In times of uncertainty, we instinctively seek stability, in our relationships, routines, and the communities around us. When the wider world feels unpredictable, human connection becomes more than a comfort; it becomes a lifeline. Yet in fast-moving cities and digital-first lifestyles, many of us maintain large networks while lacking the deeper bonds that truly sustain us.

Research shows that strong social ties build resilience, lower stress, and improve overall health. As conversations around wellbeing become more open, there is growing recognition that the quality of our relationships matters just as much as professional achievement, and that in moments of collective unease, those ties matter even more.

Recognising the importance of real-world connection, UAE-based platform MAXION suggests five ways that building community can help protect wellbeing.

1. Prioritise depth over volume

It is easy to confuse social activity with genuine connection. Many of us interact with dozens of contacts online every day yet still experience loneliness. What safeguards wellbeing is not the size of a network, but the substance of the relationships within it. Harvard’s long-running Study of Adult Development, which has tracked participants for more than 80 years, found that warm, supportive bonds are among the most significant predictors of long-term happiness. Honest dialogue, shared values, and reliable encouragement foster belonging that broad but shallow circles rarely provide.

2. Say yes to new experiences, they could become lasting bonds

Some of the most important relationships begin simply with a chat at an event, or an introduction through a friend. What matters is allowing those early interactions to develop over time. To encourage more of us to take that step, particularly during a period when isolation can quietly take hold, MAXION is offering complimentary premium memberships to both existing and new members of its curated community until 17 March. The initiative reflects a broader belief: that lasting bonds are not built through endless scrolling, but through shared experiences and real conversation.

3. Collective experiences ease stress and build grounding

Small, purposeful activities, meeting for coffee, attending a gathering, or simply spending unhurried time together, bring stability during unsettled periods. Face-to-face interaction engages cues that screens cannot replicate, helping us feel heard and understood. Research has shown that time spent with friends or partners can significantly reduce perceived anxiety. These moments help individuals process what they are feeling and gain perspective, which becomes especially valuable when the ground beneath feels less certain.

4. Regular contact prevents loneliness from escalating

Loneliness has become a growing global concern. According to the World Health Organization, around one in six worldwide experience it, and it is linked to higher risks of depression, anxiety, elevated stress, and poorer physical health. Proactive engagement acts as an early buffer. When we make room for honest exchange and dependable contact, feelings of isolation are far less likely to take root. Even a small circle of trusted individuals can offer the reassurance needed to weather difficult stretches. Those ties also contribute to longer lives. Research across blue zones highlights that close community bonds and frequent interaction are key longevity factors, with one study noting that strong personal connections can reduce the risk of early death by up to 50%.

5. Routine builds steadiness

Community is strengthened through consistency. Whether it is weekly gatherings, group activities, or regular check-ins, showing up reliably anchors us during turbulent periods. Psychologists often point to the value of predictable social structures in maintaining wellbeing. Knowing that certain people and communities remain constant provides quiet comfort during times of change, a reminder that not everything is shifting at once.

In fast-paced cities like Dubai, carving out room for real connection is not always easy. But it has rarely been more important. By nurturing the bonds around us with care and intention, we can build the kind of networks that carry us through uncertainty and well beyond it.

RØDE has today announced the RØDECaster Video Core, a major new addition to its video production lineup, alongside a defining new integration capability that connects the console with select RØDECaster audio interfaces: RØDECaster Sync. Hot on the heels of the release of the RØDECaster Video S in November last year, the latest offering in RØDE’s growing range of all-in-one video and audio production consoles delivers the most streamlined solution yet for video podcasters, solo creators and live streamers at any professional level.

Designed specifically for creators working in modular or software-driven workflows, the RØDECaster Video Core offers the same advanced production power as the flagship RØDECaster Video. Combining advanced video switching, recording and streaming with a fully integrated professional audio mixer, it offers a flexible foundation for creating broadcast-quality content across video podcasts, live streams and studio productions in a compact desktop-friendly unit.

Launching alongside it, RØDECaster Sync is an innovative new feature that seamlessly connects the RØDECaster Video Core with the RØDECaster Pro II and RØDECaster Duo audio interfaces, creating a single unified production hub. With RØDECaster Sync, audio-first creators can expand into video with zero fuss, scaling their setup effortlessly while maintaining the studio-grade sound and intuitive control that has made RØDECaster the creative industry standard.

“The launch of the RØDECaster Video Core and RØDECaster Sync marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of content creation,” said RØDE CEO Damien Wilson. “With the RØDECaster range, every creator, no matter their skill level or workflow, is supported by a complete ecosystem that makes professional production more accessible than ever. As always, RØDE continues to set the industry benchmark for tearing down barriers to democratise content creation worldwide.”

Key Features of the RØDECaster Video Core:

• Switch between up to four video sources and five fully customisable scenes
• High-performance octa-core CPU video and audio processor
• Three full HD (1080p) HDMI inputs with auto frame rate conversion and one configurable HDMI output for viewing program, preview and multi-view
• Two flexible USB-C ports for connecting select video and audio devices
• Two studio-grade Neutrik® combo jacks with ultra-low noise, high-gain Revolution Preamps™ for capturing pristine audio from XLR microphones, instruments or any other audio source
• Powerful APHEX® audio processing, including an EQ, compressor, noise gate, high-pass filter, de-esser and the legendary Aural Exciter™, Big Bottom™ and Compellor™ effects
• Connect to a RØDECaster Pro II or Duo using RØDECaster Sync, creating a fully integrated video and audio setup, with hands-on control over your entire production alongside expanded inputs and outputs
• Support for network cameras (including PTZ operation) with up to four NDI inputs® and one output via Ethernet, plus dual-cam streaming with the free RØDE Capture app for iOS devices
• Media playback, keying, transitions, multi-source scenes, graphic overlays, audio mixing and advanced configuration via the RØDECaster App
• Connect an external SSD via USB to record video or output directly to a computer via UVC
• Remote control, user-assignable graphics and media, custom scene building, audio mixing and effects, and other advanced configuration options via RØDECaster App
• Intelligent auto-switching for seamless hands-free switching of video sources and scenes based on audio inputs
• EDL Export for DaVinci Resolve, importing switch, transition, graphic and timeline data for faster editing
• Dual USB-C audio interfaces for simultaneous connection to two computers and/or mobile devices
• Stream directly to all major platforms via Ethernet and record directly to an external USB storage device, including isolated (ISO) recording for complete post-editing flexibility.
• Designed and made in RØDE’s state-of-the-art facilities in Sydney, Australia

VIDEO UNLOCKED

Designed for creators working in both software-based and modular production environments, the RØDECaster Video Core delivers a seamless new way to bring professional video into any audio-first workflow. Compact and streamlined, it offers the same octa-core processor as the flagship RØDECaster Video, making high-end switching, streaming and recording more accessible than ever.

For creators who prefer software-based control, the RØDECaster Video Core integrates seamlessly with the RØDECaster App. This free dedicated companion app provides extensive control over every aspect of production, allowing users to switch between video sources, design custom multi-camera layouts with the scene builder and mix pristine audio with the intuitive mixer. With advanced configuration available at every level, the RØDECaster App gives productions a professional polish with total flexibility.

RØDECaster Sync takes this flexibility even further, introducing an innovative new way for the RØDECaster Video Core to integrate with compatible RØDECaster audio consoles, creating one unified production setup. By simply using a USB-C cable to connect the RØDECaster Video Core with the RØDECaster Pro II or Duo, creators can manage both audio and video from a single surface, expand their inputs and outputs, enable shared mixing and recording and unlock advanced switching capabilities that scale effortlessly as their studio grows.

BROADCAST-READY OUT OF THE BOX

With its compact footprint, the RØDECaster Video Core delivers uncompromising broadcast-quality production power. It supports switching between up to four video sources with fully customisable scenes, smooth transitions, graphic overlays and multi-source layouts – providing professional results without the complexity of traditional broadcast hardware.

With three Full HD HDMI inputs featuring auto frame rate conversion, configurable HDMI output monitoring, a configurable USB-C expansion port and support for network cameras via up to four NDI® inputs, the RØDECaster Video Core adapts to virtually any video setup, from podcasts to live studio productions.

In terms of audio, it brings the studio-grade sound RØDE is renowned for, featuring two Neutrik® combo inputs with ultra-low-noise, high-gain Revolution Preamps™ for pristine capture from microphones, instruments or line sources. Each of the nine stereo audio channels is enhanced with world-class APHEX® processing – including EQ, compression, noise gating, de-essing and legendary effects like Aural Exciter™, Big Bottom™ and Compellor™ – ensuring every production sounds as polished as it looks.

ANY CREATOR, ANY SETUP

Whether live streaming or recording for post-production, the RØDECaster Video Core integrates effortlessly into any creative setup. Creators can stream directly to YouTube, Twitch and other major platforms via Ethernet, or record straight to an external USB drive or SSD, with the option to capture each video and audio source independently through isolated (ISO) recording for maximum flexibility in the edit.

With support for a wide range of modern video inputs, from HDMI cameras to network sources and USB devices, the RØDECaster Video Core is built to adapt as productions grow. It also pairs seamlessly with the free RØDE Capture app, allowing creators to turn an iPhone into a high-quality dual-camera source for wireless multi-angle streaming, perfect for podcasts, interviews and solo content creation.

Compact, powerful and designed for the realities of today’s creators, the RØDECaster Video Core delivers a complete professional production solution without the traditional barriers of broadcast complexity. Designed and made in RØDE’s state-of-the-art facilities in Sydney, Australia, it represents the next evolution of the RØDECaster ecosystem and the most efficient path yet to creating polished video content at any level.

MAJOR FIRMWARE ENHANCEMENTS

In addition to the launch of the RØDECaster Video Core and the introduction of RØDECaster Sync, RØDE has announced a raft of impactful firmware updates across the RØDECaster Series, further enhancing the capabilities of its video and audio production consoles.

For the RØDECaster Video range, the updates include:

• EDL Timeline Export: Enables creators to export their full production timeline as an EDL file for DaVinci Resolve, seamlessly rebuilding their entire production. This preserves edit structure, timing and clip arrangement, massively streamlining post-production workflows.
• Compressed UVC Input / MJPEG Support: Expanded webcam compatibility now allows the use of a much wider range of USB cameras and devices, allowing for both compressed and uncompressed sources and giving creators more accessible options for their video setups.
• Flexible Media Import: Videos and media in non-standard resolutions and aspect ratios, such as vertical or square, can now be imported seamlessly – automatically scaling and optimising these files, ensuring they integrate smoothly into any production.

The RØDECaster Duo audio interface has also received a significant upgrade, bringing its total audio channels from seven to nine – matching the RØDECaster Pro II. Additionally, wireless inputs no longer replace Combo inputs, allowing creators to use XLR inputs and wireless receivers simultaneously for even greater flexibility.

These updates further solidify RØDE’s dedication to empowering creators with tools that adapt to their evolving needs. From the streamlined production power of the RØDECaster Video Core to the seamless connectivity of RØDECaster Sync and the expanded functionality delivered through sought-after firmware, RØDE continues to lead the way in shaping the future of creator technology.

Attributed by Osama Alzoubi, Middle East and Africa VP at Phosphorus Cybersecurity

As Saudi Arabia races ahead in digital healthcare transformation, a quieter vulnerability lingers in the background: medical imaging systems that can be found – and sometimes accessed – directly from the public internet. Imaging infrastructure, diagnostic platforms, and hospital information systems are being modernized at speed improving outcomes, accelerating workflows, and bringing advanced clinical capabilities to more communities. But beneath this progress lies a quieter risk that rarely makes headlines: medical imaging systems being exposed on the public internet due to simple configuration errors.

Not a dramatic cyberattack. Not a threat actor breaching a firewall. Just avoidable misconfigurations that leave sensitive patient data reachable by anyone who knows where to look.

Medical imaging systems in Saudi Arabia face a persistent security challenge that differs from dramatic cyberattacks. Patient data exposure often occurs through configuration errors that leave systems accessible on the public internet. These technical oversights represent a significant vulnerability in healthcare’s digital infrastructure.

The Kingdom’s Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) establishes strict requirements for handling health data. This legislation, modeled after international standards, mandates enhanced protection for medical information and imposes penalties for unauthorized disclosure. Hospitals must implement organizational and technical measures to prevent data exposure.

Radiology departments increasingly use digital platforms for case discussions and second opinions. Without proper configuration, these systems might allow unintended access to patient records. Teleradiology services, which expanded significantly during the pandemic, require secure transmission protocols to protect data during remote consultations.

When we hear about data breaches, we often imagine skilled hackers penetrating security systems. The reality is often simpler and more preventable. “Exposed” typically means a system is reachable from the public internet due to setup choices, not a sophisticated intrusion.

This happens in real-world healthcare settings for straightforward reasons: rushed deployments to meet clinical deadlines, vendor-supplied default configurations that were never changed, remote support access left open for convenience, and legacy systems that were connected to modern networks without proper security reviews.

The scale is significant. Research has identified over 1.2 million reachable devices and systems globally, including MRI scanners, X-ray systems, and related medical infrastructure. These are not theoretical vulnerabilities. They represent actual systems that can be found and accessed from anywhere with an Internet connection.

What gets exposed is more than images

Medical imaging files are not simply pictures. They carry identifiers and metadata that can connect scans directly to real people. Patient names, dates of birth, identification numbers, and clinical details often travel alongside the diagnostic images themselves.

This matters for several reasons. Beyond the obvious privacy violation, exposed patient imaging data creates risks of identity fraud, potential coercion or blackmail, serious reputational damage to healthcare institutions, and erosion of the trust patients place in their medical providers.

Security monitoring platforms have documented cases where exposed systems allowed direct access to both images and patient data—offering a level of detail that should never be open to anyone outside the clinical team.

Why this keeps repeating worldwide

Hospitals everywhere use similar device types and manage comparable data flows. The result is that the same setup mistakes appear repeatedly across different countries and healthcare systems. What starts as one hospital’s misconfiguration becomes everyone’s common failure mode.

The medical devices themselves often come with similar default settings. Imaging servers, picture archiving systems, and diagnostic viewers are deployed in comparable ways. When basic security steps are skipped during installation, the exposure follows a predictable pattern.

Health sector cybersecurity guidance from international authorities emphasizes the need for repeatable baseline controls precisely because these patterns recur. Reducing exposure requires not innovation, but consistent application of known protective measures.

Healthcare organizations face a common vulnerability pattern. A major healthcare provider addressed similar challenges across hundreds of hospitals, discovering that default passwords, vulnerable firmware, and device misconfigurations created entry points that threatened patient care and hospital operations across more than 500,000 connected medical and operational devices.

The Saudi-specific layer: connectivity at cluster scale

Saudi Arabia’s healthcare transformation includes the expansion of health clusters that connect multiple facilities into integrated networks. This approach improves care coordination and resource sharing, but it also means that one weak link can affect multiple sites.

National interoperability initiatives support the sharing of imaging and diagnostic reports across the healthcare system. The Saudi health ministry has established specifications for imaging data exchange through the national health information exchange platform, enabling providers to access patient scans regardless of where they were originally performed.

This connectivity is essential for modern healthcare delivery. It allows specialists to review scans remotely, supports second opinions, and ensures continuity of care when patients move between facilities. However, it also increases the need for consistent configuration rules and security standards across all connected sites.

When imaging systems within a cluster are not uniformly secured, the exposure risk multiplies. A misconfigured system in one facility can potentially provide access to data from across the entire cluster network.

A practical checklist hospitals can act on

Healthcare institutions can take concrete steps to reduce exposure risk. These are not theoretical recommendations but proven measures that address the most common vulnerabilities.

First, create a complete inventory. Every hospital should maintain a current list of what is connected to its network, including imaging devices, storage servers, viewing stations, web portals, and remote access tools. You cannot protect what you do not know exists.

Second, check external exposure. Verify that nothing sensitive is reachable from the public internet. This requires technical scanning from outside the hospital network to identify systems that respond to external queries. Many organizations discover exposures they did not realize existed.

Third, restrict remote access properly. Remote connections for maintenance and support should be tightly controlled, require strong authentication methods, and be removed entirely when no longer needed. Convenience should never override security when patient data is involved.

Fourth, implement safe setup procedures. Develop standard build guides for imaging systems, change all default passwords and settings, clearly document who owns each system, and establish responsibility for applying security patches and updates. Industry experience shows that default credentials remain one of the lowest barriers for attackers seeking entry into healthcare networks.

Fifth, conduct continuous checks. Exposure scanning should happen after any network changes, not just once annually. Healthcare networks evolve constantly, and new vulnerabilities can appear whenever systems are added or reconfigured.

These steps align with guidance from international cybersecurity authorities and health sector regulators, which emphasize reducing exposed services and strengthening baseline controls as priority actions for healthcare organizations.

The governance fix: make secure setup part of how clusters run

Individual hospital efforts are necessary but not sufficient. At the cluster level, governance structures must embed security into standard operations.

This begins with cluster-wide minimum standards for imaging systems and remote access. Every facility within a cluster should follow the same baseline security requirements, ensuring consistent protection regardless of which site a patient visits.

Clear ownership must be established for every system. Someone specific should be responsible for applying patches, approving access requests, and regularly checking for exposure. When accountability is diffuse, critical tasks get overlooked.

Procurement processes offer another leverage point. Purchase agreements should require vendors to provide secure default configurations, enable comprehensive logging capabilities, and commit to supported update cycles for the life of the equipment. Security should be a selection criterion, not an afterthought.

These governance approaches reflect sector framework guidance that encourages structured programs and repeatable controls rather than ad hoc responses to individual incidents.

Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in national cybersecurity frameworks and regulatory oversight across critical sectors, including healthcare. The foundation exists. The next step is ensuring those protections extend fully to the expanding ecosystem of IoT and IoMT devices — where simple configuration gaps can undermine otherwise sophisticated digital progress.

Prevent avoidable incidents

The goal is not perfection. Healthcare systems are complex, and some level of risk will always exist. The goal is removing the easiest path for data exposure: systems sitting openly on the public internet waiting to be found.

In connected healthcare, the quickest wins come from two simple principles: visibility and access control. Know what you have connected, and shut the doors that do not need to be open.

For Saudi Arabia’s health clusters, this represents an achievable objective. The infrastructure investments being made across the Kingdom’s healthcare sector create an opportunity to build security into expansion rather than retrofitting it later.

Medical imaging systems serve an essential clinical purpose. They should not also serve as unintended windows into patient data. With practical steps and consistent governance, hospitals can fix this quiet risk before it becomes a public incident.

In digital healthcare, exposure is rarely a mystery. It is usually a configuration. The question is not whether hospitals can fix it, but whether they will do so before patients pay the price.