IT management

DDoS attacks hit Ukrainian defence ministry and banks

A further wave of cyber attacks has taken place against targets in Ukraine amid heightened tension in the region Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

BlackCat ransomware gang claims responsibility for Swissport attack

Ransomware gang is trying to offload 1.6TB of data stolen from aviation services firm Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

CIO interview: Steve Williams, M&A lead and IT director, Waterstons

Steve Williams is applying decades of CIO experience to the advice he gives businesses during major mergers and acquisitions Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Nordic countries lack a unified approach to AI

Nordic countries need to work together on a pan-regional artificial intelligence strategy Continue Reading

By

• Gerard O'Dwyer

Cloud Security Alliance publishes guidelines to bridge compliance and DevOps

The Cloud Security Alliance has published a report detailing practices that organisations can adopt to bridge the gap between compliance and software development and operations Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

The Citrix deal and what it means for Tibco

The investment firm behind Tibco has been on a spending spree, bolstering its product portfolio and offering new ways to access and connect to data Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Botched third-party configuration exposes Internet Society data to web

Personal data on members of The Internet Society was exposed after a supplier failed to secure its Azure storage Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

UK finance regulator effects changes to ‘buy now, pay later’ contract terms

BNPL finance providers have agreed to make their contracts with consumers fairer, amid concerns Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Nebulon gets Ansible collection for datacentre deployment

Provider of cloud-managed and hardware-accelerated – formerly ‘cloud-defined’ – storage makes further moves towards its smartInfrastructure vision, with Terraform support coming Continue Reading

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• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

TA2451 targets aviation and transport sector with tailored lures

Newly designated cyber criminal group favours highly specific lures and a tried-and-tested modus operandi to compromise targets in the aviation, aerospace and transport sectors Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

NatWest group shutters 32 more branches as digital shift continues

Banking group announces more branch closures as part of its digital transformation, but promises that no customers will be left behind Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Australian public sector facing transformation challenges

Public sector organisations in Australia are facing organisational and technological challenges in driving back-office innovation and digital-first strategies, new study finds Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

China emerges as leader in vulnerability exploitation

Threat actors linked to China are emerging as a significant force in the weaponisation of newly discovered CVEs Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Helping Employers (and Ministers) make sense of the many UK Skills initiatives.

We have a morass of vocational education, careers and skills initiatives competing for funds and attention. Most are organised by those (including Departments and Agencies) unaware of what others ... Continue Reading

By

• Philip Virgo, Winsafe Ltd

On a mission to track space junk

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we talk to the space experts tracking orbital debris using graph database technology. We meet the startups taking very different approaches in trying to develop commercial quantum computers. And we ask why it’s so difficult to build a data science team and how to overcome the challenges. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

India to invest $1bn in quantum computing

India plans to invest $1bn over the next five years to advance its capabilities in quantum technology, but it will need to have a tailored approach and to address the skills gap to succeed Continue Reading

By

• Pratima Harigunani

Evolving a data integration strategy

Linking IT systems together is never going away, but the approach CIOs adopt is key to ensuring relevant data feeds the decision-making process Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Why CIOs should rethink their COVID-19 digital strategy

Many organizations moved quickly to invest in business technology that helped them deal with the pandemic. Now it's time to review whether those decisions were strategic. Continue Reading

By

• Mary K. Pratt

TalkTalk: Switch to full fibre benefits climate

Study from leading UK operator pinpoints green gains from switching to full fibre over copper networks, including increased efficiency, reduction in degradation and exchanges, and fewer engineer journeys Continue Reading

By

• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Finance Bill Sub-Committee blames IR35 for ‘concerning’ rise in umbrella company contractors

The House of Lords Finance Bill Sub-Committee has shared the findings of its latest inquiry into the impact the IR35 reforms have had on the way contracting works Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

How the European Commission is responding to chip crisis

The global supply of semiconductors is still constrained, and this is having a direct impact on European manufacturers Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

CMA secures final Privacy Sandbox guarantees from Google

The CMA has secured a final set of Privacy Sandbox commitments from Google relating to the proposed removal of third-party cookies from its Chrome browser Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

UK government publishes plans to improve health and social care integration

A white paper outlines measures including digital care records under move to help individuals receive “better, more joined-up care” Continue Reading

By

• Angelica Mari

Lack of knowledge disastrous for effective security strategy within Dutch companies

Most Dutch companies still haven’t realised that security is an integral part of their IT and company strategy Continue Reading

By

• Kim Loohuis

Why security professionals should pay attention to what Russia is doing

Even though the average organisation is an unlikely target for a Russian state cyber attack, here's why security teams still need to watch what Russian threat groups are up to Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Quantum and the art of noise

Noise, huh, what’s it good for? Absolutely nothin’. Apart from the geniuses trying to further the advancement of noisy intermediate quantum computing (Nisq), noise means errors. Lowering the error ... Continue Reading

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• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Lords to scrutinise UK plans to become a science and tech ‘superpower’

House of Lords Science and Technology Committee inquiry will investigate the government’s strategy to advance its science and tech ambitions, how it will be delivered and its feasibility Continue Reading

By

• Angelica Mari

The birth of Estonia’s digital civil servant

As Estonia finalises the initial version of its government services digital assistant for launch later this year, the man heading the project describes the birth of Bürokratt and beyond Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Hackney Council could be forced to answer questions about IT security training after Psya ransomware

Council is negotiating with the information commissioner after refusing to reply to questions under the Freedom of Information Act about staff IT and security training during the pandemic Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Sustainability in business practices: What IT should know

Bjoern Stengel, global sustainability research lead at IDC discusses the trends he's seeing in the use of sustainable tools and technologies and what leaders need to focus on. Continue Reading

By

• Benjamin St. George

UK government starts search for new chief digital officer

£190,000 job will lead digital, data and technology policy across Whitehall, in charge of the 200-strong Central Digital and Data Office Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

IR35 reforms: HMRC slammed for ‘over-collecting tax’ from non-compliant public sector bodies

HMRC has moved to play down claims it is collecting more tax than it is due when tackling non-compliance with the IR35 reforms in the public sector Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

How diplomatic immunity silenced the prosecutor who coordinated Sweden’s EncroChat probe

Defence lawyers claim Swedish court decision not to hear evidence from a Swedish prosecutor leaves important legal questions unanswered over international police operation to hack EncroChat cryptophone network Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Interview: Eddie Copeland, director, London Office of Technology and Innovation

The leader of the London Office of Technology and Innovation discusses local government’s response to the pandemic and its priorities for collaborative work around data and innovation in 2022 Continue Reading

By

• Angelica Mari

Phishing tests are a useful exercise, but don’t overdo it

The vast majority of cyber attacks start with a phish, so it’s not surprising that phishing tests form part of cyber training plans. But sometimes these tests go too far. Cyberis’ Gemma Moore looks at how to avoid the pitfalls Continue Reading

By

• Gemma Moore

Tech sector can lead the fight against climate change

The technology and telecoms sector has a dual role to play in sustainability – to transform its own organisation and ecosystems, and to use its role as a digital enabler to drive sustainability for its customers Continue Reading

By

• Praveen Shankar, EY

UK second in money laundering hall of shame

Banks need to step up their anti-money laundering processes if billions of pounds’ worth of criminal activity is to be prevented Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

CW Benelux: Unesco members adopt AI ethics recommendation

Unesco member state have adopted an AI ethics recommendation that seeks to define a common set of values and principles to guide the development of ethical AI globally. Also read about a large-scale national cyber exercise in the Netherlands, and the Estonian government’s Siri-like digital assistant. Continue Reading

IR35: NAO slams HMRC’s ‘haphazard’ roll-out of off-payroll reforms to public sector

National Audit Office’s 60-page report on the 2017 roll-out of the IR35 reforms claims HMRC’s actions made non-compliance a ‘highly likely’ outcome for public sector bodies Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Call for easier consolidation as Ofcom investigates UK mobile market shake-up

UK communications regulator sets out initial thinking on how the UK mobile market might develop and how networks might need to evolve to meet future demand Continue Reading

By

• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Minister defends digital economy legislation before Lords

A digital minister has said that the UK’s forthcoming digital markets legislation is ‘superior’ to similar efforts in the EU, but could not commit to a specific time frame for when it will be introduced to Parliament Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Linux-based clouds an open door for attackers, says VMware

Its prevalence as a cloud operating system means Linux is becoming a meal ticket for malicious actors, but the security industry does not seem to have cottoned on to this yet, says VMware Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Ransomware ever more sophisticated and impactful, warns NCSC

UK’s National Cyber Security Centre teams up with US and Australian partners in a joint advisory warning organisations of the increasing sophistication exhibited by criminal ransomware gangs Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Data strategy highlights geospatial data challenges

A new assessment discusses the importance of data sharing, a lack of standards and the skills gap Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Microsoft stomps on 48 bugs in February Patch Tuesday update

It’s a light Patch Tuesday for February 2022, as Microsoft issues fixes for just 48 CVEs, including a solitary zero-day Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

How Carrefour is lowering its Oracle footprint

Migrating core business applications requires a multi-pronged approach, so what remains on-prem, and where does SaaS fit? Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

How Dutch hackers are working to make the internet safe

We hear how the personal mission of a Dutch hacker grew into a serious organisation with international ambitions Continue Reading

By

• Kim Loohuis

Five key tech trends for digital leaders in 2022

The past two years have seen a surge in investment that will bring new challenges to digital leaders over the next year Continue Reading

By

• Bev White, Nash Squared

Post Office scandal victims to tell their stories in public

Victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal are due to tell their devastating stories to the statutory inquiry Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Posix vs object storage: How much longer for Posix?

We look at Posix compliance in storage and why it is being challenged by object storage and the need to scale much further than Posix-oriented storage was ever intended to Continue Reading

By

• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

Creating a more sustainable IT department

Technology leaders share some of the ways they're focused on lowering their carbon footprint and helping their companies advance sustainability goals. Continue Reading

By

• Linda Rosencrance

NHS England works with Ada Lovelace Institute to tackle AI bias in healthcare

A guide to algorithmic impact assessments is being used to help developers, data scientists and product owners check bias in healthcare systems Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

DPD delivers swift fix for serious API flaw

API vulnerability potentially left PII on DPD Group’s customers dangerously exposed, but was rapidly fixed on disclosure Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Microsoft to start blocking macros to thwart malware

Microsoft is making changes to web macro permissions across multiple Office apps to help improve user security Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

The Security Interviews: Building the UK’s future cyber ecosystem

As the government lays out the next iteration of its Cyber Security Strategy, we speak to Plexal and Lorca’s Saj Huq about his work building a cyber ecosystem to support the UK’s future ambitions Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Parasol data breach: Contractors rage as fallout from umbrella cyber attack continues

Contractors working for the Parasol umbrella company are querying why it has taken so long for news of the firm's data breach, which is linked to a cyber attack on its systems five weeks ago, to come to light Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Tiger offers lightweight file access for hybrid cloud

Roar data, anyone? Tiger offers local access to cloud data, with only parts of the file being worked on downloaded and file locking in cloud buckets to ensure integrity Continue Reading

By

• Yann Serra, LeMagIT
• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

BT announces managing director of Incubation for Digital unit

Innovation leader announced for digital unit as it aims to build a customer-centric digital organisation to bring products and services to customers and create new opportunities Continue Reading

By

• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Porn sites will be legally required to verify users’ ages

Porn sites could be legally obliged to verify that their users are 18 or over under proposed online safety rules, in UK government’s second attempt to prevent children from accessing pornography online Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Right to disconnect and less monitoring key to better remote work

The World Health Organisation and International Labour Organisation warn against invasive workplace surveillance and promote right to disconnect in joint briefing on how to promote healthy and safe remote working Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Why data integration is a business and CIO opportunity

With a focus an agile approach and continuous learning and improvement, data integration has proven integral to end-to-end digital transformation Continue Reading

By

• Rani Johnson, Tibco

CTO interview: Milena Nikolic, CTO, Trainline

Computer Weekly speaks to Trainline’s new chief technology officer, Milena Nikolic, about building and inspiring a post-pandemic tech team Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Nvidia’s Arm deal is dead

‘Significant regulatory challenges’ have prevented Nvidia in its $31bn attempt to purchase chipmaker Arm Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Data integration remains essential for AI and machine learning

As our artificial intelligence algorithms continue to struggle with metacognition and causal inference, it is essential that we feed them the right data Continue Reading

By

• Junade Ali

Cloud-era disaster recovery planning: Staff training, incident and media management

In the third in a series on cloud-era disaster recovery, we set out the key components of DR staff awareness and training programmes, as well as incident management and dealing with the media Continue Reading

By

• Paul Kirvan

The UK-Australia FTA shows the UK means business on digital trade policy

The new free-trade agreement with Australia could be setting the precedents for what a modern digital trade policy will look like for the UK Continue Reading

By

• Julian David, TechUK

CIO interview: Brian Roche, director of IT, George Best Belfast City Airport

Data analytics, the internet of things and open source software are central to the Northern Irish airport’s aim to create a seamless, tech-enabled journey for passengers Continue Reading

By

• Mark Samuels

Airport services firm thwarts attempted ransomware heist

Aviation services provider Swissport says its systems are mostly back up and running after a ransomware attack Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Umbrella IT contractors urged to seize on court ruling to reclaim withheld holiday pay

The outcome of a court ruling concerning a holiday pay dispute between Pimlico Plumbers and one of its former employees could have costly implications for the umbrella company sector, it is claimed Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Umbrella company cyber attacks prompt fresh calls for sector regulation to protect contractors

With the umbrella company industry increasingly finding itself under attack from cyber criminals, contracting market stakeholders embark on a fresh round of calls for the industry to be regulated Continue Reading

Global IT companies ready to fight for Russian market

International IT firms have begun the process of complying with the latest regulations imposed on them by the Russian government Continue Reading

By

• Eugene Gerden

Exploring the metaverse

In this week’s Computer Weekly, the metaverse is set to become a highly competitive commercial playground –profitable markets but also high-profile failures will follow. IT contractors have been hit by cyber attacks on the firms that pay their wages – we examine the impact. And we ask if it’s time to plan for quantum computing. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

TV provider MediaHub boots SAN and NAS for Scality object storage

Sydney-based TV content provider MediaHub got tired of performance issues and scaling difficulties with SAN and NAS, so powered its as-a-service offer with Scality object storage Continue Reading

By

• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

Breaking the noise barrier: The startups developing quantum computers

Noise limits the scalability of quantum computing. Computer Weekly speaks to startups that are turning down the volume Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Met police deploy facial recognition in Westminster

Police facial recognition deployment resulted in four arrests, but questions remain about the necessity, proportionality and legality of the technology’s use Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Four emerging data integration trends to assess

To accelerate their performance in data integration, companies are evaluating and adopting a range of contributing technologies Continue Reading

By

• Noel Yuhanna

Cyber attacks on European oil facilities spreading

Following a cyber attack on distribution facilities in Germany, more incidents have been reported in Belgium and the Netherlands, but it is too early to necessarily draw a link between them Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Female tech founder programme hits Helsinki

From Denmark to Finland: Helsinki’s women in tech are introduced to Tech Nordic Advocates’ International Mentoring Programme Continue Reading

By

• Matthew Staff

EC proposes new directive to improve gig economy work conditions

Gig economy workers in Europe could be entitled to more rights and better workplace protections under a directive proposed by the European Commission Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

6GHz Wi-Fi spectrum critical to enable Australian technology innovation

Global spectrum organisation calls on Australia to set aside the full 1200MHz of available 6GHz spectrum for Wi-Fi applications under the country’s communications and media authority licensing framework Continue Reading

By

• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Cack-handed government compensation scheme prolongs suffering of Horizon scandal victims

Victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal are being denied the millions of pounds they are owed as the government delays compensation resolution Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Brookson and Parasol cyber attacks: Contractor complaints about delayed payments continue

Several weeks on from the suspected ransomware attack that blighted two of the umbrella industry’s biggest players, contractors are still chasing their missing money Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Danish researchers develop a socially aware robot

A new breed of robots gracefully interacts with humans in an autonomous fashion Continue Reading

By

• Pat Brans, Pat Brans Associates/Grenoble Ecole de Management

French Supreme Court raises constitutional questions over EncroChat hacking secrecy

Conseil Constitutionnel to decide whether ‘defence secrecy’ over state EncroChat cryptophone hacking breaches French constitution Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Security Think Tank: How to build a human firewall

In-house or outsourced? What makes a good security training programme, and what questions should buyers ask when procuring training as a service? Continue Reading

By

• Merry Song, Turnkey Consulting

Mechanism underlying cookie popups found in breach of GDPR

A fundamental element of the mechanism by which the advertising industry requests tracking consent from web users has been found in breach of the General Data Protection Regulation Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

UK government slammed for not living up to broadband promises

Broadband industry criticises UK government for not living up to its promises as new connectivity goals announced Continue Reading

By

• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Zero-trust to soar in 2022, but dogged by implementation challenges

IT leaders are keen to invest in zero-trust, but face issues around a lack of expertise, and selling the concept into the C-suite Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Reforms needed to tackle economic crime, says Treasury Committee

The Treasury Committee is disappointed at progress towards tackling economic crime and fraud in both the online and offline worlds, and is calling for more action Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Nationwide Building Society streamlines digital onboarding through API

Building society is improving its digital onboarding process through application programming interface-based technology from a US startup Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Finland brings cryostats and other cool things to quantum computing

Not only is Finland the clear leader in refrigeration technology for quantum computers, but it also leads in fundamental research into the underlying quantum information theory Continue Reading

By

• Pat Brans, Pat Brans Associates/Grenoble Ecole de Management

MPs call on government to ‘push harder’ and ‘act faster’ amid online fraud epidemic

MPs on the Treasury Committee want the government to act quickly to reduce the amount of money being stolen through online fraud Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

British Council data exposed by third-party cyber failure

The British Council entrusted confidential data on its students to a third-party and was let down Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

What neurodivergent people really think of working in cyber security

Many firms are filling cyber security skills gaps by hiring neurodivergent talent – but more support is needed for neurodivergent cyber security professionals, writes autistic tech journalist Nicholas Fearn Continue Reading

By

• Nicholas Fearn

Ikea hopes to fill 150 tech roles across Europe this year

Swedish furniture brand Ikea has plans to hire more than 150 tech and data workers across Europe in 2022 Continue Reading

By

• Clare McDonald, Business Editor

Check Point buys Spectral to safeguard cloud development

Check Point’s latest acquisition of Israel-based startup Spectral expands its developer-centric security toolset Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency appoints first CEO

The government has named the first CEO of the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

German fuel supplier taken offline in cyber attack

Cyber attack against Germany’s Oiltanking, a major fuel logistics company, affects 13 distribution terminals across Germany, in an incident with echoes of last year’s hit on Colonial Pipeline Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Met Police faces legal action over Gangs Matrix

Campaign group Liberty is taking legal action against the Met over its use of the Gangs Matrix, claiming it is driven by racial stereotypes and disproportionately affects people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Sweden’s Husqvarna expands IT outsourcing deal with HCL

Swedish power tool maker expands its contract with Indian IT service provider as it continues on its digital journey Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA