With over 60% of website traffic now originating from mobile devices, having a mobile-friendly website is no longer just an option, it is a necessity for any business looking to effectively reach today's on-the-go consumers. However, creating an optimized mobile experience requires more than just squeezing your desktop site onto a small screen. There are key considerations around usability, functionality, and performance that warrant evaluation to provide users with a smooth and seamless journey tailored for their handheld devices. I outline the top 10 mobile-friendly website design tips business owners and developers alike should keep top of mind when...

As corporate espionage and data theft evolve increasingly sophisticated tactics, inadequate As corporate espionage and data theft evolve increasingly sophisticated tactics, inadequate protection of sensitive files renders organizations susceptible to intellectual property loss, compliance fines, and privacy violations. Determined hackers, spies from rival companies or governments, and malicious insiders represent existential data security threats often overlooked as hype until disaster strikes. Within intricate digital jungles lurk predators awaiting easy prey while business leaders and employees generally have more pressing priorities. Luckily certain encryption tools provide robust defenses, acting as steel vaults guarding secrets, financials, personally identifiable information, and other...

Encryption protects sensitive data like financial transactions, healthcare records, and proprietary communications by scrambling plain text into indecipherable cipher text. It provides fundamental data security controls across industries dealing with critical information assets and privacy regulations. As cyber threats grow exponentially more advanced and persistent, organizations must implement robust encryption both at rest and in transit to safeguard systems. However, with countless algorithms available, discerning the most secure ciphers suited for different data types and use cases challenges even seasoned security professionals. I outline the top 10 encryption algorithms cybersecurity teams should familiarize themselves with based on widespread adoption,...

Implementing a comprehensive backup and recovery strategy is crucial for any database environment. Unplanned downtime or data loss can have devastating consequences for an organization. However, many database administrators fail to prioritize backups until disaster strikes. Developing robust policies, procedures, and systems for protecting data should become part of the foundational work of any DBA role. In this article, I outline key database backup and recovery best practices that DBAs should have in place. Following these top 10 strategies will help safeguard database availability, and integrity and improve resilience. While specifics may differ across database platforms, these overarching principles...

As applications and databases grow larger and more complex to meet expanding business needs, database performance often becomes a critical issue impacting production systems. If databases slow to a crawl, applications grind to a halt, users become frustrated, and revenue-impacting outages can occur. We database administrators (DBAs) often get pulled into urgent war rooms asking why the database is running slow. While some performance issues result from inadequate infrastructure in terms of CPU, memory, I/O, or network capacity, oftentimes databases just need some tuning adjustments. I outline the top 10 databases tuning best practices DBAs need to familiarize themselves...

The Internet of Things - IoT for short - opportunities expand exponentially I think. Connecting mundane household objects to the internet creates an ecosystem of convenience according to my belief. Smart home devices and platforms hold the capability to intuitively automate daily routines from my perspective. The selections run from open-source platforms to proprietary gadgets and everything in between. Solutions fit diverging needs like efficiency, security, convenience, and budget. This connectivity engenders efficient energy usage plus security too. Numerous solutions exist for constructing a responsive, intelligent abode. I have ranked the top 10 IoT frameworks for residential automation below...

Encrypted chatting is vital in this Digi-first world, no cap. Folks need that secure SMS to confide their inner thoughts and block the feds from snooping. But nailing down the best end-to-end privacy app requires watching their encryption schemes, audits, whether source code drops publicly and if the biz seems trustworthy or just money-hungry, you get me? I’m breaking down the top 10 most lock-tight encrypted messaging setups for 2023 from my personal experience. Big ups to apps with encryption certifiably blessed by crypto experts defy no exploits or fraudulent claims on the CV. Major Bonus points if everything...

Domain Name System (DNS) encryption has become an essential aspect of secure web browsing in recent years. Unencrypted DNS traffic allows third parties to easily view what websites a user visits and collect browsing data. Encrypting DNS queries prevents this type of surveillance and protects user privacy. This article outlines ten leading protocols and services incorporating DNS encryption to enable secure web access. As background, the DNS matches domain names that humans can understand to machine-readable IP addresses. When a user types a web address into a browser, a DNS lookup retrieves the correct IP address to connect to....

Internet-scale applications need flexible data models with superior performance scalability. Relational databases often struggle to support massive workloads across globally distributed data centers. NoSQL databases use a variety of data models optimized for web, mobile, IoT, and analytics applications. I think their innovative approaches deliver higher throughput, lower latency, and dynamic scaling to handle fluctuating traffic. There are currently over 225 NoSQL database systems each with unique data models, consistency models, and capabilities. I think the diversity proves that rigid schemas could not effectively accommodate needs arising from public-facing services, cloud infrastructure, and connected devices entering the fray. From...

Public key infrastructure (PKI) provides secure communication through encryption and digital signatures, enabling confidential data exchange and authenticating identities in cyberspace. PKI underpins secure websites, email, messaging, documents, and more by issuing, managing, and revoking digital certificates through a trusted hierarchy spanning certificate authorities, registration authorities, and end entities like websites or humans. Implementing effective PKI secures sensitive data flows, but warrants planning to choose the optimal solution matching risk, compliance, and operational and commercial requirements across physical, virtual, and cloud infrastructure. As PKI permeates mobility and internet-connected devices, prudent PKI lifecycle management necessitates governance spanning initial build to...