In the Game of Thrones universe, the good guys lose as many battles as they win. But we can learn from their mistakes. Follow these six security tips and perhaps you’ll prevail when the digital White Walkers storm your network gates. [ + ]

IT organisations must plan effectively to ensure adequate operating system, firmware and patch support within the new IoT age and secure methods of providing IoT clients with access to core data and applications. [ + ]

With 2014 drawing to a close, experts have weighed in on the expected top technology trends of 2015. Advanced cyberthreats, the IoT, cloud and big data technologies are expected to dominate. [ + ]

Intel has developed a new communications platform for renowned physicist professor Stephen Hawking, to improve his ability to communicate with the world. [ + ]

This week: Amazon's 15,000-strong robot army, Toshiba's 'creepy' lifelike robot that does sign language, the FBI warns about more Sony-like attacks and Microsoft does away with Clip Art. [ + ]

The era of the always-on business has arrived, but 82% of CIOs are unable to meet demands for immediate continual access to IT services, according to Veeam Software. [ + ]

Software defined networking, SDN, is expected to transform networks in the same way virtualisation has done for the server and storage industry. [ + ]

Europe's parliament wants to split Google into separate businesses; Queensland to pursue IBM Australia to recover losses from the billion-dollar payroll debacle; and Prof. Hugh Durrant-Whyte quits over a dispute about NICTA's future. [ + ]

When it comes to management and encryption, all too often the security industry is applying old-world thinking to a new-world problem. A different approach is needed, argues Sven Radavics. [ + ]

NBN Co has announced a new national rollout plan that will connect 1.9 million homes and businesses across more than 400 cities, suburbs and towns across every state and territory by June 2016. [ + ]

The New Zealand government is conducting a jobs fair across Australia that will seek to reverse the 'brain drain' of skilled workers from the ICT and other sectors relocating to find work. [ + ]

Western Australian courts and the Federal Circuit Court are planning to adopt an all-electronic filings policy to cut down on the costs of using paper records. [ + ]

This week we look at: Microsoft's Azure being attacked by the 'Blob' bug; a South Australian government IT failure; the new, holographic way to shop; and a high-tech headband that will help you relax. [ + ]

A hacker group calling itself #GOP shut down the computer systems of Sony Pictures, claimed to have stolen all the film studio's data and threatened to release it if unspecified demands aren't met. [ + ]

The New South Wales Rural Fire Service has arranged to deploy a real-time video collaboration platform from Polycom to support its 70,000 volunteers and staff members. [ + ]