Information technology (IT) in Benelux
Read the latest tech news and trends in Benelux. Find articles and resources on IT security, data storage, backup and recovery, networking, data centre, cloud computing, mobile technology, virtualisation, big data, virtual machines and more.
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News
13 Sep 2023
Banks less focused on metaverse technology than last year
Senior banking executives have reduced their focus on investigating metaverse technology in the past 12 months Continue Reading
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News
12 Sep 2023
European enterprises to spend more on generative IT to close gap on US
European organisations are upping their spending on generative AI innovation, but face challenges recruiting the right people to support this Continue Reading
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News
18 Apr 2018
European IT services spending down as businesses focus on GDPR compliance
European organisations are reducing their spending on IT services and are redirecting resources towards becoming compliant with the EU General Data Protection Regulation Continue Reading
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News
18 Apr 2018
BT to supply European air navigation network
BT has been selected to provide the upgraded air traffic management network across Europe Continue Reading
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Opinion
17 Apr 2018
Moving away from analogue health in a digital world
Healthcare records still rely on faxes, email, mail and paper, but the innovative use of technology will lead to major improvements in medical care Continue Reading
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News
17 Apr 2018
Judge in Max Schrems v Facebook action raises red flag on EU-US data transfers
The Irish High Court (Commercial Division) has once again cast a long shadow, with a very short deadline, over the arrangements for the safe and legal transfer of data between the EU and the US Continue Reading
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News
16 Apr 2018
Dutch railway operator to experiment with self-driving trains
Dutch railways are on a journey towards fully automated trains, with early tests under way Continue Reading
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News
13 Apr 2018
EU-US data sharing under threat as Irish court refers Facebook case to Europe
The Irish High Court is seeking answers from the European Court of Justice in a case that could have huge implications for EU-US data sharing and raises questions about US government surveillance of EU citizens. The move could bring a five-year legal battle between Austrian lawyer Max Schrems and Facebook to a close Continue Reading
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News
10 Apr 2018
European CIOs have budget balancing act ahead of them
There is some consensus among European CIOs on budget rises across the continent, but less so on what to invest in Continue Reading
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Opinion
10 Apr 2018
Driving digitisation: open standards in process automation
Organisations often can’t take advantage of advances in digital technology due to the lack of interoperability in their IT systems in different facilities, but open standards promise a way forward Continue Reading
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News
05 Apr 2018
Interview: GDPR will give Dutch privacy watchdog its teeth
The Netherlands’ privacy watchdog has not handed out fines so far because there has been no reason to, says the organisation’s chairman, Aleid Wolfsen Continue Reading
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News
27 Mar 2018
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
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News
26 Mar 2018
Dutch SMEs’ cyber security is insufficient
Nowhere in the Netherlands is digitisation as big as it is in small and medium-sized enterprises, but the sector still has a lot to do in terms of cyber security Continue Reading
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News
23 Mar 2018
European insurtech growth dwarfs US
Europe is seeing rapid growth in its insurtech as investors pump hundreds of millions into the sector Continue Reading
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News
21 Mar 2018
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
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News
20 Mar 2018
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
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News
16 Mar 2018
Capgemini arm bags European Commission data infrastructure project
The European Commission has extended the contract of prime contractor Capgemini on its open data project Continue Reading
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News
14 Mar 2018
WhatsApp to suspend data sharing with Facebook
WhatsApp has agreed to stop sharing personal data with Facebook until data protection concerns are addressed Continue Reading
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News
08 Mar 2018
EC reveals plan to make Europe global fintech hub
The European Commission has unveiled proposals to boost the EU’s financial technology sector Continue Reading
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E-Zine
08 Mar 2018
CW Europe: Germany’s Lemoncat takes catering to the cloud
Business catering startup Lemoncat has taken advantage of the affordable cost of living in Berlin and is shaking up the catering sector by harnessing the Amazon and Salesforce clouds. Also in this issue, read how Moscow’s government is taking advantage of high penetration of broadband and mobile internet to expand innovative services under the Russian capital’s smart city programme, and how organisations in the Netherlands still have much to do to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation. Continue Reading
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News
06 Mar 2018
European cities woo English-speaking IT talent
Organisations in major European cities have upped their search for English-speaking talent, including IT professionals, since the UK’s referendum on EU membership Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Feb 2018
The EURECA moment: Counting the cost of running the UK’s public sector datacentres
The EU-backed EURECA project has spent the past 36 months assessing the state of public sector datacentres across Europe, and is revealing what it found Continue Reading
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News
20 Feb 2018
4G IoT network may ease aviation sector fears over drone safety
Vodafone is testing mobile and internet of things network technology to protect commercial aircraft from badly flown drones Continue Reading
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News
09 Feb 2018
Europe in the firing line of evolving DDoS attacks
The Europe, Middle East and Africa region accounts for more than half the world’s distributed denial of service attacks, a report from F5 Labs reveals Continue Reading
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E-Zine
08 Feb 2018
CW Benelux: Dutch IT expert on a mission to expose vulnerabilities
Dutch ethical hacker Victor Gevers took full-time leave from his IT job last year and used the time to hunt for vulnerabilities. Read about his mission to find vulnerabilities, report them responsibly and then, hopefully, get them fixed by the vulnerable parties involved. Also in this issue, read how Proximus, Belgium’s largest telecommunications operator, is leaning on Cloudify to support its adoption of network functions virtualisation, and how journalists showed that the email addresses of Dutch politicians are easy to spoof. Continue Reading
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News
08 Feb 2018
Teenager suspected of crippling Dutch banks with DDoS attacks
A large distributed denial of service attack on banks and other organisations in the Netherlands, first thought to emanate from Russia, is now thought to have been launched by a local teenager Continue Reading
- 07 Feb 2018
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Opinion
02 Feb 2018
Europe’s shameful role in spy-tech exports that led to torture and jail
Governments in Europe actively assisted in government oppression in Iran, Bahrain and Russia by providing states with sophisticated surveillance equipment. The European Parliament is pressing for changes in the law to restrict exports of spy-technology to countries with poor human rights records Continue Reading
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News
02 Feb 2018
Dutch Filmworks disrupts piracy fight by imposing download fines
Netherlands’ privacy watchdog grants film production company permission to collect IP addresses as part of its fight against illegal downloading Continue Reading
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News
01 Feb 2018
European Commission eyes blockchain opportunity
The European Commission is aiming to get the most out of blockchain technology in a wide variety of sectors Continue Reading
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News
01 Feb 2018
Dutch companies not ready for GDPR despite approaching deadline
Organisations in the Netherlands are racing towards General Data Protection Regulation compliance, but there is still much to be done Continue Reading
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News
31 Jan 2018
GDPR requests to take thousands of hours a month, says survey
A recent survey predicts organisations will potentially face thousands of customer requests about their personal information every month, with many unprepared for GDPR compliance Continue Reading
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News
31 Jan 2018
Dutch port readies itself for autonomous ships
The Port of Rotterdam is using IoT and AI technology from IBM to improve efficiency and become the model for ports of the future Continue Reading
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News
30 Jan 2018
IT Priorities 2018: Data protection a top priority ahead of GDPR
Data protection continues to be a key focus for IT security investment for European firms in 2018, as does the emphasis on cloud and mobile security as companies move to these technology platforms Continue Reading
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News
30 Jan 2018
Davos: Cyber risks grow as countries turn towards protectionism
The cost of natural disasters is now at record levels, but the cost of cyber crime is far higher. The World Economic Forum hopes to persuade governments to work together on the problem, but with isolationist politics back in fashion, can it succeed? Continue Reading
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News
29 Jan 2018
NGO to fight for GDPR rights set to launch
A new breed of NGO aimed at helping EU citizens fight for privacy rights under the GDPR is set to launch after achieving the minimum funding required Continue Reading
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News
23 Jan 2018
New controversies as Trump passes US Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
The amended Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which seeks to legitimise US surveillance on foreigners, has been signed off by president Trump Continue Reading
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News
23 Jan 2018
Interview: Kaspar Korjus, Estonian e-Residency lead
As the number of people signing up to become Estonian e-residents exceeds the country’s birth rate, Computer Weekly speaks to the man heading up the programme Continue Reading
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News
18 Jan 2018
Demand for cloud services drives increase in IT outsourcing
Cloud services spending in Europe, the Middle East and Africa offset a drop in traditional IT outsourcing in 2017 Continue Reading
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News
17 Jan 2018
Davos: Disintegration of the internet could create economic turmoil
Politicians and business leaders will discuss the risks posed by fake news, cyber attacks, and artificial intelligence to jobs, political stability and global security, at the World Economic Forum in Davos Continue Reading
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News
11 Jan 2018
Retail banking regulations hit UK with the potential of a ‘Big Bang’ moment
The UK retail banking sector is at the beginning of a journey towards to a more competitive future as new regulation hits them Continue Reading
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News
09 Jan 2018
Max Schrems champions NGO to fight for GDPR rights
Privacy activist whose legal challenge of Facebook led to the scrapping of the Safe Harbour Agreement says crowdfunding a new type of non-government organisation is essential to deliver privacy rights Continue Reading
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News
09 Jan 2018
Dutch bank tests wearable technology payments
ABN Amro is testing out wearable payment devices with 500 customers as part of a four-month pilot Continue Reading
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News
04 Jan 2018
Nordic banks face digitisation decisions over PSD2
With the latest version of the EU payment services directive coming into force, traditional Nordic banks can’t afford to slow their digital transformations Continue Reading
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Opinion
20 Dec 2017
How to boost your personal brand as an IT professional
Seven steps to help you build a personal brand in the workplace, articulate the value you provide and build your professional reputation Continue Reading
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Opinion
06 Dec 2017
How to attract investors for your enterprise software startup
Are you looking to find an investor for your enterprise software company? This expert advice explains what investors will be looking to find in an innovative software business seeking backing Continue Reading
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News
28 Nov 2017
Dutch digital coin miners offered datacentre space to reduce costs
The Netherlands’ Datacenter Group is providing digital coin miners with space in a professional datacentre Continue Reading
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News
28 Nov 2017
Fintech is increasing operational risk to banks
European Banking Association report reveals fear of greater operational risk because of increased take-up of fintech in financial services sector Continue Reading
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News
26 Nov 2017
UK only average in terms of digital public services
UK government has the innovation skills to become a digital public services leader, but needs to improve the ID and authentication that sits underneath it to reach this goal Continue Reading
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News
16 Nov 2017
Europe not ready for imminent cyber strikes, say infosec professionals
Information security leaders in Europe believe a major breach of critical infrastructure is coming and that data breaches in their own organisations are imminent – yet most are not ready Continue Reading
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E-Zine
09 Nov 2017
CW Benelux: Young wayward hackers could help fill Dutch IT skills gap
In this issue, read how an initiative in Rotterdam is helping young people get into the IT sector by targeting those overlooked by traditional methods. Also find out how Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport is utilising open source software to create and use a multi-cloud platform with an open API, and how the Netherlands’ Rabobank has moved from tape libraries and robotic arms to a platform-based storage and retrieval system. Continue Reading
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News
03 Nov 2017
Go beyond GDPR for a competitive edge
By exceeding the bare minimum requirements set by privacy regulations, businesses can win customers by offering greater assurances, says a business adviser Continue Reading
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News
11 Oct 2017
Dutch government agreement increasingly focuses on IT security
The coalition government in the Netherlands has agreed its plan for the next four years, with IT security prominent Continue Reading
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News
10 Oct 2017
Belgian telco Proximus picks Cloudify to support NFV roll-out
Belgium’s largest telecoms operator Proximus will deploy a cloud-native orchestration platform to support its adoption of NFV services in the business Continue Reading
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News
06 Oct 2017
All EU countries sign up to implement digital-by-default services
Declaration reaffirms commitment to bring public sector services into the digital age and improve citizens’ interaction with government Continue Reading
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News
02 Oct 2017
Hard Brexit would see UK tech exports fall by £1.7bn
UK manufacturers including those in the technology sector will lose billions of pounds of export revenue if the government completes a hard Brexit Continue Reading
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News
27 Sep 2017
UK-EU talks have failed to raise confidence of IT leaders
IT decision-makers are no more confident about how Brexit will affect them despite this year’s general election and talks between the EU and the UK Continue Reading
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News
15 Sep 2017
Banks across Europe cut thousands of staff and branches as IT replaces them
Banks across Europe cut jobs and close thousands of branches as IT shakes the industry Continue Reading
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News
06 Sep 2017
European Union states question copyright law proposal
European states are questioning legality of a new copyright law proposed by the EU Continue Reading
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News
31 Aug 2017
Open source helps Schiphol fly to multi-clouds
Amsterdam airport Schiphol is utilising open source software to create and use a multi-cloud platform with an open API Continue Reading
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News
23 Aug 2017
Dutch e-voting is waiting for an opportunity
Despite years of opposition and distrust in voting machines, a small Dutch initiative is aiming for a new form of e-voting Continue Reading
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News
10 Aug 2017
CIO interview: Daniel Gebler, chief technology officer, Picnic
The Netherlands has the highest supermarket density in the world, yet a technology company has been able to gain market share from the established order Continue Reading
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E-Zine
10 Aug 2017
CW Benelux: IoT Tech Day showcases innovation
Read about this year’s IoT Tech Day in Utrecht, Netherlands, which featured hobby projects such as light-sensing curtains that automatically open and close, but also showed that the IoT is growing up to encompass more serious applications. Also read about the lessons to be learned from the ‘Petya’ ransomware attack that has hit 60 countries, and find out how Dutch railway stations are monitoring the movement of travellers to reduce people jams. Continue Reading
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News
07 Jul 2017
Europe takes measured approach to 5G, driven by ROI concerns
European operators may be more concerned with getting the maximum value for money from their 3G and 4G networks than rushing to roll out 5G Continue Reading
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E-Zine
08 Jun 2017
Ethical fears hinder growth of artificial intelligence in France
In this issue, read how France’s relatively slow adoption of artificial intelligence is partly the result of public confusion, and partly due to the way the French have approached the ethical debate around AI. Also, read now organisations in Europe are failing to address the most important risks because they do not have a structured approach to complying with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation. And find out why, after 17 years, Dutch university TU Delft is saying goodbye to its legacy learning management system. Continue Reading
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News
22 May 2017
Dutch railway uses IoT to reduce people jams
Railway stations in The Netherlands are monitoring the movement of travellers to manage traffic flow and reduce people jams Continue Reading
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Feature
17 May 2017
Organised crime exploiting new technology
European law enforcement is to focus on collaborating with industry around cyber crime as organised crime groups increasingly exploit new technologies, according to a regional crime threat report Continue Reading
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E-Zine
11 May 2017
CW Benelux: 3D printing on the rise
This quarter’s CW Benelux looks at the practical use of 3D printing in the Netherlands. It seems the technology has found its home, at least initial home, in manufacturing, with the early buzz around its consumer potential now a reality in the enterprise sector. The possibilities have not escaped government attention. The Dutch ministry of economic affairs last year unveiled an action plan for smart industry to boost development and standards for smart industrial applications, including 3D printing. Also read how PostNL is using IT to help its business to prosper in a transformed mail industry, find out how businesses in the Netherlands are getting their heads around blockchain technology, and see what KLM is doing with virtual reality technology. Continue Reading
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News
19 Apr 2017
How Dutch university quickly connected thousands of students to new learning management system
Dutch university TU Delft is replacing its legacy learning management system after 17 years Continue Reading
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News
07 Apr 2017
MEPs call for European Commission to reassess Privacy Shield
European parliamentarians have called for an immediate review of the Privacy Shield EU-US data transfer framework due to concerns about privacy protections being undermined in the US Continue Reading
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News
05 Apr 2017
Dutch IT companies introduce unlimited staff holidays
IT firms in The Netherlands are leading the way with strategies to give employees control of how much time they take off work Continue Reading
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News
05 Apr 2017
Chocolate maker Barry Callebaut gets sweet on cloud
Chocolate maker Barry Callebaut is increasingly using cloud-based apps to improve productivity and reduce costs Continue Reading
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News
24 Mar 2017
AI and robots will 'create political instability' until humans find new occupations
The belief that advances in technology will create more jobs than they replace may no longer hold true Continue Reading
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News
24 Mar 2017
Serco uses HR technology to cut recruitment bill
International outsourced services supplier Serco is investing in HR recruitment technology to help it hire 15,000 to 20,000 people a year Continue Reading
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News
20 Mar 2017
Global business leaders hail UK tech sector’s innovation potential
KPMG report reveals global confidence in UK tech sector’s ability to create innovative products and services that are keenly adopted across the world Continue Reading
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News
14 Mar 2017
HPE, Dell and IBM suffer Q4 server sales slumps, as demand for ODM hardware grows
IDC's latest EMEA-wide server market sales tracker suggests soaring demand for ODM servers is hitting tier-one manufacturers hard Continue Reading
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News
06 Mar 2017
3D printing gets serious in the Netherlands
3D projects abound in the Netherlands, with the technology being applied to canal bridges, bicycles, ship components and buildings Continue Reading
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News
17 Feb 2017
HPE services and CSC to become DXC Technology
The merger between HP's services division and CSC will launch in April 2017 and is expected to save the companies billions Continue Reading
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E-Zine
09 Feb 2017
CW Benelux: Is there a Dutch digital delusion?
On government and business levels, the Netherlands aspires to be a digital leader in Europe, but it may be losing ground because of a lack of research and development investment. Also in this issue, IT decision makers based in the Benelux region are less confident than their European neighbours that IT budgets will increase in 2017, and Dutch bank ING, which used digital technology to reinvent itself after the financial crash, is about to reinvent itself again. Continue Reading
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News
08 Feb 2017
How a Dublin court case could derail EU-US data privacy agreements
The Irish Commercial Court will consider whether privacy protection offered by standard contractual clauses for data transfers to the US from Europe is legally valid Continue Reading
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News
01 Feb 2017
European Union reaches final agreement on mobile roaming charges
Mobile roaming charges in the European Union will end by 15 June 2017 after final agreement was reached on the regulation of wholesale prices Continue Reading
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News
29 Jan 2017
Artificial intelligence will increase productivity by sharpening human mind
The combination of AI and humans will triple productivity if businesses get the balance right for different roles Continue Reading
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News
26 Jan 2017
Human-centric technologies will dominate next three years
Accenture says businesses will develop technology and services to match human behaviour in the next few years Continue Reading
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News
04 Jan 2017
Customer-first approach will make 2017 a challenge for Dutch CIOs
CIOs in the Netherlands could see their strategies lead to thousands of jobs being cut as businesses automate Continue Reading
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E-Zine
15 Dec 2016
European law enforcement seeking smart ways to fight cyber crime
Cyber criminals are always likely to be better resourced than law enforcement. Now, national and regional police forces in Europe are switching tactics to even the odds. Under-resourced law enforcement needs a smarter approach as cyber crime becomes increasingly prevalent and sophisticated, backed by the money and expertise of organised crime groups set up and run as well-resourced and efficient professional business organisations. Cyber crime operations typically have teams dedicated to looking at open source intelligence, targets’ physical environments, weaknesses in supply chains, and potential collaborators inside target organisations to enable sophisticated, blended attacks that involve a combination of actions against a range of vulnerabilities, making them difficult to detect and defend against. Continue Reading
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News
25 Nov 2016
CBRE: Cloud drives Q3 demand for colocation space in Frankfurt and London
CBRE’s third-quarter datacentre market tracker highlights soaring demand for colocation capacity in Frankfurt and London, as cloud providers court European enterprises Continue Reading
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News
22 Nov 2016
Dutch IT ministry needed to take digital lead
Whenever the media covers a failed Dutch government IT project, the question is always asked whether the government should have a ministry of IT Continue Reading
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E-Zine
17 Nov 2016
CW Benelux: Mobile payments boom
In this quarter’s CW Benelux, we look at how a combination of the right technology and consumer acceptance is driving mobile commerce in the Netherlands. We also hear from the CIO of Brussels Airlines, which is transforming its business digitally through a strategy that links traditional IT with its customers through a digital skin, and the CIO of HR services provider Randstand Group Netherlands, for which technology is becoming crucial in its communication with clients and candidates. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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E-Zine
09 Nov 2016
CW Nordics: Finns turn IT layoffs to their advantage
In this quarter’s CW Nordics, we look at the impact of Nokia layoffs on Finland, and in particular the city of Espoo which is home to both Nokia and Microsoft’s Finnish headquarters. We also look at how Denmark’s Bang & Olufsen is taking control of sales data with cloud-based software. We also hear from Google cloud chief Diane Greene, as well as the CIOs of Norwegian bank DNB, Scandinavian Airlines and Swedish municipality Vara. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
13 Oct 2016
IT startups suffer from strict, out-of-date Dutch laws
The Netherlands government needs to ensure that legislation enables disruptive technology to flourish Continue Reading
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News
03 Oct 2016
Dutch government uses Microsoft Dynamics to improve recruitment
Government recruitment and career management of senior civil servants in the Netherlands has been improved through a Microsoft Dynamics implementation Continue Reading
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News
08 Sep 2016
Bank IT spending to hit $241bn across four major global regions
IT spending across four major economic regions will increase by around 4% in 2016, but Europe is the least certain Continue Reading
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News
24 Aug 2016
London datacentre market enjoys pre-Brexit surge in demand for colocation space
CBRE's pre-Brexit look at the European datacentre market sees London reap the benefits of a surge in demand for colocation space during the second quarter Continue Reading
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E-Zine
18 Aug 2016
CW Benelux: Painting by numbers
In this issue of CW Benelux, we describe how data scientists in the Netherlands have applied technology to art. The Dutch are renowned for being creative with technology and the country has a deep history in art, boasting some of the most celebrated painters. It is therefore apt that the combined tech brains of ING, Microsoft, the Technical University of Delft and other contributors have created The Next Rembrandt, which serves as a visual showcase for big data. The new portrait in the style of Rembrandt van Rijn was put together by a combination of big data technology and 3D printing. All of Rembrandt’s 346 paintings were analysed using data analytics, making it possible to create a seemingly genuine Rembrandt image, while a 3D printer made accurate emulation of his paint patterns and textures a reality. Also in the Netherlands, we feature a case study about how The Hague is solving a bike parking headache with a mobile app. Continue Reading
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News
29 Jul 2016
German digital bank Fidor acquired by French banking giant
Fidor CEO says merger with BPCE will allow challenger to continue its international expansion Continue Reading
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Opinion
28 Jul 2016
Six essential processes for keeping data secure
Data security is increasingly vital for organisations as the countdown begins for compliance with new rules imposed by the EU’s general data protection regulation Continue Reading
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News
26 Jul 2016
Date set for landmark hearing into EU-US data transfers
Irish court hearing triggered by Austrian law student Max Schrems could have huge implications for EU-US trade and the data privacy rights of millions of EU citizens Continue Reading
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News
20 Jul 2016
Benelux CIO interview: Paul Elich, CIO at KLM
Paul Elich, CIO at Dutch airline KLM, tells Computer Weekly about building innovation into IT departments and the ongoing de-duplication of internal systems since its merger with Air France Continue Reading
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Feature
08 Jul 2016
CW@50: A history of IT outsourcing
Computer Weekly looks at where and when IT outsourcing was invented and considers the changes the sector has gone through since Continue Reading
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News
29 Jun 2016
Brexit: Datacentre investments set to slow as economic stability concerns hit CIOs
As the economic uncertainty around Brexit continues, CIOs may put new datacentre investments on hiatus, warns analyst Continue Reading
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News
27 Jun 2016
Banking IT community faces uncertain Brexit future
The financial services IT community faces a period of uncertainty as finance firms reassess plans following the EU referendum result Continue Reading
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News
13 Jun 2016
EU firms slow in detecting cyber attacks, study shows
European firms take an average of 469 days to discover a compromise, compared with an average of 146 days globally, according to Mandiant Continue Reading