12 Sep 2023

The rise of workplace AI policies


Policies around technology usage and data protection have been common in the workplace for a long time now. They are considered essential in a corporate environment to help ensure security of systems and data, as well as to promote suitable behaviours amongst employees. While policies such as IT usage, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) and Data Protection have been common for years now, the growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and especially generative AI, is resulting in the adoption of a new technology policy. The corporate AI policy. With the rapid growth of the technology, some organisations
08 Feb 2023

Migrating files and shared drives into SharePoint


Historically, electronic files have been stored on drives, in a hierarchical folder structure. This may be on a local desktop or laptop for individuals, but organisations have tended to use network drives. With the rise of cloud storage, the traditional drive approach is being replaced with online document management systems. Many organisations are making this switch, and the pandemic and new hybrid working model has accelerated this change. It’s much easier to work remotely and collaborate on a modern, cloud-based document management platform. SharePoint, Microsoft’s flagship document
14 Dec 2021

The dangers of Shadow IT


Shadow IT is the use of technology, such as cloud-based software, without the approval or oversight from the organisation’s IT department. Some examples of shadow IT include: Storing business data on a private Google account Using a personal account on an online survey platform to collect work-related data Saving sensitive work personal data on an unmonitored personal laptop Using a private Dropbox account to manage a spreadsheet of work contacts With the rise of online services in particular, more and more people have been able to use free or cheap tools to help with their work. These new
12 Oct 2020

What is Edge Computing?


The next wave of change in technology will involve more data crunching taking place closer to home, with the Internet of Things (IoT), 5G and innovations such as AI and self-driving cars. This move to process data closer to where it’s created or used is called Edge computing, and it’s going to become much more common. Over the last few years, we have seen cloud computing become the norm. A dwindling number of organisations run their email from an internal server, and most of us have become used to storing our data on cloud platforms such as OneDrive or Dropbox. Similarly, organisations are
08 Feb 2019

The impact on IT & Digital in a ‘no deal’ Brexit scenario


If there is a ‘no deal’ Brexit, what are the implications when working with IT and Digital? One of the first issues could be the effect on the workforce. If you or any of your team are EU nationals, the UK Government has committed to protecting rights, but EU nationals will need to register to do this. It could be that the workforce is affected as people choose to leave the UK, and EU applications for UK technology jobs dwindle. The full impact will remain to be seen. World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules mean that the sales and purchase of software and hardware in general shouldn’t face major
11 Apr 2018

Updating website privacy statements for the GDPR


Data Protection laws are undergoing a major upgrade when the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) supersedes the Data Protection Act on the 25th May 2018. These wide-ranging changes are impacting on a number of areas, and one of these is the website privacy statement. Websites have been displaying privacy statements for years, especially since infamous EU Cookie law came into force in 2012. They often take the form of a long page of detailed text. This privacy policy is then linked to on registration forms, website footers or the annoying cookie notification pop-ups some sites decided to
28 Feb 2017

Never mind the DPA, here's the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)


When the UK’s Data Protection Act came into force in 1998, the term ‘Data Protection’ entered our vocabulary as a representation of the legal rights individuals have over their personal data. Far fewer people understood the ins and outs, but the concept of data protection entered mass consciousness, just as the internet age was starting to roll. In May 2018, the legislation is being overhauled to meet the requirements of a much changed world, as the stricter General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into force. This represents a significant tightening of the rules, combined with much
09 Sep 2016

Privacy Shield replaces Safe Harbor


The 1995 EU Data Protection Directive was an important initiative, designed to protect an individual’s privacy and prescribe how information about individuals is stored and used. This resulted in similar Data Protection standards across the EU, including the Data Protection Act in the UK in 1998. With the rise of the internet, this legislation was timely. In order to ensure that personal data on EU citizens stored outside of the EU met the minimum standards required by the EU Data Protection Directive, any software used in the EU but based overseas had to demonstrate a similar level of
17 Sep 2014

Unions & cloud-based services


Cloud-based services have been growing in popularity over the last few years. These services are delivered online and are usually paid for on an ongoing basis, with flexible pricing depending on the needs of the user. This usually results in lower costs and lower risks, combined with reliable and well-built software. While some unions are already using these services, their popularity will grow over the next few years. One cloud-based service that a number of unions are already using is MailChimp. This web-based application allows unions to email their members and can handle a huge number of
23 Aug 2012

The EU Cookie Monster


You may have noticed over the past few months that some websites you’ve visited have asked for your permission to use ‘cookies’. Not to be confused with the American biscuit, a cookie is a small text file that websites use to store data on your computer. The reason behind these messages is a controversial European Union law which came into force in May. Cookies have been used since an early web browser called Netscape introduced them back in 1994. By allowing websites to store small amounts of data on your computer, services like online shopping baskets and personalised content can be created