IT news in your industry sector

GDS needs to prove it can still transform government after loss of data policy to DCMS

I met Mike Bracken, the first leader of the Government Digital Service (GDS), in 2011, not long after he had started the job, for an off-the-record briefing about his ambitious plans to overhaul IT ... Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

Why businesses must think like criminals to protect their data

Cyber criminals use three main methods of operation to steal commercial data. Understanding their mindset can help organisations put the right defences in place Continue Reading

By

• Andy Barratt, Coalfire

Why Lufthansa went back to the drawing board with its HR IT project

Aviation group says it is confident of landing a company-wide IT project following a sometimes turbulent journey Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

HSBC IT whistleblower faces extradition to Switzerland

Hervé Falciani, who stole data from thousands of private banking customers, is apprehended in Spain following the issuing of an international arrest warrant Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Facebook among 30 organisations under investigation by the ICO

Facebook is among 30 organisations under investigation by the UK’s privacy watchdog for misusing personal data for political and other purposes Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Deutsche Bank system replacement already paying back

Deutsche bank is replacing a complex IT infrastructure that helps its traders operate and automates regulatory compliance processes Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Retail sector top cyber attack target

The retail sector was the top cyber attack target in 2017, as cyber attacks evolved to become more organised and structured, a report reveals Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Business should note Facebook data sharing, say security advisers

Businesses that use Facebook and have employees that use it should take note that data is shared with potential cyber attackers, security advisers warn, as Facebook reveals the Cambridge Analytica data exploitation scandal may affect 87 million users Continue Reading

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• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Pfizer tech startup accelerator will be a shot in the arm for healthcare innovation

Pharmaceutical giant invites startups to apply for its second Healthcare Hub: London accelerator, with the chance to share £50,000 funding Continue Reading

By

• Zach Emmanuel, Computer Weekly

Security Think Tank: Deal with cryptojacking to avoid security vulnerability

How can organisations best defend against cryptojacking? Continue Reading

By

• Paddy Francis

More than 1.5 billion business and consumer files exposed online

With just over a month to go before the GDPR compliance deadline, more than 1.5 billion data files are exposed online without adequate protections, a report reveals Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Should retail try to save the high street's declining footfall?

Footfall in the high street is declining, but should retailers be trying to claw back visits to stores or is it time for a new digital focus? Continue Reading

By

• Mark Samuels

5G mobile spectrum auction raises £1.3bn

The principal bidding stage in Ofcom’s latest mobile network spectrum auction has concluded, raising more than £1bn for the Treasury Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Microsoft plans to invest $5bn to boost IoT business

Its vision involves sensor data from IoT devices being processed across a distributed computing infrastructure from the edge to Azure Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Interview: GDPR will give Dutch privacy watchdog its teeth

The Netherlands’ privacy watchdog has not handed out fines so far because there has been no reason to, says the organisation’s chairman, Aleid Wolfsen Continue Reading

By

• Tijs Hofmans

IR35 reforms: Calls for inquiry into pre-launch tests of HMRC IR35 assessment tool

HM Revenue & Customs hits back at contractors who claim it failed to test its online IR35 status assessment tool rigorously enough in the run-up to its launch in March 2017, as calls for an inquiry into its dev and test procedures grow Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Security Think Tank: User vigilance key to cryptojacking defence

How can organisations best defend against cryptojacking? Continue Reading

By

• Tim Holman, 2-sec

Ransomware puts pressure on incident response

Cyber attackers switched focus to ransomware attacks in 2017 putting pressure on incident response, while human error was responsible for two-thirds of compromised records, a study shows Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

LGA proposes full-fibre broadband kitemark for homebuyers

The Local Government Association has urged housing developers to adopt proposals for a fibre-to-the-premises broadband kitemark for new-build homes in rural areas Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Average attacker dwell time nearly six months for EMEA, study shows

Firms in Europe, the Middle East and Africa take nearly six months to detect cyber attacks on average, a report reveals Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Crossing the watershed – digital skills crises will soon be history

There is no shortage of talent, only of employers who train that talent. Thirty years ago it took around 18 months turn a University Graduate into a competent analyst programmer. During that second ... Continue Reading

By

• Philip Virgo, Winsafe Ltd

IT decision-makers trust Facebook less and are changing policies

As Facebook scrambles to contain the damage from the Cambridge Analytica data exploitation scandal, a survey reveals that a majority of IT decision-makers have lost trust in the social networking firm Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

How will AI in demand forecasting help improve accuracy?

Changing consumer demand and supply chain disruptions are just two factors that might influence demand forecasting results. Here's a look at how AI can help. Continue Reading

By

• Dave Turbide

UK firms failing to make financial plans for cyber attacks

Most UK firms are failing to plan for the financial impact of cyber attacks, a survey by Lloyds Bank has revealed Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

How to find the right mobility strategy for your SME

Small businesses still need a strategy to make the most of mobility, so what should business owners look out for? Continue Reading

By

• Rene Millman

Retail legacy systems: how can we overcome them?

With technology adoption changing the retail landscape, many retailers are left with legacy systems. We look at how they are dealing with them in today’s digitally led environment Continue Reading

By

• Glynn Davis

Security Think Tank: Use awareness, education and controls to halt cryptojacking

How can organisations best defend against cryptojacking? Continue Reading

By

• Maxine Holt, Omdia

Data policy move to DCMS causes mixed reactions

Some believe Theresa May handing over government data policy responsibility to DCMS is “downgrading digital government” while others see it as a positive move Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Data breaches revealed at four US retail chains

The Easter weekend has seen another round of data breaches, further underlining that many companies are still failing to take the necessary steps to protect customer data Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Future of internet regulation is focus of Lords inquiry

Inquiry will seek evidence on whether or not the law is up to the job of regulating online platforms such as Facebook, and what improvements can be made Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

 Automation and gamification key to cyber security

The use of automation and gamification are key to winning the fight against cyber criminals in the face of the skills’ shortage, a study investigating challenges facing IT security teams reveals Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Which supply chain visibility tools help improve logistics?

At the intersection of IoT, analytics and other technologies lies better supply chain visibility. Here's a look at what's making logistics a little easier. Continue Reading

By

• Scott Koegler

GDS loses government data policy to DCMS

Prime minister confirms long-rumoured move in written statement to Parliament as MPs left for Easter recess Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

Europol operation nabs another 20 cyber criminals

Police have arrested 20 cyber criminals in connection with a €1m fraud operation across Italy and Romania Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Business unaware of scale of cyber threat

Many businesses, especially board members, do not understand the scale of the cyber threat, but international efforts to combat cyber crime are being hampered by political barriers Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

AstraZeneca IT exec steps down

Pharmaceutical giant’s vice-president of IT transformation and office of the CIO, Chris Day, is leaving the company after eight years in the role Continue Reading

By

• Angelica Mari

UK government secures public sector discounts on Microsoft cloud products to April 2021

Government procurement chiefs have secured ongoing preferential pricing on Microsoft cloud products for the public sector through Digital Transformation Agreement Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Cryptocurrency mining rampant in higher education

Higher education institutions are the biggest target for illicit cryptocurrency mining, data shows Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

How the IT sector can help plug the cyber security skills gap

Businesses have a role to play in plugging the cyber security skills gap by engaging with future talent at a young age, providing more role models for under-represented groups, communicating the nature of the threat, and changing their approach to cyber security recruitment Continue Reading

By

• Frank Stajano, University of Cambridge

IR35 reforms: IT contractors express concerns over ‘inevitable’ private sector roll-out

Research suggests IT contractors are resigned to the IR35 reforms being implemented in the private sector, and many fear an announcement to that effect will come this year Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Most airports not protected from cyber threats

The chairman of the Israel Airports Authority paints a dismal picture of the state of cyber security in aviation, and offers advice on what can be done to avert the next disaster Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

Home Office ‘over-promised’ on exit checks programme, report finds

Chief inspector of borders and immigration calls on Home Office to re-establish exit checks project with proper data quality in place, but department rejects recommendation Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Majority of European firms unprepared for phishing attacks

Most cyber attacks can be traced back to a phishing email, but more than half of European firms are unprepared to deal with email-based attacks, research has revealed Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Home Office issues guidance on tech to prevent identity fraud

Advice highlights the benefits of using identity document validation to audit and share data on fraudulent documents Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Microsoft Word document and zero-day attacks on the rise

Macro-less Microsoft Word document attacks and zero-day malware are on the rise, according to data from WatchGuard Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Government should take a ‘Lego brick’ approach to public services, report says

Report calling for a radical reform of public services says government should open up, standardise processes and stop developing services that already exist Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Majority of firms fear mobile workers have been hacked

More than half of organisations fear that their mobile workers have been hacked and most are concerned that a growing mobile workforce means increased cyber security risk, a survey reveals Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

UK organisations urged to develop cyber security skills

Managed cloud computing firm Rackspace is calling on UK organisations to do more to develop cyber security skills in the light of research into expertise in cloud security Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Most top UK firms fail to disclose cyber risk testing details

Most of the largest UK companies do not reveal their testing of cyber protection plans and do not share security updates with the board regularly, a Deloitte report reveals Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Facebook could be hit with $2tn fine after FTC inquiry

Facebook could face huge fines as the result of a federal inquiry into the data exploitation scandal, further underlining the importance of personal data protection for all enterprises Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Case study: Berkshire NHS trust provides mental health support through social network

Berkshire NHS is using its Support Hope and Recovery Online Network to provide 24/7 support and advice to service users struggling with mental health issues Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Customers hit by shrapnel in banking’s battle of the cost bases

Customers are being caught in the crossfire of the Battle of the Cost Bases being fought by banks on the streets of the UK Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

The desktop is changing

In this week's Computer Weekly, corporate PCs haven't changed much in 20 years – as use of Chrome OS grows, we ask if IT leaders are ready for a new approach. Theresa May said Brexit means the UK leaving the EU digital single market – does this mean a return to roaming charges? And we look at the latest developments in Linux. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Capgemini turns to tech startup to identify ‘most engaged’ teams

Technology and consulting services firm Capgemini is using technology from a startup company to poll its employees’ views and provide feedback from managers every week. It is discovering what it takes to create “engaged teams” Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Police arrest €1bn cyber heist mastermind

Police have arrested a key member of the Carbanak gang believed to be responsible for more than 100 cyber heists worldwide Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

ShopDirect set to use AI to detect fraud on phone calls

The online retailer has signed a contract to use voice authentication technology from Pindrop to tackle fraud and improve customer experience Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Blockchain not ready for cross-border bank payments

The use of blockchain in certain parts of the financial services industry is limited at present due to the additional IT work required around its use Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

UK government publishes export strategy for UK cyber security

The government has published a guide for UK cyber security firms on how it plans to support their efforts to find and secure opportunities to export their products and services Continue Reading

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• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Fintech professional’s tech predictions: 1 – Fake News

Fintech professional predicts that tech forms carrying news will need government approval over next few years to fight against fake news Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

CQC raises concerns over quality of online primary care services

Care Quality Commission’s inspection into online or app-based GP services finds that 43% of providers aren’t adhering to “safe care” regulations Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

How to make the leap from traditional bank to digital bank

To compete effectively in an increasingly digital financial landscape, conventional banks need to build greater efficiency, value and trust through technology Continue Reading

By

• Vittorio D’Orazio and Alistair Newton

Swedish study talks up benefits of artificial intelligence

A major report has reassured Swedish society that artificial intelligence will be a positive force for change despite fears of job losses Continue Reading

By

• Gerard O'Dwyer

Swedish industry contributes to 5G evolution

Swedish industrial companies have played a role in the development of Ericsson’s 5G services in the country Continue Reading

By

• Jane Hamrin

Government must improve quality and awareness of childcare website, say MPs

Treasury Committee says government should launch websites only when they can cope with the expected workload, after childcare website was down for 160 hours last summer Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

European insurtech growth dwarfs US

Europe is seeing rapid growth in its insurtech as investors pump hundreds of millions into the sector Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Cloud key to cyber defence, says Palo Alto Networks

Organisations need to make sense of security intelligence and act on it faster to get ahead of attackers, and cloud-based security is one way of making that possible, according to Palo Alto Networks Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

The walking dead: Is there life left in 4G mobile networks?

These days, 5G grabs all the hype and headlines, but 4G still has plenty more to give. It’s a good thing, too, as operators have no choice but to sweat their assets Continue Reading

By

• Sarah Wray

Facebook braces for new regulation for Cambridge Analytica deal

Facebook's COO has joined the social network’s CEO in apologising for betraying users’ trust by giving Cambridge Analytica unfettered access to personal data, saying the firm will work with regulators Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Scottish village rolls out FTTP broadband at half normal cost

Residents of the remote village of Balquhidder in Stirlingshire have banded together to roll out a full-fibre broadband network at just half the cost of a normal fibre network build Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

CIO interview: Damian Smith, head of IT, England and Wales Cricket Board

Embracing change at an institution more than 200 years old can be a sticky wicket, but England and Wales Cricket Board’s head of IT is batting for a digitally enabled future Continue Reading

By

• Mark Samuels

Telefonica cuts HR running costs by 40% as it replaces hundreds of ageing IT systems

Multinational telecoms group Telefonica is on the verge of completing a project to replace 175 incompatible HR IT systems with a cloud service covering more than 40 countries Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Private sector over-investing against nation-state attacks

The creator of a routing technique that protects the domain name system says the money spent on guarding against nation-state actors could have been better used for other purposes Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

GP contract calls for increased digital uptake

NHS England’s GP contract says practices must move to e-referrals by October 2018, and work on improving uptake of patients using online services to 30% Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Privacy group calls for UK response to data exploitation

Policy-makers need to respond swiftly to the Cambridge Analytica and Facebook data exploitation scandal, according to privacy rights group Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Colt pioneers blockchain in telco voice wholesaling

Colt Technology Services and Hong Kong Telecom’s international unit PCCW Global teamed up to trial the use of blockchain in wholesale voice settlements Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Canadian broadband expertise speeds Gigaclear fibre dig

Rural broadband provider Gigaclear has enlisted Canadian firm Lite Access Technology to assist in the roll-out of full-fibre services to 10,000 properties in Oxfordshire Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

CityFibre consumer broadband collaboration hits Peterborough

CityFibre is returning to one of its earliest Gigabit City projects with Vodafone in tow to upgrade thousands of homes in Peterborough to gigabit-capable full-fibre broadband Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Mayor of London kick-starts drive to make city top for AI

London mayor Sadiq Khan commissions a study to look at improving the capital’s readiness for artificial intelligence Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Application layer DDoS attacks increasing, Imperva data shows

Distributed denial of service attacks targeting applications almost doubled in the last three months of 2017, according to Imperva Incapsula data Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Fintechs weigh up their partnership options

Fintechs need to consider what type of companies they should work with to make the most of open banking regulations Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Chancellor of the exchequer announces UK fintech strategy

The government has outlined its plans to support the financial technology industry in the UK Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

HMRC sets August launch date for customs IT system

HMRC plans to begin a phased deployment of its Customs Declaration Service this August, with completion expected by early 2019 Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

UK local councils favour hybrid cloud as legacy IT management needs persist

Research into the IT buying habits of more than 300 local authorities in the UK reveals a growing appetite for using cloud, as councils continue to grapple with managing and maintaining legacy IT Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Businesses lack cyber security confidence after majority were breached in past year

Most businesses were hit by a data breach in the past year, yet less than half are confident they would detect a breach, a survey shows Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

What would coders do in ethical grey areas?

Software developers are writing code that affects the lives of millions of people and how businesses are run, but what do coders think about some of the ethical questions they face? Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Uber autonomous vehicle death raises questions for UK law review

Uber suspended testing of autonomous vehicles in North America after one of its cars struck and killed a pedestrian this week, and the tragic accident raises big questions in the light of the UK’s ongoing legal review of self-driving cars Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Shared services project is about user needs, not tech, says strategy director

If you’re hoping for the government’s shared services strategy to “break revolutionary ground” in terms of tech, you’ll be disappointed. It’s about serving user needs – not tech – says its strategy director Andy Helliwell Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

MoD to focus on SMEs to raise supply chain cyber security

The Ministry of Defence continues to develop a joint initiative with industry aimed at raising the security posture throughout the UK’s defence supply chain, with increasing focus on SMEs Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Train leasing firm demos mobile edge computing for smart trains

Rolling stock leasing company Angel Trains is demonstrating edge computing over a wireless mesh network to make life easier for its customers’ on-board staff Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

IT attracts more foreign investment projects to UK than other sectors

IT accounts for the highest number of foreign direct investment projects in the UK, which should come as a warning to the UK government to listen to the sector Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

SD-WAN still too complex, survey shows

Despite SD-WAN adoption, WAN complexity remains a major challenge, a survey has revealed, driving firms to managed services, mainly because of security concerns Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

UK must hurry to agree science and innovation deal with EU, MPs say

The Science and Technology Committee calls on government to urgently secure science and innovation deal with the EU to get clarity on funding, regulation and talent retention and recruitment Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Popular culture key to giving cyber security much-needed boost

The cyber security industry should turn to popular culture to raise awareness of the cyber threat to businesses and consumers and attract new blood to the field, says McMafia author Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

RBS said to be setting up its own digital bank

Royal Bank of Scotland is reportedly setting up a standalone digital bank to take advantage of changing customer habits Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Danish government launches business-focused national digital strategy

Denmark’s government has launched a plan to get more small businesses into the digital economy as it targets being a leader in advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence Continue Reading

By

• Gerard O'Dwyer

WhatsApp co-founder calls time on Facebook

Brian Acton has called time on Facebook following reports of the firm’s dealings with data mining firm Cambridge Analytica linked to the EU referendum and Donald Trump’s US election campaign Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Case study: Stationery firm gets things moving with FTTP broadband voucher

Nuco, a Midlands-based supplier of paper and stationery products, has improved its business agility and is moving its IT into the cloud thanks to the government’s full-fibre broadband connection voucher scheme Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Ireland eyes Brexit-triggered tech investments

The organisation that champions Ireland to foreign investors has seen an increase in IT companies moving to its shores Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

IBM delivers Watson-powered voice assistant for consumer brands

Alexa and Google Assistant have taken residence in people's homes. IBM aims to give companies a way to deliver their own branded AI voice assistants Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Croydon Council partners with Rainmaker to shake up its IT

Croydon Council has employed digital transformation specialist Rainmaker to help it change the way it delivers IT over the next three years Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad