Zach Marzouk
Zach Marzouk is a staff writer for IT Pro, Cloud Pro, and Channel Pro where he writes news articles and in-depth feature pieces primarily focused on Asia Pacific and the US. Aside from covering topics like security, privacy, worker rights, and startups, he also contributes to the IT Pro podcast and IT Pro 20/20.
After studying an undergraduate degree in Arabic and Spanish at the University of Leeds, Zach completed a journalism internship at The Argentina Independent in Buenos Aires where he wrote about the country’s history, politics, and technology.
He then joined IT Pro in 2017 where he was introduced to the world of B2B technology as a junior staff writer, before he returned to Argentina in 2018, working in communications and as a copywriter. In 2021, he made his way back to IT Pro as a staff writer during the pandemic.
Contact him at zach.marzouk@futurenet.com or find Zach’s thoughts (and more) on Twitter @ZachMarzouk
New South Wales plans to create a digital twin of the entire state
digital transformation
New South Wales plans to create a digital twin of the entire state
Existing Spatial Digital Twin project set to expand following successful trial across eight councils
3 Dec 2021
Bank of Ireland hit with €24.5 million fine over IT failures
Policy & legislation
Bank of Ireland hit with €24.5 million fine over IT failures
The bank failed to implement frameworks to ensure services continued in the event of IT disruption
2 Dec 2021
HPE wins contract for Kestrel supercomputer with US renewable energy lab
high-performance computing (HPC)
HPE wins contract for Kestrel supercomputer with US renewable energy lab
The company will support the organisation’s research and development into planning for future energy systems
2 Dec 2021
HPE to build new supercomputer for Thailand science agency
high-performance computing (HPC)
HPE to build new supercomputer for Thailand science agency
It will be 30 times faster than the agency’s existing system and is set to be operational in 2022
1 Dec 2021
UK and Singapore align closer on digital trade
Policy & legislation
UK and Singapore align closer on digital trade
Three agreements have been signed which focus on facilitating digital trade, cyber security, and digital identities between the two nations
1 Dec 2021
Accenture to expand UK tech workforce by 3,000 workers
Careers & training
Accenture to expand UK tech workforce by 3,000 workers
The company said its clients are trying to capitalise on growth as the country recovers from the pandemic
30 Nov 2021
Australian government-owned energy company hit by ransomware attack
ransomware
Australian government-owned energy company hit by ransomware attack
CS Energy confirmed hackers infiltrated its corporate network but says the incident has not impacted electricity generation
30 Nov 2021
Sydney government-funded innovation hub launches quantum arm
Policy & legislation
Sydney government-funded innovation hub launches quantum arm
This comes after Australia designated quantum technology as a critical technology for the country’s future
29 Nov 2021
How New Zealand is securing its future through digital trade
Business strategy
How New Zealand is securing its future through digital trade
A business-friendly environment allows the geographically remote country to tap into the huge potential of trading digitally across borders
25 Nov 2021
US gov initiative aims to attract 'world-class' cyber security talent
Careers & training
US gov initiative aims to attract 'world-class' cyber security talent
The DHS wants to make it easier to recruit, develop, and retain top cyber security professionals
18 Nov 2021
HP reveals Microsoft licensing management service for SMBs
Cloud
HP reveals Microsoft licensing management service for SMBs
The company wants to make it easier for small businesses to manage their cloud-based subscriptions
17 Nov 2021
Australia bets $111 million on quantum technology as part of national strategy
Policy & legislation
Australia bets $111 million on quantum technology as part of national strategy
This comes as part of an action plan focusing on securing critical technologies for the country’s future
17 Nov 2021
Japan's Fugaku retains title as world’s fastest supercomputer
high-performance computing (HPC)
Japan's Fugaku retains title as world’s fastest supercomputer
The device from Fujitsu holds the lead, although new additions from Microsoft and Samsung made the top 15
16 Nov 2021
Google to invest $1 billion in Australia to boost digital future
Business strategy
Google to invest $1 billion in Australia to boost digital future
The tech giant is investing in the country despite threatening to pull Google Search from Australia in January
16 Nov 2021
AWS and IBM join forces to reduce data barriers in the energy industry
Software
AWS and IBM join forces to reduce data barriers in the energy industry
The companies are hoping to overcome obstacles like data residency requirements in countries where oil firms are based
15 Nov 2021
China plots tougher cyber scrutiny for tech firms in Hong Kong IPOs
Policy & legislation
China plots tougher cyber scrutiny for tech firms in Hong Kong IPOs
New draft regulations underline that if companies choose to IPO in Hong Kong, they will be forced to carry out a cyber security review
15 Nov 2021
Biden tightens restrictions against Huawei, ZTE
Policy & legislation
Biden tightens restrictions against Huawei, ZTE
The new bill is designed to prevent companies deemed a security risk from receiving new equipment licences
12 Nov 2021
Kyndryl partners with Microsoft in first major deal since IBM split
Business strategy
Kyndryl partners with Microsoft in first major deal since IBM split
The two companies will work on jointly-developed cloud services that will be available to customers on both sides
12 Nov 2021
Property firm cyber attack leaves home movers in the lurch
cyber attacks
Property firm cyber attack leaves home movers in the lurch
Simplify Group customers were left unable to move house due to a systems outage
11 Nov 2021
All-party group calls for better worker protections against AI
artificial intelligence (AI)
All-party group calls for better worker protections against AI
Proposed law would give more collective rights to unions to challenge the use of artificial intelligence in the workplace
11 Nov 2021
WhatsApp secures permission to challenge €225 million GDPR fine
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
WhatsApp secures permission to challenge €225 million GDPR fine
The company has been granted the power to challenge Ireland’s fine over the way it shares user data
10 Nov 2021
TSMC and Sony partner to build $7 billion chip plant in Japan
Hardware
TSMC and Sony partner to build $7 billion chip plant in Japan
The country is aiming to secure its chip supply chain as it imports over 60% of semiconductors from overseas
10 Nov 2021
BT launches UK’s first telecoms robotics test lab
Network & Internet
BT launches UK’s first telecoms robotics test lab
The company is hoping the initiative will help it engage with universities and robotics startups to challenge civil engineering tasks
9 Nov 2021
Robinhood hack exposes data from millions of customers
hacking
Robinhood hack exposes data from millions of customers
An attacker socially engineered an employee at the stock-trading platform to gain access to customer support systems
9 Nov 2021
Huawei could sell key server division following US blacklisting
Policy & legislation
Huawei could sell key server division following US blacklisting
The US ban has affected the company’s ability to acquire Intel processors for its servers
3 Nov 2021
Clearview AI ordered to cease data scraping in Australia
privacy
Clearview AI ordered to cease data scraping in Australia
A joint investigation between the UK and Australia information commissioners has found that the AI company breached Australians’ privacy
3 Nov 2021
VMware completes $64 billion spin-off from Dell
mergers and acquisitions
VMware completes $64 billion spin-off from Dell
Dell will use the money to pay off debts while VMware will have more business flexibility
2 Nov 2021
US Treasury calls for stablecoin legislation
cryptocurrencies
US Treasury calls for stablecoin legislation
The institution is trying to address concerns around the cryptocurrency, especially as it can be tied to the US dollar
2 Nov 2021
ByteDance limits overtime in shift away from controversial '996' system
Policy & legislation
ByteDance limits overtime in shift away from controversial '996' system
The TikTok owner is mandating a nine-hour workday after authorities urged companies to comply with national working hours
2 Nov 2021
What is China’s Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL)?
Policy & legislation
What is China’s Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL)?
A look at the country's recently introduced law governing how personal data is defined and processed
1 Nov 2021
Luxury hotel chain hit twice by hackers after reneging on ransomware payment
ransomware
Luxury hotel chain hit twice by hackers after reneging on ransomware payment
The group claims to have information belonging to millions of customers who stayed at Centara hotels and resorts between 2003 and 2021
29 Oct 2021
Microsoft to work with community colleges to fill 250,000 cyber security roles
Careers & training
Microsoft to work with community colleges to fill 250,000 cyber security roles
Free course materials will be supplied to every community college in the US
29 Oct 2021
Australian competition regulator seeks to undermine Google Search monopoly
Google Android
Australian competition regulator seeks to undermine Google Search monopoly
A new report from the watchdog calls on Google to implement a search engine 'choice screen'
28 Oct 2021
Intel launches 12th-gen Alder Lake processors optimised for Windows 11
Hardware
Intel launches 12th-gen Alder Lake processors optimised for Windows 11
The chip company promises performance boosts of up to 37% on resource-heavy tasks
28 Oct 2021
Microsoft launches platform to help firms monitor carbon emissions
cloud computing
Microsoft launches platform to help firms monitor carbon emissions
Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability will help organisations to meet their net zero targets
27 Oct 2021