The annual Network Computing Awards were held on the 30th March at the De Vere Grand Connaught rooms in London, with former England Cricket Captain, Chris Cowdrey as MC for the evening. The cream of the IT industry was in attendance eagerly awaiting the results of the runners up and ultimate winners for each category. Read more
In recent years, the use of digital or electronic signatures has rapidly increased in an effort to streamline all types of business transactions. The eSignature can not only be used as an actual certifiable signature, just as we did with a pen, but can also be used to encrypt the contents of a document, thus making it accessible only to those whom the owner of the eSignature has granted permission. Furthermore, the protected document can be additionally controlled to ensure that the content cannot be changed.
There are two types of electronic signatures: those based on Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and those that are not. Digital signatures that do not use PKI cannot: offer a unique signature for each user; identify the signer (authentication); detect changes in the documentation after signing (non-repudiation); or offer a guarantee of sole control for the signer (non-repudiation). Read more
Big data refers to huge data sets that come about through the phenomenal growth being seen in the volume of information collected, produced, analysed, shared and stored by organisations. By analysing big data sets, valuable insights can be gained into how patterns of data are associated to enable better-informed decision-making, which can aid in competitiveness and drive innovation. According to Gartner, 48% of organisations had invested in big data capabilities in 2016.
Big data sets harness information from multiple sources such as databases, data warehouses, log and event files, security controls such as intrusion prevention systems and user-generated data from sources such as emails and social media posts. The information collected can be in either structured form, such as in the columns of a database, or unstructured, such as information contained in a word-processing document. Increasingly, data feeds are from devices – and transactions from devices – that make up the Internet of Things (IoT) and this looks set to increase dramatically. As well as this, an increasing number of organisations are looking to incorporate data feeds from physical security systems, such as building access control and smart building management systems. Read more
The way that we digitally share information has changed dramatically in recent years, thanks to the rapid evolution of cloud storage and increasing intelligence of smart phone technology. What each of these innovations has allowed is more mobility with our data, giving individuals access to vital files and documents from multiple devices almost anywhere in the world. This mobile nature of data allows us to be more efficient with how we share things, and access them, but it does also bring with it inherent risks in terms of digital security.
The legal sector, perhaps more than any other, regularly faces these risks, with firms not always capable of dealing with their data correctly. One common issue for legal firms that is routinely ignored is the ability for employees to access their personal accounts not just from their office machines, but also through a home computer, tablet, or phone. Although this may seem to be a more convenient way to operate, as it enables the team to continue working outside of office hours, the risks are very real. Read more
Data protection, wherever it resides, must form the core of companies’ security systems.
Encryption, in which information is converted from readable format into one that obscures its meaning from those without the authorisation or ability to decipher it, has long been used to protect sensitive information from prying eyes.
Data security as a pressing concern
