In Depth

In Depth

IT operations management and IT support

• Europe’s proposed AI regulation falls short on protecting rights

  The European Commission’s proposal for artificial intelligence regulation focuses on creating a risk-based, market-led approach replete with self-assessments, transparency procedures and technical standards, but critics warn it falls short of being ...  Continue Reading

• Buying a VPN? Here’s what you need to know

  VPNs are an effective cyber security tool for businesses and remote workers, but there are many things to consider before purchasing and implementing one. We explore some of these  Continue Reading

• What digital transformation means for data storage

  We survey the key planks of digital transformation and look at the storage technologies emerging to support it, such as NVMe and QLC flash, hyper-converged infrastructure and cloud storage  Continue Reading

• The right tech choices for hybrid workers

  Various studies give a mixed reaction to businesses returning to office work, but what is apparent is that support for remote working will continue  Continue Reading

• How do I get my users to pay attention to security training?

  As cyber security risks grow daily, businesses must educate staff about these through cyber awareness training. But how can they ensure this is taken seriously by employees?  Continue Reading

• Navigating the sticky issue of monitoring employee productivity

  With employees having shifted en masse to remote working during the pandemic, we explore how enterprises have maintained the productivity of their dispersed workforce  Continue Reading

• Why some jobseekers have turned to cyber crime during the pandemic

  Research shows that many people have been seeking cyber crime-related work on the dark web, but why?  Continue Reading

• Preparing for enterprise-class containerisation

  As more workloads are deployed in containers, IT teams will need to assess how to manage container sprawl, reduce cloud bills and support databases  Continue Reading

• The 3-2-1 backup rule: Has cloud made it obsolete?

  The 3-2-1 backup rule was made for small-scale use in the pre-cloud era when tape still ruled. Is it relevant in the 2020s, or can we repurpose its fundamental principles?  Continue Reading

• How to choose the right email security service for your organisation

  With email security threats growing rapidly, businesses can quickly identify and block these by using a top email security service. Here’s how to select the right provider  Continue Reading

• Does email security need a human solution or a tech solution?

  People spend a lot of time using email systems, but many do not realise that this makes them attractive targets for cyber criminals. With education and technology, businesses can tackle this problem head-on  Continue Reading

• Dealing with the challenge of beg bounties

  The rise of so-called beg bounties is becoming a challenge for security teams, and can be a drain on time and resources. But what is a beg bounty, and how does it differ from a bug bounty?  Continue Reading

• Five ways that disaster recovery changes in a pandemic

  Covid-19 has changed IT. Previously, working remotely was a business continuity measure, but now it is the norm. That means disaster recovery has to adapt to new risks and new ways to respond  Continue Reading

• Is it time to ban ransomware insurance payments?

  The former head of the NCSC recently called for a dialogue over whether or not it is time to ban insurers from covering ransomware payments. Is he on the right track?  Continue Reading

• Five key questions about Kubernetes backup answered

  We look at when to back up containers, what to protect, the main methods of backup for Kubernetes and the main Kubernetes backup products available in the market  Continue Reading

• APAC career guide: How to become a DevOps engineer

  A DevOps career can be highly rewarding, as long as you are open to learning new things and collaborating with team mates to solve problems in software development  Continue Reading

• How can healthcare organisations fight increased cyber crime in 2021?

  As the Covid-19 pandemic enters what may be its most dangerous phase, we explore how healthcare organisations can ward off cyber threats while preserving their ability to deliver critical care  Continue Reading

• Data Dynamics aims at single view of unstructured data

  Data volume is ballooning, and storage is becoming more disparate, which makes the need for a single platform to manage storage and compliance a key requirement for organisations  Continue Reading

• The nation state threat to business

  The SolarWinds hack shows the widespread damage possible from a nation state cyber attack. What is the threat to business and how can it be mitigated?  Continue Reading

• Security Long Reads: Cyber insiders reveal what’s to come in 2021

  In this long read, we gather together the thoughts of cyber security insiders from across the industry to get their take on what will happen in 2021  Continue Reading

• Patching: Balancing technical requirements with business considerations

  With an increasing reliance on subscription models alongside the regular patching of software, updates have become an essential part of modern business practices. However, care needs to be taken to ensure the optimum patching process is implemented  Continue Reading

• Post-pandemic approaches to IAM for cloud security

  Cloud technology may have saved businesses from catastrophe during the pandemic, but it has also introduced additional challenges around identity and access management. Here’s why IAM policies are crucial in the new normal  Continue Reading

• This Christmas, Covid-19 heightens retail security risks for everyone

  Do you think it’s only retailers and consumers who need to consider cyber security when shopping online during the holidays? You’re dead wrong. This year, the Covid-19 pandemic and the shift to remote working has thrown a spanner in the works  Continue Reading

• Fix bottlenecks before tackling business process automation

  Business processes evolve over time, and intelligent automation requires a thorough assessment of what is not working optimally  Continue Reading

• Need to know: Five key things about backup testing

  We look at five key things to consider when it comes to backup testing – what to test, how often, making sure backups work, whether recovery is effective and ensuring processes are consistent  Continue Reading

• How to build an effective vulnerability management programme

  As cyber criminals increasingly look to exploit vulnerabilities in software and hardware, businesses must build and implement an effective vulnerability management programme to counter this growing threat  Continue Reading

• How AI is helping to drive business process optimisation

  Automating an inefficient process simply leads to a faster inefficient process. Artificial intelligence needs to be deployed to ensure business processes are optimal  Continue Reading

• Credential stuffing: When DDoS isn’t DDoS

  Ten years ago, credential stuffing attacks posed a comparatively minor threat, but with an escalating number of data breaches, the threat posed has now increased. What are the solutions to this very human problem?  Continue Reading

• Tackling multicloud deployments with intelligent cloud management

  Organisations are moving to hybrid and multicloud deployments, which complicates software assets tracking and workload management  Continue Reading

• Forrester: Why tagging should be used to manage hybrid assets

  With complex hybrid environments, there is a need to apply IT asset management best practices across cloud and on-premise systems  Continue Reading

• Why securing the DNS layer is crucial to fight cyber crime

  Domain name system security is often overlooked by organisations, but focusing on this layer could actually improve the effectiveness of cyber security strategies. We explore the latest DNS trends and best practice  Continue Reading

• Baking adaptability into the supply chain

  The coronavirus crisis has highlighted the importance of data and automation in supporting an agile supply chain.  Continue Reading

• Digital safeguarding of physical workspaces can help employees return to 'normal'

  Employees across all sectors are putting their trust in data – not just devices – upon their imminent return to physical workspaces  Continue Reading

• Double extortion ransomware attacks and how to stop them

  As ransomware attacks increase, hackers are diversifying their tactics to get victims to hand over larger sums of money. We investigate the rise of double extortion attacks  Continue Reading

• Getting physical with datacentre security

  Whether it is natural disasters, terrorism or break-ins, datacentres will be vulnerable to a range of risks unless they are physically secured. Here’s how you can improve the physical security of your datacentre  Continue Reading

• How to achieve resilience – the modern uptime trinity

  IT leaders can take responsibility for ensuring their organisations are resilient during times of crisis. There are no quick fixes, but if you think it is expensive to ensure resilience in your IT systems, try frequent failure instead  Continue Reading

• APT groups’ mobile momentum finally faces resistance

  State-backed APT groups are increasingly targeting mobile devices as Covid-19 puts the spotlight on remote working infrastructure security. We explore how the industry is fighting back  Continue Reading

• How to apply zero-trust models to container security

  Containers have become a common fixture in software development, but they have resulted in new concerns for security teams. Is zero-trust the answer to tackling them?  Continue Reading

• Coronavirus: How to go back to the office safely and securely

  Security teams should be used to supporting remote workers effectively by now, but what’s going to happen when people start returning to their offices? We look at the risks and how to address them.  Continue Reading

• Accurate data in, better insights out

  The coronavirus pandemic has propelled data into the headlines, but it has also shown the challenges of dealing with incomplete datasets  Continue Reading

• Constructing the future for engineering – finding the right model where one size does not fit all

  Design and engineering has rapidly evolved to be all about interconnected devices. We see how one of the leading manufacturing software suppliers is meeting the challenge  Continue Reading

• What are the security priorities for the post-coronavirus world?

  The Covid-19 pandemic is forcing massive change across the business world and things may never go back to normal. What does security look like in this new world, and what will buyers be prioritising?  Continue Reading

• Storage 101: Crash-consistent vs application-consistent snapshots

  We look at crash-consistent and application-consistent snapshots and backup, how they are defined, the pros and cons of each and the benefits and limits of Windows VSS  Continue Reading

• Coronavirus: How to cope with the digital skills divide

  Since the Covid-19 pandemic started, employers need tech and digital talent more than ever. But how can organisations recruit and train the skills they need during a lockdown?  Continue Reading

• Snapshots 101: Array vs backup software

  We run the rule over snapshots in storage arrays and backup software and find a range of capabilities that go from mere support to fully snapshot-centric approaches  Continue Reading

• Malaysia’s business continuity planning readiness a mixed bag

  Larger Malaysian enterprises have BCP in place, but SMEs lag behind and will find it harder to weather the Covid-19 storm  Continue Reading

• Coronavirus: Can the networks take the strain?

  It was predicted that the mass roll-out of computer networks would mean at some point that there was no difference between work and home as a working location. These assumptions are about to be tested to the full  Continue Reading

• Whisper it… but could a cyber attack be good for your career?

  All too often it’s the CISO who carries the can for an enterprise security failure, but this might not be a bad thing. There’s lots of evidence to suggest that falling victim to a cyber attack may actually enhance your CV  Continue Reading

• Five ways that backup has changed since the days of tape

  Back in the day, all this was tape, but times have changed, with cloud-to-cloud backup, cloud storage, virtual and physical backup appliances and myriad endpoint hardware  Continue Reading

• Top 10 storage deployment stories of 2019

  Here are ComputerWeekly’s top 10 storage deployment stories for 2019, which see quite a move away from traditional SAN and NAS to hyper-converged, software-defined storage and object storage  Continue Reading

• Changes in the CI/CD pipeline

  Continuous integration/continuous delivery is responsible for pushing out a set of “isolated changes” to an existing application. We look at how big these changes can be  Continue Reading

• Low-code maturity boosts efficiency and helps user acceptance

  Low-code development is finding new maturity in enterprise application development, and organisations of all kinds are taking advantage of the trends  Continue Reading

• Making the case for integrated risk management

  Security experts discuss how an integrated approach to risk and governance can be effectively managed  Continue Reading

• How Sporting Group tackles the Rugby World Cup

  Sporting Group has readied its system monitoring to ensure the technology is able to cope with the huge demand for bets during the Rugby World Cup final  Continue Reading

• Data storage: The top five storage deployment pitfalls

  Key pitfalls in data storage include silos, under-utilisation, backup and disaster recovery, plus neglect of skills and application requirements. We ask analysts how to avoid them  Continue Reading

• Cambridge Cognition CTO on applying server monitoring principles to suicide prevention

  Cambridge Cognition CTO, Ricky Dolphin, discusses why it pays to think outside the box when trying to find technological answers to business and customer problems  Continue Reading

• Interview: Rackspace EMEA CTO on why it pays to put people at the heart of IT transformation

  Rackspace EMEA CTO Lee James opens up about how taking a people-first approach to digital transformation raises staff morale and engagement levels while helping the managed cloud provider win new business  Continue Reading

• Microsoft’s modern desktop management

  How cloud services make the critical business of keeping Windows 10 patched and up to date easier for administrators  Continue Reading

• Serving up managed desktops

  Microsoft is dropping its table d’hôte-like Windows 7 menu in favour of a more tapas-style offering, in the form of Windows 10. This will mean big changes for sysadmins  Continue Reading

• Winning ways with Windows 10 updates

  We look at how IT leaders can effectively manage the major changes Windows 10 imposes on businesses  Continue Reading

• How to avoid a hyper-convergence minefield

  How firms can implement hyper-converged infrastructure to make cost and performance savings  Continue Reading

• Layer your approach to web security

  Combining unified threat management with other security systems and a strategic CISO is essential to defend against threats  Continue Reading

• Choosing the right kind of hybrid cloud management

  We look at the various factors businesses should consider when looking to solve their cloud management problems  Continue Reading

• Counting the costs of IaaS and SaaS

  Cost management is a priority for organisations seeking to use infrastructure and software as a service  Continue Reading

• Steering a safe course through hybrid cloud

  We look at why hybrid cloud can create a tricky infrastructure to manage  Continue Reading

• How to create a great strategy in the digital age

  What are the best ways for technology leaders to create a strategy that is fit for the digital age? Computer Weekly asks the experts  Continue Reading

• How ASEAN firms can tap storage analytics to improve operations

  With storage systems becoming more heterogeneous and siloed, some organisations in ASEAN are turning to storage analytics to reduce costs and address storage issues before they occur  Continue Reading

• How Australia is keeping pace with microservices

  Adoption of microservices remains patchy in Australia, although some sectors pursuing digital transformation are catching up rapidly  Continue Reading

• DevOps and containers: How to get connected

  We look at how to apply a DevOps approach to a container-based microservices architecture  Continue Reading

• Streamline infrastructure management through robotic automation

  Robotic automation is changing the infrastructure management game, helping IT departments make fewer mistakes and boost their productivity  Continue Reading

• Enhance efficiency by automating IT services

  We look at the role of artificial intelligence and chatbots in IT service management  Continue Reading

• Let automation take away the tedium

  Computer Weekly looks at how far the suppliers of systems management tools and associated products have progressed with automation  Continue Reading

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

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

• Inside the distros: A year in Linux development

  Linux will turn 30 in three years. We look at how far the major Linux distributions – or distros – have come over the past year and what they might be able to bring in the future  Continue Reading

• Chrome OS: Why it may be time to approach desktop IT in a different way

  The managed desktop has been running for nearly 20 years. Surely there must be a better way? We investigate  Continue Reading

• The death of the mainframe is greatly exaggerated, says CA

  With mainframe software tools forming a key part of its overall growth strategy, CA Technologies remains proud of its mainframe heritage  Continue Reading

• How innovation in cycling helps Trek-Segafredo create a competitive edge

  Cycling team is using technology from design to the track to improve its business and sporting competitiveness  Continue Reading

• What ‘born in the cloud’ means for developers

  When it comes to building cloud-native apps, developers must code with an inherent appreciation for where processing, storage and analytics happens  Continue Reading

• Digital twins: Revolutionising product businesses

  Among the technological drivers in industrial firms are IoT platforms that implement the concept of a digital twin. We explore the benefits  Continue Reading

• How going cloud native can increase app agility

  We look at how cloud-native applications can deliver far more dynamic support to meet an organisation’s needs  Continue Reading

• Barriers to enterprise adoption of DevOps

  As enterprises join the continuous delivery movement, we look at some of the challenges to DevOps adoption  Continue Reading

• Tooling up for DevOps

  As organisations look to DevOps for continuous development, delivery and integration of business functions, careful control is crucial  Continue Reading

• Pros and cons of CRM software

  Computer Weekly reviews the latest research into the leading customer relationship management and customer experience software providers  Continue Reading

• Five ways to cut the risk of Salesforce

  Best practices for IT professionals seeking to implement Salesforce’s product portfolio  Continue Reading

• Agile unlocked: Pivotal uses paired programming and PaaS to bolster cloud app development

  Digital transformation company Pivotal explains how paired programming, an empathetic work culture and open source PaaS help enterprises achieve their agile software development goals  Continue Reading

• How will the network manager’s role change in the SDN world?

  We explore how traditional network managers are changing the habits of a lifetime as SDN remakes the enterprise network  Continue Reading

• Flash: it’s not all over yet

  We look at the need for new approaches to storage as ever-increasing demands are placed on all-flash arrays  Continue Reading

• Cloud contracts are still a minefield

  Cloud computing is maturing in the enterprise space, but the contracts that underpin cloud services have not evolved at the same pace  Continue Reading

• DevOps done right: Creating a collaborative and supportive business culture

  Cultivating a supportive and collaborative business culture is considered central to getting DevOps to take hold in an organisation. We take a look at what this entails  Continue Reading

• Meet IoT security challenges head-on

  Securing internet-connected devices should be a priority for IT leaders. We pinpoints the key areas that need to be targeted  Continue Reading

• Interview: British Medical Journal’s CDO talks datacentres, DevOps and desktops

  BMJ’s chief digital officer explains how the 170-year-old healthcare publication has negotiated several major digital transformation projects since she joined in 2012  Continue Reading

• Take the initiative on digitisation

  We look at what is available to help businesses further digitise their operations to improve service, efficiency and profit  Continue Reading

• Industrial digitalisation

  We explore how back-office IT is being applied to industrial machines  Continue Reading

• [email protected]: A history of IT outsourcing

  Computer Weekly looks at where and when IT outsourcing was invented and considers the changes the sector has gone through since  Continue Reading

• Evolving Glasgow’s Future City

  It has been two years since Glasgow was awarded £24m under the Future City demonstrator programme. We find out how it has evolved  Continue Reading

• NoSQL offerings from Microsoft and Oracle

  Cloud and big data applications have led to a new wave of NoSQL data stores. We look at what Microsoft and Oracle have to offer  Continue Reading

• Skype for Business: One year on, so what are the results?

  It’s now a year since Microsoft transitioned the Lync unified communications suite into Skype for Business, but has the enterprise embraced or shunned it?  Continue Reading

• The Bimodal IT backlash: Should IT departments subscribe to the notion of a two-tier workforce?

  Gartner’s Bimodal IT vision has captured the imaginations of some CIOs, but industry watchers have queried how well cultivating a two-tier IT department works in reality  Continue Reading

• How to yield the benefits of converged infrastructure

  Bringing together the elements of enterprise IT generates a litany of operational and cost-cutting advantages – but care must be taken in balancing risk and in implementation  Continue Reading

• Co-ordinate outsourced services with Siam

  We look at the practical considerations of implementing an effective service integration and management strategy  Continue Reading