The Scottish Government’s decision to ban WhatsApp and other consumer-grade messaging apps for official business marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of secure and accountable workplace communication. This move, announced by Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, reflects the urgent need for transparency, data sovereignty, and secure communication channels in modern governance. At Wire, we couldn’t agree more with this direction.

Imagine this: you’re responsible for keeping your organization’s systems and software up to date, secure, and running smoothly. It’s no small task. The process of keeping track of security updates, managing patches for hardware and software, and ensuring patch compliance can feel like an endless cycle of frustration.

WhatsApp, the ubiquitous communication tool used for everything from family check-ins, party planning, unsanctioned work communications , and even the occasional cat meme. The app makes staying in touch incredibly easy. So easy in fact that WhatsApp is often used, whether purposefully or not, as a tool for corporate messaging and calling. For any business that has sensitive data to protect or keep private, there are many reasons why using WhatsApp for enterprise communication is a terrible idea.

By now you’d assume most government organisations are aware of the risks associated with consumer messaging apps like WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram being used in the workplace. Consumer apps, convenient for personal use, are completely unsuited for official communications. They lack the necessary security, auditability and management controls that public sector organisations require.

Did you know cybercrime could cost the world $10.5 trillion by 2025? As more businesses adopt cloud solutions and rely on public cloud and private cloud computing environments, safeguarding cloud data is critical. Consequently, understanding infrastructure security in cloud computing and the role of Independent Software Providers is vital for protecting your assets.

‍ To achieve secure workplace collaboration, teams need to rely on more than just teamwork. They must access to real-time data and insights, empowering them to make data-driven decisions and solve problems together. Despite adopting varying degrees of digitization and tools, traditional workplaces often grapple with inefficiencies like misaligned objectives, poor communication, and redundant workflows.

Critical infrastructure protection is necessary because society is becoming more and more dependent on complex systems to maintain services like energy, transportation, water supply, healthcare, and communication. These systems are often exposed to risks such as supply chain vulnerabilities, cyberattacks, and the effects of climate change.

When American tech giants pitch their cloud services as the answer to Europe's data sovereignty needs, they often use the term "sovereign platforms" to suggest they can offer the highest levels of security and compliance with European laws. However, these claims can be misleading, and trusting US-based companies with critical data might come with significant risks, particularly for public institutions, enterprises, and citizens in the EU.

In January 2024, enterprises were shaken by news of Russian hackers breaching Microsoft’s systems and accessing sensitive executive communications. A month later, in February, the Ivanti VPN breach compromised thousands of critical U.S. infrastructure devices. By May, the Volt Typhoon campaign revealed a coordinated effort by a China-linked group to hijack routers and target essential services. Alarmingly, Check Point Research reported a 30% rise in global cyberattacks in Q2 2024.