Tech Republic

Keeper vs LastPass: Best Password Manager for 2025

Keeper and LastPass are two popular password managers that act as encrypted vaults for all your credentials. They also offer additional features such as password generation, multi-factor authentication, and password sharing. Keeper shines for its impressive security and business-centered features. LastPass, on the other hand, is hampered by recent data breaches despite its generous free version and easy-to-use software. With that being said, let’s compare Keeper and LastPass to see which one is best for you and your organization. Keeper: Best for an all-around password manager with strong security and extensive password-sharing and organization capabilities. LastPass: Best for testing out password managers via its free plan. NordPass Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Micro (0-49 Employees), Small (50-249 Employees), Medium (250-999 Employees), Large (1,000-4,999 Employees), Enterprise (5,000+ Employees) Micro, Small, Medium, Large, Enterprise Features Activity Log, Business Admin Panel for user management, Company-wide settings, and more Dashlane Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Micro (0-49 Employees), Small (50-249 Employees), Medium (250-999 Employees), Large (1,000-4,999 Employees), Enterprise (5,000+ Employees) Micro, Small, Medium, Large, Enterprise Features Automated Provisioning ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Any Company Size Any Company Size Features Access Management, Compliance Management, Credential Management, and more Keeper vs LastPass: Comparison table Features Keeper LastPass Star rating 4.4/5 3.4/5 Zero trust principles Yes Yes Multi-factor authentication Yes Yes Adherence to information security standards Yes Yes Encryption AES-256 (all levels) AES-256 (vault-level only) Unlimited password storage and sharing Yes Yes Business add-ons Keeper Secrets Manager, Advanced Reporting and Alerts, Compliance Reports, KeeperChat Advanced SSO and MFA Supported Platforms Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera Starting price Free or $2.92 per month $3 per month Keeper and LastPass pricing Keeper and LastPass have similar pricing for their individual subscriptions — with Keeper Personal at $2.92 per month and LastPass Premium at $3 per month, both billed annually. For Family plans, LastPass is more affordable at $4 per month than Keeper’s $6.25 per month. For their business plans, Keeper and LastPass offer comparable prices, but Keeper presents more options: Keeper’s Business Starter plan for $2 per user per month is good for up to 10 people and a minimum of five users. Keeper’s Business plan priced at $3.75 per user per month is good for small-to-medium sized businesses. Keeper also has the Enterprise plan that offers customized bundles and pricing. In comparison, LastPass offers two business subscriptions divided into a Teams and a Business plan: LastPass Teams is $4 per user monthly for 50 users or fewer. LastPass Business is $7 per user monthly, allowing an unlimited number of users. LastPass and Keeper both offer free tiers; however, features are limited compared to their paid subscriptions. Keeper’s free version is only available on its mobile app and on a single device. On the other hand, LastPass’ free version is more generous in that it allows an unlimited number of passwords stored for one device — accessible on both desktop and mobile. While it’s clear that LastPass’ free version is better, its recent data breaches make it hard for me to recommend it over Keeper. Both offer free trials, with Keeper offering 30-day trials to all its plans and LastPass having a 30-day trial for its Single and Family tiers and 14-day free trials for its Teams and Business subscriptions. As far as discounts, Keeper offers a generous 50% discount for students and a 30% discount to former military personnel and their family, first responders, law enforcement, and healthcare workers. Feature comparison: Keeper vs LastPass Overall security and encryption Winner: Keeper For overall security, I have to give it to Keeper. This is largely due to LastPass being involved in two data breach incidents back in 2022. The first breach involved a software engineer’s corporate laptop being compromised, which exposed sensitive source code and technical information. The second incident affected customer vault data itself, with both encrypted and unencrypted customer data getting leaked. LastPass user interface. Image: Luis Millares While LastPass assured users their encrypted files are secured with military-grade 256-bit AES encryption, this was still only if they carried out password best practices for their master password. If you want to learn more about LastPass’ recent breaches, check out our full LastPass review here. On the other hand, Keeper uses the same AES-256 encryption but has yet to be involved in any sort of data breach or attack. This is what we want to hear when it comes to password managers — especially since they’re supposed to store some of our most essential personal information. Keeper’s desktop UI. Image: Luis Millares I must mention that LastPass has implemented changes in response to the data breaches. These include security and privacy changes within their service, as well separating from parent company GoTo and shifting to independent ownership in 2024. Despite this, I still feel that most businesses should opt for Keeper. With sensitive data such as passwords, a clean track record is critical, and among the two, Keeper is the better choice. Standout security features Winner: Tie LastPass and Keeper have unique features that set them apart from other password managers. Keeper offers an encrypted messaging service called KeeperChat. It’s free for all Keeper Personal users and provides end-to-end encrypted messaging and fingerprint-protected private messages. KeeperChat dashboard. Image: Luis Millares While I personally don’t envision myself using this type of service, it’s nice that Keeper offers it as an option. It may be useful for incredibly sensitive communications and or file sharing — which businesses may want to avoid doing on less protected platforms. Meanwhile, LastPass has its Country Restrictions feature, which enables users to only allow access to selected logins in countries of their choice. Country Restrictions within LastPass. Image: Luis Millares I find this really useful for businesses that regularly

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CRM Reports: Key Features, Benefits & How to Create Them

What are CRM reports? A CRM report is an analytics tool built into a customer relationship management (CRM) system that provides users with data and insights into their customers, activities, sales, and performance. It often uses visual elements such as charts and graphs to convert CRM data into digestible and actionable insights. A customer relationship management report summarizes a business or organization’s performance during a specified time. They also highlight opportunities that you can leverage to drive growth and sales. 1 monday CRM Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Any Company Size Any Company Size Features Calendar, Collaboration Tools, Contact Management, and more 2 Pipedrive CRM Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Any Company Size Any Company Size Features Calendar, Collaboration Tools, Contact Management, and more 3 HubSpot CRM Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Micro (0-49 Employees), Small (50-249 Employees), Medium (250-999 Employees), Large (1,000-4,999 Employees) Micro, Small, Medium, Large How does CRM reporting work? CRM reports allow you to drill down and filter CRM data in various ways to derive actionable insights needed to make data-driven decisions. You can analyze several business key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics, including individual rep and team performance, deal status, revenue forecasts, and progress toward sales goals. Business managers and executives can make pivotal decisions based on information derived from CRM reports. For example, a report shows low agent productivity across the whole team. They can address this issue by investing in a sales automation tool that can help boost their productivity. Marketing teams can also revise the direction of their email and online advertising campaigns based on conversions and clicks shown in the reports. Benefits of CRM reporting CRM reporting can pave the way for several business advantages. Data-driven decisions CRM reports provide actionable insights derived from consolidated customer and sales data. Businesses can make intelligent decisions that drive sales growth based on this information. For example, a lead source analysis report tells you that your most lead generation channel is email, while social media ranks the lowest. Based on this information, you can focus more on your email campaigns and work on improving your social media presence. Benchmarked performance Using CRM reports, you can evaluate your overall business performance and set standards to determine your success or opportunities for improvement. A sales pipeline report, for example, can tell you how your team is performing against their target revenue. If the cutoff date is approaching and the team still has a long way to go before hitting their quota, you can double down on efforts to generate more sales. Efficient operations CRM reports are stored in a central and easily accessible location, saving time and helping your sales, marketing, and service teams work more efficiently. A sales funnel report, for instance, points you in the right direction when you need to address bottlenecks in your CRM cycle. If you see only a few deals at the top of the funnel, you can focus your efforts there to ensure that enough deals push through the funnel later. Increased customer satisfaction Customer service teams can provide relevant and personalized service based on reports on client behavior and trends over time. Surveys after a customer interaction can help you gauge how satisfied customers are with your service. For instance, you deploy chatbots after reading customer feedback that access to a live agent takes too long. Doing this helps improve customer experience and satisfaction, ultimately leading to better retention and loyalty. Accelerated innovation Investors can use CRM reports to understand their return on investment and get insights into the business trends. For example, reports indicate that the majority of your target audience expressed an interest in buying a gadget from your store if it were available in colors other than black. Investors can use this information to direct resources into creating the variations of the product your prospects are interested in. What’s the difference between CRM reports and dashboards? The terms “CRM report” and “CRM dashboard” are related and are often used interchangeably, but they are distinct from one another. Understanding the difference between the two can help you better leverage your CRM data for business growth. A CRM report is a static document that contains data for a specific time that you can use to pinpoint trends and changes in patterns over time. You can customize a CRM report to only display specific data points within a period, sort functions, and even add graphics. Plus, you can leverage your CRM’s automation capabilities to run reports periodically and automatically send them to pre-determined recipients. Pipedrive sample CRM report. Image: Pipedrive On the other hand, a CRM dashboard is a visual snapshot of specific data points that reflect your current standing, real-time metrics, and progress toward your goals — all in one window. They typically use charts, gauges, and graphs to make information easily digestible. Most CRM platforms allow you to drill down on granular data, include several reports in one dashboard, and share dashboards with relevant stakeholders. Pipedrive sample CRM dashboard. Image: Pipedrive 5 essential CRM reports CRM reporting involves a wide range of metrics and KPIs, and each business must tailor its metrics monitoring to its unique objectives for success. Here are seven common CRM reports that you can use as part of your business strategy. Sales pipeline report A sales pipeline report provides salespeople or managers with an overview of their pipeline health. Its key metrics include the total number of deals, average deal size, deal velocity, and deal status changes. HubSpot Sales Hub sample deal pipeline waterfall summary. Image: HubSpot Sales activity report The sales activity report helps managers and salespeople track activity goals to identify issues hindering reps from hitting their daily, weekly, or monthly quotas. It indicates quota progress, the number of contacts created, the number of follow-ups sent, and the close ratio. Pipedrive sample

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This Professional Web Development & Coding Bundle for 2025 Is Just $50

Image: StackCommerce Getting a leg up on the workforce is key to future-proofing your professional life. Whether you’re an aspiring developer or an experienced coder looking to refine your skills, The 2025 Ultimate Web Development & Coding Bundle is the practical, real-world training you need. This bundle includes 13 multi-lesson courses covering Python, Git, GitHub, machine learning, and web development, all designed to help you sharpen your coding abilities, manage projects efficiently, and stay ahead in tech. If you’re interested in machine learning, the Python for Machine Learning: The Complete Beginner’s Course is a great starting point. You’ll learn how to use Python and Scikit-learn to build and evaluate AI models, solve real-world regression problems, and apply clustering techniques. With hands-on projects, you’ll gain a solid foundation in AI-driven development — a crucial skill for today’s engineers, analysts, and developers. Version control and collaboration are non-negotiable skills in software development, and Git and GitHub for Beginners: From Start to Star ensures you master repositories, branches, pull requests, and command-line tools. Learn to navigate GitHub’s issue tracking, use Git commands for version control, and even explore GitHub Copilot for AI-assisted coding. Whether you’re a freelancer, project manager, or software engineer, knowing Git and GitHub is essential for professional development. With over 1,428 lectures and 156 hours of expert-led training, this bundle isn’t just theory — it’s designed to give you the practical coding experience needed to build real projects. Plus, you’ll earn certificates of completion to showcase your skills to employers, clients, or your professional network. At just $49.99 (reg. $260) for a limited time, this 2025 Ultimate Web Development & Coding Bundle provides comprehensive, career-boosting training for developers at all levels. StackSocial prices subject to change. source

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UK Watchdog Slams Apple & Google for Stifling Mobile Browser Innovation

Image: borodai/Envato Elements The U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority has found that Apple is restricting competition in the country by limiting the use of rival browsers on its iOS devices and effectively requiring developers to use its WebKit browser engine. This, and a number of other concerns, is “holding back innovation and could be limiting growth in the UK.” Apple and Google own the two most popular mobile operating systems in the world, iOS and Android, meaning they are easily able to push their own browsers, Safari and Chrome, onto their users. If Google and Apple don’t take active steps to allow users to discover third-party browsers, they will never have any real competition, and therefore won’t be incentivised to innovate and provide the best possible products. They can also prevent third-party browsers from offering comparable or better service. Mobility must-reads How Apple’s restrictions impact competition Currently, all iOS browsers must use WebKit, which the CMA’s independent inquiry group says limits differentiation and inherently prevents them from matching Safari’s functionality and access. The group also found that Apple limits the amount of traffic and customisation options available for in-app browsing in third-party apps. Additionally, Apple receives significant payments from Google to maintain Google Search as the default search engine on Safari, a deal that reduces both companies incentives to compete in the browser market. On March 12, the CMA published its final report on the investigation into mobile browsers and cloud gaming markets in the U.K.. It confirmed all the concerns it highlighted back in November when it published its provisional findings, stating that its primary concerns remain focused on browser restrictions, while noting fewer issues in the cloud gaming market. SEE: Regulator CMA to Scrutinize Microsoft and Other Cloud Service Providers in the UK Regulatory efforts to promote fair competition Since the provisional report, Apple has released iOS 18.2 which makes it easier to switch the default browser from Safari, and Google showed how it limits the prompts that encourage users to set Chrome as default. Nevertheless, it still has some concerns relating to Safari and Chrome being pre-installed on Apple and Android devices, restricting user choice. The investigation was opened in 2021 when the CMA ruled that Apple and Google have an “effective duopoly on mobile ecosystems, including operating systems, app stores, and web browsers on mobile devices.” After the provisional report was published, Apple was concerned that making the recommended changes would “undermine user privacy and security.” Nevertheless, Apple has announced plans to allow browser engines other than WebKit on iOS and iPadOS in the EU due to the Digital Markets Act, though full implementation remains to be seen. In January, Google and Apple were announced as the first companies investigated for potential Strategic Market Status under the new U.K. Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act. If Google or Apple receives the designation, bespoke conduct requirements could be drafted for the company to follow, preventing anti-competitive practices in areas such as mobile ecosystems. The report recommends that any interventions should specifically ensure third-party browsers can innovate freely and allow users to choose their default browser. source

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Is Microsoft in Hot Water With The FTC Over AI Operations Antitrust Issues?

FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson on CNBC. Source: YouTube The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will move ahead with a wide-ranging antitrust probe into Microsoft’s AI operations. Announced in the final days of the Biden administration, the Trump administration’s new FTC chair Andrew Ferguson will lead the probe. The FTC sent Microsoft a civil investigative demand late last year asking it to provide data about its AI models, including how training data is obtained and how much it costs to train an AI. The civil investigative demand stretches all the way back to 2016 and covers nearly a decade’s worth of data. What’s hot at TechRepublic Why the FTC is investigating Microsoft The agency will also investigate Microsoft for canceling some of its own internal AI development after agreeing to invest in competitor OpenAI. Microsoft did not disclose its investment in OpenAI to regulators ahead of time, as it should have. The FTC will investigate whether the deal was structured as a partnership in order to circumvent a merger investigation, which could have led to the deal being blocked. The FTC also asked for additional details about Microsoft’s data centers and the tech giant’s difficulty obtaining enough computing power to meet customer demands. It also wants more information about how Microsoft licenses software bundles — competitors have complained that bundles like Microsoft 365 make it difficult to compete against the software giant. The FTC said it is seeking to determine whether or not Microsoft’s other businesses give it an advantage over other AI companies and said it hopes to get a better grasp on cloud computing costs through the data provided by Microsoft. These additional details and data will help determine whether or not to bring a case against Microsoft. These investigations can take years and often don’t result in charges. Microsoft will likely seek to narrow the scope of the information and data requested, which is a common move during these investigations. FTC to pursue other cases against big tech companies This move indicates that new FTC chair Ferguson intends to keep investigating tech giants — a commitment he affirmed in his first public remarks at the end of February when he called investigating the tech sector his top priority. Microsoft is not the only tech company currently under FTC investigation. Ferguson inherited several cases from the Biden administration, including lawsuits against Amazon Inc. and Meta Inc. (which owns Facebook and Instagram). source

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Why Every Professional Needs a Rotating Monitor in 2025

Image: StackCommerce TL;DR: Save an additional $30 on this Mobile Pixels rotating monitor with code DISPLAY30 at checkout, dropping the price from $199.99 to $169.99. Your workspace may be holding you back more than you realize. An old, clunky monitor not only takes up valuable desk space but limits you to working only in landscape mode. It’s 2025, and now, some monitors rotate to landscape and portrait orientations to adapt to your workflow. And they’re cheaper than you think. This one from Mobile Pixels boasts an impressive 23.8-inch HD screen, beautiful colors, and thin bezels to maximize screen space. An affordable price tag of $169.99 with code DISPLAY30 at checkout makes it an affordable monitor for your home office. More about the Mobile Pixels rotating monitor Ergonomics Still wondering why you’d want your monitor to rotate 90º? If you work as an editor, programmer, accountant, graphic designer, or anything that involves long pages, you’ll be surprised how much of a difference working in portrait mode makes in your efficiency. The height, tilt, and swivel adjustments also make this a fully ergonomic monitor setup. Those who have ever felt a stiff neck after staring at a screen all day can’t deny that they could use a more adjustable monitor. Connectivity Your Mobile Pixels monitor has plenty of ports for connecting to your computer or peripherals: HDMI, VGA, DisplayPort, and 3.5 mm aux. It also supports FreeSync technology, which means it syncs with the refresh rate of your graphics card to prevent screen stuttering. Beauty You’d probably think a monitor at this price point would be lacking in some features, but the full HD resolution, 99% sRGB color saturation, and thin-bevel design prove you wrong. You even have the option of using the included stand or mounting the monitor to a wall to save desk space. Price Use code DISPLAY30 at checkout to save $30 on the Mobile Pixels dual-orientation monitor: $169.99 (reg. $199.99). 23.8″ Rotatable FHD Desktop Monitor. Prices and availability subject to change. source

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Business Bank Statement: Definition, Example & More

A business bank statement is an official financial document issued by a bank that records all transactions made within a specific timeframe. It provides a comprehensive view of your business’s financial activity — including deposits, withdrawals, bank fees, and checks cleared. In this guide, I’ll go over a business bank statement’s key components, provide a business bank statement example, and discuss the benefits of tracking your statements effectively. Business bank statement example By analyzing a business bank statement sample, you can gain insights into your business’s financial health, identify discrepancies, and make informed decisions about operations. Over the years, I’ve helped many businesses with questions about their bank statements. Below is an example of a business bank statement to illustrate how financial data is organized. Business bank statement example page 1 Business bank statement example page 2 Key components of a business bank statement With so many different sections on a bank statement, understanding each is helpful. Below is a breakdown of the key parts. 1. Heading Statement period Statement date Business name Truncated account number 2. Summary of account activity Beginning balance: The balance at the start of the statement period Total deposits: The sum of all incoming funds Total withdrawals and debits: The sum of all outgoing transactions Service fee: Any additional fees charged during the statement period Interest earned: These are paid dividends Ending balance: The balance at the end of the period 3. Transaction details Date: The date of each transaction Description: A brief summary of the transaction (e.g., vendor payment, customer deposit) Amount: The value of the transaction, either credited or debited Running balance: The account balance after each transaction Example table of transactions Understanding fees and charges on a business bank statement Business bank statements often include various fees that can add up over time, such as monthly maintenance, overdraft, wire transfer, and transaction fees. Understanding business bank account fees can help you find ways to reduce costs. Some banks waive fees if you maintain a minimum balance, use online banking, or bundle services. If you notice unexpected charges on your statement, review your bank’s fee schedule and consider switching to an account with better terms. Keeping track of fees ensures that your banking costs remain manageable and don’t eat into your profits. Business bank statements and tax preparation Business bank statements play a vital role in tax preparation by providing a clear record of income, expenses, and deductions. Many tax deductions — such as office expenses, travel, and vendor payments — can be validated using bank statements. When filing taxes, you should cross-reference statements with receipts and invoices to ensure accuracy. Keeping well-organized and categorized statements can streamline tax filing, reduce errors, and help avoid potential audits. Tip: Work with your accountant or use tax software that integrates banking data to simplify the tax process. Benefits of monitoring a business bank statement Financial planning and budgeting ✔ Helps track income and expenses ✔ Allows for better forecasting and financial decision-making Fraud detection and error resolution ✔Identifies unauthorized transactions ✔Helps catch errors before they impact cash flow Tax preparation and compliance ✔Organizes records for tax filing ✔Ensures accuracy in reporting business income and expenses Loan and credit applications ✔Provides documentation required by lenders to assess financial stability ✔Demonstrates ability to repay loans Tip: If your bank statements show frequent overdrafts, low balances, or excessive withdrawals, it may signal financial instability and impact loan approval. To improve creditworthiness, maintain a positive balance, limit unnecessary expenses, and ensure steady deposits. How to reconcile a business bank statement Reconciling your business bank statement is a crucial process to ensure your financial records match your bank’s reported transactions. Step 1: Compare balances. Check that the opening balance in your records matches the bank statement, then investigate discrepancies. Step 2: Match transactions. Verify deposits, withdrawals, and expenses against your records, and look for missing or unauthorized transactions. Step 3: Adjust for fees and interest. Record any bank fees, charges, or interest earned that aren’t in your records. Step 4: Resolve discrepancies. Investigate errors, correct bookkeeping mistakes, and report unauthorized charges. Step 5: Finalize and save. Ensure the adjusted balance matches the bank statement, and then keep a record for tax and audit purposes. How long should you keep business bank statements? The IRS recommends retaining bank statements for three to seven years, depending on the nature of the transactions. Doing so is essential for tax compliance, financial audits, historical record-keeping, and loan applications. Digital storage is often preferable to paper records, as it reduces clutter and ensures secure, long-term accessibility. You can also use cloud accounting software or secure local backups to organize statements efficiently. What to do if there’s an error in a business bank statement If you notice discrepancies on your business bank statement, do the following: Step 1: Review the transaction details carefully. Step 2: Compare with your accounting records to ensure accuracy. Step 3: Contact your bank’s customer support for resolution. Step 4: Dispute unauthorized charges promptly to prevent financial losses. Tip: I recommend regular reconciliation — ideally done monthly — to help maintain financial accuracy, prevent fraud, and ensure your books are up to date for tax reporting and business planning. Automated tools for tracking business bank statements Managing business bank statements manually can be time-consuming, but automation tools can simplify the process. The best small business accounting software like QuickBooks, Xero, or Wave integrates with bank accounts to automatically import transactions, categorize expenses, and generate reports. The best bank reconciliation software has features that flag discrepancies, reducing errors and saving time. Automated tracking ensures real-time financial visibility, making it easier to monitor cash flow, prepare for taxes, and make data-driven decisions. By leveraging technology, your business can improve financial efficiency and avoid costly mistakes. Personal vs business bank statement Personal bank statement Business bank statement Account holder Individual Business entity Record-keeping Personal expenses, salary deposits Business income, expenses, and payroll Record-keeping Simpler More detailed for accounting and tax purposes Loan requirements Used

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Will Cisco’s Free Tech Training for 1.5M People Help Close EU’s Skills Gap?

Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness and Cisco Chair and CEO Chuck Robbins. Image: Cisco Cisco recently announced its initiative to provide 1.5 million people in the European Union by 2030 free courses on basic digital skills. Cisco Chair and CEO Chuck Robbins said the plan also includes training 5,000 instructors in AI, cybersecurity, data science, and digital transformation to help professionals stay competitive in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. This skills training will be delivered through Cisco’s Networking Academy, which has been providing digital education for more than 27 years. “Cisco is committed to supporting the EU and our education partners in developing the talent essential for thriving in an AI-driven future,” Robbins said in a statement announcing the program. “This new initiative strengthens our partnership to build a resilient and skilled workforce ready to meet Europe’s digital transformation and AI objectives.” What’s hot at TechRepublic Building a future-ready workforce to meet European Commission targets The Cisco courses will cover digital awareness, cybersecurity, data science, IoT, and AI, ensuring citizens gain foundational skills for the digital economy. The program aligns with the European Commission’s 2030 Digital Decade targets, which aim to boost digital literacy across the region. Last year, Coursera said Germany, France, and Spain placed 3rd, 5th, and 7th, respectively, as the most technically proficient countries in Europe, with the U.K. placing 25th. The academy has operated for more than 27 years and partners with over 3,000 institutions and more than 7,000 educators across the EU, Cisco said. Over 3.2 million learners in the EU have participated in courses the academy has offered since its inception in 1998, according to Cisco. Other programs aim to bridge the digital divide Here are similar programs being launched worldwide to address the digital skills shortage. In the U.S., computer nonprofit Digitunity partnered with AT&T to provide digital training to 10,000 people across the U.S. in 2024. In South Africa, Microsoft’s AI skilling initiative aims at empowering one million South Africans with growing in-demand digital skills by 2026. In the U.S., the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) recommended that more than $369 million be awarded to 41 organizations to support building digital skills across the country. The money is to be earmarked from the $1.25 billion Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program, one of three Digital Equity Act grant programs created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. As AI and digital transformation reshape industries, these large-scale training initiatives highlight the urgent need to develop a future-ready workforce. source

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Master Photoshop, Illustrator & More with This $30 Adobe Training Bundle

Image: StackCommerce TL;DR: Gain expert-level Adobe training in Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, InDesign, and more for just $29.99 (reg. $200) with this 51-hour course bundle. Adobe’s creative tools are the gold standard in graphic design, publishing, photography, and video editing. Whether you’re a graphic designer refining your craft, a marketer creating standout visuals, or a freelancer looking to expand your services, mastering Adobe software is a smart way to stay competitive in today’s digital landscape. Now, you can get expert-level Adobe training at an unbeatable price. The 2025 All-in-One Adobe Creative Suite Bundle includes 10 multi-lesson courses covering 51 hours of in-depth instruction, and it’s available for just $29.99 — a significant drop from its original $200 price tag. This comprehensive training bundle features professional courses on Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, Lightroom, Adobe XD, and more, designed to give you hands-on experience with industry-leading creative software. Whether you’re creating professional layouts in InDesign, mastering vector graphics in Illustrator, or learning powerful photo-editing techniques in Photoshop, this bundle provides the skills and confidence to take your creative projects to the next level. Proficiency in Adobe software isn’t just a nice-to-have skill — it’s a career advantage. Companies and clients expect high-quality visuals, whether for branding, marketing, social media, or digital publishing. With this training bundle, you’ll learn to design compelling visuals, create professional-grade layouts, and edit photos and videos with precision, all while working on hands-on projects to reinforce your skills. For graphic designers, the Adobe Illustrator Masterclass provides step-by-step guidance on vector-based design, including typography, shape-building, and advanced drawing tools. For publishers and content creators, the Adobe InDesign course simplifies layout design, text formatting, and document preparation, making it easier to create high-quality brochures, magazines, and reports. No matter your industry, this Adobe training bundle will help you work faster, create better designs, and improve your creative output. Get the 2025 All-in-One Adobe Creative Suite Bundle for just $29.99 while it’s still available. The 2025 All-in-One Adobe Creative Suite Bundle – $29.99 StackSocial prices subject to change. source

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Gartner: Tips on Developing Pricing for Asset-Based Services

In today’s rapidly evolving technology landscape, technology leaders face the challenge of effectively pricing asset-based services to reflect customer value. As traditional pricing models fall short in capturing the true value of these services, technology leaders must adopt innovative strategies to fully monetize their assets and intellectual property. Understanding the shift to asset-based services The demand for asset-based services is on the rise. Buyers prioritize these services for their ability to deliver faster value and greater insights, accelerating competitive advantage and operational change. Traditional pricing models, which focus on people-based services and vendor margins, fail to capture the customer value inherent in asset-based services. These services require different revenue timing, cost structures, and stakeholder alignment, necessitating a shift in pricing strategies. The technology industry is witnessing a blurring of traditional boundaries, with service providers, software companies, and cloud infrastructure providers expanding their offerings. This shift presents new growth opportunities, driven by competitive dynamics that redefine organizational roles. Buyers are increasingly attentive to the effective use of prebuilt assets, tools, and platforms, as these elements are crucial for achieving faster value and higher quality insights. Technology leaders must align with buyers’ desired outcomes and business goals to deliver on these expectations. Leveraging multiple pricing models Traditional service-pricing models, such as time-and-materials or fixed-price contracts, do not adequately reflect the value of asset-based services. These models often fail to connect with the “time-to-value” or desired business outcomes that clients seek. To overcome these limitations, tech services leaders must understand the commercial value of their services and set prices that reflect the impact of their assets. This requires a multidimensional pricing approach that accommodates the diverse nature of assets and their potential to deliver quantifiable commercial outcomes. Gartner has found that service providers using multiple pricing models report higher gross profits, lower customer acquisition costs, and greater customer lifetime value. These providers also generate more new revenue from existing accounts, highlighting the benefits of a varied pricing approach. By expanding pricing options and aligning them with customer outcomes, tech services leaders can strengthen their services-based business and capitalize on growth opportunities in asset-based services. Steps for pricing asset-based services To properly price asset-based services, technology leaders must: Prioritize assets and IP: Make assets and intellectual property core to service delivery by investing in modular, flexible, and repeatable solutions. Develop metrics that demonstrate faster time to value and focus on contextualized, industry-specific outcomes. Adopt hybrid pricing models: Utilize a mix of commercial models that simplify client understanding and directly tie to customer outcomes. This approach ensures that pricing reflects the true value delivered to clients. Invest in professional practices: Ensure the success of asset-based services by funding professional product engineering, product-centric operating models, and effective sales engagement. To fully monetize their assets, technology leaders must effectively communicate the value of their offerings, connecting them to the desired business outcomes clients seek. By adopting a comprehensive approach to pricing and positioning, service providers can navigate the evolving landscape and maximize the potential of asset-based services. Image: Gartner Katie Gove is a VP Analyst in Gartner’s Technology and Service Provider Research team, where she covers the services market. Katie and other Gartner analysts will provide further analysis on these topics at Gartner Tech Growth & Innovation Conference, taking place March 10-11 in Grapevine, TX.   source

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