News

IT for government and public sector

January 16, 2018 16 Jan'18
Most UK enterprise mobiles not patched for Meltdown and Spectre

Very few UK enterprise mobile devices have been patched against the recently discovered Meltdown and Spectre exploits and almost a quarter cannot be patched, a study shows
January 15, 2018 15 Jan'18
Oliver Dowden takes on ministerial responsibility for digital government

Cabinet Office junior minister Oliver Dowden has been given the responsibility for digital government, shared services and cyber and resilience in his role as minister for implementation
January 12, 2018 12 Jan'18
Call for statutory regulation of police number plate cameras amid concerns over accuracy

The UK’s automatic number plate recognition database – one the largest non-military data-gathering systems – records up to 1.2 million false readings of number plates every day. It should be subject to statutory regulation, says an independent ...
January 12, 2018 12 Jan'18
HMRC’s transformation programme beset by extra Brexit workload

The Public Accounts Committee has found HMRC to be dangerously overstretched, partly as a consequence of Brexit, and puts the department’s 2020 transformation programme into question

January 12, 2018 12 Jan'18
Computer science is fastest-growing subject for undergraduates

Computer science is the fastest-growing subject for undergraduate intake in UK universities, according to 2017 statistics
January 11, 2018 11 Jan'18
Hard Brexit risks 92,000 UK science and technology jobs

Economic analysis commissioned by London mayor Sadiq Khan warns that thousands of jobs in science and technology sectors be at risk if UK crashes out of EU with no deal
January 11, 2018 11 Jan'18
Mobile app flaws are a risk to industrial IT systems, says report

Cyber security vulnerabilities in mobile applications could be exploited to compromise industrial network infrastructure, a report warns
January 11, 2018 11 Jan'18
Cabinet Office unveils renewed shared IT services programme for government

The Cabinet Office reveals details of its latest push to make the shared services model take off in government
January 11, 2018 11 Jan'18
Nuclear weapons’ cyber attack risk relatively high, says report

With the potential for catastrophic consequences from a nuclear weapons detonation attack, it is crucial to have the most robust nuclear policies in place, says an international affairs think-tank
January 10, 2018 10 Jan'18
Ministry of Defence announces new CIO

Former Prudential and BP CIO Charles Forte takes over as IT chief for the UK's armed forces

January 10, 2018 10 Jan'18
EC underlines need for data transfer agreement post-Brexit

The European Commission has emphasised the importance of having a data transfer agreement in place after the UK leaves the European Union
January 10, 2018 10 Jan'18
Citizens want more from public sector digital transformation

Survey shows digital skills and lack of integration are among major barriers to good online government services
January 10, 2018 10 Jan'18
Margot James takes over as digital minister after government reshuffle

Former minister for business succeeds Matt Hancock after his promotion to secretary of state
January 10, 2018 10 Jan'18
UAE tech growth prompts firms to review internal IT security

As IT becomes more prominent in the UAE economy, more and more internal connections between people and systems are created, all of which need to be secured
January 09, 2018 09 Jan'18
Meltdown and Spectre a big deal for enterprises

Although consumers are relatively unaffected by the recently disclosed security vulnerabilities in most modern processors, enterprises need to take the threat seriously. Computer Weekly looks at how enterprise IT and security professionals should be...
January 09, 2018 09 Jan'18
Changes for digital government in Theresa May's reshuffle

Matt Hancock takes over as DCMS secretary of state, while Caroline Nokes says goodbye to her role as the minister responsible for digital at Cabinet Office
January 09, 2018 09 Jan'18
Spanish authorities ready roads for autonomous vehicles

Spain’s Directorate General of Traffic has selected Mobileye technology to develop vision and data analysis for driver assistance and autonomous vehicles
January 09, 2018 09 Jan'18
Cyber attacks in 2017 drive Nordic security efforts

The volume of cyber attacks last year has increased boardroom focus on security in the Nordic region
January 08, 2018 08 Jan'18
HMRC IT systems crash as customers attempt to file tax returns

Several HMRC IT systems crashed on Saturday, leaving customers attempting to file their tax returns frustrated as the deadline approaches
January 05, 2018 05 Jan'18
2018 could be year of critical infrastructure attacks, says report

The coming year is likely to see an increase in the number of cyber attacks on critical national infrastructure (CNI), according to a report based on experts’ forecasts
January 05, 2018 05 Jan'18
Case study: Doing digital the Stockport way

Stockport Council’s digital programme is working to transform services for both citizens and staff, saving chunks of money and driving efficiency at the same time
January 04, 2018 04 Jan'18
Scottish Ambulance Service tests satellite to improve critical care process

The Scottish Ambulance Service is testing satellite broadband to help paramedics gather vital information on their patients’ conditions whilst in transit
January 04, 2018 04 Jan'18
NHS Coventry connects GPs to CityFibre broadband

NHS Coventry and Rugby Clinical Commissioning Group is upgrading to full-fibre broadband infrastructure for GP practices and community health centres
January 03, 2018 03 Jan'18
Government yet to ‘fully embrace’ digital, says IoD report

Institute of Directors report says the government’s digital drive has lost momentum and calls on public sector to harness private sector technologies and innovation
January 03, 2018 03 Jan'18
Top IT priorities for Nordic CIOs in 2018

Nordic CIOs tell Computer Weekly about their intentions for the year ahead
January 02, 2018 02 Jan'18
Controversial council broadband service sold to Gigaclear

Ultrafast broadband services supplier Gigaclear has acquired the assets of troubled district-council-backed altnet Aylesbury Vale Broadband
December 29, 2017 29 Dec'17
Top 10 public sector IT stories of 2017

This was the year when the government sprung an unexpected general election on us, continued to bicker over Brexit and consequent IT systems, parliament was hit by a cyber attack and digital promises were made
December 28, 2017 28 Dec'17
Top 10 HR and training technology stories in 2017

Advances in artificial intelligence, data analytics and cloud technology are changing the relationship between companies and their employees
December 28, 2017 28 Dec'17
Top 10 CIO interviews of 2017

IT leaders from across the UK and Europe shared their plans, strategies and best practice advice with Computer Weekly
December 28, 2017 28 Dec'17
Top 10 stories on state surveillance, technology and the law in 2017

In 2017, the government faced multiple legal challenges over the legality of mass surveillance of the population, most of whom pose no threat, in cases that will set the parameters between individual freedom and state intrusion
December 22, 2017 22 Dec'17
Canada’s CGI takes top spot in UK government IT contracts for 2017

Analysis of government procurement data shows CGI topped the table for new IT deals, earning more than four times the amount of its nearest rival
December 21, 2017 21 Dec'17
Royal Mail research reveals UK firms lack data quality for GDPR

A Royal Mail Data Services survey has found that three out of 10 UK companies are falling short of the data quality required for the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation
December 21, 2017 21 Dec'17
Hancock sure UK will obtain and maintain EU data protection adequacy

Minister for digital tells Lords committee he is confident the UK will obtain and maintain “adequacy” for smooth data transfers with the EU after Brexit
December 21, 2017 21 Dec'17
Top 10 enterprise IT stories in the Benelux region in 2017

Highlights of how organisations in the Benelux region have been harnessing the latest IT in 2017
December 20, 2017 20 Dec'17
Fourth industrial revolution AI scepticism rife at Lords committee

In the final session of its enquiry into artificial intelligence and the UK economy, a House of Lords select committee played host to scepticism about the so-called fourth industrial revolution
December 20, 2017 20 Dec'17
Half of Defra’s Brexit work streams involve IT, NAO finds

NAO calls on Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure proper planning as half of its Brexit projects, many of which are still in “discovery phases”, involve IT
December 20, 2017 20 Dec'17
Government rejects BT's offer and makes broadband USO legal right

The government announces it will make high speed broadband a legal right, thereby rejecting BT’s offer to deliver the 10Mbps Universal Service Obligation broadband service across the UK on a voluntary basis
December 20, 2017 20 Dec'17
Top 10 enterprise IT in the Middle East stories in 2017

Countries in the Middle East are putting digital transformation high on their priority lists and are already leaders in areas such as smart city development
December 20, 2017 20 Dec'17
UK government blames North Korea for WannaCry cyber attack

The UK and US governments say a North Korean group was responsible for the ransomware attacks that hit the NHS and other organisations globally this year
December 19, 2017 19 Dec'17
Kaspersky Lab appeals US ban

Russian security software giant appeals US government's decision to ban the use of its products in federal agencies
December 19, 2017 19 Dec'17
Government publishes 5G strategy update

Update highlights the need for greater infrastructure sharing, tests the water for further 5G pilots and reveals the winning bid for the 5G Innovation Network
December 19, 2017 19 Dec'17
Top 10 enterprise IT in the Nordics stories in 2017

The Nordic region might be best known in IT circles for its startup communities – but it has much more to offer
December 18, 2017 18 Dec'17
Highways England awards telecoms service contract to Telent

Network upgrade will enable Highways England to prepare for technologies such as 5G and connected cars
December 18, 2017 18 Dec'17
Departmental plans focus on skills and innovation

Government departments have published their single departmental plans, highlighting the need for innovation, skills and digital – and the requirements of Brexit
December 15, 2017 15 Dec'17
NHS builds online ID verification platform

NHS England’s chief digital officer Juliet Bauer reveals the NHS is working to build its own online ID verification system
December 14, 2017 14 Dec'17
Aberdeen City Council launches next phase of fibre broadband programme

A further 57 council sites around Aberdeen will be connected to CityFibre’s gigabit broadband backhaul network in the coming months
December 14, 2017 14 Dec'17
B4RN breaks ground on rural broadband network in East Anglia

Community ultrafast fibre broadband organisation B4RN East Anglia has started work on its first dig in Norfolk
December 13, 2017 13 Dec'17
Labour MP Liam Byrne launches ‘People’s Plan for Digital’

Shadow digital minister launches online collaborative project for the public and industry to share and debate ideas on the UK’s digital future
December 13, 2017 13 Dec'17
Robots will create more jobs than they eradicate by 2020

Artificial intelligence technology will begin to create more jobs than it replaces, says Gartner
December 13, 2017 13 Dec'17
Highways England plans for 5G, smart vehicles, drones

Highways England report sets out its aspirations for the next few years, and explores how digital technology will be used to keep people on the move
December 13, 2017 13 Dec'17
Cyber security skills shortage can be addressed, says (ISC)2

The shortage of cyber security skills can be addressed, starting with training anyone who is unemployed, according to information security professional training and certification body (ISC)2
December 13, 2017 13 Dec'17
London mayor Sadiq Khan to invest in digital skills and infrastructure across the capital

Draft economic development strategy promises to help Londoners access tech jobs, increasing digital skills, funding for small tech companies, and growing digital infrastructure
December 13, 2017 13 Dec'17
Dutch IT expert takes an ethical hacking sabbatical

Ethical hacker discovered nearly 1,000 vulnerabilities after taking a year off from his job in the Netherlands government to set up a hack group
December 12, 2017 12 Dec'17
Startups and corporations mingle at Finland’s Slush tech event

Startup events are becoming rich hunting grounds for large enterprises looking for the platforms of the future
December 12, 2017 12 Dec'17
GDS staff survey reveals concerns over leadership and evidence of bullying and harassment

Employee survey at Government Digital Service shows staff enjoy their work but have concerns about senior management – plus complaints over discrimination, bullying and harassment
December 11, 2017 11 Dec'17
Innovation key to halt cyber attacks

In the light of the number of cyber breaches taking place, innovative security systems are required, according to the UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)
December 11, 2017 11 Dec'17
Workers should embrace robots, not fear them, says Labour deputy

Labour deputy leader to say workers need not fear robots taking their jobs, but welcome the opportunities they will bring
December 11, 2017 11 Dec'17
Perth airport security plans stolen by Vietnamese hacker

Australian authorities have named a Vietnamese hacker they say was able to break into the IT systems at Perth International Airport and steal security information
December 08, 2017 08 Dec'17
Critical border IT systems won’t be ready before Brexit, says PAC report

Of the 85 IT systems at the UK border, 30 will need to be replaced or changed due to Brexit, but critical new or updated border IT systems won’t ready by the time the UK leaves the EU, PAC report finds
December 08, 2017 08 Dec'17
Second GCHQ Cyber Accelerator kicks off

Nine cyber security firms have been chosen to take part in the second GCHQ Cyber Accelerator, which is aimed at helping UK startups take the lead in producing the next generation of cyber security systems
December 07, 2017 07 Dec'17
Tieto wins Stockholm’s multimillion IT outsourcing contract

Swedish capital switches IT services provider after “administrative error” ruled original contractor out of agreement
December 06, 2017 06 Dec'17
UKtech50 2017 - The most influential people in UK IT

Computer Weekly has announced the eighth annual UKtech50 – our definitive list of the movers and shakers in the UK IT sector
December 06, 2017 06 Dec'17
UKtech50 interview: DWP chief digital and information officer Mayank Prakash

The UKtech50 most influential person in UK IT 2017, Department for Work and Pensions chief digital and information officer Mayank Prakash, talks about changing ways of working, the importance of culture and the role of new technologies
December 06, 2017 06 Dec'17
Andromeda mastermind Sergey Jarets jailed, say security researchers

Security researchers say they believe that a hacker arrested by Belarus police is Andromeda botnet mastermind Sergey Jarets
December 06, 2017 06 Dec'17
Space organisation dumps NAS for object storage to gain space

Satellite Applications Catapult upgrade to 2PB of Cloudian object storage pays for itself in power and cooling savings as numerous legacy NAS boxes are replaced
December 04, 2017 04 Dec'17
First female degree apprentices at Capgemini graduate

The first female degree apprentices at Capgemini talk about their journeys into the IT sector
December 04, 2017 04 Dec'17
Giving machines a voice: what’s next for unified communications?

As Mitel closes its acquisition of ShoreTel, creating a new unified communications and collaboration powerhouse, CEO Rich McBee reveals what’s coming next in the sector
December 04, 2017 04 Dec'17
Cambridge University deploys Dropbox for file sync-and-share

Dropbox replaces numerous consumer file share products and bespoke connections as Cambridge audits 6,500 academics to roll out invisible collaboration for hundreds of use cases
December 01, 2017 01 Dec'17
‘Sound policy’ to prosecute hackers in UK, says former DPP in Love case

The former director of public prosecutions (DPP), Ken Macdonald, said in written evidence in Lauri Love’s extradition case that it is normal practice to prosecute hackers accused of attacking US servers in the UK – rather than extradite them to the ...
December 01, 2017 01 Dec'17
Proposed snoopers’ charter changes inadequate, say rights groups

The government has proposed additional safeguards around the power granted to police by the Investigatory Powers Act, but the Open Rights Group and Liberty say they do not go far enough
November 30, 2017 30 Nov'17
Security community urges caution on offensive cyber defence

Some Nato countries are reportedly considering responding to cyber attacks with offensive cyber strikes, but security industry commentators warn of dangers
November 30, 2017 30 Nov'17
Lauri Love could face jail in detention centre condemned by US judges

Appeal court hears conditions in Metropolitan Detention Centre, where alleged hacker Lauri Love is likely to be sent if extradited to the US, described by US judges as 'unconscionably bad', and that Love would be at 'real risk'
November 30, 2017 30 Nov'17
Transport researchers get 2PB of Scality object storage

Transport Systems Catapult retires ageing NetApp filers with 2PB of Scality object storage in a £1.5m project that future proofs the organisation with built-in DR
November 30, 2017 30 Nov'17
CCS extends G-Cloud 9 until May 2019

The government has extended G-Cloud 9 for up to 12 months, meaning the next iteration of the framework is unlikely to go live before May 2019
November 29, 2017 29 Nov'17
TechUK calls for swift action to safeguard data exchange after Brexit

TechUK and UK Finance raise fear of “cliff edge” if legal basis for data transfers between the EEA and the UK lapses overnight in March 2019
November 29, 2017 29 Nov'17
Lauri Love would face ‘medieval’ conditions in US prison if extradited over hacking charges

Engineering student Lauri Love should be tried in the UK, court hears, as new evidence is presented on the “medieval” conditions in US jails for people with medical problems
November 29, 2017 29 Nov'17
IT problems cost UK companies £6.9bn in lost labour

IT issues and the time it takes to fix them is costing UK companies billions of pounds due to employees not being able to work
November 28, 2017 28 Nov'17
CCS invites more SMEs to bid for NHS networking contracts

NHS Digital’s HSCN Dynamic Purchasing System framework has gone live, and the government is keen to get smaller services providers signed up
November 28, 2017 28 Nov'17
TfL forges ahead with 4G for the Tube after successful test

Having built a pilot 4G network for ESN on the Waterloo & City Line during the summer, TfL is pressing ahead with plans to roll out mobile broadband for all London Underground users
November 27, 2017 27 Nov'17
NHS trust gets Commvault to cut backup times and get set for GDPR

North Derbyshire hospital trust cuts 70 physical servers to 11 Nutanix hyper-converged nodes, with Commvault replacing multiple backup software products in three-year project
November 27, 2017 27 Nov'17
UK IT professionals could lose out in a free trade deal between UK and India

There could be an increase in Indian IT professionals coming to work in the UK post-Brexit if a new trade deal is signed with India
November 27, 2017 27 Nov'17
Focus on innovation and AI in government Industrial Strategy

The government’s Industrial Strategy whitepaper aims to make the UK the “the most innovative nation by 2030” and commits to investing further £275m in Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund
November 27, 2017 27 Nov'17
Moscow to build on its smart city credentials

Moscow ranks in the world’s top 10 smart cities, but is keen to develop more technologies to boost its growing status
November 26, 2017 26 Nov'17
UK only average in terms of digital public services

UK government has the innovation skills to become a digital public services leader, but needs to improve the ID and authentication that sits underneath it to reach this goal
November 26, 2017 26 Nov'17
Blockchain could be used for citizen identity services, says Reform

Reform think tank argues that government could use blockchain technology to create a secure identity for citizens to use across public services
November 24, 2017 24 Nov'17
Public sector IT suppliers demand clarity over G-Cloud 10 launch date

G-Cloud listed IT suppliers are getting concerned that the next iteration of the framework agreement could be delayed by up to a year, and claim it could harm the public sector’s digital transformation efforts
November 24, 2017 24 Nov'17
Academics and public sector organisations collaborate on London Wi-Fi project

Students and public sector staff across London will get easier access to the Jisc eduroam and govroam Wi-Fi networks through a new scheme spearheaded by City, University of London and Camden Council
November 23, 2017 23 Nov'17
DCMS opens local fibre broadband fund to applicants

Public sector bodies invited to apply for funding from £190m fund designed to stimulate local-level investment in FTTP broadband services
November 23, 2017 23 Nov'17
Geospatial Commission announced in Budget to open up OS data

Chancellor of the exchequer Philip Hammond announced in his November 2017 budget a £40m Geospatial Commission to open up Ordnance Survey data to stoke new business for small companies
November 22, 2017 22 Nov'17
IR35 reforms: Consultation on private sector roll-out confirmed in Autumn Budget 2017

The government has confirmed it is preparing to consult on whether or not to roll out the controversial IR35 tax avoidance reforms to the private sector
November 22, 2017 22 Nov'17
Chancellor Philip Hammond pledges more than £500m for tech in 2017 Budget

Autumn Budget promises major investment in tech to drive the UK post-Brexit, including money for artificial intelligence, driverless cars, a new national centre for computing and a geospatial data commission
November 22, 2017 22 Nov'17
Government urged to improve redress for mass data breaches

Open letter calls for UK government to make it easier for consumers to get compensation for mass data breaches by implementing an effective system for collective redress
November 21, 2017 21 Nov'17
IR35 reforms: Economic concerns raised over prospect of private sector roll-out

With the government’s stance on rolling out the IR35 reforms to the private sector appearing to soften, IPSE and others air concerns over the threat this move could pose to the post-Brexit economy
November 21, 2017 21 Nov'17
UK cyber defenders set to build on existing capability

UK national cyber attack response and investigation is a well-defined and rehearsed process, but the responsible agencies say they are building more capability and closing the gaps
November 20, 2017 20 Nov'17
Universal Credit moves into Amazon Web Services cloud

Parts of the digital system underpinning the controversial welfare reform programme are now running on AWS under DWP’s hybrid cloud strategy
November 20, 2017 20 Nov'17
MPs press Theresa May to explain why alleged hacker Lauri Love is being extradited to US

MPs question the attorney general and prime minister about why alleged hacker Lauri Love is to be extradited to the US, when at least 13 other hackers have been tried for US hacking offences in the UK
November 20, 2017 20 Nov'17
Budget 2017 to promise huge UK technology boost

Wednesday’s Budget will include funding for artificial intelligence, driverless cars, 5G, digital skills and more computer science teachers
November 20, 2017 20 Nov'17
Tech industry demands clarity on Brexit ahead of key budget

TechUK warns government that this week's budget could be its last chance to give tech firms confidence in the post-Brexit UK economy
November 17, 2017 17 Nov'17
Business crucial to cyber crime fight, say UK cyber cops

Business has a crucial role in fighting cyber crime in terms of intelligence sharing and pursuing cyber criminals, according to the country’s top cyber cops
November 17, 2017 17 Nov'17
ICO funds first four privacy tool development projects

The UK’s privacy watchdog has begun funding innovative research into data privacy tools for children and the medical and financial sectors