Upgrading to a fixed software release closes a vulnerability, but the design decision that put the vulnerable system within reach of the internet stays open until the network is redesigned to close it. That distinction is the lesson running through 2026’s sustained campaign against Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN, and it bears directly on the work Ahead does for … Read more
The network team and the incident response team have rarely reported to the same person. Gartner’s Predicts 2026: Cybersecurity Program Rebrands to Cyber Resilience expects that to change: by 2028, half of CISOs will be asked to own disaster recovery on top of incident response. For the finance and insurance firms Ahead works with in Japan, … Read more
Japan’s core banking and insurance systems still run on COBOL and mainframes, and the engineers who understand them are retiring faster than replacements arrive. Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) named this problem years ago, the “2025 Digital Cliff,” warning that continued legacy dependency could cost the economy as much as 12 trillion yen a … Read more
Working for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) offers unique advantages that can significantly benefit your career. Understanding the benefits of working for MSPs requires distinguishing between working for an MSP and other types of employment, such as Haken contracting. While both involve offering services to clients, the experiences can differ drastically. Key Differences Between Haken and … Read more
IT managers must balance operational demands with strategic planning. Choosing the optimal resourcing solution is critical, and in Japan, Managed Services vs Haken Contracting are two prominent models. Ahead Group, with expertise in both, demystifies these options to aid your decision-making. Navigating Managed Services Managed Services offer flexibility by operating under a pre-defined project budget … Read more