Tech
Building resilience in the cloud: Bridging SLA gaps and mitigating risk | Computer Weekly
Today, enterprises need a robust digital infrastructure for everything from customer engagement to operational continuity, and multi-cloud technology has become a fundamental enabler of enterprise success. However, with these increased complexities, organisations face increasing challenges in managing security risks, maintaining operational uptime, and above all, to maximise value from their cloud investments.
Emerging technologies and innovative approaches are reshaping the way enterprises navigate these challenges, and at the same time service level agreements (SLAs) too are evolving to align with these developments.
Transparency and clear communication between providers and customers are key to achieving faster, stronger security outcomes. With careful planning and a proactive mindset, IT and security leaders can bridge the gaps in their SLAs, mitigate security vulnerabilities, and scale their cloud strategies to achieve sustainable growth.
For cloud services, security is a shared responsibility: the provider ensures the integrity of the infrastructure, and businesses must protect their own applications, endpoints, and data. SLAs are intended to provide clarity on availability and performance, while outlining accountability between cloud providers and their customers. As businesses use more providers to boost agility and reduce dependency, managing SLAs grows more complex. Variations in contractual terms, misalignment with regulatory requirements, and inconsistent reporting structures can leave organisations exposed to unnecessary cyber and operational risks.
Addressing these challenges starts with centralised governance. Bringing IT, security, procurement, and legal teams together to evaluate and negotiate SLAs ensures that they are aligned with an organisation’s risk appetite and regulatory obligations.
Additionally, regularly mapping SLA terms against evolving compliance requirements and threat landscapes helps highlight where additional clauses, such as improved breach reporting timelines or clearer security obligations, are needed. Combining this with a resilient cloud strategy that addresses concerns like disaster recovery and load balancing can ensure that even if one provider falls short, the impact on business operations is minimised.
As enterprises expand their cloud capacity, this inevitably widens the attack surface. Traditional SLAs tend to focus on infrastructure uptime but often fail to address advanced cyber threats. IT leaders must take ownership of this gap by integrating AI-driven threat detection and end-to-end encryption into their cloud ecosystems.
AI-powered analytics, for example, can proactively identify anomalies in real time, flagging suspicious activity and helping teams respond to potential breaches before they escalate. Similarly, implementing end-to-end encryption and identity access management (IAM) ensures that sensitive data remains secure, even in the face of evolving threats. By investing in these measures, enterprises can close the security gaps left by standard SLAs, moving from a reactive to a proactive security posture.
It’s also important for SLAs to be flexible enough to meet the demands of highly regulated sectors, such as finance, where compliance requirements are particularly stringent. For example, aligning an SLA with the General Data Protection Regulation’s (GDPR) requirement for a breach notification within 72 hours not only ensures compliance, but also helps businesses avoid potential penalties while strengthening customer trust. As cyber regulations become more stringent worldwide, aligning security practices with global standards like GDPR is no longer optional, but essential for maintaining a competitive advantage.
The same principle applies to operational resilience. Service disruptions caused by weak SLAs are not just an IT inconvenience; they can have financial and reputational consequences. This is why uptime strategies must be shaped by both regulatory obligations and business priorities. In industries such like healthcare, that might translate into higher uptime guarantees and enhanced security controls, with customised SLAs designed to meet sector-specific needs. Further adopting a shared responsibility model, where providers ensure infrastructure resilience and enterprises focus on optimising application performance, reduces risk and speeds recovery when challenges arise.
Cloud technology’s promise lies in its ability to deliver agility, scalability, and cost efficiency. But these benefits are only realised when innovation is paired with disciplined governance. Whether adopting cloud architectures, containerised workloads, or serverless models, operational expertise and oversight are essential to prevent new vulnerabilities.
Cloud transformation is both a challenge and an opportunity for IT security leaders. SLAs set important expectations, and as tech innovation accelerates, they are continually evolving to address risks and business needs. By centralising governance, strengthening security beyond contractual terms, and adopting resilient, regulation-aligned cloud strategies, organisations can turn SLA gaps, security risks, and operational complexities into levers for improvement. Practical, risk-informed steps like these build trust and resilience, enabling enterprises to unlock the full potential of their cloud investments and achieve sustainable success in an increasingly digital world.
Vaibhav Dutta is vice president and global head of cyber security products and services at Tata Communications.
Say what you will about Beats fans, but at least they know what they like. These headsets and earbuds are instantly recognizable for their slick styling and bass forward sound profile. If that sounds like your speed, the Beats Studio Pro are currently marked down as low as $150 Amazon, depending on your color preference. I spotted them at the lower price in matte white, sand gray, and dune, with a slightly higher $170 price tag for the remaining colors, though your availability may vary.
While the Studio Pro lack some of the Apple-exclusive features you get with AirPods, for example, the upside is that they’re much more friendly with Android devices. Both platforms get access to one-touch pairing and the helpful Beats app, while iPhone owners also get the benefits of Hey Siri and Find My Device. The other features are a bit of a mixed bag, with a decent battery life of up to 24 hours with ANC on, or 40 with ANC off, but no auto pause when you take them off, or multi-point pairing beyond Google’s Chromebook and Android option.
Like most headphones from Beats, the sound profile is decidedly bass-forward, but Apple’s ownership has tempered that tendency over the last few years. As a result, this generation is more balanced than previous eras, with our reviewer Ryan Waniata complimenting the expansive sound stage and sharp details. Unfortunately, most Beats headsets don’t have any equalizer, and the Studio Pro are no different. For better or worse, you’re stuck with how they sound coming out of the box. These at least support high-resolution audio, up to 24-bit/48-kHz, but only in the wired USB-C mode.
For the Beats enthusiast looking for an upgrade or a second headset for the gym, these are a solid option at a deeply discounted price. They lack some of the richer and more advanced features found on more expensive headsets, but that may be the right compromise for some folks who just want something simple that works every time. If you’re not sure you can stand the bass, make sure to check out all of our favorite wireless headsets.
Google Pixel deals abound! The company has kicked off its Black Friday promotions on all of its Pixel hardware, from the value-friendly Pixel 9a to the flagship Pixel 10 Pro XL. There are even discounts on the brand-new Pixel Watch 4 and Google’s wireless earbuds. We’ve rounded up the best Google Pixel discounts this shopping holiday, and even included a handful of deals on Nest hardware if you’re inclined to Google-ify your home.
Check out our Best Early Black Friday Deals for more great deals on WIRED-tested gear.
Featured in this article
Google Pixel Phone Deals
Read our Best Google Pixel Phones guide for more details on these products.
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Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
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Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
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Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
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Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Our top smartphone recommendation for most people, the Google Pixel 9a (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is a steal at $399. You get all the accouterments you’d want in a phone, from wireless charging and a reliable dual-camera system to solid day-long battery life and excellent performance for the money. Google also promises 7 years of software support, which is unmatched at this price, and there’s plenty of fresh software smarts that you’ll find useful every day, like Call Screening, which will cut down the number of spam calls you get.
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Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
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Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
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Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
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Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
A much better value than its predecessor, the Pixel 10 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is one of the few smartphones at its MSRP with a triple-camera system that includes a 5X optical zoom camera. 5X! You can zoom in and capture your kid on stage at the school holiday concert in pristine quality. That makes it an even better buy at $599. Performance is a step up from the Pixel 9a, as is the selfie camera, and there are a few new exclusive software features—like the ability to AirDrop with iPhone owners. It’s the first Pixel (and flagship Android phone for that matter) with Qi2 magnets for faster wireless charging and access to the MagSafe accessory ecosystem.
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Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
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Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
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Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
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Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL
If you want Google’s best hardware, look no further than the Pixel 10 Pro or Pixel 10 Pro XL (8/10, WIRED Recommends)—the only differences between the two are screen size and battery life. Scratch that, the XL also supports the Qi2 25-watt standard, allowing it to charge even faster from a compatible Qi2 wireless charger. Outside of that, performance goes up a notch from the base Pixel 10 because of the vapor chamber cooling system, which means demanding games will run a little better. The camera quality is sharper , especially the 5X telephoto and primary camera, and you can use Google’s Video Boost technology for better quality video clips. This is the best Google has to offer right now.
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Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
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Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
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Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
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Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Want a folding phone? Google’s Pixel 10 Pro Fold (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is rated to withstand 10 years of folding and is one of the few folding phones with an IP68 dust- and water-resistance rating. (Just, maybe don’t bend it like this.) I can say that I have dropped this phone multiple times on asphalt, and it only has a few scratches on the frame. I think Samsung did a better job with the Galaxy Z Fold7 this year—it’s much thinner and lighter—but the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is still a solid handset if you prefer Google’s software smarts. The cameras are similar to what you’ll find in the Pixel 10, but you don’t get the same great image quality as the Pixel 10 Pro, despite “Pro” in the name.
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
You don’t always need the latest and greatest. Google has discounted last year’s Pixel 9 series (9/10, WIRED Recommends), though only some of these are worth the money. For example, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is only $150 less than the Pixel 10 Pro Fold; buy the latter instead. The best deal here is the Pixel 9 at $499, which will still offer a slightly nicer experience over the Pixel 9a, though if you can spare an extra $100, you should opt for the Pixel 10.
Deals on Pixel Cases and Accessories
Check out our Pixel 10 Cases and Pixel 9 Cases guides for more recommendations.
The holiday is still almost a week away, and I’m sick of Thanksgiving. I’ve already made four rounds of mashed potatoes, three of mac and cheese, and three turkeys (with more still waiting in my fridge) as part of testing smart probes to help smoke turkeys outside and preparing seven-course holiday meal kits for friends and family.
I was eager to finally outsource some of the cooking by testing two very different robo-chef devices, the Thermomix TM7 and the Posha kitchen robot. Both promise to plan my meals and also do most of the cooking, which sounds pretty good to me.
The Thermomix descends from a German device launched in 1968—a time when the best-known robot chef was cartoon Rosie on The Jetsons—that was essentially a blender with a heater. It’s since caught on big in countries from Italy to Portugal to Australia, and over the years it’s added multi-tier steaming, baking, proofing, a touchscreen, an encyclopedic recipe app, and a whole lot of smart features. WIRED reviewer Joe Ray called 2020’s last-generation Thermomix TM6 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) the “smartest of the smart kitchen.” The newest version, the seventh-generation TM7, was released in August and looks like a giant trophy with a computer screen. It retails for $1,699 and its goal is to replace almost every appliance in your kitchen. It’ll even happily order groceries for you on InstaCart.
The newest robo-chef entrant is Posha, a Silicon Valley-via-Bangalore startup device that aims at truly autonomous one-pot cooking, once you’ve chopped up the proper ingredients into little bins. The Posha kitchen robot was released in January at a price of $1,750 and promptly sold out, as has each successive batch. The device comes complete with a robot stirring arm, and a camera to monitor moisture and browning. Press a button, and Posha will add ingredients at the appropriate moment, spice and stir your food, add water and oil, and cook it down, all without your participation.
I used both the Posha and Thermomix to make a spread of Thanksgiving sides: candied yams, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, brussels sprouts, and a more complex wild card entry chosen because I thought my Aunt Katherine might like it—and assessed cooking experience overall. Consider it a robo-chef face-off.
Here is my experience with each of the Thermomix and the Posha—and how each fared on five Thanksgiving side recipes.
Cooking Experience With Thermomix
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Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
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Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
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Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
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Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
WIRED
- Steams, blends, bakes, proofs, roasts, mixes, weighs, orders groceries….
- Choice of 100,000 recipes, often quite well tested
- Beautifully powerful and fast blending
TIRED
- You’re still doing all the prep
- Many recipes still call for an oven
- Cleaning the multiple parts is a chore if you don’t run the dishwasher
The Thermomix has almost 60 years of history. This is a good thing. It began as, essentially, a blender that can cook. It is still a very powerful blender that can cook. Lord, it makes pesto or mashed potatoes as quickly and easily as anything. I stood by in actual awe of its raw cooking-blending power.
But it’s also evolved into a whole lot more, an all-in-one device that purports to replace just about every appliance in your kitchen. Today’s Thermomix has become a beast of multifarious functionality.
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