Many people confuse Bitcoin with Blockchain since it is a crucial, underlying technology used by Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. In reality Bitcoin is one the first and best known applications to run on a Blockchain network.

Many experts are calling this transformative technology the next internet. Andreas M. Antonopoulos, Author of "Mastering Bitcoin," has called Blockchain technology the largest, public deployment of cryptography in history.

Simply put, Blockchain is an encrypted dataset, or ledger, distributed over a self-governing network of computers operating in consensus with no centralized authority. Every transaction in the ledger is linked to the one before it, encrypted and distributed over the network. Any change to the ledger would require the entire network to be hacked; a virtually impossible feat, requiring more computing power than most entire countries posses.

In database architecture, one item consistently overlooked is security. We're not just talking a database login and password, but much deeper items such as Encryption at Rest, Encryption in Transit and simple port reassignment.

Encryption at Rest pertains to data "not moving", such as the database files themselves. This can be achieved either at the database engine level, and/or via encrypted disks. This will prevent someone from just copying the files off with out the proper key, signature, or encryption password to access them.

Encryption in Transit would pertain to data that is "moving", or being passed to and from the database via an application or website. The quickest way to achieve this is to insure you're using SSL to communicate from sender to receiver and vice versa. You can also setup handshake keys in most database engines that will increase the hash security during transit, providing an extra level of security.

Often overlooked is the reassignment of the port that the database communicates on from the standard port. This will often prevent DoS attacks and closes the door on basic hackers from getting access to your data.

Rebranding is something many companies - especially large ones - will do at some point if they plan on sticking around in the information age. It's important that business owners and CEOs realize that the logo you had designed 10-20 years ago, may not be right representation of your brand today. You must adapt.

Here's a few reasons to consider rebranding your business:

1. Your Vision Has Changed

Think about where your goals were 10 years ago. Have they evolved? Or do you have a different idea of what you want your brand to look like? It happens all the time. Many people will come up with a name or logo idea that was genius in 2001 but no longer represents the current business. It's okay, because rebranding is common and usually expected for growing businesses. If you don't love what you currently have, it's time for a rebrand.

2. New Owner

Are you stepping into a company you didn't originally lead? New ownership can change many things about the business, and if that happens, it's time for a rebrand. Sometimes it can feel like you're getting a hand-me-down, which actually can work for a while, but eventually you'll want something that represents the company YOU want to lead.