Latest news with #WalesTechWeek
Business News Wales
3 days ago
- Business
- Business News Wales
Business News Wales Announced as Exclusive Media Partner for Wales Tech Week 2025
Wales Tech Week has announced Business News Wales as its 'Exclusive Media Partner for Wales' – a collaboration that will supercharge national reach and amplify the voices, innovations, and opportunities shaping the future of Welsh tech. Powered by Technology Connected, Wales Tech Week returns to the ICC Wales, Newport from 24–26 November 2025 – bigger and bolder than ever. Demonstrating the benefits of technology across all sectors and markets, the international tech summit reveals how digital innovation is solving real-world challenges, sparking fresh thinking, and opening doors to new opportunities in every industry. Business News Wales will play a pivotal role in sharing the stories that matter, spotlighting transformative technology, startups, and the people, businesses, and ideas driving Wales' global tech presence. With its dedicated focus on Welsh business and influence across all industries and sectors, Business News Wales will bring expert coverage, dynamic interviews, and in-depth insights into the innovation, ambition, and transformation taking place at Wales Tech Week and across the wider tech ecosystem. Avril Lewis MBE, Managing Director of Technology Connected, said: 'We're thrilled to have Business News Wales as our Exclusive Media Partner for Wales. As a leading voice for Welsh business, their reach and editorial strength will help us amplify the stories coming out of our tech ecosystem. We'll spotlight the innovation and opportunities at Wales Tech Week 2025, making it clear that this is a must-attend for anyone serious about technology's impact on business, society, and our planet, and how it can drive economic growth well beyond Wales' borders.' Mark Powney, Managing Director of Business News Wales, said: 'We're proud to be supporting Wales Tech Week as its Exclusive Media Partner for Wales at a time when technology is playing such a critical role in shaping Wales' economic future. This event is more than a showcase; it's a platform for collaboration. As the tech sector continues to drive growth across all areas of the Welsh economy, Wales Tech Week is helping to bring together innovators, investors, and institutions. We're looking forward to telling those stories and helping raise the profile of the people and ideas making it happen.' Wales Tech Week 2025 will feature global keynote speakers, immersive experiences, hands-on innovation, a dynamic exhibition floor and an array of fringe events – all centred around the core themes of Tech for People, Tech for Performance, and Tech for the Planet. This year's summit is free to attend, and is open to anyone with a passion for technology and its potential to transform industries, communities and careers. To find out more and get involved, visit
Business News Wales
4 days ago
- Business
- Business News Wales
Startup Square Applications Extended for Wales Tech Week 2025
Wales Tech Week, powered by Technology Connected, has officially extended applications for Startup Square until 31 July 2025, giving ambitious Welsh tech startups one last chance to grab their space at Wales' largest international tech summit. Tech startups founded in 2023, 2024 or 2025, are invited to join a community of innovators and disruptors at this year's Wales Tech Week, taking place 24-26 November at the ICC Wales. Startup Square is a dedicated exhibition zone celebrating the freshest ideas and boldest minds shaping the future of tech in Wales. The extension comes following high demand and a wave of interest from early-stage tech companies across Wales. Successful applicants will receive: A table-top stand and screen in the Startup Square zone at Wales Tech Week 2025 A virtual exhibition space on the online Wales Tech Week event platform Exposure to thousands of visitors including global tech leaders, investors, and media Opportunities for promotion through Wales Tech Week channels Startup Square is designed to support and spotlight the next generation of Welsh tech businesses whether in AI, fintech, healthtech, green tech, or something the world hasn't seen yet. Applications for Startup Square close at midnight on 31 July 2025. In addition to Startup Square, eligible Welsh startups can now also enter the Wales Technology Awards 2025. Startups can learn more and apply for Startup Square at Enter the Wales Technology Awards for free before 16 June:
Business News Wales
5 days ago
- Business
- Business News Wales
Cyber Risk Isn't Just IT – It's Business Resilience
As a Silver Partner of Wales Tech Week – Wales' largest international tech summit – Cyber Innovation Hub shares why cyber isn't just a tech issue, and what every business needs to do to prepare for the next breach. 43% of UK businesses were hit last year. Would you be ready to respond? Cybersecurity isn't just an IT issue. It's a business resilience issue. And the latest headlines are proof that no one is immune. When M&S, Co-op and Harrods made front-page news following cyber breaches, the scale of the disruption raised eyebrows. But behind the headlines lies a deeper story: according to the BBC the likely entry point for the M&S breach was a third party who had access to its systems. This reinforces the message that you can outsource responsibility, but you can't outsource risk. Whether it's a retail giant or a regional SME, cyber threats are not abstract or distant. They're operational. They're financial. And they're deeply human. Cyber risk doesn't discriminate, but it does exploit the unprepared. Most people don't think about cybersecurity until it's too late. Until payment systems go down, customer data is exposed, deliveries are missed and operations grind to a halt. These aren't IT failures. They're full-scale business crises. One compromised supplier can disrupt an entire chain. And for smaller businesses, the impact can be existential. As Tash Buckley from Cranfield University noted in a recent BBC interview: 'For smaller companies, it's more of an existential issue. They don't have the kind of finances that M&S have to get the experts in.' A recent UK Government report confirms what many already fear: cyber attacks are hitting organisations of every size. According to the Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025, just over four in ten businesses (43%) and three in ten charities (30%) reported experiencing a cyber security breach or attack in the past year. This isn't a niche problem. This is the everyday reality for UK organisations. And for many smaller firms, with tighter margins and fewer in-house experts, the stakes are even higher. Are you cyber resilient? Three ways to find out A cyber incident doesn't need to spell disaster. Microsoft reports that 98% of cyberattacks can be prevented with basic cyber hygiene. With the right habits, tools, and training in place, businesses can shut the door on the vast majority of threats. But resilience won't happen by accident. Here's where to start: 1. Build cyber into business continuity planning Cyber shouldn't sit in a silo. Your risk register should include realistic scenarios, and your business continuity plans should reflect the growing threat landscape. ● Which systems are mission-critical?● What's your recovery time objective? ● Have you tested your plan under pressure? If your team isn't clear on what happens when the systems go down, you're not ready. 2. Focus on foundational cyber hygiene Many high-profile attacks exploit basic weaknesses. Weak passwords, outdated software, or unsecured third-party access. Simple, shared standards can dramatically reduce exposure. ● Use strong, separate passwords and multi-factor authentication● Keep systems and software up to date● Back up critical data regularly ● Vet your suppliers and review access controls Don't underestimate the basics – they're your frontline defence. 3. Train everyone – not just IT Cyber resilience is a whole-organisation issue. Your comms team, ops lead, and finance manager all have roles to play when things go wrong. Make sure they: ● Know the signs of an incident● Understand how and when to escalate ● Are confident acting under pressure Cyber security isn't about knowing everything, it's about knowing what to do next. Turning readiness into action At Cyber Innovation Hub, we don't just talk about cyber resilience, we help organisations build it. Here's how we're helping teams across Wales and beyond get ahead of threats: Bitesize Cyber Courses Accessible, practical training for busy teams. From cyber hygiene to critical infrastructure security, our bitesize and hands-on courses are here to build real-world cyber resilience across your organisation. Designed for busy professionals, delivering practical skills that make an immediate impact, without disrupting schedules. Through realistic, scenario-based exercises, teams practice defending critical systems in safe, controlled environments, so they're ready to respond when it matters most. Real-World Testbed Environments When you're deploying a new system or solution, the last thing you want is to test it live and risk downtime or vulnerabilities. That's where our testbeds come in. Built for organisations and critical environments, our safe, simulated spaces let you test cyber defences, simulate real-world attacks, including AI-driven threats, and refine your response strategies before anything goes live. Whether you're validating a solution, training your team, or exploring potential blind spots, we give you the environment to stress-test your systems without the risk. Because in cybersecurity, confidence comes from what's been tested, not what's assumed. Final word: security is a shared responsibility You don't need to be a cyber expert. But you do need to know how your business will respond if the worst happens. Cybersecurity is a people issue. And people who understand the risks and practise their response are your strongest line of defence. So ask yourself: If a cyber incident hit your business tomorrow, would you be ready to respond? This November at Wales Tech Week, we'll be showcasing how we're helping businesses like yours prepare, adapt, and thrive in the face of growing cyber risks. Come and see what readiness looks like – and why it matters more than ever. Explore what's possible with Cyber Innovation Hub: See cybersecurity in action at Wales Tech Week 2025. Register for free:
