Ian Barker

Sustainable Concept - Sustainability Business

Businesses are interested in using AI to hit sustainability goals

A new report shows 76 percent of companies across Asia, Europe and the Middle East are intrigued by the potential of digital technologies, including AI and cloud computing, in driving sustainable development.

But the study from Alibaba Cloud also reveals that 59 percent of businesses acknowledge a gap in understanding how digital technology can assist in achieving sustainability goals.

By Ian Barker -
Shadow artificial intelligence

The risks and rewards of shadow AI [Q&A]

As with other forms of 'off the books' shadow tech, used by employees without company approval, shadow AI is a double-edged sword.

Cyberhaven Labs recently reported a sharp 485 percent increase in corporate data flowing to AI systems, with much of it going to risky shadow AI apps.

By Ian Barker -
Manufacturing AI

Manufacturing firms worry their data isn't suitable for AI

A new study finds that 92 percent of those surveyed in the manufacturing industry say AI is a top C-Suite priority and the same percentage agree it provides a competitive advantage.

But the report from Riverbed also shows that 69 percent are concerned about the suitability of their organization's data for AI usage, and only 42 percent rated their data as excellent for completeness and accuracy. It's notable too that 42 percent say their data quality is a barrier to further AI investment.

By Ian Barker -
Artificial intelligence

How businesses are adapting to the challenges of AI [Q&A]

A recent survey found that only 37 percent of businesses are prepared for AI. This means they risk being left behind as competitors embrace the technology.

We spoke to Richard Tworek, CTO at Riverbed about how organizations can embrace AI and how they can succeed in today's rapidly evolving landscape.

By Ian Barker -
Compliance rule law and regulation graphic interface for business quality policy

Complex regulations and sophisticated cyber risks worry compliance professionals

New research from governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) specialist MetricStream, in collaboration with GRC Report, looks at risk practitioners' priorities for 2025.

Navigating the complex regulatory landscape is among their top challenges this year, named by 51 percent, with new guidelines, evolving requirements, and unexpected policy shifts occurring almost weekly.

By Ian Barker -
Tax scam

Cybercriminals try to cash in with sophisticated tax scams

It's that time again, as we approach the end of the tax year scammers are seeking to cash in with a raft of phishing emails, deepfake phone calls, and fake tax prep websites.

New research from McAfee shows 23 percent of Americans say they or someone they know has lost money to a tax scam and 61 percent of victims have lost more than $1,000.

By Ian Barker -
AI training

Leaders confident about AI training while employees struggle

A new report reveals a growing disconnect between leaders and employees in their perceptions of their AI preparedness.

Corndel's 2025 Workplace Training Report finds HR leaders are confident about their organization's AI readiness, with 88 percent confident in leadership's ability to guide AI adoption and 60 percent very confident that training programs are equipping employees with the necessary skills for digital transformation.

By Ian Barker -
Ransomware money

Ransomware attacks up 30 percent driven by AI and RaaS

The latest threat report from Deep Instinct shows ransomware attacks increasing by 30 percent, driven by AI-powered phishing and Ransomware-as-a-Service offerings.

The findings reveal that AI-generated phishing campaigns have grown in efficacy with advancements in reconnaissance and video and voice generation tools.

By Ian Barker -
Retirement clock

IT faces a demographic timebomb as older employees approach retirement

A new report shows that more senior employees are bearing a heavy burden, with IT professionals who have more than 10 years of experience and the Baby Boomer generation experiencing the longest work weeks.

The study from Auvik also shows a generational disparity in the workload is rapidly exacerbating issues around burnout, since as many as 10,000 Baby Boomers will turn 65 and retire every single day between now and 2030, leaving even more work for remaining IT employees.

By Ian Barker -
Fraud Scam Phishing Caution Deception Concept

Growth in fraud leads businesses to ramp up prevention efforts

Businesses could be forfeiting up to five percent or more of their revenue to fraud, considering the hidden costs of operational inefficiencies, compliance penalties and customer attrition, according to a new report.

Based on responses from almost 600 decision-makers and strategic leaders across financial services, fintech, payments, eCommerce and iGaming, the study from fraud prevention and compliance specialist SEON, finds budget allocations indicate that 86 percent of companies are spending over three percent of revenues on anti-fraud measures.

By Ian Barker -
Email attack security

Non-profit sector sees increasing wave of email attacks

Advanced email attacks on non-profit organizations have surged 35 percent year-on-year according to a new report from Abnormal Security.

Credential phishing attacks on non-profit organizations have escalated by 50.4 percent over the past year too. By stealing login credentials, cybercriminals gain access to internal communications, donor databases, and financial records, allowing them to launch further attacks or sell sensitive information on the dark web.

By Ian Barker -
Cybersecurity investment money

Why unlocking the full potential of your cybersecurity investment isn't just about the tech [Q&A]

For enterprises, making the right cyber security investment isn't just about selecting the most advanced technology. To truly get the best return, decision-makers must also consider the strategic and financial aspects of their choices.

We spoke to Ben Vaughan, chief commercial officer at Bridewell, to discuss how by engaging with the right teams, businesses can ensure their security solutions are not only technically sound but also aligned with their long-term financial goals and sustainable growth.

By Ian Barker -
Data cash balance

Enterprises struggle to balance data retention costs with compliance

A new survey of 300 IT and security professionals, commissioned by Red Canary and conducted by Censuswide, finds that just 35 percent of data stored in legacy SIEMs delivers tangible value for threat detection.

In addition, only 13 percent of organizations separate out low value data for cheaper storage in a raw data repository. Due to SIEM storage costs, 68 percent of IT security decision makers say they discard low value data and have to hope they won't regret it.

By Ian Barker -
Industrial control system

Over half of organizations experience incidents involving industrial control or operational tech

Over the past year, more than 50 percent of organizations have experienced at least one security incident involving ICS/OT systems. Among the top vulnerabilities exploited are internet-accessible devices (33 percent) and transient devices (27 percent), often used to bypass traditional defenses.

A new report from the SANS Institute, in partnership with OPSWAT, shows that while 55 percent of organizations reported increased ICS/OT cybersecurity budgets over the past two years, much of that investment remains heavily skewed toward technology, with limited focus on operational resilience.

By Ian Barker -
AI robot security

78 percent of CISOs say AI-powered threats have a significant impact

New research from Darktrace finds that 78 percent of CISOs say that AI-powered threats are having a significant impact on their organizations, a five percent increase from 2024.

There's more confidence about dealing with them though, more than 60 percent now say that they are adequately prepared to defend against these threats, an increase of nearly 15 percent year-on-year.

By Ian Barker -
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