Opinion

Opinion

• Standards for new age of IT

  The revelation that thousands of innocent people were labelled as criminals by the Criminal Records Bureau may not do much to damage politicians’ already basement-level credibility.  Continue Reading

• IT industry is paying high price of ageism

  According to an Age Concern/ICM poll conducted in December 2001, 1.8 million people in the UK between the ages of 55 and 64 have suffered ageism in employment. There is no reason to believe that this situation has improved since the poll was ...  Continue Reading

• Web access is in the balance

  When Tim Berners-Lee gave the world a simple way to share documents over the internet in a common format, he demonstrated the true power of standards.  Continue Reading

• Rush to fulfil prime minister's NHS vision tripped up IT programme

  Expert argues that national programme is being built on unstable foundations  Continue Reading

• It's time to get equal

  Technology has become the great equaliser, allowing small and medium-sized enterprises to work alongside the largest of businesses. This is nowhere more apparent than in the use of mobile technology.  Continue Reading

• Open source grows big and strong

  How Red Hat and JBoss will tempt more users to open source  Continue Reading

• The four domains of data security

  Security professionals are expected to be proficient with a range of security techniques, but which qualifications do you need to progress your career?  Continue Reading

• A new ITIL for the integration age

  The revised IT Infrastructure Library will offer the enterprise an up-to-the-minute framework for maximising business value of IT-based services  Continue Reading

• Don't be caught by licence to print money

  Buyer beware still needs to be the watchword  Continue Reading

• Punish real cyber villains

  New readers of this publication will have much sympathy for hacker Gary McKinnon who was recommended for extradition to the US by a judge last week. But the wise will question the effect McKinnon’s potential sentence will have on those tempted to ...  Continue Reading

• Nurture talent inside the business

  Recognising and developing talent within an organisation in line with business strategy should be considered a normal part of the job for IT directors  Continue Reading

• Your shout: IR35, compliance, faddism

  Computer Weekly readers have their say  Continue Reading

• Strategy clinic: How to win over business leaders to enterprise-wide data security

  Our panel of experts offer advice on IT management dilemmas. This week: gaining a managing director’s commitment to system security  Continue Reading

• Making best practice work for you

  Do not follow prescribed frameworks blindly, says Aidan Lewes. Understand underlying principles and adapt methods for your business to maximise return on investment  Continue Reading

• Why security is good value

  Many of the findings from Computer Weekly’s inaugural CIO Index were fascinating and troubling, but none more so than the fact only one in three CIOs believes IT security is adequately funded in their organisation at present.  Continue Reading

• NHS IT audit should study the big picture

  Politicians, not just IT experts, must face scrutiny, says Wendy Currie  Continue Reading

• Storage: Win the generation game

  Companies need to look ahead to make sure that the data they are storing today can be accessed tomorrow, and that it remains secure over the long term, says Cliff Saran  Continue Reading

• It’s not size, but how it is used that matters

  As suppliers introduce different sizes of hardware and pile functionality into ever smaller devices, are they meeting user demands, or simply creating the next gimmick?, asks Clive Longbottom  Continue Reading

• Unlocking the value of IT

  Business goals, not cost cuts, must drive outsourcing, says Adrian Polley  Continue Reading

• Leader: Patchy security is not enough

  Industry consolidation and the acquisitive nature of large suppliers has in many ways given IT directors a level of stability, providing the ability to buy from a single large supplier. These companies have snapped up best-of-breed product ...  Continue Reading

• Your shout: NHS IT, operational efficiency

  Computer Weekly's readers have their say  Continue Reading

• Be future-proof with a broader set of skills

  IT professionals will need a more sophisticated, business-focused skillset to meet changing demands, with integration, mobile IT and security expertise at a premium, says Karen Price  Continue Reading

• Freedom comes at a price

  Mobile IT requires staff to take greater responsibility, says Mark Beattie  Continue Reading

• Weighing up the security options

  Vision is vital, but dogma can be disastrous. This holds as true in IT security as in life generally, and it should be remembered by all those at this week's Infosec conference as they thrash out the merits and possible drawbacks of ...  Continue Reading

• Give Soca clout to tackle e-crime

  Unveiling the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) on 1 April may not have given the latest addition to the UK's army of crimebusters the most auspicious of starts. It has certainly left the agency open to obvious quips about the timing of its ...  Continue Reading

• See security as a resource

  The boardroom is recognising that direct threats to the health of the business are increasing in volume and sophistication, but is less clear on how to be responsible with information security risk.  Continue Reading

• Microsoft plan for mini-tablet PCs unfolds

  Microsoft is backing a new ultra-mobile PC (UMPC) format, code-named Origami.  Continue Reading

• Have we been here before?

  A lot has been written about the positive aspects of service oriented architecture (SOA). This has led to a fashion that requires every self-respecting IT department to be seen with at least one SOA project underway.  Continue Reading

• Scrutiny is vital for NHS success

  Computer Weekly welcomes the unprecedented open letter calling for an independent audit of the world's largest civil IT scheme, the NHS's national programme for IT (NPfIT).  Continue Reading

• Good governance will deliver BPO success

  Business process outsourcing deals need to be grounded on a clear understanding of how governance procedures and metrics align between all partners  Continue Reading

• Hard line could backfire on NHS

  When one of the world's leading IT services companies announces it is taking a £260m hit on a government contract, something has gone badly wrong, not just for the company, but for the project as a whole.  Continue Reading

• Limits of token gestures

  When talking about authentication, two-factor means something you know and something you have.  Continue Reading

• Ensure it's not your fault

  Criminal hacking is on the rise and threatening the security of domestic and international business, but firms must be careful that their own negligence does not contribute to the problem.  Continue Reading

• Ensure data doesn't leave with your staff

  If your data or developments would be at risk when an unscrupulous employee leaves, take a lesson in self-defence, and be ready to act promptly  Continue Reading

• Research and preparation are keys to interview success

  Polish you shoes, turn up on time. This could be considered good advice for preparing for an important interview, but what do you do if you really want that job? If you are serious then you need to prepare.  Continue Reading

• Brown's budget cuts rely on IT

  As the smoke clears after Gordon Brown's budget last week, it is clear that the chancellor is relying on IT to deliver cost savings across Whitehall.  Continue Reading

• Plan for a slow roll-out of Windows Vista

  Delays to the Vista operating system should not prove a big problem for users as its immediate benefits may not make a compelling case for a speedy upgrade.  Continue Reading

• Leaving do for your data?

  What happens in your company when an employee leaves, taking customer or database information, copies of programs or code, or business-critical information?  Continue Reading

• Why time is the vital ingredient

  IT directors of pension providers have spent much of the past year working to prepare for the simplified pensions tax regime.  Continue Reading

• A real tool against terror?

  Industry has doubts over Data Retention Directive  Continue Reading

• Business intelligence: Use your intelligence to prevent a disaster

  Shifting the focus of BI tools to identify patterns of behaviour could help improve security and re-purpose data created in the course of compliance  Continue Reading

• Getting more than integration from SOA

  More than merely linked web services, SOA has the potential to enable IT and the business to talk and collaborate using a common language  Continue Reading

• Building an SOA without the hype

  One cannot help but notice the buzz around the concept of the service oriented architecture (SOA). With so much industry talk on the topic, it is a wonder how users ever managed before.  Continue Reading

• Thin line between advertising and spying

  Although the legal issues surrounding adware and spyware have yet to be fully examined in UK courts, the Data Protection Act and copyright laws can provide guidance  Continue Reading

• Source of transformation

  There are so many models of sourcing - from business process outsourcing to offshore; application service providers to supply chain management - that many decision-makers are unsure of the best way to move forward.  Continue Reading

• How the four Ps pay off

  Don't be obsessed by price for outsourcing to succeed.  Continue Reading

• Cost of IT's long hours culture

  Research showing that IT professionals work more unpaid overtime than any other group of employees in the UK (see Perks are on the rise as employers fight to attract and retain staff with top IT skills) will not surprise many of our readers.  Continue Reading

• The end of the paper trail

  Imagine the scene: you are disgruntled with a supplier. You do your best to make sure your communications with them are measured and calm. Internally, though, you e-mail a colleague with some colourful language expressing your frustrations.  Continue Reading

• IT due diligence can be a clincher

  Buyer beware is always a useful adage, but times are changing and it is no longer enough.  Continue Reading

• What to expect from a recruitment expert

  Anyone looking for a job is now in a much stronger position thanks to the Employment Agencies Act which ensures a much improved supply of information.  Continue Reading

• DPM's Diary

  DPM's Diary by C P Bound  Continue Reading

• Voice over IP special report: Voice gets louder

  Data has been the belle of the corporate IT ball for long enough. Now voice is getting the attention and users need to look at which form of VoIP is going to best suit the needs of their business  Continue Reading

• Review of computer misuse laws essential to keep up with rapidly developing market

  Participate in consultation to develop most effective computer legislation  Continue Reading

• Revenue must learn to say no

  It is time for the leaders of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs to spell out some home truths to ministers and opposition politicians. The staff and systems at HMRC cannot cope with more rapid change.  Continue Reading

• The road to real change

  Practical steps needed to bring more women into IT.  Continue Reading

• Get your projects to work

  A clear understanding of the basic principles of project management will pay dividends for any SMB looking to harness IT for...  Continue Reading

• In search of the perfect fit

  Choosing the right supplier and products need not prove onerous as long as sound principles are followed. Jane Dudman finds that...  Continue Reading

• Get a handle on CRM

  An effective SMB customer relationship management system relies on buy-in from the business  Continue Reading

• Capitalising on the opportunities of SOA

  Service oriented architecture (SOA): An SOA can help IT become more responsive to business needs, but confusion about the approach means some fail to realise its potential.  Continue Reading

• Opinion: Are you ready for a crisis?

  Business leaders must beware creeping complacency.  Continue Reading

• Planning and process key to good recruitment

  Over the past five years the public sector has been successful in attracting a highly skilled IT workforce. Much of this can be attributed to the slowdown in the private sector from about 2001.  Continue Reading

• End-user buy-in is IT's insurance

  If the end-users of a business system are not convinced by the merits of a new approach, IT directors should understand that there is usually little point in forcing it on them.  Continue Reading

• Traffic management, not more bandwidth, is key to improving network performance

  Optimisation devices can avoid the need for expensive server upgrades.  Continue Reading

• Managing the effects of change

  Change management lies at the heart of every major IT deployment. Experts agree that building systems and deploying them is barely half the challenge faced by IT departments and their businesses.  Continue Reading

• Offshoring goes onshore

  Importing IT skills could have wide repercussions  Continue Reading

• End the tick-box mindset

  With Ian Watmore elevated to the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit, the hunt is on for a new CIO for government. But how will his successor assemble the business processes to ensure the government gets best value on the shared services environment at ...  Continue Reading

• Business data follows where blog feeds lead

  An important bit of the business data infrastructure is now being decided in the "blogosphere" - that amorphous cloud of interlinked personal weblogs that mainly seems to consist either of geeks or teenagers writing about their personal lives.  Continue Reading

• True meaning of partnership

  Only a fool would dispute the importance of getting the written contract right in any major business relationship. But the relationship will always be more important than the contract if things are to go well rather than fall into dispute mode.  Continue Reading

• Savings and strike threats at the ministry

  Technology is bringing about big improvements at the Department for Work and Pensions, according to Stephen Timms.  Continue Reading

• Revenue IT still has a hill to climb

  HM Revenue and Customs was coy late last year about listing its IT-related achievements. Aware that its chairman David Varney and chief information officer Steve Lamey had enjoyed some success with IT-enabled reforms, we had asked its officials for ...  Continue Reading

• E-government: from strategy to delivery

  Ian Watmore, former government CIO and newly appointed head of the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit, considers the challenges of delivering citizen-centred reforms  Continue Reading

• Inside the hacker's mind

  Crime prevention requires a non-academic approach, says Ian Johnstone-Bryden  Continue Reading

• Your shout: Responsible RFID, patchy patches

  Computer Weekly readers have their say  Continue Reading

• Outsourcing: keeping divorce private

  Public outsourcing failures could be laid bare by FOI, says Renzo Marchini.  Continue Reading

• Your shout: World's best OS, hardware horror story

  Computer Weekly readers have their say.  Continue Reading

• Collaboration is way to fix a hole

  IT directors have come back after the Christmas break to the first big security scare of the year - a flaw affecting all versions of Windows - raising concerns about how IT departments can cope with so-called "zero day attacks".  Continue Reading

• What CFOs really want

  Since the late 1990s enterprise resource planning suppliers, analysts and CIOs have advocated a move to single-instance ERP as a solution to data integration and reporting problems. ERP suppliers have argued that the extended functionality in ...  Continue Reading

• IT departments do the business

  IT has proved its worth in 2005. In many organisations it has been a year of significant achievements, a year when IT enabled business innovation and business agility while showing prudent control of budgets.  Continue Reading

• Do rich internet apps offer business value?

  Enterprises have enjoyed great benefits from the internet, browsers and web applications, but it is time for a change.  Continue Reading

• Giving ERP users the Windows feeling

  Microsoft owns the desktop, with at least 400 million Office users around the world. This has led to it becoming the de facto standard as the preferred user interface for enterprise software.  Continue Reading

• Ten steps to get a grip on your IT spending

  Working smarter, not harder is the key to cutting the corporate IT budget. Simplify your department and take on the right projects to reap the financial benefits.  Continue Reading

• Awareness is the key to avoiding disputes

  Low profit margins, tight budgets and a competitive market increase the pressure on IT managers to reduce their legal spend by avoiding disputes. Handling a dispute can be an unnecessary and unwanted strain on the resources of any IT manager and can...  Continue Reading

• Time of choice creeps up on Netware users

  Gartner is usually reluctant to advocate doing nothing, but with regard to the next step for Netware users, this might make sense for the next two to three years, assuming you are on Netware 6.5. This is because Novell will probably stop updating ...  Continue Reading

• To move or not to move? Plotting career progression in a buoyant IT jobs market

  If anything in life is certain, it is that change will affect your career. Change in your worklife could be driven by either a merger, downsizing or shift in company strategy. A new boss or new responsibility may make your role redundant or take ...  Continue Reading

• Opinion: does outsourcing add up?

  The root cause of why so many organisations are experiencing problems with outsourcing is not badly written contracts, poor relationship management, lack of supplier proactivity and flexibility, disappointing quality of services or hidden costs.  Continue Reading

• IT will be key to pensions reform

  The Turner Review of pensions poses a challenge not just for the government, but for IT as well. A New Pension Settlement for the Twenty-First Century is a hefty tome, which proposes policy options to provide decent old age pensions for all and ...  Continue Reading

• Opinion: openness, accountability and awareness of risk are vital for ID card scheme to succeed

  The Commons Public Administration Committee asked Computer Weekly for a paper on the implications of ID cards for public services. Here is our submission.  Continue Reading

• Cases show reform of Computer Misuse Act is essential if it is to be fair and relevant

  It used to be possible to argue that concerns about the limitations of the 15-year-old Computer Misuse Act were based on theory, not tangible cases.  Continue Reading

• Bridges should be built on trust

  Many IT directors and their staff feel - rightly or wrongly - that they are still seen as "the techies" who are there simply to sort out the IT nuts and bolts while others make the important decisions.  Continue Reading

• Beyond the blame game

  It is encouraging to see the government's recently published ITstrategy focusing on addressing the success rate of public sector IT projects.  Continue Reading

• How to solve the problem of loss of application knowledge

  The dearth of application knowledge is a solvable issue. Application mining tools and APM tools can solve the issue and have the potential to bring many additional benefits.  Continue Reading

• Appearance of 'legacy' Java apps highlights danger of losing application knowledge

  Java and Perl applications that were developed just three years ago have developed "legacy" attributes: the original authors are gone, the applications are poorly documented and poorly understood, and although the business relies on the applications...  Continue Reading

• Your shout: Why IT education requires a rethink

  Why education needs sorting out, a look at problem abbreviations and a reminder about a looming deadline  Continue Reading

• IT managers must measure up or lose out

  IT managers must measure up or lose out  Continue Reading

• Insourcing is no panacea

  When outsourcing goes sour, think before you act.  Continue Reading

• NHS IT project: divided we fall?

  Private angst among senior executives that spills over into the public domain is a compelling spectacle.  Continue Reading

• Watch your KPIs as new law starts to bite

  The Operating and Financial Review (OFR) has become a legal requirement for all UK quoted companies for financial years beginning on or after 1 April 2005.  Continue Reading

• Protect yourself and get the best out of outsourcing deals with India and China

  There are several legal issues that companies need to consider in order to get the best from their offshore outsourcing arrangements with India and China.  Continue Reading

• Service can offer route to respect

  It is understandably galling for many IT directors that their departments are often seen as simply providing a service and as a cost centre rather than a profit generator.  Continue Reading

• Web application development continues to evolve as the Ajax approach catches on

  Google put the Ajax development method on the map with the launch of its Google Mail service, and now there are more than 50 websites taking a similar approach to online applications.  Continue Reading