IT for government and public sector

UK is prime target for cyber attacks, says FireEye

The UK has been greatest target of advanced cyber attacks in Europe, the Middle East or Africa in the first half of 2014, report shows Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Industrial control systems: What are the security challenges?

Targeted attacks on industrial control systems are the biggest threat to critical national infrastructure, says Kaspersky Lab Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Gov.uk Verify identity assurance service ready to go live

Government expected to launch first service using digital identity assurance in "next couple of weeks" Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

Fear and loathing could hold back UK internet of things, says KPMG report

More than two-thirds of UK consumers fear growing number of interconnected devices make it too easy for things to go wrong Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Housing associations launch shared internet service from BT

BT promises housing association tenants lower internet costs through new scheme Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

The future of digital government in the UK

In this week’s Computer Weekly, as the last political party conferences before the election come to an end, we examine the future of digital government in the UK, featuring interviews with Whitehall’s digital chief Mike Bracken and Labour’s policy leader Chi Onwurah. Also, we look at the growth of the open-source cloud computing platform Openstack, and find out what it’s like to be on the receiving end of a data breach. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Cyber Essentials for public sector IT suppliers: pros and cons

What are the pros and cons of the Cyber Essentials Scheme certification mandated for public sector IT suppliers? Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Nationwide roll-out of Universal Credit to start in early 2015

Controversial welfare reform programme to be accelerated nationwide for single people only, using much-criticised IT systems Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

Google to build giant '40-football pitch' datacentre in the Netherlands

Google will invest €600m to build a giant, 120-megawatt datacentre in the Netherlands Continue Reading

By

• Archana Venkatraman, Datacentre Editor

UKtech50 2014 - help us choose the 50 most influential people in UK IT

Computer Weekly is launching the fifth annual UKtech50, our definitive list of the movers and shakers in UK IT - tell us your nominations Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

Interview: Government digital chief Mike Bracken on the next five years

The Government Digital Service celebrates its third anniversary soon, but has plenty more challenges ahead to change Whitehall thinking Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

Government digital chief signals move away from 'tower model' approach to IT outsourcing

Government digital chief Mike Bracken has signalled a move away from the “tower model” approach to IT outsourcing Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

Risk management key to cyber strategy, says BP

Cyber attacks constitute a group-level risk that is managed as part of BP’s standard set of risk management processes, says group chief Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

GDS unveils 'Gov.UK Verify' public services identity assurance scheme

The Government Digital Service (GDS) debuts a system to prove users’ identities when using public services online, branded as 'Gov.UK Verify' Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

Government seeks £110,000 director for Parliamentary Digital Service

Parliament is recruiting a digital director for the revamped Parliamentary Digital Service in a role offering a salary of £110,000 a year Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

TechUK tasks future government with making the UK a digital leader

TechUK has launched a digital manifesto detailing how the next government must turn the UK in a digital leader Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

CIO interview: Stephen Hale, head of digital, Department of Health

“I want to make digital less of a novelty,” says the Department of Health’s head of digital Stephen Hale Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

The IT challenges facing an independent Scotland

In this week’s Computer Weekly, as Scotland goes to the polls to vote on independence, we assess the IT challenges the country would face. We look at the products available in the fast-growing market for object storage. And we ask if it will be worth migrating to future version of Windows given the rise in mobile usage. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

WikiLeaks reveals Australian police are using surveillance software

Australia's New South Wales police are using spyware that has been linked to repressive states, according to leaked documents Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Claims against Post Office IT system approach completion

Investigation into sub-postmaster claims against the Post Office over problems with its Horizon accounting system coming to an end Continue Reading

Fresh questions raised over Post Office IT system's role in fraud cases

A leaked report has revealed more details about the role of the Horizon accounting system in sub-postmaster fraud cases Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Ransomware on the rise, warns cyber threat report

The first half of 2014 saw an increase in online attacks that lock up user data and hold it for ransom, reports F-Secure Labs Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

'Bungled' Army 2020 IT recruitment contract loses £70m of savings

Mismanaged IT contracts lead to further setbacks in Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Army recruitment drive Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

Government's digital strategy could cut red tape

Governments can harness digital technology to make public services more efficient and generate significant cost savings Continue Reading

By

• Lisa Kelly

Ordnance Survey to release open data on green spaces

The Ordnance Survey is to release information and statistics on green space in England and Wales as open data Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

Aberdeen to get city-wide gigabit network

Aberdeen will this month become Scotland’s first city to be fully covered by a high speed fibre network Continue Reading

Suppliers discuss Emergency Services Network with Home Office

Suppliers have attended an event held by the Home Office to discuss details of the new Emergency Services Network Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

Nato set to clarify stance on cyber attack

Leaders will discuss changing the mission of collective defence with respect to cyber attack at this week’s Nato summit Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Rolls-Royce CIO joins HMRC as non-executive director

Rolls-Royce CIO Simon Ricketts has been appointed non-executive director of Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

Government appoints former Credit Suisse CIO as deputy CTO

The government has appointed former Credit Suisse CIO Magnus Falk as its new deputy chief technology officer (CTO) Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

Surrey makes strides in paperless policing

Surrey Police Force has been leading the way in paperless policing, with help from Airwave. Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

BDUK arrives on the Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight inaugurates its first rural fibre cabinet delivered by BDUK as the project finally crosses the Solent Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Government sees 820,000 voters register online

Over one million UK citizens have registered to vote over the last two months, with around 820,000 opting for a new online registration service Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

Local authorities can improve data protection, says ICO audit

There is room for improvement in how local authorities protect personal data, says an audit report by the ICO Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Load balancing supports Kent County Council's VDI project

Kent County Council picks Kemp Technologies load balancers to support a deployment of VMware Horizon View and Workspace across its estate Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Government major projects watchdog needs more powers, says MPs

Major Projects Authority needs stronger powers to improve project delivery across government, say MPs Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

Raytheon wins £224m from Home Office over e-Borders cancellation

Tribunal says Home Office unlawfully terminated a contract with Raytheon Systems Limited over its e-Borders programme Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

Home Office pours £3.8m into shared service for biometric cards

The Home Office has awarded a £3.8m contract to Thales for a service to support the production of Biometric Residence Permit cards Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

Government breaks grip of IT oligopoly

Figures for public sector software and IT services investments reveal a dwindling share for IT giants, but can the oligopoly be removed? Continue Reading

Why John Linwood is not to blame for BBC’s failed technology project

Former BBC CTO has won his case for unfair dismissal over the failed £100m DMI project, but what lessons can be learned? Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

Sacked BBC CTO wins unfair dismissal case

Former BBC chief technology officer John Linwood has won his case for unfair dismissal against the broadcaster Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

Manchester has the second largest Wi-Fi network in the UK

The city of Manchester is now home to the second largest Wi-Fi network in the country as it completes a network extension Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

Cabinet Office COO Stephen Kelly takes Sage Group CEO role

UK accountancy software supplier Sage appoints Cabinet Office chief operating officer (COO) Stephen Kelly as CEO Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

Cameron announces £300m big data human genome database project

Prime Minister David Cameron has announced £300m government support for a big data human genome mapping project in England Continue Reading

By

• Brian McKenna, Enterprise Applications Editor

Russian blogger law comes into action

A new information security law which places restrictions on Russian bloggers and social media users has come into force today Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

£700m government hosting deal limits bidders to North-East England datacentre

Want to win the £700m Crown Hosting Service contract? You'll need a major datacentre near Newcastle to stand any chance Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

TfL wastes millions on telecoms, says IIPAG watchdog

Watchdog IIPAG criticises Transport for London (TfL) for its inefficient and fragmented telecoms contracts Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Microsoft attacks UK government decision to adopt ODF for document formats

Microsoft has questioned the merits of the UK government’s decision to adopt ODF - but meeting minutes show OOXML was given due consideration Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

NAO reveals Home Office spent £347m on failed ICW programme

The Home Office spent £347m closing its Immigration Case Work programme, which was supposed to replace legacy databases Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

Privacy key to UK business opportunity, says KPMG

Finding the right balance between privacy and business insight could help UK firms take the lead in innovative online services, says KPMG Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

BBC News commits to digital investment amid loss of 220 jobs

BBC News has announced a restructure where it will invest more into digital transformation and original journalism. Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

NAO criticises GDS IT savings method

The National Audit Office (NAO) has criticised the Government Digital Service over its approach to calculating public IT savings Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

Total internet failure: are you prepared?

A total internet failure could stop any business in its tracks, yet few are preparing for this possibility, KPMG has warned Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

CIPD ditches 20-a-day tape habit for Exagrid data deduplication

HR professionals organisation the CIPD replaces tape backup with disk-based data deduplication backup hardware from Exagrid Continue Reading

By

• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

Ed Vaizey gets digital industries role in Cabinet reshuffle

Culture minister Ed Vaizey has been promoted to the post of minister for digital industries in this week’s Cabinet reshuffle Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Time for an upgrade? Why you should buy IT now

In this week’s Computer Weekly, as competitive pressures and new technologies drive down IT prices, we find out why now is a great time to buy IT. We examine why going digital means a different approach to IT management. And we hear the latest best practices for improving your customer engagement with IT. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

UK leads international partnership to fight financial malware

The UK National Crime Agency is leading international collaboration between law enforcement and the private sector to fight bank theft malware Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Google I/O: Extending Google's enterprise reach

At its annual developer conference last month, Google extended its enterprise portfolio boosting its security, storage and MDM products Continue Reading

By

• Clare McDonald, Business Editor

Why using voice biometrics is a good idea

Banks and other organisations are turning to voice biometrics, but why do they believe the technology is good idea? Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Smart light bulbs get security update

Smart light bulb maker LIFX has issued a firmware update after security researchers exposed a security weakness Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Security Think Tank: The dos and don’ts of a good incident response plan

What does a good information security incident response plan look like? Continue Reading

By

• Tim Holman, 2-sec

Facebook apologises over psychological experiments

Facebook has apologised over the controversial psychological experiments carried out on 689,000 users without their consent in 2012 Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Most people keen to share biometric data for smoother travel

A study has revealed that 89% of citizens agree with the use of biometric identification to aid travel Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Industrial control systems increasingly under attack, says Kaspersky

Targeted attacks on industrial control systems take place on a regular and increasing basis, says Kaspersky Lab Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Facebook under fire over secret experiment on users

Facebook has come under fire for conducting a psychology experiment on 689,000 users without their consent Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Wearable tech must comply with privacy laws, warns ICO

Wearable technology must comply with UK data privacy laws, warns the ICO Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Google begins complying with European takedown requests

Google has begun removing search results in response to takedown requests from European citizens Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Big IT suppliers top government spending on contracts

IT firms are earning the most from government contracts, with HP alone earning more than £1.7bn a year Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

BDUK to grill local authorities on broadband postcode data

New BDUK CEO Chris Townsend plans urgent review of local authorities to establish which are releasing broadband postcode data Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Government reveals winning bids in superfast broadband trials

Government reveals names of eight suppliers that have won a share of a £10m funding pot to trial superfast broadband in rural areas Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Department of Health sets out technology priorities for coming year

The Department of Health (DoH) has outlined changes in the way technology and information will be used over the coming year Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

Domino’s breach underlines value of personal data, say experts

The latest cyber breach to hit a high-profile brand underlines the high value of personal data, say security experts Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Technology key to secure document future, says UK Home Office

Physical security is just as important as digital security in documents such as passports, says UK Home Office Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

House of Lords sets up Digital Skills Select Committee

The House of Lords has set up a select committee for digital skills Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

Microsoft admits running out of IP addresses for Azure

Microsoft has assured US Azure customers data remains in the US, despite running out of US-registered IP addresses at times Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Drone kill communications net illustrated

Computer Weekly can illustrate how a UK network connection forms part of a US weapons targeting system that has slaughtered civilians in attacks gone wrong.The illustrations add credibility to a ... Continue Reading

By

• Mark Ballard

Register to vote online goes live

The latest online transactional service from government has gone live as part of the ‘digital by default’ initiative Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

EE drives mobile phone deals with CRM software implementation

Mobile phone operator Everything Everywhere claims a 400% increase in phone deals after rolling out customer relationship management software Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Turing Test 2014 marks historic milestone in artificial intelligence

A computer program has made history by passing the artificial intelligence test set by computer science pioneer Alan Turing Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Microsoft retaliates to China’s Windows 8 spying claims

Microsoft has launched a social media campaign against China’s claims that Windows 8 is being used for US spying Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

CIOs should 'leave innovation to marketing'

CIOs should focus on managing the technical infrastructure and leave innovation to other parts of the business – conclusion of a major study. Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Cyber threats hiding in plain sight, says Palo Alto Networks

Cyber attackers exploit commonly used business applications to bypass security controls, research shows Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

UK shoe retailer Office hit by data breach

Data breach at UK shoe retailer Office prompts calls for online firms to beef up security around customer details Continue Reading

IT supplier insolvencies fall for first time as economy recovers

Technology companies have reached a turning point as insolvencies fall for the first time in 2014 Continue Reading

By

• Tim Wood and Henry Kirby

Google launches right-to-be-forgotten application form

Google has introduced an online application form for Europeans who want personal data to be removed from online search results Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Android Outlook app has privacy issues, warn researchers

Microsoft’s Outlook.com app for Android is exposing users' data, warn security researchers Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

eBay under fire over handling of data breach

eBay is coming under increasing criticism over its handling of the data breach that exposed millions of user records Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Political parties open sites to search engines after Tories' 2013 deletion

The Conservative Party’s deletion and purge of its archive of speeches from internet search engines last October was unique among political parties Continue Reading

By

• Mark Ballard

US cyber criminal jailed for 20 years

US authorities have jailed a cyber criminal for 20 years, for trading in stolen credit cards and identities Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Public sector dominates UK outsourcing so far this year

Public-sector outsourcing accounted for three-quarters of spending in the first three months of this year, according to analyst NelsonHall Continue Reading

Why did GPs turn their back on Choose and Book?

NHS England has scrapped its £356m outpatient booking system, Choose and Book, which was largely ignored by doctors Continue Reading

Internet of things security is relevant to business, says researcher

Internet of things is relevant to enterprise information security professionals, says researcher Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Minnesota passes mobile kill switch law to stop theft

Minnesota has become the first US state to introduce legislation aimed at reducing the theft of smartphones Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Net neutrality under threat from US plan

The US telecoms regulator has approved proposals that opponents believe will quash the principle of net neutrality Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Ex-BBC CTO claims he was the scapegoat for failed DMI project

John Linwood, former chief technology officer at the BBC, claimed he is the “fall guy” for the failed £100m Digital Media Initiative. Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

Can Tech City deliver reliable fast internet for startup businesses?

Technology companies based in London’s Tech City are struggling to access high-speed fibre optic broadband, which is dramatically affecting the success their businesses. Continue Reading

What is holding Berlin back from becoming a European centre for startups?

Berlin is one of Europe’s most up-and-coming hotbeds for technology startup companies, but red tape and legislation is preventing it from fulfilling its potential Continue Reading

New NHS e-Referral Service to use agile and open technologies

The new National Health Service outpatient appointment booking system will use agile and open technologies, the NHS has said. Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

Government should use influence to cut outsourcer executive pay, says think tank

The government should use its outsourcing budget to influence service providers to reduce executive pay, says a think tank report Continue Reading

German companies look to Berlin startups for innovation

German companies are beginning to recognise Berlin as a hot spot for technology innovation thanks to the many startups there Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist