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The article discusses the transitioning of Toowoomba Regional Council in Queensland from a paper based organization to a digital one in the next five years. It notes that the council will make an ongoing investment in continuous improvement for further efficiency gains and make a full return on investment within five years. The council has required comprehensive change management to take a significant forward while in the process of the digital transformation.

The article reports that National Australia Bank (NAB) has launched a mobile payment service called NAB Pay where customers can use their Android phone to pay for items. The bank is said to be the first in Australia to use the Visa token service extending the NAB Pay application to support NAB credit cards. It notes that the Commonwealth Bank has expanded the list of Android handsets compatible with its contactless payments service.

Over 39,000 reports about cybercrime were received from individuals and organisations in 2015 by the Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network (ACORN). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alister Dias has been appointed VMware's new managing director and vice president for Australia and New Zealand, effective from April. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the report conducted by broadband and telecommunications company Verizon Communications Inc. which reveals the scale of data breaches affecting protected health information (PHI) records. It mentions the number of PHI records disclosed during 1931 data breach incidents. It notes that the PHI Data Breach report includes breaches from industries such as agriculture, manufacturing and education.

The article reports that the Transport for New South Wales (NSW) allow commuters to add credit to their Opal cards using Opal.com.au following online outage held on January 13, 2015.

The article reports that according to a survey from ISACA, a nonprofit organization working for information security, 63% of 2,920 information technology (IT) professionals were not in favor of allowing government agencies to have a backdoor access to encrypted information systems. The Cybersecurity Snapshot survey says that IT professionals are also concerned about the violation of privacy rights by cyber security laws.

The article discusses the revision issued by the Australian Communications and Media Authority to regulatory arrangements for radio spectrum usage of narrowband low powered wireless networks. Topics included are the accommodation of additional communication links required for machine to machine (M2M) wireless access of Internet of Things devices and the opening of Radiocommunications (Low Potential Interference Devices) Class Licence 2015 channels by agency chairman Chris Chapman.

The article reports on the increased coverage from telecommunication company Telstra by Queensland and New South Wales communities which is part of the mobile blackspot program of the federal government. Topics mentioned include the three communities Cheepie, Marlborough, and Denillquin are the first places that will recieve the improved coverage, the investment fund of the program from Australia and Telstra, and the installation of 4G small cells in regional areas.

The article reports on the warning by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) regarding fake parcel delivery email which claims to be from Australia Post or from air courier services company FedEx. It says that scammers asks for fee and instructions to download a file or attachment that can lead to installation of ransomware. It also mentions comments from ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard on the tactics of scammers and tips how to avoid being scammed.

The article focuses on the results of the "2015-16 Michael Page Australia CIO Viewpoint" report, which reveals the increased budgets and influence of chief information officers (CIO) in Australia. Topics include the role of transformation and digitalisation in the increased budgets and the impact of the CIO decision making to the company strategy. Comments from director Niall O' Rourke was also mentioned.

The article informs that New Zealand Electricity and Gas Complaints Commissioner Judi Jones will take up the role of Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) in March 2016 in place of Simon Cohen, who left the TIO to take up the role of deputy secretary at Consumer Affairs Victoria.

The article informs that telecommunications firm Optus has become the official telecommunications partner for the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) until 2026 after signing 10-year agreement with the AOC. It reveals that the sponsorship deal includes the Rio summer games in 2016, PyeongChang winter games in 2018, and Beijing, China winter games in 2022. It also mentions that the agreement provides Optus access to sponsorship program including a partner recognition program.

The article informs that the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has started working with Amazon Web Services (AWS), remote computing services, and Australia-based business advisory SMS Management & Technology for the hosting of its online digital services. It reveals that in order to manage internet traffic for election night, AEC has partnered with SMS to streamline the migration of their public-facing websites into the AWS cloud platform.

The article offers information on a deal between Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT) and information technology firm Dimension Data to deliver networking infrastructure at Webb Dock in the Port of Melbourne. Topics discussed include closed-circuit television (CCTV) network provided by Dimension Data, the need for Wi-Fi connectivity at the terminal for automated container carriers offered by VICT, and views of VICT chief executive officer Anders Dømmestrup on the same.

The article reports that managed infrastructure firm Blue Central will use software defined storage ScaleIO from data storage firm EMC for storage. Topics discussed include estimation of money saved from the use of the data storage, views of George Kazangi, managing director of Blue Central, on the storage upgrade, and mentions a deal with Tiger Airways after the storage upgrade.

The article reports that according to the 2015 CERT Australia Cyber Crime and Security Survey conducted by the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), ransomware attacks in Australian businesses increased. Topics discussed include increasing concerns of cybersecurity and increase in number of hackers, lack of information technology security measures in few businesses, and increase in security spending by businesses in 2015.

The article offers information on a report by the Australian Payments Clearing Association (APCA) which reveals increase in card-not-present fraud in the region. Topics discussed include increase in people using online banking, views of APCA chief executive officer Chris Hamilton on the need to reduce risk of internet shopping, and mentions decline in fraud on stolen cards.

The article offers brief information on the Pay to Mobile service from Westpac along with Card on Hold feature for credit card customers and Get Cash to withdraw money.

The article discusses cyber security threat to the Internet of Things (IoT) with growth in connected devices. Topics discussed include the views of technology company Cisco Systems Australia and New Zealand director of enterprise networking, Robert De Nicolo on the same, need for enterprises to use identity services, and advice for employees to keep work-related conversation in the office.

The article reports on plans of establishing a cyber security operations centre in Melbourne, Victoria by the government of Victoria and telecommunication firm NBN by 2017. Topics discussed include the centre being the first line of defence against threats to cyber security of NBN, creation of job opportunities in Melbourne by the company in areas such as technical and customer support and views of Philip Dalidakis, Victorian small business, innovation and trade minister, on the plans.

The article discusses private companies will need to disclose their tax affairs while international companies will need to prepare general purpose financial statements following amendments to the Australian federal government's Tax Laws Amendment Bill 2015. It mentions the views of Australian Member of Parliament Adam Bandt on the benefit of the Act to private companies to avoid paying their share of tax. It also mentions the views of Australian senator Peter Whish-Wilson on the same.

The article reports that technology firm Ricoh Australia has signed up to technology firm SoftLayer's data centre in Melbourne, Victoria so that its customers will experience less latency when using the vendor's videoconferencing services. It mentions the views of Ricoh's managing director John Hall on the same. It also mentions the facilities provide all of SoftLayer's cloud services including bare metal and virtual servers, storage and networking in one integrated platform.

The article discusses acquisition of information technology firms Cirrus Networks Holdings and Vocus Communications. It mentions the combined business will provide Cirrus with greater scale and expertise as it continues to roll out its business plan and grow its overall market share. It also mentions the views of Frank Richmond, Cirrus' Chief executive officer (EEO), on the same.

The article predicts that ransomware-as-a-service might be subjected to more online extortion attempts in 2016. It offers views of computer security software company Intel Security's director Christiaan Beek who states that inexperienced cybercriminals may gain access to the service in 2016. It also include views of hardware company International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) security services business unit executive Glen Gooding on the same.

The article reports the New South Wales (NSW) government has announced to introduce an integrated telecommunication network over the next 10 years in a bid reduce telecommunications costs. It informs that the plan will include the use of voice, video and data transmission to replace existing radio networks. Some of the outcome of the strategy include decrease in total asset holdings and improved coverage.

The article reports on the contract awarded by the Queensland government to information technology company Dimension Data Holdings PLC for information and communication technology (ICT) services in November 2015.

The article announces that Peter Bonney, former digital technology director at consulting firm Deloitte, was hired for the role of disruptive technology and architecture at nnsurance company Insurance Australia Group Ltd. in November 2015.

The article reports on the decision of network interconnection provider Megaport Operations Pty. Ltd. to list on Australian Stock Exchange Ltd. (ASX) and raise #25 million through an initial public offering (IPO) in December 2015.

The article reports that information technology company NextDC Ltd. is seeking to raise $20 million to help fund two data centres in Brisbane, Queensland and Melbourne, Victoria in November 2015.

The article reports that the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has entered phase three of its information and communication technology (ICT) transformation in November 2015 as it focuses on improving online services and completing an enterprise data warehouse after investing in private cloud and an interdependent application framework. Comments from ACMA chairman Chris Chapman on the transformation, which started in 2010, are included.

The article reports that government-owned electric utilities Hydro Tasmania has extended its information technology (IT) services contract with IT consulting company CGI Group Inc. in 2015.

The article reports on the plan of Hong Kong, China-based secure payments and identity protection provider ScramCard Global Ltd. to expand in Australia, with the opening of a local office in the second half of 2016.

The article discusses aspects of the 2015 availability of the Apple Pay digital wallet from technology company Apple in Australia only to customers of financial services company American Express Co.

The article focuses on surfing organisation Surfing Australia Ltd.'s use of software as a service (SaaS) from software company Ento to schedule staff and roster work shifts as of November 2015.

The article reports on the Australian Taxation Office's reassurance to the public that it has fixed the security vulnerability issue of private tax records involving an expired web cookie, which media company Fairfax Media Ltd. first reported in 2015.

The article announces that BaptistCare NSW & ACT, a not-for-profit organisation serving the aged and people living with disadvanatge, is looking for a new chief information officer (CIO) after George Lymbers left the position in November 2015 to pursure other interests.

The article reports on the rating received by information technology company Fujitsu Australia Ltd. for its data centres in Perth, Western Australia and Eight Miles, Queensland from the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) in 2015.

The article reports on the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) mentorship offered to students by SAS Institute Inc. in 2016, as part of an initiative by LifeJourney Australia. Topics discussed include comments from SAS chief analytics officer Evan Stubbs on the SAS STEM mentoring process for secondary school and university students and results of a 2015 report from the Australian Computer Society on the need for information and communication technologies (ICT) education.

The article focuses on the quantum version of computer code in a silicon microchip which was written by University of New South Wales (UNSW) researchers and published in the "Nature Nanotechnology" international journal on November 17, 2015. Topics discussed include comments from UNSW Professor Andrea Morello on the creation of the two-particle entangled states using two quantum bits in a silicon microchip and the power of quantum computers, according to paper co-author Stephanie Simmons.

The article presents comments from security vendor Symantec president and chief executive officer (CEO) Michael Brown on the plans of the company after splitting into two companies, one focused on security and another, Veritas, focused on information management as of November 2015. Topics discussed include the need for the company to improve its cost structure, plan to invest in their information technology (IT) infrastructure, and the Symantec endpoint security business unit.

The article reports that Australia's Treasury Department signed an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) deal with software vendor Technology One to replace the Treasury's SAP software with Technology One's Software as a Service (SaaS) offering. Topics covered include the findings of a review conducted on the ERP systems used in all agencies of the Australian federal government, the advantages of using Technology One's SaaS model, and the availability of the "OneGovernment" offering.

The article reports on a non-binding agreement signed by Vocus Communications with Nextgen Networks for a joint venture to build the Australia-Singapore Cable (ASC).

The article reports that Sydney, Nova Scotia, is the first place outside of North America to get a Microsoft Corp. flagship store. The vendor operates a total of 110 stores in the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Microsoft international retail stores general manager Travis Walter said that it selected Sydney as Australians tend to be fast adopters of technology and because of the location.

The article discusses the project undertaken at Deakin University, Australia called "Deakin Connected" where Dimension Data Australia installed more than 500 wireless access points together with an upgrade of over 100 existing points all managed by WLAN controllers. The wireless coverage was increased to 82% across the university with up to 91% coverage in student areas like study halls.

The article reports the decline in tablet sales in Australia to 16% during the first half of 2015 due to a drop in low end device sales and the emergence of premium 2-in-1 devices. Analyst firm Telsyte found that 13.7 million Australians had access to a tablet as of June 2015 and that the tablet market has been impacted by larger screen smartphones and buyers looking for greater functionality from the next tablet purchase.

The article reports that the Australian Defence College (ADC) is conducting a pilot program of Google Apps intended to replace its Open Student Network.

The article reports on the decision of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to not oppose Vocus Communications' planned acquisition of M2 Group, as revealed by the watchdog in November 2015. Topics include the limited overlaps of Vocus and M2 in the supply of retail and wholesale fixed broadband services, fixed voices services and acquisition of transmission services, the competition faced by the merged company, and the benefits of the merger for the combined business.

The article reports on the announcement, as of November 2015, by Fujitsu Australia and Solider On of a three-year partnership whereby the vendor will help fund new information technology equipment for the not-for-profit veteran support organization.

The article reports that more than 426 SpinTel silent line customers have been offered a new phone number free of charge after their details were accidentally published online and in print. Topics include the failure of the telecommunication company to protect the privacy of 426 silent line customers, SpinTel's accidental removal of the unlisted or silent number classification from its customer records when uploading data, and commitment of SpinTel to upgrade its data collection.