IT news in your industry sector

Swedish entrepreneurs capture the world’s attention with eye-tracking technology

A growing number of killer apps are driving the uptake of eye-tracking systems – and Sweden is positioned to play a leading role Continue Reading

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

Executive interview: Clive Benford, Jaguar Land Rover

The head of the corporate analytics programme at JLR talks to Computer Weekly about data democratisation Continue Reading

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• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

ProxyLogon, ProxyShell may have driven increase in dwell times

The median network intruder dwell time was up 36% to 15 days last year, thanks to massive exploitation of the ProxyLogon and ProxyShell vulnerabilities by IABs, according to new Sophos data Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

P27 advance could replace multiple national clearing systems in Nordics

Nordic payments project promises to make payments to other countries as easy as sending a text message Continue Reading

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• Gerard O'Dwyer

APAC life sciences firms face HPC challenges

More than half of pharmaceutical and biotech companies expect over 10% growth in genomic workloads but are facing scalability and other challenges with their HPC infrastructure Continue Reading

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• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

Prison and Probation Service’s tagging ambition ‘outstripped its ability to deliver’

HM Prison and Probation Service’s programme to transform the tagging of offenders has failed to deliver after software platform was scrapped Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

sound wave

A sound wave is the pattern of disturbance caused by the movement of energy traveling through a medium (such as air, water or any other liquid or solid matter) as it propagates away from the source of the sound. Continue Reading

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• Andrew Zola

Russia looks towards import substitution in its IT sector

The exodus of Western IT companies from Russia and sanctions imposed on the country amid its military invasion of Ukraine are leading to shortages of IT and professionals in the sector Continue Reading

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• Computer Weekly correspondent

Kubernetes backup products and 10 key players

We look at 10 key players in Kubernetes backup, why they are needed, what they offer and why you need to watch out for duplication between application teams and the IT department Continue Reading

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• Stephen Pritchard

CDO interview: Matthew Lawson, chief digital officer, Ribble Cycles

The 125-year-old bicycle manufacturer is transforming its business with digital innovations such as live streaming and online personalisation Continue Reading

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• Mark Samuels

CIO interview: Lee Cowie, chief technology officer, Merlin Entertainments

The theme park giant faced an enormous challenge during Covid with its venues closed, but digital technology came to the rescue and is now opening up new opportunities Continue Reading

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• Mark Samuels

Software house Mega achieves holistic SaaS security with Synopsys

Mega International, a supplier of IT management software, turned to Synopsys’s Coverity and Black Duck products to reassure both itself and its customers that its software-as-a-service offerings were built to the best possible security standards Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Using technology to reinvent shopping

Technology is becoming an important part of the shopping experience at home, in stores and in-between, so how are retailers using tech to advance the store experience? Continue Reading

Using technology to reinvent shopping

In this week’s Computer Weekly, after the pandemic led to a boom in e-commerce, we look at how retailers are turning to tech to revitalise their stores. We examine the issues around using algorithmic automation to manage employees. And we find out how data science is supporting drug discovery at Novartis. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

IT departments need holistic circular economies to fight climate change

With sustainability moving up the boardroom agenda, IT managers should revamp procurement strategies to align with the principles of the circular economy, but what does this mean for managing the IT lifecycle? Continue Reading

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• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

molecule

A molecule is two or more atoms connected by chemical bonds, which form the smallest unit of a substance that retains the composition and properties of that substance. Continue Reading

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• Gavin Wright

Four obstacles to hybrid cloud storage – and possible solutions

We look at obstacles to hybrid cloud storage, such as complexity, a need for object storage, application suitability, and cost, with potential ways to mitigate the problems Continue Reading

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• Stephen Pritchard

How Pfizer is leveraging technology in healthcare

Pfizer uses predictive modelling to recruit patients for clinical trials and supercomputers to identity candidate molecules that go into antiviral drugs, among other technology use cases Continue Reading

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• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

CIO interview: Emma Frost, director of innovation, London Legacy Development Corporation

The former Olympic Park in London has become a hotbed – and a testbed – for data and technology innovation that could have a wider benefit for the urban environments in which we live Continue Reading

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• Mark Samuels

The importance of making information security more accessible

Robin Smith, CSO of Aston Martin Lagonda, talks about how an accessible approach to cyber is helping him to keep the organisation secure Continue Reading

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• Robin Smith, chief security officer, Aston Martin Lagonda

How Police Scotland deployed mobile comms for integrated services

Technology is core to Police Scotland’s 10-year plan to transform policing, and since 2019 it has worked with Motorola to roll out mobile comms Continue Reading

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• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Researchers discover zero-day Microsoft vulnerability in Office

Malicious Word documents have been used to invoke a previously undisclosed vulnerability in Microsoft Office without user interaction through Windows utility functions Continue Reading

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• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Heineken puts employees in charge of their own careers with new HR system

According to Sanne Noordam, head of SAP SuccessFactors in the Netherlands, companies need to look and listen more closely to the needs of employees in order to attract and retain them Continue Reading

By

• Kim Loohuis

How cryptocurrency is bringing humanitarian value to Ukraine

Web3 technology has great significance as a form of charitable giving, and in providing permanent records for the government Continue Reading

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• Avivah Litan

Industrial systems not safe for the future, say Dutch ethical hackers

Ethical hackers in the Netherlands say operational technology and IT networks need to be integrated to prevent cyber attacks penetrating their operations Continue Reading

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• Kim Loohuis

Mobile digital transformation – from fast to deep

The first half of 2022 has been a busy time, with much happening in the mobile industry. We consider what the rest of year might hold Continue Reading

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• Dario Betti, Mobile Ecosystem Forum

Trial and error – why the law on computer evidence must change

In this week’s Computer Weekly, the Post Office IT scandal highlighted the problem with computer evidence – we examine the need for legal reform. We assess the nuclear option for sustainable datacentre power. And we find out how IT experts can improve their soft skills and boost their career prospects as a result. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

ICO calls for police to end ‘excessive collection’ of personal data from rape and assault victims

The UK’s information commissioner, John Edwards, has called for prosecutors and police to end the excessive collection of personal data from victims of rape and serious sexual assault Continue Reading

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• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Government has no plans to review court rules on computer evidence

The UK government has been accused of ‘passing the buck’ and ‘not knowing what it is talking about’ after stating that it has no plans to review court rules on computer evidence. Continue Reading

Iceland’s natural and digital approach to healthcare disrupts global sector

Iceland has the perfect blend of natural health remedies and tech startup entrepreneurship to shake up the world healthcare sector Continue Reading

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• Matthew Staff

UAE residents think 3D printing will have the most positive impact on society

People in the UAE believe next-generation technologies such as 3D printing and artificial intelligence will become widespread in the country Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Strong internal foundations are key to withstanding external threats

The modern-day abundance of platforms, apps and IT tools presents malicious actors with a web of interconnection that is easily exploited to move rapidly through the network to compromise critical assets. Security teams need to understand these attack pathways better in order to fight back Continue Reading

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• Steve Forbes

NatWest replacing multiple customer service systems

NatWest Bank puts customer service tools on a single platform using Microsoft Dynamics 365 Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Amazon shareholders vote down audit of warehouse work conditions

Shareholders reject proposal calling for an independent audit of Amazon’s working conditions during the company’s annual general meeting Continue Reading

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• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

NUS students learn to handle agitated patients through VR

Medical and nursing students at the National University of Singapore’s medical school will soon don virtual reality headsets to learn how to handle agitated patients Continue Reading

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• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

Executive interview: Miles Hillier, NatWest

Retail bank’s digital channel development head talks about building a multi-channel customer experience Continue Reading

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• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Global business insurer saves 50,000 hours through RPA

QBE started its robotic process automation journey in 2017 and has already saved 50,000 hours, enabling staff to focus on customer care Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Two-thirds of UK organisations defrauded since start of pandemic

Nearly two out of three UK companies say they have experienced some form of fraud or economic crime in the past two years, according to a report Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Dutch companies struggle to fill tech jobs

There are plenty of IT job vacancies in the Netherlands, but a shortage of IT professionals Continue Reading

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

Tech companies join UK four-day work week trial

Computer Weekly speaks with tech companies taking part in the UK’s upcoming four-day work week trial, which will measure the impact of shorter working weeks on productivity, wellbeing and the environment Continue Reading

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• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

CW Nordics: How the Estonian government created a digital assistant to support citizens

As Estonia finalises the initial version of its government services digital assistant for launch, the man heading the project describes the birth of Bürokratt and beyond. Also read about Helsinki's role in a pan-EU project to introduce drone technology into emergency medical services. Continue Reading

The barristers that broke their backs to break the Post Office’s shield of lies

Computer Weekly spoke to the barristers at Henderson Chambers that fought the Post Office in the High Court to expose the widest miscarriage of justice in UK history Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

IR35 reforms: PAC report blames HMRC for ‘widespread non-compliance’ in public sector

The Public Accounts Committee has shared the findings of its report into the after-effects of the IR35 reforms coming into force in the public sector back in April 2017 Continue Reading

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• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Helsinki helps lay the groundwork for cities to take on healthcare drones

 Continue Reading

The birth of Estonia’s digital civil servant

 Continue Reading

ICO orders facial recognition firm Clearview AI to delete all data about UK residents

UK data watchdog fines facial recognition company Clearview AI £7.5m for multiple privacy breaches. The firm, which offers services to law enforcement, faces growing pressure from regulators and legal action around the world Continue Reading

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• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Ransomware volumes grew faster than ever in 2021

Verizon’s annual DBIR assessment of the security landscape highlights an unprecedented boom in ransomware volumes, to the surprise of nobody Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

JPMorgan’s UK digital retail bank reaches half-million customer mark

Chase Bank in the UK has already reached the half-million customer mark, but expects a profit to be some years away Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Fintech unicorn Klarna to cut 10% of staff amid global shocks

Fintech unicorn to slash jobs in reaction to global economic shocks signalling challenges in the financial technology sector Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Set innovation free and make great ideas a reality

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we look at Gartner’s call to innovate – and innovation across retail, the circular economy and the automotive sector. We talk to Verastar’s CTO about customer engagement in its small business services. And we examine how poor data quality is frustrating corporate desires to be data driven. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Netherlands approves beyond-visual-line-of-sight inspection drones

Drones can automate the traditionally challenging job of inspecting industrial sites, including hard-to-reach infrastructure Continue Reading

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

Government has no plans to review controversial court rules on computer evidence

Government accused of ‘passing the buck’ and ‘not knowing what it is talking about’ after stating it has no plans to review court rules on computer evidence Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Reimagining the cities of the future in Finland

New ideas around new space: Helsinki not only imagines, but can see, the cities of the future Continue Reading

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• Matthew Staff

Applying international law to cyber will be a tall order

Many in the security community have voiced their support for the UK government’s ambitions to work towards agreement with other countries on the application of international law to cyber space, but not without some reservations Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Government will legislate to protect access to cash amid digital revolution

The government is giving the Financial Conduct Authority more powers to force banks to ensure cash withdrawal and deposit services are within easy reach of customers Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Defensive cyber attacks may be justified, says attorney general

Speaking ahead of a speech at the Chatham House think tank, the UK’s attorney general has suggested defensive cyber attacks against hostile countries may be legally justifiable Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Deliveroo accused of ‘soft union busting’ with GMB deal

Smaller grassroots unions have criticised Deliveroo and GMB for making a “hollow” deal that will ultimately undermine workers’ self-organising efforts Continue Reading

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• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Relentless branch closures at Lloyds Bank continue as digital banking takes hold

UK bank branches are being shuttered in large numbers as consumers choose online banking, with Lloyds Banking Group announcing more closures Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Security Think Tank: To follow a path, you need a good map

The modern-day abundance of platforms, apps and IT tools presents malicious actors with a web of interconnection that is easily exploited to move rapidly through the network to compromise critical assets. Security teams need to understand these attack pathways better in order to fight back Continue Reading

By

• Petra Wenham

Mastercard biometric programme will allow payment authentication by smile

Mastercard is inviting banks and merchants to join a programme to set standards for biometric payments technology Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Portworx adds anti-ransomware to PX-Backup for Kubernetes

Pure’s Kubernetes storage and data protection platform adds object locking to combat ransomware Continue Reading

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• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

Post Office scandal victim calls for government’s role in silencing victims to be investigated

Victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal in Scotland raise further questions about Post Office and government conduct Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

(ISC)² to train 100,000 cyber pros in UK

Security association (ISC)² unveils ambitious UK training programme Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Investment in UK ‘cleantech’ sector hit new high in 2021 as climate change concerns rise

Investment in companies that make technologies designed to help society more sustainable is on the rise across Europe, and in the UK, too Continue Reading

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• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Video effects firm cuts costs by 20% and goes hybrid with Hammerspace

Jellyfish Pictures saves on rising power and office space costs, as well as Brexit difficulties, by using Hammerspace to allow access to large files from any geographic location Continue Reading

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• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

Controversial Post Office IT system to be replaced by 2025

Work is ongoing by the Post Office to replace the controversial Horizon retail and accounting system used in nearly 12,000 branches Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Hammerspace the ‘missing link’ for a cloud still lacking

The cloud can’t enable true multi-region working so Hammerspace helps make data visible globally and aggregate it as needed between locations with workflows set via customer policy Continue Reading

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• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

Digitally transforming UK power networks for renewable energy

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we find out how the UK’s power networks need to be digital transformed to be ready for renewable energy – and the role of open source. Wi-Fi 6 was meant to give a boost to wireless connectivity – we examine why adoption has stalled. And we look at what a quantum datacentre might be like. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

SWIFT FIN message

SWIFT FIN is a message type (MT) that transmits financial information from one financial institution to another. Continue Reading

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• Robert Sheldon

Smart traffic management offers greater emissions control

Juniper Research has predicted that CO2 emissions could be slashed if governments fully deploy smart traffic management systems Continue Reading

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• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Pro-competition data sharing will not include users’ personal info, says minister

UK government proposals to improve competition in digital markets by making tech giants share data with smaller firms will not include consumers’ personal information, says digital minister Continue Reading

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• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Santander has so far moved 80% of IT infrastructure to cloud

Spanish banking giant Santander continues its journey into the cloud as it strives to be cloud native Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Amazon shareholders to vote on audit of working conditions

Amazon shareholders will vote on whether the company has to conduct an independent audit on the working conditions and treatment of its warehouse workers, following the e-commerce giant’s unsuccessful attempt to dismiss the proposal Continue Reading

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• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Government levelling up bill promotes open data-based digital planning

The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill announced in the Queen’s Speech includes proposals for digital planning powers to be given to local government in England and Wales, based on open data Continue Reading

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• Brian McKenna, Senior Analyst, Business Applications

Mind the gap: public and private sector disparity in cybersecurity

Amidst increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks and a constantly shifting threat landscape, cyber security partnerships across the private and public sector are essential in tackling these threats. ... Continue Reading

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• Louella Fernandes, Quocirca

Parasol data breach: Leaked email claims Optionis is denying responsibility for incident

Parent company of the Parasol umbrella firm that suffered a cyber attack and data breach earlier this year is denying responsibility for the incident, as legal action against the firm heats up Continue Reading

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• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

App-based Starling Bank doubles its Cardiff workforce

Digital bank is recruiting nearly 500 people, including data scientists and engineers, to its Cardiff operation Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

GPDPR data scrape a ‘mistake’, says leading scientist

Giving evidence to the Science and Technology Committee, academic, physician and science writer Ben Goldacre has expressed serious misgivings about the on-hold GPDPR NHS data scrape Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

The limits and risks of backup as ransomware protection

Backups can provide a sound means of recovery from ransomware infection, but they are not 100% certain to foil attackers. We look at the limits and risks of depending on backups Continue Reading

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• Stephen Pritchard

Fashion tech investment grew 66% during pandemic

As the pandemic caused an increase in online shopping, fashion businesses began investing in technology to help them match customer demand Continue Reading

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• Clare McDonald, Business Editor

CyberUK 22: Five Eyes focuses on MSP security

The western intelligence community has set out practical steps IT service providers and their customers can take to protect themselves Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Pure to offer on-prem object storage as Snowflake data source

Pure Storage partnership with Snowflake will see the cloud data warehousing platform make use of on-prem FlashBlade fast file and object storage as a source for analytics data Continue Reading

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• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

DWP partners with AI-powered career and job services

Partnership involves a trial to see how well artificial intelligence can be used to help job seekers find work more quickly Continue Reading

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• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Cyber accreditation body Crest forges new training partnerships

Crest says partnerships with Hack The Box and Immersive Labs will enhance its members’ defensive and offensive security skills Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Nationwide stops thousands more attempted frauds with Strong Customer Authentication

Nationwide Building Society is blocking an additional 2000 attempted online shopping frauds a month through extra checks Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Microsoft fixes three zero-days on May Patch Tuesday

It’s the second-to-last Patch Tuesday as we know it, and Microsoft has fixed a total of 75 bugs, including three zero-days Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Queen’s Speech: Employment Bill omission suggests further delays to umbrella market regulation

Contracting market stakeholders were hoping for some clarification on the delivery timeline for umbrella market regulation in the Queen’s Speech, but none was forthcoming Continue Reading

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• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

EU plans to police child abuse raise fresh fears over encryption and privacy rights

Draft regulation unveiled today will require internet and messaging firms to use algorithms to identify grooming and child abuse or face heavy fines Continue Reading

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• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

CCRC to contact 88 more former subpostmasters with potentially wrongful convictions

The Criminal Cases Review Commission is to contact 88 more potentially wrongfully convicted Post Office workers Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

‘Spy cops’ inquiry delves into police relationship with MI5

There was ‘no filter’ on the information that undercover police officers were collecting on activists throughout the 1970s, despite senior managers and officials involved in directing the surveillance questioning the appropriateness of the information gathering and sharing Continue Reading

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• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

CyberUK 22: Cyber leaders affirm UK’s whole-of-society strategy

On the opening day of CyberUK 2022, GCHQ director Jeremy Fleming and NCSC CEO Lindy Cameron have spoken of their commitment to the government’s ambition for a whole-of-society cyber strategy Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

NetApp’s cloud-era storage competitors in ‘world of hurt’

NetApp is busily reinventing itself as a cloud services provider, with its competition years behind, according to its public cloud vice-president Continue Reading

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• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

Post Office scandal inquiry chair brings forward urgent compensation hearings

The chair of the Post Office Horizon scandal inquiry has brought forward hearings about compensation as victims warn that at this rate “people will die” before they get anything Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

CyberUK 22: NCSC refreshes cloud security guidance

The National Cyber Security Centre is revising its cloud guidance as increasing uptake of potentially vulnerable cloud services puts more organisations at risk of compromise Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

European retailers see embedded finance as a revenue builder

Retailers and e-commerce businesses are working with tech suppliers to embed financial products and services in their customer offerings Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

How low energy warehouse robotics and automation are making supply chains more sustainable

In this guest post, James Smith, UK managing director of order fulfillment warehouse robot maker AutoStore Systems, explains how automation can bring sustainability benefits to warehouses and ... Continue Reading

The spies who hack you – the growing threat of spyware

In this week’s Computer Weekly, after 10 Downing Street was hit by a spyware attack, fears about targeted mobile phone hacks are increasing. Our salary survey highlights the diversity challenge in IT, with men’s support for women in IT declining. And we look at how datacentre heat reuse can help reduce carbon emissions. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

DWP Digital sets out three-year plan to improve data sharing and cut legacy

In response to the pandemic, the government department aims to improve collaboration and develop a reference architecture Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

How one Australian firm is creating smarter menus

Me&u’s smart menus are intelligent enough to recommend food items based on customer preferences, and even help to reduce food waste and alleviate bartender workloads during peak periods Continue Reading

By

• Stephen Withers

Ctera opens up its storage to third-party analytics via APIs

File system software builds pools of NAS-like storage accessible from anywhere, with APIs to third-party tools to interrogate data for business processes, anomaly detection and more Continue Reading

By

• Yann Serra, LeMagIT
• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor