One of the constant debates around big data is around how to connect together disparate data sources, some of which will be unstructured. But before you start worrying about that, make sure you're fully utilising the structured data sources you already have.
What's worse than not being able to do something online? Doing something online using a site that appears to have been thrown together rather than designed.
The Australian Customs And Border Protection Service maintains a squadron of detector dogs to help identify illegal imports. Dogs might be a low-tech solution, but a recent "technology update" has significantly improved the breeding program for the service.
If you've been a victim of online crime, ringing the local cops isn't always going to be the best path. The newly-launched Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network (ACORN) provides a central repository for reporting cybercrimes, and will be used to help identify broader trends.
Pioneering computer scientist Alan Turing is likely to be even better known after the release of the Benedict Cumberbatch film The Imitation Game this year. His approach can also be useful when you're trying to plan new IT deployments.
