IT for government and public sector

Huge potential for use of big data to improve ambulance services, report finds

King’s College London report says government should explore value of big data, and calls for London ambulance services to partner with TfL to navigate traffic ‘more intelligently’ Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Department for Work and Pensions uses artificial intelligence to crack down on benefits fraud

DWP has made several digital strides, including developing AI to track organised benefits fraud, moved more than 100 digital products to “new hosting arrangements” and made savings on technology contracts, according to its annual report Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Finland’s R&D spending is recovering after a lost decade

The Finnish tech sector could benefit form better access to funds as the government prepares to increase spending on research and development Continue Reading

By

• Gerard O'Dwyer

HMRC deactivates record number of fake websites

HM Revenue & Customs has removed more than 20,000 malicious websites in the past year, but warns people to stay alert to the threat from online fraudsters Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Australian government grappling with digital transformation woes

Digital transformation in Australia’s public sector has been beset by soaring rhetoric and vague aspirations by government, a new report reveals Continue Reading

By

• Beverley Head

UK government cyber security standard welcomed

The information security community has welcomed the publication of the government’s minimum cyber security standard, which could be used by any organisation to improve its cyber defences Continue Reading

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• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Home Office criticised over ESN review progress

In an appearance before the Public Accounts Committee, Home Office permanent secretary Philip Rutnam defended the progress of the ESN project review Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

UK police forces are not taking advantage of digital, says policing minister

Embracing technology remains one of the biggest challenges facing UK police forces, according to policing minister Nick Hurd Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

NHS Digital signs three-year cyber security partnership with IBM

Partnership with IBM aims to bolster cyber security responses and defences, including expanding NHS Digital’s Cyber Security and Operations Centre Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

UK biometrics strategy criticised for lack of content

The long-awaited government biometrics strategy falls short of the mark, say critics, failing to provide a detailed and coherent strategy or governance framework Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

British Muslim considers appeal after court rules repeated terrorism stops are legal

Muzaffar Abdullah, a 37-year-old gas engineer who has been stopped and questioned by police at airports at least 10 times, is considering an appeal after being found guilty of wilful obstruction for refusing to answer questions under controversial terrorism legislation. He received a conditional discharge. Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

TfL partners with Siemens to revamp traffic network for connected cars

A traffic control system being developed by Siemens and TfL will propel traffic management into the era of the internet of things Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Significant challenges remain with HMRC’s customs IT system, says NAO

HM Revenue and Customs has reduced “some risks” in its customs declaration service’s readiness for Brexit, but the tight timetable remains a “major challenge”, says National Audit Office Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Lorca will help drive UK cyber exports, says ex-GCHQ boss

New London cyber security innovation centre will help to boost exports of UK cyber security expertise, says former GCHQ director Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Government must challenge popular smart city misconceptions

A report by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Smart Cities says many people feel alienated by the concept, and calls on the government to challenge some popular misconceptions Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Cyber criminals 'infect and collect' in cryptojacking surge

Illicit cryptocurrency mining offers cyber criminals lower risk, higher efficacy and greater ease of making money, adding passive exploitation to ransomware extortion, data breach theft and fraud, a report reveals Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Brent Council tenants to receive full-fibre broadband service

Borough-wide FTTP broadband roll-out could address up to 100,000 homes and businesses in North London Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Technology key to keeping staff happy

Giving employees access to the latest technologies will improve their satisfaction and increase productivity, survey shows Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

AI and other tech key to post-Brexit success, says Matt Hancock

Digital secretary Matt Hancock highlights the importance of emerging technologies to the future of the UK at the opening of London’s cyber security innovation centre Continue Reading

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• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

GDS is trying to democratise digital, says Cunnington

GDS boss Kevin Cunnington offers departments help with Brexit and says GDS is working to solve the “hardest problems”, as well as mapping innovation across government Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

British Muslim challenges use of intelligence databases for repeated police stops

Muzaffar Abdullah is challenging police use of intelligence databases to repeatedly stop and question Muslims, after being arrested for refusing to answer questions under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000. His lawyers say he had been stopped at least 10 times before and the police should have known he had no connection to terrorism Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

London cyber innovation centre opens

The government-funded London cyber innovation centre is set to open today and welcome the first cyber security businesses as a study reveals that a quarter of UK firms lack the right security technology Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Projects receive funding to help digitise manufacturing

Following recommendations from the Industrial Digitisation review, the EPSRC is funding AI and process automation projects Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Nordic and Baltic states agree on joint approach to AI

The governments of the Nordic and Baltic region want to work closer together to further increase the status of artificial intelligence in business and society Continue Reading

By

• Gerard O'Dwyer

UK privacy groups join call on EU to halt comms data collection

UK-based privacy groups have joined calls for a halt to the collection of communications data by European Union member states Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

CCS cancels Crown Marketplace tender, but says programme continues

The Crown Commercial Service has cancelled a tender for an element of the Crown Marketplace, but insists the programme continues as the organisation has made “important decisions” to clarify scope and focus Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Mobile spectrum sharing is vital for UK 5G roll-out, says report

A report commissioned by independent network builders’ body Inca has warned that current approaches to how spectrum is apportioned are leaving vast amounts unused, and this needs to change Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

UK Space Agency offers £4m fund for using space tech in the NHS

The UK Space Agency is giving £4m to innovators working to adapt space technology to improve medical treatment and care in the NHS Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Assessing the hyperscale squeeze on G-Cloud's SMEs

The latest government spend data suggests public sector IT buyers are increasingly using G-Cloud to procure services from the hyperscale cloud community, prompting concerns about the impact this might have on the SME-friendly framework Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

BEIS and DfE not addressing Brexit impact on Stem skills, says PAC

A Public Accounts Committee report has raised concerns that government departments are not doing enough, quickly enough, to understand how Brexit will affect the supply of science, technology, engineering and maths skills in the UK Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

UK cyber skills in demand, says Dorset firm C3IA Solutions

UK cyber security skills are in demand and there is a bright future in exporting them, according to Dorset-based firm C3IA Solutions Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Brexit-induced immigration law shake-up ‘could spur tech startup growth’

By rebuilding immigration laws after it leaves the EU, the UK could make it easier for foreign workers to get visas and join startups, House of Lords committee hears Continue Reading

By

• Zach Emmanuel, Computer Weekly

SME provider takes on Cambridgeshire public sector network contract

Managed network services provider MLL Telecom has been awarded the EastNet contract to run WAN services across Cambridgeshire, replacing a legacy Virgin Media Network Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

A dozen councils get tech innovation funding

The councils will use the funding, awarded by NHS Digital and the Local Government Association, to pilot how technology can improve social care services Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Government sponsors diversity cyber academy

The UK government has awarded a grant for the establishment of a cyber academy to promote neurodiversity in the industry Continue Reading

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• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

How NHS visa cap exemption could help boost tech sector

The government has announced that NHS doctors and nurses will no longer be subject to Tier 2 visa caps, but what does this mean for the technology industry? Continue Reading

By

• Clare McDonald, Business Editor

Need for speed: designing a modern campus LAN

Just like datacentres before them, campus LANs are increasingly being defined by virtualisation and software-based controls. Next to this shift, the hardware also continues to improve as network owners look to keep pace with user demand Continue Reading

By

• Christian Annesley

Nine out of 10 enterprises will use robotic process automation by 2020

Robotic process automation take-up expected to reach 92% of European enterprises within two years, finds ISG survey Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

CIO interview: Taavi Kotka, former CIO, Estonian government

Estonia’s former CIO talks to Computer Weekly about how to make services work for people, why the skills gap shouldn’t be an excuse not to digitise, and the importance of going to the gym Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Dutch organisations must unite to fight DDoS attacks

Experts in the Netherlands call on Dutch corporations and institutions to work together to help prevent distributed denial of service attacks Continue Reading

By

• Tijs Hofmans

Government’s broadband service obligation derided by industry

As Ofcom starts the process of finding a provider willing to step up to manage the government’s 10Mbps broadband universal service obligation, the project has been derided by network builders and stakeholders alike Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

NHS trust dumps creaking EMC SAN for Nutanix hyper-converged

Derbyshire-based NHS trust had reached end-of-life with Dell servers and EMC SAN, so it took the plunge with Nutanix hyper-converged to reap space, power and reliability gains Continue Reading

By

• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

MPs see risk to critical infrastructure as top threat

A majority of MPs are concerned about the cyber threat to critical national infrastructure, a survey has revealed Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Technology can help solve some of society’s pressing social and environmental problems

A recent initiative on using technology to tackle the illegal wildlife trade shows how much the tech sector can contribute to solving some of society's biggest challenges Continue Reading

By

• Julian David, TechUK

An audience with Matt Hancock, secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport

Matt Hancock is the first Cabinet minister with a digital background, and he's keen to impress on the tech sector that he’s on their side. Continue Reading

Theresa May gives NHS £20bn birthday gift and says tech is key

The prime minister promises to increase NHS funding by an extra £20bn a year by 2023, and highlights importance of tech in improving care and enabling earlier diagnosis Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

IPsoft’s digital worker is part of a shift in human productivity

IPsoft used its annual user summit to allow customers to update themselves on the career of its cognitive digital agent Amelia Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Universal Credit value for money ‘unproven’, says NAO

National Audit Office is uncertain DWP’s flagship benefits reform programme will ever achieve value for money, but says it’s too late to turn back Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

The next moves by DCMS on data and digital identity must lay foundations for UK's digital economy

Matt Hancock, the secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport (DCMS), is not everyone’s cup of tea – especially when that cup is Matt Hancock branded. But regardless of whether you’re ... Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

Encryption is under attack, says Venafi CEO Jeff Hudson

Encryption is one of the fundamental principles on which the internet is built, but this vital technology is under threat from criminals and ill-advised government policies, says Venafi CEO Jeff Hudson Continue Reading

By

• Peter Ray Allison

Government Geospatial Commission opens up OS MasterMap data

The Geospatial Commission, announced by chancellor Philip Hammond in his 2017 Autumn Budget, has opened up some Ordnance Survey MasterMap data to boost small businesses Continue Reading

By

• Brian McKenna, Senior Analyst, Business Applications

Government launches £50m competition for digital pathology and imaging

The government will provide funding for up to six specialist centres focusing on digital pathology or medical imaging, as part of the drive to make the UK a world leader in the field Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Cyber attack warnings highlight need to be prepared

Fresh warnings about the vulnerability of national infrastructure to cyber attacks show the need for securing and monitoring associated control systems connected to the internet Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

GP at Hand service will destabilise GP practices, says Unite

Union calls on government to scrap on-demand GP app, saying it threatens the future of NHS GP practices and is eroding the personal relationship between patients and clinicians Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Advanced network supports new learning model at Northampton Uni

The University of Northampton is preparing to open a new campus at a cost of £330m, and has turned to Cisco to supply an intelligent, secure network to support its innovative learning model Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

DCMS sets out plans for National Data Strategy

A new centre for data ethics and innovations will drive UK government policy making regarding data sharing and use of public data Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

CogX AI show opens with debate on Europe’s lack of dominance

European researchers have made significant breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, but the dominant players all seem to be based in Silicon Valley Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Prime minister announces new visa for startups

The government promises new “startup” visa for entrepreneurs, a £2.5bn British Patient Capital fund to support UK companies going global, and plans for two international tech hubs Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Mayor Khan bids to make London the world’s smartest city

At London Tech Week, mayor Sadiq Khan launched a city-wide initiative to harness the capital’s technology talent to address London’s most pressing problems Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

CityFibre wins key decision in fake fibre case

CityFibre has been granted permission to proceed with a judicial review of the ASA’s November 2017 decision about the use of the term fibre in broadband ads Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Wales to launch £100m transformation fund for health and social care

Welsh government promises to increase investment in digital technologies and infrastructure, improve digital leadership and establish a national data resource to share information Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

BT announces “unhackable” quantum-secured network

In the face of the threat that quantum computers could crack many of the encryption methods used to protect highly sensitive data, BT has developed a “quantum-secured” network Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Industry must do more to open up cyber security profession

Talented and successful cyber security researcher and passionate advocate for the profession, James Lyne reveals that he fell into security more by accident than design, and says training and recruitment must change to find and develop talented individuals Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

An audience with Matt Hancock, secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport

Matt Hancock is the first Cabinet minister with a digital background, and he's keen to impress on the tech sector that he’s on their side Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

GDS loses digital identity policy to DCMS

The move follows DCMS taking over data policy from GDS and means Cabinet Office is no longer responsible for relations with private sector ID ecosystem Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

Parliamentary computers at risk after staff targeted by phone phishing

Police are investigating phone phishing attacks targeted against Parliament. Staff warned not to disclose details of their computers to fraudulent callers. Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Businesses must report cyber crime, panel urges

By reporting cyber crimes, private enterprise can help improve national and international cyber defences and bring criminals to justice, according to an expert panel Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

DWP finally publishes Universal Credit business case

Published eight years after the programme began, the business case states that Universal Credit will generate £8bn a year in “economic value” once it is in a “steady state” Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

IT spending reaches 10-year high as CIOs struggle with digital technology strategy

IT leaders have seen their budgets and headcounts rise for the first time in 10 years, but face challenges implementing their digital strategies Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Nation state cyber attacks affect all, says former GCHQ boss

Cyber attacks by nation states used to be a small part of the problem for state authorities to address, but now all organisations are potential targets of nation state attacks, according to former GCHQ head Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Newcastle Council to show off smartest street in Britain

The Great Exhibition of the North will see Mosley Street in Newcastle upon Tyne transformed into Britain’s smartest street as part of a demonstration of IoT technology Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

HMRC puts numerous IT projects on hold to focus on Brexit

Nearly 40 technology projects and changes are being put on the backburner because of Brexit priorities, including improving HM Revenue and Customs’ data-sharing capabilities and parts of the Maxing Tax Digital programme Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

UK tech firms increase exports by more than 20%

The country’s tech sector continues to blossom and has significantly increased the export of both services and goods in recent years Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Big data skills shortages – and how to work around them

Businesses are finding it hard to recruit enough people with big data and analytics skills, but for CIOs there are alternative strategies to consider Continue Reading

By

• Shamus Rae, KPMG

HMRC on track for August roll-out of customs IT system

The government will have a “fully functioning” customs declaration service by January 2019, HMRC CEO Jon Thompson told MPs Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Boris Johnson wants tech to fight illegal wildlife trade

The foreign secretary wants the country’s “finest technological brains” to help combat poaching and save endangered species Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Technology key to new UK counter-terrorism strategy

Technologies such as machine learning and data analytics are key to the UK government’s updated counter-terrorism strategy Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Scotland to begin building identity platform prototype this autumn

Scottish government plans flexible approach to online identity providers as it aims to launch alpha phase of is online identity assurance programme in August 2018 Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Subpostmasters told to expect decision on alleged unfair prosecutions in August

The Criminal Courts Review Commission is expected to announce the findings of an investigation into alleged unfair subpostmaster prosecutions in August Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Retail sector flagged as slow to adopt cloud technologies in Bitglass research

The fourth annual Bitglass cloud adoption survey reveals enterprise appetite for off-premise technologies is continuing to rise, but some industries are moving more slowly than others Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Sweden and India in technology collaboration

Sweden has entered a partnership with India that will include joint work on smart city and mobility technologies Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Security community urged to prepare for quantum computing

A top European chief information security officer is urging the security community to prepare for quantum computing to ensure their encryption processes are ready in time Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Ontario Institute for Cancer Research uses open source clouds to aid cancer research

OICR explains why it is backing open source software and commodity hardware to help accelerate the pace of cancer research across the globe Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Tier 2 visas – a challenge for the tech sector

With staff shortages already being reported in the technology sector and Brexit potentially adding to the problem, tech departments need to get their Tier 2 visa applications right Continue Reading

By

• Kerry Garcia and Jackie Penlington

US issues warning about North Korean malware

US government has identified more than 85 networks compromised by two malware families believed to be North Korean in origin Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

US jails Canadian resident who helped Russia hack Yahoo emails

A US court has jailed a hacker on charges of computer fraud for hacking Yahoo email accounts on behalf of the Russian government Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Firms step up spending on digital tech, but struggle with strategy

Businesses and the public sector are stepping up their spending on digital technology, but many business leaders are struggling to keep pace with what it means for their business Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Policy Exchange report calls for GDS to be moved to DCMS

Think-tank wants Government Digital Service to create a “single digital government account” for citizens, and says bringing the organisation into the Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport will improve focus on “all aspects of digital transformation” Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Former Macedonian PM convicted in corruption case exposed by illegal government surveillance

Information exposed by leaked recordings that were part an illegal mass surveillance campaign orchestrated under the government of former prime minster Nikola Gruevski have led to his conviction for corruption. He was found guilty of rigging a tender and receiving a luxury Mercedes as a bribe. He may still appeal the ruling Continue Reading

By

• Tena Prelec

London CDO: More groundwork needed to gain trust for data use

London’s chief digital officer, Theo Blackwell, says organisations need to do more groundwork if a smarter city is to be real possibility Continue Reading

By

• Brian McKenna, Senior Analyst, Business Applications

MPs launch inquiry into automation and its impact on jobs

House of Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee will look at the impact of automation on workers, businesses and the UK economy as a whole Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

MPs slam government for biometrics strategy delay

Science and Technology Committee questions legality of the police’s approach to deleting mugshots of innocent people, and says government’s reasons for four-year delay to a new strategy is “less than convincing” Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

GDPR puts people first, says ICO

The day of 25 May 2018 marks the biggest change to UK data protection law in a generation, with benefits for businesses and consumers, according to the UK privacy watchdog Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Commitment is the watchword on GDPR D-Day

New rules for protecting European citizens’ personal data are now enforceable by law, and organisations are being advised to focus broadly on commitment rather than narrowly on compliance Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Stronger rules on data protection by EU institutions agreed

On the eve of the GDPR compliance deadline, European politicians agree new rules to strengthen data protection in EU organisations Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

NHS to launch national data opt-out tool

Patients will be able to opt out of having their health and care data shared by using an online tool developed by NHS Digital Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

CW Nordics: Finland delays e-voting plan

Security concerns have re-emerged to further frustrate the Finnish government’s plans to launch a national e-voting system. Also read about a study by the Stockholm School of Economics that looks at the likely impact of AI, machine learning and robotics on people’s lives. And find out why Norway has accelerated plans to scale up its national cyber security infrastructure. Continue Reading

EU cyber security agencies pledge to up cooperation

Four European cyber security agencies have agreed to increase collaboration in five key areas Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

UK calls for new data-sharing model with EU

The UK has proposed a new data-sharing model to ensure ongoing data protection collaboration and free flow of data between the EU and the UK post-Brexit Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Government pledges full-fibre broadband for all by 2033

In a speech to the CBI, chancellor Philip Hammond pledges to build a nationwide FTTP network by 2033 Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor