2025-05-09 - Organisations increasingly rely on cloud services like Microsoft Azure and Office 365 to enable seamless data sharing and collaboration. However, they must simultaneously enforce strict information governance and Data Loss Prevention (DLP) measures to protect sensitive information and comply with regulations such as the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the UK Data Protection Act 2018. This report examines the tension between usability and security in this context. We analyse how Microsoft’s suite of tools—including Microsoft Purview (encompassing compliance and governance solutions), Microsoft 365 DLP policies, Information Protection labelling, and Azure Active Directory Conditional Access—facilitate data governance and regulatory compliance. We highlight the trade-offs these measures introduce, noting how they enhance security and compliance at the potential cost of user convenience. Using peer-reviewed research and official Microsoft documentation, we discuss strategies to balance user productivity with robust security, ensuring that data governance is effective without unduly hindering organisational workflows.
Download PDF Copy Link Send via Email2025-05-08 - Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly evolved from theoretical constructs to a powerful, practical force driving innovation across diverse sectors. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of AI’s historical development, technical foundations, applications, and limitations. It explores the transition from symbolic reasoning and expert systems to modern machine learning and deep learning paradigms. Key concepts such as neural networks, supervised and reinforcement learning, model training, and AI infrastructure are explained, with visual diagrams to aid understanding. The paper also discusses the real-world impact of AI in IT, finance, and scientific research, highlighting its strengths in pattern recognition, big data analysis, automation, and forecasting. At the same time, critical limitations are examined, including lack of contextual understanding, data bias, interpretability issues, and overreliance risks. The conclusion offers guidance on when and how to responsibly apply AI, emphasising hybrid approaches and the need for human oversight in high-stakes settings. Overall, the work aims to equip readers with a grounded, nuanced understanding of AI as a transformative yet bounded technology.
Download PDF Copy Link Send via Email2025-05-07 - Recent enforcement actions by major email providers have shifted SPF, DKIM, and DMARC from recommended security measures to mandatory prerequisites for successful email delivery. At the same time, Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI) has introduced a new layer of visual trust, allowing authenticated senders to display verified brand logos in recipients’ inboxes. This paper outlines the strategic importance of DMARC and BIMI not only as defences against spoofing and phishing, but as essential components for maintaining sender reputation, ensuring message visibility, and supporting brand integrity in modern email ecosystems. Drawing on current enforcement trends by Microsoft, Google, and Yahoo, it provides practical recommendations for organisations seeking to align their email infrastructure with emerging security and deliverability standards.
Download PDF Copy Link Send via Email2025-04-29 - This paper examines the strategic evolution of Microsoft Windows in light of recent developments that blur the boundary between innovation and behavioral influence. As Windows 11 introduces artificial intelligence features, expanded telemetry, aggressive upgrade mechanisms, and subscription based services, questions arise about whether these changes serve users or exploit them. Through a structured analysis of technical advancements, behavioral retention strategies, and applicable legal frameworks, including the GDPR and EU Artificial Intelligence Act, the paper investigates whether Windows continues to evolve in the interest of user empowerment, or whether it is increasingly shaped by commercial imperatives that compromise autonomy and privacy. The findings suggest a dual trajectory: technical innovation remains present, but is increasingly accompanied by practices that prioritise monetisation and engagement over user-centric design.
Download PDF Copy Link Send via Email2025-04-28 - The growing demand for privacy-preserving solutions in indus- tries handling sensitive information, such as healthcare and finance, has accelerated the exploration of synthetic data generation. Synthetic data offers a promising approach by replicating the statistical properties of real datasets without exposing individual records. This paper discusses the potential of synthetic data to facilitate privacy protection, support data sharing, enhance AI model performance, and mitigate biases in real-world datasets. It further examines key generation methods, such as Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), while highlighting challenges related to fidelity, bias, and regulatory compliance. Although synthetic data remains in its early adoption phase, it has the potential to transform data-driven research and operational practices across high-risk sectors.
Download PDF Copy Link Send via Email2025-04-28 - The year 2024 was characterised by a marked increase in cybersecurity threats across Europe, notably impacting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) operating within the finance, gambling / gambling, and insurance sectors. This paper provides an overview of cybersecurity in Europe during 2024, focussing on SMEs operating within these sectors. Key case studies highlight vulnerabilities in SMEs resulting from insufficient governance, outdated infrastructure, and limited defensive capabilities. The introduction of rigorous regulatory frameworks, such as NIS2 and DORA, has established cybersecurity accountability at the executive and board levels, making cybersecurity not just a technical concern but an imperative for governance. Implementing a Zero Trust architecture, improving identity and access management, automating vulnerability management, providing frequent security training, and regularly testing incident response plans are critical actions that demonstrably improve cyber posture.
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