Security | Threat Detection | Cyberattacks | DevSecOps | Compliance

When the power goes off, how much else goes with it? Water pumps. Communications. Fuel supplies. The services we rely on every single day. Having experienced prolonged water outages in Tunbridge Wells, I know how quickly losing a basic service becomes a serious problem. Those outages weren’t, to my knowledge, cyber attacks. But they brought home just how dependent we are on infrastructure working.

Microsoft Windows has dominated the desktop for decades, but Linux has changed significantly. With growing concerns around privacy, telemetry, Windows Recall, security and Microsoft licensing, the alternatives are becoming harder to ignore. In this Razorwire Raw, James Rees goes back to his IT roots to look at Linux vs Windows and why Linux is becoming a realistic option for individuals and businesses. He also looks at how tools such as Proton and modern AI assistants are making it much easier to build a practical alternative to the traditional Microsoft ecosystem.

AI adoption is accelerating, cyber attacks are increasing and organisations are transforming faster than their security can keep up. In this Razorwire Raw, James Rees looks at why cybersecurity could be in the lull before the storm. AI agents, vibe coding and automation are changing business at extraordinary speed, while attackers are using the same technology to find vulnerabilities and accelerate attacks.

Getting shortlisted for an industry award can be only the beginning of the bill. A £500 ceremony ticket, a long shortlist, application fees, publicity packages and even paying extra for the trophy can turn professional recognition into a surprisingly expensive business model.

Getting in front of CISOs and senior decision-makers is one thing. Getting them genuinely interested is another. Targeted executive dinners can offer better conversations than an expensive conference stand, but only when organisers are realistic about what vendors are actually paying for. Why CISOs Really Attend VIP Dinners Hint- It's Not For You.

Tech conference speakers can have very different experiences depending on where they are invited to speak. Some international events discuss budgets and fees upfront, while UK cybersecurity events may offer little financial support or rely increasingly on sponsored speaking slots.

Pay-to-play cybersecurity awards can turn professional recognition into something you simply purchase. One example promises an industry award and magazine coverage for $1,200, raising an obvious question about what that recognition is actually worth.

B2B events can charge extraordinary amounts for access to senior decision-makers. One tech conference pitched a £10,000 table with ten decision-makers and claimed the investment would generate £100,000 in business, until that “guarantee” was put to the test.

Public speaking requires far more preparation than simply getting on stage and reading a deck. Even a short presentation can take hours or days to prepare, while effective delivery is a skill that has to be learned and practised.

Cybersecurity awards can create credibility surprisingly quickly, even when nobody stops to question where the recognition came from. A fake Canva award for “best shirts in cybersecurity” attracted more than 100 congratulations, demonstrating how easily perceived authority can influence people.