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In this blog post we explore how SASE helps Housing Associations and Local Government Associations deliver more secure and agile working environments.

The direct cost, recovery cost and long-term cost of security breaches are growing year-on-year. According to the 2022 Cyber Security Breaches Survey, 39% of UK businesses identified a cyber security breach or attack with the average cost of a data breach being between £4,200 and £19,400.

A critical element to the longevity and survival of any business is that they adopt an all-encompassing cyber security and disaster recovery strategy. Advancements in technology mean that the world is becoming more digitised and, as this trend grows, cyber-crime grows alongside it. From customer service to communication and accounting, there is a heavy reliance on technology for many enterprise operations. From hosted desktops to cloud backup and virtualisation, software and computing has become integral for every business. But as companies have become savvier, so have the cyber-criminals looking for vulnerabilities – there have been instances where sophisticated hackers have been able to orchestrate attacks without disrupting a business’s day-to-day operations.

A worrying number of UK businesses still are not aware of the benefits of the Government-backed Cyber Essentials scheme. This is problematic as according to the 2022 Cyber Security Breaches Survey, 39% of UK businesses identified a cyber security breach or attack with the average cost of a data breach being between £4,200 and £19,400. This is particularly concerning since 56% of businesses hold personal data on customers in the cloud. However, there are methods that can be implemented to reduce the risk of data breaches. One such way is through being Cyber Essentials accredited.

Transforming the way Housing Associations communicate with people. Amid these testing times, housing associations are pooling resources, and maintaining a flow of clear and accurate information to their communities, stakeholders and staff. However, some organisations still use traditional contact centre and communication tools, which restrict staff working from home or remotely effectively. Increased inbound calls have also resulted in long wait times, impacting service delivery. 8x8 Cloud communications technology helps thinly-stretched organisations to ensure seamless business continuity while offering a blueprint for future business resilience and agility.

Wear it Pink 2023

In the classroom, technology is a double-edged sword. While it can never replace teaching, it can certainly enhance it. But on the other hand, if it isn’t reliable, it can be more of a hindrance than a help – causing everything from a minor distraction to the disruption of an entire lesson.

The beginning of the end for copper-based telephony: what it means for you This week marks the beginning of the end for a technology that has served us well but is increasingly no longer fit for purpose – the ‘stop sell’ of traditional copper telephone lines and the services that use them. From 5 September 2023, Openreach – the BT Group subsidiary that looks after the UK’s telephony infrastructure – will no longer sell new copper telephony services, as we move towards the full retirement of the copper lines in December 2027. This blog looks at what this means for your organisation and how you might prepare for the final switch-off.

In recent years, housing associations have come under increased scrutiny as key issues in tenant satisfaction surfaced by the Social Housing White Paper and Regulator of Social Housing (RSH).