innovation officer of <keyword id="20663742" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Anaconda" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Anaconda" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Anaconda">Anaconda</keyword>, Peter Wang helps the programming-language distributor improve <keyword id="20110666" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AI-solutions" source="keywords">AI solutions</keyword>.</li><li>This includes supporting on-prem IT and running AI models locally to boost security and efficiency.</li></ul>Peter Wang is the chief AI and innovation officer of <a href="https://www.anaconda.com/about-us" target="_blank">Anaconda</a>, a company he cofounded in 2012 with the goal of democratizing business-data analytics by making <keyword id="23150763" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Python-tools" source="keywords">Python tools</keyword> easier to use. With Python established as a leading language for <keyword id="21065919" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AI-workloads" source="keywords">AI workloads</keyword>, Anaconda is broadening its focus to <keyword id="19897745" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="data-science" source="keywords">data science</keyword> and artificial intelligence, with the goal of becoming a common software layer for high-performance AI. Anaconda has introduced tools to help companies and people get started with AI <keyword id="19897804" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="large-language-models" source="keywords">large language models</keyword>. One such tool is <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.anaconda.com/products/ai-navigator">AI Navigator</a>, a desktop app that can run AI models locally on Windows and Mac, with Linux support coming soon. The company has 300 full-time employees and 40 million users worldwide. Business Insider spoke with Wang to learn more about how AI workloads are prompting companies to think about bringing more of their <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/artificial-intelligence-data-privacy-on-premises-information-technology-solutions-2024-8">IT infrastructure on-premises</a> — and the hardware and software challenges that come with making such a move. The following has been edited for clarity and length. Can you talk about on-premises infrastructure and what that term means to you in 2024? On-premises initially meant servers within the company's physical location. Now it's more about the governance of infrastructure, including data, networking, and servers. Who manages it? Who gets to say, "No, absolutely, you can't do that," or, "Yes, you can do that?" At Anaconda, we see customers across the spectrum. Some have what we call air-gapped systems, not connected to the internet at all. These might be a box in a building somewhere, oftentimes guarded by people with machine guns, where you go in with a flash drive. That's the hardcore level of secure on-prem. On the other end, we see businesses that use a lot of cloud resources. But even they need stricter boundaries. They work with cloud providers to set up virtual private clouds or to provision resources with specific governance rules and policies. Why are companies interested in on-premises solutions for AI and large language models? We see a lot of interest from companies wanting control over their own destiny. They want to fine-tune models on their own data, connect them to internal databases for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/retrieval-augmented-generation-making-ai-language-models-better-2024-5">retrieval-augmented generation</a>, and use agent-based models. If a company can only consume AI as a cloud end point, you have to tie all your internal systems to that cloud AI service, which is difficult. And many of these cloud AI companies, while they are well capitalized, are still relatively new as enterprise-software players. There are a lot of concerns about data leakage and compliance. Running locally gives more control and reduces the risk of accidental data exposure. You don't have to worry about a junior IT person at a cloud startup accidentally misconfiguring something and causing a data breach. The risks of a data breach are clear, but many companies seem concerned about any external use of their data for AI. Why is that? People have said that data is oil. If your data is oil, LLMs are like the internal-combustion engine, meaning they provide a much more interesting way to use that oil. Companies want to use their sensitive "crown jewel" data with LLMs to gain insights and improve predictive analytics. These use cases are central to their business, so they're protective of this data. They don't trust putting it on external systems where it could leak valuable information like customer insights or product preferences. When people think of "on-prem," they tend to focus on hardware. But much of what you are describing seems like software. Can you explain that in more detail? The hardware for AI work is often similar across setups. It's typically high-end <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nvidia-gpu-chips-ai-branding-popularity-2024-6">Nvidia GPUs</a>, though not always the latest or most expensive versions. On top of that hardware stack, the software needed to run an LLM isn't exotic if you know what you're doing. But there's a big asterisk here. The challenges often come from internal IT policies, organizational competencies, and the dynamic nature of AI workloads. For example, if your organization is familiar with Docker or Kubernetes, great. But if you're a Java shop used to deploying with Maven, or a Ruby shop unfamiliar with Python, that creates hurdles. When these companies want to start an internal LLM, that's where they can use help. AI workloads require varying amounts of computing power at different times. When you're training, you might need a lot of GPUs, fewer, or different kinds — or <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/what-is-a-cpu">even just CPUs</a>. This dynamic set of hardware requirements, sometimes very bursty in terms of when and how long you need it, creates an orchestration challenge. That becomes a software challenge, and then an organizational one. Are you saying the challenge is optimizing software for efficient and dynamic use of hardware? I actually think it's more of a broad competency challenge for a company. In traditional software development, the IT group talks to the software-development group. The developers specify their needs for memory, bandwidth, storage, and IT provisions for them. But data scientists and machine-learning teams have dynamic needs. They require newer, more advanced hardware, and the software they run is Python with many dependencies, like specific GPU-driver versions. The challenges organizations face in on-premises AI relate to the dynamic nature of server and machine orchestration and the open-source-software ecosystem they're tapping into. This is especially true for compliance and security requirements. Speaking of open source, what are your thoughts on open versus closed LLMs? I've tried to stay out of the fray on social media, but my take is that current LLMs, especially the frontier models, have a lot of overlap in capabilities. Some are better than others in certain aspects, but at their core, once you throw enough data at them, these models start to become similar to each other. Making open models like Meta's Llama freely available is a game changer. The original Llama release was significant, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-meta-llama-ai-model-praise-open-source-musk-2024-7">the latest Llama 3.1 model</a>, with 400 billion parameters, is a massive step forward. It will increase interest in running models on-premises, especially for fine-tuning on sensitive data. But while these models are often called open, they're not open in the traditional open-source sense. You can use them freely, but you can't rebuild them from scratch or modify them at will. The training data, scripts, and hyperparameters are often not disclosed. It's a complex issue that involves considerations of safety and licensing. The data used for training is a particularly big issue that no one really talks about. How should a company looking to implement on-premises AI get started? Anaconda has an <keyword id="23150764" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AI-Navigator" source="keywords">AI Navigator</keyword> tool that is a great way to get started. It's a simple graphical interface where you can download appropriate models for your computer. We're currently running this in beta, and we're eager to get feedback from users. Our tool connects to our curated model repository. We've quantized models to make them smaller and more efficient for different machines, which is important because downloading models from public repositories can pose security risks. For example, we've seen attacks where someone uploads a fine-tuned code-generation model that hallucinates nonexistent Python packages. It generates code that tries to import or install these fake packages, and then the attacker creates malicious versions of these packages in the real world. When users try to run the generated code, they install these malicious packages. Our tool helps users get past many initial hurdles in setting up and running AI models locally. It accelerates the process of getting the software running correctly for a given machine, making it easier and safer for businesses to start exploring on-premises AI solutions. Correction: August 28, 2024 — An earlier version of this story misstated Peter Wang's title. He's the chief AI and innovation officer of Anaconda, not the CEO. He was the CEO from October 2019 to January 2024.

You Searched For "data management" and got 11 results

How data-security posture management could make your cloud systems less vulnerable

Erica Sweeney

Synology bets big on the Indian market amid strong growth, growing demand

Sourabh Jain

Mutual fund AUM crosses the Rs 60 lakh crore mark, SIP nos. and AUM touch all-time highs

Ira Alok Puranik

AMFI Data: Debt funds see major outflows, thematic cap funds attract Rs 22,351.69 crores in June 2024

Ira Alok Puranik

The app data has spoken, and Gen Z's love for Temu is real

Aditi Bharade

India's Services Index jumps to 58.5 in October as employment grows the fastest in 26 months

BI India Bureau

By 2026, 20% of organisations will use AI to reduce 50% of middle management roles: Gartner

BI India Bureau

Venture capital is going to war over the election. Here's the data to prove it.

Rob Price,Melia Russell

Weekend wrap: IPO myths, quick commerce gone wrong and more

Divyanshi Sharma

Microsoft tells customers it lost log data for key security products

Ashley Stewart

Anaconda's chief AI and innovation officer says Python can make on-premises IT solutions 'easier and safer' as companies seek stronger data protection

Matthew S. Smith

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides