Author | Lightnews

WesterCloud @westercloud.bsky.social · 1d

Many IT vendors claim to be sustainable. But real GreenOps goes beyond marketing: reduce compute waste, measure CO₂ per workload, and optimize cloud for both cost and carbon. Smarter FinOps means lower emissions. Need help? Contact us. #GreenOps #FinOps #CloudSustainability #ITLeadership #NetZero

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WesterCloud @westercloud.bsky.social · 6d

Cloud and AI drive innovation, but security doesn’t always keep up.
SLAs promise uptime and performance, yet miss data protection and compliance, creating a responsibility gap.
The key is not to avoid risk but to manage it intelligently.

#CloudSecurity #AI #CyberSecurity #RiskManagement #Innovation

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WesterCloud @westercloud.bsky.social · 11d

Stop building for a million users when you don’t have ten. Many startups waste on complex infrastructure before anyone wants their product. Build small, test fast, learn continuously, and scale only when the market demands it. Focus on customers, cost, and deploy speed. #Startup #LeanStartup #Growth

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WesterCloud @westercloud.bsky.social · 14d

The James Webb Telescope just got a sharper eye, thanks to lightweight AI. Two PhD students built Amigo, software that fixes image distortions and runs on a gaming PC. No supercomputer, no new hardware: just smart, practical AI making world-class science clearer.

#AI #Innovation #Astronomy

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WesterCloud @westercloud.bsky.social · 14d

F5 Networks confirms state-backed hackers had long-term access to its systems, stealing source code and customer data. A stark reminder that even cybersecurity vendors are vulnerable. How well do you really know your supply chain?

#Cybersecurity #CISO #SupplyChainRisk #Infosec #CloudSecurity #F5

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WesterCloud @westercloud.bsky.social · 17d

Many CIOs are shifting from cost-cutting to real cost optimization. Yet 79% of organizations still miss their goals. Common pitfalls include underinvesting in foundations, short-term fixes, and poor cloud management, all eroding long-term value. Need help? Contact us.

#FinOps #CIO #CostOptimization

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WesterCloud @westercloud.bsky.social · 21d

AI project costs are spiraling fast. Nearly a quarter of orgs exceed budgets by 50%+, driven by hidden costs in data, integration, LLM tokens, and network traffic. The fix? Apply FinOps: track, measure, and align AI spend with real business value and accountability.

#AI #FinOps #CIO #ITCost

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WesterCloud @westercloud.bsky.social · 23d

The Sunweb breach shows how fast stolen data can be weaponized. Criminals used real booking details for convincing phishing. Once data leaks, social engineering becomes the key weapon. How resilient is your org when attackers use your own data?
#CyberSecurity #DataBreach #Phishing #RiskManagement

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WesterCloud @westercloud.bsky.social · 25d

Even the cloud can burn.
South Korea’s G-Drive (the gov's central cloud system) was wiped out in a data center fire. No backup. Eight years of data lost.
A reminder that “in the cloud” doesn’t mean “safe.” True resilience comes from redundancy, not blind trust.

#CloudResilience #Backup #Disaster

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WesterCloud @westercloud.bsky.social · 27d

Cloud efficiency often leads to higher costs.
As the Jevons paradox shows, greater efficiency drives greater use. In cloud, cheaper and faster resources fuel more consumption. The challenge isn’t cutting spend, but maximizing value per euro invested
#FinOps #CloudStrategy #DigitalTransformation #CIO

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WesterCloud @westercloud.bsky.social · 28d

GreenOps isn’t just an idealistic sustainability project: it’s a practical way to link efficiency to impact. Start with energy use awareness, a strong business case, data on costs and emissions, and exec buy-in. The result: cost reduction, risk control, and competitive advantage. #GreenOps #FinOps

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WesterCloud @westercloud.bsky.social · Sep 30

Virtualization and containerization aren’t rivals but partners. Virtualization ensures stability and isolation, while containerization drives speed and innovation. Together they cut costs, reduce risk, and accelerate business value. How far is your organization?

#Cloud #ITStrategy #Innovation

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WesterCloud @westercloud.bsky.social · Sep 25

Insider threats are on the rise: 76% of orgs see more insider activity, yet fewer than 30% feel ready to respond. Errors, phishing, and weak passwords cause most cases, malice is only part of the story. Global costs run into millions. How resilient is your org today? #CyberSecurity #InsiderThreats

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WesterCloud @westercloud.bsky.social · Sep 24

A new global survey shows 94% of IT leaders struggle to control cloud costs, now the #1 challenge in IT spend. With AI workloads scaling fast, FinOps is key to making budgets predictable, securing governance, and linking cloud to real business value. How is your org handling it? #FinOps #Cloud #AI

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WesterCloud @westercloud.bsky.social · Sep 16

Employees are racing ahead of employers in AI use. Only 36% work at firms with formal AI policies, yet 80% view AI positively and 64% say it boosts productivity. With many even paying out of pocket, companies must now step up on governance, compliance, and security.
#AI #Governance #Cybersecurity

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WesterCloud @westercloud.bsky.social · Sep 15

Big-bang IT projects are fading. Companies favor modular steps that deliver quick value and can be stopped if they fail. This shift aligns with FinOps/GreenOps: optimizing spend, capacity, sustainability. The future of IT is agile, efficient, people-driven.

#FinOps #GreenOps #DigitalTransformation

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WesterCloud @westercloud.bsky.social · Sep 12

Blackout risk: Dutch government unprepared for major IT failures. A new report warns that core systems could collapse without a plan B. Dependency on a few vendors increases the threat. Digital resilience is no longer optional, it’s a matter of continuity.

#Cybersecurity #Resilience #Continuity

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WesterCloud @westercloud.bsky.social · Sep 11

Azure users face delays after undersea cables in the Red Sea were damaged. Microsoft rerouted traffic, but the outage shows how fragile global infrastructure is. Redundancy, continuity tests, and risk monitoring are key. How resilient is your cloud strategy when disruption hits? #Azure #ITResilience

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WesterCloud @westercloud.bsky.social · Sep 10

The Van der Valk Hotels-breach shows how one phishing click can expose customer data and enable fraud. Poor communication makes it worse: hiding incidents increases risk. Cybersecurity is about tech, awareness, and governance. Transparency is key. #cybersecurity #databreach #securityawareness

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WesterCloud @westercloud.bsky.social · Sep 9

We often see job titles that don’t match the actual work. Example: a role called “FinOps Specialist” that’s really finance ops: billing, bookkeeping, reporting. True cloud FinOps is about cost optimization, visibility, and cross-team collaboration. Clear titles matter. #FinOps #Cloud #Careers

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WesterCloud @westercloud.bsky.social · Sep 8

Switzerland launches Apertus, a fully open-source LLM developed by Swiss universities and CSCS. With full transparency, ethical data practices, and benchmarks on par with Llama 3, Apertus offers Europe a sovereign alternative to US and Chinese AI dominance.

#AI #OpenSource #EthicalAI #Apertus

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WesterCloud @westercloud.bsky.social · Sep 5

It is called an LC pounder in Europe

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WesterCloud @westercloud.bsky.social · Sep 5

Cybersecurity awareness struggles continue. Social engineering drives 43% of incidents, yet middle management often sees security as a burden. Focus on key risks, practical training, and leadership support to make awareness effective. #Cybersecurity #Awareness #Leadership #RiskManagement #Phishing

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WesterCloud @westercloud.bsky.social · Sep 3

Most IT leaders believe their tech stack is ready for the next attack. The truth: resilience depends on three factors: infrastructure, people, and leadership. Without all three, even the best tools will fail. Has your team practiced the first 24 hours? #Security #Leadership #Ransomware #ITStrategy

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WesterCloud @westercloud.bsky.social · Sep 2

The promise of the cloud was simple: scale, flexibility, savings. The reality is tougher. 94% of IT leaders face rising costs. Success now means FinOps, governance, and a workload-first strategy to optimize cloud and create real business value. Need help? Contact us.

#Cloud #FinOps #ITStrategy

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