Back in December 2020 I wrote a blog where I asked “Where is my flying car” and then a few days later I wrote a sequel as there was an announcement of a flying car for sale. Here are the links to those articles:
Where’s my flying car? – Octagon Technology
Where’s my flying car? The Sequel – Octagon Technology
Now there is news that the 1960s dream of a flying car is really near (well almost). A flying car in Slovakia has been used on the road, has flown between two cities and it looks great, just like we used to dream a flying should look like.
Linus Tech Tips – See the flying car…
Hyundai are also getting in on the act – with their boss predicting flying cars within a decade – but of course I have heard that before.
Flying cars will be in cities within a decade, says Hyundai boss (msn.com)
Do I think I will ever get my flying – well no not now. But look at the other technology we do have.
The “work from home” order during the pandemic was a non-event for Octagon as we had already embraced that idea in our working practices – so for us it was business as usual. Two things have enabled us to work efficiently from anywhere – one was we trust our team and the other was Microsoft 365 for Business.
But Microsoft only answered the efficiency question – we needed it to be secure and compliant as well.
Microsoft addressed security and compliance with, among other things:
- Secure logins using MFA and then authorisation of access based on roles
- Log auditing that can report on all activity by users across the platform (I have used this in several cyber investigations and have been pleasantly surprised as to the details it can report on – the culprits were less pleased about the details!)
However, we wanted more, and we felt our clients also should have more. So, we add:
- Microsoft 365 for Business platform back-up which exceeds the requirements for back-up set out by the National Cyber Security Centre
- Remote monitoring and management software that reports to us centrally if endpoints are not patched and updated (and we can force the updates if required), use an unauthorised USB drive and a raft of other security reports we feel are important.
- A really secure method for our engineers to connect to our clients’ computers to carry out IT support
- An exceptional anti-virus and anti-malware suite that also works with your web browsers and email and defends against ransomware
- An extended protection package for Microsoft 365 applications which includes anti-phishing technology
- Frameworks and tools to address risk assessment, security strategies and vulnerabilities including ransomware
- Friendly staff training on a range of cyber security issues, now delivered by Teams so the maximum number of your people can easily attend – and we record it so anyone can catch up including your new starters
- …and ofcourse set-up by our experienced IT support team who are available to help you when you need it.
On top of all that, I still quite like the idea of a flying car…
Clive
Clive is the CIO at Octagon Technology with special responsibility for data privacy and security. The world of business technology is constantly changing and to meet this challenge he recently graduated from Edinburgh Napier University with an MSc in Advanced Computer Security and Digital Forensics. His dissertation was on data privacy in small businesses using Microsoft 365 for business.
The degree is not the end of the studying – to keep current Clive spends some of his time at work simply reading and studying the latest technology trends and threats so our clients can benefit from this knowledge. This knowledge also shapes and supports the products and services our people deliver to the clients.
To fully use Clive’s new Master’s degree in Computer Security, Clive and Diana have a joint venture with an international research company to get access for our clients to up to date information, schemas, analytics, templates, actionable tools and guidance. Whatever the size of your organisation if you are not approaching IT, security and privacy in a way that supports and benefits you, they can help, from the boardroom to the shop floor.
