THE LATEST OPINIONS
FROM OUR EXPERTS

The Information Security Buzz piece outlines a practical roadmap for organisations moving from simply managing risk to achieving digital resilience in-line with the EU’s Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA). Rather than viewing DORA as just a compliance checklist, the article presents eight actionable steps that help firms embed resilience into governance, risk management, incident reporting and third-party oversight, ensuring continuity, regulatory alignment and stronger cyber posture in an increasingly hostile threat environment.Tracey Hannan-Jones, Compliance and Security Consultant at UBDS Digital, emphasises that successful DORA compliance begins with rigorous self-assessment and gap analysis, understanding whether and how an organisation’s operations, suppliers and technology footprint are subject to the regulation. She urges firms to treat compliance as a strategic resilience initiative, not a bureaucratic burden, by strengthening ICT risk management, enhancing incident reporting processes and building more robust third-party provider governance.Tracey also highlights that DORA’s reach extends beyond the EU to UK firms serving European clients, meaning many organisations must prioritise operational continuity, real-world resilience testing and proactive risk treatment now rather than later. For her, DORA isn’t just about meeting deadlines. It’s about operationalising resilience as an ongoing business capability that protects customers, safeguards services and reinforces trust.Read more about Tracey’s perspective and the full set of DORA-aligned steps in the article.

In Computer Weekly’s Microscope opinion piece, Silvia Lehnis tackles a critical question for the UK channel in 2025: as AI transforms industries and the government backs ambitious plans for national AI leadership, what role should channel partners play in turning strategy into real business impact? The article outlines how uneven readiness across organisations from data infrastructure gaps to talent shortages means that ambition alone won’t deliver outcomes without practical guidance and capability building.Silvia Lehnis, Consulting Director for Data & AI at UBDS Digital, argues that the channel is uniquely positioned to help organisations bridge the gap between AI potential and measurable value. She emphasises that success requires more than technical investment - it demands AI literacy, clear use cases and structured steps that help organisations adopt AI incrementally and responsibly. Silvia highlights that many businesses either don’t know where to begin or lack the skills and data governance needed to scale AI beyond pilots. By guiding clients through data management, practical use cases, and capability building, channel partners can help ensure AI investments deliver meaningful outcomes rather than isolated productivity gains.Read more about Silvia’s perspective and her views on how the channel can unlock AI leadership in the full article.

This IT Pro article examines the approaching end of life for Windows 10 and what organisations need to do to prepare ahead of the October 2025 deadline. It outlines the operational, security and compliance risks of remaining on an unsupported operating system, while highlighting the importance of early planning, device readiness and structured migration strategies to avoid disruption and increased exposure to cyber threats.Steve Prescott-Jones, Director of Managed Services at UBDS Digital, stresses that Windows 10 end of life should be viewed as a business risk, not just a technical milestone. He warns that continuing to operate unsupported systems significantly increases vulnerability to cyberattacks and can undermine compliance obligations. Steve emphasises the need for organisations to treat the transition as a strategic initiative, assessing hardware compatibility, planning phased upgrades and embedding security considerations into every stage of the move.Read more about Steve Prescott-Jones’s perspective and practical guidance on preparing for Windows 10’s end of life in the full article.

IT Channel Oxygen feature profiles the remarkable journey of UBDS Group, a certified B Corporation that has grown from just three employees in 2019 to around 175 staff by the end of 2024. The interview explores how the company combined rapid growth with a commitment to sustainability, social impact and strong culture, earning B Corp accreditation after a rigorous 14-month process. It also highlights UBDS’s expanding services, strategic acquisitions and plans for AI in 2025.Diptesh Patel, CEO of UBDS Group, says achieving B Corp status was a meaningful milestone that validated the company’s approach to balancing purpose with performance. Rather than treating certification as a label, Diptesh explains, UBDS has woven sustainability principles into everyday decisions from designing low-carbon solutions for major clients to supporting local suppliers through initiatives like its ‘Foodie Friday’ policy. He also stresses that B Corp is about broader societal impact, not just environmental credentials, and that embedding these principles has strengthened both culture and growth.Read more about Diptesh Patel’s insights and the full interview in the article.

This IT Pro article looks at how attackers are increasingly able to bypass multi-factor authentication (MFA) using techniques such as phishing proxies and MFA fatigue attacks. It highlights why MFA, while still essential, can no longer be relied on as a standalone security control.Fred Tromp is a security specialist focused on identity-based threats and modern attack techniques, with experience helping organisations understand how authentication controls are being targeted and exploited.Fred argues that MFA on its own is no longer enough to stop determined attackers. He stresses the importance of phishing-resistant authentication methods, stronger detection capabilities and improved user awareness to counter evolving tactics that exploit both technology and human behaviour.Read more about Fred Tromp’s opinion and practical recommendations in the full article.

When Microlise was hit by a cyberattack, the impact didn’t stop at one organisation. This Assured article breaks down how the incident triggered knock-on disruption across the supply chain, exposing just how vulnerable interconnected businesses are when third-party security fails.Benn Morris, CEO of 3B Data Security, works closely with organisations to uncover and reduce cyber risk across suppliers, partners and extended digital ecosystems. Benn warns that the Microlise incident is a clear warning: strong internal security means little if suppliers aren’t held to the same standard. He emphasises the need for active third-party risk management, continuous oversight and clear accountability to prevent attackers from exploiting weak links.Read more about Benn Morris’s perspective in the full article.

This Assured article dissects the UnitedHealth ransomware attack, presenting it not as an inevitable breach but as a largely preventable failure of basic cyber hygiene and risk planning. The piece emphasises how attackers exploited known vulnerabilities and weak security controls to gain access and disrupt operations. Benn Morris, CEO of 3B Data Security, points out that this incident should serve as a wake-up call: too many breaches succeed not because of sophistication, but because fundamental defences weren’t in place or properly configured. He highlights the importance of rigorous patching, identity protection, threat monitoring and proactive risk management - controls that dramatically reduce the likelihood of a successful ransomware attack.Read more about Benn Morris’s perspective in the full article.

UBDS Group has acquired 3B Data Security to provide a major boost to its cybersecurity capabilities, bringing deep expertise in areas such as incident response, forensics and advisory into the broader UBDS portfolio while keeping 3B’s brand and team intact. Positioned as “rocket fuel” for cybersecurity growth, the deal strengthens UBDS’s ability to deliver end-to-end security and resilience services alongside its cloud and digital transformation offerings, enabling the combined organisation to better meet the evolving needs of customers in a threat-driven market.