MENLO PARK, Calif., April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Global consulting firm Protiviti has launched its inaugural Protiviti AI Studio in Chicago, an inventive facility dedicated to empowering organizations to harness the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI).  As AI continues to disrupt and transform core business operations, this innovative studio serves as a launchpad for enabling organizations to address a wide array of business challenges with AI.

The Protiviti AI Studio is an evolution and expansion of its AI Center of Excellence (COE) with a specific focus and commitment in Chicago.  The AI Studio in Chicago dedicates space and expert resources to help organizations co-create and explore AI’s potential for positive impact to our clients’ business and accelerate outcomes.

“Protiviti AI Studio focuses on accelerating AI innovation by addressing key challenges we have seen organizations encounter,” said Christine Livingston, global leader, AI practice at Protiviti. “Our studio uniquely centralizes key resources to enable organizations’ ability to rapidly envision, engage and unlock the transformative power of AI.”

Why It Matters: In an era where AI is reshaping industries, Protiviti AI Studio in Chicago moves clients from concept to execution with unprecedented speed and confidence.

Who We Are: Staffed by a team of skilled AI strategists, data engineers and developers, combined with domain-specific subject matter expertise from across the firm, the Protiviti AI Studio in Chicago provides clients with access to top-tier support and innovative, strategic AI-based solutions.

What We Do: The Protiviti AI Studio in Chicago offers a distinctive blend of resources and experience designed to help accelerate initial phases of AI adoption while exploring the latest AI capabilities from technology vendors. From conceptualization to execution, the Protiviti AI Studio in Chicago helps organizations:

Envision the Possibilities: From understanding what use cases to consider to showcasing leading-edge applications of AI, we bring a mix of ideation techniques, proprietary assets, dynamic assessments and interactive workshops to help spark new ideas, refine the best concepts, and explore the full potential of AI – dynamically aligned to your organization’s unique needs.

Experiment with Technology: Interactive demonstrations and functional prototypes bring AI concepts to life, affording a broad view of the array of AI-powered solutions. We work together with leading technology vendors to showcase the latest technologies, and rapidly and collaboratively prototype to see various AI capabilities in action.

Enable your People: Establishing a foundational understanding of AI and creating a shared vision is key to long-term success with AI. Our studio fosters hands-on training and enablement sessions to familiarize organizations with the capabilities through active learning and focuses the long-term vision on human-centered AI principles and solution designs.

Why Chicago?: Chicago was chosen as the location for the Protiviti AI Studio due to its central positioning both within the United States and since it represents one of Protiviti’s largest office locations. The city’s vibrant tech ecosystem and innovation landscape provide an ideal backdrop for fostering collaboration and creativity.  Chicago has also been home to one of Protiviti’s “iNNs”–one of three global innovation centers.

For more information about the Protiviti AI Studio in Chicago and its offerings, please visit Protiviti’s website.

About Protiviti 

Protiviti (www.protiviti.com) is a global consulting firm that delivers deep expertise, objective insights, a tailored approach and unparalleled collaboration to help leaders confidently face the future. Protiviti and its independent and locally owned member firms provide clients with consulting and managed solutions in finance, technology, operations, data, digital, legal, HR, risk and internal audit through a network of more than 90 offices in over 25 countries. 

Named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list for the 11th consecutive year, Protiviti Inc. has served more than 80 percent of Fortune 100 and nearly 80 percent of Fortune 500 companies. The firm also works with government agencies and smaller, growing companies, including those looking to go public. Protiviti Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Robert Half (NYSE: RHI). 

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SOURCE Protiviti

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Secure Ideas, a premier provider of penetration testing and security consulting services, proudly announces its recent achievements of CREST accreditation and CMMC Level 1 compliance, reinforcing its commitment to delivering the highest standards of security assessment and regulatory compliance for its clients.

With these certifications, Secure Ideas strengthens its ability to deliver globally recognized, standards-based offensive security services, specializing in identifying vulnerabilities, exploiting weaknesses, and exposing gaps in critical systems.

CREST Accreditation: Excellence in Penetration Testing

Secure Ideas’ achievement of CREST (Council for Registered Ethical Security Testers) accreditation underscores its adherence to the highest legal, ethical, and technical standards in penetration testing. CREST-accredited organizations undergo rigorous evaluations of their business processes, security methodologies, and quality assurance frameworks.

As a CREST-certified penetration testing provider, Secure Ideas ensures that all penetration tests—whether network, web application, API, or physical security—are conducted following established best practices in scoping, reconnaissance, assessment, exploitation, and reporting. This certification provides clients with increased assurance that their security posture is being evaluated using proven methodologies by experienced professionals.

CMMC Level 1 Compliance: Protecting DoD Information

In addition to CREST certification, Secure Ideas has also achieved Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 1. Developed by the Department of Defense (DoD) to protect Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), CMMC requires defense contractors and subcontractors to implement cybersecurity standards at progressively advanced levels.

CMMC Level 1 focuses on the basic safeguarding of FCI by ensuring compliance with 15 security requirements outlined in FAR clause 52.204-21. These requirements include essential practices such as:

Limiting access to authorized users.Protecting physical and digital access to information.Implementing secure configurations for devices and systems.

CMMC compliance has become a mandatory requirement for organizations working with the DoD. By achieving Level 1 compliance, Secure Ideas strengthens its position to support defense contractors and subcontractors in meeting their own compliance obligations.

Key Benefits for Clients:

Globally Recognized Standards: Testing and security services aligned with internationally recognized frameworks.Enhanced Security Assurance: CREST and CMMC compliance ensure robust protection of sensitive data.Regulatory Compliance Support: Certifications align with GDPR, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, and NIS Regulations, helping clients meet regulatory requirements.

About Secure Ideas

Secure Ideas is a leading provider of adversarial cybersecurity solutions and services, dedicated to helping businesses of all sizes protect their information and assets from cyber threats. With a team of experienced and skilled professionals, Secure Ideas offers innovative products and services designed to meet the unique security needs of organizations in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. For more information, users can visit secureideas.com.

Media Contact: COO | Andrew Kates | Secure Ideas | andrew@secureideas.com | +91-9049628046

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SOURCE Secure Ideas

TEMPE, Ariz., April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A two-year study released today from Arizona State University reveals the potential impact of story-driven virtual reality (VR) learning experiences on university students.

More than 4,000 students taking VR biology courses enhanced through “Dreamscape Learn” showed marked improvement in academic outcomes, student satisfaction and lab grades in science courses, as well as increased engagement and retention among STEM majors.

“We believe this will have a tremendous impact on national STEM education and begin to help solve the critical need of producing the highly skilled science workforce of the future,” said Lisa Flesher, chief of Realm 4 initiatives at EdPlus and an ASU clinical assistant professor.

The study included pre- and post-class student surveys, interviews and classroom observations. Key findings included:

Regardless of demographic factors, all students performed well (average grade of “A” from 90.8% to 94.1%) on the Dreamscape Learn VR lab assignments.Students showed improved retention in STEM courses and were more likely to remain in STEM majors for at least a year after taking the course.On average, students improved their academic performance from VR, with a one-quarter letter grade improvement in their final course grade as they advanced from Bio 182 from Bio 181.Students also scored a one-quarter letter grade higher in more advanced biology majors’ 300-level courses.Students gave the VR experience the highest rating for satisfaction (5/5 scale) and immersive engagement.

“What we’re seeing is that immersive, emotionally engaging storylines in Dreamscape Learn help students think and feel like scientists,” said Annie Hale, who led the study as the executive director at EdPlus and clinical assistant professor in the College of Global Futures.

ASU’s groundbreaking effort to revolutionize biology education, called NeoBio, was among the big winners at the recent Edison Awards, a global celebration of game-changing innovation and leadership. To engage even more students, ASU has partnered with similarly minded K-12 schools and universities, reaching now more than 20,000 students in addition to the more than 25,000 ASU students who have experienced Dreamscape Learn.  

Next, Dreamscape Learn VR experiences will be expanded and implemented in several chemistry, sustainability, space exploration, engineering, business and humanities courses now underway.   

The study results will be discussed at a panel discussion during the annual ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, California, at 1 p.m. PDT on Tuesday, April 8.

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SOURCE Arizona State University