Author: Gary

Reading Time: 2 minutesMany organisations that set out to modernise their legacy IT systems never complete the process, according to new global research. A report commissioned by IT solutions and services company, Advanced, shows that different teams in a company can have conflicting priorities, and this makes any IT transformation much more challenging. Leadership teams often fail to… Continue reading Too many IT projects fail

Reading Time: 2 minutesMajor technology companies are suspending sales of facial recognition software to US police departments until the laws concerning their appropriate use are tightened up. The decision from three tech giants came just two weeks after the death of George Floyd, which sparked a series of protests in the US, the UK and elsewhere. Amazon has… Continue reading Tech giants suspend police sales

Reading Time: 2 minutesWorking from home during the pandemic has made many people reluctant to go back to their workplaces on a full-time basis despite an easing of the UK lockdown rules. Research commissioned by technology provider Okta surveyed 6,000 office workers across the UK. Just 24 per cent of respondents said they wanted to return to the… Continue reading Flexibility bug bites UK workers

Reading Time: 2 minutesCovid-19 is causing a surge in cybercrime as hackers use various techniques to steal data and disrupt organisations. According to analysis from an internet service provider (ISP) Beaming, UK companies experienced on average 157,000 cyber-attacks each in the first quarter of 2020. That’s the equivalent of more than one every minute. As a result, Beaming… Continue reading Cyber attacks soar during the pandemic

Reading Time: 2 minutesThe Microsoft Teams collaboration suite is becoming a force to be reckoned with, as it now has 75 million daily active users. That’s an increase of 62 million since July 2019. Only a few months ago it overtook its rival, Slack, but it’s still less popular than Microsoft’s other business chat platform, Skype for Business.… Continue reading Leap in Microsoft Teams popularity

Reading Time: 3 minutesThe UK government has confirmed plans for an app that will warn users if they have recently been close to someone infected with the coronavirus. The health secretary Matt Hancock says the NHS is working closely with leading tech companies on the initiative and the health service’s digital innovation unit NHSX. The unit has tested… Continue reading Tracing app to combat the virus

Reading Time: 2 minutesCould Covid-19 fundamentally change the way businesses operate – prompting a permanent shift to more virtual working? There is no doubt lockdowns caused a significant drop in movement across major cities. New Yorkers were going to the grocery store 32 per cent less often at the start of the nightmare. And according to Google, London’s… Continue reading Will Covid-19 transform business?

Reading Time: 2 minutesThere are growing security fears about the video-conferencing app, Zoom, as millions of people face the possibility of protracted home-working due to the coronavirus. By the end of March, most tech giants had closed offices and shifted employee communications online. Across the world, Zoom’s popularity surged to more than 200 million daily meeting participants as… Continue reading Zoom danger as pandemic hits

Reading Time: 2 minutesThe blistering speed of new Wi-Fi 6 technology could help bring big improvements to productivity for thousands of UK businesses. Because a recent trial has shown the new wi-fi standard can support download speeds of 700Mbps in very difficult environments. The trial was conducted by the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) at Mettis Aerospace’s factory in… Continue reading Faster wi-fi set to boost productivity

Reading Time: 2 minutesMany UK businesses are still dangerously exposed to cyber threats because they haven’t got a robust security strategy. According to the UK government’s latest Cyber Security Breaches Survey , 32 per cent of businesses have suffered a data breach or cyber-attack in the past 12 months. While that’s lower than previous years, it still suggests… Continue reading Take control of cyber security

Reading Time: 2 minutesBritish businesses need to use more effective defences against relentless attacks from state-sponsored cyber hackers. Several countries are now using digital interactions to launch attacks on individual companies as well as national infrastructures. The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the US Department of Homeland Security and the FBI recently warned that Russia is a… Continue reading State Actors pose a big threat

Reading Time: 2 minutesOfcom’s decision to open-up access to Openreach’s dormant unlit fibre should be a big boost for UK businesses. Communications providers who serve residential and small business customers already have access to this “dark fibre”. Now, bigger businesses will also have access to it which could cause a communications revolution for millions of customers and employees.… Continue reading Dark fibre’s set to make UK shine

Reading Time: 2 minutesThe UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has helped stop 658 attacks against UK organisations in 2019 – stark evidence that businesses need to be forever vigilant to defend against a persistent threat from cyber space. According to its third annual review, the NCSC has prevented 1,800 attacks since its inception in 2016. It’s also… Continue reading Be ready for cyber attacks

Reading Time: 2 minutesConcerns about 5G have caused some UK local authorities to ban the erection of new masts to support the new technology. Brighton and Hove City Council is one of the latest. Masts were due to be installed near Hove Park, but the council decided these would create “visual clutter” and damage the area’s character. Other… Continue reading Are 5G fears credible?

Reading Time: 2 minutesMany businesses are unaware that the 4G mobile connections they’re using aren’t always what they’re cracked up to be. This is because mobile network operators have been promoting Long Term Evolution (LTE) as a form of 4G, describing it as 4G LTE when LTE is actually significantly slower. Both 4G and LTE were officially classified… Continue reading 4G or not 4G?

Reading Time: < 1 minuteThe problem of fake news is now so serious it’s the target of a new initiative by leading media channels and technology providers.

Reading Time: 2 minutesA Government boost for the UK tech sector is recognition of how fundamentally important IT-related services are now for British businesses. The government’s Future Leaders Fellowships scheme will invest £78 million in 78 researchers to support their work on new scientific and technological discoveries. And a further £20 million will be allocated to University Enterprise… Continue reading Funding boosts vital tech sector

Reading Time: 2 minutesThe leak of millions of fingerprints and other personal data has posed serious questions about how secure current biometrics technology is. A tool used by many organisations worldwide to provide secure access to buildings has been proved to be insecure. Researchers working for the cyber-security firm VPNMentor discovered a massive leak of data on the… Continue reading Security fears over big data leak

Reading Time: 2 minutesBritain’s tech sector has received record amounts of foreign investment so far this year – and it’s broadening the range of IT services available to UK businesses and customers. According to a report compiled by Tech Nation and Dealroom, $6.7 billion was invested in the UK up to July. That’s two billion more than the… Continue reading Record boost for UK tech

Reading Time: 2 minutesTheft of copper cables continues to be a problem disrupting UK businesses and affecting people’s lives. One of the most recent, in Cambridgeshire, deprived thousands of people of their broadband connections. Openreach, which provides network connections for the UK’s internet service providers, says the thefts and associated vandalism caused two outages in two weeks. Around… Continue reading Broadband hit by copper crime

Reading Time: 2 minutesBritain’s now a top target for ransomware attacks so all organisations need to be much more vigilant. The UK has suffered a 195 per cent increase in such attacks this year, compared to a 59 per cent decrease in 2018. Meanwhile, total global malware detections actually fell in 2019 after a record-breaking 2018. According to… Continue reading Ransomware threat soars

Reading Time: 2 minutesBeware desk phones that enable hackers to listen in on your organisation – because there’s an old bug in many phones that could open doors to cyber criminals. New research from cyber security firm McAfee has identified that there’s still an old bug in Avaya handsets. Avaya’s the popular choice for many organisations of all… Continue reading Old bug could still bite

Reading Time: 2 minutesThe hefty £183m fine imposed on British Airways for losing half a million customers’ personal data shows Europe’s new data protection law has teeth. And if you don’t take care, it will bite you. BA is appealing against the fine – which amounts to 1.5 per cent of its annual turnover. But even if the… Continue reading Huge BA fine is scary warning

Reading Time: 2 minutesBusinesses are urged to start using the new Windows Hello service to make network access ultra-secure. It has been granted official certification by the authentication body FIDO and has just been launched to millions of customers worldwide. Hello uses facial recognition, fingerprint scanning and PIN numbers to verify access to your computer and the network… Continue reading Say Hello to safer network access

Reading Time: 2 minutesShould British companies adopt facial recognition technology to improve security, just when tougher legislation is being called for? As businesses attempt to make their digital presence safer – to avoid attacks from hackers and to protect customers – one of the key technologies being considered is now facing serious questions. The House of Commons’ Science… Continue reading Tighter law for facial recognition?

Reading Time: 2 minutesA worrying warning from Samsung has highlighted the potential threat of cyber-attacks on devices connected to the Internet of Things (IoT). The Korean technology giant has advised customers to perform regular security checks of its smart TVs to stay safe from viruses and other cyber threats. To carry out a check Samsung advises users to… Continue reading Samsung video stirs IoT fears

Reading Time: 2 minutes5G is being switched on by UK network operators – offering data transfer speeds of up to 20Gbps for mobile device users. EE launched first on 30 May and Vodafone will follow on 3 July. O2 also plans to launch this year. EE’s initially making 5G available in London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast, Birmingham and Manchester… Continue reading 5G switch-on starts

Reading Time: 2 minutesA big question mark remains about using Huawei’s 5G technology – despite the British government granting the company partial access to the UK’s mobile infrastructure. Outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May signed off on the agreement even before a full review of telecoms suppliers was completed. It means Huawei will be allowed to supply so-called “non-core”… Continue reading Huawei fears pose security dilemma

Reading Time: 2 minutesThe threat to data privacy from devices that use voice recognition to answer questions, play music and activate or monitor appliances is a growing problem for UK businesses. The threat has been discussed widely in the technology press in recent weeks due to a recent attempt in the US to deter companies like Amazon and… Continue reading Voice recognition data threat

Reading Time: 2 minutesThe frequency of cyber-attacks on British businesses is escalating at an alarming rate according to latest research. The research, commissioned by the internet service provider Beaming, shows businesses now receive, on average, one cyber-attack every minute. That’s double the rate in the first three months of 2018. The attacks originate from more than 400,000 unique… Continue reading Cyber threat to UK escalates

Reading Time: 2 minutesCompanies that use the web for sales and marketing need to beware the new copyright directive just agreed by the European Union which comes into force in two years’ time. The directive met a lot of resistance from a number of EU countries but now it’s approved, it will have a real impact on all… Continue reading Tough new EU copyright law

Reading Time: 2 minutesWindows 7 users need to wake up to the reality that the operating system will no longer be supported by Microsoft after mid-January 2020. That means your business won’t receive any security patches and your technology and network will be more exposed to cyber-attacks. It’s highly likely that many small-and-medium-sized businesses across Sussex still use… Continue reading Windows 7 support ends soon

Reading Time: 2 minutesOnly a small proportion of UK businesses have signed up to make digital tax returns – even though the first mandatory deadline is just a few months away. The UK Government’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) initiative went live on 1 April. It means that all UK companies will eventually have to submit their tax returns… Continue reading First digital tax deadline looms

Reading Time: 2 minutesCompanies can now take out insurance to protect their business against damage from a cyber-attack. While more businesses are taking out cyber insurance, many appear sceptical about whether it would cover all the risks from what’s a constantly-changing threat. A 2018 report by Ovum for FICO revealed a rise in the number of organisations taking… Continue reading Should you buy cyber insurance?

Reading Time: 2 minutesMale attitudes are still a significant barrier to women working in the UK’s technology industry. Recent research commissioned by Trainline reveals around 60 per cent of the 1,026 surveyed believe workplace culture is geared to support men more than women. More than 33 per cent of tech workers believe male attitudes have a negative effect… Continue reading Men hinder women’s tech careers

Reading Time: 2 minutesNew USB-C connections are becoming more widespread now but many businesses are still in the dark about why they’re so useful. They’re smaller than the well-known USB connectors we’ve all used for power supply and data transfer but they’re much more potent because the USB-C can support data-transfer speeds of up to 10 gigabits per… Continue reading USB-C supercharges data transfer

Reading Time: 2 minutesBusinesses still using Internet Explorer should face the fact that Microsoft does not want them to use it anymore. Microsoft’s worldwide lead for cyber security, Chris Jackson has gone on record to explain that IE is now not supported by new web standards. While many sites accessed via IE still work fine, “developers by and… Continue reading Stop using IE warns Microsoft

Reading Time: 2 minutesO2’s launching 5G services this year ahead of its rivals. However, will businesses in the South East benefit? The mobile network operator has said that Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh and London will be the first to launch – with other areas to follow in 2020. The actual roll-out date for these urban areas has not yet… Continue reading O2 to launch 5G this year

Reading Time: 2 minutesMaking sure all your company’s software is up-to-date is essential for the secure and efficient running of your business. However, proper “patch management” is often poorly practised by many organisations and for many it’s a foreign concept. While large corporations usually have sufficient resources to ensure the latest patches are applied to all systems and… Continue reading Good patch management’s vital

Reading Time: 2 minutesCould embedded microchips benefit employees and their companies? It is very reminiscent of Orwell’s classic, ‘1984’ and very Big Brother. In fact, companies are already testing out the idea. UK-based BioTeq has already given 150 of its people voluntary implants whilst Sweden’s Biohax is reported to be in discussions with several legal and financial institutions.… Continue reading Microchips for employees?

Reading Time: 2 minutesThe Microsoft Edge browser may soon be phased out in favour of one that uses the same building blocks as Google Chrome. Media reports speculate that Microsoft will soon be announcing a new browser built using the Chromium open-source project. The biggest issue for Edge has been compatibility. It simply doesn’t give web users the… Continue reading Microsoft edged out by Chrome

Reading Time: 2 minutesBritish companies are being warned to beware of the hidden threat from technology giant Huawei. The company created by a former engineer from the People’s Liberation Army, is renowned for supplying network infrastructure hardware for networks in the UK communications infrastructure. It also provides a broad range of other business and personal solutions and services,… Continue reading Huawei poses security threat

Reading Time: 2 minutesUK businesses need to be ever-vigilant about the threat of cyber attacks from Russian hackers. Recent attacks on government entities have been blamed on members of the ‘Fancy Bear’ group and the FBI has issued a wanted poster for seven men. All UK organisations need to take the threat seriously too, in order to avoid… Continue reading Russia wages cyber war

Reading Time: 2 minutesCommuters to London from the South Coast have further rail misery ahead and should consider working from home more. With planned improvements to the Brighton main line due to start next February, the likelihood of being late for that all-important face-to-face meeting with your boss is much more likely. Many companies already have the answer:… Continue reading Beat rail misery – stay at home

Reading Time: < 1 minuteOver 200 guests attended the Sussex Wildlife Trust Wilderness Wonder Charity Fundraising Ball at The Grand Hotel Brighton on Saturday 15th September 2018. It was hosted by the lovely Michaela Strachan who has been a television presenter for various shows including Springwatch, Countryfile and the Really Wild Show. The ball was helping to raise funds… Continue reading Sussex Wildlife Trust Ball