8K Broadcasts Ahead for the 2024 Paris Olympics: Reasons Most Viewers Will Be Left Out

The Price of 8K Displays

Currently, 8K televisions are present in the market, but their prices are steep. The most affordable model, a 65″ Samsung Neo QLED 8K TV, is priced around A$3,495. Larger 8K screens, which deliver the utmost viewing experience, are even pricier. A 75″ version can cost nearly A$6,495, while an 85″ 8K display might set you back close to A$10,000.

The combination of these steep prices and the limited availability of native 8K content suggests that most individuals are unlikely to invest in an 8K television just yet.

The Reality of 8K Streaming

Even with an 8K display, a rapid internet connection and a suitable smart application are required to stream 8K content. Possessing a YouTube app, for example, does not automatically provide support for 8K.

In practice, broadcasters will likely capture video in 8K but then compress it for terrestrial TV or streaming services down to 4K or even 1080p resolutions. Consequently, the vast majority of viewers will continue to experience the Olympics in lower resolutions.

Essential 8: Your Cybersecurity Journey’s Launchpad

Rising Cyber Threats

The realm of cyber threats is perpetually changing, with newer complexities and persistent issues arising compared to traditional threats.

State-sponsored actors have emerged as a notable concern in cybersecurity, presenting a scope far wider than previously seen. China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran are recognized as the “big four,” and while these entities have historically focused on espionage or attacks on critical infrastructures—such as the 2019 breach of the Australian Parliament House—private businesses must also be vigilant moving forward.

Some have likened the activities of these groups to the “golden age of piracy,” where state-backed privateers had the freedom to assault commercial ships, disrupting the economy of the nation they were at war with.

Meanwhile, the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in cyberattacks is climbing. About 45% of cyber incidents now incorporate AI in some manner. This might include something as straightforward as attackers utilizing AI to ensure that phishing emails or websites have flawless spelling and grammar. Even though that sounds basic, spotting errors in spelling and awkward phrasing has been among the most effective strategies for individuals to detect suspicious emails, thereby impacting how people manage their vulnerability to phishing attacks and similar threats.

AI is also employed in crafting malicious software, and because of the rapid and efficient nature of AI coding, the speed at which new viruses or malware iterations can be introduced is dramatically escalating.

For security teams, depending on the often labeled as the weakest link in cybersecurity—humans—is not the best decision. Implementing supportive technology that lessens risks related to attacks that successfully slip past employees’ initial detection is vital. Hence, the Essential Eight emphasizes investment in application control, user application hardening, and limitations on administrator privileges. These cyber strategies remain essential as AI continues to be exploited by malicious actors.

AI’s Role in Cybersecurity

While AI contributes to risk, it can also enable organizations to meet and surpass their Essential Eight obligations. By leveraging AI’s capabilities, organizations are future-proofing their security approaches to adapt to changing conditions.

AI excels at analyzing vast data quantities efficiently and accurately, making it particularly useful for monitoring environments and spotting irregular activities, for instance, across Identity Providers (IdPs), cloud setups, or on-premise systems. When combined with an environment enforcing the privilege management standards mandated by the Essential Eight, organizations can isolate, flag, and investigate potential risks before they can compromise systems. For example, ITDR (Identity Threat Detection and Response) solutions can aid security teams in revealing the hidden access paths to privileges frequently exploited by threat actors.

Looking Ahead

Currently, a appropriately tuned IT environment can alleviate the risks posed by existing threats, regardless of how many new ones arise. Nevertheless, as we gaze toward the future, numerous emerging technologies and trends will further disrupt the cybersecurity landscape.

Consider quantum computing, for example. The immense promise of quantum computing will revolutionize data processing but simultaneously poses a considerable threat to cybersecurity, especially cryptography, upon falling into malicious hands. Research from the University of Sydney indicates that encrypted information, which would take a million years to decrypt with current systems, could be unraveled in just a day by quantum computing.

Counteracting this will require the development of new encryption standards alongside enhancements to existing ones to stay ahead of potential cybercriminals. Government frameworks like the Essential Eight will likely need to keep evolving as these fresh threats become apparent.

For organizations, this implies that fulfilling and surpassing regulatory cyber security standards will never be a “set it and forget it” endeavor moving forward. Organizations must ensure they form partnerships with cybersecurity providers that possess the technology for today and a forward-thinking approach to cybersecurity that will cater to evolving demands and compliance guidelines as new threats and technologies emerge.

Conclusion

The Essential Eight framework serves as a robust foundation for cybersecurity, yet the dynamic and changing nature of cyber threats demands organizations look beyond it. Threats from state-sponsored entities and AI-enabled assaults are substantial, and future innovations such as quantum computing will present new hurdles. Effectively utilizing AI for risk management and proactive security measures, alongside continuous evolution and collaborations with forward-looking cybersecurity providers, will be vital for staying ahead of emerging threats.

Q: What does the Essential Eight entail?

A: The Essential Eight comprises a collection of cybersecurity strategies established by the Australian government to assist organizations in achieving a baseline of cybersecurity and mitigating prevalent threats like ransomware.

Q: Why is it important for organizations to extend beyond the Essential Eight?

A: While the Essential Eight lays a solid groundwork, the progressive nature of cyber threats necessitates that organizations adopt more sophisticated measures to keep ahead of new and intricate threats, especially from state-sponsored entities and AI-powered attacks.

Q: What impact does AI have on cybersecurity?

A: Cyber attackers are increasingly utilizing AI to craft advanced attacks, yet organizations can also harness it to bolster their cybersecurity measures through effective data analysis and threat detection.

Q: What challenges lie ahead in the cybersecurity landscape?

A: Upcoming challenges include the advent of quantum computing, which could compromise current encryption methods, making it essential to develop new encryption technologies and continuously update cybersecurity frameworks like the Essential Eight.

Q: What steps can organizations take to prepare for future cybersecurity risks?

A: Organizations can ready themselves by constantly adapting their cybersecurity protocols, embracing innovative technologies like AI for preemptive security, and collaborating with forward-thinking cybersecurity providers who can address evolving needs and compliance demands.

Q: What role do state-sponsored actors have in cybersecurity threats?

A: State-sponsored actors, notably from nations like China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran, present substantial cybersecurity threats through activities that include espionage and assaults on critical infrastructures as well as private enterprises.

Quick Summary

• Nine Entertainment centralizes data on Google Cloud Platform
• BigQuery essential for managing extensive analytical workloads
• Self-service visualizations available for journalists and content developers
• Launch of targeted advertising solutions like 9Tribes
• Improved content recommendations and ad frequency control

Nine Entertainment’s Data Transformation Journey

Nine Entertainment has undertaken a significant evolution by integrating its various data sources onto the Google Cloud Platform (GCP). Over the last six years, the media powerhouse, which includes Nine Television, Fairfax Media, Macquarie Radio, and Stan, has been actively working to refine its data framework.

Suzie Cardwell, Nine’s chief data officer.

BigQuery as the Primary Data Warehouse

Chief Data Officer Suzie Cardwell emphasized at the Google Cloud Summit 2024 in Sydney that BigQuery is crucial to Nine’s data strategy. The platform allows for optimal organization and formatting of data for large analytical tasks, delivering the performance necessary for real-time data analysis and activation for marketing, subscriptions, and content optimization.

A Consolidated Customer View

The comprehensive customer view at Nine is supported by a synergy of BigQuery, a customer data platform, and a proprietary identity resolution mechanism. This unified perspective is vital for audience marketing, subscription sales, personalized experiences, and product innovation.

Empowering Journalists and Content Developers

At Nine, journalists, content developers, and programmers utilize self-service visualizations created with Google’s Looker business intelligence platform. These visualizations assist teams in understanding consumer engagement and pinpointing content that drives paywall conversions. Thousands of custom dashboards support daily data-driven decisions that directly influence revenue generation.

Innovative Advertising Offerings

This unified customer perspective also facilitates targeted advertising solutions. The 9Tribes segmentation tool identifies audience segments likely to engage with specific marketing messages. Furthermore, the “audience match” tool allows for data alignment between advertisers and Nine’s first-party audience information, improving customer targeting throughout Nine’s network.

Refined Content and Advertising Strategies

In addition to advertising, the unified customer perspective enhances content recommendations and modifies ad frequencies, ensuring a personalized audience experience. This methodology not only boosts user satisfaction but also maximizes engagement and monetization potential.

Conclusion

Nine Entertainment’s incorporation of its data into the Google Cloud Platform and the use of BigQuery has significantly improved its customer insights. This transformation aids in refining content, marketing, and advertising strategies, enabling teams with real-time data for insightful decision-making. The rollout of tools like 9Tribes and audience match further optimizes audience targeting and engagement.

Q&A Session

Q: What is the key advantage of Nine consolidating its data on the Google Cloud Platform?

A: The key advantage is the capacity to optimally structure and format data for extensive analytical workloads, enabling real-time data analysis and activation across various business functions.

Q: How does the consolidated customer view influence Nine’s marketing and content strategies?

A: The unified view supports audience marketing initiatives, subscription sales, experience personalization, and product development, ensuring customized strategies based on thorough consumer data.

Q: What function do self-service visualizations serve within Nine’s data strategy?

A: Self-service visualizations, created with Google’s Looker platform, empower journalists and content developers to comprehend audience engagement and make data-driven choices to enhance content and revenue generation.

Q: How do Nine’s targeted advertising solutions like 9Tribes function?

A: 9Tribes employs proprietary segmentation to pinpoint audience segments likely to respond to certain marketing messages, while the audience match tool aids in data alignment with advertisers to optimize customer targeting across Nine’s network.

Q: What enhancements does the consolidated customer view bring to content recommendations and ad frequencies?

A: The unified view enables Nine to provide more precise content recommendations and adjust advertisement frequencies, improving user experience and engagement.

AI: Transforming Industries with Innovative Approaches