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[VGP2024 Gold Award] SHURE Sure Earbuds, Wired SE215SPE-PL-A, Purple, High Sound Insulation, Gaming Special Edition, in-Ear Type, Wireless Conversion (Sold Separately), MMCX Recording, Music
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The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is shifting its operations from NEXTDC facilities to CDC Data Centres, aiming to finish the migration before the forthcoming federal election. This transition is a component of a larger strategy to guarantee the security and reliability of election IT systems.
On July 2, 2023, the AEC entered into an $8 million agreement with CDC Data Centres. This contract spans a decade, running through to 2034, with possible extensions until 2036. Notably, this new contract overlaps by six months with the existing ten-year agreement with NEXTDC, which is scheduled to expire at the end of 2024.
The timing of this transition is critical. The Australian Electoral Commission’s (AEC) existing agreement with NEXTDC, located in Bruce, a suburb of Canberra, was scheduled to end on December 11, 2024. Since there is a possibility that the 2024/25 federal election might be announced in the latter half of 2024, the AEC had to finalize the migration by September 2024 to prevent substantial risks to IT operations during the election.
An AEC representative highlighted the significance of this shift to ensure secure, reliable, and ready-to-use IT systems for elections. CDC Data Centres secured the contract through a competitive bidding process managed by a panel put together by the Digital Transformation Agency.
The transition to CDC Data Centres offers the AEC a chance to reduce its on-site infrastructure. Currently, the data centre accommodates essential WAN infrastructure, internal business systems, and election delivery services. By shifting to CDC Data Centres, the AEC intends to enhance its cloud capabilities, thereby decreasing the need for physical data centre space.
The AEC has established four main milestones for this transition, all of which must be achieved before October.
This shift is a component of a broader initiative by the AEC to update its fundamental election systems. In recent years, the commission has implemented major enhancements to ensure their systems can address modern requirements and obstacles.
The Australian Electoral Commission is shifting from NEXTDC facilities to CDC Data Centres in a strategic effort to guarantee secure and dependable IT systems for future elections. This $8 million contract highlights a wider initiative to modernize and reduce on-premises infrastructure while enhancing cloud capabilities. The migration is planned meticulously to prevent any disruptions before possible federal elections in 2024/25.
The initiative seeks to maintain the safety, stability, and security of the AEC’s IT systems in preparation for upcoming elections. Additionally, it provides a chance to reduce on-site infrastructure and focus on cloud investments.
The AEC entered into an $8 million agreement with CDC Data Centres for a duration of 10 years, extending until 2034, with potential prolongations up to 2036.
The migration is scheduled to be finished before October 2024 to mitigate any risks related to the possible federal election in the latter half of 2024.
The main objectives consist of readying the new CDC facility, setting up essential carriage services, transitioning AEC infrastructure, and finalizing assurance tasks for the forthcoming federal election, which includes disaster recovery tests and high availability failovers.
This initiative is a component of a broader strategy by the AEC to update its primary election systems and ensure they align with current requirements and obstacles.
The upcoming data centre will accommodate essential WAN infrastructure, internal business platforms, and election support services. This shift will also facilitate greater investments in cloud technologies.
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Jabra Elite 10 Titanium Black
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Amazon’s Prime Day Deals for 2024 have arrived, running from July 19th to July 21st. One of the standout tech offers is the ECOVACS Deebot X1 OMNI Robot Vacuum, now available at a remarkable 60% discount, reducing the price to A$999.00 from the regular A$2,499.00. This deal is exclusive to Amazon Prime members.
The ECOVACS Deebot X1 OMNI is a highly capable robot vacuum cleaner renowned for its sophisticated features, even with ECOVACS’ recent release of the X2 version. The X1 OMNI continues to be a worthwhile option for various reasons.
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Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company, is allegedly in the late stages of talks to purchase the cyber security firm Wiz for around US$23 billion (AU$34 billion). Should it go through, this significant transaction would be Alphabet’s biggest acquisition so far.
A source with knowledge of the situation indicated that the acquisition will mostly be financed in cash and might be finalized in the near future. This move highlights the increasing significance of cyber security as tech behemoths strive to find innovative methods to safeguard data and infrastructure.
Established in Israel and now based in New York, Wiz is among the rapidly expanding software startups worldwide. The company focuses on cloud-based cybersecurity solutions, utilizing artificial intelligence for instant threat detection and response.
In 2023, Wiz achieved roughly US$350 million in revenue and is currently partnering with about 40% of Fortune 100 companies. Remarkably, the startup secured US$1 billion in a private funding round, which valued the company at US$12 billion.
Wiz serves a varied clientele, including prominent firms like Morgan Stanley and DocuSign. The company collaborates with several cloud providers including Microsoft and Amazon.
If Alphabet goes ahead with this acquisition, it would be an uncommon example of a prominent tech company trying to carry out a significant merger amidst rising regulatory supervision. Under President Joe Biden’s administration, US regulators have expressed increasing opposition to large tech firms further expanding through acquisitions.
Despite possible regulatory hurdles, the tech industry has experienced a substantial increase in dealmaking activities this year. For example, design software firm Synopsys agreed to purchase Ansys for approximately US$35 billion, while Hewlett Packard Enterprise reached a US$14 billion agreement to acquire Juniper Networks.
Wiz employs approximately 900 individuals across the United States, Europe, Asia, and Israel. The company intends to increase its workforce by hiring an additional 400 employees worldwide in 2024. This expansion showcases Wiz’s dedication to growing its operations and improving its cybersecurity services.
Alphabet’s interest in Wiz follows the tech giant’s decision not to acquire the online marketing software company HubSpot. This potential acquisition aligns with Alphabet’s strategy to bolster its presence in the cybersecurity sector.
The technology sector has seen a significant increase in mergers and acquisitions this year. Data from Dealogic indicates that technology led M&A activities during the first six months of the year, rising by over 42% compared to the previous year to reach $327.2 billion.
This pattern emphasizes the growing desire among tech firms to strengthen their market standings and purchase innovative startups providing distinct solutions.
Alphabet is reportedly in advanced negotiations to purchase cybersecurity startup Wiz for around US$23 billion ($34 billion). If completed, this acquisition would represent Alphabet’s most significant to date, highlighting the increasing significance of cybersecurity solutions in the modern digital environment. This deal occurs amidst intensified regulatory oversight, yet it follows the broader trend of rising mergers and acquisitions within the tech industry.
This acquisition would be the largest in Alphabet’s history, underscoring its dedication to strengthening cybersecurity capabilities in the face of increasing digital threats.
Wiz offers cybersecurity solutions through the cloud, utilizing artificial intelligence for real-time threat detection and responses.
In 2023, Wiz produced approximately US$350 million in revenue and recently secured US$1 billion through a funding round that valued the company at US$12 billion.
During President Biden’s tenure, there has been heightened regulatory attention on major technology companies purchasing smaller firms, potentially complicating this transaction.
Wiz partners with leading enterprises such as Morgan Stanley and DocuSign and works together with cloud service providers like Microsoft and Amazon.
Acquiring Wiz supports Alphabet’s plan to enhance its cybersecurity capabilities and protect its extensive digital network.
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True Wireless Earbuds Purple Bluetooth 5.3 with Microphone for Working Out Noise Canceling Blue Tooth Ear Buds Deep Bass TWS Wireless Earphones with Charging Case in Ear Headphone for iPhone Android
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IAG is one year into adopting a data mesh architecture to further enhance the importance of data in its group operations and transformation initiatives. Burak Hoban, the executive manager of data platforms – data and risk, provided insights during the Confluent Data in Motion Tour 2024 event in Melbourne, expressing that IAG seeks to strike a balance in its data mesh journey.
“We’ve already put that into practice, and we’re a year into the process,” Hoban mentioned. “My responsibility is to help expedite it.” Two key components of IAG’s data mesh include its strategic data and analytics platform, which utilizes Google Cloud services like BigQuery, alongside Confluent Cloud and connectors.”
Data meshes are constructed based on several fundamental principles. These encompass treating data as a product, integrating data into a central repository while maintaining ownership and curation by “the domain team most acquainted” with the dataset, enabling self-service data access, and implementing universal standards for all data in use. Hoban noted that IAG had invested several years in establishing the essential components for a data mesh.
IAG is beginning to identify more use cases for real-time streaming data throughout the organization. Hoban mentioned that the potential of real-time streaming and business eventing was acknowledged as early as 2017-18. Although some use cases did eventually surface, Hoban admitted that they were “slightly ahead of their time” overall.
Initial streaming implementations were internally constructed and overseen using Apache Kafka. However, as usage escalated, the insurer transitioned to a managed Kafka service via Confluent Cloud. This shift enabled Hoban and his team to collaborate more effectively with internal development and engineering teams, thereby boosting Kafka adoption.
“Kafka is beginning to take on a crucial role in our strategic platforms for the future,” Hoban remarked. He also hinted at a greater utilization of pre-built connectors provided by Confluent to access and stream data from different source systems.
At a Google Cloud Summit in Sydney in May, IAG’s Executive General Manager of Data, Risk, and Resilience, David Abrahams, shared additional insights about the insurer’s data platform built on GCP. Previously, the insurer had only mentioned its use of GCP in passing and had not discussed its architecture or decision-making process in detail.
“We possess a substantial amount of data that is crucial to our operations; however, due to our legacy systems, this data has become fairly fragmented and isolated,” Abrahams stated. IAG established Google Cloud as the cornerstone of its “strategic data and analytics platform.” This platform now utilizes Google Data Platform for advanced analytics, employing Vertex AI and machine learning on BigQuery.
The outcomes from this platform encompass the capability to craft more personalized experiences for customers and enable business teams to independently launch new models into production without requiring extra technical assistance.
IAG’s adoption of a data mesh architecture demonstrates its dedication to updating its data operations. Utilizing technology from Google Cloud and Confluent, IAG has established a framework that enables real-time streaming applications and self-service data access. This method improves customer experiences and grants internal teams increased independence in their data processes.
A data mesh is a design strategy that decentralizes data governance by considering data as a product. This allows domain-specific teams to manage and refine their datasets while following common guidelines.
IAG selected Google Cloud Platform for its ability to provide a scalable and high-performance solution that could effectively handle its extensive, fragmented, and isolated data. This choice facilitates enhanced analytics and machine learning functionalities.
Confluent Kafka enables IAG’s real-time streaming applications. It assists in synchronizing data across business tools, supports customer and policy migration processes, manages payment notifications, and helps develop real-time data products.
By utilizing the managed Kafka model via Confluent Cloud, IAG has been able to free up its internal resources. This shift has enabled the team to concentrate on development and engineering activities, thereby increasing Kafka adoption throughout the organization.
IAG’s strategic data platform enhances customer experiences through greater personalization, allows business teams to independently deploy new models, and facilitates advanced analytics using Vertex AI and machine learning on BigQuery.
Real-time streaming enables IAG to manage essential functions like generating pricing quotes or issuing policies effectively. Any downtime or problems with Kafka can severely affect these activities, underscoring its crucial importance.
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Marshall Minor III True Wireless In-Ear Bluetooth Headphones (Black)
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The Australian government plans to introduce a national public safety mobile broadband (PSMB) service by the 2025-26 financial year. This project is designed to greatly improve the communication abilities of public safety agencies throughout the country, offering vital data, video, and voice services during emergencies and critical situations.
The PSMB project has been under discussion since 2009. However, it gained renewed momentum after a thorough review in 2022. According to the government, this initiative will represent the most significant advancement in communications for Australian public safety agencies in decades. The system is designed to provide fast, secure, and reliable communication capabilities, allowing near-instant access to crucial data and real-time analytics.
At the end of September, the government revealed that additional information regarding the forthcoming phases of the PSMB project would be published shortly. A task force formed in early 2023 has already begun a request for information (RFI) process. This preliminary stage is crucial for national planning and will aid in decision-making for both federal and state authorities.
The Request for Information (RFI) is particularly looking for feedback on creating a nationwide interoperable 4G communication network that accommodates data, video, and voice services for all public safety organizations. The goal is also to gather insights on how to merge this network with current voice services and other data networks.
The government has proposed a two-phase market strategy for acquiring the PSMB service. Initially, information will be collected via the RFI process. The following phase will consist of a formal tender process scheduled for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Telecommunications companies and other potential suppliers are required to engage in the RFI stage in order to qualify for later bidding.
A primary objective of the taskforce is to explore how 5G coverage can improve the PSMB service. The government is considering multiple operational models, ranging from a dedicated network to utilizing existing cellular infrastructure. The aim is to guarantee seamless integration and interoperability between various agencies and across state lines.
The Australian government’s bold initiative to implement a national public safety mobile broadband service by the years 2025-26 is poised to transform emergency response communications. By offering expedited, secure, and dependable data and video services, the PSMB will equip public safety agencies with essential tools for real-time analytics and enhanced situational awareness. As the preparations progress through a Request for Information (RFI) process, this project represents a crucial advancement in modernising Australia’s emergency communication infrastructure.
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ROCCAT Syn Buds Air True Wireless Earbuds for Mobile Gaming with Dual-Microphones, for Nintendo Switch, Windows, 7, 8.1, 10, 11, Mac, iPad, and iPhone – Black
