TOP STORIES #78

As always, last week's TOP STORIES #77 is here

If colleagues want to join, they can click here.

This is a quiet week as we have a Labour Day Holiday in the USA, and the IFA trade show is due to open from 6-12 September.

It claims to be the world's largest consumer and electronics show (CES may have something to say about that).

What this means is that many announcements and press releases are going to coincide with the show.

Intel and many others have a LOT riding on IFA, so expect next week's TOP STORIES #79 to be very busy!

Hardware

End of an Era - AnandTech shuts down.

This marks the end of an era. A 15-year-old teen started AnandTech with a passion for technology, who went on to pursue other opportunities but left the site in very capable hands. The good news that the site posts and forums will remain online.

Most of the staff have already moved over to TomsHardware. You can read more about the web sites passing here,

Intel Panther lake to rival AMD Strix Halo for Notebooks

We have yet to see a Lunar Lake based laptop that we can actually buy, and already we are hearing about the next generation in 2025.

It does, however, look like 2025 will be the year to take a big leap in power consumption and processing capability. Whether you need to buy computers for work or home, 2025 looks like the year you will be able to go big - Q3 2025, though - not the beginning.

This REAL basketball court is a giant LED display

Sometimes, you must just admire something for just being totally crazy cool!

I never would have thought I would see a real basketball court turned into a giant LED display. Yes, you can actually walk and play games on it! Read more and watch the video here.

Microsoft

Microsoft is retiring the Action Pack and Learning Pack for partners.

This move from Microsoft is not a surprise, as Microsoft tried to remove internal use rights before but had to back down because of a serious backlash. The Action pack is still available to renew up to January 2025, but after that, you will have to pick one of Microsoft's new, more expensive options. You can read more here.

Exchange Server 2016 and Dynamics PSA losing support

I have been warning for a while that Exchange Server 2016 will end support in October 2025, necessitating a migration to Exchange 2019 or other more cloudy plans. However, Dynamics PSA will also end support in March 2025, with the upgrade path to Dynamics 365 Project Operations. You can read more about this here.

If any of Microsoft's products are coming to the end of support that are in use in your business, advance notice is important, especially for Dynamics, so if you have this situation, please contact your First Tech account manager to put you in touch with our Dynamics specialists to help you plan the Migration.

Security

Voldemort abuses Google Sheets

Here is yet another lesson in have to alert for anything suspicious and NOT TO CLICK on links. Here is a story of how the Voldemort malware tricks you. As always, this serves as a reminder of how careful you need to be ALL THE TIME!

Please contact your First Tech Account manager to connect you with our specialists to provide user training on how to be alert for these attacks.

Code released to exploit IPv6 security hole

If you have not installed the August patches, it may be a good idea to hurry up. Code to exploit it has been released. You can read more here.

As I emphasised in TOP STORIES #77, it is also a great opportunity to contact your First Technology account manager to connect you with our security experts. We have some of the best in the country to review your security posture and attack surface. This vulnerability reminds you that you have to be patched, and your attack surface needs to be as narrow as possible, where you switch off anything you are not using.

Cloud & AI

It's Strawberry Season!

It seems ChatGPT5, known as Project Strawberry, is about to launch no later than November. It is supposed to be way better at maths and reasoning. There are a lot of rumours about what the improvements will actually be, but we will not have long to wait to find out.

You can read more here.

What is clear is that AI capability is increasing at an exponential rate, and it is VITAL that you start experimenting with it, in particular, making sure your company is ready for AI to be deployed by ensuring your data is secured and classified as best you can before you let your the AI loose on the data. Please talk to your First Tech Account manager to connect you with our data platform security specialists to start planning this with you.

You have no way of knowing if an AI wrote a document (or helped).

AI is capable of passing most tests and completing almost all homework assignments. The same applies to its application in the workplace.

Detecting AI does not work, and if you have spent money on trying to detect it, you have probably wasted it.

People are very good at finding ways of getting out of things that they do not like doing - and for that AI is heaven-sent!

AI is a reality, and by embracing it in college and the workplace, we need to encourage thinking WITH AI, not using AI to replace thinking.

I think it is very important to ponder this as you consider deploying AI in your company and encouraging staff to use it.

Maybe think about how more productive and competitive your staff could become through using an AI to enhance what they do. Expect more because they use AI.

What's up at FTG

CoPilot Security Demo

BUI, FTG's security division, is now able to present CoPilot for Security information-sharing sessions, workshops and demos. Please contact your First Tech Group account manager to make arrangements to attend, or you can request a session here.

Exclusive Dynamics 365 & CoPilot Demo

CRMTeam, a division of First Technology Group is excited to invite you to an exclusive Microsoft event focused on the transformative power of Dynamics 365 and Copilot.

This is a unique opportunity to see how these leading solutions can streamline your business processes and drive success.

Where: Johannesburg - Microsoft Corporate Hill Office Park, 3012 Winnie Mandela Dr.

When: 19 September 2024

RSVP By: 6 September 2024

BUI Cyber Research finds another Zero Day vulnerability in Teams

The Cyber Security and Azure Expert division for FTG has found another vulnerability, which they have published the details of here.

Please contact your First Technology account manager, who will connect you with our experts to help you determine whether you need help to check whether you are vulnerable and, if so, what you can do to protect yourself.

What does a World Class SoC look like and how does it work?

You are invited to book a tour of one of our SoC (Security Operations Center) nodes (and there are still parts we can't show you). You can book for the tour here.

BUI blog - 2nd Video Available

FTG's Azure and security division, BUI has launched a blog focused on Security - what's new, what changed and what you need to do to maintain a good security posture.

All BUI videos have been moved to one YouTube channel which you can find here.

The Security Blog Video #002 is now available to view here.

It deals with the following subjects (the Tinyurl links are for more information):

➡️ [0:25] Entra ID certificate-based authentication enhancements - https://tinyurl.com/2d5wx2a6

➡️ [1:24] Entra Security Service Edge now GA - https://tinyurl.com/2alrc6j5

➡️ [2:38] MDI New detections - https://tinyurl.com/2y595kry

➡️ [3:14] XDR Incident/Alert queue UI enhancements - https://tinyurl.com/29smrte3

➡️ [4:23] MDO Bulk Senders Insight - https://tinyurl.com/22x7nde9

➡️ [5:00] MDO Quarantine release integration with hunting - https://tinyurl.com/27hcdkm9

➡️ [5:28] Sentinel - Run playbooks on demand in the unified portal - https://tinyurl.com/25of2r6l

Data Security in the Age of AI

Join BUI for an enlightening session on Data Security, along with an exhilarating Cyber Security Escape Room.

An interactive experience that will keep everyone on their toes and fully immersed.

Ignite your enthusiasm with a custom-designed escape room, where critical cyber security concepts come to life through exhilarating challenges.

Where: Johannesburg - Garden Venue Hotel

When: 10 September 2024

Where: Cape Town - 12 Apostles Hotel & Spa

When: 19 September 2024

Movies

It seems "The Crow" is competing with Borderlands to be the worst movie of the year! Is it even possible that a movie can be worse than Borderlands?

Now Playing: Hounds of War

Now Playing: Into the Mortal World

6 September: OZI: Voice of the Forest

6 September: BeetleJuice Beetlejuice

6 September: Greatest of All Time

6 September: Howl's Moving Castle