Technology

GLOBAL AND NATIONAL TRACKER FOR CHILD ONLINE SAFETY ANNOUNCED

Published

2 weeks ago

November 27, 2024

Global Cybersecurity Forum and DQ Institute Agreed to Launch the Child Protection in Cyberspace (CPC) Index in 2025

SINGAPORE, Nov. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The unveiling of the Child Protection in Cyberspace (CPC) Index at the Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF) marks a groundbreaking milestone in the global effort to safeguard children online, announced by the Global Cybersecurity Forum Institute and the DQ Institute. This announcement took place during the Child Protection in Cyberspace (CPC) Summit at the GCF Annual Meeting on October 2-3, 2024, co-organized by the Global Cybersecurity Forum Institute, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), UNICEF, WeProtect Global Alliance, and the DQ Institute. The CPC initiative, instated by the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, underscores a global commitment to promoting the digital well-being of children worldwide.

Dr. Yuhyun Park, Founder of the DQ Institute, emphasized that the launch of the CPC Index represents the first tangible action following last week’s 2024 UN General Assembly agreement on the Pact for the Future backed by the Global Digital Compact, which highlighted the importance of child protection in cyberspace.

“The CPC Index will serve as an important tracking and monitoring tool to measure the global progress of the CPC commitment towards creating safer digital spaces for children, in alignment with the 2024 UNGA global agreement,” said Dr. Park during an interview at the forum. “This tool is designed to empower countries by offering a comprehensive insight on their current status in child online safety and helping them design targeted national strategies and actions to enhance their national CPC Index performance.”

As a flagship program of the CPC initiative, the CPC Index offers a comprehensive 360-degree framework to evaluate and enhance efforts to ensure child safety online, engaging all stakeholders, including governments, ICT industries, schools, families, and children at the national level.

Backed by seven years of research and data from 100 countries, the CPC Index offers a global tool to assess ecosystems, foster cooperation, and help nations mitigate cyber-risks to protect children online worldwide.

Key features of the CPC Index include:

Global Benchmarks and Data Insights: Combines international benchmarks to provide a clear roadmap for tracking cyber-risks and assessing children’s digital citizenship levels.Holistic Analysis: Covers government policies and regulations, school education, family involvement, and tech industry accountability.Top Digital Citizenship Programs: Highlights the world’s top digital citizenship programs, offering actionable recommendations for policy and education leaders.

Dr. Park underscored the initiative’s global scope, calling it a testament to collaboration across public and private sectors. The CPC Index aggregates international standards and measures, offering nations a roadmap to advance from current challenges to a safer digital future.

“Globally, over 70 percent of children have encountered at least one cyber-risk,” said Dr. Park, referencing the DQ Institute’s Child Online Safety Index. “With the rise of artificial intelligence, this number could shift dramatically as new risks, like AI-generated deepfakes and fake news, emerge.”

While acknowledging AI’s potential to address certain risks, Dr. Park warned of its capacity to exacerbate challenges, emphasizing the urgency for proactive measures: “The goal is clear: to reduce the 70 percent figure by at least 15% by 2030.”

The CPC Index, Dr. Park emphasized, is a critical step toward protecting children in an increasingly AI-powered world. “Real change happens through implementation, and the CPC Index is poised to guide nations in ensuring the digital safety of the next generation.”

“An important step is a mandatory digital citizenship education in primary schools, which is a tipping point for long-term online safety for children,” she added, urging governments to prioritize early digital literacy education.

About DQ Institute:

The DQ Institute (DQI) is an international think-tank dedicated to setting global standards for digital intelligence and ensuring the safety, empowerment, and well-being of individuals, organizations, and nations in the digital age. DQ framework is recognized as the global standard for digital literacy, skills, and readiness (IEEE 3527.1-2020). DQI operates as a 501(c)(3) organization in the United States and as a not-for-profit organization in Singapore. For more information, visit DQ Institute’s website: https://www.dqinstitute.org

Media Contact:
Eris Seah
DQ Institute
partnership@dqinstitute.org
+65 9396 9200

SOURCE DQ Institute

Technology

QuickStart Acquires Career Development Solutions to Accelerate Growth in Government and Enterprise Businesses

Published

35 minutes ago

December 12, 2024

QuickStart has acquired Career Development Solutions (CDS) to expand its IT training capabilities for government and enterprise clients. This partnership leverages CDS’s expertise in workforce development and QuickStart’s AI-powered learning platform to address critical IT skills gaps and support career advancement for individuals and employers.

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — QuickStart, a leader in online IT workforce development, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Career Development Solutions (CDS), a leading provider of IT training to government and enterprise clients.

CDS is a recognized leader in career readiness and workforce training, with extensive expertise in career transition support, employer partnerships, and government funding programs. The acquisition accelerates QuickStart’s already rapidly growing B2G business by adding significant relationships and business in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah. Additionally, the CDS team adds depth of B2B experience in helping employers upskill and reskill IT teams across a range of subject areas.

“This acquisition represents an incredible opportunity to combine the strengths of QuickStart and Career Development Solutions, enhancing our ability to deliver impactful training programs that ensure learners are prepared for today’s fast-evolving IT workforce,” said Bryan Kenna, CEO of QuickStart. “Together, we will rapidly expand the solutions we provide to individuals and government and enterprise partners.”

The acquisition enhances QuickStart’s dedication to providing training that addresses individual and employer needs. Leveraging a proprietary AI-powered learning platform, QuickStart develops highly targeted, skills-based career pathways and training plans to close critical digital skills gaps and provide exceptional outcomes for learners and employers.

Ryan Landry, President and Managing Director at Career Development Solutions, stated, “The acquisition of Career Development Solutions into the QuickStart family makes us, overnight, a tech-enabled workforce development ecosystem. We now handle everything from talent development to talent acquisition, providing solutions that truly lower customer costs. It’s an exciting time to be a business leader working with our tools and systems.”

For more information about QuickStart, visit https://www.quickstart.com/

To learn more about Career Development Solutions, visit www.careerdevelopmentsolutions.com

About QuickStart

QuickStart offers IT training for emerging and established professionals in the field. For over 35 years, QuickStart has partnered with IT experts and hiring managers to develop industry-aligned certificate courses and bootcamp training programs. Through online learning tailored to the latest developments in AWS (Amazon Web Services), Cisco, CompTIA, Microsoft Azure, and more, QuickStart empowers entry-level and experienced IT professionals with leading-edge skills for the workforce.

To best prepare students for professional success, QuickStart offers personalized learning plans and career support services, including resume building, coaching, and job search assistance. Students emerge ready to add value to their organizations, improve their earning power, and achieve their professional goals. Follow QuickStart on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X.

About Career Development Solutions

Career Development Solutions offers career training programs to better your life. We give students new opportunities through globally recognized career training programs. We provide industry-leading certifications, training preparation, focused career paths, award-winning teachers, and the support you deserve.

Our career development programs match job training with industry-recognized stackable certifications built into our training programs. We create and deliver training programs that focus on in-demand sectors, including Information Technology and Manufacturing, along with closing the Technology Gap that is hindering individuals across our county from gaining employment. For more information, please visit the Career Development Solutions website or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

Media Contact

Imelda Wistey, QuickStart Learning, 1 (855) 800-8240, quickstart@quickstart.com, https://www.quickstart.com

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/quickstart-acquires-career-development-solutions-to-accelerate-growth-in-government-and-enterprise-businesses-302329970.html

SOURCE QuickStart Learning

Technology

ImageSource, Inc. Reinvigorates Executive Team

Published

35 minutes ago

December 12, 2024

ImageSource, Inc. Promotes Phong Hoang to Chief Product Officer

OLYMPIA, Wash., Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — ImageSource, Inc., the manufacturer of ILINX, the world’s most flexible process-improvement platform, is proud to announce the promotion of Phong Hoang to Chief Product Officer. Previously serving as Vice President of Software Development, Phong has been instrumental in shaping ILINX software into a premier enterprise process-improvement platform.

Since joining ImageSource in 2006, Phong has led the evolution of the platform through the ILINX software development lifecycle—including design, development, and testing—fostering a culture of innovation and technical excellence. Under his leadership, the ILINX platform has grown from its initial concept of point solution to fill third-party software gaps to a robust suite of software modules that drive efficiency and transformation for customers across industries.

“Phong’s vision and leadership have been pivotal to the evolution of ILINX as a flexible, scalable solution for modern business challenges,” said Terry Sutherland, CEO of ImageSource. “His ability to inspire and direct development teams has been key to our platform’s success and global adoption.”

Phong brings a wealth of technical expertise to his role, holding a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from California State University, Long Beach. His background includes proficiency in C#/.NET, Java, C++, Web Service, and Windows Installer, as well as valuable industry experience at Kofax, Microsoft, and Pierce County before joining ImageSource.

As Chief Product Officer, Phong will continue to guide the future of the ILINX platform, ensuring its capabilities align with emerging market needs and deliver transformative outcomes for ImageSource customer-partners.

About ImageSource
ImageSource, Inc. makes process innovation easy with advanced solutions built on ILINX®, the world’s most flexible process-improvement platform, delivered by a team of experts committed to customer-partner success. Leveraging proven technology and deep implementation expertise, ImageSource empowers leading enterprises and government organizations to reduce risk, modernize operations, unlock revenue, and transform the customer experience. For more information, visit www.imagesourceinc.com, or call (360) 943-9273.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/imagesource-inc-reinvigorates-executive-team-302329309.html

SOURCE ImageSource, Inc.

Technology

VANTIS VASCULAR CLOSES $10M IN SERIES B-1 PREFERRED FINANCING

Published

35 minutes ago

December 12, 2024

Funds will be used to initiate US commercialization of its CrossFAST™ Integrated Microcatheter Advanced Delivery System

SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Vantis Vascular, Inc., a pioneering medical technology company founded by physicians with a passion to revolutionize vascular interventions, today announced the successful closing of $10 million Series B-1 preferred financing, following a raise of $30 million to date from high-net-worth individuals and National Institute of Health grants.

The CrossFAST Advanced Delivery System is commercially available in the US as part of a limited market release.

“We are proud to have the ongoing support of a strong group of investors who share our vision of transforming how complex interventional procedures are performed,” said Jason Turner, Chief Executive Officer at Vantis Vascular. “This funding is a critical milestone for Vantis and will allow us to continue our ongoing product development efforts, expand our team and initiate US commercialization of the CrossFAST Advanced Delivery System for complex high-risk PCI procedures.”

The CrossFAST System is the first and only dual monorail microcatheter advanced delivery system purpose-built for complex coronary and peripheral interventions. Unlike guide extension catheters, which have limited ability to reach targeted areas in high-risk PCIs and demonstrated risk of vessel trauma and damage to previously placed stents, the CrossFAST Advanced Delivery System incorporates an integrated microcatheter with a seamless transition to lower the risk of these adverse events during catheter delivery. The CrossFAST System is powered by DuoPRO™ Interlocking Technology, a novel mechanism coupling the microcatheter to the outer delivery catheter, allowing the system to be advanced as one unit for enhanced pushability and efficient navigation, a significant limitation of guide extension catheters, especially in complex high-risk procedures.

“With the completion of this financing, we plan to initiate the limited market release of the CrossFAST System in the United States,” commented Gary McCord, Chief Commercial Officer at Vantis Vascular. “We are confident that CrossFAST can safely navigate calcified and tortuous anatomy with ease, empowering physicians to deliver life-saving therapies to patients more effectively than ever before.”

The CrossFAST Integrated Microcatheter Advanced Delivery System is commercially available in the United States as part of a limited market release. Full market release is planned in 2025.

About Vantis Vascular:

Vantis Vascular, Inc. is a medical technology company dedicated to revolutionizing vascular interventions. Founded by physicians, Vantis develops performance-driven technologies that aim to provide faster, safer and more effective treatments. With a focus on innovation and patient-centric solutions, Vantis is committed to advancing the field of interventional cardiology and improving patient outcomes worldwide.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vantis-vascular-closes-10m-in-series-b-1-preferred-financing-302330527.html

SOURCE Vantis Vascular, Inc.