My system is down - what do I do now?

In the last couple of weeks, a significant number of accountants, their clients and businesses will have been affected by “major outages” with cloud accounting software.

What does 2021 have in store for IT

There is no doubt 2020 saw some significant changes to working methods and practices and all the signs are that this will continue into 2021.

The rise of Amazon's web services division AWS

There’s more to Amazon than packages delivered to your door. David Prosser looks at how the rapid expansion of its web services division, AWS, has helped to take the US group to the brink of world domination.

Member case studies: Taking your practice to the cloud

Two ICAEW members share with us their experience of going digital and offer their tips for other firms in the process of doing the same.

We need to talk about cyber

Making sure your digital systems are secure is at the heart of risk mitigation, and it’s a conversation that needs to be held at board level, says Peter Lannon.

Big tech and the move to net zero carbon

Kirstin Gillon

24 July 2020: The world’s largest technology companies are making big moves to reduce their carbon emissions. ICAEW Tech Faculty’s Kirstin Gillon reviews the latest announcements and asks what other businesses can do to reduce their carbon footprint.

Cloud suppliers and their carbon footprint

As companies are increasingly looking to reduce their carbon footprint, they need to consider the impact of cloud computing on this.

COVID reveals the benefits of cloud working

Oliver Deacon May 2020

29 May: Businesses have been forced to adapt their ways of working almost overnight in light of the coronavirus lockdowns and those with cloud-based systems had a significant head start.

Data analytics software for business

The recent pace of technological changes and increasing volumes of data being dealt with, has created a need for finance professionals to be able to manipulate and analyse data to aid in-depth insights, improve financial reporting and ultimately facilitate better business decision making.

How should financial services respond to coronavirus and the cyber-security threats that come with it?

In 2002 the then US Secretary of Defence, Donald Rumsfeld claimed that when he looked to the future he saw two kinds of unforeseen event: the “known unknown” and the “unknown unknown”. Rumsfeld was lampooned for his statement at the time, but with the rise of COVID-19 and its knock on effects on IT systems across the world, many are coming face to face with the stark reality of this infamous truism.

Are (non-computer-based) viruses accelerating the rethinking of work and business?

As the threat of total lockdown and the prospects of needing to self-isolate as a precaution becomes an increasing likelihood, the ability to go “to the office” on a regular basis to work looks doubtful, (unless your office happens to be in your house).

Bring the broadband: can better connectivity level up Britain’s economy?

William Ham Bevan February 2020

25 February 2020: the government’s pledge to ensure every UK household and business has access to gigabit-capable broadband is ambitious, but could play a large part in its goal to “level up” the economy. How feasible are these plans, and what benefits could it bring UK PLC? William Ham Bevan investigates.

TSB IT fiasco a corporate governance failure

Laura Miller discovers the corporate governance failings that led to the TSB IT crash, which left customers locked out of online accounts and drew regulatory attention.

Behind the clouds: Getting the hang of cloud computing

Develop your awareness of cloud computing and its risks, with Peter Mandich’s introduction to the faculty’s new report for internal auditors.

Exploring CPU flaws Meltdown and Spectre

Almost every central processing unit is under threat from two flaws – Meltdown and Spectre. Leo Waldock explains what are they and why they are so dangerous, including tips for keeping them at bay.

Quantum computing

Gary Tinnams Business and Management July/August 2017

Gary Tinnams explores the world of quantum computing and how the efforts of IBM and Google might one day bear fruit. Enter the megacomputer.

Switch off switch on

Iain Coke looks at the pros and cons in financial services of ditching old IT systems for new ones