The Center for Public Safety and Cybersecurity Education is happy to announce the 2nd annual scholarship award by our partner, the Association of Technology Professionals.

This year’s scholarship goes to Abshiro Ali, an Information Technology student at Franklin University. You can read the essay she submitted below!

Essay Prompt: What do you see as the challenges and rewards that society faces in light of the last 3 to 5 years of technology advancements? How should the technology community respond to these challenges?

In light of the last 3 to 5 years, advancements of technology brought countless challenges and rewards that society faces in their daily lives. The three challenges and rewards are adult learners, business improvement, and security. 

The first challenge is the non-traditional/adult learner. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, non-traditional students are at least 24 years of age and older. Some have work experience, including family situations that can make them go back to school, which is a challenge. Non-traditional students typically face the challenge of balancing work and home life. For some, this may be the first time they have ever decided to pursue higher education. Today, online education is widespread among many colleges and universities. This platform makes it possible for non-traditional students to complete their degree programs, as they are not required to be physically present inside of a classroom. While online education is an excellent opportunity for these students to continue their education, many of them are not comfortable enough with the technological advances that make this type of educational platform possible. As a result, higher education institutions must implement plans that support non-traditional students. That may come in the form of workshops, tutoring, and a robust academic advising process that fosters success. Additionally, perhaps introductory computer training courses built into the curriculum that teaches students in the different college or university interface would also be helpful. 

Another challenge that society currently faces is how companies market products and services. Today, marketing must include data collected from various social media outlets. Marketing professionals rely heavily upon data analytics to predict consumer behavior, improve decision-making, and determine Return on Investments (ROI) initiatives. Many data analytics techniques use specialized systems and software that integrate machine learning algorithms, automation, and other capabilities. Data analysis helps companies better understand their customers, evaluate their ad campaigns, personalize content, create content strategies, and develop products. Ultimately, businesses use data analytics to boost business performance and improve their bottom line. For example, most banks implemented a remote deposit capture. The objective is to stay competitive because of time and location. It is not convenient for everybody to go to the bank to deposit a check. This service will allow clients to deposit checks remotely into their account by just taking pictures. 

Lastly, advancements in technology have improved product safety, increased ease, and comfortability, which makes products more user-friendly. Due to the advancement of technology, it has not just brought rewards but risks as well. As technology advances, there are security risks and concerns. There are many threats to technology, such as ransomware, spyware, viruses, etc. An example of a security risk that recently occurred is; two nights ago, my neighbor's Toyota Prius car was stolen. Neither his windows nor windshield was broken. Also, there was no key inside the vehicle, either. His car was stolen by hacking the vehicle's engine. The hacker reprogrammed the car's system to avoid a similar crime. The need to protect your digital assets and network devices is a requirement. The most challenging aspects of technological advancements increased as the rewards increased simultaneously. A vast majority of organizations protect their clients by implementing various methods and strategies to secure information. 

To conclude, when it comes to security aspects, it is something that we are continuously working on. Technological advancements help to improve processes and make products more user-friendly. On the contrary, companies must ensure that consumers are safe from those who want to commit crimes using technology.