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High street retailers fight back with multi-channel IT

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we examine how high street retailers are fighting back against online rivals by using IT to support multi-channel customers – and Tesco’s marketing chief explains how it works at the UK’s biggest supermarket chain. Also, we ask how recent revelations about government internet surveillance affect the protection of corporate information. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Government pledges extra £100m to Enterprise Zones

Communities secretary Eric Pickles confirms the additional funding to help complete infrastructure projects around the new business hubs Continue Reading

By

• Jennifer Scott, TechTarget

High street stores embrace digital to entice customers

Customers are using technology in favour of the high street, but some stores are fighting fire with fire. Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

Driving Standards Agency updates WAN with MDNX

The government agency has revamped its WAN solution to link its datacentre through the PSN network to its driving test centres across the UK Continue Reading

By

• Jennifer Scott, TechTarget

UK National Cyber Crime Unit becomes operational

The UK's National Cyber Crime Unit has become operational as part of the new National Crime Agency Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

FBI shuts down Silk Road online drug market

The FBI has shut down the Silk Road online drug market and arrested kingpin Ross Ulbricht, previously known only as Dread Pirate Roberts Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

IT outsourcing no longer main recession-busting tool

Process optimisation and shared services have become a higher priority than IT outsourcing Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Privacy concerns in the digital world

Considering the full spectrum of privacy, people need to ask themselves if they are comfortable with all their characteristics in the public domain Continue Reading

By

• Yves Le Roux, (ISC)2

McAfee Focus 2013: McAfee leadership upbeat about Stonesoft acquisition

Intel-owned security firm McAfee is upbeat about its acquisition of Stonesoft and its future capability to tackle security differently Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Tesco profits drop despite multichannel shopping

Tesco's pre-tax profits fell 24% to £1.39bn over the first half of its financial year despite adopting multichannel shopping technology Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

IT security industry still immature, says (ISC)2 board member

The information security industry is still immature and failing to act or speak as one, says Dave Lewis, (ISC)2 board member Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

UK trading sector faces challenges as US regulator prepare rules

UK trading firms will have to makes their trading software more resilient to ensure they comply with the imminent regulations being put together by the US SEC Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

EE hit by weekend of outages

Mobile operator EE confirms issues on its network but keeps quiet about the causes Continue Reading

By

• Jennifer Scott, TechTarget

Charity uses cloud HR system to keep track of staff working in danger zones

It took a disaster in Haiti to demonstrate to charity World Vision why it needed better HR systems Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

MoD announces specialist programme to fend off cyber attacks

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced a strategy to defend UK national security from the threat of cyber attacks Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

Financial markets next big cyber target, says US expert

Manipulation of international financial markets will be the next evolution of cyber crime, says US Cyber Consequences Unit chief Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Top 10 cyber crime stories of 2013

Cyber crime featured heavily in security news coverage in 2013, with cyber criminals and cyber law enforcers upping their games with each passing month Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Software acquisition is risk acquisition, says industry panel

New software often means new security vulnerabilities, panel tells the (ISC)2 Security Congress 2013 Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

What does the Public Accounts Committee want from BDUK?

MPs slammed the BDUK broadband process for making it too easy for BT. But how to rectify the situation? We take an in-depth look at the report Continue Reading

By

• Jennifer Scott, TechTarget

MPs slam BT's rural broadband tactics

MPs have slammed BT's business practices in the roll-out of rural and superfast broadband Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Google to rethink resilient networking following dual failure

In spite of running a dual redundant network, Google's Gmail system has had a major failure. Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

How Capgemini keeps its Merlin datacentre green and energy-efficient

Capgemini's Swindon-based Merlin datacentre is one of the most energy-efficient in the world. But what makes it green? Continue Reading

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• Archana Venkatraman, Datacentre Editor

Poor connectivity and battery life hamper mobile working

A study conducted by Vanson Bourne for HP finds almost two-thirds of mobile workers are unable to work effectively due to connectivity issues Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

How Amadeus keeps travellers moving

Computer Weekly visits the Amadeus datacentre just outside Munich, which provides mission critical IT for the travel industry. Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

US websites should inform EU citizens about NSA surveillance, says report

US web site providers should inform European citizens that their data may be subject to government surveillance, says a report for the European parliament Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

Tesco to launch £119 7-inch tablet to expand multichannel presence

Tesco is expanding its multichannel retail strategy with the introduction of its own tablet, targeting non-internet-savvy users Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

BlackBerry cuts 4,500 jobs after $1bn loss

BlackBerry is to cut 40% of its workforce after revealing a likely loss of nearly $1bn in its latest financial quarter Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

Steve Ballmer uses final investor call to target Google

In his last investor call as CEO of Microsoft, Steve Ballmer took the opportunity to attack Google’s business practices Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Disaster recovery planning: Don’t be fooled by suppliers

Disaster recovery planning is all about good preparation and not falling for supplier hype. Build appropriate systems, test them and train people well Continue Reading

By

• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

A guide to WebRTC

Real-time communications standards aim to help more users speak with ease over the internet. Computer Weekly looks at how the systems work Continue Reading

By

• Simon Bisson

NSA reveals how Snowden accessed secret Prism files

Prism whistleblower Edward Snowden accessed secret documents through a file-share, the NSA has revealed Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Most businesses suffer major technology failure over 12 months

79% of businesses had a technology failure in the past year, costing £6.9m, according to a survey of IT professionals and business line heads Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

BlackBerry quietly launches Z30 smartphone

Mobile manufacturer BlackBerry has launched its latest flagship smartphone, the Z30, to little fanfare Continue Reading

By

• Jennifer Scott, TechTarget

MPs brand NHS National Programme for IT a 'fiasco' as posthumous costs rise

The now-axed NHS National Programme for IT (NPfIT) is still incurring significant costs following the failure of the government IT project Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

Risk assessment key to cloud adoption, says Isaca

There is mass confusion among small and medium businesses about cloud computing, says Amar Singh, chair of Isaca UK Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

After virtualising IT estate, Jaguar Land Rover now eyes cloud computing

Jaguar Land Rover's IT team takes its newly virtualised infrastructure to the next stage of IT evolution by adopting cloud-based services Continue Reading

By

• Archana Venkatraman, Datacentre Editor

Universal Credit failures put coalition ICT strategy in purdah

As self-appointed guardian against government IT bodges, the Cabinet Office played a role in deciding Universal Credit could meet its over-ambitious aims. It was not only wrong. It also shares the ... Continue Reading

By

• Mark Ballard

Vodafone appoints new UK CEO

After five years in charge, Vodafone veteran Guy Laurence is leaving his role to head up Canadian firm Rogers Communications and will be replaced by Jeroen Hoencamp Continue Reading

By

• Jennifer Scott, TechTarget

Businesses hit digital roadblock due to paper processes

A survey of business and IT leaders has found that paper-based processes are creating inefficiencies Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

TSB’s reliance on Lloyds IT could impair new bank's competitiveness

New high street bank TSB might struggle to compete as a result of its reliance on the IT systems of Lloyds Banking Group, says OFT Continue Reading

£200m of Universal Credit IT could be scrapped, MPs told

£200m of IT work on the troubled Universal Credit programme could be written off, says government project management chief Norma Wood Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

£480bn of government revenue depends on "risky" legacy IT

Almost £480bn of the UK government’s revenues are dependent on legacy IT systems that “could present a very significant risk” Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

Barclays reception IT system falls over globally

Barclays' reception administration system has been down for almost two days, with no sign of when it is set to get fixed Continue Reading

By

• Jennifer Scott, TechTarget

Vodafone confirms five Midlands cities for 4G

Birmingham, Coventry, Leicester, Nottingham and Sheffield will all get Vodafone’s 4G services from the end of September Continue Reading

By

• Jennifer Scott, TechTarget

Most websites could be targeted through PHP, warns Imperva

Hackers are focusing on vulnerabilities in PHP web application development platform, threatening most websites, warns Imperva Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Lloyds website continuity hit as TSB launches

Lloyds Banking Group websites, including the new standalone TSB, have been hit by problems on TSB launch day Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Executive interview: Andrew Brem, Connected Homes, British Gas

British Gas is digitising energy. Andrew Brem speaks to Computer Weekly about the internet connected home Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Chuggers drive up direct debit failure and charity costs

Pedestrians approached by street fundraisers are deliberately giving incorrect direct debit details, costing charities up to £50 each time Continue Reading

Gartner: Benefits of mobile collaboration

The rapid adoption of smart devices, both in the workplace and outside, has raised expectations about accessibility and user experience Continue Reading

By

• Jeff Mann

Direct debit failures costly to businesses

Businesses risk losing money and customers due to mistakes made when setting up direct debit and credit payments Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Agile chaos consumes Universal Credit

It was the core philosophy of the coalition government's ICT strategy: creative chaos. But instead of fixing government IT it has let it run rampant, according to the National Audit Office.The ... Continue Reading

By

• Mark Ballard

Mercedes AMG Petronas' road to a better network

The Formula One team partners with Tata Communications to bring faster network speeds and better data anlaysis track-side Continue Reading

By

• Jennifer Scott, TechTarget

Check software use and transfer rights to avoid licence misuse

Software licences can easily trip up organisations, putting them at risk of compliance action Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Banks tighten data handling in race for compliance

Data is obviously a valuable asset to any company, but managed poorly it could also be a liability. Data in the financial sector continues to grow at a rapid pace, so getting your house in order will ensure you are not hit with any unwanted fines or receive any negative PR due to data loss. In this issue of CW Europe read how data discipline ensures you avoid data loss, as well as helping you to think clearer and to be organised. Continue Reading

How the sale of Nokia’s mobile phone business will affect Microsoft

Microsoft forges ahead with Steve Ballmer's vision to focus on hardware, software and services, with the $7.2bn acquisition of Nokia Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Disinfecting PCs false security, says security expert

Many companies proud of their ability to identify and clean malware infected machines are missing a trick, says veteran security expert Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

How networks and data win Formula One races for Mercedes AMG Petronas

Tata Communications joins the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One team to bring speedy connectivity worthy of its cars Continue Reading

By

• Jennifer Scott, TechTarget

Three promises unlimited 4G in December

The smaller of the UK’s mobile operators claims its 4G offerings will be worth the wait Continue Reading

By

• Jennifer Scott, TechTarget

VMware announces first Nicira-based SDN product

VMware takes its first steps into the networking market following its acquisition of the software defined networking firm Nicira. Continue Reading

By

• Jennifer Scott, TechTarget

BT to shut down dial-up in September

BT tempts its customers over to broadband services, although also offers PlusNet narrowband alternative for those outside of its footprint Continue Reading

By

• Jennifer Scott, TechTarget

The end of the Ballmer era for Microsoft

Microsoft’s eccentric CEO will step down from his role with12 months, so what does that mean for the future of the firm? Continue Reading

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• Jennifer Scott, TechTarget

Charlie McMurdie joins PwC’s cyber practice

Charlie McMurdie, former head of the Metro Police central e-crime unit, is joining business consultancy firm PwC as its senior crime adviser Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Internet of things to power classroom education

Businesses and academics have joined forces in an £800,000 project to extend the internet of things into the classroom Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

How DWP and Universal Credit failed to work with SME suppliers

Less than 1% of DWP IT spending on the Universal Credit programme has gone to SMEs – how are big suppliers continuing their dominance? Continue Reading

By

• Mark Ballard

Top 10 Android security tips

As Android becomes more prevalent in the enterprise, Computer Weekly gives you 10 top tips for keeping your devices secure Continue Reading

By

• Paul Marchant

Interview: Martin Russell, head of IT services, Just Eat

Just Eat's head of IT services, Martin Russell speaks to Computer Weekly about his experiences of switching to Google Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

UCAS adopts public cloud to process university admissions

Ten days before the A-level results, UCAS adopted a public cloud infrastructure to scale up its IT and to make admission process efficient Continue Reading

By

• Archana Venkatraman, Datacentre Editor

Online retailing means the industrialisation of analytics

Figleaves founder and eCommera chief scientist Michael Ross argues that online retailing requires a new type of action-oriented business intelligence Continue Reading

By

• Brian McKenna, Enterprise Applications Editor

VPNs: The past, present and future

We give you a rundown of all you need to know about virtual private networks and how the cloud is changing their future Continue Reading

By

• Adrian Bridgwater

Multimillion-pound broadband project axed in Yorkshire

Despite millions of taxpayer’s pounds sunk into the Digital Region project in South Yorkshire, the councils involved decide to drop it to save £12.5m Continue Reading

By

• Jennifer Scott, TechTarget

Less than 1% of Universal Credit IT spend goes to SMEs

Despite a 25% target, less than 1% of IT spending for government’s flagship Universal Credit programme has gone to small businesses Continue Reading

By

• Mark Ballard

How to appoint a new outsourcing supplier

Outsourcing can come with its own security risks if not managed appropriately, making due diligence and clear contractual arrangements key Continue Reading

By

• Sheila Pancholi

The dangers of internet cafés

Businesses need clear computer use policies and need to ensure staff are properly trained in data protection, writes Garry Mackay Continue Reading

By

• Garry Mackay

The data fragmentation challenge

Few organisations have policies to guide where data should and should not be stored. The result: data fragmentation Continue Reading

By

• Tony Lock, Freeform Dynamics

ICO to investigate London bins that track smartphones

Information Commissioner's Office is making enquiries into bins in London that track passing smartphones to target advertising to owners Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

Is the UK smart meter project doomed to fail?

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we look at one of the biggest IT roll-outs in the UK - the £12bn plan to install smart meters in every home – and ask: is it doomed to fail? Our latest buyer’s guide examines software asset management. We analyse the big IT suppliers’ plans to compete with pure-play cloud providers. And we discuss the future of the chief information security officer role. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Case study: How Premier Inn uses mobile analytics

Premier Inn's mobile app has been downloaded more than two million times and 77% of room bookings are made via the app Continue Reading

By

• Graham Jarvis

Government to put 50% of all new IT spend through SMEs

The government wants to put half of all new IT spending through small IT suppliers – doubling the previous target Continue Reading

Government opens fourth iteration of cloud framework G-Cloud 4 for business

Cabinet Office has opened the fourth iteration of UK government cloud – G-Cloud 4 to accept tenders from new cloud suppliers and existing ones Continue Reading

By

• Archana Venkatraman, Datacentre Editor

Bloomberg signs up to Ubuntu Edge hybrid

Financial analytics service Bloomberg has bought into Mark Shuttleworth’s Ubuntu One vision for a hybrid PC/mobile device. Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Vodafone announces 4G launch date

Vodafone becomes the third mobile operator to confirm the launch of its 4G network, which will go live on the same day as O2 Continue Reading

By

• Jennifer Scott, TechTarget

Datacentres are a key focus for government’s Green ICT Delivery Unit

With the growing use of online services for government transactions, datacentres are a key focus of the government’s green IT strategy Continue Reading

By

• Archana Venkatraman, Datacentre Editor

Capita and Barnet deal to be completed after campaigner’s court appeal fails

Outsourcing contracts worth over £470m will be signed off by Barnet Council after a Court of Appeal ruled that the deal was lawful Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Tech startups inspiring retail IT innovations

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we talk to department store John Lewis about how the firm is working with tech startups to improve its multichannel retail strategy. As PC sales continue to decline, we hear from IT leaders at companies moving away from the traditional desktop to non-Windows devices such as Chromebooks. And the final part of our buyer’s guide to data management examines the benefits being achieved by adopters of predictive analytics, including Tesco and HM Revenue & Customs. Continue Reading

A business case for games play at work

How businesses can use computer games techniques to motivate staff at work Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Microsoft concedes to BSkyB over SkyDrive trademark

The tech giant admits defeat and will be forced to rename its cloud storage service after losing a court battle in the UK Continue Reading

By

• Jennifer Scott, TechTarget

Office 365 now available on Android

Following the release of Office Mobile for iPhone, Microsoft has launched Office Mobile for Android Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

The ideology of hacking

Business leaders need to be educated on the true threats their firms face and IT security professionals have to arm their executives with that information Continue Reading

By

• Mark Brown

British Airways unveils its new Airbus A380

The new addition to the BA fleet - the Airbus A380 Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Baldwin, Freelance editor and journalist

Big data journalism exposes offshore tax dodgers

How journalists harnessed big data to challenge offshore financial secrecy Continue Reading

By

• Duncan Campbell and Craig Shaw

ICO to investigate sale of online dating profiles

The UK’s data protection watchdog is to investigate the sale of 10,000 online dating profiles to the BBC’s Panorama programme Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Google datacentres awarded ISO 50001 certification

Google has obtained ISO 50001 certification for its energy management systems in six datacentre facilities across the US Continue Reading

By

• Archana Venkatraman, Datacentre Editor

An introduction to cyber liability insurance cover

Cyber liability insurance cover has been around for 10 years, but most security professionals seem to have not heard of it or know that it exists Continue Reading

By

• Sarb Sembhi

Continual vigilance key to security, says Damballa

UK businesses must update their approach to cyber security to look for signs of compromise continually Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Dutch banking regulator approves use of AWS public cloud in the financial sector

Dutch banking watchdog approves use of AWS cloud in websites, mobile apps, retail banking platforms, HPC and credit risk analysis Continue Reading

By

• Archana Venkatraman, Datacentre Editor

FireEye partners with Phishme for multi-layered security

Security technology developer FireEye has partnered with phishing awareness training firm PhishMe to offer a multi-layered approach to securing information networks Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Hailo taxi app maker drops Sage for NetSuite OneWorld

Taxi cab app maker Hailocab has switched from Sage Line:50 to NetSuite OneWorld, in a bid to speed up accounts reconciliation Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Aintree NHS saves £1m a year with electronic patient records

Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust replaces paper medical records with an electronic system to save £1m per year Continue Reading

By

• Brian McKenna, Enterprise Applications Editor

MI5 and GCHQ call for FTSE 350 cyber health check

Intelligence agencies MI5 and GCHQ call on UK’s top listed companies to take part in a cyber governance health check Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Cisco buys cyber security company Sourcefire for $2.7bn

Networking giant Cisco has reached an agreement to buy cyber security business Sourcefire in a $2.7bn deal Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst