IT technical skills

How cosmetics retailer Lush authenticates with ease

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we find out how Lush has modernised user authentication, governed by a desire to care for customer data. We also talk to the chief data officer at Nasa about data as a strategic asset, and the ground of better decision-making. And we foreground a call for the government and the Post Office to compensate victims of the Horizon computer system without delay. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Three-quarters of global IT decision-makers facing skills gaps

Research by Skillsoft has found that 76% of IT decision-makers across the world have departmental skills gaps – a number that has increased significantly in the past five years Continue Reading

Government bodies refuse FOI requests on basis of misleading database search times, says academic

The Information Commissioner’s Office tells tribunal it would need to bring in external experts to search data using an Excel spreadsheet Continue Reading

Post-Covid tech world to see 89% of UK tech operations hosted off-premise

Leading UK ISP releases research showing that emergence of the hybrid era means that dependence on on-premise infrastructure to support a full capacity office is no longer required Continue Reading

Tech’s reaction to the Budget’s skills promises

During the 2021 Autumn Budget, chancellor Rishi Sunak announced several measures aimed at increasing skilled workers in the UK – but does the tech sector think it’s enough? Continue Reading

Technology spending reaches record levels, fuelling jobs boom

Spending on IT has reached its highest levels for a decade but a shortage of skilled IT professionals could dampen growth Continue Reading

Reaching the data gold standard: dream or reality?

The pandemic has forced businesses to adopt digital technology at a record pace but most organisations find themselves at the beginning of a long journey towards making the most of their data Continue Reading

Women grossly underrepresented in global fintech

Women are CEOs at less than 6% of global financial technology firms and even fewer hold top tech jobs Continue Reading

Interview: Asel Sartbaeva, chemistry researcher, University of Bath

Everywoman in Tech Woman of the Year 2021, Asel Sartbaeva, talks about her work with vaccines, and the importance of role models in encouraging young women into science Continue Reading

How GitHub is driving secure software development

GitHub’s first chief security officer offers a glimpse into the company’s efforts to help developers and organisations embrace secure software development practices Continue Reading

Cyber sector growth exacerbating skills shortage

Data from security association (ISC)² shows demand for cyber pros is still outpacing supply as the sector continues an upward growth trajectory Continue Reading

TSB opens 100-seat tech centre in Scottish capital

TSB has opened its latest tech centre in Scotland while IT services provider CGI announces the creation of hundreds of UK tech jobs Continue Reading

Women more likely to have retrained for tech roles than men

Research by WISE finds women are more likely to have retrained for a tech role than men, and half of people in tech think soft skills are more important than tech skills Continue Reading

IBM pledges to reskill 30 million people by 2030

Tech giant launches worldwide initiative to provide about 30 million people with technology and digital skills over the next nine years Continue Reading

Denmark takes another step towards empowering women in tech

A programme to increase the participation of women in the thriving Danish startup ecosystem moves to the second of three planned stages Continue Reading

Poppy Gustafsson, most influential woman in UK tech 2021 - winner’s speech

In this video from Computer Weekly’s annual diversity event, in partnership with Spinks, Poppy Gustafsson, CEO of Darktrace, gives her acceptance speech as the 2021 Most Influential Woman in UK Tech Continue Reading

Former signals intel leader named godfather of UK security

Sixth annual Security Serious Unsung Heroes Awards honours former Royal Corps of Signals colonel and infosec pioneer John Doody Continue Reading

Lewis Hamilton charity aims to help train 150 black STEM teachers

A charity led by Formula1 driver Lewis Hamilton has plans for a two-year pilot aimed at training and recruiting black teachers for science, technology, engineering and maths subjects Continue Reading

Pandemic increases need to hire tech workers

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed consumer behaviour and technology use within organisations, leading to plans for technology hiring to increase over the next year Continue Reading

New strategies needed to close the cyber security skills gap

Teaching cyber security in schools is a long-term solution to a present-day problem Continue Reading

CIO interview: Lisa Heneghan, chief digital officer, KPMG

KPMG UK’s digital leader says that in her 25-year career she has never known a more exciting time to work in IT Continue Reading

Chancellor uses Tory Party conference speech to announce AI scholarships

Artificial intelligence holds the key to unlocking productivity, and developing the right skills to harness this potential was one of the focal points at the Tory Party conference Continue Reading

Computer Weekly’s 2021 women in tech Rising Stars

Despite a lack of women in the technology sector, new champions of diversity, inclusion and technology are always surfacing – so who is likely to appear in Computer Weekly’s top 50 list in the future? Continue Reading

Stop being ‘apologetic’ for differing skillsets, says Most Influential Woman in UK Tech 2021

There are many routes into technology, and many different skillsets that contribute to making great tech work, so people need to be ‘less apologetic’ for a less technical skillset, says Poppy Gustafsson, this year’s Most Influential Woman in UK Tech Continue Reading

Computer Weekly announces the 2021 Most Influential Women in UK Tech

Computer Weekly has revealed who is on the 2021 list of the 50 Most Influential Women in UK Tech, including this year’s winner Poppy Gustafsson Continue Reading

Team leaders urged to address developer mental health

The pandemic led to many developers working from home, and many have experienced burnout Continue Reading

Will the end of furlough help fill tech vacancies?

The closure of the government’s furlough scheme may not help the tech sector fill the most technical vacancies, but it could bolster available talent for the longer term Continue Reading

Tell Number 10 How to Promote Lifelong Training in the Digital Age

Focus public funding/support and performance monitoring on the delivery of micro-modules to get trainees into jobs rather apprenticeships, degrees and qualifications Continue Reading

Women in fintech welcome Barclays initiative and demand more from the sector

Women in UK financial technology have welcomed bank’s new female-focused lab and funding initiative and call for more like it from the sector Continue Reading

Former PwC initiative Tech She Can becomes independent charity

Initially a charter aimed at educating young women about tech careers, PwC-led initiative Tech She Can is now an independent charity with 200 members Continue Reading

APAC women in cyber security

In this Essential Guide, we examine the state of women representation in cyber security in APAC, the challenges that women face in the field, and what can be done to reduce the gender gap in cyber security. Continue Reading

What it takes to attract and retain women in cyber security

The narrowing gender gap may be a cause for cheer, but more needs to be done to curb discrimination, and attract and retain women for cyber security roles in Asia-Pacific Continue Reading

Digdata partners with Facebook to encourage future data talent

Educational initiative Digdata and Facebook have developed a programme aimed at encouraging young people to consider careers in data science Continue Reading

IBM ramps up quantum education initiative

IBM is trying hard to break quantum computing away from the boffins to find real-world application areas Continue Reading

Tech job adverts increasing outside London bubble

The need for skilled tech workers has increased throughout the UK, with many cities seeing a growth in adverts for tech or digital roles Continue Reading

Mastercard invests in digital competence training for five million very small businesses

Mastercard is working with suppliers to embed training for small businesses onto their digital platforms Continue Reading

Foreign professionals and upskilled locals in demand as UAE sets ambitious coding targets

The United Arab Emirates is on a mission to grow its tech sector as part of its economic diversification plans, but it needs more talent from inside and outside the country Continue Reading

DBS eyes AI and blockchain talent

Singapore-based bank DBS is looking to hire 150 developers and engineers skilled in artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain through its hackathon programme Continue Reading

Is the tech sector facing an IT skills exodus?

Three out of five of tech professionals say they are looking to move jobs over the next year. Why is this, and how big a skills problem is the tech industry facing? Continue Reading

Database growth needs greater team collaboration

Organisations are storing more data, which will increase the workload of administrators managing database servers Continue Reading

Making a Reality of Lifelong Training in the Digital Age

I should add that I too am interesting in life-long learning but that is not enough. It can be a gateway to training but learning the theory of tennis is not sufficient to produce a winner, let ... Continue Reading

CW Europe: Dutch researchers build security software to mimic human immune system

In this issue of CW Europe, find out how researchers in the Netherlands are attempting to help IT systems fight certain cyber attacks in a similar way to the human immune system works. One of the team at Dutch research institute TNO was originally an immunologist, and saw parallels with the human immune system in the field of cyber security. Also in this issue, find out about the so-called “Klarna academy” in Stockholm, which has created the next set of Nordic fintech entrepreneurs. Continue Reading

Covid positive for security market, but still a source of stress

CIISec’s latest “State of the profession report” highlights both positives and challenges for cyber pros arising from the past two years Continue Reading

Bridging the gender gap in cyber security

Some professional groups and companies in Asia are working hard to improve awareness of the cyber security profession and mentoring talented women in a bid to bridge the gender gap Continue Reading

TLA Black Women in Tech to launch book about tech role models

Not-for-profit organisation is raising funds to publish a book showcasing black women in tech to give young people in UK schools access to role models Continue Reading

Nokia launches online tech scholarship for under-represented talent

Alongside Udacity and the Blacks in Technology Foundation, Nokia has launched an online nanodegree aimed at increasing the number of people from underrepresented backgrounds in tech worldwide Continue Reading

Age discrimination: An overlooked diversity issue in tech

When people talk about a lack of diversity in technology, age discrimination is not the first issue to come to mind, but it’s one that is prolific across the UK’s tech sector Continue Reading

Applications for Tech Nation Global Talent Visa hit 4,000

Tech Nation, the endorsing body for the digital technology route of the UK’s Global Talent Visa, has reached a total of 4,000 visa applications since 2014 Continue Reading

Makers announces winners of 2021 Women in Software Power List

Software engineering bootcamp Makers has announced its third annual list of up-and-coming women in the software sector Continue Reading

Making a mark in cyber security

Claudean Zheng’s knack for hacking landed her a career in cyber security, one that has been dotted by stints in both public and private sectors Continue Reading

Interview: Sofie Blakstad, CEO, hiveonline

Everywoman in Technology award winner and CEO of hiveonline, Sofie Blakstad, has a long history in the tech sector, and has been using tech to help those in sub-Saharan Africa set up businesses and become digitally literate Continue Reading

How women can succeed in cyber security

A cyber security professional at Australia’s IAG shares her career journey and insights on how women can succeed in the field Continue Reading

HMCTS discloses £12.5m HMRC tax bill over IR35 status contractor assessment errors

HM Courts and Tribunals Service has acknowledged IR35 status contractor assessment errors and paid HMRC £12.5m Continue Reading

Considerations when deciding on a new SIEM or SOAR tool

A successful deployment of any security tool very much depends on the maturity of security processes in the organisation Continue Reading

Inside Estonia’s tech startup scene

Estonia is a Baltic tech tiger that is fast-gaining an international reputation for competently delivered government e-services at a level that surpasses most of its European and international counterparts Continue Reading

Number of girls taking GCSE computing drops in 2021

While the overall number of students in the UK taking computing GCSEs in the UK in 2021 increased from last year, the number of girls taking the subject saw a year-on-year drop Continue Reading

Number of students taking A-level computing rose in 2021

Numbers of both male and female students sitting A-Level computing exams rose in 2021, although there is still a long way to go to encourage more girls into tech Continue Reading

Cloud misconfiguration a growing cause of security incidents

Rapid cloud adoption during the pandemic has increased the attack surface and heightened the risk of misconfiguring services, leaving organisations more vulnerable to cyber attacks Continue Reading

Around 75% of minority tech employees don’t feel a sense of belonging at work

Research by Capgemini found just over three-quarters of global tech employees who are women or ethnic minorities don’t feel a sense of belonging at work Continue Reading

M&S launches initiative to hire software engineers

Supermarket and department store M&S has launched an initiative designed to help it find software engineering talent Continue Reading

UK MoD turns to hackers to help secure digital assets

Hackers given direct access to internal Ministry of Defence systems to identify and report security vulnerabilities Continue Reading

New ransomware gang spins out of DarkSide

The emergence of a ransomware gang known as BlackMatter raises questions that it could be a re-brand of REvil or DarkSide Continue Reading

Huawei courts Asian startups in cloud push

Huawei will spend $100m over three years to grow the startup ecosystem in key markets as it eyes a bigger slice of Asia’s cloud market Continue Reading

Vote now: Most Influential Woman in UK Technology 2021

Who should be the 2021 most influential woman in UK tech? Submit your vote to tell us what you think Continue Reading

Are we getting cyber security skills all wrong?

In this week’s Computer Weekly, the chair of the new UK Cyber Security Council tells us how she plans to fundamentally reimagine what working in IT security means. Our latest buyer’s guide examines ERP modernisation and its role in digital transformation. And we take an in-depth look at the first preview version of Windows 11. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Most Influential Women in UK Tech 2021: Entrants to the Hall of Fame

Each year Computer Weekly recognises several great women from the IT industry and their lifetime achievements in its Most Influential Women in UK Tech Hall of Fame Continue Reading

SAS steps up free data skills programme for job seekers

SAS has expanded its free data skills for jobseekers’ programme, aiming it at people who have been adversely affected by the economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic Continue Reading

Most Influential Women in UK Tech: The 2021 longlist

Each year, Computer Weekly publishes the longlist of all of the women put forward to be considered for its list of the top 50 Most Influential Women in UK Tech. Here are all of 2021’s nominees Continue Reading

Government officials lack experience to lead digital transformation, says NAO

The government needs to reskill senior decision makers and give tech leaders more influence if digital business change projects are to succeed Continue Reading

Makers launches third year of the Women in Software Powerlist

Software bootcamp Makers is looking for up-and-coming women in the software development scene to celebrate diversity in the sector Continue Reading

Experts discuss stretched VLAN use cases, MEC and more

In this networking blog roundup, experts give reasons to stretch VLANs, discuss benefits of deploying private MEC with 5G, and differentiate between junior and senior IT engineers. Continue Reading

Is tech team remuneration opening up a new form of cyber risk?

Failing to reward cyber security staff in line with increases for other members of the tech team could open up new risks to organisations Continue Reading

SAP invests €250m in UK economy

Investment includes a new, UK-based cloud service, two new offices, and a beefing up of SAP’s apprenticeship and internship programmes Continue Reading

UK government publishes skills-focused anti-disinformation plan

Online Media Literacy Strategy aims to train teachers and care-givers in understanding disinformation so they can help others in safely navigating the internet Continue Reading

UK workforce needs reskilling for net-zero transition

Green Jobs Taskforce report looks at how the UK’s workforce can be skilled up to support the transition to net zero Continue Reading

UAE offers ‘golden visas’ to coders as part of national IT skills programme

The United Arab Emirates is offering visas to coders across the world as it attempts to attract talent to support its economic diversification Continue Reading

UK should set up digital task forces to transform governance

Commission for Smart Government paper sets out recommendations for how government can use digital technologies to better serve citizens’ needs, and calls for it to set up new digital task forces Continue Reading

Regional cyber clusters score £700k of funding

DCMS has awarded £700,000 of funding to a network of 20 regional cyber clusters Continue Reading

UK Cyber Security Council calls for new push on training

Too many companies have cut back on security training and development during the pandemic, says UK Cyber Security Council Continue Reading

IR35: Contractors demand tax and employment law alignment to protect ‘zero-rights’ workers

Government is again facing calls to ensure contractors that pay the same amount of tax as permanent employees also receive the same workplace benefits Continue Reading

Home Office launches three-year digital strategy

The strategy sets out six principles, aiming to reduce cost and complexity while driving innovation and developing better digital products and services Continue Reading

Ransomware gangs seek people skills for negotiations

The process of negotiating a ransomware payment is delicate, hence cyber criminal organisations are prepared to offer good terms to those with the right skillsets Continue Reading

What steps can we take to finally close the tech skills gap?

Despite ongoing efforts from government, education providers and industry to close the tech skills gap, not much has changed, so will new initiatives start to close the chasm? Continue Reading

How the UK Cyber Security Council plans to professionalise security

As chair of the new UK Cyber Security Council, Claudia Natanson is in a superb position to develop professional standards in IT security and she intends to fundamentally reimagine what a security job actually is Continue Reading

Google Cloud ties up with AI Singapore on skills training

Google Cloud is working with Singapore’s national AI programme to build up the country’s talent pool in machine learning and AI Continue Reading

Bank of England searches for new CIO amid once-in-a-generation project

The Bank of England is recruiting a head of IT during a period of major change in its core IT system Continue Reading

The secret to building a future-proof cyber security team

In a post-pandemic digital world, where cyber criminals see a feast of opportunities, what are the secrets to building a world-class cyber security function? Continue Reading

Do video games breed hackers?

The aim on Monday is to explore how the online wild west of gaming seemingly escalates young gamers from downloading simple cheat codes to launching full-scale DDoS attacks and even being involved ... Continue Reading

Nominations open for 2021 Security Serious Unsung Heroes Awards

Nominations are now open for this year’s edition of the Unsung Heroes Awards for cyber professionals and educators Continue Reading

Ethical hacking: What, why, and overcoming concerns

We find out why and how hitting your own business with a cyber attack can help improve security Continue Reading

UK Cyber Security Council launches inaugural initiatives

Security association seeks to determine terms of reference for committees to oversee standards and ethics, and qualifications and careers in the cyber sector Continue Reading

How CIOs can help their organisations accelerate digital transformation

Companies need to win the trust of their customers to gather the data they need to transform their businesses Continue Reading

Important LGBTQ+ figures who shaped tech’s history

As the world celebrates Pride month, we take a deep dive into the lives of some of the people who have shaped the technology we use today, who are also LGBTQ+. Continue Reading

NCSC recognises cyber degree apprenticeships for the first time

Addition of new cyber courses to National Cyber Security Centre’s accredited list will supposedly help students make better choices and help universities get more funding Continue Reading

(ISC)² makes ransomware education course free through 31 July

Cyber security association is making its Professional Development Institute course on ransomware free to the general public until the end of July Continue Reading

Controversial cyber tycoon John McAfee dead at 75

Founder of the eponymous cyber security firm has committed suicide in a Spanish prison Continue Reading

How a cloud engineer at DBS Bank charted his career

A cloud engineering leader at DBS Bank offers a glimpse into the tasks and challenges of a cloud professional and how his team is organised to support the bank’s public and private cloud infrastructures Continue Reading

Career guide to cloud computing

Besides having engineering chops and certifications, aspiring cloud professionals should have curiosity and soft skills to succeed in the evolving cloud computing landscape Continue Reading

Increasing numbers of Dutch women opt for career in ICT

There’s a shortage of IT professionals in the Netherlands, but the skills gap can be bridged by attracting further women to the sector Continue Reading

Tech Nation launches D&I toolkit for tech founders

Tech Nation has launched a public diversity and inclusion “toolkit” including guidance for tech company founders to help create more inclusive businesses Continue Reading