IT news in your industry sector

Home Office ‘over-promised’ on exit checks programme, report finds

Chief inspector of borders and immigration calls on Home Office to re-establish exit checks project with proper data quality in place, but department rejects recommendation Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Majority of European firms unprepared for phishing attacks

Most cyber attacks can be traced back to a phishing email, but more than half of European firms are unprepared to deal with email-based attacks, research has revealed Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Home Office issues guidance on tech to prevent identity fraud

Advice highlights the benefits of using identity document validation to audit and share data on fraudulent documents Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Microsoft Word document and zero-day attacks on the rise

Macro-less Microsoft Word document attacks and zero-day malware are on the rise, according to data from WatchGuard Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Government should take a ‘Lego brick’ approach to public services, report says

Report calling for a radical reform of public services says government should open up, standardise processes and stop developing services that already exist Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Majority of firms fear mobile workers have been hacked

More than half of organisations fear that their mobile workers have been hacked and most are concerned that a growing mobile workforce means increased cyber security risk, a survey reveals Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

UK organisations urged to develop cyber security skills

Managed cloud computing firm Rackspace is calling on UK organisations to do more to develop cyber security skills in the light of research into expertise in cloud security Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Most top UK firms fail to disclose cyber risk testing details

Most of the largest UK companies do not reveal their testing of cyber protection plans and do not share security updates with the board regularly, a Deloitte report reveals Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Facebook could be hit with $2tn fine after FTC inquiry

Facebook could face huge fines as the result of a federal inquiry into the data exploitation scandal, further underlining the importance of personal data protection for all enterprises Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Case study: Berkshire NHS trust provides mental health support through social network

Berkshire NHS is using its Support Hope and Recovery Online Network to provide 24/7 support and advice to service users struggling with mental health issues Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Customers hit by shrapnel in banking’s battle of the cost bases

Customers are being caught in the crossfire of the Battle of the Cost Bases being fought by banks on the streets of the UK Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

The desktop is changing

In this week's Computer Weekly, corporate PCs haven't changed much in 20 years – as use of Chrome OS grows, we ask if IT leaders are ready for a new approach. Theresa May said Brexit means the UK leaving the EU digital single market – does this mean a return to roaming charges? And we look at the latest developments in Linux. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Capgemini turns to tech startup to identify ‘most engaged’ teams

Technology and consulting services firm Capgemini is using technology from a startup company to poll its employees’ views and provide feedback from managers every week. It is discovering what it takes to create “engaged teams” Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Police arrest €1bn cyber heist mastermind

Police have arrested a key member of the Carbanak gang believed to be responsible for more than 100 cyber heists worldwide Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

ShopDirect set to use AI to detect fraud on phone calls

The online retailer has signed a contract to use voice authentication technology from Pindrop to tackle fraud and improve customer experience Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Blockchain not ready for cross-border bank payments

The use of blockchain in certain parts of the financial services industry is limited at present due to the additional IT work required around its use Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

UK government publishes export strategy for UK cyber security

The government has published a guide for UK cyber security firms on how it plans to support their efforts to find and secure opportunities to export their products and services Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Fintech professional’s tech predictions: 1 – Fake News

Fintech professional predicts that tech forms carrying news will need government approval over next few years to fight against fake news Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

CQC raises concerns over quality of online primary care services

Care Quality Commission’s inspection into online or app-based GP services finds that 43% of providers aren’t adhering to “safe care” regulations Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

How to make the leap from traditional bank to digital bank

To compete effectively in an increasingly digital financial landscape, conventional banks need to build greater efficiency, value and trust through technology Continue Reading

By

• Vittorio D’Orazio and Alistair Newton

Swedish study talks up benefits of artificial intelligence

A major report has reassured Swedish society that artificial intelligence will be a positive force for change despite fears of job losses Continue Reading

By

• Gerard O'Dwyer

Swedish industry contributes to 5G evolution

Swedish industrial companies have played a role in the development of Ericsson’s 5G services in the country Continue Reading

By

• Jane Hamrin

Government must improve quality and awareness of childcare website, say MPs

Treasury Committee says government should launch websites only when they can cope with the expected workload, after childcare website was down for 160 hours last summer Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

European insurtech growth dwarfs US

Europe is seeing rapid growth in its insurtech as investors pump hundreds of millions into the sector Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Cloud key to cyber defence, says Palo Alto Networks

Organisations need to make sense of security intelligence and act on it faster to get ahead of attackers, and cloud-based security is one way of making that possible, according to Palo Alto Networks Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

The walking dead: Is there life left in 4G mobile networks?

These days, 5G grabs all the hype and headlines, but 4G still has plenty more to give. It’s a good thing, too, as operators have no choice but to sweat their assets Continue Reading

By

• Sarah Wray

Facebook braces for new regulation for Cambridge Analytica deal

Facebook's COO has joined the social network’s CEO in apologising for betraying users’ trust by giving Cambridge Analytica unfettered access to personal data, saying the firm will work with regulators Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Scottish village rolls out FTTP broadband at half normal cost

Residents of the remote village of Balquhidder in Stirlingshire have banded together to roll out a full-fibre broadband network at just half the cost of a normal fibre network build Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

CIO interview: Damian Smith, head of IT, England and Wales Cricket Board

Embracing change at an institution more than 200 years old can be a sticky wicket, but England and Wales Cricket Board’s head of IT is batting for a digitally enabled future Continue Reading

By

• Mark Samuels

Telefonica cuts HR running costs by 40% as it replaces hundreds of ageing IT systems

Multinational telecoms group Telefonica is on the verge of completing a project to replace 175 incompatible HR IT systems with a cloud service covering more than 40 countries Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Private sector over-investing against nation-state attacks

The creator of a routing technique that protects the domain name system says the money spent on guarding against nation-state actors could have been better used for other purposes Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, Informa TechTarget

GP contract calls for increased digital uptake

NHS England’s GP contract says practices must move to e-referrals by October 2018, and work on improving uptake of patients using online services to 30% Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Privacy group calls for UK response to data exploitation

Policy-makers need to respond swiftly to the Cambridge Analytica and Facebook data exploitation scandal, according to privacy rights group Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Colt pioneers blockchain in telco voice wholesaling

Colt Technology Services and Hong Kong Telecom’s international unit PCCW Global teamed up to trial the use of blockchain in wholesale voice settlements Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Canadian broadband expertise speeds Gigaclear fibre dig

Rural broadband provider Gigaclear has enlisted Canadian firm Lite Access Technology to assist in the roll-out of full-fibre services to 10,000 properties in Oxfordshire Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

CityFibre consumer broadband collaboration hits Peterborough

CityFibre is returning to one of its earliest Gigabit City projects with Vodafone in tow to upgrade thousands of homes in Peterborough to gigabit-capable full-fibre broadband Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Mayor of London kick-starts drive to make city top for AI

London mayor Sadiq Khan commissions a study to look at improving the capital’s readiness for artificial intelligence Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Application layer DDoS attacks increasing, Imperva data shows

Distributed denial of service attacks targeting applications almost doubled in the last three months of 2017, according to Imperva Incapsula data Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Fintechs weigh up their partnership options

Fintechs need to consider what type of companies they should work with to make the most of open banking regulations Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Chancellor of the exchequer announces UK fintech strategy

The government has outlined its plans to support the financial technology industry in the UK Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

HMRC sets August launch date for customs IT system

HMRC plans to begin a phased deployment of its Customs Declaration Service this August, with completion expected by early 2019 Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

UK local councils favour hybrid cloud as legacy IT management needs persist

Research into the IT buying habits of more than 300 local authorities in the UK reveals a growing appetite for using cloud, as councils continue to grapple with managing and maintaining legacy IT Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Businesses lack cyber security confidence after majority were breached in past year

Most businesses were hit by a data breach in the past year, yet less than half are confident they would detect a breach, a survey shows Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

What would coders do in ethical grey areas?

Software developers are writing code that affects the lives of millions of people and how businesses are run, but what do coders think about some of the ethical questions they face? Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Uber autonomous vehicle death raises questions for UK law review

Uber suspended testing of autonomous vehicles in North America after one of its cars struck and killed a pedestrian this week, and the tragic accident raises big questions in the light of the UK’s ongoing legal review of self-driving cars Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Shared services project is about user needs, not tech, says strategy director

If you’re hoping for the government’s shared services strategy to “break revolutionary ground” in terms of tech, you’ll be disappointed. It’s about serving user needs – not tech – says its strategy director Andy Helliwell Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

MoD to focus on SMEs to raise supply chain cyber security

The Ministry of Defence continues to develop a joint initiative with industry aimed at raising the security posture throughout the UK’s defence supply chain, with increasing focus on SMEs Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Train leasing firm demos mobile edge computing for smart trains

Rolling stock leasing company Angel Trains is demonstrating edge computing over a wireless mesh network to make life easier for its customers’ on-board staff Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

IT attracts more foreign investment projects to UK than other sectors

IT accounts for the highest number of foreign direct investment projects in the UK, which should come as a warning to the UK government to listen to the sector Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

SD-WAN still too complex, survey shows

Despite SD-WAN adoption, WAN complexity remains a major challenge, a survey has revealed, driving firms to managed services, mainly because of security concerns Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

UK must hurry to agree science and innovation deal with EU, MPs say

The Science and Technology Committee calls on government to urgently secure science and innovation deal with the EU to get clarity on funding, regulation and talent retention and recruitment Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Popular culture key to giving cyber security much-needed boost

The cyber security industry should turn to popular culture to raise awareness of the cyber threat to businesses and consumers and attract new blood to the field, says McMafia author Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

RBS said to be setting up its own digital bank

Royal Bank of Scotland is reportedly setting up a standalone digital bank to take advantage of changing customer habits Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Danish government launches business-focused national digital strategy

Denmark’s government has launched a plan to get more small businesses into the digital economy as it targets being a leader in advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence Continue Reading

By

• Gerard O'Dwyer

WhatsApp co-founder calls time on Facebook

Brian Acton has called time on Facebook following reports of the firm’s dealings with data mining firm Cambridge Analytica linked to the EU referendum and Donald Trump’s US election campaign Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Case study: Stationery firm gets things moving with FTTP broadband voucher

Nuco, a Midlands-based supplier of paper and stationery products, has improved its business agility and is moving its IT into the cloud thanks to the government’s full-fibre broadband connection voucher scheme Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Ireland eyes Brexit-triggered tech investments

The organisation that champions Ireland to foreign investors has seen an increase in IT companies moving to its shores Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

IBM delivers Watson-powered voice assistant for consumer brands

Alexa and Google Assistant have taken residence in people's homes. IBM aims to give companies a way to deliver their own branded AI voice assistants Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Croydon Council partners with Rainmaker to shake up its IT

Croydon Council has employed digital transformation specialist Rainmaker to help it change the way it delivers IT over the next three years Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Ofcom opens 5G spectrum auction

Ofcom has opened the bidding in the auction of spectrum to support 4G and 5G mobile networks Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Maplin in administration: Internet connectivity issues hit in-store card payments

Internet issues at beleaguered high-street electronics retailer Maplin cause trouble at the tills in stores across the UK Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Brexit is an opportunity to transform, says HMRC digital transformation director

HMRC’s digital transformation director Brigid McBride on Brexit opportunities, using AI and robotics to improve services, and growing the API ecosystem Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Dutch cycling culture pumps up bicycle startups

Bike-sharing services are cropping up in urban areas of the Netherlands but the government wants to restrict their number Continue Reading

By

• Tijs Hofmans

Innovate Finance Global Summit gets fintech ready for adulthood

Fintech is coming of age and faces all the challenges that growing up entails Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Think tank reports lifts lid on police cyber crime training

UK think tank Parliament Street has lifted the lid on spending by police forces on training staff to deal with cyber crime and recommended greater collaboration in this regard Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

SAP at the core of S Group’s €100m IT renewal

Finnish retailer S Group is putting SAP at the core of its IT transformation, which will be complete by 2021 Continue Reading

By

• Eeva Haaramo

Where neuroscience meets technology

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we find out how computer scientists are using data, cloud and virtual reality to understand the brain and improve mental wellbeing. We analyse newly published government documents detailing the early problems with the Universal Credit IT project. And we look at how emerging artificial intelligence techniques can help improve cyber security. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Firms need to move from DevOps to DevSecOps, says expert

In the face of competition, organisations are turning to DevOps to improve efficiency and accelerate innovation, but this is creating new security risks, an industry expert warns Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Wigan data breaches underline need to share threat intelligence

Ongoing data breaches experienced by local authorities underline the need for greater sharing of threat intelligence, say security experts Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Dream machines: how IT is changing the world of neuroscience

We talk to computer scientist and entrepreneur Jamil El Imad about the cutting-edge intersection of neuroscience and IT Continue Reading

Gatwick Airport turns to driverless tech to keep staff moving

Gatwick Airport plans to trial driverless technology to move staff around the airfield, in the hope of creating an Uber-like service to cut costs and emissions Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Hybrid cloud mainstream, but seamless operations hard to achieve

Survey by 451 Research finds most organisations use a mix of on-premise and cloud locations, but truly seamless hybrid cloud operations are very difficult to achieve Continue Reading

By

• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

NHS wants independent evaluation of GP at Hand service

The NHS is looking for an organisation to undertake an independent review of the on-demand virtual GP app, allowing patients in London to access GP services using their smartphones Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Network security in the digital transformation era

Network security has always been a core focus for CISOs and IT security managers, but in an era of digital transformation, we examine if network security strategies are keeping up with new and emerging cyber threats Continue Reading

By

• Nicholas Fearn

Southwark brings full-fibre broadband to council estates

London’s Southwark Council has enlisted Hyperoptic to deliver FTTP broadband services across its housing portfolio Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Customer experience must be digital focus for banks

Omni-channel technologies can help banks stand out from their rivals, but a good customer experience should be their goal Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

First Direct enables customers to pay by Siri

Customers of online bank First Direct can now use voice commands to transfer money through Apple’s digital assistant Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Russia compromised core router in US energy attacks

Russian cyber attackers used a compromised core router in a series of attacks on the US energy sector, security researchers have revealed as the UK energy sector is placed on alert Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Digital retail calls for agile approach, say experts

To embrace digital technology, retailers need to adopt an agile nature across the entire business and break down internal silos, said a panel at Retail Week Live Continue Reading

By

• Clare McDonald, Business Editor

How airlines are gearing up for the digital shift

Asian carriers are counting on personalised services, blockchain-enabled loyalty programmes, automation and predictive maintenance to lower costs and improve passenger experience Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, Informa TechTarget

Better public services – a Beveridge for the 21st century

A new 'manifesto' from digital government experts lays out a path to delivering the internet-enabled state that's been promised for years but is yet to become a reality Continue Reading

By

• Jerry Fishenden and Mark Thompson

Employers face hiring crisis as AI replaces mid-skilled jobs

Artificial intelligence could replace two-thirds of existing jobs within 20 years, and employers will face growing difficulties recruiting skilled staff Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Network security in the age of the internet of things

Wireless devices and smart technologies are increasingly being brought into the workplace, and pose a growing risk to company data Continue Reading

By

• Peter Ray Allison

IT contractors not a risk despite Snowden leaks, GCHQ tells court

The government argues in the Investigatory Powers Tribunal that contractors with systems administration rights to computers holding GCHQ’s most sensitive intelligence pose no more of a security risk than the agency’s employees Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

SD-WAN needs software-defined security

Digital transformation is driving organisations to move to the cloud, which requires a new architecture that embraces cloud technology, but that in turn requires a new way of thinking about network security to ensure data is protected Continue Reading

By

• Klaus Gheri, Barracuda

Ofcom sets out 5G spectrum auction process

Regulator has given details of the two-stage 5G mobile network spectrum auction process that will begin next week Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Cyber criminals using complex financial system, study shows

Cyber criminals are using a combination of new cryptocurrencies, gaming currencies and micro-payments to launder up to $200bn in ill-gotten gains, research has revealed Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Tech won’t solve Brexit UK-Ireland border challenges, say MPs

There is no evidence of any technical solution “anywhere in the world” that would help avoid physical infrastructure at the UK-Ireland border post-Brexit, according to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Nordic CIO interview: Jussi Sorvali, HMD Global

The head of IT at Finland-based smartphone maker HMD Global turned to the cloud to get the entire IT department up and running quickly Continue Reading

By

• Eeva Haaramo

Defence industry urges government to relax controls on crypto exports

Trade body representing defence, aerospace and security companies calls on government to make it easier to export “non-contentious” cryptography to secure organisations against cyber crime Continue Reading

By

• Gamil Jassin

US blames Russia for cyber attacks on energy firms

The US has blamed Russia for a series of attacks on energy sector firms, underlining the need to ensure critical infrastructure IT systems are up to date and secure Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Three reaches 10 million customer milestone

UK’s smallest “big four” mobile operator reflects on a solid year as it gears up for the imminent spectrum auction Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Tesco appoints new chief technology officer

Supermarket giant’s new CTO joins from Airbus and will continue to implement retailer’s digital transformation programme Continue Reading

By

• Clare McDonald, Business Editor

Coders feel responsible for impact of artificial intelligence on society

The technologists building artificial intelligence algorithms should take responsibility for the technology’s impact on society, a survey finds Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

With auditability, deep learning could revolutionise insurance industry

The likes of Google may be pushing deep learning in artificial intelligence, but it may not be the best approach for regulated industries Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Security Think Tank: Fileless malware not totally undetectable

What should organisations do at the very least to ensure business computers are protected from fileless malware? Continue Reading

By

• Greg Temm

DocuTrac medical software is a breach risk, warns Rapid7

Security researchers have issued a security warning about medical billing and documentation software they say puts patients at risk of data breach Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Openreach to open 12 fibre broadband engineering schools

Openreach has opened the first of 12 planned training centres around the UK as it sets out to recruit more than 3,000 fibre broadband engineers Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Online data can be used to create better housing for all, says Resi’s Depledge

Alex Depledge, CEO of Resi, will speak at Datafest on how online data can open up architecture to more people – but she warns against over-hyping data science Continue Reading

By

• Brian McKenna, Enterprise Applications Editor

Full-fibre broadband voucher scheme gets green light

Chancellor Philip Hammond has signed off on £67m to fund full-fibre broadband connections for small businesses around the UK Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor