IT for government and public sector

Will government ever accept that it needs to learn from its mistakes?

Yesterday, the government reluctantly agreed to share with the public a series of documents on the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) controversial Universal Credit programme. I say ... Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Cryptojacking cyber criminals up their game

Cyber criminals hijacking computing resources to mine for cryptocurrencies are raising their efforts to bypass enterprise security controls, researchers have found Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

DWP to publish key documents on Universal Credit

The government will finally publish internal assessment reviews of the controversial Universal Credit programme under Freedom of Information laws, after years of refusing to do so Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Government to help cultural sectors take advantage of digital

Arts and culture organisations will be given help to access new technologies and digital skills as part of a government plan to “support the whole digital culture ecology” Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Cyber security is a team sport, says NCSC

The UK’s national cyber security agency aims to help organisations understand the need to act collaboratively and collectively against the cyber threat, urging them to raise the bar Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

G-Cloud 10 launch date confirmed for June 2018

The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) confirms it will start accepting new bids from suppliers wanting to join the tenth iteration of the G-Cloud framework from April 2018, in anticipation of the next version going live in June Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

US defence chiefs cut $1bn cloud contract with AWS partner amid anti-trust complaints

The US Department of Defense confirms it is revising down the cost and scope of a billion dollar cloud deal awarded to an AWS partner, after critics picked holes in the procurement process Continue Reading

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• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Essex, Herts Councils expand smart city pilot scheme

Essex and Hertfordshire County Councils have joined forces to run a number of pilots assessing the socioeconomic benefits of smart city technologies Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Local councils call for government funding for GDPR compliance

National Association of Local Councils is concerned complying with GDPR puts financial strain on local authorities and calls on government to help with funding Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Microsoft courts US government cloud users with Azure Stack integration promise

Microsoft is stepping up its efforts to get the US government using its cloud in anger, with the promise of a forthcoming Azure Stack integration and new datacentre regions to house “secret” classified data Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Government aims to complete genome sequencing project by end of 2018

The government-funded 100,000 Genomes Project, originally due to be completed by the end of 2017, has reached the halfway point and aims to have mapped 100,000 genomes by the end of the year Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Interview: Andy Street, mayor of the West Midlands

West Midlands mayor Andy Street talks about why digital is key to the region’s economic growth, his hunt for a chief digital officer, and the importance of skills and collaboration Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Apprenticeship reforms are driving tech sector skills success

Apprenticeships and skills minister Anne Milton says apprenticeships are a great way to make sure the tech industry has the skills it needs Continue Reading

By

• Anne Milton MP

UK will need data protection agreement with EU as part of Brexit deal, says PM

Prime minister Theresa May's Brexit speech highlights need for data protection deal with EU, “advanced” border IT systems, and re-confirms UK won’t be part of the EU digital single market Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Read the PMs Brexit speech - for why the BBC is so anti-Brexit

The details in the Prime Minister's speech, including that dismissed as Geekspeak in the mass media, helps explain what is really at stake in the negotiations and why the BBC and the Online ... Continue Reading

By

• Philip Virgo, Winsafe Ltd

New privacy fears as IT challenges delay surveillance oversight body by a year

IT challenges have delayed government plans for an independent body to authorise requests to access the public’s internet and phone records by nearly a year, raising new legal and privacy concerns Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Contractor confidence in HMRC’s IR35 online assessment tool remains low

Research suggests contractors still have misgivings about using HM Revenue & Customs' IR35 online assessment tool, one year on from launch Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Can technology save the day for Brexit? (*Spoilers* : No)

If you happen to be an ardent Brexiteer, a true believer in the UK government’s desire for “innovative solutions” to avoid a hard border with the Republic of Ireland, we have good news for you. The ... Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

NHS to pilot ID verification platform this spring

NHS roadmap for digital services sets out plans for launching a joined-up NHS app, piloting its citizen ID platform and moving across to the new NHS.uk website Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Security fears delay roll-out of national e-voting system in Finland

Project enters problem-solving phase to identify advanced, effective and best practice solutions to develop a secure internet-based voting system Continue Reading

By

• Gerard O'Dwyer

Salary is not top way to attract cybersec pros, report reveals

Salary is not the highest priority for cyber security professionals, a report on hiring and retaining top cyber security talent shows Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Government must rewrite illegal sections of Snoopers’ Charter, court told

A court has been asked to give ministers until July 2018 to rewrite powers to require phone and internet companies to retain data on the population. The government acknowledges parts of surveillance regime are unlawful Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

King’s College dumps legacy SAN for Nimble hybrid flash

Cambridge college triples storage capacity for VMware virtualised environment and adds Veeam backup. Nimble hybrid flash ensures rapid data access with Sata bulk storage behind Continue Reading

By

• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

Understanding the cyber threat key to UK defence, says NCSC

Understanding cyber threats is key to defending the UK and ensuring it is a safe place to do business, says the National Cyber Security Centre Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

London councils set aside more than £1.2m for GDPR

London councils have spent over £1.2m in preparation for new EU data protection laws, a think tank report has revealed Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Surveillance watchdog investigates security risks of GCHQ IT contractors

The investigatory powers commissioner is reviewing the security arrangements for IT contractors that have access to live computer systems at GCHQ holding highly sensitive records on the UK population Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Cyber criminals catching up with nation state attacks

The trickle-down effect of advanced “military-grade” tools is seeing the gap between cyber criminal and nation state attack capabilities closing, outpacing many organisations’ defence capabilities Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Estonia wants to introduce special visa for digital nomads

Baltic state’s next digital development could be a visa targeted at people who work online and are location independent Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

A smarter state can only be built on smarter procurement

Digital government has improved, but progress needs to be made when it comes to public sector procurement Continue Reading

By

• Rob Driver, TechUK

Legacy lock-in and lack of skills hamper public sector cloud adoption

Migrating from legacy lock-in and the ability to manage workloads in cloud infrastructure are among the major challenges that are slowing down public sector cloud adoption Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

West Midlands Mayor on the hunt for chief digital officer

The mayor wants to appoint a chief digital officer to drive forward the region’s digital strategy and help West Midlands grow as a leading tech hub Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Farming gets £90m tech boost

The government is pushing high tech into agriculture and farming as it fleshes out its Industrial Strategy Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Emergency Services Network progress ‘deeply unsatisfactory’, says PAC

A Home Office review of the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme will not be finished before the end of July, the Public Accounts Committee has been told Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

MPs run the rule over digital currency to identify risks and opportunities

MPs are taking a close look at the potential opportunities and risks associated with the UK adoption of cryptocurrencies and the technology that underpins them Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Hawaii missile alert: Why the wrong guy was fired

In January 2018, an employee at Hawaii’s emergency management agency sent out a false alarm of an imminent missile attack, and was subsequently fired – but perhaps poor system design is really to blame Continue Reading

By

• Jonny Corbett, Norman & Sons

CityFibre launches consumer broadband partnership in Aberdeen

CityFibre and Vodafone are preparing to launch a consumer FTTP broadband service in Aberdeen Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

People worried about data security in public sector, survey finds

Majority of people are concerned with the security of the data they share with public sector organisations, according to a report Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Economic impact of cyber crime is significant and rising

Cyber attacks are becoming easier to carry out while defences remain inadequate, study shows Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

VX Fiber brings Swedish open access full-fibre broadband model to UK

Flush with success in its home market, Swedish open access full-fibre broadband specialist VX Fiber is launching in the UK, with plans to shake up service delivery to users by helping local councils monetise their network assets Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

AI a threat to cyber security, warns report

Artificial intelligence is being incorporated into a range of cyber security products, but the technology may also introduce new threats, a report warns Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

UAE makes artificial intelligence leap

The UAE is investing in becoming a global pioneer in the use of artificial intelligence technology in various sectors of its economy Continue Reading

By

• Alicia Buller

Digital economy to make up 60% of APAC’s GDP by 2021

The surge in GDP contribution will come as more organisations shift from digital transformation initiatives aimed at shoring up productivity towards digital product development Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

The EURECA moment: Counting the cost of running the UK’s public sector datacentres

The EU-backed EURECA project has spent the past 36 months assessing the state of public sector datacentres across Europe, and is revealing what it found Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

4G IoT network may ease aviation sector fears over drone safety

Vodafone is testing mobile and internet of things network technology to protect commercial aircraft from badly flown drones Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

UK local councils under huge cyber attack pressure

Investigation underlines importance of security automation and employee awareness training Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Government must invest in efficient IT to support food trade post-Brexit, say MPs

Inefficient IT and infrastructure at the border could cause perishable foods to spoil, says committee, which calls for the government to ensure the right IT is in place for prompt export and import Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

CIO interview: Theo Blackwell, London chief digital officer, Mayor of London’s Office

London CDO Theo Blackwell talks about cross-council collaboration, London’s role as a data-driven city and the importance of ensuring the capital won’t lose out on talent post-Brexit Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

NHS Digital plots Office 365 and NHSmail integration to boost collaboration in healthcare

NHS Digital outlines delivery timeline for integrating NHSmail with Microsoft Office 365, as it strives to improve collaboration between health and social care stakeholders Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

CIO interview: Matthew Wallbridge, head of ICT, Croydon Council

Croydon’s ICT boss talks about why being “good” isn’t good enough and building a new ICT delivery model Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Lauri Love can stay in UK: prosecutors will not appeal extradition ruling

Crown Prosecution Service gives undertaking to Lauri Love that it will not appeal against a court decision not to extradite him to the US – but prosecutors are seeking leave to appeal over part of the court ruling on extradition procedure Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Church spires to become mobile coverage hotspots

Following successful trials in East Anglia, DCMS and Defra plan to encourage rural vicars to host broadband connectivity hotspots in their churches Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

US sentences two Russians for huge data breaches

The US has sentenced two Russian cyber criminals who targeted major payment processors, retailers and financial institutions around the world, as the US joins the UK in condemning Russia for the 2017 NotPetya attacks Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Brexit fears and frustrations are mounting for UK tech sector leaders

You wouldn’t exactly classify the leaders of the UK tech sector as a bunch of liberal lefties. For all the stereotypes of bearded Shoreditch sandal-wearers that surround much of the nascent startup ... Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

Briton jailed for two years for product testing for hackers

A Briton has been jailed for two years for running a product-testing service for hackers Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

UK Foreign Office minister condemns Russia for NotPetya attacks

The UK has attributed to Russia the NotPetya malware that caused significant disruption globally, based on an assessment by the NCSC Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Colorado modernizes with Salesforce for government projects

Colorado licenses Service Cloud and other Salesforce technologies to improve its citizens benefit program. Continue Reading

By

• Jesse Scardina, News Writer

Cyberthreat 2018 aimed at UK cyber security techies

Cyberthreat 2018 is aimed at growing the UK’s network of cyber defenders, filling a key gap in the UK cyber security conference calendar and bridging the public-private sector divide Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Trust is key to sharing personal data, ODI research finds

People are more comfortable sharing personal data if they have been told how it will be used, according to the Open Data Institute Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Why police forces need to be honest about mass mobile phone surveillance

Police forces across the UK are covering up their use of sophisticated mass surveillance devices, known as IMSI-catchers - the Bristol Cable and Liberty are campaigning for proper transparency Continue Reading

By

• Alon Aviram, The Bristol Cable

Home Office fights terrorist content online with detection tool

The Home Office has partnered ASI Data Science to create a tool which automatically detects terrorist content on online platforms Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Criminals hijack government sites to mine cryptocurrency used to hide wealth

Europol says criminals are hiding billions in cryptocurrencies, as thousands of government and other websites have reportedly been used to hijack computers to mine more Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Latest Universal Credit revelations heap further pressure on Gov.uk Verify

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been consistently criticised for its lack of transparency since the controversial Universal Credit programme was launched nearly eight years ago. The ... Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

Norway’s government backs cyber defence mobilisation

Norway has accelerated plans to scale up its national security infrastructure against threats emanating from the cyber domain Continue Reading

By

• Gerard O'Dwyer

Universal Credit business case still not approved as concerns continue over digital service

MPs reveal internal project reviews that show full business case yet to be approved and ongoing worries over digital system for welfare reform programme Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

Interview: Tackling gender diversity could solve the skills gap, says Burbidge

Tackling the lack of gender diversity in the tech industry could help close the skills gap, but there is a long way to go to solve either, says Eileen Burbidge Continue Reading

By

• Clare McDonald, Business Editor

Teenager suspected of crippling Dutch banks with DDoS attacks

A large distributed denial of service attack on banks and other organisations in the Netherlands, first thought to emanate from Russia, is now thought to have been launched by a local teenager Continue Reading

By

• Tijs Hofmans

Mobile biometrics set to be game-changer in APAC

Telcos, financial institutions and other industry players risk losing market share if they do not keep up with the demand for security, convenience and mobility Continue Reading

By

• Lareinna Roxanne Lee and Quah Mei Lee

Government must hurry to recruit digital skills needed for Brexit, says PAC

Skills required to prepare for leaving the EU are in “short supply” and the government must deal with its capability challenge, says Public Accounts Committee report Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

UK government orders review of online laws

The UK Law Commission is to review current legislation on offensive online communications to ensure they are up to date with technology Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Security Editor

Dubai transport authority maps city to support autonomous cars

Dubai’s RTA has enlisted Here Technologies to build a high-definition map of the city to support its goals around self-driving cars Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Most NHS trusts have failed their cyber security assessments, NHS Digital admits

NHS Digital deputy CEO Rob Shaw told Public Accounts Committee all 200 trusts assessed for cyber security, both before and after the WannaCry attack, have failed their assessments Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

UK risks unemployment rise unless people are reskilled for AI

The tech industry is optimistic that people will get jobs, but only if they have the right skills – and it looks like the UK is a long way from being artificial intelligence-savvy Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

UK leads international crackdown on Luminosity spyware

Law enforcement agencies shut down international support network for a hacking tool that allowed cyber criminals to gain remote control of victims’ computers Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Lauri Love plans to use ‘internet as a force for good’

Engineering student Lauri Love says he plans to help businesses fight cyber crime, after the court of appeal ruled that he can be tried in the UK for allegedly hacking US computer systems, rather than face extradition to the US Continue Reading

By

• Julia Gregory and Niels Ladefoged

UK economy least likely to grow through AI

The UK's poor productivity record is unlikely to grow hugely from artificial intelligence helpers that augment human work Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

NCSC shows how first year affected cyber attacks on the UK

Initiatives by the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) have detected and prevented millions of online commodity attacks, the agency’s first annual report shows Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Appeals court rules Lauri Love will not be extradited over US hacking charges

The lord chief justice, Lord Burnett, says 33-year-old engineering student Lauri Love will not be extradited to the US to face hacking charges, in a landmark legal decision, and the Crown Prosecution Service should bring proceedings against Love in the UK Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin & Julia Gregory

NHS WannaCry review highlights need for accountability and skills

Lessons-learned report on ransomware attack calls for local NHS organisations to put cyber security bosses on their boards and consider suspending IT access to staff who have not completed cyber security training Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Government backs national cyber policy and strategy competition

London is to host a national cyber policy and strategy competition, which has the backing of government, industry and academia Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

As Gov.uk Verify concerns mount, is GDS about to lose control of digital identity policy?

There’s a growing body of opinion that the government’s flagship digital identity system, Gov.uk Verify, has now become a major hindrance to the development of the UK’s digital identity ... Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

Appeal Court to give landmark verdict on Lauri Love extradition

The Appeal Court will decide whether Lauri Love, who has serious health issues, should be extradited to the US to face hacking charges, or face trial in the UK. The landmark case is the first test of legal protections introduced by Theresa May to protect vulnerable people Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Europe’s shameful role in spy-tech exports that led to torture and jail

Governments in Europe actively assisted in government oppression in Iran, Bahrain and Russia by providing states with sophisticated surveillance equipment. The European Parliament is pressing for changes in the law to restrict exports of spy-technology to countries with poor human rights records Continue Reading

By

• Marietje Schaake, European Parliament

Dutch Filmworks disrupts piracy fight by imposing download fines

Netherlands’ privacy watchdog grants film production company permission to collect IP addresses as part of its fight against illegal downloading Continue Reading

By

• Tijs Hofmans

Industrial cyber security continues to be poor, warns report

The number of internet-accessible industrial control systems is increasing every year, researchers warn Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

NAO delivers damning report on delayed and costly DBS transformation project

The Disclosure and Barring Service modernisation programme runs three-and-a-half years behind schedule, suffers from low uptake and increased costs, says NAO report Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

European Commission eyes blockchain opportunity

The European Commission is aiming to get the most out of blockchain technology in a wide variety of sectors Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Dutch companies not ready for GDPR despite approaching deadline

Organisations in the Netherlands are racing towards General Data Protection Regulation compliance, but there is still much to be done Continue Reading

By

• Tijs Hofmans

Facebook reports $15.9bn profit after ‘hard’ year

Facebook has reported a strong fourth quarter and a strong year with quarterly profit up 20% and annual profit up 56%, but chief Mark Zuckerberg admits it has been a challenging 12 months Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Security Editor

Thousands of Universal Credit claimants unable to use Gov.uk Verify to apply for benefits

Government research shows that barely one-third of benefits claimants can successfully apply for new Universal Credit digital service using flagship online identity system Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

TechUK calls on government to extend Digital Marketplace

Report on how to promote public sector innovation says there must be a “step change” in government procurement and opportunities must be grasped Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Carillion not a like-for-like comparison with IT services firms, but an overt reminder

Although Carillion’s problems are unlikely to hit major IT services suppliers, its collapse is a reminder of the need to ensure good governance Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Government surveillance regime unlawful, court rules in Tom Watson case

Appeal court ruled in favour of Labour MP Tom Watson in a legal battle with the government over the UK’s surveillance laws, leading to calls to rethink controversial Investigatory Powers Act Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Brexit highlights need for DDaT skills, says GDS chief operating officer

Government Digital Service’s Alison Pritchard says Brexit preparation requires more digital, data and technology professionals across departments Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Davos: Cyber risks grow as countries turn towards protectionism

The cost of natural disasters is now at record levels, but the cost of cyber crime is far higher. The World Economic Forum hopes to persuade governments to work together on the problem, but with isolationist politics back in fashion, can it succeed? Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Alibaba Cloud to tackle Malaysia’s traffic woes with AI

Chinese cloud service provider Alibaba will use its City Brain artificial intelligence platform to analyse data from camera feeds and traffic junctions in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

Hefty fines confirmed for CNI providers with poor cyber security

The government has confirmed that critical infrastructure providers with poor cyber security face fines of millions of pounds as the National Cyber Security Centre publishes new guidance for the industry Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Security Editor

Government bulks up on AI personnel

The UK government is starting to put bodies behind its artificial intelligence commentary as two departments announce job roles Continue Reading

By

• Brian McKenna, Senior Analyst, Business Applications

Theresa May's welcome tech enthusiasm comes with a huge Brexit caveat

It’s nice that we have a prime minister that chooses to use one of her most high-profile speeches of the year to talk about technology. It’s equally good that her chancellor similarly discussed the ... Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

Government sets out further details of Digital Charter

The government’s charter aims to tackle challenges and risks brought by technology in “an effective and responsible way”, thereby boosting the digital economy Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

ODI report reveals key data publishing challenges

Lack of standards, vision and adequate skills among key reasons organisations are struggling to publish quality data, according to Open Data Institute Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad