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The AI hype felt relentless in 2023/24. While the initial frenzy has subsided somewhat, executives and professionals now grapple with the reality of deploying Artificial Intelligence (AI), specifically Generative AI (GenAI), within their organization.

LLMs (Large Language Models), the technology behind popular GenAI chatbots, are powerful, but there remains a significant disconnect between the perception of what they can do and their practical application for business writing.

Easy to use interfaces like ChatGPT make GenAI seem like it "can literally do anything".

This is a dangerous misconception. While incredibly useful for certain tasks, GenAI chatbots can be totally useless, and even harmful when not used appropriately.

Fundamental differences

The fundamental difference lies in how GenAI works compared to traditional software.

1. Traditional software is deterministic

It follows fixed logic and algorithms, producing the exact same, 100% accurate, and therefore repeatable result every time you give it the same input. Think of hitting CTRL+F in Word – you get a precise, repeatable count of a term.

2. Generative AI is non-deterministic

LLMs predict the next word based on probabilities from their training data. This means asking the same question twice will often give you different answers. They are designed to be variable.

Critical characteristics to understand

This core difference results in two critical characteristics businesses must understand:

1. Hallucinations: GenAI can confidently generate incorrect information or make things up. This isn't a bug; it's how the technology works. It's guessing based on patterns, not verifying facts. Copilot, for example, can wildly miscalculate readability scores or miss most instances of a search term.

2. Lack of Repeatability: You simply cannot guarantee the same output from the same prompt.

Here is the absolute critical takeaway: if your writing or document review task requires 100% accuracy or 100% repeatability, you must use deterministic software, not GenAI. Using GenAI for tasks demanding precision is a classic case of wielding a "GenAI hammer" and seeing every problem as a nail.

Flaws and errors in practise

Consider the disastrous consequences. I’ve used MS Copilot to search for every instance of "cybersecurity" in a contract for compliance purposes, only for the GenAI tool to miss 23 out of 27 occurrences. Trying to "shred" a document line-by-line into an Excel matrix for compliance, a task requiring perfect repeatability, is another inappropriate use case where GenAI will fail.

For businesses, especially in regulated sectors, using GenAI for tasks where factual accuracy is paramount is dangerous. Users may trust outputs due to brand credibility, not realizing the risks of inaccuracy.

Real-world failures like Air Canada's chatbot providing false information resulting in a lawsuit underscore the significant brand and trust damage inaccurate GenAI can cause.

So, where IS GenAI useful for business writing?

GenAI thrives for tasks where variability, creativity, or a "good enough" answer is acceptable or desired.

Appropriate use cases include:

• First Draft Creation: Generating initial versions of documents like management plans, executive summaries, or proposal sections based on context. This can save significant time.
• Creative Assistance: Rewriting content in a different tone or style.
• Summarization: Condensing lengthy documents.
• Simplification/Rephrasing: Making complex text more accessible or refining paragraphs.
• Research & Analysis: Using public data for competitive analysis or sales research where perfect accuracy on every detail isn't required for generating insights. Using NLP (another type of AI) for thematic analysis across communications to check message consistency.

Beyond simple chatbots, the real value often lies in specialized applications. These layer GenAI into workflows for specific jobs, intelligently combining GenAI for creative/drafting tasks with deterministic software for accuracy-critical functions like readability scoring or compliance checks.

They understand the "job to be done" and apply the right technology. NotebookLM, which generates audio summaries of documents, is a great example of a focused application.

Garbage In, Garbage Out: The Unsexy Truth of Knowledge Management

Generative AI, even when combined with techniques like Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) to access proprietary data, is not a magic wand that can overcome poor data quality. The old adage "garbage in, garbage out" is more relevant than ever. If your internal knowledge bases are a mess of outdated content, multiple revisions, and poorly tagged documents, the AI's output will reflect that chaos.

As the Harvard Business Review noted, "Companies need to address data integration and mastering before attempting to access data with generative AI". Good data hygiene – clear folder structures, naming conventions, and processes for maintaining content – is crucial but is fundamentally a human behavior problem, not just a tech one. Investing in proper knowledge management now will pay dividends when you roll out any GenAI solution.

Data Security: The Enterprise Achilles' Heel

Many popular AI chatbots rely on public cloud-based LLMs. For businesses, especially those in regulated industries like defense, finance, and healthcare, feeding proprietary or sensitive or PII (Personally Identifiable Information) data into these public models poses a significant security risk. CISOs (Chief Information Security Officers) are rightly wary, often blocking interactions with such models entirely.

The safer path for enterprises involves hosting LLMs in a private cloud or on-premise, fully locked down behind the firewall. The rise of powerful open-source models like Llama 4 or Mistral Nemo which can be deployed securely in-house, is a welcome trend. This shift is so significant that a Barclays CIO survey last year indicated 83% plan to repatriate some workloads from the public cloud, largely driven by AI considerations.

The Real Driver: People and Process

Most AI projects fail not due to the technology, but because of people, process, security, and data issues. Lack of buy-in, poor strategy, inadequate data, and insufficient change management and user education are common pitfalls.

Deploying AI chatbots without teaching users about:

• Hallucinations
• The need to verify outputs
• Effective prompting
• Crucially, what tasks not to use GenAI for

...will lead to frustration and project failure.

Start with the business problem you need to solve, then map the appropriate technology to that job. Don't just chase the "shiny new tech". Define your goals, measure success (both quantitative and qualitative), and involve end-users early.

When evaluating vendors, look beyond captivating demos. Ask pointed questions about accuracy, repeatability, data handling, security posture, and their understanding of your specific use cases and industry needs. Always try before you buy and vet vendors carefully. Be wary of vendors who overpromise or claim GenAI can do everything.

In summary, popular AI chatbots offer exciting capabilities, but they are not magic. They are powerful tools with significant limitations. Successful businesses will adopt a pragmatic, thoughtful approach: understanding GenAI's non-deterministic nature, applying it strategically to appropriate tasks (like creative drafting), leveraging hybrid applications, investing in data quality and security, and crucially, focusing on the people and processes required for effective adoption and change management.

This is the path to truly unlocking AI's value.

I tried 70+ best AI tools.

This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

GG Servers promises to provide a reliable and high-performing game server. As is customary, I've focused on its Minecraft offerings to see if it can compete with the best Minecraft server hosting but it also supports other games.

The service provides a user-friendly control panel, robust infrastructure, and its near essential list of supported games.

I tested GG Servers, exploring its key features, pricing options, performance, and overall value. Whether you are a seasoned gamer or just getting started in the world of online gaming, my GG Servers review will provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision about your game server hosting needs. 

What is GG Servers? 

GG Servers is a web hosting service that specializes in providing high-quality and reliable game servers for online gamers. It offers a wide variety of hosting plans that are tailored to meet the specific needs of different games and gamers. GG Servers' servers are optimized for performance and reliability, ensuring that gamers have a smooth and uninterrupted gaming experience. 

(Image credit: GG Servers)Features

GG Servers offers a comprehensive set of features that make it a good choice if you're looking for one of the best Minecraft server hosting services on the market. One of the standout features is the free DDoS protection that comes with all services, ensuring that your server remains online and accessible at all times. This is a crucial feature for any online service, as DDoS attacks can be extremely disruptive and damaging.

Another key feature of GG Servers is the use of NVMe SSD storage, which is standard across all services. Premium services take this a step further with unmetered usage of NVMe SSD storage, providing lightning-fast access to your server files and data. The powerful processors used by GG Servers are also notable, with CPUs that excel in single-core performance. Standard services offer up to 4 GHz, while premium services go up to 5 GHz, ensuring that your server can handle even the most demanding workloads.

GG Servers also offers a global network of server locations, allowing you to choose the one that provides the best ping and performance for your needs. The ping.ggs.gg tool makes it easy to test your ping in all locations, and the Minecraft server itself includes a compass in the lobby server where you can choose your preferred location and test your ping on it.

In addition to these core features, GG Servers also provides a free subdomain, 1-click modpack and plugin installs, and a powerful and easy-to-use Multicraft panel. This panel allows you to manage all of your Minecraft servers with ease, providing full FTP file access and access to your console and chat. Also, the unmetered SSD and NVMe storage, as well as full FTP and MySQL database access, make GG Servers an ideal choice for anyone looking for a reliable and feature-rich Minecraft server hosting solution.

(Image credit: GG Servers)Server management 

Server management is a crucial aspect of any online service, including Minecraft servers. With so many different options available, it can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to managing your server. Thankfully, GG Servers offers a range of powerful tools and features that make server management easy and efficient.

One of the key considerations when it comes to server management is uptime. After all, if your server is down, your players won't be able to access it. GG Servers boasts an impressive overall uptime of 99.9121%, which is well above the industry average. This high level of uptime is achieved through a combination of automated DDoS protection, powerful processors, and reliable SSD and NVMe storage.

Another important factor to consider when managing your server is location. GG Servers has a global network of server locations, with servers located in North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. This ensures that you can choose a location that provides the best possible ping and performance for your players, no matter where they are located.

In North America, GG Servers has servers located in Virginia, Canada, and Oregon. These servers are all equipped with the latest hardware and software, providing lightning-fast access to your Minecraft world. In Europe, GG Servers has servers located in Frankfurt, London, Roubaix, and Finland. These servers are ideal for players located in Europe and nearby regions, with low latency and high performance. Also, in Asia, GG Servers has servers located in Singapore, which are ideal for players in Southeast Asia and nearby regions. And in Oceania, GG Servers has servers located in Australia, providing fast and reliable access to your Minecraft world for players in Australia and New Zealand.

(Image credit: GG Servers)Interface in-use 

The interface of GG Servers is highly intuitive and user-friendly, making it easy for even beginners to manage their Minecraft servers. The highly customized version of the Multicraft control panel is accessible from the server panel, which is the main landing page for your account. From here, you can easily navigate to your servers, profiles, open tickets, and log out.

The server panel is designed to give you easy access to all of the features and tools you need to manage your server. This includes full FTP file access, which allows you to easily upload and manage files on your server. You can also access your console and chat directly from the control panel, giving you complete control over your Minecraft world.

One of the best things about the interface on GG Servers is that it is highly customizable. You can change the appearance of your panel, choosing from a range of different themes and colors. You can also customize your files, console, installers, and tools, making it easy to create a panel that is tailored to your specific needs.

In addition to the highly customizable interface, GG Servers also offers a range of 1-click modpack and plugin installs. This makes it easy to add new features and functionality to your Minecraft server with just a few clicks. 

(Image credit: GG Servers)Pricing 

GG Servers offers a wide range of hosting plans to suit every need and budget. All of its plans come with a range of features, including unmetered SSD storage, anti-DDoS protection, and powerful processors.

Its pricing starts with the Stone plan, which offers 1024 MB of RAM, 12 player slots, and unmetered SSD storage, starting at $3.00/month. The Coal plan comes with all the features in the Stone plan, with the addition of 2048 MB of RAM, 24 player slots, and starts at $6.00/month.

The Iron plan offers 3072 MB of RAM, 36 player slots, and all the features in the Stone and Coal plans, starting at $9.00/month. The Gold plan comes with 4096 MB of RAM, 48 player slots, and all the features in the Stone, Coal, and Iron plans, starting at $12.00/month.

If you need even more power, the Lapis plan offers 5120 MB of RAM, 60 player slots, and all the features in the Stone, Coal, Iron, and Gold plans, starting at $15.00/month. The Redstone plan offers 6144 MB of RAM, 72 player slots, and starts at $18.00/month.

The Diamond plan comes with 8192 MB of RAM, 96 player slots, and starts at $24.00/month. The Emerald plan offers 12288 MB of RAM, 144 player slots, and starts at $36.00/month. If you need the ultimate in server power, the Amethyst plan offers 16384 MB of RAM, unlimited player slots, and starts at $48.00/month.

GG Servers also offers the Beacon plan, which comes with 32768 MB of RAM, unlimited player slots, and starts at $96.00/month. This plan is designed for those who need the highest levels of performance and reliability for their Minecraft servers.

Support

GG Servers provides 24/7 customer support to ensure that its users receive the necessary assistance whenever they need it. The company offers live chat, ticket, and email support for its customers to reach out and ask for help. 

Additionally, GG Servers has a vast collection of over 200 articles in its database that cover a wide range of topics related to game server hosting, making it a valuable resource for users who need more information. For security purposes, GG Servers offers pin support to its users for verification.  

Alternatives to GG Servers 

Hostinger is a web hosting company that also offers game server hosting services. It provides servers for popular games such as Minecraft, Counter-Strike, and Team Fortress 2, with features like DDoS protection, automatic backups, and easy server management through a custom control panel. Another option for game server hosting is Apex Hosting, a company that focuses on Minecraft server hosting. Apex offers a range of plans to fit different needs and budgets, including modpacks and custom server setups. Apex Hosting also has a user-friendly control panel, 24/7 support, and a community forum for customers to share knowledge and resources.

GameServers.com is a veteran in the game server hosting industry, having provided services since 2004. It offers servers for over 200 games, including popular titles like Rust, ARK: Survival Evolved, and DayZ. GameServers.com provides features such as DDoS protection, custom control panels, and global server locations to cater to different player bases. If you're looking for a more niche game server hosting provider, Nitrous Networks might be a good fit. It specializes in hosting servers for games like Garry's Mod, Team Fortress 2, and Conan Exiles, with plans that include easy setup, automatic mod installation, and custom configuration options. Nitrous Networks also has a ticket-based support system and an extensive knowledge base for troubleshooting.

Shockbyte is a game server hosting provider that offers servers for Minecraft, Terraria, and Valheim. Its plans come with features like unlimited slots, DDoS protection, and a free subdomain. Shockbyte also has a user-friendly control panel, live chat support, and a 100% uptime guarantee to ensure that players have a smooth gaming experience.

Is GG Servers right for you? 

Whether GG Servers is the right choice for you depends on your specific needs and preferences. One of the advantages of the service is that it provides powerful and secure game server hosting, with features such as DDoS protection and a variety of server locations. Additionally, GG Servers use powerful server hardware, which can improve the performance and stability of your server.

Another advantage of GG Servers is their good server availability, which ensures that your game server is accessible and online for your players. However, it is worth noting that its unlimited databases feature is only available in premium packages, which may be a disadvantage for users who require more databases.

Furthermore, its unlimited slots feature is only included in the unlimited plans, which may limit the scalability of your server if you choose a lower-tier plan. However, you should weigh the advantages and disadvantages of GG Servers against your specific requirements to determine whether they are the right game server hosting provider for you.

The U.S. once controlled the market on rare earth elements, sought after for a range of technologies. But in the last few decades, China has cornered that market and surpassed the U.S.

(Image credit: DigitalGlobe)

• PayPal World will enable users to pay using their domestic wallets
• PayPal/Venmo, NPCI, Tenpin and Mercado Pago join forces
• The system works with open source APIs, so should be easily expandable

PayPal has launched a new platform in the hope of simplifying cross-border commerce by connecting major digital wallets and payment system to facilitate multi-currency transactions.

With PayPal World, users will be able to pay internationally using their domestic wallets and payment methods.

With over two billion users targeted globally, the new platform is expected to land in Fall 2025, but only select countries will be able to benefit from easier cross-border payments at launch.

PayPal World

From launch, PayPal World will work with Mercado Pago (Mexico), NPCI International Payments (India), PayPal (US), Tenpin Global (China) and Venmo (US).

"For much of the world’s population, international shopping and money transfers are not just difficult, at times they are impossible," the company noted in a press release.

The platform uses open source APIs to make it easy for more wallets to get onboard and boost interoperability in the future, but PayPal didn't mention any companies that could be joining its World platform beyond the initial launch partners.

"The challenge of moving money across borders is incredibly complex, and yet this platform will make it so simple for nearly two billion consumers and businesses," PayPal CEO Alex Chriss noted.

PayPal gave some examples of how global customers could use its new platform, including international visitors in China being able to scan their PayPal app with a merchant that accepts Weixin Pay, and UPI users in India being able to pay with their local wallet on an American ecommerce site.

NPCI International Payments CEO Ritesh Shukla welcomed the new platform, adding that it "aligns with [NPCI's] vision to make cross-border payments more seamless, secure, and inclusive."

"In addition to payments, Tenpay Global will deepen its collaboration with PayPal World in remittances," Tenpin Global CEO Wenhui Yang added.

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The hosts look to wrap up a series win at Old Trafford Cricket Ground.

Commentary: This series walked so The Boys could fly.

Nodecraft is a relatively new company which focuses on providing a friendly gamer aesthetic to all your hosting needs. It's already one of the best Minecraft server hosting providers thanks to offering some unique features compared to the competition.

I've focused on Minecraft here but Nodecraft also provides support for many other games like Rust, Valheim, and Enshrouded. Nodecraft has quickly gained a reputation for providing reliable and user-friendly server hosting solutions. 

Here's a deeper look at what makes Nodecraft stand out among a growing crowd of game server hosting. It's not perfect but it's worth checking out.

(Image credit: Nodecraft)Nodecraft features 

One of the standout features of Nodecraft is its backup system. With this system, you can create an exact copy of your server's files, including player data, configurations, and maps. This allows you to test new configurations without risking your current setup. In addition, Nodecraft's backup system allows you to instantly load a previous backup if something goes wrong with your server. This can be a real lifesaver for gamers and developers who want to ensure that their game server is always running smoothly.

Nodecraft's real-time console is another standout feature. The console provides direct access to logs, admin commands, and other useful utilities. Kicking players, assigning admins, and monitoring performance can all be accomplished right in your browser. What sets Nodecraft's console apart is that it is directly streamed from the server to your browser within milliseconds. Behind the scenes, NodePanel scans this output for events such as player joins, server crashes, and other useful information to provide you with a real-time glance at what is going on in your server.

Security is a top priority for Nodecraft, and the company has created a system that allows you to generate a new login for each FTP session. This information is easily hidden from the overview for added security and privacy. This feature ensures that your files are as safe as possible while still allowing you to manage them efficiently.

Nodecraft's web-based file manager streams files from your server directly to your browser. You can edit, upload, and manage files without the need for downloading or using confusing software. This feature makes it easy for you to manage your files.

With NodePanel, all of your services exist with one singular login. Access everything under one account, directly at Nodecraft. No separate logins, no additional subdomains, and no hassle. This feature makes it easy for you to manage your accounts and services without having to remember multiple logins and passwords.

Nodecraft's servers are built with game server performance in mind. The company uses an Intel Xeon E-2174G or equivalent processor with a speed of 3.8+ GHz. Additionally, each server has 64GB ECC RAM for high-speed performance and stability. 

Nodecraft uses enterprise-grade solid-state drives (SSDs) to power all customer game servers, ensuring lightning-fast performance. Also, Nodecraft's DDoS protection and high-performance network are built to withstand attacks and ensure that your game server is always up and running. Nodecraft's entire infrastructure is built on top of a Linux ecosystem which ensures that your game server runs smoothly and efficiently.

(Image credit: Nodecraft)Server management 

Server management is a crucial aspect of game server hosting, as it directly impacts the player experience. Nodecraft offers a wide range of server locations, spread across North America, South America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. This ensures that players can enjoy low-latency, high-performance gaming experiences, regardless of where they're located in the world. In North America, Nodecraft has server locations in Washington, California, Colorado, Texas, Chicago, Atlanta, Florida, Canada, and Washington, D.C. 

This extensive coverage ensures that players on the continent can find a server location that's closest to them, thereby reducing latency with improved game performance. Moving to South America, Nodecraft has a server location in São Paulo, Brazil. This location offers gamers in the region access to a low-latency server that is optimized for high-performance gaming. In Europe, Nodecraft has server locations in Spain, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Romania. This coverage ensures that players in the region can access servers that are closest to their location and as such, minimize latency and offer improved game performance.

Also, in the Asia-Pacific region, Nodecraft has server locations in Israel, Singapore, Australia, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. With server locations spread across the region, players can expect low-latency gaming experiences. Having server locations in multiple regions is a critical feature for any game server hosting provider, as it ensures that players can enjoy optimal gaming experiences. 

(Image credit: Nodecraft)Interface in-use 

The Nodecraft control panel provides a user-friendly interface for managing your game servers. The Interactive GUI has been designed to make it easy for anyone, regardless of their technical knowledge, to modify server settings with ease. The panel is intuitive and visually appealing, with a clean and simple layout that allows you to quickly navigate through the different sections. This interface can be accessed from any device with an internet connection, making it convenient for you to manage your servers on the go.

The Nodecraft Interactive GUI provides a wide range of options that allow you to customize your game server to your liking. For instance, you can use the interface to change the server's game settings, such as difficulty level, game mode, and more. You can also upload mods, maps, and plugins with ease through the built-in file manager. Additionally, the panel allows you to monitor server performance metrics like CPU and memory usage, so you can optimize your server for better performance.

If you prefer to modify server settings manually, Nodecraft also offers access to all of the server's game files. This means you can use an FTP client to connect to your server and edit configuration files directly. Advanced users who prefer to use command line tools like SSH can do so as well. Nodecraft provides a wide range of tools to cater to different user preferences and technical abilities. Overall, the Nodecraft control panel is user-friendly for managing game servers, however, it may be overwhelming for beginners.  

(Image credit: Nodecraft)Pricing 

Nodecraft offers four different pricing plans to fit a variety of needs and budgets. The first plan is the most basic plan, which starts at $9.98 per month. This plan includes 3 save and swap servers, 2GB of RAM, 10GB of SSD storage, 20GB of cloud backups, unlimited player slots, automation and tasks, one-click installer, free subdomain and dedicated IP, and DDoS Guard protection. The most popular plan is the second pricing option, starting at $19.98 per month. This plan offers 3 save and swap servers, 4GB of RAM, 20GB of SSD storage, 40GB of cloud backups, and all the other features included in the Nano plan.

The third pricing plan starts at $29.98 per month. This plan offers 5 save and swap servers, 6GB of RAM, 30GB of SSD storage, 60GB of cloud backups, and all the other features included in the first two plans. From there, you can create your own server if you need more. All of these plans come with the option to add additional resources for an additional fee, including more RAM, SSD storage, and cloud backups. Nodecraft also offers a 7-day money-back guarantee, so if you're not satisfied with the service within the first week, you can cancel and receive a full refund.

(Image credit: Nodecraft)Customer support

Nodecraft offers a variety of support options to assist its customers with issues or questions they may have. One of the easiest and most convenient options is their live chat feature, which is available on their website 24/7. While testing this out, I was connected with a support representative and receive real-time assistance with a question I had about setup. If you prefer to speak with someone directly, Nodecraft offers phone support during its support hours of 12:30 AM - 09:00 AM. For less urgent matters, customers can also send an email to support@nodecraft.com. Nodecraft's support team aims to respond to all emails within 24 hours, although response times may vary depending on the volume of inquiries.

In addition to these support options, Nodecraft also offers an extensive knowledge base that contains helpful articles and guides on a variety of topics, such as server setup, game configuration, and troubleshooting common issues. You can browse the knowledge base to find answers to your questions or learn more about the features and capabilities of Nodecraft's platform.

Alternatives to Nodecraft 

Shockbyte offers affordable Minecraft server hosting with instant setup, a user-friendly control panel, and 24/7 customer support. It has servers in the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Singapore. Shockbyte offers plans starting at $15/month for a server with 1GB of RAM.

Apex Hosting is a Minecraft server hosting provider that offers a wide range of plans to fit different needs and budgets. Apex has servers located in North America, Europe, and Asia and offers features such as DDoS protection, and automatic backups.

GameServers is a Minecraft server hosting company that provides reliable and affordable game server hosting for a variety of games, including popular titles like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Team Fortress 2, and Garry's Mod. GameServers offer a range of plans with various features and benefits to suit different needs and budgets.

GTXGaming offers Minecraft server hosting services for a range of popular games, such as Garry's Mod, ARK: Survival Evolved, and Conan Exiles. It has servers located in multiple regions for low-latency gameplay, and its control panel allows for easy server customization and management. It also offers 24/7 customer support.

BisectHosting is a popular Minecraft server hosting provider that offers affordable and reliable hosting for a variety of games, including Minecraft, Ark: Survival Evolved, and Rust. BisectHosting offers a user-friendly control panel and 24/7 customer support. Pricing starts at $7.99/month for a server with 1GB of RAM.

Is Nodecraft right for you? 

Nodecraft may be right for you if you prioritize DDoS protection, low latency, 99.9% uptime, and data centers around the world. Its excellent support through calls, emails, and live chat, as well as a free trial and money-back guarantee, can also be appealing. However, if you prefer a user-friendly control panel, note that Nodecraft's built-in control panel may be difficult to understand at first.

• Running an old OS like Windows 10 could soon pose cybersecurity issues
• Upgrading could reveal software compatibility issues, report notes
• The clock is now ticking to avoid a rushed Windows 11 migration

New research has uncovered some of the finer details around why many businesses are still being cautious with their approach to Windows 11 migration, with security threats and financial impacts proving to be major hurdles.

The report from Panasonic found nearly two-thirds (62%) of devices need replacing or upgrading for Windows 11 compatibility, highlighting the scale of the problem – a figure that rises to 76% among larger organizations with 5,000+ employees.

However, despite migration-related concerns, the study claims many organizations still recognize the benefits of upgrading from Windows 10 and older operating systems.

Businesses still have some concerns about upgrading Windows

Panasonic found 94% fear increased ransomware and malware risks if they don't upgrade, with 93% also concerned about data breaches. But two in three noted overall higher costs associated with migrating to Windows 11, with 55% stating that it could add to cybersecurity expenses.

Nearly half also noted software compatibility issues (47%) and productivity loss during downtime (45%), and for many (25%), hardware upgrades come with software upgrades, compounding the financial impact of OS upgrades.

However, with Microsoft estimating that ESU could cost around £320,000 over three years for 1,000 devices, the need to upgrade is clear.

Around a third each acknowledge that upgrading will give them better performance and processing power (36%), a more future proof ecosystem (36%) and access to AI features like Microsoft Copilot (34%).

Panasonic TOUGHBOOK Europe Head of Go-to-Market Chris Turner commented: "The window is closing for organisations to make a well-planned, measured and cost-effective transition to Windows 11 and start unlocking its benefits."

"Organisations that are still to undertake Windows 11 migration need support to ensure their deployment is not rushed and risky," Turner added.

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California-based Lucid Motors completes its transition to the NACS charging standard via a $220 adapter.

• Leaked renders have shown the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL in four shades
• These include Obsidian, Porcelain, Moonstone, and Jade
• Two of these are far more interesting than the other two

It’s looking likely that you’ll be able to buy the Google Pixel 10 Pro and the Pixel 10 Pro XL in a choice of Obsidian (black), Porcelain (white), Moonstone (slate blue-gray), and Jade (a soft pistachio green with gold accents), as not only have some of these Pixel 10 colors been mentioned before, but now all four have been shown off in leaked renders.

Android Headlines has shared what it claims are official renders of the Pixel 10 Pro and the Pixel 10 Pro XL in these four shades, and while we’d take this leak with a pinch of salt, these certainly look to be high-quality images, so they may well be official.

If these renders are accurate, then the Pro models will be available in two fairly plain, ordinary shades, in the case of Obsidian and Porcelain, since they’re basically just black and white. But the other two options are a bit more interesting.

Image 1 of 2

Leaked renders of the Pixel 10 Pro in four colors (Image credit: Android Headlines)Image 2 of 2

Leaked renders of the Pixel 10 Pro XL in four colors (Image credit: Android Headlines)A bit more color

There’s Moonstone, which we’ve actually seen the Pixel 10 Pro in already via an official teaser. This is rather understated, but the hint of blue in it makes this more interesting than a pure gray option.

The highlight, though, is arguably Jade – it’s a soft, delicate shade that still somewhat fits with the rest of the color options, but is a bit brighter and more unusual. Really, we’d like to see more of this sort of thing, rather than top-end phones defaulting to plain shades, but at least there’s one option here for those who want a splash of color.

We’ll find out how accurate this color leak is soon, as Google is set to unveil the Pixel 10 series on August 20. We’re expecting to see the Pixel 10 itself along with the Pixel 10 Pro, the Pixel 10 Pro XL, and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, so there should be a lot to look forward to.

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• Microsoft names three Chinese hacking groups it claims were abusing recently discovered flaws in SharePoint
• Hackers were apparently able to access sensitive data
• The company is confident the attacks will keep coming until the systems are patched

At least three major Chinese hacking groups were abusing recently discovered vulnerabilities to target businesses using Microsoft SharePoint, the company has said.

Microsoft recently released an urgent patch to fix two zero-day vulnerabilities affecting on-premises SharePoint servers, tracked as CVE-2025-49704 (a remote code execution bug), and CVE-2025-49706 (a spoofing vulnerability), which were being abused in the wild.

Now, Microsoft is saying that the groups targeting the flaws are Chinese state-sponsored groups - namely Linen Typhoon, Violet Typhoon, and Storm-2603.

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Two typhoons and a storm

The first two are part of the larger “typhoon” operation, counting at least half a dozen organizations, including Brass Typhoon, Salt Typhoon, Volt Typhoon, and Silk Typhoon.

In the last couple of years, these groups were attributed with breaches into critical infrastructure organizations, government, defense, and military firms, telecom operators, and similar businesses, across the western world and NATO members.

Some researchers are saying that these groups were tasked with persisting in the target networks, in case the standoff between the US and China over Taiwan escalates into actual war. That way, they would be able to disrupt or destroy critical infrastructure, eavesdrop on important conversations, and thus gain the upper hand in the conflict.

At least seven major telecommunications operators in the United States have recently confirmed discovering Typhoon operatives on their networks and removing them from the virtual premises.

"Investigations into other actors also using these exploits are still ongoing," Microsoft said in a blog post, stressing that the attackers will definitely continue targeting unpatched systems.

SharePoint Server Subscription Edition, SharePoint Server 2019, and SharePoint Server 2016 were said to be affected. SharePoint Online (Microsoft 365) was secure.

Microsoft recommends customers to use supported versions of on-premises SharePoint servers with the latest security updates immediately, and says users should ensure their antivirus and endpoint protection tools are up to date.

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BisectHosting has been around since 2011 as a child company of Venture Node LLC and was registered in Ohio. The company focuses on providing the best Minecraft server hosting but also covers several other games including Rust, Terraria, 7 Days to Die, Valheim, ARK: Survival Evolved and many more.

Relatively unusually for a game hosting provider, BisectHosting also provides other web hosting services such as shared hosting, VPSand dedicated server hostingto those who want to launch their own website.

BisectHosting’s main website is a good example of a user-friendly approach done right, where you’ll be able to find everything you need within a reach of a click or two. It has 20 server locations around the world with the majority in Europe and USA, but others scattered across the globe. Bear in mind that some of these are only accessible for those signing up to a Premium plan.

With strong claims of being the ultimate destination for seemingly everything, I dived into BisectHosting to see how well it works as a Minecraft server provider, looking at its pricing, how easy it is to use, and more.

There are many Minecraft pricing plans. (Image credit: BisectHosting)BisectHosting plans and pricing

For those interested in Minecraft server hosting only, BisectHosting offers forty packages in total (a half of which are “Budget” while the other half belongs to “Premium” ones), which is such a considerable amount of choices that we were struck with analysis paralysis straight away.

Even the budget-friendly ones are chock-full of features that are fundamental in Minecraft, including custom JAR support, full FTP access, free MySQL, a free subdomain, free DDoS protection and more. The most affordable “Budget” plan will cost you mere $5.98 per month and provide 2GB of RAM and support for up to 12 slots, in addition to everything mentioned above.  

Apart from Minecraft, there are fitting packages for other popular multiplayer games including: Terraria, Valheim, ARK: Survival Evolved, Left 4 Dead 2, Counter Strike: Global Offensive, 7 Days to Die, Rust, Counter Strike: Source, Arma 3, Garry's Mod and Team Fortress 2.

Besides gaming-focused hosting, BisectHosting offers a few options for those looking to host a website (or several of them) which include shared hosting (that start at $2.99 per month), VPS (from $4 a month) and dedicated server hosting solutions (from $109 a month).

All hosting packages (with the exception of dedicated ones) come with 3-day money-back guarantee. Although it is far below the industry’s standard, at least there is one being actually offered.

As for payment methods, BisectHosting currently accepts credit cards, PayPal, and Paysafecard.

You can manage your Minecraft server from BisectHosting's modified control panel (Image credit: BisectHosting)Ease of use

One thing BisectHosting provides all of its users with is an abundance of choice, with something being offered to suit most tastes. Whether you want hosting for a small multiplayer community or a large one, BisectHosting should get you covered with its unlimited slots.

Those who are on the lookout for Minecraft server hosting services can select from Bedrock (mobile) and Java (original) edition, with more pre-designed packages being provided for Java. Whichever you opt for, the following step is to select a plan and check all of its details, such as data center location, billing cycle and add-ons.

If you aren’t hell bent on saving a few bucks, you could go with the most pocket-friendly out of the “Premium” packages, since they come with all features you could wish for without the need to pay extra for each of them. The most noteworthy are: unlimited slots, NVMe SSD space, dedicated IP, daily backups, Sponge installation and modpack updates and installations. Of course, all of “Budget” server features are included in this one as well.  

Creating an account with BisectHosting will require you to provide a number of personal details (although nothing out of the ordinary) and since instant setup is one of their key features, your server will be ready to use in the blink of an eye.

All server hosting plans come with a highly modified version of MultiCraft as your control panel, and which variation you’ll get depends on whether you chose a plan from the “Budget” or “Premium” section. Both control panels share the same easy-to-use functionality and will enable fast navigation for Java and Bedrock users alike. Even if you haven't used any version of MultiCraft before, with its user-friendly interface you should be able to swiftly find ways to customize your server by installing modpacks, plugins, server JARs and much more.

We used GTmetrix to measure the uptime and response time of our BisectHosting server (Image credit: GTmetrix)Speed and experience

In order to fulfil its goal and become one of the best Minecraft server providers out there, BisectHosting should present us with close to perfect performance, even more so since they claim that NVMe or SSDs are used exclusively to run all of their game servers. After testing the speed of BisectHosting’s main website by utilizing GTmetrix as our tool we got somewhat expected and highly satisfactory results. All vital web metrics related to speed performance were well above the average, resulting in near-perfect an A (99%)

Although BisectHosting offers no uptime guarantee, according to the results we got after monitoring it for a month (via UptimeRobot) it should be close to 100%. No major oscillations were recorded in response time and not a single second of downtime on top of everything. Admittedly, one month of perfect performance doesn’t have to be indicative of a whole year, but it sure seems like a good start. 

Support

As reported by a large number of their users (and supported by our own first-hand experience) BisectHosting’s customer support team is one of their major selling points. Not only they are at your disposal around-the-clock, but the persons in charge are responsive, resourceful and very respectful in their approach to customers. This “dream team” can be reached via support ticket and live chat.

You can find answers to common problems in BisectHosting's knowledgebase (Image credit: BisectHosting)

If you want to be more self-sufficient, you’ll find a major source of information in BisectHosting’s knowledgebase. It currently contains 139 articles in total which are split into ten corresponding categories (Billing Panel, Domain Management, Game Servers, Minecraft Java/Bedrock Servers and so forth). As far as we can see, most of these articles are easy-to-follow and often supplemented with pictures or video tutorials from BisectHosting’s official YouTube channel.

We should give a special mention to their YouTube channel as well, since it is only less than a year old and, yet, it is overflowing with how-to videos which seem to be coming out on a weekly basis.

The competition

When placed side by side, Shockbyte and BisectHosting seem quite similar in terms of pricing, features and support, but there are small differences that might be decisive for some users. Shockbyte is more famous for its overall performance (which means high response time, low latency and lag improbabilities), while BisectHosting’s technical team is doing a better job with support for unlimited domains, SSL certificates and backups.

Both Apex Hosting and BisectHosting offer servers of all sizes with a myriad of additional options. However, the cheapest Minecraft server hosting option with Apex Hosting will cost you $4.49 per month (and for the first month only, after which it will rise to $5.99), while with BisectHosting it’s merely $2.99 per month. On the other hand, with Apex Hosting you’ll get a somewhat longer money-back guarantee.

Besides game server hosting, BisectHosting provides a shared web hosting option with a few attractive features and pricing that is a match for Bluehost’s. The cheapest plans with both hosts come at quite an attractive price, which is $2.95 per month with Bluehost and $2.99 with BisectHosting. However, with Bluehost’s plan you’ll get free domain registration, a free SSL certificate and CDN, which is hard to beat.

HostGator is a great alternative both to Bluehost and BisectHosting for all those looking for a simple-to-use yet feature-packed hosting service equally fit for individual users and small businesses. As expected, even with its cheapest plan, HostGator provides users with a wide array of beginner-friendly and useful features (free domain registration, one-click installs, a free SSL certificate, free domain and website transfer, free MySQL and script transfer, and a generous 45-day money back guarantee), so it might be a better choice.  

Final verdict

On the question if BisectHosting is likely to make your gaming dreams come alive, we would have to say “yes, probably”. It offers a great diversity with its Minecraft packages, a full set of favorable features, prompt and proficient customer support and all at a pocket-friendly price.

Its web hosting packages are, however, another matter and leave out some of the beginner-friendly bonuses we are accustomed to see with other providers. Newcomers who would like to get some of those benefits are better off with fan-favorites such as HostGator, Hostinger or Bluehost.

Roland Reisley is the last original client of Frank Lloyd Wright, still living in the Usonian home designed by the famed architect. Even after 73 years, he told NPR, he still marvels at the beauty of the home.

(Image credit: Keren Carrión)

Does precooling your home work? Yes, no or maybe — depending on who you ask. But don't worry, we also have some other tips to keep you cool this summer.

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While researchers agree food security is important, they say scrutiny of foreign collaboration could hurt U.S. innovation.

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What's better than wireless charging? Even faster wireless charging. The latest Qi2.2 wireless charging standard makes wireless power much faster, much smarter and even more useful – and while several brands have recently obtained Qi2.2 certification, Baseus is the first to publicly release visuals and detailed specifications of three certified devices. So while others make promises, Baseus is already making Qi2.2 products.

That means Baseus customers will be among the very first people to get a massive wireless power-up.

The AM52 is a super-slim power bank with speedy 25W wireless charging (Image credit: Baseus)Why Qi2.2 is brilliant news for you

Qi2.2 is the very latest version of the world's favourite wireless charging standard. Qi charging is supported by all the big names in smartphones and accessories, delivering convenient and safe wireless charging for all kinds of devices. And the latest version is the best yet. Qi2.2 is much faster, even more efficient and even safer.

There are three key parts to Qi2.2: supercharged wireless power, smarter heat control and magnetic precision. The first means that instead of maxing out at 15W of power like existing wireless chargers do, Qi2.2 can push the limit to 25W. That means much faster charging and less time waiting: Qi2.2 can charge your phone up to 67% faster than Qi2.0.

Wireless charging generates heat, and Qi2.2 keeps that down with next-generation thermal regulation, stricter surface temperature limits and improved coils. And the new Magnetic Power Profile (MPP) built into the standard ensures more precise alignment with your phone, reducing energy waste and improving charging efficiency by 15% whether you're charging in the car, at home or on the go.

The powerful PicoGo AM61 comes with its own USB-C cable so you can charge wired and wirelessly at the same time. (Image credit: Baseus)Qi2.2 is made for everything everywhere

Qi2.2 is made to work across all kinds of devices from the iPhone 12 and endless Androids to future models that haven't even been made yet. And while it's focused on the future it's also fully backwards compatible: your Baseus Qi2.2 power bank or charger will happily power up a device made for older Qi standards, and Qi phone cases can add wireless charging capability to older phones that weren't built with wireless charging inside.

Baseus is the industry leader in Qi2.2 charging, and it's just launched three new products that take full advantage of Qi2.2's extra power and improved efficiency: two powerful PicoGo magnetic power banks for any device and a really useful foldable 3-in-1 PicoGo charger for your phone, earbuds and smartwatch.

The two magnetic power banks are the PicoGo AM61 Magnetic Power Bank and the PicoGo AM52 Ultra-Slim Magnetic Power Bank. Both versions deliver a massive 10,000mAh of power, both have a 45W USB-C charging port so you can charge two things at once, and both can charge your device wirelessly at up to 25W via the new Qi2.2 standard without any danger of overheating.

The AM52's ultra-slim design features a graphene and aluminium shell for heat dissipation and smart temperature control that protects all of your devices while charging, and the slightly larger AM61includes a built-in USB-C cable for extra convenience.

If you're looking for a super-speedy compact charger, you'll love the PicoGo AF21 foldable 3-in-1 wireless charger. It delivers the same super-fast 25W wireless charging as its siblings, and with a total 35W of power across its three modules it can wirelessly power up not just your phone but your earbuds and smartwatch too.

That makes it an ideal bedside charger as well as a great travel charger: it’s extremely small at just 75.5 x 80 x 38.11am and it’s highly adjustable for optimal viewing and charging. You can rotate the watch panel 180º, adjust the phone panel through 115 degrees and adjust the base bracket too.

The PicoGo AF21 foldable 3-in-1 wireless charger is super-portable and extremely adjustable. (Image credit: Baseus)Ride the next wireless wave with Baseus' brilliant power-ups

Baseus is setting the standard for Qi2.2 wireless charging, and whether you grab the powerful dual-charging PicoGo AM61, the super-slim PicoGo AM52 or the multi-talented PicoGo AF21 charger you're getting the latest, greatest and fastest charging for your phone. With Qi2.2 Baseus isn't just riding the next wireless wave. It's shaping it.

The Baseus PicoGo AM61 Magnetic Power Bank, PicoGo AM52 Magnetic Power Bank and PicoGo AF21 3-in-1 Foldable 3-in-1 Wireless Charger will all be available this August, and you'll be able to order them directly from Baseus’s website and from major retailers such as Amazon.

Apex Hosting is a US-based company which launched in 2013. Its goal according to the site is to "deliver the highest level of customer support to our Minecraft server hosting clients". It makes sense then to see it feature prominently in our look at the best Minecraft server hosting. Registered in Florida, USA, its main office is situated in Sarasota with data centres across 18 locations around the world .

These include six locations in the USA (Portland, Las Vegas, San Jose, Dallas, Vint Hill and Miami), and one each in the following countries: Canada (Montreal), Brazil (Sao Paulo), the UK (London), France (Gravelines), Poland (Warsaw), Germany (Frankfurt), Israel (Tel Aviv), Russia (Moscow), China (Hong Kong), Singapore (Singapore), Australia (Sydney) and Turkey (Istanbul).

While its website isn't the most visually appealing of sites, Apex Hosting knows what counts for users. Below, you'll find exactly how I found the service with most of the things available within a few clicks.

Apex Hosting offers a wide variety of plans to suit your Minecraft server hosting needs (Image credit: Apex Hosting)Apex Hosting plans and pricing

Apex Hosting offers 14 Minecraft packages with the most budget-friendly plan starting at $5.99 for the first month (renewing at $7.99). For the price, you get 2GB RAM which Apex explains is good for basic servers and some modpacks.

To be able to confidently enjoy all modpacks imaginable, opt for the 8GB RAM package which costs $20.99 for the first month recurring at $27.99. In all cases, there’s a discount for committing to paying quarterly but this is still a little pricier than some game server alternatives.

The most expensive option offers 32GB RAM for $77.99 for the first month, increasing to $103.99. All plans offer unlimited player slots, dedicated live chat support, full DDoS protection, automated backups, a free subdomain, one-click pack installers, and unlimited storage.

Another option is to sign up for the Ex Series which has 16GB RAM but also a more powerful server with the Ryzen 9 5900X 4.8GHz, NVMe SSDs, free premium support, and a free dedicated IP.

Although there is no free trial, Apex Hosting provides a 7-day money-back guarantee, which is always handy to have.  As for payment methods, Apex Hosting accepts credit/debit cards, and PayPal.

Ease of use

With so many Minecraft server plans, it's pretty easy to figure out what will work best for you. They all offer unlimited player slots but you will be somewhat limited by the RAM available to you. Fortunately, users have the flexibility to change their chosen plan at any time, so if one plan doesn’t fit your bill, there is probably another one that will. However, if neither of them work for you, don’t forget about their money-back guarantee.

After choosing your server, you’ll have to configure some details about it (billing cycle, your Minecraft username, server version and optional subdomain) and decide if you want to include a few add-ons for extra cash (plugin installations, permissions setup, dedicated IP or premium support). Oddly, there are only two options in regard to the billing cycle (monthly and quarterly) with a saving of 10% when you commit to quarterly. After this, you’ll have to provide your personal information, pick out a payment method, create a password and proceed to checkout.

This is Apex Hosting's customized Multicraft control panel (Image credit: Apex Hosting)

Since Apex Hosting utilizes a customized version of easy-to-use Multicraft as its control panel, keeping your server running and managing all of its aspects should become a straightforward experience in no time. In addition to that, video guides are found only a click away, as is one-click modpack installer, all of which is sure to make things even easier.

Another noteworthy feature that is included with every package is automated backups, which will ensure the safety of your Minecraft world.

We used GTmetrix to test the uptime and response time of our Apex Hosting server (Image credit: GTmetrix)Speed and experience

While boasting (and rightfully so) about hosting over 200,000 Minecraft servers and having the best support in the whole industry (which should be put under question), Apex Hosting brings up  their dedicated hardware features such as “high clock speed” CPUs and the use of SSDs. This should indicate high TPS and lag-free servers for all of their customers. To check out the speed of their servers we tested the performance of their main website with GTmetrix as our tool. The results we got were pretty promising, with all the vital web metrics being above the average and rated with a conclusive grade of an A (100%).

Apex Hosting promises a 99.9% uptime and, as reported by UptimeRobot, it is very likely that you’ll be able to uphold it. We monitored Apex Hosting’s main website for more than a month and were presented with a report showing an impeccable 100% of uptime, which came as a welcome surprise. Not a second of downtime was recorded and while there were several oscillations in response time, they should have no substantial impact on the overall performance.

Support

Although we were rather skeptical about Apex Hosting’s claims to have “the best support in the industry” we decided to give them a chance to prove us wrong. Their customer support is available 24/7 through tickets and live chat, which they seem to take great pride in. From our perspective, chat seems well-organized and functions as a one-stop-solution for most of the problems one might encounter along the way. A support agent we got in touch with responded within five minutes and provided us with everything we wanted to know in a very kind way. If you are using some of the same social platforms they are active on, you can try to reach them there as well.

You can find answers to common web hosting and Minecraft server-related questions in Apex Hosting's knowledgebase (Image credit: Apex Hosting)

If you prefer finding solutions on your own, Apex Hosting’s knowledgebase should probably be your first stop, although their YouTube channel shouldn’t be overlooked since it offers a decent number of easy-to-follow video guides.

The competition

Both Shockbyte and Apex Hosting tend to get high on the majority of “best Minecraft host” lists, and rightfully so. While Shockbyte has more server options in general, a longer list of features and all at a budget-friendly price, Apex Hosting is stronger in terms of customer support.

BisectHosting is another provider determined to make a Minecraft server hosting experience as easy as possible, much like Apex Hosting does. However, BisectHosting is slightly stronger in terms of package options, features and included add-ons, while Apex Hosting provides superior support to its customers. Additionally the daily backups you’ll get with Apex Hosting are a great bonus.

Another difference between the two is the availability of web hosting options (shared hosting, VPS and dedicated server hosting) you have with BisectHosting, but not with Apex Hosting, since it’s focusing on Minecraft. Another web hosting alternative and quite a popular one, would be Bluehost, since in addition to attractive pricing, it provides a full range of hosting services capable of responding to most needs.

Another good (and beginner-friendly) choice for those looking to launch their own website would be HostGator. Besides everything one would expect from a well-known host, they offer their own easy-to-use website builder with all of their shared hosting plans (even the cheapest one) and a 45-day money-back guarantee with “no questions asked”.

Final verdict

There are several reasons behind Apex Hosting’s growing popularity among Minecraft fans, including a variety of server options and total control over it. When we add fast and lag-free performance, backups and DDoS protection, simple-to-use control panel and first-class support to the deal, it’s really hard to say “no” to Apex Hosting.

Although the money-back guarantee is valid for only seven days and might not seem particularly generous, it is actually a bit longer than what is found with some of the company's Minecraft-focused competitors. For a usual 30-day one, you can try out Hostinger, which is one of top web hosting providers out there, with and without Minecraft.

However, if you are on the lookout for a reputable and reliable host for your website and don’t even know how you ended up here in the first place, don’t miss out on checking Bluehost and HostGator.

Third-party attacks are one of the most prominent trends within the threat landscape, showing no signs of slowing down, as demonstrated by recent high-profile cyber incidents in the retail sector.

Third-party attacks are very attractive to cybercriminals: threat actors drastically increase their chances of success and return on investment by exploiting their victims’ supplier networks or open-source technology that numerous organizations rely on.

A supply chain attack is one attack with multiple victims, with exponentially growing costs for the those within the supply chain as well as significant financial, operational and reputational risk for their customers.

In a nutshell, in the era of digitization, IT automation and outsourcing, third-party risk is impossible to eliminate.

Global, multi-tiered and more complex supply chains

With supply chains becoming global, multi-tiered and more complex than they have ever been, third-party risks are increasingly hard to understand.

Supply chain attacks can be extremely sophisticated, hard to detect and hard to prevent. Sometimes the most innocuous utilities can be used to initiate a wide-scale attack. Vulnerable software components that modern IT infrastructures run on are difficult to identify and secure.

So, what can organizations do to improve their defenses against third-party risk? We have outlined three areas organizations can take to build meaningful resilience against third-party cyber risk:

1. Identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities across the supply chain

Understanding third-party risk is a significant step towards its reduction. This involves several practical steps, such as:

i) Define responsibility for supply chain cyber risk management ownership. This role often falls between two stools - the internal security teams who will focus primarily on protecting the customer, while the compliance and third-party risk management programs who own responsibility for third party risk and conduct, but don’t feel confident addressing cyber risks given their technical bias.

ii) Identify, inventory and categorize third parties, to determine the most critical supplier relationships. From a cyber security perspective, it is important to identify suppliers who have access to your data, access into your environment, those who manage components of your IT management, those who provide critical software, and – last but not least – those suppliers who have an operational impact on your business.

This is a challenging task, especially for large organizations with complex supply chains, and often requires security teams to work together with procurement, finance and other business teams to identify the entire universe of supplier relationships, then filter out those out of scope from a cyber security perspective.

Assess risk exposure by understanding the security controls suppliers deploy within their estate or the security practices they follow during the software development process, and highlight potential gaps. It is important to follow this up with agreement on the remediation actions acceptable to both sides, and to work towards their satisfactory closure. The reality is that suppliers are not always able to implement the security controls their clients require.

Sometimes this leads to client organizations implementing additional resilience measures in-house instead – often dependent on the strength of the relationship and the nature of the security gaps.

Move away from point-in-time assessments to continuous monitoring, utilizing automation and open-source intelligence to enrich the control assessment process. In practice, this may involve identifying suppliers’ attack surfaces and vulnerable externally-facing assets, monitoring for changes of ownership, identifying indicators of data leaks and incidents affecting critical third parties, and monitoring for new subcontractor relationships.

2. Prepare for supply chain compromise scenarios

Regrettably, even mature organizations with developed third-party risk management programs get compromised.

Supply chain attacks have led to some of the most striking headlines about cyber hacks in recent years and are increasingly becoming the method of choice for criminals who want to hit as many victims as possible, as well as for sophisticated actors who want to remain undetected while they access sensitive data.

Preparedness and resilience are quickly becoming essential tools in the kit bag of organizations relying on critical third parties.

In practice, the measures that organizations can introduce to prepare for third-party compromise include:

i) Including suppliers in your business continuity plans. For important business processes that rely on critical suppliers or third-party technology, understand the business impact, data recovery time and point objectives, workarounds, and recovery options available to continue operating during a disruption.

ii) Exercising cyber-attack scenarios with critical third parties in order to develop muscle memory and effective ways of working during a cyber attack that may affect both the third party and the client. Ensure both sides have access to the right points of contact – and their deputies – to report an incident and work together on recovery in a high-pressure situation.

iii) Introducing redundancies across the supply chain to eliminate single points of failure. This is a difficult task, especially in relation to legacy suppliers providing unique services or products. However, understanding your options and available substitutes will reduce dependency on suppliers and provide access to workarounds during disruptive events such as a supply chain compromise.

3. Secure your own estate (monitor third-party access, contractual obligations)

Protecting your own estate is as important as reducing exposure to third-party risk. Strengthening your internal defenses to mitigate damage if a third party is compromised involves a number of important good practice measures, including but not limited to:

i) Enhanced security monitoring of third-party user activity on your network,

ii) Regular review of access permissions granted to third-party users across your network, including timely termination of leavers,

iii) Continuous identification and monitoring of your own external attack surface, including new internet-facing assets and vulnerable remote access methods,

iv) Employee security training and social engineering awareness, including implementation of additional security verification procedures to prevent impersonation of employees and third parties.

Security vetting of third-party users with access to your environment or data

As third-party threats evolve and become more prominent, organizations must have a clear view of who they’re connected to and the risks those connections pose. An end-to-end approach to cyber due diligence, encompassing assessment, monitoring, and response capabilities to threats across their supply chains before damage is done.

Third-party risk will remain a challenge for many organizations for years to come, especially as more threat actor groups begin to explore supply chain compromise as an attractive tactic, offering high rewards with relatively low resistance.

Regulators across all sectors are beginning to pay greater attention to supply chain security. Frameworks such as DORA, NIS2 and the Cyber Resilience Act reflect the growing concerns that supply chain security must be a key component of digital strategy. Those who lead on this issue will be best placed to navigate supply chain compromise.

We list the best identity management software.

This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

The Dabbsson DBS1000 Pro portable power station provides 2000W of inverter power in a compact footprint. The base unit features a 1000Wh battery that can be expanded to 5kWh with additional packs. The unit has four fans and is quiet enough to work in an office environment. It supports a handy UPS mode, where the AC output switches from the grid to the battery in under 15ms, ensuring uninterrupted office work.

It has all the bells and whistles that the competition offers: a super-fast charger, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support, and a sleek mobile app for remote operation. With the addition of a battery pack, the inverter's output power increases to 2400W, a feature not found in similar products. The DBS1000 comes with a powerful front flashlight to help in roadside emergencies and supports three types of charging.

Dabbsson DBS1000: Price and Availability

The Dabbson DBS1000 carries an MSRP of $899 and is on special for $541 for a limited time. The 2kWh battery expansion, which usually costs $1499, is available at a reduced price of $1099 also for a limited time. Other product variants include two DBS1000s with a parallel connector box that increases the output inverter power and battery capacity. This combination is discounted to $1700 from an MSRP of $2549.

(Image credit: Future)Dabbsson DBS1000: Design

The Dabbsson DBS1000 ships with one AC cord and two DC cables for car and solar charging. A user manual and a warranty card complete the package. The unit is compact, measuring 43 cm x 25 cm x 25 cm, which translates to a volume of just under 28 liters. Two large handles on either side of the case help carry the 16kg unit around effortlessly. The top surface is clear of obstructions and can act as a small table, making it ideal for resting electronic devices such as tablets and phones.

Specifications

Battery chemistry: LiFePO4

Battery capacity: 1024Wh

Number of charge cycles: Over 4000 before 20% drop

AC output power: 2000W, surge 4000W

Number of AC outlets: 4

Number of USB sockets: 3 Type A, 3 Type C

Number of 12V sockets: 1 XT60, 1 Cigar lighter, 2 DC 5521

Number of extra battery ports: 2, total of 5120Whr

AC inverter efficiency: 90%

Number of power inputs: 3

Fastest charge time: 1 hour

Additional features: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, flashlight

Weight: 16kg

The user interface features a large LCD on the front panel. The high-contrast display is easily visible from a distance of a few meters. The remaining battery capacity, input and output power consumption, and warnings such as low battery are displayed clearly. User interaction is straightforward through push buttons located near the output sections, which illuminate when activated.

The DBS1000 features four AC power sockets that can supply over 2000W with a 4000W surge capacity. The unit also allows the power limit to exceed 2000W for longer durations through the P-Boost mode when not charging. The P-Boost mode is compatible only with resistive devices, such as electrical heaters, as the AC output voltage can vary depending on the available thermal margin.

The Dabbsson station provides nine low-voltage DC outputs. Six USB ports, organized as three Type-A and three Type-C ports, give the user multiple options to charge devices, such as smartphones and laptops. Two Type-Cs support up to 100W in PD mode, while two Type-As can fast charge at 18W. The remaining three DC outputs are all 12V, consisting of a 120W cigar outlet and two DC5521, each supporting 50W. The DC and AC outputs have a combined power budget of 2200W.

Dabbsson DBS1000: In Use

A short press on the power button activates the unit. The LCD shows status information, including battery capacity and whether any protection features have been triggered. The display will turn off after five minutes if the station remains unused to conserve power, and it will resume operation when a load is connected. To turn off the unit, a long press on the power button is required.

The DBS1000 has a fast AC charger that supports input power of up to 1200W. DC charging through solar panels, with a similar power rating, is also available. Considering the unit’s 90% efficiency, the station will fully charge the 1000Wh battery in under one hour. The power station can accept a DC voltage of up to 60V at a maximum of 25A, representing six 200W solar cells arranged in a 3-series x 2-parallel configuration.

Any abnormal behavior triggers a self-protection mechanism that turns off the input and output ports. For example, the input current can remain above 20A for an extended period, triggering the overload protection. The app shows a pop-up explaining the issue. The user can then decide to continue charging by clearing the fault.

Dabbsson's mobile app is available on both Android and iOS platforms. Once installed, the next step is to enable pairing by pressing the IOT button on the station. The DBS1000 should be detected automatically and added to the app homepage. The optional firmware update may appear as a single step during the initial setup. The final step is to enable Wi-Fi, which allows for full remote access to the unit.

(Image credit: Future)Dabbsson DBS1000: The competition

The DBS1000 has plenty of competition. The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 possesses features similar to those of the DBS1000. With a 1000Wh battery capacity and a comparable number of output sockets, the Jackery 1000 lacks a mobile app and is non-expandable. It also cannot sustain the same output power as the DBS1000. Finally, the Dabbsson station is less expensive than Jackery’s offering, with a price tag of $999 compared to $1899 for the Jackery.

Dabbsson DBS1000: Final Verdict

The Dabbsson DBS1000 sets the bar high in terms of inverter power and battery capacity, all within a small footprint, and at a reasonable price. For a little less than $1000, the unit offers a 2000W AC inverter that can easily reach 4000W for short durations on a 1 kWh battery capacity. Having a way to increase battery capacity with extra modules is also a great option.

The unit offers multiple charging options, including solar or car DC input, an AC socket, and an additional battery port. The DBS1000 features include a UPS mode, fast charging, Wi-Fi, and an emergency light, making it an ideal companion for the road.

Buy the DBS1000 if you want a low-cost compact power station with an option to expand the battery capacity.

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