Author: Sophia Young

Sophia Young recently quit a non-writing job to finally be able to tell stories and paint the world through her words. She loves talking about fashion and weddings and travel, but she can also easily kick ass with a thousand-word article about the latest marketing and business trends, blockchain, cryptocurrency, finance-related topics, and can probably even whip up a nice heart-warming article about family life. She can totally go from fashion guru to your friendly neighborhood cat lady with mean budgeting skills and home tips real quick.

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Tips

The Top 5 Reasons Enterprises Should Adopt Virtual Reality

As technology advances and becomes mainstream, more enterprises are now incorporating virtual reality in their project planning after years of development. When talking about VR technology, we often think they are associated with entertainment and video games. However, the continuous popularity of VR makes it beneficial across all industries. Experts said we could expect the VR market to grow from $6.3 billion in 2021 to $84 billion by 2028.

At first, many are skeptical about how VR will impact the business industry. But the arrival of tech giants like Google, Facebook, HTC, and Samsung in the VR scene demonstrated and guaranteed that this technology could be the future. Enterprises now see that adopting VR technology is a helpful way to create innovative and sustainable workplaces. This article will tackle the top 5 reasons enterprises should adopt virtual reality.

Why Should Enterprises Adopt Virtual Reality?

Enterprises see a lot of possibilities in VR, including the ability to revolutionise work processes, provide customers with world-class experiences, train staff members, and more. A person may perceive and engage with an immersive virtual environment thanks to VR technology. To further understand, here’s a deep-dive:

Immersive Training in Virtual Worlds

Training your employees using VR technology is an excellent way to let them gain experiences safely. The ability of virtual reality to create immersive real-life scenarios allows employers to be risky when it comes to giving training exercises, as there will be no repercussions in the process. When something goes wrong, all you have to do is to push the reset button. 

The 3D simulation of VR technology helps employees to be more engaged and participate actively in training. Startups are prone to cyber threats. That’s why navigating data loss prevention through simulations is the best way to understand security tips for startups without any potential risks.

They are already applying this in the medical field, where surgeons do complex operations on children. Even Walmart does simulation training to prepare employees for Black Friday. Regardless of industry, VR technology offers an engaging, cost-effective platform for training employees.

Effective Prototyping

Developing products can be costly, time-consuming, and risky as it involves a lot of processes and conceptualization without the assurance that they will be successful. Using VR technology will change all of that. 

Virtual reality allows enterprises to utilize these immersive real-life scenarios to visualize and design their products. It prevents wasting your time and money by providing a set of approaches and tools you can use to explore ideas and test the product with less resource usage as you are working on an experimental model. Using VR technology can help avoid complications as you can easily modify and redesign your products whenever you detect problems.

Improved HR  Practices

VR’s seamless, universal connectivity will fundamentally alter how we manage human resources. With access to workers worldwide, hiring procedures will change to ensure employers choose only the best candidates. Prospective candidates can virtually shadow their possible roles as part of the interview process to understand their daily duties. Additionally, one can adopt VR to a range of interactive HR workshops.

Using VR technology can make the recruitment process easy. Large and small-scale companies can utilise this by creating remote offices to interview applicants, hear their responses, and observe their body language.

Redefined Marketing Strategies

By implementing the “try before you buy” idea, businesses may alter advertising and enhance customer engagement. VR services can improve the shopping experience of many and potentially increase the number of visitors to e-commerce sites. With VR, customers can visually “try on” things to see if they match their needs. There is no more buying the incorrect size or style. And when you are ready to make the purchase, you’ll be able to do it virtually.

Volvo has already executed this idea by as offers a VR test drive on your phone. Lacoste has already followed the lead with their AR mobile app, where customers can try shoes virtually. 
Moreover, VR in your marketing strategy can give you an advantage over your competitors, providing efficiency that helps you stay ahead of the competition.

Time-Efficient and Cost-Effective

Time is money, and you may save both with virtual reality services. You can more effectively create and test your products using VR for prototyping, reducing the need for post-production testing. You can save money on corporate travel expenses and promote employee safety by holding meetings virtually.

Bottom Line

There are boundless possibilities in using VR technology for your enterprise. Given the fact that top industries consider virtual reality as part of their operations, which enables its rapid growth across all industries. Despite being a new concept for many, it is safe to say that VR technology is the future of innovative business solutions. 

Virtual reality technology introduces new ways to advance corporate objectives as it develops. Now is the time for your company to establish itself as a pioneer in using this technology, as it will sooner or later gain widespread acceptance among the populace. Those left behind will find it challenging to catch up. But if your company joins in right away, it can quickly position itself ahead of the curve.

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Tips

The Importance and Benefits of using Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

MFA

The Internet allows everyone to explore the web and create personal accounts on various platforms, hence, it’s safe to say that email addresses and passwords are the identity of netizens. And because of rampant cyberattacks, users aim to protect themselves from cyberattacks by frequently changing and choosing strong alpha-numeric-special-characters passwords. However, passwords alone aren’t enough to provide adequate data security nowadays.

The volume of data breaches continues to rise without fail as cybercriminals discover new and sophisticated ways to compromise unsuspecting individuals’ accounts. But thanks to recent technological advances, individuals and organisations have the opportunity to utilise multi-factor authentication systems to safeguard their identities and sensitive data.

This highly effective method reduces the consequences of poor password hygiene and prevents identity thefts. In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about the importance of implementing MFA into your day-to-day online activity.

Let’s get started!

All About Multi-Factor Authentication

MFA refers to methods that authenticate whether a user’s identity is genuine. It typically requires a user to provide two or more pieces of factors for authentication purposes along with their usual account password. One of its fundamental objectives is to add several layers of authentication factors to increase security. Software based Two-factor authentication:

Along with passwords one of the most common methods used for 2fa are Time-Based-One-Time Passwords or TOTP. Most common TOTP applications are Google Authenticator and Authy.

These apps provide a unique combination of numeric keys generated by a standardized algorithm to users who sign in to platforms where 2fa is needed along with password. Quite a lot of services including GMail, Github allow adding TOTP 2fa.

Hardware based Two-factor authentication:

On the other hand, users who prefer a stronger MFA method could invest in hardware authenticators like YubiKey. This device, when plugged into your workstation generates a unique code that the service can use to authenticate your identity.

In addition, it’s a more secure system because it’s a hardware device which needs to be connected to a computer while authenticating the user account and it produces more extended codes, making it harder for hackers to guess, without physical access to the device.

3 Types of Authentication Factors

Something you know – knowledge

Of course, the most common knowledge factor is a password. However, there are other types of knowledge factors, such as passphrases, PINs, and security questions. Although these have provided excellent security in the past, they aren’t as effective now that new generations of cybercriminals have surfaced.

Something you have – possession

Possession factors encompass smartphones, hard tokens, soft tokens, smartcards, and key fobs. For example, users typically need to insert smartcards into devices, receive a One-Tip Passcode (OTP) on their smartphones, or receive unique codes from physical tokens.

Something you are – inheritance

Inheritance factors are the unique physical traits that users possess. These are verified through voice or facial recognition, retinal scans, and other striking methods.

The Benefits of Using Multi-Factor Authentication

Effective cybersecurity solution

With an MFA system in place, hackers will have a tough time entering your network because it implements strict security measures. Moreover, you can make hackers’ tasks even more difficult by using strong and complicated passwords, mainly if the MFA is used together with an SSO solution.

Verifies user identity

MFA is a valuable tool for protecting sensitive data against identity breaches and theft. By using this strategy, the security of the traditional username and password login is reinforced by another layer of protection. In addition, cybercriminals will find it difficult to crack the given TOTP because it’s a complex combination that only works for a specific period – typically within seconds or minutes.

Hassle-free implementation

By its nature, a multi-factor authentication system is non-invasive. It wouldn’t affect anything within your device’s virtual space, making way for a hassle-free implementation. In addition, it boasts an intuitive user experience, helping you quickly acclimate to the system.

Meets regulatory compliance

Organisations that use multi-factor authentication are hitting two birds with one stone – data security and compliance risk management. For example, PCI-DSS requires MFA implementation in certain situations to stop unauthorised users from accessing systems. So despite application updates with unattended consequences, MFA compliance ensures that the system remains virtually non-intrusive.

The Takeaway

Now that the world is in the digital age, Internet users continue to face cybercriminals’ deceptive tactics to gain their login credentials. And in this day and age where identity is considered the new perimeter, individuals who don’t utilise multi-factor authentication are playing with fire.

The use of multi-factor authentication is a smart and proactive choice, both for individuals and corporations. So if you’re looking for a convenient, innovative, and efficient way to add another layer of protection to your online accounts, MFA would be your best choice. Do you use any MFA technique ? If yes do tell us about it in the comment section below.

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Platforms

Getting Started with EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine)

Getting Started with EVM 

Ethereum has been a game-changer since its launch in 2015. It revolutionized the way people think about blockchain technology and decentralization. For a quick refresher,  Ethereum is a public, open-source, decentralized blockchain which can run smart-contracts and enable developers to build and deploy decentralized applications (DApps).

Many used to believe that blockchain was all about cryptocurrencies. And Ether is just another cryptocurrency like the well-known Bitcoin. However, Ethereum took the blockchain technology to new heights by shifting its concept from being just another digital currency to a new decentralized platform with endless applications and possibilities. 

It gave birth to the ICO (Initial Coin Offering) wave, introduced a completely new programming language, supported the creation of DApps (decentralized applications), and, foremost, polarized the term “smart-contracts.” What makes all these possible is the heart of Ethereum’s success: the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the EVM, what it is and how it works. We’ll also give hints and tips on how to develop on EVM using Solidity. So, without further ado, let’s get started!

Basics of Ethereum Virtual Machine 

We’ve already mentioned that EVM makes Ethereum what it is today. But we should establish a stronger foundation for understanding EVM. 

What is an Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)?

Ethereum Virtual Machine or EVM is a “world computer” that executes programs called “smart-contracts.” Smart-contracts are immutable computer programs intended to digitally facilitate, verify or enforce the negotiation or performance of a contract. These are applications that run precisely as programmed without the possibility of fraud or third-party interference.

Additionally, EVM is responsible for processing and executing all other transactions on the Ethereum network, such as handling DApps, and token transfers. It runs on every node in the Ethereum network and processes every transaction that goes through it. It is Turing-complete, meaning it can run any type of program as long as there are enough resources or “gas” to process it.

How does EVM work?

EVM works by executing a program called bytecode. This bytecode is generated from the high-level programming language Solidity (we will discuss this later in this article). The bytecode is then fed into the EVM, which processes and executes it.

To better understand this process, let’s compare it to how a traditional computer works. A desktop computer runs programs written in high-level coding languages like C++, Java, or Python. These programs are then converted into machine code, a low-level language the computer can understand. And the machine code is fed into the CPU (central processing unit), which processes and executes it.

Similarly, the bytecode generated from Solidity is fed into the EVM, which processes and executes it. The main difference here is that a traditional computer can only run one program at a time, while the EVM can run multiple programs simultaneously. This is because each program that runs on the EVM has its own isolated environment, which is called an “Ethereum Virtual Machine.” 

Developing on EVM with Solidity

Solidity as Programming Language

As we’ve mentioned before, the EVM executes a program called bytecode. This bytecode is generated from the high-level programming language called Solidity. So, to develop on EVM, you will need to understand the use of Solidity. 

Solidity is a contract-oriented, high-level programming language for implementing smart contracts. It was created specifically for the EVM and had syntax inspired by existing languages such as C++, Python, and JavaScript. However, there are a few things that you should know about Solidity. 

First of all, Solidity is a statically typed language, which means you will need to declare the type of each variable before using it. For example, before using it, you must declare whether a variable is an integer or a string. Secondly, Solidity is case-sensitive, so you will need to be careful about the casing of your variables. For instance, the variable “MyVariable” differs from “myvariable.” Third, Solidity does not have a concept of “null,” meaning you will need to use the keyword “require” to check if a variable is null or not.

Tools to Get Started

You can use the following few tools to get started on EVM. The first tool that you will need is the Remix IDE. A Remix is a browser-based IDE that allows you to write, compile, and debug Solidity contracts. It also comes with a built-in debugger and an integrated testing environment.

The next tool you can use is Hardhat. Hardhat is a toolkit for Ethereum development that allows you to automate many of the tasks involved in smart contract development, such as compiling, testing, deploying, and upgrading contracts.

The last tool that you can check is Truffle. Truffle is a development environment, testing framework, and asset pipeline for Ethereum. It makes it easy to develop smart contracts and provides a suite of tools for testing, debugging, and deploying contracts.

After choosing the tools, you must decide which Ethereum network you want to deploy your contract to.  You can choose from two main networks: the testnet and the mainnet. Testnet is a global testing environment in which developers can obtain and spend ether with no real-world value.” In other words, it is a test network where you can experiment with your contracts without worrying about losing any real money.

On the other hand, the mainnet is the “live” Ethereum network, where all transactions have real-world value. Contracts deployed on the mainnet are live and irreversible. Also, it is accessible to anyone in the world. Hence, ensure that your contracts are thoroughly tested before deploying them on the mainnet.

Lastly, once you have deployed your contract on either the testnet or the mainnet, you can view it on Etherscan. Etherscan is a block explorer and analytics platform for Ethereum that allows you to view all of the transactions you have made on the Ethereum network and information about individual addresses and contracts.

Tips on Developing on EVM

Here are some tips that you can use in developing on EVM: 

  1. Make sure to test your contracts thoroughly before deploying them on the mainnet because once a contract is deployed on the mainnet, it cannot be changed or deleted.
  2. Secure your private keys and keep them safe. If someone gets ahold of your private keys, they can access all of your Ether.
  3. Consider using tools to automate the tasks involved in smart contract development to save you a lot of time and effort in the long run. 
  4. Be aware of the gas costs associated with each transaction. Every transaction on the Ethereum network costs a certain amount of Ether to execute.
  5. Keep your contract code simple and easy to understand. Complex contracts are more difficult to debug and likely to contain errors.

Conclusion 

It’s safe to say that Ethereum is a disruptive innovation with the potential to change how we interact with the digital world. That’s why it’s no wonder Ethereum’s price today continuously rises. With its powerful smart contract functionality, Ethereum provides a whole new level of flexibility and control.

While it is still in its early stages, Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) has already established impactful changes, and its further development is definitely worth keeping an eye on.

Sophia Young recently quit a non-writing job to finally be able to tell stories and paint the world through her words. She loves talking about fashion and weddings and travel, but she can also easily kick ass with a thousand-word article about the latest marketing and business trends, blockchain, cryptocurrency, finance-related topics, and can probably even whip up a nice heart-warming article about family life. She can totally go from fashion guru to your friendly neighbourhood cat lady with mean budgeting skills and home tips real quick.