5G switch-on starts

Network connection technology in the city, with 5g networking sign

Reading Time: 2 minutes 5G 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

Huawei fears pose security dilemma

Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur - May 29, 2019: Huawei logo on screen of Huawei Nova 3i. Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. is a Chinese multinational networking and telecommunications equipment and services

Reading Time: 2 minutes A 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

Voice recognition data threat

Smart speaker concept. AI speaker. Voice recognition.

Reading Time: 2 minutes The 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

Cyber threat to UK escalates

Computing and malware concept. Hacker using computer with digital business interface. Double exposure

Reading Time: 2 minutes The 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

Tough new EU copyright law

Reading Time: 2 minutes Companies 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

Windows 7 support ends soon

The end is near road and armageddon sign with a dark stormy cloud background as a warning symbol of a great disaster that will result in great distruction of the world and final extinction of man on the fragile planet.

Reading Time: 2 minutes Windows 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

First digital tax deadline looms

TAX Word with Computer Mouse on White Background

Reading Time: 2 minutes Only 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

Should you buy cyber insurance?

Enter Key with Umbrella and Insurance word on White Background

Reading Time: 2 minutes Companies 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?

Men hinder women’s tech careers

Students studying in super PC center

Reading Time: 2 minutes Male 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

USB-C supercharges data transfer

The cable usb type c it connection device close up image.

Reading Time: 2 minutes New 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

Stop using IE warns Microsoft

Alpharetta, Georgia USA - November 12, 2012: Angled shot of a Microsoft Windows 8 start screen.

Reading Time: 2 minutes Businesses 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

O2 to launch 5G this year

Creative background, male hand holding a phone with a 5G hologram on the background of the city. The concept of 5G network, high-speed mobile Internet, new generation networks. Copy space, Mixed media.

Reading Time: 2 minutes O2’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

Good patch management’s vital

Update concept on laptop, tablet and smartphone screen over gray table. All screen content is designed by me. Flat lay

Reading Time: 2 minutes Making 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

Microchips for employees?

cropped view of male hand with microchip and syringe for microchipping on table

Reading Time: 2 minutes Could 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?

Should you send emails out of hours?

Young man working late in bed on a laptop

Reading Time: 2 minutes Should you send work emails outside office hours and should you expect a swift response? With the development of versatile mobile technology, receiving an email from a manager or colleague at the weekend is much more likely because people are no longer tied to their office PC. Laptops and tablets used for work are commonplace… Continue reading Should you send emails out of hours?

Time’s up for Windows 7

Athens,Greece-January 22,2018.Image shows the building of Microsoft at Amaroussion Athens-Greece.

Reading Time: 2 minutes Time is running out for businesses in Sussex to make the move to Windows 7 as it reaches its End of Life phase. So, this is definitely the right time to move to Windows 10 because it will make working with business partners and customers so much easier. According to Netmarketshare, the new operating system… Continue reading Time’s up for Windows 7

‘Catfishing’ ID fraud is big problem

Woman pressing catfishing icon on touch screen. Social network and fake online dating concept.

Reading Time: 2 minutes Beware of people posing as someone else online – it’s a growing threat to individuals and businesses. The phenomenon has been known as ‘catfishing’ for the past few years. It’s when someone creates fake profiles on social media to trick people into thinking they’re somebody else. The term originates from a 2010 documentary about a… Continue reading ‘Catfishing’ ID fraud is big problem

Microsoft edged out by Chrome

Chiang Mai, Thailand - March 22, 2016: screen shot of Google Chrome application showing on Asus Zenfone 2 mobile phone. Google Chrome is a freeware web browser developed by Google

Reading Time: 2 minutes The 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

Invest more in cyber security

Finance and business concept. Investment graph and rows growth and of coins on table

Reading Time: 2 minutes There’s a lack of cyber security expertise and insufficient expenditure in many organisations which makes them more vulnerable to cyber-attacks. One of the most vulnerable in the UK is the National Health Service. Research by cyber security company Redscan indicates that many NHS trusts are unable to retain the necessary skills and expertise. The average… Continue reading Invest more in cyber security

Huawei poses security threat

Vilnius, Lithuania - August 8, 2017: Huawei Technologies company headquarter at the modern office building skyscraper in the business district of Vilnius, Lithuania.

Reading Time: 2 minutes British 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

Marriott hacking is stark warning

December 2, 2018 Los Angeles / CA / USA - Marriott hotel facade

Reading Time: 2 minutes The theft of up to 500 million customer records from the Marriott hotel group is a shocking reminder to everyone how vulnerable personal information is in the digital era. Many millions of people who have stayed at Marriott’s 6,700 properties in 129 countries will have unwittingly given hackers their names, dates of birth, phone numbers,… Continue reading Marriott hacking is stark warning

Simplification cures wi-fi headaches

Wireless connection wi-fi technology illustration

Reading Time: 2 minutes Wi-fi certification has been simplified in a bid to make it easier for everyone to understand what they are buying. The move by the Wi-Fi Alliance – which is the global standards body – drops the ‘802’ coding replacing it with Wi-Fi 4, 5 and 6. The numbers denote different throughput capabilities with the 5… Continue reading Simplification cures wi-fi headaches

New processors will boost productivity

Santa Clara, California, USA - March 29, 2018: Entrance of The Intel Museum in Silicon Valley. Intel is an American multinational corporation and technology company.

Reading Time: 2 minutes New desktop processors from Intel will ramp-up productivity for UK companies as they can handle a heavy workload, performing multiple tasks simultaneously. The 9th Gen Intel Core processors are aimed at mainstream users, not specialists and, at launch, there are three to choose from: the i9-9900K, i7-9700K and the i5-9600K. The flagship and most expensive… Continue reading New processors will boost productivity

Russia wages cyber war

Hacker in a dark hoody sitting in front of a notebook with digital russian flag and binary streams background cybersecurity concept

Reading Time: 2 minutes UK 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

Beat rail misery – stay at home

Woman working on laptop at office while talking on phone, backlit warm light

Reading Time: 2 minutes Commuters 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

Outsourcing IT makes business sense

Outsourcing 3d render concept with blue and white arrows flying upwards in a blue sky with clouds

Reading Time: 2 minutes Outsourcing IT can save businesses in the South East substantial sums of money every year and ensure technology and applications are always up-to-date. For small and medium-sized businesses in particular, there are a number of key advantages to moving IT to an external managed services provider (MSP). These companies are often less likely to have… Continue reading Outsourcing IT makes business sense

Chinese spy micro-chip danger

Computer Hacker

Reading Time: 2 minutes Be warned against buying hardware from China, it could be fitted with extra micro-chips designed to break into your organisation. The threat from technology built in China loomed large with the discovery of additional micro-processors on standard motherboards. It’s believed the problem affected around 30 US companies, including Amazon and Apple. The motherboards were also… Continue reading Chinese spy micro-chip danger

Whiskey could boost your businesses

Santa Clara, California, USA - March 29, 2018: Entrance of The Intel Museum in Silicon Valley. Intel is an American multinational corporation and technology company.

Reading Time: 2 minutes The new exotically code-named 8th-generation processors from Intel are now on the market offering faster connectivity and improved power saving. What Intel dubbed Whiskey Lake and Amber Lake during the development phase are now the generation U and Y-series chips. The chips have already been included in the latest devices available from equipment manufacturers. Gary… Continue reading Whiskey could boost your businesses

Sussex Wildlife Trust Ball

Reading Time: < 1 minute Over 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

BA data breach is stark reminder

New York City - 10 August 2017: Entrance to the British Airways airline terminal at JFK airport in New York City. British Airways sign at the airport against clouds and blue skies.

Reading Time: 2 minutes A massive breach of security at British Airways, which compromised 380,000 card payments, shows that organisations of all sizes are vulnerable to cyberattacks if their security is flawed. The theft of credit card numbers, expiry dates, street and email addresses and other personal data follows hot-on-the-heels of BA’s meltdown last year. BA’s chief executive said… Continue reading BA data breach is stark reminder

Cyber crime pays – so watch out

Payments System Hacking. Online Credit Cards Payment Security Concept. Hacker in Black Gloves Hacking the System.

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chilling new research reveals cyber criminals are outspending big businesses and posing an ever-increasing threat to UK companies. The survey commissioned by software company Carbon Black reveals that 92 per cent of all UK businesses have had their cyber defences breached within the past 12 months – and 82 per cent have experienced more attacks… Continue reading Cyber crime pays – so watch out

Smartphone addiction is security danger

Men dress up lifestyle hold smartphone screen shows the key in the Security online world. the display and technology advances in communications. The concept of advancement in living in the future.

Reading Time: 2 minutes A major security threat to UK companies is posed by our growing addiction to smartphones. A new Ofcom report shows that, on average, people check their phones every 12 minutes. This suggests they’re doing it while working – and not just in break times. In fact, a report last year from Office Team highlights that… Continue reading Smartphone addiction is security danger

Network threat from faxes

close up man use multi functional printer in office for work

Reading Time: 2 minutes Companies should be aware of the hidden security threat from fax machines which are an unlocked backdoor for criminals. New research from Check Point Security estimates that 300 million fax numbers are still in use. Using just a phone line, the researcher sent a fax that took full control over the printer that received it.… Continue reading Network threat from faxes

Microsoft’s DaaS plans leaked

LOS ANGELES, USA - AUGUST 26, 2017: Microsoft Theater in Downtown LA. It is a music and theatre arena that seats over 7000 people. Editorial.

Reading Time: 2 minutes Microsoft’s rumoured to be launching a new managed desktop service where customers lease a Windows 10 compatible device as well as its operating system. For some South East companies this could mean less headaches when they receive Windows 10 updates because the leased PC, laptop or tablet won’t be using any incompatible applications. In the… Continue reading Microsoft’s DaaS plans leaked

Moving to the country? Choose wisely

businessman drinking coffee and looking chart

Reading Time: 2 minutes Rural businesses across the South East could benefit from a slice of the additional £45m government funding that’s now available to speed-up their broadband connections. The money will be channelled through local authorities via the Rural Payments Agency’s Rural Broadband Infrastructure Scheme. It increases the total rural broadband funding from the government to £75m. This… Continue reading Moving to the country? Choose wisely

SEARCH SEVEN CHARITY GOLF DAY 2018

Reading Time: < 1 minute Search Seven swings back into action with their charity golf day on Thursday 30th August 2018. Search Seven turns seven in 2018 and is celebrating by launching an initiative to raise £17,000 to be shared across seven charities, with the Search Seven charity golf day being the second #share7 event this year, and it was… Continue reading SEARCH SEVEN CHARITY GOLF DAY 2018

Get ready to switch to VoIP soon

Communication support, call center and customer service help desk. VOIP headset on laptop computer keyboard.

Reading Time: 2 minutes The planned closure of ISDN and PSTN services by BT in 2025 means companies need to upgrade to IP-based voice services soon. For decades, the public switched telephone network was the only way to make voice calls. Then came the integrated services digital network (ISDN) which meant companies could lease their own private lines separate… Continue reading Get ready to switch to VoIP soon

Guard against hacktivist attacks

Shot from the Back to Hooded Hacker Breaking into Corporate Data Servers from His Underground Hideout. Place Has Dark Atmosphere, Multiple Displays, Cables Everywhere.

Reading Time: 2 minutes Companies need to protect their people and systems against hacktivism because it can compromise their networks. Worse still, it can be a cover for cyber criminals. The term hacktivism first emerged in the mid-1990s when hacking into computer systems was employed by some activists to express political or sociological beliefs. Famously, The Cult of the… Continue reading Guard against hacktivist attacks

IT skills shortage worsens

Reading Time: 2 minutes The scrapping of ICT courses at GCSE Level is set to exacerbate the skills shortage in IT departments and tech companies across the UK. The UK government’s decision was made back in November 2015 but only introduced in this current academic year. The decision was taken to get schools and colleges to concentrate on teaching… Continue reading IT skills shortage worsens

Rising seas threaten digital disaster

Reading Time: 2 minutes Rising sea levels could decimate fibre cabling, data centres and the internet in less than 15 years, according to alarming new research. Researchers at the universities of Oregon and Wisconsin-Madison in the US have concluded that, by 2033, more than 4,000 miles of underground fibre will be under water as global warming causes the sea… Continue reading Rising seas threaten digital disaster

UK lags behind on broadband

Reading Time: < 1 minute Britain’s slipping even further down the league table for broadband speeds according to recent research by the comparison website Cable. Cable’s analysis, conducted by research company M-Lab, was based on 163 million speed tests conducted globally. The tests showed that average UK broadband speeds used by homes and businesses have dropped to 18.57Mbps. This means… Continue reading UK lags behind on broadband

Growth of AI can help businesses

Reading Time: 2 minutes The use of artificial intelligence (AI) for a range of tasks is now a growing phenomenon that could bring real benefits to Sussex organisations. AI is typically shown in science fiction as robots with human characteristics. In reality, it represents various technologies that assist and amplify human capabilities. Well-known examples are chatbots which provide spoken… Continue reading Growth of AI can help businesses

Cyber social engineering – be vigilant

Reading Time: 2 minutes Social engineering scams are an ongoing threat to British businesses so it’s vital to keep reviewing your employee training and your IT security. A wide range of techniques have the same underlying technique establishing trust to carry out a deception. Such criminal behaviour is as old as the hills but it’s now even more effective… Continue reading Cyber social engineering – be vigilant

Help to stop E-waste nightmare

Reading Time: 2 minutes UK businesses need to make sure their IT equipment is easy to recycle to help reduce the world’s rapidly growing ‘e-waste’ mountain. There’s growing concern about the effect e-waste is having on the environment and our health. And governments and international organisations are taking steps that could mean your company is fined for failing to… Continue reading Help to stop E-waste nightmare

Great golf day scores another big total

Reading Time: 2 minutes A charity golf day, organised by CNC and Bennet Griffin, has raised £2,440 for the St Barnabas House Hospice. Sixty-four players, including guests of the two businesses, gathered for the annual event on Friday 29th June and were supported throughout the day by six helpers. Once again, the event raised essential funds for a charity… Continue reading Great golf day scores another big total

UK firms not ready for IT failures

Reading Time: 2 minutes Many UK businesses just aren’t prepared for IT outages reveals recent research. Research from Veritas Technologies showed that three quarters of 1,200 firms surveyed had not fully evaluated the cost of disruption to cloud services. In addition, 412 organisations questioned by IRN Research admitted that a power failure would quickly cause problems for their IT.… Continue reading UK firms not ready for IT failures

Data breach haunts Uber in Brighton

Reading Time: 2 minutes A data breach that occurred two years ago has now cost Uber its licence to operate a taxi-hailing service in Brighton. It’s a perfect example of how important it is to ensure data security is robust ensuring loss of business and even terminal damage to your company is avoided. Uber’s data breach comprised a leak… Continue reading Data breach haunts Uber in Brighton

Guard against Russian cyber threat

Reading Time: 2 minutes The threat of cyber-attacks supported by the Russian state is looming larger than ever. All UK organisations, therefore, need to be on their guard and to make sure their security is watertight. Official law enforcement agencies and cyber security specialists have alerted governments and private companies worldwide about an ongoing hacking campaign thought to be… Continue reading Guard against Russian cyber threat

New wi-fi standard will boost security

Reading Time: 2 minutes The launch of a new security standard for wi-fi connectivity will make remote access much safer. Version three of Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA3) follows research that found vulnerabilities in WPA2 – particularly in open wi-fi zones such as coffee shops, airports and hotels. Researchers discovered that the four-way security ‘handshake’ which ensures a correct password… Continue reading New wi-fi standard will boost security

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