<p>Businesses need to keep a close eye on the evolution of cloud based services to avoid wasting money and missing out on business opportunities.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> 

This week’s Computer Weekly kicks off our Buyer's Guide to data security by looking at the changing role of the IT security chief. We also examine why flexible working is proving so slow to roll out and we talk to the UK's air traffic control operator about its ambitious desktop virtualisation project. 

Tim Zimmerman, Gartner research director offers some practical advice to organisations wanted to use iPads on their corporate wireless networks. 

In this Gartner report, explore some of the key considerations for planning, administering and supporting mobile devices. Discover how organizations can prepare to embrace "Bring Your Own" mobile device initiatives to satisfy employee needs for flexibility while minimizing associated risks. 

As a consequence of tightening budgets and increasing uncertainties, government organizations are looking at how to leverage cloud computing as a model to ensure greater flexibility, lower costs, more-rapid provisioning and greater focus on areas that are more domain-specific. 

Listen to this brief podcast now as Gartner analyst Mark McDonald discusses the roles of amplifiers in the enterprise, touching on how mobility, cloud computing, analytics and social media are driving companies today. Also learn how cost, complexity and duplication can hinder collaboration efforts. 

The desktop PC has had a prominent position within organisations for over 20 years,firmly establishing it as a de facto device choice for most users. But over the past fiveyears, some key trends associated with the desktop device - and its use withinorganisations - have begun to reshape the landscape. 

Most organizations with application performance issues haven't developed the process and organization to take advantage of application delivery technologies many already own. Gartner outlines three phases to help IT organizations deliver better application performance. 

Security is one of the most commonly cited barriers preventing IT managers from taking advantage of cloud computing – yet some experts say the cloud could and should be more secure than in-house IT. This paper looks at how to be confident about security in the cloud. 

Deep inspection network-based intrusion prevention continues to be a due-diligence security control. The near-term future of the intrusion prevention system market will be determined by the pace of innovation of another market: next-generation firewalls. Explore Gartner's evaluation of network IPS that places McAfee in the leaders' quadrant. 

Cloud technologies and new opportunities in mobile computing will allow organisations to innovate in new ways. This report examines the new business strategies that cloud and mobility can enable. 

Philip Dawson, Gartner VP offers best practice advice for organisations looking to virtualise their IT infrastructure.