Issues: When the bottom line really matters
Thursday, April 11th, 2013At a time when the Government and public service bodies are under pressure to get the best value, manage budgets and maintain high service levels, Alex Campbell, Sales Director of eircom Business, explains why choosing the right mobile communications partner is more important than ever. eircom has delivered communication solutions and services to public service bodies for many years and is acutely aware of the challenges they face on a day-to-day basis. Managing costs is crucial and the ability to have a clear picture of expenditure is essential when making purchasing decisions. Following...[full story]
Technology: Future Perspectives: Dylan Collins
Monday, October 29th, 2012Gaming entrepreneur Dylan Collins discusses the flux in entertainment’s fastest growing sector and positives in the Irish economy with Stephen Dineen. “The one big thing that is really very notable,” Dylan Collins tells eolas, “is everybody plays games now. Certainly 15 years ago, there was a real stigma attached to playing games, and that simply does not exist.” Collins is Executive Chairman of Fight My Monster, which makes the same-named online game for 8-12 year old boys. He founded his first start-up, Phorest, during his college days in Trinity, when studying business...[full story]
Public sector, Reform, Technology: Next steps to the cloud
Friday, August 31st, 2012Cloud computing is not yet mature enough for use in government but the Public Service is preparing for its eventual implementation. Government strategies often declare themselves to be the last word in policy: the completion of a round of research, discussions and consultations. Not so with the cloud computing strategy which sees itself as part of a bigger conversation where the Government has no “monopoly on good ideas”. The implication is that the sector must continuously innovate and improve, as part of the drive to make Ireland a world leader in cloud computing. Suggestions...[full story]
Cyber security: Plans for an emergency response unit
Monday, May 28th, 2012As the number of cyber attacks increases, eolas outlines the Government’s plans to strengthen cyber security. The Government has moved to create a computer emergency response unit in order to protect state assets and infrastructure. The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources ran a tender last October for a consultant to work in this unit and organise structured exercises, manage incidents involving malicious software and share information about computer vulnerabilities. The tender was won by UCD’s Centre for Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Investigation. Communications...[full story]
Online privacy: Obama Administration’s regulation plans
Monday, May 28th, 2012US Government proposals should give consumers more protection for their online data. Social media regulation is not on the agenda. Internet firms will be fined for breaching users’ online privacy, as part of a White House drive to regulate personal data collection. The ‘consumer privacy bill of rights’ was launched on 23 February. However, the Obama Administration has no plans to regulate social media content. America’s global influence makes it the natural starting point for changing how the internet operates. However, those rules can only work effectively in Europe with the...[full story]
Mobile: Mobile working
Monday, May 28th, 2012eolas examines how mobile technology, including faster mobile broadband, smartphones and tablets, are all helping staff work outside the traditional office. Mobile technology is changing the way workplaces and employees operate with more work being done on-the-move. With faster broadband, the rise of social media and useful cloud apps for business (see pages 44 and 45), many employees believe that they can be more productive by working flexibly. In addition, more firms are trading with partners and customers overseas which often necessitates foreign travel or communicating across different...[full story]
Supporting the cloud: Government investment in cloud computing
Monday, May 28th, 2012Peter Cheney summarises the Government’s plans to support cloud computing, as it emerges as a promising economic sector. Action on developing Ireland’s cloud computing sector is accelerating after a year of intensive policy work in government. The Programme for Government pledged to make Ireland a leader in cloud computing through four specific actions: • promoting greater use of cloud computing in the public sector; • organising existing state supports for cloud computing into a package to promote Ireland as “a progressive place for IT investment”; • establishing an expert...[full story]
Cloud Computing: Security in the cloud
Monday, May 28th, 2012eolas examines typical cloud security concerns and the measures that the industry and regulators are taking to prevent breaches. While Irish companies may be embracing the cloud, security concerns remain. A PwC survey of 100 Irish chief information officers and IT directors in February found that 21 per cent were adopting a ‘wait and see’ approach towards moving to the cloud, with 32 per cent having only adopted a cloud strategy for non-critical systems. The key barrier to adopting the cloud was lack of confidence in security and data privacy (37 per cent), while a further 20 per...[full story]
Eircom's woes: Overview since privatisation
Monday, May 28th, 2012Financial problems beset a company central to the country’s telecommunications sector. Since Telecom Éireann was privatised in 1999, eircom has had a turbulent history. Once examinership ends on 11 June, the group will be wholly owned by its senior lenders. The company’s debts will be reduced from €4.1 billion to €2.35 billion, with a five year rescheduling of the company’s borrowings. One thousand voluntary redundancies are expected from a current total of 6,000 (full-time and part-time) staff. After the initial hype and rise of share price after the company was floated...[full story]
