How difficult are simulations? Very! They never seem to really reflect reality but then I don’t think that is the point. I know this now having been involved in a cyber-simulation predicated on a sustained and organised attack on the ICT systems of a number of the Local Resilience Forum partners. It was held at the … Continue reading Gold event
TechArt
It is funny where life takes you if you let it. It is filled with little nooks and crannies down which you can wander. Inquisitiveness can be a blessing and a curse however. There is always something interesting to discover but there is never enough time to chase it all. My latest rich seam to … Continue reading TechArt
Guest lecturing
Guest lecturing is a first for me. It is something that I have been thinking about for some time yet the opportunities don’t always arise. I thought it was a way of giving back to society by helping more students to think about digital as a career. It is funny how these things work out. … Continue reading Guest lecturing
Forget about me
The right to be forgotten, as part of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), is exercising my mind. It's not really called that, it is actually called ‘The right to erasure’. The broad principle underpinning this right is to enable an individual to request the deletion or removal of personal data whether there is no … Continue reading Forget about me
Training Apprentices
How exciting I am now a director of an ATA, an Apprentice Training Agency. Service Direct Newco, a wholly owned subsidiary of the council has been awarded this status. It has been a long up-hill climb to get there but it offers us some important capabilities. My thanks must go to Cath, Steven and Lee … Continue reading Training Apprentices
Learn from play
Children learn from play. Hold the front page. Who could believe it? Whatever will they think of next? I heard it on the news so it must be true, yet anyone who has ever had children knows this to be self-evident. Children learn the social norms of interaction, collaboration and hierarchy through play. Anyone who … Continue reading Learn from play
A spoonful of humour
A man came up to me after the Socitm meeting. We had just broken for lunch but he clearly wanted to speak to me. I had claimed my seat and was walking back to the carvery when he approached. I had said hello already when he arrived, I try to welcome everyone who comes. I … Continue reading A spoonful of humour
Broader broadband
I'm not involved in the Digital Durham programme as much as I used to be, at least not in the direct provision of broadband. This is testament to the great work that the team is doing back at World Headquarters. They don't need me to poke my nose in. I was reminded at the board … Continue reading Broader broadband
A0
I've been trying to get our ICT strategy onto a page. A single page. It is proving to be quite difficult because of all the complexity and the enormous list of things we get involved in. I've tried words and I've tried pictures. I would really like it to be like an infographic, all modern … Continue reading A0
Cyber security
Cyber is not one of those things I write a lot about. It's not the easiest of things to build a tale around, yet it lies at the very heart of what we do as organisations. It is a hugely important subject and should occupy the mind of anyone who has a responsibility to lead an … Continue reading Cyber security
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 