Europe and Middle East information technology (IT)
Read the latest European and Middle East information technology (IT) news and articles covering IT management topics, including information security, data storage, networking, data centre, cloud computing, mobile applications, virtualisation, big data and more.
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News
24 Apr 2025
Saudi Arabia to be global kingpin of AI grunt work for US leader Groq
Saudi Arabia is positioning itself to take on huge volumes of the grunt work required by the artificial intelligence sector Continue Reading
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News
24 Apr 2025
Interview: Daniele Tonella, CTO, ING
The bank’s global CTO has been in the role for less than a year and in that time has been working his way through four layers of tech Continue Reading
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News
20 Feb 2017
Sweden uses Minecraft for urban planning
Swedish National Land survey has put its maps on Minecraft to promote its work Continue Reading
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News
17 Feb 2017
HPE services and CSC to become DXC Technology
The merger between HP's services division and CSC will launch in April 2017 and is expected to save the companies billions Continue Reading
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News
15 Feb 2017
UAE bank builds predictive marketing models
Rakbank is using SAS analytics software to better understand its customers following a successful implementation of the supplier’s anti-money laundering software Continue Reading
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E-Zine
09 Feb 2017
CW Benelux: Is there a Dutch digital delusion?
On government and business levels, the Netherlands aspires to be a digital leader in Europe, but it may be losing ground because of a lack of research and development investment. Also in this issue, IT decision makers based in the Benelux region are less confident than their European neighbours that IT budgets will increase in 2017, and Dutch bank ING, which used digital technology to reinvent itself after the financial crash, is about to reinvent itself again. Continue Reading
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News
08 Feb 2017
How a Dublin court case could derail EU-US data privacy agreements
The Irish Commercial Court will consider whether privacy protection offered by standard contractual clauses for data transfers to the US from Europe is legally valid Continue Reading
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News
07 Feb 2017
Middle East and North Africa public cloud spend to hit $2bn by 2020
Middle East-based organisations are turning to public cloud services, with software as a service driving a major year-on-year spending increase Continue Reading
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E-Zine
07 Feb 2017
Compute power pushes boundaries
In this week’s Computer Weekly, we examine the ways chip engineers are looking beyond silicon to keep pushing the limits of Moore’s Law as datacentre power demands increase. We find out about serverless computing and how it could deliver what many firms really want from the cloud. And we look at the importance of culture change to digital transformation. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
06 Feb 2017
McDonald’s in Saudi Arabia to support growth with SAP
Fast food chain is using SAP software to help it better understand its customers and operations Continue Reading
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News
01 Feb 2017
European Union reaches final agreement on mobile roaming charges
Mobile roaming charges in the European Union will end by 15 June 2017 after final agreement was reached on the regulation of wholesale prices Continue Reading
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News
01 Feb 2017
Finnish city takes €10bn leap into digitisation
Tampere is encouraging its people, businesses and government organisations to come together to make digital transformation work for everyone Continue Reading
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News
29 Jan 2017
Artificial intelligence will increase productivity by sharpening human mind
The combination of AI and humans will triple productivity if businesses get the balance right for different roles Continue Reading
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News
26 Jan 2017
Security spending leaving data vulnerable, study finds
Cyber breaches are increasing despite increased security spending, a study shows, highlighting that security investment decisions are not aligned with actual cyber threats Continue Reading
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News
26 Jan 2017
Human-centric technologies will dominate next three years
Accenture says businesses will develop technology and services to match human behaviour in the next few years Continue Reading
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News
15 Jan 2017
The evolution of smart Dubai
Aisha Bin Bishr, director general at Smart Dubai Office, discusses how Dubai is evolving as a smart city with the support of local telecoms provider Du. Continue Reading
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News
13 Jan 2017
Davos: Technology poses new risks to jobs, economies and society
Politicians and business leaders will discuss the risks posed by technology to jobs, political stability and cyber security at the World Economic Forum in Davos Continue Reading
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E-Zine
12 Jan 2017
CW Middle East: UAE takes lead in autonomous car trials
Self-driving cars are one of the most exciting developments in technology. Companies like Google and Tesla are pioneering the technology. But it might be countries in the Middle East, with the poorest road safety records in the world that could benefit most. Despite significant regional spending on safety campaigns, the UAE still clocks up 12.7 road deaths per 100,000 people, with 30.4 in Oman, 24.8 in Saudi Arabia, 16.5 in Kuwait, 14 in Egypt and 13.2 in Qatar. In September Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) trialled a public driverless vehicle in the city’s Downtown area, running along a 700-metre trial route. Continue Reading
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News
04 Jan 2017
Dubai-based Aramex optimises branch office connectivity
How global logistics firm streamlined its branch office operations in the Middle East Continue Reading
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News
04 Jan 2017
Customer-first approach will make 2017 a challenge for Dutch CIOs
CIOs in the Netherlands could see their strategies lead to thousands of jobs being cut as businesses automate Continue Reading
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News
04 Jan 2017
Flight booking systems easy to hack, researchers warn
Malicious actors could infiltrate systems to alter passenger information and even cancel bookings, Chaos Communications Congress told Continue Reading
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E-Zine
15 Dec 2016
European law enforcement seeking smart ways to fight cyber crime
Cyber criminals are always likely to be better resourced than law enforcement. Now, national and regional police forces in Europe are switching tactics to even the odds. Under-resourced law enforcement needs a smarter approach as cyber crime becomes increasingly prevalent and sophisticated, backed by the money and expertise of organised crime groups set up and run as well-resourced and efficient professional business organisations. Cyber crime operations typically have teams dedicated to looking at open source intelligence, targets’ physical environments, weaknesses in supply chains, and potential collaborators inside target organisations to enable sophisticated, blended attacks that involve a combination of actions against a range of vulnerabilities, making them difficult to detect and defend against. Continue Reading
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News
14 Dec 2016
Swedish Cider company upgrades to cloud ERP to keep up with growth
Apple-based product manufacturer moves to an industry-specific ERP system in the cloud Continue Reading
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News
09 Dec 2016
IT Priorities 2017: Nordic organisations to spend more on cloud services
The adoption of cloud computing in its many guises will be a top priority in the Nordic region in 2017 Continue Reading
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News
07 Dec 2016
The United Arab Emirates enterprise IT trends for 2017
The UAE is already a leader in areas such as smart city developments, and 2017 looks set to see organisations in the country increase its adoption of other transformational IT Continue Reading
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News
25 Nov 2016
CBRE: Cloud drives Q3 demand for colocation space in Frankfurt and London
CBRE’s third-quarter datacentre market tracker highlights soaring demand for colocation capacity in Frankfurt and London, as cloud providers court European enterprises Continue Reading
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News
22 Nov 2016
Middle East bank to launch AI for customer support
Middle East bank Emirates NBD is piloting artificial intelligence to automate customer services Continue Reading
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News
22 Nov 2016
Dutch IT ministry needed to take digital lead
Whenever the media covers a failed Dutch government IT project, the question is always asked whether the government should have a ministry of IT Continue Reading
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News
18 Nov 2016
HCL completes integration of Volvo Group IT services
Deal sees 2,560 Volvo Group staff transferred to HCL, bringing mainframe expertise to Indian IT services firm Continue Reading
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News
17 Nov 2016
Telenor IoT strategy required core software change
Norwegian telco is expanding its internet of things business, which packages all the components its customers require to offer IoT-based services Continue Reading
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E-Zine
17 Nov 2016
CW Benelux: Mobile payments boom
In this quarter’s CW Benelux, we look at how a combination of the right technology and consumer acceptance is driving mobile commerce in the Netherlands. We also hear from the CIO of Brussels Airlines, which is transforming its business digitally through a strategy that links traditional IT with its customers through a digital skin, and the CIO of HR services provider Randstand Group Netherlands, for which technology is becoming crucial in its communication with clients and candidates. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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E-Zine
09 Nov 2016
CW Nordics: Finns turn IT layoffs to their advantage
In this quarter’s CW Nordics, we look at the impact of Nokia layoffs on Finland, and in particular the city of Espoo which is home to both Nokia and Microsoft’s Finnish headquarters. We also look at how Denmark’s Bang & Olufsen is taking control of sales data with cloud-based software. We also hear from Google cloud chief Diane Greene, as well as the CIOs of Norwegian bank DNB, Scandinavian Airlines and Swedish municipality Vara. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
08 Nov 2016
Will computer vision help France take a lead in AI?
There are signs that France could become a centre for artificial intelligence research and development Continue Reading
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News
02 Nov 2016
Coca-Cola cloud project bottles rewards for 25,000 staff
Coca-Cola European Partners, which bottles 15 billion litres of soft drinks each year, is working with an HR technology supplier to develop flexible rewards packages for its 25,000 employees Continue Reading
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News
24 Oct 2016
UAE telco launches mobile wallet
Etisalat signs deal with technology company to offer its customers a mobile wallet service, as fintech expands in the Middle East Continue Reading
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News
21 Oct 2016
SAP Q3 2016 results: cloud revenue reaches 14% of total
SAP’s third quarter 2016 financial results show 28% growth in cloud revenue, and the addition of 400 customers for its flagship S/4 Hana product Continue Reading
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E-Zine
20 Oct 2016
Reinventing Bahrain’s Kanoo Group through digital technology
In this quarter’s CW Middle East ezine, we feature the IT journeys of three companies in the region with detailed analysis of recent IT projects that were designed to support business transformation in a changing world. We hear how Bahrain-based conglomerate Kanoo Group is dealing with a company-wide digital transformation, Zahid Group’s biggest-ever IT investment, and how Rotana Hotels is centralising security. Continue Reading
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News
19 Oct 2016
Snowden: the IT analyst turned whistleblower who exposed mass surveillance
Oliver Stone's biopic on Edward Snowden reaches the heart of the ethical crisis posed by mass surveillance for the state and ordinary citizens Continue Reading
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News
18 Oct 2016
Saving Lauri Love: activists plan their next move
An eclectic bunch of activists, charity workers and reformed hackers spent a rainy Sunday afternoon plotting their next move in a campaign to save Lauri Love from extradition to the US on hacking charges Continue Reading
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News
18 Oct 2016
Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange uses blockchain for e-voting
Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange offers controlled access to the AGM information of listed companies through a blockchain-based service Continue Reading
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News
16 Oct 2016
Dubai smart city will be the talk of GITEX
Global experts in urban planning and smart technology will discuss the important role Dubai will play in supporting the development of smart cities in the Middle East Continue Reading
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News
14 Oct 2016
Nordea bank joins rival’s mobile payment platform
Nordea signs up to the mobile payments platform from Danske bank for its customers in Denmark and Norway Continue Reading
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News
13 Oct 2016
Case study: Denmark’s Bang & Olufsen takes control of sales data
Denmark based audio-visual equipment maker uses cloud-based channel management software to give it the sales insight it needs to make better decisions Continue Reading
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News
13 Oct 2016
IT startups suffer from strict, out-of-date Dutch laws
The Netherlands government needs to ensure that legislation enables disruptive technology to flourish Continue Reading
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News
06 Oct 2016
Swedish bank uses Amelia the robot for customer services
SEB is using AI software from IPsoft for customer service after a successful internal project Continue Reading
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News
03 Oct 2016
Dutch government uses Microsoft Dynamics to improve recruitment
Government recruitment and career management of senior civil servants in the Netherlands has been improved through a Microsoft Dynamics implementation Continue Reading
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News
30 Sep 2016
How IoT can revolutionise running railways
Mobile computing, mobile sensor networks and deep learning are behind French rail operator SNCF’s efficiency drive Continue Reading
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News
26 Sep 2016
Emirates Islamic bank and the Muslim finance revolution
The CIO at Dubai-based bank Emirates Islamic tells Computer Weekly how IT is supporting the company through industry change Continue Reading
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News
19 Sep 2016
Italian bottle maker deploys 88TB of Syneto hyper-converged storage
Serioplast gets reliable disaster recovery as it replaces NetApp plus remote physical servers with Syneto hyper-converged infrastructure at factories across Europe, Africa and Asia Continue Reading
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Feature
16 Sep 2016
Lauri Love: the student accused of hacking the US
How did a brilliant but fragile computer science student from a rural English town end up facing life imprisonment in the US? Computer Weekly speaks to Lauri Love Continue Reading
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News
13 Sep 2016
DNB and Nordea to merge IT operations for Baltic super bank
Two of the Nordic region’s banks will use joint operations, including IT, to help them grow in the Baltic area Continue Reading
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News
08 Sep 2016
Bank IT spending to hit $241bn across four major global regions
IT spending across four major economic regions will increase by around 4% in 2016, but Europe is the least certain Continue Reading
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News
24 Aug 2016
London datacentre market enjoys pre-Brexit surge in demand for colocation space
CBRE's pre-Brexit look at the European datacentre market sees London reap the benefits of a surge in demand for colocation space during the second quarter Continue Reading
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News
23 Aug 2016
There is life in Finland’s IT sector despite Nokia and Microsoft layoffs
Regional development organisations in Finland describe how despite massive job cuts Nokia and Microsoft have provided the foundations for IT industry development Continue Reading
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E-Zine
18 Aug 2016
CW Benelux: Painting by numbers
In this issue of CW Benelux, we describe how data scientists in the Netherlands have applied technology to art. The Dutch are renowned for being creative with technology and the country has a deep history in art, boasting some of the most celebrated painters. It is therefore apt that the combined tech brains of ING, Microsoft, the Technical University of Delft and other contributors have created The Next Rembrandt, which serves as a visual showcase for big data. The new portrait in the style of Rembrandt van Rijn was put together by a combination of big data technology and 3D printing. All of Rembrandt’s 346 paintings were analysed using data analytics, making it possible to create a seemingly genuine Rembrandt image, while a 3D printer made accurate emulation of his paint patterns and textures a reality. Also in the Netherlands, we feature a case study about how The Hague is solving a bike parking headache with a mobile app. Continue Reading
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News
12 Aug 2016
Russia competition watchdog fines Google $6.8m over Android
As Google faces a fine of around $3bn for anti-competitive practices in Europe, Russian authorities have ordered the internet giant to pay $6.8m for abusing its dominant position with Android device makers Continue Reading
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News
02 Aug 2016
Nordic CIO interview: Liv Fiksdahl, DNB
CIO of Norwegian bank tells Computer Weekly how Indian outsourcing partners help her keep costs down and digitise the business Continue Reading
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News
29 Jul 2016
German digital bank Fidor acquired by French banking giant
Fidor CEO says merger with BPCE will allow challenger to continue its international expansion Continue Reading
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News
28 Jul 2016
Nordic CIO interview: Vesa Erolainen, Pöyry
Doubts were raised when Vesa Erolainen, CIO at Finnish engineering and consulting company Pöyry, outlined his IT transformation plan, but he ended up winning an award for it Continue Reading
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Opinion
28 Jul 2016
Six essential processes for keeping data secure
Data security is increasingly vital for organisations as the countdown begins for compliance with new rules imposed by the EU’s general data protection regulation Continue Reading
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News
26 Jul 2016
Date set for landmark hearing into EU-US data transfers
Irish court hearing triggered by Austrian law student Max Schrems could have huge implications for EU-US trade and the data privacy rights of millions of EU citizens Continue Reading
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E-Zine
21 Jul 2016
CW Middle East: July-September 2016
In this issue of CW Middle East, we look at how CIOs in the region are formulating their virtualisation strategies as organisations warm to the benefits of cloud computing. Today, virtualisation in the Middle East has gone beyond a shoddy virtual private network (VPN) installed on a desktop, to more sophisticated cloud-based technologies that are enabling a more mobile, more agile workforce. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
20 Jul 2016
Benelux CIO interview: Paul Elich, CIO at KLM
Paul Elich, CIO at Dutch airline KLM, tells Computer Weekly about building innovation into IT departments and the ongoing de-duplication of internal systems since its merger with Air France Continue Reading
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News
18 Jul 2016
French public sector’s never-ending struggle with the cloud
The French government has more hurdles to overcome than many of its European neighbours when it comes to adopting cloud computing services Continue Reading
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News
14 Jul 2016
Nordic CIO interview: Roland Grunéus, Intrum Justitia
Roland Grunéus, the CIO of Swedish-founded Intrum Justitia, reveals the credit management services group’s efforts to make better use of data Continue Reading
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News
11 Jul 2016
Visa’s Dubai innovation centre to focus on digital payments
Visa has opened a technology innovation centre in Dubai to focus on cashless payments Continue Reading
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Feature
08 Jul 2016
CW@50: 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
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News
07 Jul 2016
Saudi Telecom Company leads nation’s transformation agenda
Saudi Telecom Company and its technology partners support the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s drive into digital public services Continue Reading
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News
06 Jul 2016
Lufthansa IT services arm transforms to meet customer demands
IT supplier Lufthansa Systems is changing its business model as its airline customers invest in digital technologies Continue Reading
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News
05 Jul 2016
Nordic CIO interview: Tore Burheim, University of Bergen
IT director of Norwegian university tells Computer Weekly about digitising education and creating co-operative clusters Continue Reading
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News
04 Jul 2016
Facilities firm ISS picks IBM Watson IoT to manage client sites
Danish outsourcing and services firm signs new deal with IBM to use Watson’s internet of things capabilities to better manage its clients’ properties Continue Reading
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News
29 Jun 2016
Brexit: Datacentre investments set to slow as economic stability concerns hit CIOs
As the economic uncertainty around Brexit continues, CIOs may put new datacentre investments on hiatus, warns analyst Continue Reading
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News
28 Jun 2016
Finland’s prisons move to a cashless world
Inmates in Finland’s prisons will no longer need to use cash as a pre-paid card system is rolled out Continue Reading
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News
27 Jun 2016
Banking IT community faces uncertain Brexit future
The financial services IT community faces a period of uncertainty as finance firms reassess plans following the EU referendum result Continue Reading
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News
13 Jun 2016
Technology key to supporting World Expo 2020 in Dubai
Businesses in Dubai need to get ready for the expected boost in demand that will come with the World Expo exhibition to be held in the city in 2020 Continue Reading
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News
13 Jun 2016
EU firms slow in detecting cyber attacks, study shows
European firms take an average of 469 days to discover a compromise, compared with an average of 146 days globally, according to Mandiant Continue Reading
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News
13 Jun 2016
Nordic CIO interview: Johnny Bröms, Swedish fast-food chain Max Burger
The CIO of Swedish fast-food chain tells Computer Weekly how digital technology is increasing sales and supporting expansion Continue Reading
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News
08 Jun 2016
Citrix expands in Middle East with first Saudi Arabia office
Citrix is increasing its presence in the Middle East, opening its first office in Saudi Arabia with plans to expand into Qatar and Egypt Continue Reading
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News
02 Jun 2016
Big data and open-source cloud technology help Gulf Air pin down customer sentiment
Big data engine that performs sentiment analysis on both Arabic and English textual data helps airline to understand and react rapidly to customer preferences Continue Reading
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News
01 Jun 2016
MPs’ private emails are routinely accessed by GCHQ
Computer Weekly investigation reveals the extent of interception of MPs’ and peers’ email communications and data Continue Reading
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News
30 May 2016
Middle East CIO interview: V. Chandrasekar, Standard Chartered
The CIO of Standard Chartered bank in the Middle East tells Computer Weekly about the challenge of keeping customers happy through IT Continue Reading
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News
26 May 2016
Nordic CIO interview: Petteri Naulapää, Stockmann
CIO of Finnish-listed international retailer tells Computer Weekly about the department store’s journey towards omnichannel Continue Reading
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News
25 May 2016
A new wave of cyber attacks targets the Middle East’s banks
Hot on the heels of the Qatar National Bank breach comes a campaign employing advanced social engineering techniques Continue Reading
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News
19 May 2016
ING Turkey uses digital technology to improve services and grow customer base
Turkish bank uses business process management technology to offer financial services through 1,500 grocery stores, technology outlets and post offices Continue Reading
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News
13 May 2016
10 key facts businesses need to note about the GDPR
With less than two years before the new EU data protection rules come into force, there are key areas businesses need to focus on to ensure they will be compliant Continue Reading
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News
10 May 2016
Tel Aviv: A smart city where community engagement is the measure of success
Israel’s capital is using the latest technologies as a way of placing the needs of local citizens at the heart of regional government Continue Reading
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News
06 May 2016
Swedbank boosts customer service with a virtual assistant
Nuance Nina will offer basic frontline support for online customers Continue Reading
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News
05 May 2016
Gulf Air creates private cloud to support open-source big data engine
Airline is using a private cloud and open-source software to enable it to analyse social media and understand what consumers think about it Continue Reading
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News
29 Apr 2016
Cyber security in Belgium will gain prominence after terror attacks
Belgium’s physical security has been branded inadequate, so how does the country’s cyber security measure up? Continue Reading
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News
29 Apr 2016
Saudi Arabia could warm to cloud computing, so long as regulation and connectivity keep pace
One of the world’s biggest oil producers has responded to tumbling crude prices by announcing a $2tn war chest to fund an economic diversification strategy, with IT set to be a beneficiary Continue Reading
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News
28 Apr 2016
Disrupting IT in the Nordics, from banks to taxis
IT is dramatically changing traditional industry sectors in the Nordic region. Computer Weekly examines the transformation Continue Reading
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News
22 Apr 2016
France takes the lead in the global open data race
The appointment of a chief data officer (CDO) has already seen the nation create five different types of economic and social value Continue Reading
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News
18 Apr 2016
CIO interview: Gerard Spans, Arcadis
The CIO of the Netherlands-based global design and consulting company tells Computer Weekly how he manages the three responsibilities which he sees as the future of his role Continue Reading
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News
15 Apr 2016
Israeli volunteers ready their cyber defences as Anonymous affiliates attack
Every April, Israel braces itself for an onslaught from pro-Palestinian hackers, but the occupants of a small conference room in Tel Aviv stand in their way Continue Reading
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News
07 Apr 2016
CIO interview: Jean-Christophe Lalanne, CIO, Air France-KLM, on why WANs win business
Operating at locations around the world, the WAN is key to business success for airline Air France-KLM, says its global CIO, Jean-Christophe Lalanne Continue Reading
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News
05 Apr 2016
'Citizens will be stripped naked' by Turkey’s data law
Turkey's data protection law, introduced in March 2016, will make Turkey a near total surveillance state, yet the EU, apparently more concerned about securing Turkey's help in controlling immigration, is turning a blind eye Continue Reading
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News
29 Mar 2016
DNB to close 59 branches in Norway as online banking dominates
Norwegian bank DNB is closing branches and cutting jobs as more customers move to digital channels Continue Reading
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News
24 Mar 2016
The dawn of managed services in the Middle East
Managed services are on the up in the Middle East, with enterprises looking at ways to support critical infrastructures while they invest in new technologies Continue Reading
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News
24 Mar 2016
CIO interview: Martin Uudelepp, Fonus Group
The interim CIO of Swedish family law and funeral group Fonus tells Computer Weekly about his role as a “chaos pilot” Continue Reading
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News
23 Mar 2016
Danish utility NRGi goes offshore for IT platform transformation
Danish utilty NRGi has outsourced its IT to Indian services supplier Wipro as it attempts to transform its operations amid increased competition Continue Reading
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News
22 Mar 2016
Akamai report raises questions over UK broadband stats
Akamai’s latest 'State of the internet' report claims UK average broadband speeds may not be rising as fast as hoped or claimed Continue Reading
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News
21 Mar 2016
Norway’s Storebrand chooses Cognizant for digital transformation
Norwegian financial services firm becomes the latest Nordic-based organisation to sign a major IT outsourcing deal with an India-based supplier Continue Reading