The importance of quality control – can CrowdStrike recover?

In July we saw a massive global IT outage, affecting thousands of organisations and grounding flights. We also saw Apple announce a partnership with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT onto its devices, and we had a home champion at the Scottish Open (attended by Cathcart employees and clients)!

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This month’s edition of RecruITing News delves into how the Crowdstrike outage could have been helped, a review of TuringFest2024 and a summary of goings on at Cathcart towers including hospitality at the golf and an upcoming wedding!

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Let's dive in…

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CrowdStrike outage brings world to a halt

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In July 2024, CrowdStrike experienced a significant outage that affected 8.5 million Windows devices, disrupting services for numerous organizations reliant on its cybersecurity solutions (TechRadar). CrowdStrike is a cybersecurity firm that provides advanced threat detection and endpoint protection through its cloud-based Falcon platform, leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning to identify and mitigate cyber threats. The outage underscored vulnerabilities in the system and highlighted the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures. This can be boiled down to a ‘botched roll-out’ and an apparent lack of cross-desktop and cross-server testing measures. CrowdStrike are a massive public company who had seen their share price almost quadruple in 18 months, and since the event their share price has dropped around 25%-30%. Will they be able to recover confidence? ?How was something like this able to happen? Many questions still to be answered…

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https://www.computerweekly.com/feature/CrowdStrike-update-chaos-explained-What-you-need-to-know

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Edinburgh-based i-confidential suggest collaborative approach to CyberSecurity

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Sticking with Cybersecurity for a bit, the Director and Co-Founder of Edinburgh based i-confidential has suggested companies take an approach not dissimilar to aviation safety when approaching cyber security protocols. Cyber crime is a hot-topic, and one that will not go away as both companies and individuals are targeted every day by hacking gangs and ransomware groups. Such groups are having success through collaboration, and Ian Harragan suggests organisations could look to collaboration as a defence. It is understandable that companies keep their cyber security protocols and strategy within the organisation. After all, sharing the strategy with the wrong person could have serious ramifications for your whole company. ?What would it take for organisations to willingly share effective methods against cyber-attacks? One to think about…

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https://www.scotlandis.com/blog/could-an-aviation-approach-to-safety-bolster-cyber-resilience/

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TuringFest 24’: Flat whites, croissants and tech chats

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We attended TuringFest for the second year in a row, and again as the ‘breakout zone’ sponsor. We had another successful two days networking, and had productive conversations with many target clients and potential candidates. Senior Consultant Hamish Niven said:

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"It was great to see some of the stalwarts and heavy hitters from the Scotland tech scene back at Turing - Skyscanner , FreeAgent , Innovid , Current Health . Special shout out to Phlo for the free juice but also free merchandise.”

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We have a few more events in 2024 and look forward to seeing as many people as we can. Not before we have replenished our merchandise stock, though! The tote bags and the phone chargers were as popular as ever!

Apple products to integrate OpenAI

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In July 2024, Apple announced a significant integration of OpenAI's ChatGPT into its products, enhancing the capabilities of its Siri voice assistant and operating systems, including iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia (Clio). This collaboration aims to bring generative AI features directly to iPhones, iPads, and Macs, allowing users to leverage ChatGPT's advanced conversational and problem-solving abilities seamlessly within their Apple devices. As part of Apple's new "Apple Intelligence" system, this integration promises to deliver personalized and contextually relevant AI-driven insights, significantly improving user experience and productivity (Clio). This strategic move underscores Apple's commitment to incorporating cutting-edge AI technologies into its ecosystem, potentially setting a new standard for smart device functionality and user interaction (Clio) (TechRadar).

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The Cathcart Current

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Lots happening in July at Cathcart HQ including a trip to the golf, an upcoming wedding, a farewell to a Fin and holidays holidays holidays…

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On Thursday 11th July, Murray Simpson , Stuart Manderson , Gordon Kaye (MIRP) , Jack Steven and Andy Weir hosted five clients at hospitality at the Scottish Open. These clients were winners from our Golf Day which was hosted back in April at Duddingston Golf Club . We had a wonderfully relaxed day (despite the caterers almost poisoning one of our clients with peanuts) and really enjoyed getting to see another side to our clients in a more social setting. The golf was brilliant too and it was great to see a Scot go on to lift the trophy on the Sunday. Well done Bob Macintyre!

Our very own Douglas Paget is getting married on Saturday 27th July. He finishes up tomorrow (Friday 26th) and we won’t see him for two weeks after the wedding. We wish him and his new wife all the happiness in the world and hope they enjoy the honeymoon!

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Some sad news from the Finland team. After three years, Laura decided to take her career in another direction and has left us to join an internal recruitment team for a new company. We thank her for service and wish her all the best in her new job – she will be an asset to them for sure!

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July has been a very busy month for holidays across our staff and clients. It can be a bit of a ‘stop-start’ month but people need time to go on holiday and relax! We are looking forward to a bit more routine and stability in August, as well as welcoming 3 (THREE) new starters on the 12th. Watch our channel for news on who they are!

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See you all next month!

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