Hi there,

You could almost feel sorry for Google.

The tech giant, along with others of its ilk, is drawing the ire of regulatory bodies around the world, possibly nowhere more so than Australia, where the ACCC isn’t afraid of baring its teeth – even if it’s yet to draw any blood other than Google's brickbat threat to shut up shop.

But the ACCC’s interim report into digital advertising services (not to mention Google’s A$4.8 billion local revenue) might remove any trace of sympathy, even for the non-publishers and non-advertisers amongst us. The ACCC is rightly concerned about Google’s market dominance, conflicts of interest and (alleged) self-preferencing and is actively exploring avenues for enforcement, mirroring actions last year from the US Department of Justice.

And they’re issues that have direct ramifications for businesses across Australia, with the ACCC’s Rod Sims in no doubt that digital advertising rates are being artificially inflated.

It's a scrap that we will be watching with interest.

In other news this week:

The friendly idiot factor in Australia’s growing data breaches
Accenture's Fjord Trends suggests opening your tech war chest
NZX taken to task on IT capability after DDoS fail
Virtual healthcare disruptor gets cash injection

When it comes to proving IT capability the Proof of Concept is a well worn path for many risk-averse organisations. Integration specialists Adaptiv have a different view, suggesting the PoC is a flawed approach to proving the value of tech innovation. If you really want to realise genuine production value – and drive down TCO – you could do worse than heed some of their advice.

Lastly, we have a favour to ask. Please complete our readership survey and help us serve you better. It includes an opportunity to pay forward a little kindness. (Note that if you tried earlier and suffered navigation issues, our form provider has now fixed the problem.)

Enjoy the read,

Heather Wright
Editor
editor@istart.com.au

DIGITAL ADVERTISING

ACCC takes on Google ad dominance

Weighs up action to bring big ad tech to heel…

Google’s domination of the Australian ad industry has been showcased for all to see in the ACCC’s interim report for its digital advertising services inquiry.

“These issues add to the cost of advertising for businesses.”

[Read more]

DATA BREACHES

Friendly idiots behind most federal govt data breaches

OAIC’s report shows human-factor accounts for 38 percent of all breaches…

The latest report from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) finds data breaches in Australia on the rise and human error to blame.

“Organisations need to reduce the risk of a data breach by addressing human error.”

[Read more]

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TECH TRENDS

DIY innovation and liquid infrastructure guide way

Accenture’s Fjord Trends 2021 reveals new opportunities…

Ask not what new technology can do for you, instead ask what your existing technology can do for you.

“Create a platform and let your customers use your data to enable them to play and create with your products and services.”

[Read more]

CYBERSECURITY

Regulator slams NZX DDoS failure

It’s a slam dunk of bad behaviour…

Businesses on both sides of the Tasman have been feeling the heat from increased data breaches and cyber-attacks.

“NZX had limited capacity to address a large workload of required technological repairs.”

[Read more]

VIRTUAL HEALTHCARE

Kiwi virtual Dr app raises $15m

Telemedicine startup wants to digitise going to the doctors…

Launched in October of last year, five month old healthcare teleconferencing app Tend has closed a new funding round having raised a cool $15 million.

Think of it as virtual infrastructure for remote doctor ‘visits’.

[Read more]

OPINION

Proof of concept is so yesterday

Now, it’s all about proof of value…

For a long time the IT industry (amongst others) has focussed on developing a ‘proof of concept’ (PoC) as the first part of a customer engagement.

The ‘proof’ exercise can quickly help your business realise genuine production value.

[Read more]

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