It's the October Tech Recap... read on for some of our top stories from last month.
Welcome back to the Tech Recap: Here's the October Update.
Foreign hackers breached one of America’s nuclear research facilities by exploiting two critical vulnerabilities in Microsoft SharePoint Server. The attack has been linked to a state-sponsored group, believed to be based in China, and showed just how quickly vulnerabilities can be turned into full-scale attacks.
The attackers used two flaws, one spoofing vulnerability and one remote code execution exploit, in on-premises versions of SharePoint. These allowed them to gain privileged access to internal systems before patches were fully applied. Cloud-based SharePoint wasn’t affected, but it’s another warning for businesses still running legacy or hybrid setups.
Our takeaway:
If one of the most protected organisations on the planet can be breached, complacency isn’t an option. Too many companies delay patching or keep old systems because “they still work.”
This is exactly why we harden Microsoft tenants, manage patch cycles through our SOC, and offer vCISO support to keep cyber risk on the board’s agenda, not buried under the inbox.
Microsoft has upgraded Copilot. The new update lets users create apps, workflows and automations just by describing what they need. It can now link data across Teams, Excel, SharePoint and Outlook, turning Copilot into a genuine workplace assistant.
Using the new Agent and App Builder tools, Copilot can generate custom apps built on Microsoft Lists and Power Platform foundations. It’s a bridge between generative AI and low-code development, giving non-technical users the ability to automate repetitive tasks or build internal tools with natural language. Microsoft says all data remains within Microsoft 365 security boundaries.
Our takeaway:
The power is huge, but so is the potential for chaos if every team starts creating their own workflows unchecked. Without governance, automation can quickly become accidental IT sprawl.
Google says it has achieved “verifiable quantum advantage” with its new Willow chip. The chip completed calculations thousands of times faster than the best supercomputers, and this time scientists can prove the result was correct.
The test used an algorithm called Quantum Echoes, running on 105 qubits. It performed forward and backward evolutions of quantum states to verify outcomes, a big leap from earlier experiments that couldn’t be confirmed. It could model complex molecular behaviour in seconds, paving the way for breakthroughs in chemistry, materials and encryption.
Our takeaway:
It won’t affect your Monday morning just yet, but it signals where computing power is heading. Stronger quantum machines will eventually threaten today’s encryption, which makes long-term data protection planning essential.
Quantum isn’t science fiction any more, and the businesses that plan ahead will be the ones that stay ahead.
Virgin Media O2 has partnered with Starlink to launch satellite-to-phone coverage, tackling the UK’s rural signal dead zones. The service will start with messaging and data before expanding to voice calls next year.
The technology uses low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites and standard 4G/5G spectrum, meaning compatible phones can connect directly to satellites without special hardware, with the aim to cover 95% of UK landmass by the end of 2026.
Our takeaway:
This is great news for remote workers, field engineers and anyone whose business operates outside city limits. It also strengthens disaster recovery and business continuity because “no signal” will soon be a thing of the past.
Connectivity is the backbone of modern business. Satellite coverage means more reliability and flexibility, but also more endpoints to secure. As coverage expands, we make sure it stays protected.
The bottom line
From hackers exploiting old software to quantum leaps in computing power, one theme stands out: resilience. The winners won’t be the ones who predict every new technology, but the ones who stay ready for change.