2021 is quickly approaching and so are some major technological developments that will affect not only the way we live, but also the way businesses operate. From medical AI and tech solutions for working remotely, to ground-breaking transport shifts, read on to find out eight tech predictions for the upcoming year.  

Magento is an e-commerce platform built on open source technology. Its unique selling point is providing both small and big online businesses with a flexible shopping cart system, as well as control over the look, content, and functionality of their online store.

XR, also known as extended reality, is the umbrella term for all technology that combines the virtual and “real” world or creates a fully immersive experience. It is growing in popularity and innovative businesses are already finding plenty of ways to use it to their advantage. 

We all have our strengths and weaknesses. Not every business has an expert in-house IT department, but most successful businesses need high quality IT systems and processes. An IT consultant can help you with technical architecture and systems implementation through to quality assurance and data protection. Keep reading to find out how you can benefit from working with an expert. 

Phishing is a technique hackers use to achieve two goals: to obtain valuable information from their victim and/or to deliver and spread malware. In 2018, 92% of phishing emails were used to spread malware. Both companies and individuals are targeted by cybercriminals via emails designed to look like they came from a legitimate organisation, government agency, or bank. There are however ways of protecting yourself and your company from this type of fraud. 

Ransomware is still a serious threat to cyber security, costing companies and organisations over £120 million this year. The current climate creates new opportunities for ransomware attackers, including the fear surrounding COVID-19 and time pressures placed on health-care workers. This article will discuss all you need to know about the file-encrypting malicious software and how to mitigate its threat.

Business hosting is a service that allows individuals and organisations to make their websites accessible online. To publish your website on the World Wide Web, it should be hosted to maintain and protect it. To avoid security breaches and problems with your site's functionality, it is important to have an expert technical team on-hand to manage the hosting of your website. Hosting can be managed by an agency like Blue Frontier, or internally - depending on your resources and internal expertise. 

Cloud computing has revolutionised the way many businesses access and store their data. While many companies are advocates for the cloud, whether the healthcare industry can safely benefit from cloud solutions has been a topic of debate for many years. Find out how the NHS is keeping patient data secure on the cloud.

While many businesses have protective measures in place to manage security threats in ordinary circumstances, it is pertinent to consider how the current climate poses new challenges and opportunities for cyber-criminals and hackers, including the fear surrounding COVID-19 and the sudden increase in remote working.

Brandon Akal's security journey has taken him from rural South Africa via the mountains of Afghanistan to the south of England. Helping to set up a network in a desert was one challenge, but IT security throws up many different scenarios and thanks to his experience and knowledge, he has an opportunity to help businesses manage and protect their data.