Field Chief Technology Officer (CTO) & Evangelist, Cortex, Palo Alto Networks focusing on digital risk & cyber threats.

The advent of GDPR heralded a new era of protection for individual rights and freedoms. Initially not taken seriously, organizations now find themselves rethinking their approach, with accumulated penalties nearing the € 3 billion mark.

Are organizations on a similar path with quantum computing?

Cybersecurity researchers and technologists are rightly concerned with the mixed blessing that is quantum computing. Whilst it holds potential for many benefits from machine learning and data analytics to cryptography and cybersecurity, it creates new risks and exposures, particularly around its ability to break most modern encryption, which underpins the internet, communications and e-commerce—the very fabric of our society.

The Role Of Encryption In Our Daily Lives

At its most basic, encryption is the act of taking an original piece of human-readable information and transforming it into incomprehensible text. Though encryption is not top of mind for most of us, it has become an important enabler for various critical activities we take for granted.

The two primary forms of encryption are symmetric, in which the same key is used to encrypt and decrypt the data, and asymmetric, which involves a pair of mathematically linked keys.

Symmetric tends to be fast and efficient and is most widely used to secure communications and stored data.

Asymmetrical or public-key encryption is used for securely exchanging symmetric keys and for digitally authenticating certificates, messages, documents and e-commerce payments, pairing the public keys with their owner’s identities.

While the maths is different, nearly all internet communications use both symmetric and asymmetrical cryptography. Hence both forms need to be secure.

Why Should We Be Concerned Now?

While encryption remains an integral part of how society functions, it is not without risk and concerns. The eventual arrival of commercial quantum computers powerful enough to break public-key encryption will be a significant threat to national security, financial, health and private data.

Many aspects of cryptography rely on computational complexity arguments—the maths. The security of an algorithm is derived from the fact that no one has figured out a way to break it within a reasonable amount of time for it to be a concern.

Generally, cryptographic algorithms will have parameters that provide different levels of security. For example, RSA keys can be generated in different sizes, depending on how secure the key needs to be. A 512-bit RSA key was previously considered adequate security, but as cyberattacks have improved in sophistication, along with increased computing power, society has responded by steadily increasing the key length to defend itself. However, the longer we make the keys, the more impractical an algorithm becomes; there is a balance between useability and security.

The many data breaches we see today highlight that most organizations hold data beyond its regulatory retention period or usefulness. The risk with this is that data stolen today does not have to be decrypted today to hold value. Intellectual property, financial data, healthcare data and other sensitive data stolen today could still be relevant beyond the next decade. And cybercriminals understand this.

Additionally, in October 2021, U.S. intelligence officials singled out quantum computing as one of five key foreign threats, with the others being artificial intelligence, biotechnology, semiconductors and autonomous systems.

A large-scale quantum computer could allow for the decryption of most common cybersecurity protocols as well as all previously recorded traffic, putting at risk our economic prosperity, national security and much of our daily lives as we know it.

Preparing For A Post-Quantum World

Quantum computing also raises the question of regulation and law. For example, under GDPR (Article 5) and other similar laws, there is a requirement that personal data is to be “processed in a manner that ensures appropriate security of personal data...using appropriate technical or organizational measures.” This requirement will be unlikely to be met if organizations continue to apply conventional encryption in the quantum era.

Moreover, many data breaches attracting global attention from regulators, litigators and class actions are the result of poor cyber hygiene, stolen/weak credentials or known vulnerabilities. What risk do organizations carry when they knowingly continue to employ conventional encryption that is susceptible to a quantum attack? Will data stolen today and exposed later on due to quantum advances in the future result in class actions and penalties? Arguably, much of what is communicated today is recorded, stored and available for later decryption.

Where To Start?

It is important to note that quantum technologies are not new to society. Quantum mechanics has enabled devices such as MRIs, LEDs and even the GPS clocks in your car. While the timing for quantum computer capability is unclear (projections are by 2030), the first step is to acknowledge its impact on today’s cryptography and that current cybersecurity solutions will largely be inadequate. Such risk needs to be considered now.

One solution is for organizations to start thinking about post-quantum cryptography (PQC) algorithms and replacing current algorithms with new quantum-resistant algorithms. Last year, NIST named the first four encryption algorithms it believes will survive the arrival of quantum computing. Organizations should evaluate the security of post-quantum candidates and transition to using these algorithms to ensure their data remains secure. Start by identifying the best options and plan your transition, noting that PQC solutions are still in development.

Another option is quantum key distribution (QKD). This creates a shared secret between users that is used to create secure messages, which are transmissible over conventional channels. QKD ensures forward secrecy but requires special-purpose technology such as a high-quality optical fiber infrastructure. It is a method to help protect session keys against being compromised.

Organizations also need to consider updating their procurement policies, mandating that future technology purchases require cryptographic flexibility—the ability to add and switch to newer, more secure algorithms as they become available.

Realistically, quantum security should not be viewed as a replacement for existing measures but instead as an additional form of security that will need to be managed alongside the current infrastructure. Organizations will need to factor in how they will deploy, manage and maintain both conventional and post-quantum security on their systems.

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If you scrolled LinkedIn any time in the second half of 2022, it was hard to miss the technologists’ layoff announcements permeating the news feed.

Tech companies have been purging employees for a variety of reasons, including over-hiring in years before, and bracing for a possible recession. In 2022, 1,044 tech companies laid off nearly 160,000 employees, and so far in 2023, 312 tech companies have laid off 97,000 employees, the Layoffs.fyi tracker found.

Locally tied startup Equipt, is aiming to help these displaced technologists with a new initiative: Equipt for Success.

Cofounders Jide Osan and Hubert Dagbo make up a Philly- and London-based team. The pair met at Bethlehem’s Lehigh University in 2008, and Osan pursued a career in tech startups while Dagbo pursued finance. When the pandemic hit, and jobs of all kinds became harder to find, Dagbo came to his former classmate with an idea.

The first version of Equipt launched in 2021 as a diversity talent marketplace for upskilling and talent acquisition. The pair participated in the July 2021 Techstars accelerator, through which they received a $120,000 investment. By late 2022, though, the talent market had shifted.

“We recognized our community had a different challenge now,” Dagbo said. “They were dusting off their resumes, dealing with layoffs, visa issues and other problems following mass layoffs. And a large amount of our community wanted to help.”

They pivoted their platform to its current state: a free-for-members community of webinars, live tech talks and upskilling sessions where technologists can grow their network and connect with companies who are looking to hire. The sessions, which any member can register for and attend, hit on everything from founder stories, interview preparation, job hunting strategies and coding best practices. It’s “open source knowledge,” Osan said.

The sessions are led by a variety of technologists and members of their community. Their business model includes a charge for companies looking to connect with the diverse tech talent the platform has been attracting. A hiring manager might attend a session on side projects and meet a technologist looking for a role. They can review resumes on the spot, and although further communication about interviews has been happening off the platform, that’s a feature the cofounders are aiming to add in the near future.

The long-term vision is for a professional development network that’s focused on people helping each other, rather than self-promotion.

Some of the experience users will have on the platform is shaped by Osan’s experience job hunting in the startup world. He was CTO of Philly startup Squareknot, and before that, an edtech startup called GoodSemester. When Squareknot “dissolved,” he spent about a year interviewing and searching for a new role before opening his own dev shop.

“I remember sort of arrogantly applying for Facebook without studying, and I bombed the interview on a really stupid question — it was the nerves,” he said. “It was kind of a little scary there, learning how to interview, how to sell myself as a developer. I just wanted to sit and code. During that time, maybe a year, it was pretty intense and that’s when I learned the importance of networking.”

The startup is currently beginning fundraising with an eye on building out its platform and a forthcoming mobile app. For their community, Dagbo said, a big value proposition is that most members are going through a similar journey. Layoffs and interviewing can feel like an isolating thing, but the platform is focused on how they can help each other.

“They come for community and mental health, along with technical skills,” he said.

Nearly four-and-a-half years after Carolyn Kelley was killed by a suspected dangerous driver, the family of the 59-year-old Sunnybrook Hospital medical lab technologist is hoping for justice.

It was Nov. 9, 2018, just before 7 a.m., when Kelley was waiting at the bus stop at the corner of Ellesmere and Birchmount roads, as she did every morning heading to work, that she was struck by a Nissan Pathfinder. Kelley had no vital signs and was later pronounced dead.

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A 31-year-old man who was also standing at the bus stop received serious leg injuries but survived.

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Now, Carlene Nunes, the motorist who was driving the SUV, is on trial for dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing bodily harm.

On day one of the judge-alone trial at the Ontario Court of Justice in Scarborough, five witnesses testified including a pedestrian who heard the revving of an engine and watched the vehicle accelerating westbound through the intersection, swerve to the right to avoid colliding with two buses and a car before entering the sidewalk where approximately 10 pedestrians were waiting for the bus.

The vehicle hit a pole and continued through a Pizza Hut parking lot before ultimately coming to a rest.

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Dublin, Feb. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "2022 U.S. Laboratory Market Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The U.S. laboratory market was valued at $112 billion in 2021 with 330,000 Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) certified laboratories.

The aging U.S. population, new and improved service capabilities, and an increase in at-home testing drove the growth of the laboratory market.

The 2022 Laboratory Market Report analyzes new laboratory services, Medicare reimbursement cuts, and the impact of acquisitions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key Findings

• More than 800 laboratory tests will receive reimbursement cuts up to 15% in 2023 under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act.

• The U.S. home testing market is projected to reach $11.0 billion by 2027.

• 60% of laboratory employers are offering continuing education to retain and recruit medical laboratory professionals

Executive Summary:

Market-At-A-Glance

The U.S. laboratory market was valued at $112.1 billion in 2021, a 6% increase from $105.5 billion in 2020. COVID-19 testing was a major factor in the laboratory market growth in 2021.

Moving forward, growth drivers include new and improved service capabilities, the aging U.S. population, and the high rate of chronic diseases.

There are 330,000 Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) certified laboratories in the U.S. including physician offices, nursing homes, and other non-acute settings, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

COVID-19 Testing Demand Drives Increase Of At-Home Testing

The U.S. home testing market is projected to reach $11.0 billion by 2027. At the start of 2021, the Omicron wave fueled demand for at-home COVID-19 tests from consumers and the government as 28 million at-home COVID-19 antigen tests were performed each week. During the first quarter of 2022, coronavirus-related medical supplies and testing products revenue was $836 million.

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Demand For Clinical Lab Technologists To Rise 19% By 2030

Laboratory technologists were the second most in-demand allied health professionals in 2021. The U.S. faces a shortage of roughly 20,000 to 25,000 medical laboratory professionals in 2022. Sixty percent of lab employers offer continuing education to employees to address the medical laboratory science (MLS) workforce shortage in 2022.

Laboratory Digitization Set To Improve Laboratory Services

Sixty-eight percent of surveyed laboratory executives reported that their highest priority for labs' budgets is investing in new technology to Improve quality and reduce costs. The hospital laboratory market has evolved in recent years to become more automated and artificial intelligence (AI) based. Technology investments have the potential to accelerate remote diagnosis and ease the staffing shortage burden in laboratories.

Routine Lab Testing Declines As Payment Rates Fall

Payment rates were reduced for 19 of the top 25 lab tests in 2021. Routine laboratory testing volume declined significantly due to less overall healthcare utilization and reduced payment rates for certain tests. Under the Protecting Access To Medicare Act (PAMA), more than 800 laboratory tests are scheduled to be cut by up to 15% on January 1, 2023. Previous Medicare reimbursement cuts led to 27% reductions for laboratory tests between 2017 and 2022.

Key subjects Covered:

• Executive Summary

• Laboratory Market Overview

• Routine Testing Volume Holds Steady After Pandemic Rebound

• Pandemic Boosts Home Collection And Testing

• Home Tests Spark Concerns About Quality And Under-Reporting

• At-Home COVID-19 Testing Demand Expected To Decline In 2023

• COVID-Flu Combo Test Available Ahead Of The US Flu Season

• Direct-To-Consumer Testing Is Rising Rapidly

• Significant Medicare PAMA Reimbursement Cuts Scheduled To Take Effect In 2023

• Payment Rates Reduced For 19 Of Top 25 Lab Tests

• Reimbursement Among Top Laboratory-Related Challenges For Providers And Health Plans

• Clinical Laboratories Invest In Quality Improvement And Cost Reduction

• Laboratory Workforce Declines As Demand Increases

• Lab Worker Salaries Rising In Response To Shortage

• Labs Use Temporary Staffing And Continuing Education To Address Worker Shortage

• Independent Reference Laboratory Revenue Up 50%

• 20% Of Labs Perform Non-Waived Tests

• Physician Office Labs Remain The Majority Of Waived Laboratories

• COVID-19 Testing Revenue Fuels Increase In Acquisitions

• Medicare Expands Coverage For Next Generation Sequencing Genetic Tests

• Liquid Biopsies At The Frontier Of Early Cancer Detection

• Laboratory Capacity For Monkeypox Testing Increased With Demand

• Pandemic Led To Decrease In HIV Testing

• Clarivate Lists Top Laboratory Products Sold Through Distribution

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1zpg2w-u-s?w=12

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Georgia Carr has been drawn to medical laboratories for decades.

The manager of laboratory services at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is one of the voices with ideas to address the shortage of medical laboratory technologists in the Northwest, which will only get worse in the coming years with looming retirements.

Carr’s perspective comes from a career path that’s taken her up the ranks within healthcare starting with housekeeping at the now-closed McKellar Hospital in Thunder Bay.

“Just having started out as a housekeeper, you learn a lot about the inner workings in a hospital,” she said. “I cleaned the lab and got to know the lab people and the [Thunder Bay Institute of Medical Technology] was over at Paterson Hall.”

This interest lead to Carr enrolling in the program, she said, adding there were lots of jobs in the field when she graduated as a medical laboratory technologist in 1987.

However, by 1996, the institute closed due to saturation in the market and with it went a ready supply of medical technologists from the region, she said.

“We've been sounding the alarm bells for years saying that we're in trouble,” she said, pointing to survey data that show programs need to graduate at least 250 more technologists per year to keep up with a silver tsunami of retirements.

Carr said of the 12 people in lab management, “eight of us are [at the] age of retirement right now. Many of us are staying out of the kindness in our hearts.”

“Between the front line worker retirements and my lab management team retirements, there's not enough of people coming up the pipe, period,” she said.

The sentiment was echoed by Ray Racette, CEO of the Lake of the Woods District Hospital in Kenora.

“There's no question that we need to increase the number of training spaces if we're ever going to have any hope of surviving the retirement rate, which the clock has started,” he said. “If we see nothing changing, we know it's going to happen with lab because it's fully predictable.”

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Racette said there needs to be creative ways of bringing in more students into the profession, perhaps with new ways of learning like incorporating virtual and on-site learning.

“From the hospital side, we need to gather up the ability to host more students, more placements because if we don't do that, we shoot ourselves in the foot,” he said. “We're going to need to find a way to get the capacity to train [technologists].”

He also said having enough staff for the future is important, with many students not knowing about the different careers in health care.

“We need to actually start talking to high school students over careers because you can build a tremendous career within those areas [like diagnostic imaging and clinical laboratory] as you can with nursing and medicine,” he said.

Michelle Hoad, the CEO of the Medical Laboratories Professionals’ Association of Ontario, said part of her organization's strategic plan is to promote the profession to create the next generation of laboratory technologists.

“We're hoping by promoting the profession, there will be more people within those smaller communities that will say, 'yeah, rather than be a nurse, maybe I'll look into the med lab science programs,” she said. "We've got to somehow figure out how can we home grow these people so that they grow up in a Northern community, go to school and stay there.”

Carr said she thinks students need to be approached even earlier, in grades 7 or 8, to get them to start thinking about it as a career. Another program in Thunder Bay is needed, she added.

“There's no school in the region and a lot of the kids can't afford to go away or leave home. A lot of my med lab assistants would certainly leave their job and go to a medical technology school but they can't afford to just go away,” Carr said. “The key point is we need students from Thunder Bay and the region to be accepted into the program because that's the people who stay and work here.”

Hoad said there is no lack of interest in becoming a medical laboratory technologist, with all five provincial programs having waiting lists. The closest program to the Northwest is at Cambrian College in Sudbury.

Hoad, Carr and Racette are among many who have been trying to raise the issue for years. Hoad is pleased the calls for action have finally caught the ear of the province.

On Thursday, Minister of Health Sylvia Jones presented a comprehensive health care plan that included creating more spaces for medical lab technologist students, as well as a pledge to work on establishing bridging programs that would allow existing health care workers, like laboratory technicians, to upgrade their skills to become technologists, without needing to take the whole program.

And last month, the province also introduced the expansion of the Learn and Stay program to include medical laboratory technologist students, which would provide students from rural and other underserved areas grants to cover tuition and books in exchange for working in these areas.

“It is truly the first time in a long time that we're starting to see movement and investment in lab outside of the larger areas, GTA, Hamilton, London,[etc.] We're starting to really see things. When you start to hear from patients that their results are taking longer than normal that is concerning, and I think the government has really started to hear a lot of that input,“ she said.

“The MLPAO’s extremely happy with the inclusion of medical lab professionals in the long-term approach of addressing our healthcare problems.”

Confederation College also noted the need for medical laboratory technologists and said it’s working with Cambrian College to see how they might meet the demand across the Northwest.

“We’re going to be pursuing a number of different partnerships with other colleges to be able to see what is possible,” said Shane Strickland, dean of the college's school of health. “We don’t have any plans to make announcements right away, but we do plan in the next little while to be able to come back to community and make announcements around partnerships.”

Hoad said she’s still waiting on details for all these programs and noted that they will help with future needs, but not with immediate ones.

It’s about recognizing the moment, Racette said, adding people should not underestimate lab professionals and their resourcefulness.

“They're very talented and they can evolve and adjust, and we're going to really need to be nimble and flexible and all of that as we go through these demographic challenges that we're going to face,” he said.

Racette recounted the situation during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the lab took on the massive task of testing without any additional staffing and everything was strained.

“Carrying that for two years on top of the additional workload, it was an unbelievable achievement that's not recognized publicly,” he said.

In the meantime, Carr said she’s been planning strategically for what’s to come with support from the Thunder Bay hospital by upgrading systems and investing in technologies that can free up laboratory technologists to allow them to work more efficiently.

“Getting all the capital equipment replaced, getting all the lab modernization done, automating every single place that we could, which meant interfaces, software, [etc.]. It meant anything that I could get that could free up a precious medical laboratory technologist's hands from having to manually do something, not the diagnosis, not the interpretation, everything leading up to that,” she said.

“I tried to do everything I can when I can because you never know what tomorrow is going to bring.”

Eric Shih, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Thunder Bay Source