Two years on, what are the lessons from the British Library cyberattack?
20 February 2026
Kashif Nazir, Technical Manager, Cloudhouse
On 28 October 2023, staff arriving at the British Library discovered a catastrophe unfolding. Key systems were encrypted, servers were offline, and digital catalogues had vanished. By mid-morning, the crisis management plan was invoked and the National Cyber Security Centre was engaged. One of the world's most prestigious cultural institutions – custodian of over 170 million items spanning three millennia – had fallen victim to a sophisticated ransomware attack.
More than two years after the attack, full restoration continues with some services still scheduled for recovery. This isn't just another cybersecurity cautionary tale. It's a story about what happens when decades of technical debt collide with modern threats and when structural vulnerabilities endemic across the sector finally come home to roost. Most importantly, it's a roadmap that every library, archive, museum, and university needs to study before facing their own reckoning.
Find out more Kao Data unveils report highlighting Slough’s data centre boom as model for UK’s digital and AI future
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18 February 2026
Kao Data, a specialist developer and operator of data centres tailored for AI and advanced computing, has released a new report detailing how Slough has transformed into Europe’s largest data centre cluster and the UK’s de facto AI Growth Zone (AIGZ).
The report, titled “The Quiet Revolution: How Data Centres Remade Slough and Secured the UK’s Digital Future,” underscores Slough’s hosting of over 675 MW of hyperscale data centre capacity, supporting more than 14,000 jobs and generating over £30 million annually in business rates, significantly boosting the local economy.
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Gigabit broadband remains top priority for UK councils as digital inclusion gains focus
16 February 2026
Consultancy firm FarrPoint has published its fourth annual survey of digital leaders at councils across England, Scotland and Wales, revealing that expanding the coverage of gigabit broadband remains the top priority for most local authorities, just as it was last year.
The report, UK Local Government Connectivity Survey 2026, found that most respondents chose gigabit broadband (1000Mbps+) as their number one priority, whilst getting 100% of their area covered by at least "superfast" (30Mbps+) connectivity continues to feature as the second-highest priority for councils, followed by the expansion of 4G mobile coverage. On the flip side, ensuring digital connectivity is aligned with net-zero targets has disappeared off this year's list of priorities. Project Gigabit aims to help extend gigabit broadband ISP networks to "nationwide" coverage (c.99% of UK premises) by 2032, focusing mostly on the final 10% to 20% in hard-to-reach areas. Some 89.6% of premises can already access such a network, with Ofcom forecasting between 91% and 97% by January 2028.
Find out more UK Ministry of Defence signs Red Hat enterprise agreement for hybrid cloud and AI platforms
13 February 2026
Red Hat has signed an enterprise agreement with the UK Ministry of Defence that gives MoD teams and approved third parties central access to Red Hat hybrid cloud, automation and AI platforms.
The agreement covers core Red Hat software used across the department, including Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Red Hat OpenShift Platform Plus, Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform, Red Hat AI and Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization. It also extends access across the Defence Digital Foundry, a shared digital service capability spanning the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, Space and Cyber & Specialist Operations Command.
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