Patricia MacInnis, Author at expertIP

People walking in a city square composited with a grid of glowing, electronic numbers.

IT security: Locking down big data

By Patricia MacInnis / Expert Blogger / April 20, 2017

Organizations in fleet management, retail, manufacturing and government are prime targets for significant data breaches this year, industry analysts predict.

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Young man in thoughts and looking up at flowing arrows drawn over his head on chalkboard. Flowing arrows are the symbol of imagination from our brain.

News / IT Management /

Digital transformation in a state of confusion

By Patricia MacInnis / Expert Blogger / November 23, 2016

Tags: Altimeter, digital disruption, IT silos

A recent survey of content strategists shows that companies are struggling to transform in the digital era and that traditional IT silos may be to blame.

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News / IT Management /

What’s so scary about quantum computing?

By Patricia MacInnis / Expert Blogger / October 26, 2016

Tags: quantum attacks, quantum computing, qubits

One of the unintended consequences of quantum computing — and the thing that has cyber-security experts shaking in their boots — is that it may render some of today’s toughest security mechanisms useless. Experts suggest IT leaders start mitigating risk now.

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News / IT Management /

Digital disconnect: Businesses still lack vision

By Patricia MacInnis / Expert Blogger / September 21, 2016

Tags: Accenture, IFS

Most organizations expect disruptive technologies to play a pivotal role in their future success, yet almost half are without a digital strategy and unclear as to who should lead it.

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High angle view of group of people sitting at the conference table, discussing, brainstorming. Digital tablets, smart phones, notebooks, coffees on the table. Unrecognizable people.

News / IT Management /

Enterprises take a second look at Apple

By Patricia MacInnis / Expert Blogger / September 8, 2016

Tags: BYOD, iOS

Once considered a niche player in business, the popular iPhone maker is getting serious attention from corporations, thanks in part to users slipping iOS devices through the back door. But does it make sense for your organization?

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News / IT Management /

New this season: Wearables in the enterprise

By Patricia MacInnis / Expert Blogger / August 17, 2016

Tags: HMDs, wearables

First responders, physicians and other professionals are looking to wearable technology as a way to improve outcomes in their industries. But first, IT pros need to ensure back-end infrastructure, wireless networks and corporate security are up to snuff.

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News / IT Management /

Building a business case for virtual reality

By Patricia MacInnis / Expert Blogger / July 18, 2016

Tags: virtual reality, VR

Early enterprise adopters look to VR as a cost-saving tool for training, virtual tours and product demos. Here’s what you need to know before taking the plunge.

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News / Big Data /

Tap into the brains behind today’s smartest cities

By Patricia MacInnis / Expert Blogger / June 20, 2016

Tags: IoT, smart cities

Singapore and other innovators around the globe are building cities of the future today. Here’s how IT pros in Canada can adapt and customize their ideas.

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News / IT Management /

An IT pro’s guide to enterprise mobility

By Patricia MacInnis / Expert Blogger / June 1, 2016

Tags: enterprise mobility, Forrester Research

Companies say they recognize that a good mobile experience has an impact on customer loyalty, but many still don’t have a strategy in place. Forrester’s self-assessment framework helps them get the best bang for their mobile investment buck.

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News / Security /

Playing it safe with the Internet of Things

By Patricia MacInnis / Expert Blogger / May 17, 2016

Tags: IoT, IoT security

More than 25 billion smart devices will be online by 2020, and Gartner says most businesses aren’t investing enough in IoT security — we’ve already seen some ugly missteps. Here’s why identifying vulnerabilities and upgrading your cyber-security framework should be a priority.

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News / Disaster Recovery /

Game on: Smart businesses tap into gamification

By Patricia MacInnis / Expert Blogger / April 26, 2016

Tags: disaster recovery, gamification

Almost half of Fortune 1000 companies are using gamification to improve their business. Here’s how IT departments can use it to avert disaster.

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News / IT Management /

Building smarter cities vital for governments

By Patricia MacInnis / Expert Blogger / April 12, 2016

Tags: SDN, smart cities

Technology is important when considering smart city initiatives, but far more critical is including stakeholders in the conversation about how to design one.

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News / IT Management /

Gender parity still a distant dream for IT sector

By Patricia MacInnis / Expert Blogger / March 23, 2016

Tags: NCWIT, women in IT

Studies show companies with a diverse employee base have higher sales and larger market shares. So why do women account for just one-quarter of the IT workforce?

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News / Customer Service /

Revolutionizing retail: How to build brand loyalty

By Patricia MacInnis / Expert Blogger / February 25, 2016

Tags: NFC, omni-channel, web beacons

Digital technology can help retailers create the kind of customized and interactive shopping experiences that build brand loyalty online and in-store, but only if they do it right.

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News / Managed Services /

The incredibly shrinking IT department

By Patricia MacInnis / Expert Blogger / February 18, 2016

Tags: IT certifications, salary guide

As cloud technology and other managed service models reduce IT departments, admins need to bone up on tech certifications and master softer skills to keep their careers off the endangered species list — and open up new job opportunities.

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News / Cloud /

Governments at a ‘tipping point’ for cloud

By Patricia MacInnis / Expert Blogger / February 8, 2016

Tags: cloud service providers, Gartner, public cloud

Security is often cited as an obstacle for public sector cloud deployments, but research shows security in the cloud often trumps that of on-premise — and public clouds can better enable digital government platforms to meet rising expectations for performance and value.

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News / Cloud /

Gaining traction in the cloud, your way

By Patricia MacInnis / Expert Blogger / January 27, 2016

Tags: cloud research, cloud strategy

The promises of cloud-based solutions are tempting, but there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Before hopping on the cloud, IT admins need to consider their organization’s size, complexity and appetite for risk.

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News / Big Data /

Big data is a big deal for SMBs

By Patricia MacInnis / Expert Blogger / January 13, 2016

Tags: Deloitte, Institute for Big Data Analytics

The director of Dalhousie’s Institute for Big Data Analytics says network administrators play a pivotal role in launching successful data projects — especially in smaller organizations.

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