Latest news with #CyberSecurityBill
Techday NZ
11 hours ago
- Business
- Techday NZ
Reality check: Lenovo's enterprise predictions for 2025 under the microscope
Organisations in Australia and New Zealand are accelerating their adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), data centre infrastructure, and sustainable practices while maintaining a strong focus on cybersecurity. This is according to a mid-year review of technology predictions originally made by Kumar Mitra, Managing Director and Regional General Manager, CAP & ANZ, Lenovo Infrastructure Solutions Group, for 2025. AI adoption and ROI The latest data reveals that AI investment in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) has increased fourfold over the year, outpacing the Asia-Pacific average of a 3.3-fold rise. However, despite this surge in spending, 58% of organisations in the region are still in the planning or evaluation stages of AI deployment. The primary barrier to further adoption is the challenge of demonstrating a clear return on investment (ROI). While generative AI accounts for 38% of AI spend in ANZ, most enterprises are opting for a strategic, long-term approach that aims to ensure measurable and sustainable outcomes from their investments. Cybersecurity focus The review confirms that cybersecurity has become a board-level topic driven by rising threat levels and stricter regulation. Implementation of new Australian laws, including mandatory reporting for ransomware payments and the establishment of a Cyber Incident Review Board, has re-emphasised the need for robust cyber defences. The ongoing 2023–2030 Cyber Security Strategy underpins cross-sector collaboration and targets increased resilience and faster incident response. Enterprises are responding by investing in layered defences and reinforcing governance to counter increasingly complex, AI-enabled attacks. "With the rise of high-profile data breaches in 2024, cybersecurity will remain a critical area of focus for businesses in Australia. Specifically, the spotlight will be on securing data, after Lenovo's 2024 Smarter Data Management Playbook found that data security was the number one priority among IT and business decision-makers. Increased government regulations, such as the Cyber Security Bill proposed in Australia, are pushing companies to enhance their security measures, while also holding them accountable for losses and damage resulting from security failures. This growing awareness is prompting businesses to invest more heavily in cybersecurity and data protection solutions, implementing stricter processes around accessing and securing data. As the volume of data continues to increase, due to growing demand in services such as artificial intelligence (AI), the challenge lies in maintaining a robust and cost-effective data infrastructure. It is essential that businesses begin building resilient ecosystems before regulations are enforced to avoid rushed implementations that increase the risk of vulnerabilities during transition. Lenovo helps businesses do this by providing a comprehensive range of cyber security services, from Security Assessments through to Managed Detection and Cyber Resiliency as-a-service." Sustainability drives infrastructure decisions Sustainability has become central to infrastructure strategy as energy consumption rises due to expanding AI workloads. Industry players are prioritising energy-efficient systems not only for compliance but as a lever for competitiveness and resilience. An example cited is Sharon AI's Supercluster – developed with Lenovo – which aims to be one of the nation's most energy-efficient AI deployments. Organisations are looking beyond compliance, considering the broader performance and competitive advantages associated with sustainable infrastructure. "As reliance on digital services and artificial intelligence (AI) grows, the energy demands of data centres across the APAC region are rising exponentially. Estimates suggest that AI will add 3 per cent to global electricity demands. In 2025, we will see increased scrutiny on businesses to act in an environmentally sustainable manner, with some markets introducing legislation imposing tighter restrictions on the disclosure of climate risks. For data centres, the challenge will be balancing the need for innovation and scalability with its carbon footprint. Governments and businesses alike will be focusing more on sustainable infrastructure, leveraging new advancements in energy-efficient cooling systems, virtualised server environments and sustainable building materials. For example, Lenovo is taking liquid cooling mainstream with its Neptune Liquid Cooling Ecosystem, enabling up to a 40% reduction in power consumption. We will also see more businesses explore sustainable energy sources, such as wind and solar energy, with 9 out of ten businesses already planning to boost their sustainability-focused IT investments." Hybrid and edge computing trends There is a continuation of the trend towards hybrid and multi-cloud AI infrastructure across the region. Forty-five percent of organisations in ANZ now favour on-premises or hybrid AI environments, with only 38% remaining reliant solely on public cloud. Edge computing is also experiencing increased uptake in industries such as mining, manufacturing, healthcare and retail, where real-time data processing at the source is essential. One application is Truis's use of Lenovo ThinkEdge servers to deploy in-store AI and analytics, aimed at optimising customer experiences and streamlining operations. Data centre growth Expansion in data centre infrastructure is expected to continue rapidly, with Australia already among the top five global data centre hubs by size. Current projections indicate 250 operational data centres with a need for roughly 175 additional facilities by 2030 to keep pace with demand, particularly for AI-driven services. Investment is being driven mainly by hyperscale providers and supported by governmental initiatives to fast-track approvals and establish innovation zones. "The data centre market in Australia has experienced significant expansion due to the rise of data consumption across the region. Forecasts predict that deployable data centre capacity in Australia will more than double by 2030, from 1,350 megawatts in 2024. A key focus for governments and enterprises will be balancing increasing energy demands and operational complexities with growing expectations for AI infrastructure, especially as the Australian government is aiming to achieve 82% renewable energy in electricity grids by 2030." AI verticalisation and agentic AI The verticalisation of large language models (LLMs), where they are tailored for specific sectors, is beginning to take hold in the region. More than half of APJ organisations are now fine-tuning and integrating models with their internal data instead of building from scratch, particularly in areas such as IT operations, software development, and cybersecurity. While broader deployment is expected later in the year, the initial adoption signals significant momentum. Agentic AI, defined as AI agents capable of independent action and decision-making, is moving from pilot projects to early deployment. Interest is strong, with 69% of ANZ executives prioritising agentic AI and 38% already testing solutions. Lenovo reports practical benefits including up to eight times faster content creation and a 50% improvement in customer service efficiency from its Hybrid AI Advantage with NVIDIA partnership. "Agentic AI, or AI agents, capable of independent action and decision-making, are set to make waves over the next year and drive not just personalisation, but complete individualisation. For the first time, AI is no longer just a generative knowledge base or chat interface. It is both reactive and proactive—a true partner. Gartner estimates that nearly 15% of day-to-day work decisions will be taken autonomously through agentic AI by 2028. AI agents will leverage local LLMs enabling real-time interaction with a user's personal knowledge base without relying on cloud processing. This offers enhanced data privacy, as all interactions remain locally stored on the device, and increased productivity, as the agent helps to automate and simplify a wide range of tasks, from document management, meeting summaries to content generation. We will also see the emergence of personal digital twins, which are clusters of agents that that capture many different aspects of our personalities and act on many different facets of need. For example, a digital twin might comprise a grocery buying agent, a language translation agent, a travel agent, etc. This cluster of agents become a digital twin when all of them work together, in sync with the individual's data and needs." Skills and future trends The ongoing growth in AI and digital technology continues to place pressure on skillsets, with 45% of Asia-Pacific enterprises reporting difficulty in recruiting AI talent. Investment in upskilling and internal training remains a challenge and an area of focus for organisations aiming to close the gap between ambitions and practical implementation.
Daily Mirror
03-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Urgent warning to take cyber attack threat 'very seriously' as Co-op and M&S hit
Cybersecurity experts warned retailers as criminals boasted of snatching the personal data of 20 million Co-op customers who signed up to the supermarket chain's membership card scheme Businesses have been urged to take the threat of further cyber attacks "very seriously" – after three household names were targeted in a week. Web security experts warned retailers as criminals boasted of snatching the personal data of 20 million Co-op customers. Toby Lewis of cybersecurity firm Darktrace said: " Ransomware attacks are inherently opportunistic, with many groups operating a sort of spray and pray approach, either directly or through the larger criminal ecosystem. It's a timely reminder for organisations to take the threat very seriously, and consider both their protections, but probably more importantly, their contingency planning for keeping their business running when the inevitable happens." Chaos at the Co-op comes amid an ongoing attack at M&S and attempts to tap into systems at posh department store Harrods. A group, calling itself DragonForce, said it was behind all three incidents, with members claiming the Co-op attack was far more serious than bosses had told the public. The retailer previously said it had had a "small impact" but later accepted that hackers "accessed data relating to a significant number of our current and past members." M&S was forced to shut down some of its systems after hackers launched a major ransomware attack almost two weeks ago. The store has suspended online orders and urged customers to shop in person this bank holiday weekend. All Harrods sites, including the flagship Knightsbridge store, have remained open and customers can continue to shop on the website. A spokesperson said: "We recently experienced attempts to gain unauthorised access to some of our systems. Our IT security team immediately took proactive steps to keep systems safe and as a result, we have restricted internet access at our sites today." An M&S spokesperson said: 'We've written to 4,000 customers to share the good news that we can fulfil their food orders to be collected in store. Unfortunately, a small proportion of orders cannot be fulfilled. We've made these customers aware, organised a refund and we are truly sorry.' Government sources say they have involved ransomware and there is no evidence of foreign state involvement. Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said firms must treat cyber security as an "absolute priority" - as the government is increasing its support for retailers. Mr McFadden will use a speech to the CyberUK conference in Manchester next week to highlight moves to "bolster our national defences" including the forthcoming Cyber Security Bill. He is expected to tell attendees: "These attacks need to be a wake-up call for every business in the UK." "In a world where the cybercriminals targeting us are relentless in their pursuit of profit - with attempts being made every hour of every day - companies must treat cyber security as an absolute priority. "We've watched in real-time the disruption these attacks have caused - including to working families going about their everyday lives. It serves as a powerful reminder that just as you would never leave your car or your house unlocked on your way to work. We have to treat our digital shop fronts the same way." The National Cyber Security Centre is working closely with companies affected by the attacks. A hacking group known as Scattered Spider is said to be behind the M&S attack, although this hasn't been confirmed. It remains unclear if the three attacks are linked. "We are ready to support you," Mr McFadden is expected to say. "The National Cyber Security Centre is standing ready to support businesses and provide advice, and guidance, on how to raise the cyber security bar."
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Britain to warn companies cyber security must be 'absolute priority'
The British government will next week warn all UK companies to treat cyber security as an "absolute priority" in the wake of attacks on retailers Marks & Spencer, the Co-op Group and Harrods . #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack Code of war: India and Pakistan take their battle to the (web)front Forex reserves show a pauperised Pakistan, a prospering India Pakistan conducts training launch of surface-to surface ballistic missile Cabinet office minister Pat McFadden on Friday led a briefing with national security officials and Richard Horne, the CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre , about support being provided to the affected retailers, his office said. It also said he will use a speech at next week's CyberUK conference in Manchester to say the recent attacks are a "wake up call" for all businesses. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo It said McFadden will highlight moves to "bolster our national defences" including new legislation - the Cyber Security Bill . He will say: "In a world where the cybercriminals targeting us are relentless in their pursuit of profit - with attempts being made every hour of every day - companies must treat cyber security as an absolute priority." Live Events The 141-year-old M&S, one of the best known names in British business, stopped taking clothing and home orders through its website and app on April 25 following problems with contactless pay and click and collect services over the Easter holiday weekend. It has not said when online orders will resume. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories Technology specialist site BleepingComputer, citing multiple sources, said a ransomware attack that encrypted M&S's servers was believed to have been conducted by a hacking collective known as "Scattered Spider". British companies, public bodies and institutions have been hit by a wave of cyberattacks in recent years, costing them tens of millions of pounds and often months of disruption.
The Star
02-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Britain to warn companies cyber security must be 'absolute priority'
FILE PHOTO: British MP Pat McFadden speaks on stage during Britain's Labour Party's annual conference in Liverpool, Britain, September 22, 2024. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja/File Minister LONDON (Reuters) -The British government will next week warn all UK companies to treat cyber security as an "absolute priority" in the wake of attacks on retailers Marks & Spencer, the Co-op Group and Harrods. Cabinet office minister Pat McFadden on Friday led a briefing with national security officials and Richard Horne, the CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre, about support being provided to the affected retailers, his office said. It also said he will use a speech at next week's CyberUK conference in Manchester to say the recent attacks are a "wake up call" for all businesses. It said McFadden will highlight moves to 'bolster our national defences' including new legislation - the Cyber Security Bill. He will say: 'In a world where the cybercriminals targeting us are relentless in their pursuit of profit - with attempts being made every hour of every day - companies must treat cyber security as an absolute priority." The 141-year-old M&S, one of the best known names in British business, stopped taking clothing and home orders through its website and app on April 25 following problems with contactless pay and click and collect services over the Easter holiday weekend. It has not said when online orders will resume. Technology specialist site BleepingComputer, citing multiple sources, said a ransomware attack that encrypted M&S's servers was believed to have been conducted by a hacking collective known as "Scattered Spider". British companies, public bodies and institutions have been hit by a wave of cyberattacks in recent years, costing them tens of millions of pounds and often months of disruption. (Reporting by James Davey; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
CNA
02-05-2025
- Business
- CNA
Britain to warn companies cyber security must be 'absolute priority'
LONDON :The British government will next week warn all UK companies to treat cyber security as an "absolute priority" in the wake of attacks on retailers Marks & Spencer, the Co-op Group and Harrods. Cabinet office minister Pat McFadden on Friday led a briefing with national security officials and Richard Horne, the CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre, about support being provided to the affected retailers, his office said. It also said he will use a speech at next week's CyberUK conference in Manchester to say the recent attacks are a "wake up call" for all businesses. It said McFadden will highlight moves to 'bolster our national defences' including new legislation - the Cyber Security Bill. He will say: 'In a world where the cybercriminals targeting us are relentless in their pursuit of profit - with attempts being made every hour of every day - companies must treat cyber security as an absolute priority." The 141-year-old M&S, one of the best known names in British business, stopped taking clothing and home orders through its website and app on April 25 following problems with contactless pay and click and collect services over the Easter holiday weekend. It has not said when online orders will resume. Technology specialist site BleepingComputer, citing multiple sources, said a ransomware attack that encrypted M&S's servers was believed to have been conducted by a hacking collective known as "Scattered Spider". British companies, public bodies and institutions have been hit by a wave of cyberattacks in recent years, costing them tens of millions of pounds and often months of disruption.
