IT for consulting and business services
Companies in the consulting and business services industries often have specialist needs that require effective use of IT. Law firms, consultancies, accountants, recruitment firms and other advisory services use innovative technology to deliver business benefits, and you can read our news and analysis of the key trends and what they mean to you
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News
03 Jan 2024
Artificial intelligence to the front in Sweden’s National Technology Strategy
Sweden focuses in on artificial intelligence in its latest far-reaching national IT strategy Continue Reading
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Feature
07 Sep 2023
Interview: Ashish Gupta, head of EMEA, HCLTech
It’s not just enterprises that changed their operating models during and after Covid, but also the suppliers that took them on the journey, HCLTech Europe’s head explains Continue Reading
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News
18 Mar 2020
IR35 private sector reforms: Coronavirus prompts Treasury to delay start date to April 2021
HM Treasury confirms roll-out of IR35 reforms to the private sector will be halted for a year to ease the pressure on businesses in the face of the coronavirus outbreak Continue Reading
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News
11 Mar 2020
Fintech workers called to share their experiences of microaggression
Fintech workers were asked to share upsetting workplace incidents as part of an anonymous study Continue Reading
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News
11 Mar 2020
International Women’s Day provides platform for Nordic women in tech
International annual event reminds tech industry that work needs to be done to reduce inequality, but organisations must work towards this on a daily basis Continue Reading
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Opinion
03 Mar 2020
EC publishes approach to human and ethical implications of AI, but what will UK do?
The European Commission has published a guide to the EU’s approach to the human and ethical effects that artificial intelligence might bring Continue Reading
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News
02 Mar 2020
HMRC CEO denies it is ‘deliberately misleading’ public over loan scheme promoter arrests
HMRC CEO Jim Harra has “strongly rejected” claims made on social media by the Loan Charge All Party Parliamentary Group of cross-party MPs that it is “deliberately misleading” the public about its recent loan scheme-related enforcement activities Continue Reading
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News
27 Feb 2020
IR35 private sector reforms: Treasury review concludes no delay needed to April 2020 start date
Contracting groups describe HM Treasury’s highly anticipated review into the implementation of the IR35 reforms as “recklessly inadequate” as it concludes roll-out should proceed as planned Continue Reading
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News
26 Feb 2020
Thousands of UK entrepreneurs register businesses in Estonia since Brexit referendum
UK entrepreneurs are registering businesses in Estonia to make sure they can continue to trade freely in the EU Continue Reading
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News
24 Feb 2020
IR35 private sector reforms: First year of enforcement won't be ‘heavy-handed’, claims chancellor
New chancellor Rishi Sunak has moved to assure business leaders that HMRC will not be heavy-handed in enforcing the new IR35 rules Continue Reading
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News
10 Feb 2020
Two-thirds of workers at risk of robot-driven redundancy are unaware of the threat to jobs
People who do jobs that are most likely to be automated through technology are unaware and unprepared of the impending threat to their livelihoods, with Nesta calling on the government to do more to up-skill those at risk Continue Reading
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News
07 Feb 2020
IR35 private sector reforms: HMRC confirms last-minute tweak to incoming off-payroll rules
The government is rolling out a tweak to the IR35 private sector reforms that it claims will give businesses more time to prepare, but stakeholders are unconvinced Continue Reading
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News
31 Jan 2020
Estonian CIO gives UK IT professionals hope as Brexit removes rights
Tech chief says Estonia’s door is open to UK IT professionals if they want to continue enjoying an EU lifestyle Continue Reading
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News
17 Jan 2020
IR35 private sector reforms: Blanket bans ‘devalue’ IT contractor contributions to digital projects
James Poyser, CEO of contractor-focused online accountancy firm InniAccounts, claims large firms that are failing to assess contractors fairly will lose out in productivity, reputation and talent retention Continue Reading
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News
15 Jan 2020
Loan charge under review: IT contractors slam government's planned policy revamp
The IT contractor community shares its verdict on the UK government's plans to revamp its controversial loan charge policy, which has left thousands of people facing life-changing tax bills and financial ruin Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Dec 2019
Top 10 storage deployment stories of 2019
Here are ComputerWeekly’s top 10 storage deployment stories for 2019, which see quite a move away from traditional SAN and NAS to hyper-converged, software-defined storage and object storage Continue Reading
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News
18 Dec 2019
How Saudi Arabia plans to become the Silicon Valley of the Middle East
With its young and educated population, Saudi Arabia has the potential to become a hub for tech innovation Continue Reading
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News
11 Dec 2019
How can CIOs in Europe turn innovation into a competitive advantage?
CIOs across Europe are under pressure to innovate to help businesses grow and must think differently as a result Continue Reading
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News
09 Dec 2019
Cloud computing surges in the UAE in 2019
Cloud computing take-up saw a significant acceleration in the Middle East throughout this year Continue Reading
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News
05 Dec 2019
Cyber Girls First volunteers encourage girls to think high-tech
More than 80 schoolgirls spent a day learning about computer hackers and rocket science – Cyber Girls First hopes they will become the next generation of technologists Continue Reading
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News
02 Dec 2019
Private sector warned off delaying IR35 reform prep as Conservative Party promises review
The Conservative Party has followed in the footsteps of the Liberal Democrats, The Labour Party and the Scottish National Party by committing to a review of the IR35 reforms Continue Reading
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News
28 Nov 2019
Finnish tech firm aims to create scalable general-purpose quantum computer
University spin-off is attempting to take quantum computing capabilities to multiple business sectors Continue Reading
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Opinion
26 Nov 2019
The super-resilient IT function
IT functions don’t have to continue taking the blame for organisational failures, they can take the lead in transforming the business Continue Reading
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News
26 Nov 2019
Revamped HMRC IR35 status checker tool still lacks key functionality, contractor groups claim
HMRC releases an updated version of its IR35 tax status checker tool, CEST, to accommodate the onset of the tax avoidance reforms being rolled out to the private sector, but contracting stakeholders claim it still lacks basic functionality Continue Reading
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News
20 Nov 2019
Mimecast blocked 99 billion suspicious emails in third quarter
Latest threat intelligence report reveals the scale of the threat posed by malicious emails, with the transport, legal and financial sectors hit hardest Continue Reading
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News
15 Nov 2019
Loan charge under review: The 20-year retroactive tax policy pushing IT contractors to the brink
Thousands of IT contractors are at risk of financial ruin as HMRC pursues them for tax it claims they owe on work they did up to two decades ago and were reimbursed for via loan remuneration schemes. Computer Weekly investigates Continue Reading
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Podcast
12 Nov 2019
Podcast: The Computer Weekly Downtime Upload – Episode 36
In this week’s episode of the Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast, the team pick talk about General Election tech, HMRC's “war” on IT contractors, diversity in STEM and how organisations can fight back against fake online reviews Continue Reading
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News
04 Nov 2019
IR35 tribunal rules HMRC wrong to pursue ex-DWP IT contractor for £240,000 in unpaid employment tax
HMRC has vowed to appeal against the outcome of an IR35 tribunal that ruled it should not be pursuing an ex-DWP and Accenture IT contractor for more than £240,000 in unpaid tax as his engagements classify him as self-employed Continue Reading
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News
31 Oct 2019
IR35 reforms: Concerns raised over private sector’s lack of preparedness for April 2020 start date
As the countdown towards the IR35 reforms coming into force in the private sector continues, research by recruitment firm Hays draws concerns over an apparent lack of awareness and preparation amongst enterprises Continue Reading
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News
29 Oct 2019
Reykjavik: An IT ecosystem beyond the ice
Iceland is a small island between Europe and the US, and that is one of several reasons why it is attracting tech startups to its capital Continue Reading
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News
17 Oct 2019
IR35 private sector preparation: What the banks’ take on the reforms means for IT contractors
With six months until IR35 tax avoidance reforms are extended to the private sector, a number of financial services firms are thinning out their contractor workforce – is that the way to ensure compliance? Continue Reading
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Podcast
14 Oct 2019
PCI DSS: Credit card data and what to expect from version 4.0
We preview October’s PCI Europe Community Meeting where attendees will discuss credit card payment data, with topics covered likely to include the cloud and point-to-point encryption Continue Reading
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News
07 Oct 2019
UKtech50 2019 – help us find the most influential people in UK technology
Computer Weekly’s annual search for the 50 most influential people in UK technology reaches its 10th anniversary – let us know who you would like to nominate for this year’s list Continue Reading
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News
18 Sep 2019
Emotet phishing botnet returns from summer vacation
The Emotet phishing trojan-turned-botnet is back in action after a three-and-a-half month break, say threat researchers Continue Reading
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Opinion
17 Sep 2019
The five software testing techniques every software developer should know about
Five simple testing techniques that will help developers test their software systematically, thoroughly and quickly Continue Reading
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News
17 Sep 2019
Ecuador citizens’ data breach holds lessons for enterprises
What caused the mass breach of Ecuadorian citizens’ data, and what can businesses learn from it? Continue Reading
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News
13 Sep 2019
Ditch hoodies and hackers to encourage diverse security recruitment
The cyber security industry needs to address a systemic image problem if it is to succeed in recruiting more diverse teams Continue Reading
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News
13 Sep 2019
When AIs go to war: Autonomous cyber weapons ‘inevitable’
CISOs must start thinking about how to engage with intelligent, adaptive, non-human attackers, says Trend Micro’s Rik Ferguson Continue Reading
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News
13 Sep 2019
Industry opposition to no-deal Brexit hardens, says TechUK
A survey of TechUK members has found that 71% believe a no-deal Brexit at the end of October will negatively affect them in spite of their preparations Continue Reading
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News
12 Sep 2019
Mirai descendants dominate IoT threat environment
Attacks leveraging compromised IoT devices are growing in size, scale and frequency, report security experts at F-Secure and Trend Micro, with Mirai-related botnets a major source of trouble Continue Reading
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News
11 Sep 2019
GDPR non-compliance worse than feared
Over half of UK businesses do not yet appear to be fully GDPR-compliant, and many have de-prioritised their compliance efforts Continue Reading
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News
10 Sep 2019
BT gears up to take on rogue drones
BT’s Enterprise unit is offering customers an anti-drone security solution to protect their physical sites from intrusion Continue Reading
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News
09 Sep 2019
Social engineering a factor in virtually all cyber attacks, report claims
Almost every single cyber attack will, at some stage, require a human to be tricked into doing something, according to research by Proofpoint Continue Reading
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News
09 Sep 2019
Loyal Dutch IT professionals not being rewarded enough, survey shows
Companies warned they could lose loyal IT staff because salary rises do not match those on offer from rival employers Continue Reading
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Feature
05 Sep 2019
Cutting the cord: Negotiating cloud contracts with problematic customers
How accountable should cloud firms be for the actions of the customers that use their platforms, and how much thought should they give to aligning themselves with problematic brands before hosting them? Continue Reading
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Opinion
04 Sep 2019
Businesses need to keep investing in tech and hope to avoid a no-deal Brexit
A no-deal Brexit could have serious consequences for the UK tech sector and skills base, making it more difficult to recruit technology specialists and hire freelancers Continue Reading
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News
23 Aug 2019
IR35 reforms: HMRC defends off-payroll rules guidance against "woeful" IPSE jibes
HMRC promises there are more preparatory materials in the pipeline to help the private sector prepare for the April 2020 IR35 rules, after IPSE brands its current guidance "woeful" Continue Reading
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News
22 Aug 2019
A helping hand from the Nordics in the eye of the GDPR storm
Nordic IT companies are well suited to supporting enterprises in their data protection projects, even though openness is more natural to them Continue Reading
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News
20 Aug 2019
Buyers think SD-WAN is too expensive and complicated
Building and maintaining an SD-WAN is perceived as a complicated endeavour, and the industry’s messages are not getting through, says a new report Continue Reading
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Feature
13 Aug 2019
What 5G applications will transform your business?
The UK’s mobile network operators have started work on their 5G roll-outs, but what applications are most likely to gain enterprise traction for the new standard? Continue Reading
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News
31 Jul 2019
Middle East businesses welcome Amazon Web Services region launch
Bahrain AWS region, with three datacentres, links Middle East to AWS's global network and will help to accelerate digital transformation Continue Reading
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News
15 Jul 2019
Organisations turn to AI in race against cyber attackers
Businesses are racing to automate their defences as hackers and nation states launch increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks Continue Reading
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News
12 Jul 2019
SD-WAN in play: How software-defined solves core business challenges
For foodservice business HMSHost International and chemical products firm Element Solutions, both customers of networking supplier Aryaka, software-defined wide area networking technology is proving its mettle when it comes to solving core business challenges. Find out how. Continue Reading
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News
11 Jul 2019
Draft finance bill dims hopes of private sector reprieve on April 2020 roll-out of IR35 reforms
Publication of the draft IR35 private sector reform legislation dims hopes the government might announce a delay to rolling out the changes in April 2020 Continue Reading
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Feature
11 Jul 2019
Securing your mobile estate – best practice for CIOs
The prevalence of mobile devices in every part of daily life is shaping how enterprises make choices about software and network infrastructure, but how do businesses go about securing these vast new endpoint estates? Continue Reading
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News
04 Jul 2019
Implementing IoT – overcoming barriers to commercial adoption
Tim Wright from the Institute of Telecoms Professionals reports from a recent seminar exploring questions around the barriers to commercial, at-scale adoption of the internet of things, and how to overcome them Continue Reading
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News
02 Jul 2019
CPS faces legal ruling over refusal to disclose emails with US on WikiLeaks and Assange extradition
A court will decide whether the Crown Prosecution Service can refuse to neither confirm nor deny the existence of correspondence with US on investigations into Julian Assange and WikiLeaks Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Jul 2019
How to get the basics of mobile device management right the first time
When adopting mobile device management, there are often fears around implementation and whether or not the strategy is even required Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Jun 2019
Exploring UCaaS: The main benefits for enterprises
Getting unified communications-as-a-service right can mean more agility, higher productivity, and cost control Continue Reading
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News
19 Jun 2019
Looming private sector IR35 reforms prompts calls for gig economy-focused tax system overhaul
The growth of the gig-based economy has exposed weaknesses in the UK tax system – exacerbated by the IR35 reforms – that mean an overhaul is needed, panel claims Continue Reading
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News
19 Jun 2019
Luxembourg tech startups get premium connections
Luxembourg is at the centre of a continent with ambitious plans to develop a thriving tech industry, but what makes it different? Continue Reading
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News
18 Jun 2019
Openreach trials will speed up broadband upgrade
Tests to focus on process of migrating households and businesses to fibre to the premise and voice over IP Continue Reading
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News
17 Jun 2019
HMRC urged to delay April 2020 extension of IR35 rules to private sector by 'at least' 12 months
An analysis of the responses HMRC has reportedly received to its consultation on extending the IR35 tax avoidance reforms to the private sector suggests the tax agency is coming under pressure to put its plans on hold for at least 12 months Continue Reading
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Opinion
11 Jun 2019
Why the rise of IT managed by the business is driving creative thinking
Organisations that encourage business units to implement and run their own IT systems have an edge over competitors that rely entirely on the IT department, research from Harvey Nash and KPMG reveals Continue Reading
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News
10 Jun 2019
Large firms look to zero-trust security to reduce cyber risk
In the face of increasing cyber breach risk as organisations move to hybrid multi-cloud IT environments, just over half of large firms in Europe are planning a zero-trust approach to security Continue Reading
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News
06 Jun 2019
Half of CFOs frustrated by complex accounting systems
Chief financial officers need to upgrade to easier-to-use accounting systems, but are strapped for time and lack the resources to make the right choices, according to survey Continue Reading
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News
05 Jun 2019
London could be world cyber risk leader, says ex-Lloyd’s chief
Collaboration across the cyber insurance, technology and security organisations in London could make the capital a leading world centre on these topics, says former Lloyd’s of London boss Continue Reading
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News
30 May 2019
2.3 billion business and consumer data files exposed online
In the year since the GDPR compliance deadline, the number of data files exposed online without adequate protection is up more than 50% due to misconfigured security controls, report reveals Continue Reading
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News
22 May 2019
HMRC's defence of IR35 online status checker tool likened to 'climate change denial'
In an open letter addressed to chancellor Philip Hammond and HMRC's CEO Jon Thompson, the tax collection agency's defence of its IR35 online status checker tool, CEST, is likened to climate change denial, as calls grow for it to be scrapped Continue Reading
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News
21 May 2019
UC Expo 2019: Experts talk up future tech in unified communications
Automation and AI are increasingly prevalent in unified comms, but do enterprises really need it? Continue Reading
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News
17 May 2019
École Hôtelière de Lausanne puts Amelia the robot at its core
When Switzerland-based hospitality school EHL began to automate processes, it was met with staff inertia, but that all changed after its benefits became clear Continue Reading
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News
16 May 2019
Fujitsu sets out to restore trust in technology
Trust in technology, how to recapture it, and how to ensure AI doesn’t overstep its bounds were the big messages on the opening day of Fujitsu Forum in Tokyo Continue Reading
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News
10 May 2019
Dutch businesses not yet implementing NIS Directive
Little urgency to comply with the Network and Information Systems Security Act, which seeks to protect the Netherlands’ vital infrastructure and digital services from cyber attack Continue Reading
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News
02 May 2019
PA Consulting announces 2019 winners of Raspberry Pi Competition
Consulting brand focused on innovation and business transformation has announced the winners of its 2019 coding competition run in partnership with Raspberry Pi Continue Reading
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News
01 May 2019
Get more proactive on cyber security, says ex Europol chief
Business needs to get more proactive, collaborative, resilient and analytical to manage cyber risks posed by cyber criminals down to acceptable levels, says former Europol chief Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Apr 2019
Mobile phones and health: is 5G being rolled out too fast?
European countries are rolling out 5G mobile communications at breakneck speed as they seek to gain a competitive edge over the US and Asia. But some scientists have raised questions about the effects of 5G mobile phone radiation on public health and are calling for a precautionary approach Continue Reading
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News
17 Apr 2019
Middle East CIOs optimistic as budgets increase and digital transformations expand
Cyber security and risk management will see the biggest increase in spending, but digital transformation of businesses is a major driver of investment, survey shows Continue Reading
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News
04 Apr 2019
Social inclusion unit aims to expand diversity in IT conversation
New unit at startup hub wants to explore how technology can be applied to address the barriers many people face in participating in society Continue Reading
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News
03 Apr 2019
Most business decision-makers and knowledge workers happy to work alongside robots
Fears that automation will remove jobs for knowledge workers are reducing as opportunities emerge to upskill and eradicate mundane work Continue Reading
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Opinion
02 Apr 2019
Goliath vs Goliath and the complexities of 5G intellectual property
Is Apple the good guy or the bad guy? It has violated patents and had its wrist slapped by the courts (bad), yet its products are still available for adoring fans to buy (good) Continue Reading
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Opinion
28 Mar 2019
Audit services – the next frontier for tech giants?
As data analytics, AI and automation technology advance, could we be about to see technology firms take on some of the responsibilities of the big financial audit firms? Continue Reading
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News
28 Mar 2019
Businesses losing out on early payment discounts due to outdated software
Chief financial officers need to upgrade their accounting software to benefit from discounts available for paying suppliers early Continue Reading
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News
07 Mar 2019
ICO head still in top three of DataIQ data leader list
The UK’s information commissioner remains in the top three data leaders after claiming top spot in 2018 in the DataIQ 100 list of most influential data leaders, but GDPR is not the only focus in the industry Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Mar 2019
What are the CDN options for enterprises?
We look at how content delivery networks can give your organisation’s web presence a literal edge Continue Reading
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News
25 Feb 2019
Nordic tech is increasing diversity but more needs to be done
The shortage of women in the boardroom is a problem in the Nordics, like other regions, but work in its tech sector means the future could be more promising Continue Reading
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Opinion
15 Feb 2019
Making the move to cloud work for you
Getting the best out of a move to the cloud means getting the size right, turning off what you don’t need, smart purchasing and continuously decluttering your new environment Continue Reading
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News
12 Feb 2019
Deloitte will double Hyderabad workforce to support demand for technology services
Deloitte will add 40,000 staff at its operation in Hyderabad, with IT professionals accounting for a significant portion of employees Continue Reading
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News
12 Feb 2019
Dutch developer offers businesses nuclear security option for communications
Startup that created the secure platform for communication between world leaders at the 2014 Nuclear Security Summit in the Netherlands seeks to revolutionise business mail Continue Reading
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News
07 Feb 2019
Nordic region primed to pioneer 5G
The Nordic region could pioneer the commercial use of 5G, with Finland and Sweden hotbeds for the technology Continue Reading
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News
06 Feb 2019
UK’s IT and BPO spend plummets because of Brexit uncertainty
UK businesses cut their investment in IT and business process outsourcing last year because of confusion over Brexit, but there was a 68% rise in public sector spending Continue Reading
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News
29 Jan 2019
IT leaders grapple with workforce skills gap as they deploy AI and digital technology
Organisations will have to find new ways of reskilling their workforce as they get to grips with artificial intelligence and other digital technologies. CIOs also need to keep their skills updated if they are to succeed Continue Reading
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News
28 Jan 2019
UK IT spending worth £27bn held back due to Brexit uncertainty
UK businesses are putting billions of pounds of IT investments on hold until they know the terms that the UK will leave the EU Continue Reading
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Opinion
23 Jan 2019
Will AI replace lawyers? Assessing the potential of artificial intelligence in legal services
You may not be surprised to learn that lawyers don't expect AI to replace them, but the potential for the technology in law and other professional services must not be underestimated Continue Reading
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News
22 Jan 2019
Young Dutch cyber criminals get re-education rather than jail time
Young hackers in the Netherlands are being rehabilitated through punishments that educate rather than incarcerate Continue Reading
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News
18 Jan 2019
Siemens connects to world’s largest UCC deployment
German technology powerhouse Siemens AG reveals how it unified communications and collaboration for hundreds of thousands of employees worldwide Continue Reading
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News
17 Jan 2019
Vodafone and IBM prep user clouds for future network tech
Companies expand existing collaboration to enable enterprise customers to prepare for the impact of advanced networking technologies Continue Reading
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News
17 Jan 2019
UK tech firms favour second referendum as next move in Brexit stalemate
UK tech firms want to remain as close to the EU as possible and believe a second referendum on membership of the trading bloc would be the best way out of the current political stalemate Continue Reading
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News
11 Jan 2019
Microsoft takes community approach to artificial intelligence in Sweden
Microsoft is making increasing use of artificial intelligence in Sweden as it shares experiences with the development community Continue Reading
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News
10 Jan 2019
Enterprises are increasing the human workforce while deploying AI
Artificial intelligence is creating more jobs than it replaces, according to a study of businesses using the technology Continue Reading
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News
02 Jan 2019
Nordic digital transformation driven by traditional businesses
More traditional Nordic businesses are fuelling the region's digital transformation, finds report Continue Reading
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Opinion
31 Dec 2018
Can we live without passwords?
Can you imagine a future in which we can be secure online without having to remember an unwieldly list of passwords? Solutions are emerging that could make passwords redundant, but there will be other security problems to resolve Continue Reading
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News
28 Dec 2018
Top 10 HR technology stories of 2018
Companies are turning to artificial intelligence, robotic automation and chatbots to take the drudgery out of human resource management Continue Reading