The UK’s first national security operations centre (SOC) known as CymruSOC, has launched in Wales to protect the country’s local authorities and fire and rescue services from cyber-attacks.

SOC 

The Welsh government has announced that the new SOC service will be managed by Cardiff-based firm Socura, with the intention of ensuring key organisations can continue offering critical services without disruption due to cyber-attacks. Also, the SOC service is intended to safeguard the data of the majority of the Welsh population, as well as 60,000 employees across the public sector.

The Issue 

The Wales First Minister, Vaughan Gething, recently outlined the reasons behind the introduction of CymruSOC, saying that the pandemic showed how important the digital side of peoples’ lives has become. Also, the fact that it is now “central” to the way people in Wales learn, work, access public services, and conduct business i.e., there’s now a reliance on digital), has also led to a “stark increase in the risk of cyber-attacks which are becoming ever more common and sophisticated.”  

24/7 Monitoring 

The Socura SOC team will monitor for potential threats such as phishing and ransomware from its 24/7 remote SOC. Also, the Welsh government says that in conjunction with the National Cyber Security Centre, CymruSOC will share threat intelligence information to ensure they are aware of emerging risks.

‘Defend As One’ Approach 

First Minister Vaughan Gething has also highlighted how CymruSOC (this new national security operations centre), a first-of-its-kind solution with social partnership at its heart, will “take a ‘defend as one’ approach”. Mr Gething views CymruSOC as being “a vital part” of the Cyber Action Plan for Wales, which was launched only one year ago, and which Mr Gething describes as “making good progress to protect public services and strengthen cyber resilience and preparedness.” 

Incidents 

Recent incidents which may have helped speed along the setting up of SOC include a reported hack on the Welsh government’s iShare Connect portal earlier this year, and Harlech Community Council (North Wales) being scammed last November by online fraudsters to the tune of £9,000 (the equivalent of 10 per cent of its annual budget.

A Boost In Defences 

Andy Kays, the CEO of Cardiff-based firm Socura, which is managing CymruSOC, has noted that by sharing a SOC and threat intel across all Welsh local authorities, “even the smallest Welsh town will now have the expertise and defences of a large modern enterprise organisation.”

Also, Mr Kays highlighted the importance of boosting the cyber-defences of and protecting the data held by local councils by making the point that a local council is where people “register a birth, apply for schools, housing, and marriage licences” and it is this that makes them “a prized target for financially motivated cybercriminal groups as well as nation state actors seeking to cause disruption to critical infrastructure.” 

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

Considering the importance of public sector services such as fire and rescue, plus the fact that the wealth of data and sometimes outdated and underfunded systems of councils and other public sector institutions often make them a softer target for cyber criminals, this is a timely development for Wales. Also, for businesses operating within Wales, this development offers substantial benefits that extend well beyond the immediate protection of public services.

Firstly, the centralised security operations centre, managed by (private) Cardiff-based firm Socura, should help ensure that even the smallest of local councils can enjoy the cyber-defences typically reserved for large enterprises. This is not just a boost for the public sector but also fortifies the security landscape in which Welsh businesses operate. By boosting the cyber-defences of local authorities, businesses that interact with or rely on them for services can expect a more secure and reliable digital environment. This integration of robust cybersecurity measures means that businesses can operate with a greater assurance of continuity, (hopefully) free from the disruptions of potential cyber-attacks on critical public infrastructure.

The ‘defend as one’ approach advocated by CymruSOC emphasises collaborative security, which may be a crucial advantage for businesses. For example, the shared threat intelligence and resources may ensure that emerging cyber threats are identified and mitigated swiftly, not just within the public sector but potentially within the private sector as well.

Also, the focus on safeguarding data across public sector entities could indirectly benefit businesses. With public services handling sensitive information more securely, businesses interacting with these services or handling similar data can align their practices with these enhanced standards, thus improving their overall data protection strategies. This alignment not only helps in compliance with regulatory requirements but also builds trust with customers and partners who are increasingly concerned about data security.

The establishment of CymruSOC, therefore, appears to be a forward-thinking initiative that promises not just to fortify the digital framework of Wales’s public sector, but also for businesses and other entities that interact with them, all of which could help foster growth and innovation in Wales in an increasingly digital business landscape.

iPhone users can now use a version of Google’s “Circle to Search” thanks to Google Lens and iOS Shortcuts.

The “Circle to Search” gesture, launched in January (which Google Pixel phone users may already be familiar with) is where users can circle, highlight, scribble or tap any part of an image or text on the screen that they want to use Google search find out more about.

Now, a new Google app shortcut means that iPhone users can use the Action Button on the iPhone 15 Pro to quickly visually search anything on the screen via Google Lens. Although Google’s iOS app already offers a way to use Lens for visual search, this new shortcut makes it easier to start a search with just a simple gesture.

Warnings have been issued about a new audio call scam on WhatsApp targeting family and friends. The scam involves a fraudster, most likely using a fake profile picture and display name, making an unexpected call, impersonating a member of a WhatsApp group chat. The fraudster tells the victim they’re sending them a one-time passcode (OTP) to join a for group members and asks the victim to share the passcode with them in order to be registered for the call.

However, this is in fact an access code that will allow the scammer to register the victim’s WhatsApp to a new device, take over their account, and enable two-step verification so the victim is essentially locked out of their own WhatsApp account. The fraudster then messages people in the victim’s contacts asking for money.

Hundreds of complaints to Action Fraud have already been reported and the advice for those in large group chats on WhatsApp, is to be on their guard and monitor who joins the chats.

The world’s largest direct air capture (DAC) plant, dubbed ‘Mammoth’ (which can suck polluting carbon from the air to help tackle global warming) has started operating in Iceland.

Mammoth 

Started on the 28th June 2022 and now completed and operating, Mammoth was designed to remove 36,000 tons of carbon from the air per year – the equivalent of removing 7,800 cars petrol-fuelled cars from the road.

Its creators and operators, Climeworks, based in Switzerland, say it has been built for multi-megaton capacity in the 2030s, and should deliver gigaton capacity by 2050.

Global Warming and Climate Change 

Mammoth is designed to directly remove carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere for climate change mitigation and to meet global climate targets. The challenge, as regards to global warming and the resulting climate change, is that in order to keep the temperature at (or below) the maximum 1.5°C threshold increase, many believe that measures to reduce our carbon footprint are not enough and active removal of CO₂ already in the atmosphere is needed. Climeworks says “we need to extract billions of tons of CO₂ between now and 2050”. 

DAC 

Mammoth, Climeworks’s second carbon capture plant (which is the largest in the world), involves using a geothermal power plant to provide the energy for the facility that vacuum-filters CO₂ from the air.  The filtered CO₂ is then stored in containers (DAC+S), stacked on top of each other. Finally, the CO₂ is ‘injected’ with ‘Carbfix’ and is transported deep underground, where it mineralizes in geological formations.  Climeworks says this process of storing the captured carbon underground in mineral form can keep it locked up (and out of the atmosphere) for “more than 10,000 years”. 

DAC+S Different From CCS? 

Climeworks days whereas DAC+S removes CO₂ directly from ambient air, other technologies to remove carbon, such as carbon capture and storage (CCS), differs because it captures CO₂ from point sources of carbon dioxide (e.g., smokestacks of iron and steel factories) and then transports the captured CO₂ to a storage site, where it is sequestered.

Controversial 

Using DAC technology to remove carbon from the atmosphere as a way of tackling global warming, however, is a controversial subject. Some of the criticisms and debates around it include:

– DAC is expensive compared to other climate strategies like reforestation or industrial upgrades, raising concerns about the efficient use of limited financial resources.

– DAC is energy-intensive, requiring significant amounts of clean energy. If powered by non-renewable energy, it could negate its environmental benefits. In the case of Mammoth in Iceland, however, natural geothermal power is being used.

– Simply relying on DAC to save us might delay crucial direct emission reduction efforts due to the belief that technology alone can resolve climate change, a risk known as the “moral hazard.”

– Effectively scaling DAC to impact atmospheric CO₂ levels would demand extensive infrastructure and substantial investment, posing significant logistical challenges.

– The captured CO₂ must be securely stored to prevent leakage or used in ways that might still release it back into the atmosphere, thereby negating its effectiveness. Climeworks, however, describes its mineralisation and underground storage as a “permanent” solution.

– DAC requires significant resources, potentially conflicting with other essential needs like agriculture and water supply, raising concerns about equitable impact distribution.

– Deploying DAC responsibly and at scale requires robust policies and regulation to avoid potential negative environmental impacts and ensure effective climate mitigation.

– Some operators (not Climeworks it should be stressed) use the CO₂ captured using DAC to inject into oil fields to increase the pressure within the reservoir to help push more oil to the surface – known as Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). Some say this facilitates continued reliance on fossil fuels.

What Does This Mean For Your Organisation? 

The opening of the Mammoth DAC plant after 2 years of construction may be a milestone in the world of climate technology, reflecting both the innovation and the complexities inherent in modern environmental solutions. As the largest Direct Air Capture facility, set to remove 36,000 tons of CO₂ annually, this is a figure that represents a technological achievement and perhaps a call to industries and organisations worldwide to re-evaluate their environmental strategies. However, as the equivalent of removing 7,800 cars from the roads, this may not sound as though it can make a dent in the carbon problem, in the short term at least.

For any organisation, the potential of DAC technology to substantively reduce atmospheric CO₂ and help mitigate global warming can’t be ignored and is one battle-front in the war ahead. Although Mammoth may not be making a significant dent now, looking towards the future and aiming for gigaton removal by 2050, this technology could play much more of a part in future climate strategies. As such, this suggests a pathway for compliance with emerging environmental regulations and leadership in corporate sustainability.

However, the broader implications of DAC, particularly in terms of scalability and dependency, suggest a balanced approach is needed. While Mammoth operates on geothermal energy, making it relatively sustainable, DAC technology in general is energy intensive.

Also, the example of Mammoth should serve as a reminder of the importance of not solely relying on carbon capture to offset emissions. The ‘moral hazard’ of depending too heavily on technological fixes could detract from essential efforts to directly reduce emissions through renewable energy adoption, energy efficiency improvements, and sustainable operational practices. For businesses, this means integrating DAC as one element of a holistic environmental strategy while reducing emissions at the source.

This video-update explains how you can add ‘memory’ to ChatGPT to make your experience more personalised and useful …

Windows Security provides a comprehensive overview of your device’s health and security, including storage capacity, battery life, and apps and software that may affect your device’s performance. Here’s how to use it:

– Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security.

– Click on Device performance & health.

– Here, you can view a report detailing any issues with storage capacity, apps, battery life, and software that might impact system performance. If any issues are detected, Windows provides recommendations for resolving them.