Government launches electrical recycling campaign
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An electrical recycling campaign has been launched to urge the public to dispose of their waste appropriately.
Boxing Day (December 26th) saw the launch of a new campaign by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills to promote electrical recycling.
The body is urging people planning to throw away waste electrical and electronic equipment in the new year to take such items to their nearest recycling bank rather than put it in landfill.
It is estimated 1.3 million old gadgets such as kettles, cameras, MP3 players and coffee makers will be disposed of in 2012.
Business minister Mark Prisk stated: “Recycling is not only good for the environment, it’s safer too as harmful chemicals aren’t sent to landfill.”
He added that it also helps create and promote jobs growth as firms work towards a sustainable environment.
Meanwhile, recycling minister Lord Taylor of Holbeach commented that old electricals are packed with precious, rare minerals that are “worth a fortune if they are recycled properly”.
Woking, Swale Borough and Surrey Heath councils recently announced plans to introduce recycling banks in the districts alongside municipal services contractor Biffa.
Posted by Salma Davidson
Privacy ‘will become a key focus in 2012′
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It has been claimed internet users are to become more focused on maintaining their online privacy over the next year.
More and more companies and individuals may look to increase their data security in the forthcoming months, as one expert has predicted privacy is set to become a key issue.
According to internet psychologist Graham Jones, this next year will see a “backlash” against businesses that use geolocation and other tools to target potential customers.
He claimed 2012 “will be the year of privacy”, as an increasing number of individuals seek to keep their information out of the public domain.
“People are, at the moment, accepting the tentative steps being taken in mobile and online socialisation – but at heart, human beings are rather private,” Mr Jones commented.
The online specialist remarked how mobile technology will continue to increase, with “the rise of pad devices”, but attempts to market products through tracking browsing habits will be met with disdain by the public.
Computing lecturer at Goldsmiths, University of London Dr Mick Grierson recently commented how consumer electronics are set to become more interactive and boost social media in the next year.
Posted by Otto Greenberg
VoIP ‘can save firms money’
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Implementing VoIP can help reduce labour costs for businesses, it has been claimed.
Companies looking to reduce the costs of implementing data security may be interested to hear one expert’s comments about the benefits of Voice over IP (VoIP).
Author of VoIPWatch Andy Abramson explained how using the cloud can help businesses to save money, as well as boost functionality.
He claimed software such as VoIP is “far easier to update than hardware”, which means labour costs can be reduced.
It was suggested the cloud prevents IT or telecom managers from having to do as much as they used to.
“So, there’s a labour as well as operational cost benefit from VoIP,” Mr Abramson remarked.
According to the specialist, customers that use cable companies and who get their internet from large providers appear to be particularly keen to move to the cloud.
The comments come after computing lecturer at Goldsmiths, University of London Dr Mick Grierson recently stated portable internet devices are set to replace traditional desktop PCs.
Posted by James Rendall
Study finds 57% of IT professionals risk data breaches
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More than half of IT professionals admit to carrying unencrypted data storage devices.
A new study has revealed nearly one-third of IT professionals have put data security by admitting to losing portable storage devices.
Research carried out by iStorage found 57 per cent of individuals carry unencrypted sensitive information on USB sticks, optical media and portable hard drives.
This is despite 98.6 per cent of respondents claiming data loss is a growing concern for their companies.
The fact 32 per cent of IT professionals admit to losing devices containing confidential information was described as “disappointing and alarming” by managing director of iStorage John Michael.
He claimed respondents “should be setting a better example”, as they are putting both themselves and their organisations “at risk”.
It was suggested data security needs to be taken seriously by organisations, as breaches of confidential details is increasingly monitored by the Information Commissioner’s Office.
The news comes after senior security researcher at Kasperskey Lab David Emm recently reminded firms to consider the human element in corporate security precautions.
Posted by Salma Davidson
Data security ‘a key business focus for 2012′
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More and more companies will move away from using USB devices to store their data, as they consider better security alternatives, it has been claimed.
Data security is set to become a key focus for companies in 2012, according to one expert.
Managing director of KeepItSafe Eoin Blacklock predicted businesses will look at safer ways to store, secure, access and manage data, with virtualisation expected to lead the way.
“The act of storing data on USB sticks will slowly decrease in 2012 as businesses wake up to the risks associated with these devices,” he remarked.
It was noted that USB’s are inadequate storage options for many companies as they can easily end up lost or stolen.
Instead, the ever-expanding amount of data produced by firms will look to be housed in the cloud, which was described as a flexible, scalable and affordable option.
Director of OpusVL Stuart Mackintosh recently commented that businesses need to consider the type of information they are storing when deciding what backup system to use.
Posted by Salma Davidson
Backing-up data ‘is a must’
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Companies have been reminded of the implications of not backing-up data.
Backing up online business systems is important to ensure companies meet data security requirements.
This is according to director of OpusVL Stuart Mackintosh, who explained how storing confidential information is good for business survival and customer loyalty.
When deciding how to backup data, it was suggested an organisation needs to look at their performance, the capacity needed and calculate what it would cost if it lost its work.
This can help a firm to work out what methods are best for storage, as Mr Mackintosh claimed it is “rare” for a company to have a single business solution.
Commenting on two alternatives, the expert said: “Tape is an excellent and reliable but complex archival mechanism for data.”
Meanwhile, Mr Mackintosh noted Cloud storage “currently looks appealing to many businesses, but can cause more problems than it solves”.
Associate of the Centre for Cyber Security Mark Dampster recently commented how using the Cloud for backing-up data is the “way forward”.
Posted by James Rendell
Firms advised to consider smartphone data security
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Companies need to look into smartphone data security policies, according to one expert.
Data security for mobile devices needs to be considered by companies, as the trend for accessing information on smartphones continues to increase in popularity.
This is according to Plus Good Technology’s CTO Nicko van Someren, who explained in an interview with FT Connected Business how risks rise when employees access sensitive information outside of the office.
“When you allow that data to reach a mobile device that belongs to the end user rather than as issued by the company, you open up a whole stack of new risks,” he stated.
It was suggested businesses need to look at how they control information when it is accessed on a smartphone, with the introduction of security policies recommended.
Mr van Someren advised firms to consider whether the data can be exported to another application and uploaded to the cloud, adding that a monitoring system for this should be brought in.
Raj Samani, chief technology officer at McAfee Europe, Middle East and Africa, recently warned people about online security when using smartphones to access the web.
Posted by Otto Greenberg
WEEE recycling to be introduced by 3 councils
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Surrey Heath, Woking and Swale Borough councils are to introduce WEEE recycling.
Three local authorities are set to introduce waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) recycling.
Municipal services contractor Biffa has announced plans for the collection of small household items in Woking, Swale Borough and Surrey Heath districts.
Councillor Beryl Hunwicks, portfolio holder for waste and recycling at Woking, said: “WEEE is one of the fastest growing waste streams and we need to ensure it doesn’t go to landfill.”
She added this would be a “tremendous waste” of materials which could be “reused, recycled and remanufactured”.
Items that will be removed include kitchen, beauty and audio-visual items provided they are powered by mains electricity or batteries.
Officers at Woking Borough Council estimate the new service could see between 200 and 350 tonnes of WEEE collected annually.
UK law introduced the WEEE Directive in 2007 in a bid to reduce the amount of products being produced and discarded into landfill instead of recycled.
Posted by Christy Gallant
Tablet technology leading to ‘the death of PCs’
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It has been suggested few homes and businesses will use traditional PCs as tablet technology becomes increasingly popular.
Companies may need to re-think their data security as portable internet devices are said to be set to replace traditional desktop PCs.
Computing lecturer at Goldsmiths, University of London Dr Mick Grierson claimed more and more people are moving towards tablets.
“I don’t think desktops are necessary for the type of things that people want to do – downloading music watching films, sending emails, browsing the internet shopping – all that stuff,” he stated.
This move towards hand-held alternatives could lead to more employees taking their company devices home, which may cause security issues.
Dr Grierson noted the rise of tablets and smartphone technology has already begun to lead to PCs being phased out, with the trend only likely to continue.
The expert previously commented traditional desktops are likely to be replaced in the workplace as cloud computing expands.
He suggested businesses will see less need for a large server as they will be able to rent this form of service instead.
Posted by James Rendell
Scottish civil servants ‘lose 1 BlackBerry a fortnight’
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Research has revealed at least one smartphone containing sensitive information is lost by Scottish civil servants each fortnight.
New figures suggest Scottish civil servants are regularly putting data security at risk of being breached.
Every two weeks at least one BlackBerry smartphone containing sensitive information is lost, with 44 having been left or stolen in pubs, restaurants and trains in the past 21 months, according to the Scotsman.
In addition, five laptops, one desk-top computer and a USB device were also mislaid, as well as 20 security-cleared ID passes.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said the body “treats the loss or theft of items from its buildings very seriously and has robust security standards in place.”
“This includes encryption for removable IT devices to prevent unauthorised access to data,” the representative added.
Deputy leader of the Scottish Conservatives Jackson Carlaw claimed the findings pose considerable cause for concern, both for the loss of data and the financial implications.
The news comes after a recent report in CIO magazine revealed the Ministry of Defence lost almost 300 computers in the past 18 months.
Posted by Otto Greenberg