News

IT for government and public sector

June 05, 2017 05 Jun'17
Mass collection of data on population ‘illegal’, UK court told

Investigatory Powers Tribunal hearing challenges GCHQ over legality of mass surveillance, as government plans moves to control encryption
June 05, 2017 05 Jun'17
Singapore, Australia forge cyber security ties

The two countries will conduct joint cyber security exercises, among a raft of measures to secure critical infrastructure and bolster cyber security knowhow
June 04, 2017 04 Jun'17
ODI unimpressed with data commitments in party manifestos

The Open Data Institute said all the political parties failed to address how the use of open data can improve the delivery of public services
June 01, 2017 01 Jun'17
IR35 reforms: HMRC denies claims that online tax status assessment tool returns unreliable results

HM Revenue & Customs hits back at research that suggests its IR35 online assessment tool is hindering public sector organisations in determining the tax status of off-payroll staff

May 31, 2017 31 May'17
TfL likely to tender for 4G on the Tube

Transport for London is planning to undertake preliminary work on installing 4G mobile networking services on the London Underground in the near future
May 31, 2017 31 May'17
Hundreds of sub-postmasters have applied to join IT-related legal action since March

The number of sub-postmasters who claim to have suffered as a result of a faulty Post Office IT system has reached 1,300
May 31, 2017 31 May'17
IR35 reforms: NHS revises stance on contractor tax status assessments

National Health Service’s U-turn over IR35 assessments could prompt other public sector bodies to follow suit, say experts
May 31, 2017 31 May'17
Singapore to pave the way for tech startup IPOs

The agreement between the Singapore government and the local bourse will lower barriers to capital markets and make the city-state a more attractive destination for startup fundraising
May 26, 2017 26 May'17
Swedish government agencies join IT spending benchmarking service

Government agencies in Sweden are using a tool by Apptio to help them gain a better understanding of IT costs
May 26, 2017 26 May'17
Estonian e-Residency programme partners Finnish tech startup

Government’s partnership with fintech firm Holvi aims to provide online business banking services to entrepreneurs who take up eResidency

May 24, 2017 24 May'17
SAP aligns with Saudi Arabia’s IT transformation agenda

Global software giant SAP sees an opportunity for its wide portfolio in Saudi Arabia as the Middle Eastern country transforms
May 24, 2017 24 May'17
Singapore government to spend S$2.4bn on technology initiatives

Funding will go towards building a national sensor platform, boosting the government’s cyber security capabilities and driving the use of robots
May 23, 2017 23 May'17
Three-quarters of internet of things projects are at risk of failure

At Cisco’s IoT World Forum in London, the network supplier releases statistics suggesting that most IoT projects are at risk of, or doomed to, failure
May 23, 2017 23 May'17
Audit Scotland shares lessons learned from failed IT projects

In a ‘lessons learned’ report, Scottish auditor sets out five principles that should be considered when managing government IT programmes
May 22, 2017 22 May'17
Middle East largely unscathed after WannaCry cyber attack

The impact of WannaCry on the Middle East was reduced due to the attack falling on a weekend, but it is a stark warning
May 21, 2017 21 May'17
Australian government ICT spending under fire

The opposition Labor party has called for a review of the government’s higher ICT spending and digital transformation programme
May 19, 2017 19 May'17
Interview: Claude Moraes, MEP and EU Civil Liberties Committee chair

Claude Moraes, chair of the European Parliament's Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee shares his views, concerns, reservations about EU-US data transfers, encryption and Brexit
May 19, 2017 19 May'17
General election 2017: a quick guide to the parties’ digital pledges

We examine the digital promises in the three main national political parties’ manifestos and how they compare on broadband, skills, digital government, infrastructure and innovation
May 18, 2017 18 May'17
Half of CIOs have no Brexit plan because of uncertainty

Uncertainty caused by the UK leaving the EU has caused a pause in activity for half of CIOs, while the others are accelerating their digital transformation
May 18, 2017 18 May'17
Conservative Party manifesto promises to ‘face up to fast-changing technology’

Tories aim to create a digital charter, continuing a “digital by default” government and a dynamic digital economy
May 18, 2017 18 May'17
Lib Dem manifesto pledges digital bill of rights and superfast broadband

The Liberal Democrats 2017 election manifesto promises 30Mbps broadband, a focus on innovation and a digital bill of rights
May 18, 2017 18 May'17
WannaCry biggest incident to date for National Cyber Security Centre

The WannaCry ransomware attack that started on 12 May 2017 is the biggest single incident that the new UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has faced
May 17, 2017 17 May'17
Smart Dubai works with United Nations on smart cities index

Dubai is becoming a world leader in smart city developments and international organisations want to tap its experience
May 17, 2017 17 May'17
London digital sector continues to grow faster than rest of UK

The gap between the number of digital tech firms in London and the rest of the UK is growing
May 17, 2017 17 May'17
TechUK manifesto calls on next government to put strong focus on digital

TechUK’s digital vision sees the government placing digital technology at the heart of the UK economy, refreshing Gov.uk Verify and prioritising tech in Brexit negotiations
May 17, 2017 17 May'17
Startup aims to improve web access for disabled people

Essential Accessibility is on a mission to make online services more friendly to disabled people through a mix of assistive technology and consultancy
May 16, 2017 16 May'17
Labour election manifesto commits to growing the digital economy

The Labour Party’s 2017 election manifesto highlights better use of technology, maintaining data protection, and a £250bn investment in infrastructure
May 16, 2017 16 May'17
Financial services CISOs prioritise GDPR – but their service providers might not have

Survey shows 52% of CISOs working in the finance sector have made compliance with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation an investment priority
May 15, 2017 15 May'17
MPs and peers urged not to use personal email as WannaCry spreads

MPs and peers have been warned not to use personal emails on parliamentary Windows computers in the wake of WannaCry ransomware outbreak
May 15, 2017 15 May'17
Businesses urged to apply Windows patch to avert WannaCry attacks

Security advisers are urging organisations to patch their Windows systems to avert a possible second wave of an unprecedented, indiscriminate ransomware attack
May 12, 2017 12 May'17
CTS director Iain Patterson leaves GDS

Common Technology Services director Iain Patterson is the latest in a long line of senior leaders to leave the Government Digital Service
May 12, 2017 12 May'17
Mixed reaction to Trump’s cyber security executive order

The latest US presidential executive order on cyber security has been met mainly with praise, but critics say there is nothing really new and takes no decisive action
May 12, 2017 12 May'17
Why smart cities need to become smarter about technology

Cities are experimenting with smarter ways to use technologies to improve the life of citizens, but their projects are fragmented. Is there a better approach?
May 11, 2017 11 May'17
Plans for superfast broadband and digital ambassador in leaked Labour manifesto

The leaked draft of the Labour Party’s election manifesto promises to deliver superfast broadband by 2022 and appoint a digital ambassador to fly the flag for Britain post-Brexit
May 11, 2017 11 May'17
Australian government bolsters IT security in budget boost

The country’s Digital Transformation Agency has been given a shot in the arm to guard public sector IT systems against cyber attacks
May 10, 2017 10 May'17
Trump’s ‘hire American’ rhetoric is stalling global IT services sector

The IT services sector is facing an important period as political decisions impact their business models
May 10, 2017 10 May'17
Nordic region competes for datacentre dominance

The Nordic region is an attractive region for datacentres as demand for cloud services in the area grows
May 10, 2017 10 May'17
Durham Police to use artificial intelligence to help decide if suspects should be held in custody

Durham Police are to use artificial intelligence to help them decide whether or not to keep suspects in custody
May 10, 2017 10 May'17
Automation can turn tables on cyber attackers

Security defenders should use automation to turn the tables on attackers, according to the CTO of the US Department of Homeland Security
May 09, 2017 09 May'17
Blockchain gains momentum in the Middle East

Blockchain is gathering pace in the Middle East, with the United Arab Emirates leading the way
May 09, 2017 09 May'17
General election: ODI hopes to see data, skills and innovation pledges in party manifestos

The Open Data Institute wants the UK’s political parties to make room for data policy in their manifestos ahead of the general election
May 09, 2017 09 May'17
Highly skilled professionals at risk of being replaced by computers

Highly skilled jobs will be replaced by artificial intelligence by 2022, says Gartner
May 09, 2017 09 May'17
Large UK businesses increasingly want CEOs to have IT background

More large businesses in the UK want a CEO that has a good understanding of IT
May 08, 2017 08 May'17
London councils look at potential for creating technology and innovation office

The Greater London Authority and a group of London boroughs are looking to create a London Office of Technology and Innovation to join up data, digital and technology innovation
May 05, 2017 05 May'17
Crossrail uses cloud software to address challenge of on- and off-boarding contractors

Railway construction company moves to cloud-based IT service management software from ServiceNow as it scales down IT users ahead of project completion
May 05, 2017 05 May'17
Ex-government privacy advisor calls for 'fundamental review' of Gov.uk Verify identity scheme

Former Cabinet Office privacy group co-chair says the Verify identity assurance programme needs 'honest and fundamental reset'
May 05, 2017 05 May'17
Lib Dems decry surveillance plans exposed in leaked documents

After the election, the UK government plans to introduce extreme mass surveillance capabilities, according to documents leaked to the Open Rights Group
May 05, 2017 05 May'17
Oracle outlines German cloud datacentre expansion plans

Database software giant claims investment in German datacentres is being fuelled by growing demand for its cloud services in Europe
May 04, 2017 04 May'17
Child protection database project plagued by delays

NHS Digital’s child protection information sharing project is suffering from low and slow uptake both among NHS trusts and local authorities
May 04, 2017 04 May'17
NHS Digital picks up pace on paperless healthcare

NHS Digital’s director of digital transformation, Beverley Bryant, says the organisation needs to demonstrate pace and agility and highlights plans for improving interoperability, standards and collaboration with suppliers
May 04, 2017 04 May'17
Combound uses AI tool to manage customer interactions

Global sales service provider Combound is using a platform with artificial intelligence to support its telephone-based sales teams
May 04, 2017 04 May'17
Metropolitan Police to hit massive IT overspend

The Metropolitan Police Service is set to massively overspend on IT as it attempts to improve digital policing
May 03, 2017 03 May'17
SAP focuses on training young Arab graduates in Middle East

SAP has a raft of initiatives planned in the Middle East which includes a strategy to equip young people and entrepreneurs with the IT skills required as the region transforms.
May 03, 2017 03 May'17
Mayor of London seeks chief digital officer

Capital’s first-ever chief digital officer will oversee the digital transformation of public services across London
May 03, 2017 03 May'17
Government privacy advisor quits and slams Cabinet Office for lack of support

Co-chair of Privacy and Consumer Advisory Group resigns and criticises officials for ignoring its advice and attempting to smuggle “inadequate proposals past ministers”
May 02, 2017 02 May'17
Indian IT services giant to increase US workforce

Infosys has committed to create 10,000 new jobs in the US as president Trump ratchets up pressure on businesses to hire Americans
May 02, 2017 02 May'17
IT outsourcing going strong in the Nordics

IT outsourcing is popular among companies in the Nordic region, but the market is changing
April 29, 2017 29 Apr'17
IS supporter Samata Ullah branded a “new and dangerous breed of terrorist"

Samata Ullah, a 34-year-old man from Cardiff who posted encryption training videos on a radical Islamic blog, is a dangerous “cyber terrorist”, a court heard on 28 April 2017
April 28, 2017 28 Apr'17
Office workers don’t appreciate the complexities facing IT staff

IT staff feel under-appreciated because office workers don't understand what they do, study shows
April 28, 2017 28 Apr'17
Facebook pledges to counteract government propaganda

Facebook has pledged to take action to stop governments exploiting its platform to influence opinion in other countries
April 26, 2017 26 Apr'17
Research: Local councils urged against rushing to adopt cloud

An academic paper, profiling the cloud adoption journeys of three local councils, cautions public sector organisations from being pressured into adopting off-premise technologies before they are ready
April 26, 2017 26 Apr'17
Globalisation creates Catch-22 for protectionists as India responds to threat of US visa clampdown

US government might have to negotiate with India before getting tough on its work visa regime
April 26, 2017 26 Apr'17
Accenture increasing Newcastle-based workforce

Accenture is expanding its operation in Newcastle with the addition of 60 recruits
April 26, 2017 26 Apr'17
Russian cyber espionage highlights need to improve email security

Security experts are advising political parties and businesses to pay more attention to email security after the latest revelations about a Russian cyber espionage group
April 26, 2017 26 Apr'17
Danish defence minister accuses Russia of cyber espionage

Government officials in Denmark believe they have been under attack from Russia-based hackers
April 26, 2017 26 Apr'17
Cyber attackers are more ambitious than ever, Symantec warns

Cyber attackers displayed new levels of ambition in 2016, according to the latest threat report from security firm Symantec
April 25, 2017 25 Apr'17
TechUK urges city mayors to put digital on the agenda

Ahead of local elections, the tech industry body calls on new mayors to lead digital from the top, appoint chief digital and innovation champions and tackle digital exclusion
April 25, 2017 25 Apr'17
Court grants Lauri Love appeal against extradition

Alleged hacker’s appeal court hearing will be the first major test of the UK’s forum bar, designed to protect vulnerable people from extradition
April 25, 2017 25 Apr'17
Huddle needs $5m equity injection or to find a buyer, as investment declaration deadline looms

Companies House documents reveal Huddle needs to raise $5m or more by the end of April or find a buyer to meet its financial obligations for the next 12 months
April 25, 2017 25 Apr'17
HMRC’s Making Tax Digital programme dropped from Finance Bill

With the 2017 Finance Bill due to pass through parliament before the general election, the government has removed HM Revenue and Customs’ digital tax programme from it, but the controversial IR35 reforms remain
April 25, 2017 25 Apr'17
City University London launches undergraduate data science course after postgraduate success

Following the success of its postgraduate data science course, London university launches undergraduate programme
April 24, 2017 24 Apr'17
SAP board member talks Middle East investment

In an interview with Computer Weekly, SAP’s chief financial officer, Luka Mucic, talks up the significance of the UAE and wider Middle East region in terms of IT transformation
April 24, 2017 24 Apr'17
Motorola brings big data digital evidence service to UK police forces

Motorola is launching a digital evidence management service to UK police forces, backed off into AWS cloud infrastructure
April 24, 2017 24 Apr'17
Digital exclusion still an issue in local government, says report

While local councillors are generally positive towards the benefits of digital technology, concerns include exclusion, connectivity and unsatisfactory data sharing arrangements
April 24, 2017 24 Apr'17
Cyber security centre of excellence to open at Cardiff University

Cardiff University and Airbus have launched the first centre of its kind in Europe to tackle cyber attacks on critical infrastructure
April 24, 2017 24 Apr'17
Criminal Courts Review Commission appoints forensic accountants for Post Office IT system cases

Investigation into claims of miscarriages of justice in relation to a Post Office accounting system has appointed a forensic accountant firm
April 24, 2017 24 Apr'17
Collaboration is key to fighting cyber crime, say UK police

Cyber crime will be defeated only through collaboration, according to UK police, the Global Cyber Alliance, Cyber Defence Alliance and Verizon
April 21, 2017 21 Apr'17
Public safety ‘imperilled’ by lack of functional and interoperable police IT, says report

Use of technology in the country’s police forces remains poor, according to chief inspector of constabulary Thomas Winsor, who is calling for a decision-making mechanism procuring, establishing and running police IT
April 21, 2017 21 Apr'17
Government puts up £23m a year for AI to boost UK economy

Business secretary Greg Clark announces Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, committing more than £1bn over four years
April 21, 2017 21 Apr'17
PAC concerned Emergency Services Network will be undeliverable

The new Emergency Services Network could be delayed until September 2020, which could lead to the country being without the service for six months as a post-March 2020 extension of the current contract may not be possible
April 21, 2017 21 Apr'17
UK likely to face national cyber emergency, says NCSC

The UK is likely to face a level-1 cyber attack at some point in the future, according to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)
April 20, 2017 20 Apr'17
How to ensure tech staff gain ‘essential soft skills’

Nottingham Trent University’s infrastructure services manager explains how she has made sure her technology team have the essential soft skills they need to support users
April 20, 2017 20 Apr'17
Camden open data platform aims to blaze a trail across London

Camden council’s open data platform aims to enlist other London boroughs in a drive to be “world class”. The borough is home to leading lights of UK tech, including Google UK and BT Openreach
April 20, 2017 20 Apr'17
UK's first digital government head, Andrew Pinder, dies

Pinder was responsible for pushing the UK broadband agenda and starting the ball rolling on the digitisation of government services
April 20, 2017 20 Apr'17
Human interaction still key to cyber attacks, study reveals

An analysis of threats faced by organisations in the first quarter of 2017 reveals that cyber attackers still rely heavily on user interaction
April 20, 2017 20 Apr'17
How tech teams can reduce LGBT+ university dropout

The number of students in the LGBT community who consider dropping out of university is higher than the average, but IT teams can make some small changes which will make a big difference to this figure
April 19, 2017 19 Apr'17
Trump’s clampdown on use of immigrant IT workers may have little impact

US president's latest executive order aims to reduce the number of immigrant IT workers in the country
April 19, 2017 19 Apr'17
How Dutch university quickly connected thousands of students to new learning management system

Dutch university TU Delft is replacing its legacy learning management system after 17 years
April 19, 2017 19 Apr'17
Robotic automation takes off in the Nordics

Software robots are rapidly automating traditionally manual tasks at enterprises across the Nordic region
April 18, 2017 18 Apr'17
How to attract more women into the Gulf tech sector

Organisations in the Middle East need to increase the number of women in their IT workforces
April 18, 2017 18 Apr'17
Sarah Wilkinson to head up NHS Digital

Home Office chief digital, data and technology officer Sarah Wilkinson is leaving the department to lead NHS Digital as its CEO
April 18, 2017 18 Apr'17
Kone brings elevator maintenance online with IBM Watson and Salesforce

Lift manufacturer is using sensors and artificial intelligence to support its maintenance staff
April 13, 2017 13 Apr'17
Victoria Police to get more productive with mobile devices

Apple devices fitted with policing apps will let officers access vital information and collaborate while on the go
April 12, 2017 12 Apr'17
Government must keep EU telecoms and broadband rules after Brexit

The Broadband Stakeholder Group has published a report on the future of the broadband and telecoms sector, urging the government not to lose touch with EU regulations after Brexit
April 12, 2017 12 Apr'17
Foreign cyber attackers may have targeted EU referendum

Cyber attacks may have targeted the EU referendum website in an attempt to influence the outcome, MPs have warned
April 11, 2017 11 Apr'17
Going mobile in Moscow: city digitisation the Russian way

Computer Weekly meets with Andrey Belozerov, strategy and innovations advisor to the CIO of Moscow, to learn how the city government is taking a joined-up approach to digitisation and smart city technology
April 11, 2017 11 Apr'17
‘Can do’ attitude of DevOps teams is driving cloud-first strategies

The cloud-first strategies of businesses across sectors are maturing, with DevOps teams playing a leading role
April 11, 2017 11 Apr'17
Thurrock Council latest to put gigabit broadband in public housing

Thurrock Council will fit out thousands of publicly owned properties with gigabit fibre-to-the-premises broadband
April 11, 2017 11 Apr'17
Europol and Brazil agree co-operation on cyber crime

Brazil, which has a significant and growing cyber crime problem both as the target of international attacks and the source of regional attacks, is set to work more closely with Europol to fight cross-border crime
April 11, 2017 11 Apr'17
Kelihos botnet downed after arrest of alleged kingpin

The US has led the takedown of the international botnet Kelihos after the arrest in Spain of the Russian believed to have operated the botnet since 2010