Summer habits could increase cyber risk to enterprise data

As flexible work arrangements expand over the summer months, cybersecurity experts are warning businesses about the risks associated with remote and ‘workation’ models, particularly when employees access corporate systems from unsecured environments. According to Andrius Buinovskis, Cybersecurity Expert at NordLayer - a provider of network security services for businesses - working from abroad or outside traditional office settings can increase the likelihood of data breaches if not properly managed. The main risks include use of unsecured public Wi-Fi, reduced vigilance against phishing scams, use of personal or unsecured devices, and exposure to foreign jurisdictions with weaker data protection regulations. Devices used outside the workplace are also more susceptible to loss or theft, further raising the threat of data exposure. Andrius recommends the following key measures to mitigate risk: • Strong network encryption — It secures data in transit, transforming it into an unreadable format and safeguarding it from potential attackers. • Multi-factor authentication — Access controls, like multi-factor authentication, make it more difficult for cybercriminals to access accounts with stolen credentials, adding a layer of protection. • Robust password policies — Hackers can easily target and compromise accounts protected by weak, reused, or easy-to-access passwords. Enforcing strict password management policies requiring unique, long, and complex passwords, and educating employees on how to store them securely, minimises the possibility of falling victim to cybercriminals. • Zero trust architecture — The constant verification process of all devices and users trying to access the network significantly reduces the possibility of a hacker successfully infiltrating the business. • Network segmentation — If a bad actor does manage to infiltrate the network, ensuring it's segmented helps to minimise the potential damage. Not granting all employees access to the whole network and limiting it to the parts essential for their work helps reduce the scope of the data an infiltrator can access. He also highlights the importance of centralised security and regular staff training on cyber hygiene, especially when using personal devices or accessing systems while travelling. “High observability into employee activity and centralised security are crucial for defending against remote work-related cyber threats,” he argues.

Xela Energy gains approval for Hursley solar project

Xela Energy (formerly Clean Energy Capital), a UK-based provider of private-wire renewable energy systems for data centres and industrial-scale power consumers, has received full planning permission for a 5MW solar farm that will supply renewable electricity directly to IBM’s Hursley campus near Winchester, England. The project is the first in the UK to connect a data centre to a dedicated solar installation via a private-wire arrangement. The solar farm will be built on agricultural land located close to the Hursley site and will provide traceable renewable energy directly to the IBM campus. By operating independently of the UK’s main electricity grid and without reliance on government subsidies, the project is intended to contribute to national decarbonisation targets, while also helping to reduce strain on grid infrastructure and improve overall energy security. Once operational, the facility is expected to generate nearly 5 million kWh of energy per year. Over its lifetime, this is estimated to reduce CO₂ emissions by 46,000 tonnes - equivalent to planting around 60,000 trees. In addition to powering IBM’s 27,000ft² data centre, which opened in 1977, the project includes landscaping features and dedicated areas to support Biodiversity Net Gain. Xela Energy, which has a growing pipeline of private-wire schemes, describes its approach as land-led rather than consultancy-led - focusing on securing sites near large energy consumers to provide fully funded, dedicated clean energy solutions. The company develops, builds, owns, and operates each installation directly, delivering "low-cost, traceable electricity" to its clients. “This project represents a major milestone in how large power users can decarbonise with certainty, speed, and integrity,” claims Alexander Goodall, founder and CEO of Xela Energy. “It’s a blueprint for how the UK can decarbonise its most energy-intensive industries at scale. If our energy is unsustainable, so is our existence. "That’s why Xela Energy exists: to make clean, cost-effective power available directly at the point of use without waiting for policy, grid reform, or subsidies. Projects like this show we don’t have to choose between economic growth and environmental responsibility, it’s possible to have both.” The Hursley installation is set to begin construction in the coming months. It comes at a time when data centre energy demand is increasing, driven by generative AI and other high-performance computing workloads.

'Construction’s digital lag risks derailing data centre boom'

As the UK accelerates investment in AI infrastructure - committing billions to 'AI Growth Zones' and sovereign compute capacity - a new white paper from integrated collaboration platform Revizto warns that delivery of the data centres required to power the UK’s digital transformation could fall short unless building methods evolve to keep pace with demand. This risk is underscored by the rapid growth of the UK data centre market, which is expected to more than double in value by 2030, growing at over 13% annually and contributing an additional £44 billion to the economy by 2035. However, to realise this economic potential, the UK must accelerate the delivery of modern digital infrastructure to meet sustained demand for AI. Currently, the UK construction sector is struggling to keep pace – putting both infrastructure delivery and the UK’s broader economic ambitions at risk. Revizto’s recent 2025 Digital Design & Construction Report reveals that, despite significant interest in AI across the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, & Operations (AECO) industry, technology adoption remains a critical barrier, with many UK project teams still relying on static, non-integrated tools like email, Excel and PDFs to manage complex and fast-moving projects. Revizto’s research with over 2000 industry leaders found that: · 63% of UK AECO professionals are closely following developments in AI and automation.· But for 25% of leaders, tech integration is their top business challenge – ranking above rising costs, talent shortages, and regulatory requirements.· Globally, over a quarter (26%) still rely on email, spreadsheets, and PDFs as their primary digital tools. The data points to a persistent reliance on non-integrated technology, despite increasing complexity in projects and tightening timeframes. This reliance is slowing delivery and increasing risk on data centre projects that demand precision, speed, and scale. To meet explosive demand, the digital infrastructure behind AI must be delivered faster and more efficiently. But, as Revizto’s new white paper, The Infrastructure Behind Innovation, shows, delivering at scale and pace brings intense challenges. Data centre construction demands complex coordination, massive datasets, strict regulatory compliance, high-stakes communication, and tight timeframes – with some projects now moving from concept to full design in as little as ten weeks. Arman Gukasyan, Founder and CEO of Revizto, comments, “The global data centre boom brings enormous promise, but also new levels of complexity, urgency, and risk. "The construction industry can’t keep pace with demand using static tools like Excel and PDFs. If the UK is serious about leading in AI, it must fundamentally shift how it delivers the physical infrastructure required for digital transformation.” To secure the UK’s position as a leader in AI and innovation, the AECO industry must rapidly embrace new technologies and collaborative approaches. By modernising methods and accelerating digital adoption, the sector can deliver the data centre capacity needed to unlock economic growth and ensure the UK remains at the forefront of the AI revolution.

Chatsworth launches new eConnect PDUs

Chatsworth Products (CPI), a US-based manufacturer of IT infrastructure equipment, has launched a new addition to its eConnect Power Distribution Unit (PDU) portfolio, introducing a QuadLock outlet design that the company says provides improved outlet compatibility and power reliability for high-density, high-performance data centres. The new eConnect PDUs with QuadLock outlets aim to support a range of infrastructure requirements, including AI- and GPU-based computing environments, as well as liquid-cooled systems. The units are designed to enhance adaptability, reduce operational risk, and streamline deployment by integrating four outlet types - C13, C15, C19, and C21 - within a single chassis. CPI’s new offering supports all four outlet types with built-in locking mechanisms, without the need for proprietary power cords. “With data centres facing rapid technological advancements, including the proliferation of GPU and AI workloads, infrastructure flexibility and power reliability are more critical than ever,” argues Ashish Moondra, Senior Director of Electronics and Software at CPI. “eConnect PDUs with QuadLock Outlets empower our customers to quickly adapt to changing equipment requirements without sacrificing performance or uptime.” Key features of the eConnect PDU with QuadLock Outlets include: • Four-outlet compatibility — One unit supports C13, C15, C19, and C21 outlet types, increasing equipment compatibility and reducing the need for multiple PDU models. • Secure locking mechanism — Each outlet includes integrated locking to prevent accidental disconnections, including in high-vibration or high-traffic environments. • High-power support — Systems can deliver up to 57.5kW per cabinet with 100A input capacity, supporting intensive workloads. • Colour-coded outlets — Aids in load balancing and troubleshooting by making outlet identification easier. • Flexible integration — Compatible with all six CPI eConnect PDU models - Basic, Metered, Monitored, Monitored Pro, Switched, and Switched Pro - and can be pre-installed into CPI cabinets for quicker deployment. The modular design is intended to reduce PDU redundancy, simplify inventory management, and support a scalable approach to data centre infrastructure. CPI also highlights the product’s contribution to sustainability goals by reducing waste through long-term compatibility and reusability. The new PDUs will be available from 7 July 2025 through CPI’s global network of distribution partners.

Reuters Events: Energy LIVE 2025!

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RETN upgrades Lithuanian network ring

RETN, an independent global network services provider, has announced the upgrade of its Lithuanian network ring connecting Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai, and Panevėžys. The upgrade enhances regional connectivity within Lithuania by extending high-capacity services across these cities, while maintaining Vilnius and Kaunas as key nodes on RETN’s international backbone linking the Baltics with major European hubs. Working in partnership with fibre provider Skaidula, and in response to customer demand, RETN deployed 100G DWDM transponders across key regional routes, complementing the existing Nx100G and Nx400G services in Vilnius and Kaunas. The upgraded segments now operate with 500G of installed capacity and are designed to scale to 1.2Tbps and beyond as demand grows. The upgraded ring improves access across the Baltic region and provides direct routes to border points with Latvia and Poland, with onward connectivity to Warsaw, Stockholm, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and other key locations. "As Lithuania continues to grow as a technology powerhouse, RETN is committed to providing fast, secure, and future-proof connectivity to meet the demands of the region's rapidly evolving IT sector,” comments Timur Pertenava, Commercial Director, Nordic & Baltic at RETN. “Our upgraded infrastructure is designed to support the growing needs of international carriers, cloud providers, and the thriving local unicorn ecosystem." This upgrade is part of a broader programme to expand RETN's IP and DWDM backbone across the region to support the growing traffic volumes from Lithuania's IT and data hosting sectors. For more from RETN, click here.

MP visits Datum's new Manchester data centre

Mike Kane MP, Member of Parliament for Wythenshawe and Sale East, and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Transport, recently visited UK data centre provider Datum Datacentres’ newly constructed MCR2 data centre in Manchester. Datum’s latest data centre is the first completed construction project in the £500 million regeneration plan for Wythenshawe. Mike toured the facility, learning about its role in shaping local regeneration and its contribution to supporting businesses across Manchester. Mike, who himself has lifelong ties to the area, expressed a keen interest in the impact MCR2 looks to have on the region and was keen to understand its role in driving local regeneration and supporting businesses throughout Manchester. Alongside fostering growth among its future tenants, the construction process emphasised the employment of local contractors wherever feasible. This strategy aimed to strengthen the local economy while reflecting the project's dedication to minimising environmental impact. Mike Kane MP comments, “It’s remarkable to see a project of this scale right at the heart of the community in Wythenshawe. This facility sets a new benchmark for sustainable, cutting-edge infrastructure while creating pathways to economic growth and wider opportunities for the region.” During a tour of the facility, Mike was shown how MCR2 demonstrates environmentally sustainable design. As part of the construction process, Datum conducted a carbon impact assessment and integrated sustainability measures, including the installation of efficient free cooling systems to minimise environmental impact, and the incorporation of heat exchange technology to support local community heating initiatives. The site’s backup generators run on environmentally-friendly Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) instead of red diesel. Additionally, the site has a design PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) of 1.25. Its data halls are built to accommodate a range of clients - from SMEs to large enterprises - offering flexible power density options and IT infrastructure support. The site also includes advanced security measures, including police-linked on-site facilities. Matt Edgley, COO at Datum Datacentres, notes, “We were delighted to welcome Mike Kane MP to MCR2 and showcase the culmination of this significant construction effort. The facility symbolises our commitment to revitalising Wythenshawe while bolstering Manchester’s growth as one of the UK’s premier tech hubs.” MCR2 hopes to play a pivotal role in driving regional economic growth and attracting enterprise activity to Manchester. Its completion represents an achievement in sustainable development and also seeks to open new opportunities for businesses across diverse industries. Jon Healy, Managing Director EMEA at Salute, says, "It has been a fantastic project to be involved in and it’s great to see the positive impact it will have on the region. This state-of-the-art and sustainable data centre provides the critical infrastructure needed to support the region’s continued growth." The official launch of MCR2 took place at the end of June and the site is now welcoming visitors who would like to tour the facility. For more from Datum Datacentres, click here.

Kioxia announces 245.76TB SSD for enterprise AI

Memory manufacturer Kioxia Europe has expanded its LC9 Series of enterprise solid-state drives (SSDs) with the launch of a 245.76TB model, available in both 2.5-inch and Enterprise and Datacentre Standard Form Factor (EDSFF) E3.L formats. According to the company, it is the first NVMe SSD of this capacity to be offered in these form factors. The new model adds to the previously announced 122.88TB SSD and is aimed at enterprise environments, particularly those handling generative AI workloads. These workloads require large-scale, high-speed storage with high energy efficiency to support training large language models (LLMs), creating embeddings and building vector databases used in retrieval-augmented generation (RAG). The LC9 Series is based on a 32-die stack of 2Tb BiCS FLASH QLC 3D flash memory, using Kioxia’s CBA (CMOS directly bonded to array) technology. This combination enables 8TB in a compact 154-ball grid array (BGA) package. The design leverages advancements in wafer processing, materials science, and wire bonding. The new drives are intended for use in data lakes and other large-scale data environments where high performance and storage density are essential. In such use cases, traditional hard disk drives (HDDs) can limit throughput and underutilise GPUs. By comparison, Kioxia says that each LC9 drive can deliver up to 245.76TB while reducing the need for multiple HDDs, lowering power consumption, improving cooling efficiency, and ultimately reducing total cost of ownership (TCO). Key specifications of the LC9 Series SSDs include: • Capacity up to 245.76TB in 2.5-inch and E3.L form factors • 122.88TB models also available in 2.5-inch and E3.S form factors • Designed to PCIe 5.0 (up to 128GT/s Gen5 single x4 or dual x2), NVMe 2.0, and NVMe-MI 1.2c specifications • Support for the Open Compute Project (OCP) Datacentre NVMe SSD specification v2.5 (partial compliance) • Flexible Data Placement (FDP) support to reduce write amplification and extend drive lifespan • Security options including SIE, SED, and FIPS SED • CNSA 2.0 signing algorithm, intended for future quantum security standards “We continue to drive innovation with the new Kioxia LC9 Series, providing cutting-edge technology that enables our data centre and hyperscaler customers to stay ahead,” claims Paul Rowan, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Kioxia Europe. “The 32-die stack of 2Tb BiCS FLASH QLC 3D flash memory, coupled with our innovative CBA technology and the E3.L form factor within the LC9 Series SSDs, address their unique requirements of generative AI applications for speed, scale, and efficiency.” The LC9 Series SSDs are currently sampling to select customers and will be showcased at the Future of Memory and Storage 2025 conference, taking place from 5 to 7 August in Santa Clara, USA. For more from Kioxia, click here.

'Have we learned anything from the CrowdStrike outage?'

On 19 July 2024, services and industries around the world ground to a halt. The cause? A defective rapid response content update. While widely known by security experts, the sheer impact of such an update was made painfully clear to the average person, affecting countless businesses and organisations in every sector. With airlines to healthcare, financial services to government being affected, the impacts on people were felt far and wide – with banking apps out of action and hospitals having to cancel non-urgent surgeries. Yet, a year on from the global IT outage, have businesses really learned anything? Recent outages for banks and major service providers would suggest otherwise. Although not every outage can be avoided, there are a few key things businesses should remember. Eileen Haggerty, Area Vice President, Product & Solutions at Netscout, gives her biggest takeaways from the outage and how organisations can avoid the same happening again: “If nothing else, businesses should ensure they have the visibility they need to pre-empt issues stemming from software updates. Realistically, they need complete round-the-clock monitoring of their networks and entire IT environment. "With this visibility - and by carrying out maintenance checks and regular updates - organisations can mitigate the risk of unexpected downtime and, in turn, prevent financial and reputational losses. “Securing a network and assuring consistent performance isn't just about deploying defences, it's about anticipating every move. That's why a best practice for IT teams includes conducting proactive synthetic tests which simulate real traffic, long before a single customer encounters a frustrating lag or a critical function fails. "Conducting these tests provides organisations with the vital foresight they need to anticipate issues before they even have a chance to materialise. This step, combined with proactive real-time traffic monitoring provides vital details necessary when facing a major industry outage, security incident, or a local corporate issue, enabling the appropriate response with evidence as fast as possible. “While outages like last year’s are a harsh lesson for businesses, they also present an invaluable learning opportunity. Truly resilient organisations will turn the disruption they experienced into a powerful data source and a blueprint for performance assurance and operational resilience. "This means leveraging advanced visibility tools to conduct deeply informative post-mortems. By building a rich, detailed repository of information from every previous incident, organisations aren’t just documenting history, they're establishing best practice policies and actively future-proofing their operations, ensuring they can anticipate and navigate any potential challenges before they become an issue for customers.” For more from Netscout, click here.

Cybersecurity teams pushing back against AI hype

Despite industry hype and pressure from business leaders to accelerate adoption, cybersecurity teams are reportedly taking a cautious approach to artificial intelligence (AI). This is according to a new survey from ISC2, a non-profit organisation that provides cybersecurity training and certifications. While AI is widely promoted as a game-changer for security operations, only a small proportion of practitioners have integrated these tools into their daily workflows, with many remaining hesitant due to concerns over privacy, oversight, and unintended risks. Many CISOs remain cautious about AI adoption, citing concerns around privacy, oversight, and the risks of moving too quickly. A recent survey of over 1,000 cybersecurity professionals found that just 30% of cybersecurity teams are currently using AI tools in their daily operations, while 42% are still evaluating their options. Only 10% said they have no plans to adopt AI at all. Adoption is most advanced in industrial sectors (38%), IT services (36%), and professional services (34%). Larger organisations with more than 10,000 employees are further ahead on the adoption curve, with 37% actively using AI tools. In contrast, smaller businesses - particularly those with fewer than 99 staff or between 500 and 2,499 employees - show the lowest uptake, with only 20% using AI. Among the smallest organisations, 23% say they have no plans to evaluate AI security tools at all. Andy Ward, SVP International at Absolute Security, comments, “The ISC2 research echoes what we’re hearing from CISOs globally. There’s real enthusiasm for the potential of AI in cybersecurity, but also a growing recognition that the risks are escalating just as fast. "Our research shows that over a third (34%) of CISOs have already banned certain AI tools like DeepSeek entirely, driven by fears of privacy breaches and loss of control. "AI offers huge promise to improve detection, speed up response times, and strengthen defences, but without robust strategies for cyber resilience and real-time visibility, organisations risk sleepwalking into deeper vulnerabilities. "As attackers leverage AI to reduce the gap between vulnerability and exploitation, our defences must evolve with equal urgency. Now is the time for security leaders to ensure their people, processes, and technologies are aligned, or risk being left dangerously exposed.” Arkadiy Ukolov, Co-Founder and CEO at Ulla Technology, adds, “It’s no surprise to see security professionals taking a measured, cautious approach to AI. While these tools bring undeniable efficiencies, privacy and control over sensitive data must come first. "Too many AI solutions today operate in ways that risk exposing confidential information through third-party platforms or unsecured systems. "For AI to be truly fit for purpose in cybersecurity, it must be built on privacy-first foundations, where data remains under the user’s control and is processed securely within an enclosed environment. Protecting sensitive information demands more than advanced tech alone, it requires ongoing staff awareness, training on AI use, and a robust infrastructure that doesn’t compromise security." Despite this caution, where AI has been implemented, the benefits are clear. 70% of those already using AI tools report positive impacts on their cybersecurity team’s overall effectiveness. Key areas of improvement include network monitoring and intrusion detection (60%), endpoint protection and response (56%), vulnerability management (50%), threat modelling (45%), and security testing (43%). Looking ahead, AI adoption is expected to have a mixed impact on hiring. Over half of cybersecurity professionals believe AI will reduce the need for entry-level roles by automating repetitive tasks. However, 31% anticipate that AI will create new opportunities for junior talent or demand new skill sets, helping to rebalance some of the projected reductions in headcount. Encouragingly, 44% said their hiring plans have not yet been affected, though the same proportion report that their organisations are actively reconsidering the skills and roles required to manage AI technologies.