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Hit Back and Budget for Cybersecurity

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Friends, it’s getting ugly in America. Criminal acts of every sort appear to be multiplying (or maybe the 24 hour news cycle makes it seem so?). Violent crimes are the most frightening and with good reason, but cybercrimes also victimize those who it touches, and create white collar violence for businesses and private citizens. Numerous sources can confirm that it is not my imagination that this pernicious crime is becoming more common and dangerous.

Earlier this month, nearly 280 million students at 8,8oo+ schools, who were in the midst of studying for final exams, were confronted with a ransomware data extortion attack aimed at Canvas learning management system. Students at Georgetown University, University of Pennsylvania, MIT, Harvard University, Duke University and Princeton University, plus Oxford University (UK) and schools in Australia, the EU and other US schools were impacted. Canvas went dark on May 1 and could not function until May 7, stranding students who were unable to submit assignments or study. The cybercrime syndicate threatened to leak student data—names, email addresses and student ID numbers, but not birthdays, government IDs, or passwords, which could not be accessed—unless Canvas made a payment. Instructure, the Canvas parent company, paid an undisclosed amount to the gang on May 12. Other noteworthy recent cybercrimes include a data breach at both booking.com (April 2026) and Dell Technologies (May 2026).

Cybersecurity Ventures estimates that cybercrime lost $10.5 trillion in 2025, making it a voracious, globally and universally impactful expense that continues to escalate Cybercrime To Cost The World $12.2 Trillion Annually By 2031. The average cost of a data breach in 2025 exceeded $4.4 million worldwide, but exceeded $10 million within the US, driven not just by clean-up expenses, but also costs associated with system downtime, legal fees, regulatory fines and diminished brand trust, as noted in Global Data Breach Costs Drop But Lack of AI Risk Mitigation Poses Problems, IBM Report Finds These numbers indicate a fundamental change: company failure now directly correlates with cybersecurity failure. The numerous disturbing reports unequivocally indicate that cyberthreats are not just occasional incidents, but an ongoing menace. Common cybercrimes that often target individuals include:

  • Digital skimming is the set-up for unauthorized use of your credit or debit card information; it is also a potential gateway for identity theft. A skimming scam is often impossible to detect until the fraudsters raid your credit or debit card at an ATM machine or use your money to splurge on an unauthorized shopping spree. Favorite skimming locations are point-of-sale terminals at gas stations and mobile commerce markets. E-commerce websites whose check-out page has loose security measures is another favorite portal for malware that enables the capture of credit or debit account numbers—and maybe other sensitive info as well. For in-person transactions tap your card when the option is available, rather than inserting your chip card into the terminal, to avoid using the magnetic stripe that exposes your name and account expiration date. Regarding online shopping, digital skimming of a website is essentially impossible to detect. An old-school work-around is to phone in your order and speak with a human sales associate (or virtual assistant) to guarantee that your order is legitimately processed. Another option is to ask your bank to generate a virtual credit card for you, a temporary card that’s linked to your card account. If a virtual card number is hacked by a skimmer, the number cannot be reused; also, you can deactivate the stolen virtual card without affecting the real card. You might also use Pay Pal, Google Pay, or Apple Pay for card purchases; they are digital wallets that use tokenized payment data and don’t transmit actual card numbers to the merchant. If an e-commerce site is compromised by a skimmer, the cybercriminal will be unable to obtain your card info. Finally, it’s a good idea to set-up instant notifications for all credit and debit card transactions and receive activity alerts via text message or mobile app. This won’t prevent skimming, but it will help you learn of unauthorized charges immediately so you can call customer service.
  • Phishing attacks are carried out by hackers who send emails that appear to originate from a trusted source. Obtaining usernames and passwords and asking you to download a file—which will contain malware—is the goal. There is a variation of this crime, known as spear phishing, when cybercriminals research targets to learn personal information and use it to craft relevant messages that is sent to targets as a way to build trust and more easily persuade them to drop their guard and enable the scam. The best way to avoid a phishing attack is to pay attention to the sender’s email address. For example, if your city or town appears to be the sender of an email that asks you to reply by sending your payment card number to settle a certain municipal bill, maybe a water or tax bill, remember that the email address will be .gov and not .com, or .biz., for example.
  • Are you a robot? Now there’s a Captcha scam prowling through our digital networks, lying in wait for compliant targets who are just trying to log onto a website. The goal is to introduce a virus to your computer by installing malware that will allow cybercriminals to obtain access to all manner of sensitive information, from your workplace or personal email logins to your financial account credentials, such as crypto-currency wallets and other payment system info. The Captcha cybercrime can even hijack your browser and subject you to an avalanche of pop-up ads and other online annoyances. If Captcha asks you to not only check the box and verify that you are not a robot, but also asks you to press a sequence of keys, open a “run” box, or copy/paste a code, it is a scam. Close the window and disconnect from Wi-Fi immediately.
  • Social engineering is a growing enabler of cybercrime. Basically, the hackers ask you to open the door and let them in. Social engineering is a form of psychological manipulation used to control a targeted individual. It employs universal human traits such as trust, curiosity, fear, politeness and deferring to perceived authority to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information or performing actions that compromise security—because they think they should. Phishing and spear phishing are examples of the con. Cybercriminals have figured out that human beings are the weakest link in the security system; it’s easier to trick someone into providing sensitive information than it is to locate security gaps in computer systems. Attackers use a variety of social platforms and other methods to engage in deceptive behavior that’s devised to hoodwink unsuspecting victims. The hackers encourage, or even coerce, their targets into disclosing restricted credentials and other sensitive data to obtain access to devices, digital information, or company facilities. 

Advances in digital technologies have, unfortunately, facilitated the emergence of increasingly creative cybercrime syndicates. What was once often a “belt + suspenders” strategy implemented by the more prudent business owners, comprehensive cybersecurity measures are now a must-have component of an effective risk management strategy. Today, a robust cybersecurity defense is not only an operational competitive advantage that promotes organizational resilience, but also a strategy that strengthens the brand reputation by protecting both organizational and customer data. Going forward, companies of every size must accept that cybersecurity is now a standard business expense. As per Andrew Rinaldi, co-founder at Defendify, a cybersecurity provider, an overview of common cybercrimes that target organizations are:

Denial-of-Service (DoS) and distributed-denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks

A Denial-of-Service attack overwhelms your device or company network operating ability and prevents legitimate users from accessing the system. The DoS attack bombards the victim with a flood of traffic or information designed to crash the system. Unlike other types of hacking, DoS attacks are usually initiated by an aggressive competitor who uses the attack to disrupt your website and gain an advantage. Another DoS attack motivation could serve as a diversion for an even more damaging cyberattack, such as a ransomware takeover. A DDoS attack is a ratcheted-up DoS attack, intensified by launching the takeover from multiple host computers. This type of attack overwhelms a company’s website or online service and causes it to malfunction and otherwise become inaccessible.

Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks

An MITM attack occurs when hackers literally insert themselves between the user and the services s/he intends to interact with. The MITM cyberattacker intercepts communication between the user and the platform by imitating the website and hijacking online activity—think eavesdropping. In some cases, email conversations can be intercepted and altered, if the attacker decides to control the conversation. Obtaining the ability to make unauthorized purchases by stealing credit and debit card account numbers and other financial credentials that may include identity theft is the usual motive. Unfortunately, no single method can prevent all types of MITM attacks. However, requesting that site users choose strong passwords, requiring multi-factor authentication for user login and using a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt network traffic and avoiding the use of unsecured public Wi-Fi service.

 Drive-by-download attacks

These attacks have the ability to spread malware throughout a wide geographic area. In this scenario, the cyberattacker digitally tracks insecure websites that are susceptible to hacking and inserts the malicious code into vulnerable sites. When an unsuspecting website visitor accesses the infected site, s/he might unintentionally download and install malicious code or be redirected to a fraudulent site created by the attacker. Unlike other types of cyberthreats, a drive-by download doesn’t require the user to take an action, like clicking a button or opening an email, to be infected. All you have to do is visit a website—yikes!

The best way to prevent this type of attack is to keep their internet browsers and operating systems updated and avoid insecure websites, whenever possible. The drive-by is yet another reason to speak with a website security expert to obtain a vulnerability assessment and discuss what you can do to preserve the functioning of your website, the privacy of your data, the trust of your customers and the integrity of your brand.

Ransomware

Ransomware is the leading cyberthreat in the world. As of 4Q2025, 24% reported a ransomware attack, up from 18.6% in 2024. The rise of ransomware cybercrimes is driven by artificial intelligence and the increasing sophistication of phishing schemes. Phishing is the leading attack vector of ransomware cyberattacks and 46% of the ransomware targets confirmed that a phishing attack led the way. Stolen credentials accounted for another 25% of ransomware attacks.

Ransomware continues to become more user-friendly and sophisticated, most recently with the availability of (are you ready for this?) Ransomware-as-a-Service, which allows less technically gifted criminals to carry out attacks, enabled by deepfake technology that makes it easier to outwit security systems. Furthermore, new and more anonymous cryptocurrencies have made it easier to transfer, launder and spend the ransom money without being traced. To coax targets to pay up, hackers commonly resort to various threat campaigns, such as data theft and public disclosure. See the Canvas ransomware attack that hijacked final exams and papers.

Agentic cyberattack


AI agents help hackers to launch more sophisticated and damaging attacks by making it easier to identify weaknesses in cybersecurity systems. Unlike traditional attacks that rely on humans to make decisions and coordinate the action, agentic cyberattacks use agentic AI systems that mimic human decision‑making—only better. AI agents can operate with limited human supervision and also adapt to changing circumstances in real time. Often, multiple AI agents work together, with each handling different tasks. Meaning, an AI agent can carry out the cyberattack. It can execute complex, multi‑stage attacks faster and more consistently than human teams and its ability to quickly adapt makes detection harder, because the attack strategy can change dynamically IRT, if necessary.

On the defense side, Agentic AI and AI agents are beefing up cybersecurity by automating decision-making and adapting to evolving threats (Columbus, 2025). AI systems enable dynamic access management by adjusting user access based on behavior and risk, aligning with zero trust principles—that is, no social engineering con games. Additionally, agentic AI continuously monitors activities, identifying anomalous patterns to detect and mitigate insider threats before they escalate.  Agentic AI enhances workflow efficiency by automating tasks like alert triage and incident response, with applications in cybersecurity for autonomous threat detection and response (Lisowski, 2024). Organizations adopting agentic AI for security and governance are reporting significant benefits, including faster decision-making and improved risk management (Chiodi, 2025).

Deepfake and synthetic cyberattacks
Attackers increasingly use deepfake audio and video to impersonate trusted individuals to gain access to secure systems—more evidence of social engineering. Deepfake video and Generative AI have introduced new risks by making impersonation and fraud more difficult to recognize. The technological advances have given rise to a growing underground economy that offers Deepfake- as-a-Service to cybercriminals by creating customized audio and/or video clips that impersonate requested high-ranking trusted targets who can “authorize” the crime.

In other words, phishing campaigns are now trending toward workflows. for example, a bank manager wired $35 million after receiving a call from a director at the bank, whose “voice”—which in reality was an AI clone that gained trust by way of forged emails—he thought he recognized. Financial approvals, vendor onboarding, contract renewals, payroll changes and legal sign-offs are especially vulnerable to deepfake attacks. These workflows often assume legitimacy because they are frequent requests and time-sensitive. Instead of sending a single malicious email, deepfake attackers simulate full conversations. They build rapport. They reference previous messages. Over time, they can create a narrative that feels real. These conversations are all-too-often able to position the ultimate request—the crime—as simply doing your job. Deepfake phishing and synthetic cyberattacks succeed because the scam avoids obvious red flags. Content doesn’t read as malicious. Sender email looks legit. Context makes sense. Nothing seems suspicious.

Assess and implement your cybersecurity needs

Small and medium-sized businesses, a category that includes Freelance professionals, are more frequent targets of cybercrime than larger companies, industry research shows. The hackers know that smaller organizations often do not have the funds to install a sophisticated cybersecurity system (per social engineering). Because the devil never sleeps, you must realize that it is time for Freelancers and SMB owners to provide a line item budget for cybersecurity. Finding that budget may be a stretch but compared to the cost incurred if the unthinkable happens, the additional expense will seem quite reasonable. Take a look at your P & L to see where you might be able to trim an expense. Better still, brainstorm how you might be able to increase monthly revenue, if only modestly. Research cybersecurity providers to receive an assessment of your digital system and pricing info. The time to act is now, before the bad guys (and gals) discover your business.

Thanks for reading,

Kim

Image: © Gorodenkoff Productions for iStock

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First-Person Data: Collect and Protect

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Compliance takes a leading role in marketing strategy

The accelerating use of Generative AI that’s occurring in business entities large and small has sparked privacy concerns in data management and IT security teams, marketing C-Suites and the offices of corporate governance/compliance attorneys. Whether the leadership at your organization calls itself progressive or conservative, it’s absolutely necessary to develop data implementation and risk management protocols, and create a crisis management public relations strategy while you’re at it, when integrating artificial intelligence backed software tools into your business operations.

Protecting client relationships and brand reputation has persuaded many organizations to bake compliance regulations into their marketing strategies, in particular those supported by GenAI. International Data Corporation (IDC), a global market intelligence and data provider for the IT, telecommunications and consumer technology markets headquartered near Boston, MA, cautions that stringent data compliance protocols are no longer merely optional, but are necessary, to avoid financial and reputational harm.

We’re all personally impacted by the increasingly pervasive use of AI and you are well aware that data privacy is high-priority to your client (and you). Regular reports of cyberattacks and data breaches intensify concern. While the the expansion of AI-powered software systems result in a more efficient, responsive and personalized experience that clients value and now expect, it’s usage simultaneously makes clients wonder about the security of their data. Research by Publishers Clearing House found that 86% of Americans are more concerned about their privacy and data security than the state of the US economy. However, 62% either don’t know or are misinformed about how their data is being used.

Sigh. There is an upside, however. Advanced risk monitoring tools, automated reporting and responsible AI frameworks can act as gatekeepers and companies achieve regulatory requirements. Businesses that integrate transparency and ethical AI practices into their governance policies and procedures can reduce the possibility of data breaches and other AI-related risks and simultaneously enhance client trust and strengthen the company’s brand reputation.

There is also legislation designed to reassure consumers that protecting their personal data is serious business and is, in some municipalities, the law. Protective measures meant to safeguard the processing of personal data is demonstrated by the change of privacy features at Google, the implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), whose purpose is to protect the privacy and personal data of individuals in the European Union and European Common Market and the adoption of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).

What is first-party data?

First-party data is information your company has collected directly from clients and prospects, site visitors, or social media followers. First-party data comes directly to you and the more touchpoints you provide, the more opportunities you will have to collect this information. It is an extremely valuable type of data for businesses. In comparison, second-party data is shared by a trusted source, while third-party data is data aggregated from other sources, which can include social media platforms and public records.

Marketers recognize that personalization is the cornerstone of a pleasing and potentially memorable customer experience and that collecting, implementing and storing client data —first-party data—is integral to personalization. Marketers enter first-party data into customer relations management (CRM) systems to enhance personalization, use CRM predictive analytics to get insight into client behaviors and preferences, recognize client segments and then target marketing campaigns accordingly. Sources of first-party data include:

  • Client demographic info
  • Client buying history
  • Leadgen campaigns
  • Client or prospect interactions with your website or app
  • Surveys and other online feedback that clients may participate in
  • Client, prospect or other visitors user-generated content or social media conversation transcripts
  • Blog, email and newsletter subscribers
  • Program registration lists, e.g. webinar, workshop, or meeting sign-ups

Why do you want first-party data?

First-party data helps you to paint a picture of your client and develop a reliable buyer persona. It is enormously useful because it delivers accurate client and prospect information—user info from all the touchpoints—that enables you to target the right buyers for your services or products. You’ll also be able to make better informed decisions when figuring out what personalization looks like to your clients.

First-party data enables marketers to build a customer experience that reflects user purchase history, if applicable, or other known preferences and behaviors that enrich and enhance the customer experience. Personalization is like the bartender who knows your drink or the waiter who shows you to your favorite table. Now you’ll have an accurate blueprint to follow when figuring out how to nurture a brand community of long-term clients who are happy to buy your products or services, make personal referrals and generate good word-of-mouth on social media.

Transcribe first-party data into your Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform to create a database of everyone who’s visited your website and social media platforms. But before you start using your first-party data, think about what you want to achieve, to ensure that you’ll maximize its many benefits. You may want to do one or more of the following:

  • Building brand awareness 
  • Expanding leadgen activities
  • Encouraging repeat business and discouraging client churn 
  • Re-engaging lapsed clients and non-converting prospects
  • Growing your thought leadership content audience—blog, newsletter, podcast, webinars, speaking engagements

When you get enough first-person data to have confidence in the size of your sample, begin to implement your strategy—segment your audience and use your first-party data insights to maximize conversions on your website by optimizing user experience, targeted marketing messages, the buyer personas to understand your customers and create customized emails or (email) newsletters that will be relevant to the primary sectors (e.g., hospitals, schools, for-profit, not-for-profit, small business, global enterprise).

As well, Freelance consulting specialists and other B2B entities can follow the highly aligned and targeted account-based marketing format to produce relevant and personalized content to your market segments across the digital channels you occupy— posting tailored content in a various formats (e.g. blogs, videos, e-books, case studies) that resonate with those audience segments.

The ability to personalize marketing outreach activities cannot be overestimated—96% of shoppers say they’re “likely to purchase when brands send personalized messages.” Meanwhile, a 2025 consumer trends report generated by Businesswire found that “three out of four surveyed shoppers have already abandoned brands they once loved in favor of those offering more personalized experiences, while 81% say they routinely ignore marketing messages that don’t feel relevant”. When you throw in the harsh realities that client acquisition costs are increasing, client lifetime value is decreasing and the competitive landscape is intensifying, making the most of first-party client data becomes imperative. But the catch-22 is that possession of client personal data, which often includes contact info and credit card numbers, is a risky proposition.

Collect data, protect data

The widespread restrictions on third-party cookies by leading web browsers presents real challenges to the collection of first-party data, even when enabled by data collection by sites you control (e.g., your website). With Google putting the brakes on third-party cookies, plus Edge, Firefox and Safari shutting off cookies, first-party data is more valuable than ever.

How can businesses safely collect this essential marketing/ sales resource and simultaneously navigate obstacles around data security and client privacy expectations? The implementation of advanced security measures to protect against fraud and data breaches is a must-do. Ensuring compliance throughout the transition is also crucial, especially with evolving data privacy regulations.

In addition to conducting regular security audits to ensure data is secure, businesses should go beyond standard encryption practices and adopt advanced security measures such as tokenization for sensitive data fields, which minimizes the risk of exposing real data should a breach occur. It is recommended that companies should leverage automated tools for continuous security monitoring and compliance checks that can provide real-time alerts on suspicious activities that help to preempt potential security incidents. 

Maintain client trust

In Freelance consulting, trust and expertise are foundational. Clients entrust their sensitive data, strategic plans and proprietary work flow processes to you and expect their information to be kept private and secure. That is an ingredient in your recipe to win confidence, build strong, lasting relationships and establish and maintain your image as a reliable partner. You, Freelance friend, must institute all reasonable measures to protect client sensitive information, but as you know, the growing cybersecurity security threats can make that task feel like an ongoing battle. Here are effective defensive, low or no-cost, tactics you can take:

  • Read up on cybersecurity best practices that have SMBs and Freelance consultants in mind on the Small Business Association SCORE website.
  • Multi-Factor Authentication adds a layer of security by requiring users to verify their identity with both a password and a confirmation phone call or email.
  • Secure file permissions ensure that only authorized individuals can create, edit, or share sensitive documents. Encrypt sensitive documents and store them in the cloud to add another layer of security by instituting more stringently controlled access.
  • Hard-copy documents that contain sensitive information should be stored securely in a locked cabinet or safe when not in use.  
  • When possible, conduct meetings during which confidential topics will be discussed in person rather than on videoconference calls.
  • Devise an incident response/crisis communication PR strategy that provides explicit instructions, defines responsibilities and details your data recovery strategy in the event of a security incident. Your organization must respond quickly and in a calm and professional manner that demonstrates your control over matters and ability to resolve the incident and inform and reassure clients as you do.

Thanks for reading,

Kim

Image: AI-generated image courtesy of StockCake

 

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Making It As A Freelancer 2024-2025

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Whatever your motivation for entering the Freelance workforce, whether you saw a pathway to more money and/or autonomy or maybe you couldn’t get hired at a W2 job, you should be aware that the number of Freelance professionals and gig workers is growing at a fast clip and market saturation could be on the horizon. In 2023, there were 64 million Americans working independently and we are on track to become the largest share of the workforce, with a 2027 projected number a staggering 50%.

Freelancers who look to marketplaces such as Fiverr and Upwork have already seen evidence of competitors flooding the market and bidding (or under-bidding) as everyone competes for projects. It’s an uncomfortable thought, but you’ll fare better if you start taking steps now to stand out from the crowd. Intensifying competition increases the necessity to identify and promote your unique voice and personal brand. How can you differentiate?

You already know the answer—keep up your inbound marketing and focus on the services you provide and the results you deliver. Focus on your ability to give clients what they value most and communicate your value proposition and make it clear at every touchpoint. Optimize your website and LinkedIn profile to establish your online presence and digital footprint to attract clients. Furthermore, position yourself as a thought leader in your field by using Google’s algorithm guidelines as your recipe—Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness and Trustworthiness (EEAT).

Remember also the value of outbound marketing and identify useful tactics to source (and retain) clients and give yourself viable alternatives to the increasingly competitive, and sometimes frustrating, Freelance marketplaces. It will never hurt you to get some face time with potential prospects and those who might be able to refer you. Networking can be effective in any number of settings, business and personal, but be sensitive to pushing yourself onto people, which is a turn-off. If you can figure out where decision-makers for your skill set can be found, then that’s where you set your sights. It’s not only who you know, but who knows you, and that’s how you get contracts.

Top 10 Freelance jobs 2024

The trend toward Freelancing is impactful for all professionals, self-employed Freelancers and traditionally employed, and our reconfigured workforce has already disrupted the workplace we once knew. Freelancers especially need to know what is happening within this new workplace environment, so that you can respond in a way that makes sense—upgrading your skills or adjusting your services and marketing strategies and tactics, for example. Below is a review of the typical hourly billable rate you can expect to earn in one of the top 10 Freelance jobs, as reported on Salary.com, ZipRecruiter and Payscale:

  1. Freelance writer—$23.27/hour
  2. Editor—$32/hour
  3. Photographer—$37/hour
  4. Producer—$39.71/hour
  5. Freelance Director—$55/hour
  6. Translator—$20/hour
  7. Copywriter—$29/hour
  8. Graphic designer—$32.64/hour
  9. Creative director—$62.18/hour
  10. Camera operator—$36/hour

Emerging Freelance jobs 2024-2025

Impacted by mass layoffs, ghost job postings and the corrosive effect of inflation, the 2024-2025 job market is expected to remain challenging, a condition that’s predicted to lead increasing numbers of employers to hire Freelancers and workers to resort to Freelancing. Below are skill sets poised to dominate the Freelance marketplace in 2024 and beyond.

1. Virtual Assistant

The global virtual assistant market is growing fast and is expected to reach $15.7 billion by 2028.  VAs have become an important resource to drive business growth. The strategic use of VAs can produce heightened levels of efficiency and innovation for businesses, from streamlining operations to enhancing the customer experience. Furthermore, hiring VAs is significantly less expensive than hiring full or part-time employees.

The vast majority of Freelance VAs work from home, performing tasks such as coordinating calendars, responding to emails on behalf of clients, and/or performing other administrative work that enables the client to focus on work that only s/he can do. VAs often work with small businesses and even Freelance colleagues who need assistance handling administrative work, social media posting, or invoicing, for example.

Tech-savvy VAs are also in high demand and those skilled in technology and automation can earn $50-$75 per hour. Many businesses, schools or other organizations host online groups for customers or students and need VAs to keep these communities active, relevant and helpful. Businesses need help setting up and managing their digital tools and community management has become a growing niche.

2. AI Prompt Engineers

AI prompt engineering will continue to be a fast-growing specialty in 2024-2025 and as AI is further integrated into business processes, the skills of prompt engineers will become increasingly valuable. This emerging opportunity entails both technical expertise and creativity. Prompt engineers write instructions that guide AI systems to generate accurate and useful outputs. The job is about designing and refining input for text generators like ChatGPT, Bing, or Notion and text-to-image generators like DALLE-E, Designer’s Image Creator, or DreamStudio. Freelancers who’d like to enter the field must understand how these AI models work and how to communicate with them effectively.

Prompt engineering plays a critical role in guiding AI models, like Large Language Models, to produce desired outcomes based on specific inputs or requests. These professionals facilitate effective communication between the user and AI technology and the prompt engineer must develop the art of crafting targeted questions or instructions that direct AI to find and share the top on-point responses in real-time conversations. Companies are aggressively seeking prompt engineers to help perfect the functioning of their AI systems and they are offering high salaries, with some positions paying six figures.

To succeed as an AI prompt engineer, you’ll need excellent communication skills and a good grasp of natural language processing. Knowledge of programming can be helpful, but is not always required. Because the technology is new, to get started, you can take courses in AI prompt engineering to gain familiarity with and proficiency in the different AI tools. Building a portfolio of successful prompts is a great way to showcase your skills for potential clients.

3. AI Ethics Consultants

Artificial Intelligence Ethics specialists are in quite high demand as more companies use AI systems. Companies need experts to guide them through ethical challenges and the AI Ethics Consultant role is to promote the responsible use of AI and ensure that AI systems comply with established ethical policies and guidelines. You’ll conduct ethical impact assessments to identify potential bias and evaluate AI systems for fairness, transparency and potential harm. The AI Ethics Consultant also advises other team members on ethical implications and works with the legal department to guarantee that laws and regulations are followed. Furthermore, the AI Ethics Consultant develops guidelines for AI use, assists with company policy development and trains teams on ethical AI practices.

AI ethics is gaining attention and creating a positive employment outlook for AI Ethics Consultants. This specialty requires both technical expertise and ethical knowledge. You should understand AI systems and be able to recognize and remedy potential issues. To succeed in the field, stay updated on AI trends and ethical debates. Develop a strong network in the tech and ethics communities. Opportunities are available in consulting firms, research organizations, technology companies, government agencies and enterprise companies.

This role requires a bachelor’s degree in computer science, ethics, or philosophy and most employers will prefer a graduate degree. It is recommended that you obtain certifications in AI ethics to boost your credibility. Showcase your knowledge and status as a thought leader by writing articles or scheduling speaking engagements. The pay for this role can be substantial and AI Ethics Consultants typically charge premium hourly rates for their expertise.

4. Sustainability Engineers

Sustainability engineering will offer numerous opportunities to Freelancers in 2024 – 2025 and Freelance sustainability experts are in high demand in many industries. As businesses face pressure to become more eco-friendly, sustainability engineering skills will become increasingly valuable.

Companies are looking for experts to help them reduce their environmental impact and meet new regulations. This could include designing energy-efficient systems, developing waste reduction plans, or creating sustainable supply chains. Green building Freelance projects are available at architecture and construction firms and projects that help manufacturers switch to renewable energy sources are also expected to be plentiful. The services you provide will likely include carbon footprint assessments, environmental impact studies and sustainability strategy development.

To succeed in this field, a background in engineering and environmental science is required and being up-to-date on cutting-edge green technologies and sustainability practices is a must. Certifications in areas like LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) will help you market yourself to potential clients and earn a respectable hourly rate. Up-to-date familiarity of environmental regulations and reporting standards is also valuable.

5. Online Course Creators

Education is becoming increasingly important in the Freelance industry and online is the preferred format, making online course creation a promising niche for Freelance work in 2024- 2025 and beyond. Freelancers need the skills and knowledge necessary to compete in a rapidly changing workplace that makes them feel compelled to update skill sets or learn new skills altogether. Experts are needed to create the courses they’ll enroll in.

Online course creators design educational content that typically includes videos, slide presentations, quizzes and other interactive materials and activities that make online learning more engaging. It is not required for online course creators to also be teachers; if you have expertise in a subject, consider leveraging your knowledge and developing a course. Popular topics include business, digital marketing and wellness. Maybe you could create a course on stress management or becoming more creative?

Many course platforms offer user-friendly tools to build courses. You’ll need strong writing skills to simplify complex ideas and make them understandable. To succeed, stay up-to-date with learning trends and technology. Networking with other course creators can help you discover where and how to find work opportunities. Payment for online course creation services can be per course or hourly and it may be possible for creators to also earn ongoing royalties from their courses. Still, it may make sense to use this opportunity as your Freelance side hustle.

6. Cybersecurity

Today, we share more information digitally than ever before and in ways that continue to evolve. Moreover the arrival of new technologies can open the door to cyber attacks and snafus reminiscent of the Crowdstrike incident. Remote and hybrid work are becoming the new standard in the U.S., as employees rebel against coming into the office. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 11.1% of companies offer a fully remote work environment and 27.5% of companies offer a hybrid work environment. With so many employees who WFH for some portion of the work week, the chance of a data breach increases and that means cybersecurity must be a priority. As a Freelance cybersecurity consultant, your primary responsibility will be to provide expert advice and solutions to clients in order to secure their digital assets from cyber threats.

Becoming a successful Freelance cybersecurity consultant requires that you gain work experience in a variety of cybersecurity roles such as network security, incident response and systems analysis to become exceptionally proficient in analyzing and managing serious security threats that may include threat hunting, compliance and cybersecurity architecture. Obtaining credentials such as Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) or Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) is essential, as these qualifications confirm your knowledge and increase your credibility in the cybersecurity industry. In addition to earning the right qualifications, accumulating practical experience and building a strong professional network are also must-dos.

Thanks for reading,

Kim

Image: © Photo by Megan Jamerson/KCRW March 15, 2024. Remote workers use Open Market in Koreatown as a shared office space during an event hosted by LA in Common. https://www.laincommon.com/

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6 Digital Trends to Make Doing Business Faster and Easier

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Maybe you and I are alike when it comes to technology—-neither in love with tech-based products and services, nor afraid of them. I’ve never played a video game in my life but when fax machines were still a new thing, I bought a (Panasonic) combination phone and fax. You may remember that first wave fax machines required special paper that was sold in rolls. When plain paper fax machines became available, it was a big thing.

When a new product or service brings a significant improvement to my life or business, I’m happy to be an Early Majority Adaptor, in marketing parlance. I do not rush forward with my arms wide open when a big media rollout announces that a flashy new product or service has come to market but before too long, I’ll investigate. Might this new arrival be useful for my life and business? Will it help me to make money, save money, save time, or enable me to do business more efficiently or amplify my impact somehow? Can I afford to buy it? Can I afford not to?

Presented below are six relatively recent technological inventions or developments that are reshaping how we work and live. Nearly everyone on Earth is almost guaranteed to utilize at least four of these six tech- based services, whether or not you realize it. The presence of these resources—-and that is what they are—-will only become more entrenched over time. It’s up to you to be proactive and figure out how to harness the power and tap into benefits that these resources can deliver to you.

  1. Artificial Intelligence

I’ll bet you’ve used a chat bot —-an AI-powered service— when you visited a website and wanted your basic questions answered quickly. No? We’ll, does the keypad on your tablet, desktop, or smartphone have autocorrect typing? I thought so! AI has seeped into so many routine functions that we take for granted.

A common use of artificial intelligence is for what’s called machine learning, algorithms that through repetition appear to “learn” over time. Artificial intelligence is also making inroads into Customer Relations Management (CRM) systems. With the introduction of AI, CRM systems transform into self-updating functions that allow business owners, marketers and accounts payable specialists, for example, to set up AI generated order confirmations, customer birthday greetings, or subscription renewal notices.

Artificial intelligence is also a mechanism for detecting gaps in computer network hacking defenses. AI systems can recognize a cyberattack, as well as other cyberthreats, by monitoring patterns from data input. If a threat is detected, it can backtrack through your data to find the source and help to prevent a future cybersecurity threat.

2. Automation

Routine administrative tasks are unavoidable in most jobs and getting it done is often time-consuming. The practical benefits of intelligent automation companies increasingly enable the automating of many repetitive tasks so they do not require manual input from you or other team members. Today, payroll, invoicing, event registrations and numerous data entry functions are handled by automated services.

Expect more business solutions to be powered by AI for analytics, data protection, security and search algorithms. As a result, many businesses will run leaner as business owners find ways to employ automation.

3. Hybrid workplace

We turned on a dime and responded most efficiently to the reconfigured workplace (and classroom) environment brought about by the coronavirus shutdown. The pandemic proved a virtual workplace is possible.

But also, it has shown that a work-from-home setup is not ideal for everyone. The solution is to design your hybrid workplace to fit the needs of your workers, as directed by their functions and deliverables they produce.

Workflow development specialists will be especially useful for helping hybrid teams, some that may even work across national boundaries, decide how to approach decisions about how the work can be efficiently executed, how to promote good communication and camaraderie and even who should work from home and who should work in the office.

4. Cybersecurity and privacy

As of July 1, 2022, 4.95 billion of the 7.95 billion global population are internet users (source: United Nations). That about 62% of the world is online has all sorts of implications, for better—-more opportunities for communication and exchanging information!—and worse—an urgent need for user data protection, to protect privacy and promote security.

Online business owners should already have encryption security measures in place, to safeguard financial transactions and customer information. Online customers are becoming more concerned about the security of their personal data that by necessity is in the hands of many organizations, including banks, employers, insurance companies, retailers and social media platforms. Freelancers and small business owners are expected to guarantee security measures to protect their customer data just like global enterprise companies.

Data breaches are embarrassing and expensive. They’re bad for business, especially for smaller companies, that don’t have the budget to engineer a reputation rescue executed by a crisis communication marketing team. To ensure the data integrity at your organization enact all of the standard data protection protocols. Verify the security of your cloud-based software systems, cloud data storage service and your online and mobile payment providers. Protect all company internet devices, as well as personal devices, by using two-factor sign-in and strong passwords.

5. 5G

In 2021, I took my sweet time to trade in my 3G smartphone for a 5G smartphone and my cellphone provider was unhappy with me for a while. We’ve been hearing about the 5G revolution for, what, 5 years now? More networks and devices have moved—-more like been pushed—-to 5G in response to increased demand for faster connectivity, but 5G is more than just faster downloads.

Speed of data transmission on all of your mobile devices is a huge plus. Online meetings, streaming movies, listening to music and watching live TV are so much more seamless and satisfying with 5G bandwidth. You may not have noticed, but your phone and tablet are already faster now and they’ll soon become faster still with successive 5G upgrades and rollouts. Expect to see very soon expansions of fast, powerful and more reliable wireless internet service at home and at the office.

5G will also impact your car. Automobiles coming to the market this year will offer 5G capabilities. In the not-too-distant future, expect high-speed cloud connectivity to bring AI powered smart mirrors, super premium audio systems and self-driving trucks and other delivery vehicles—-yikes!

6. Digital payments

We’ve witnessed an expansion of digital payments and related banking options courtesy of the of pandemic shutdown. But the need for secure and fast mobile and online payment systems was already in a slow boil. The steady rise of e-commerce demanded secure online payments. Outdoor festivals, flea markets, farmers markets, art festivals and every imaginable business conference found someone. with a self-published book to sell or motivational videos to buy, enabled by remote payments.

Banks and other consumer financial institutions such as Venmo, Square, Wallet and PayPal, continue to invest more in online solutions for their customers.

  • Online payment channels.
  • Online loan applications and approvals.
  • Cashless payment transactions.
  • Online personal identification.
  • Faster and user-friendly online banking apps

Thanks for reading,

Kim

Image: “Digital rain” computer code in The Matrix (1999)