Techbest – Top Tech Reviews In Australia
The best in Australian gadgets and technology
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Orica, a frontrunner in explosives and blasting systems, is revamping its IT service desk operations with cutting-edge AI functionalities. A year post the integration of ServiceNow’s generative AI suite, the firm has introduced 20 AI-enabled capabilities, recently highlighting five groundbreaking use cases via the Now Assist toolkit.
Bradley Hunt, Orica’s DevOps and regional apps manager, underscored the significant influence of AI on the IT support team, with AI now assigning tasks to 75% of the team in the past quarter. During the ServiceNow World Forum in Sydney, Hunt mentioned that the initial strategy was tech-driven, aimed at acquainting staff with AI functionalities.
After joining the early access program for Now Assist, Orica swiftly doubled its virtual agents’ success rate, currently rerouting 94% of effective flows from the service desk. The engagement with AI among IT personnel has surged by 70% over the last six months, enabling roughly 12,000 AI-driven actions each month.
Orica has effectively moved to a process-led methodology, concentrating on weaving AI into team workflows to optimise return on investment. The organization’s approach includes outlining team processes to locate areas where AI can reduce or eliminate steps, which enhances operational efficiency and governance.
Orica is overseeing its AI demand and governance through the ServiceNow platform, acting as a singular source of truth for converting AI concepts into production-ready solutions. CIO Rachael Sandel highlighted the importance of the ServiceNow Control Tower in offering visibility, coordination, and automation to support AI scaling.
“It’s not solely about technology,” Sandel remarked. “It’s about fostering an environment where AI can flourish.”
Orica’s deployment of ServiceNow’s generative AI suite within its IT service desk has significantly enhanced efficiency and adoption rates. With a transition from tech-driven to process-driven approaches, Orica is set to further advance its AI capabilities leveraging the ServiceNow Control Tower.
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PHILIPS TAT2149WT Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds – Small Earbuds Great Value Natural Sound with Dynamic Bass, Clear Calls and Pocket Size Charging Case – White
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The Australian Department of Home Affairs has reinstated its collaboration with Unisys, extending the utilization of its biometrics platform via a new $25 million three-year agreement. This renewed deal guarantees that Unisys’ Enterprise Biometric Identification Services (EBIS) system remains functional, enabling secure identity confirmation for migrants and travelers.
Initially launched in 2018, the EBIS system was created by Unisys with an initial contract worth $44 million. The system uses Unisys’ Stealth identity platform, allowing effective matching of biometric information such as facial images and fingerprints against watch lists. EBIS became active in 2020, succeeding a prior Unisys system that was in operation for 12 years. Over time, the original deal grew to a total of $77 million before concluding in June 2025.
The latest agreement, although valued at $25 million, extends the operational support of the EBIS system until 2028. However, the contract includes a maximum service end date of 2024 for certain services. This renewed contract includes essential software maintenance and support services, ensuring the consistent reliability of the EBIS platform in safeguarding identity verification operations.
In spite of the renewal, Home Affairs has shifted some of its identity and biometrics responsibilities to the Attorney-General’s Department (AGD). This shift involved transferring biometrics assets valued at $23 million as of August 31, 2023. This strategic move reflects wider policy and administrative transformations within government departments.
The Australian Department of Home Affairs continues to be dedicated to securing its borders and verifying identities through cutting-edge biometrics technology. By renewing its agreement with Unisys, the department guarantees continuity and dependability in its biometric systems, despite departmental changes and evolving responsibilities.
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Pink Wireless Earbuds,Bluetooth In Ear Headphone with Microphone Comfort&Lightweight Earbud with Noise Cancellation,3D Surround Stereo,Long Life Portable Mini Charging Case(S/M/L earctips)
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In August 2023, Clorox, a manufacturer of bleach, encountered a significant cyber attack carried out by the hacking collective known as Scattered Spider. This group is infamous for leveraging social engineering strategies, predominantly aimed at IT support desks to obtain credentials, subsequently exploited for ransomware attacks.
Clorox has initiated legal action against its IT service provider, Cognizant, asserting that the hackers accessed sensitive passwords through basic social engineering methods. The lawsuit, lodged in California state court, accuses Cognizant of insufficiently securing Clorox’s network by providing credentials without thorough verification.
The hackers reportedly reached out to the Cognizant Service Desk, seeking access to Clorox’s network. Alarmingly, the service desk released the credentials without applying fundamental verification steps, such as confirming employee identification numbers or verifying the identity of the caller’s supervisor.
The breach resulted in US$380 million (A$576 million) worth of damages to Clorox. This included around US$50 million set aside for recovery efforts, while the remainder was due to Clorox’s inability to supply products to retailers after the attack.
Clorox’s lawsuit highlights various security deficiencies by Cognizant, including improper termination of certain accounts and flawed data recovery methods, which aggravated the breach’s consequences.
The cyber attack on Clorox, executed by the Scattered Spider group, reveals critical weaknesses in IT security protocols. By taking advantage of straightforward social engineering methods, hackers inflicted substantial financial harm and disrupted Clorox’s business operations. The legal action against Cognizant emphasizes the pressing need for strong security practices and comprehensive verification processes in IT services.
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Microsoft has disclosed that a cyber-espionage faction known as “Storm-2603” is currently utilizing ransomware in their operations against susceptible SharePoint server applications. This represents a notable escalation in the campaign, which has reportedly impacted at least 400 victims, as stated by Eye Security, a cybersecurity company based in the Netherlands.
In contrast to conventional state-sponsored cyber operations centered around data theft, ransomware has the potential to create significant disturbances. The tally of affected organizations has surged from 100 to 400, with Eye Security indicating that this count might underestimate the reality due to unidentified attack paths. Vaisha Bernard, chief hacker at Eye Security, mentioned that various breaches may not produce obvious traces.
The National Institutes of Health is among those targeted, and server breaches have been confirmed. Preventive actions are being taken, which include the isolation of additional servers. The initial breach reports were published in the Washington Post.
The campaign emerged after Microsoft’s incomplete remedy of a crucial security vulnerability in its SharePoint server software. This security gap triggered a hasty effort to implement corrections. Both Microsoft and Alphabet, the parent company of Google, have cited Chinese hackers as exploiters of this flaw, although Beijing has denied any participation.
To summarize, the current cyber-espionage efforts against susceptible SharePoint servers have escalated with the incorporation of ransomware by the Storm-2603 group. This development emphasizes the necessity of securing IT infrastructure and illustrates the complex dynamics of global cyber threats.
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Denon AH-C830NCW True Wireless in-Ear Headphones, Active Noise Cancelling, Water Resistant Earbuds, Crystal Clear Call Quality – White
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The Acer Predator X32 X3 OLED display has made its debut, offering elite performance for gamers and creative professionals. With OLED technology, this monitor distinguishes itself with remarkable black levels and a refresh rate of 240Hz at 4K resolution, making it an excellent choice for your gaming configuration.
The Predator X32 X3 showcases a stylish black frame that prioritizes functionality over ornate designs. Its sturdy stand provides ample height adjustment of up to 120mm, tilt angles ranging from -5 to 35 degrees, and a 30-degree swivel. With its slim bezels and flat screen, it fits seamlessly into any setup, whether in a home office or a multi-monitor gaming arrangement.
The Predator X32 X3 excels in performance, achieving a 240Hz refresh rate at a native 4K resolution. It’s ideal for high-speed games, particularly when paired with a top-tier GPU like the RTX 4080. The OLED panel’s 0.03ms response time and Adaptive-Sync support guarantee tear-free, smooth gameplay.
With HDR switched on, gamers will value the rich contrasts and vibrant highlights, enhancing the immersive gameplay experience in titles such as Cyberpunk 2077 and F125. Its capability to manage diverse workloads also makes it a strong candidate for content creation.
Key features of the monitor include:
While the Predator X32 X3 is impressive, there’s potential for enhancements. The on-screen display (OSD) could benefit from extra dedicated buttons for quick access to brightness and contrast settings. Although the stand is ergonomic, it takes up considerable desk space, and a more compact design or 90-degree rotation feature would be appreciated.
The Predator X32 X3 is currently available in Australia priced at A$1,999 from Acer and A$1,709 from Ubuy. The package includes HDMI and USB-C cables for immediate use.
The Acer Predator X32 X3 is a high-end OLED monitor delivering unparalleled performance for its price range. It caters to both gaming aficionados and content creators, offering a well-rounded blend of speed, color fidelity, and connectivity options. While it’s a substantial investment, its features and future-ready technology validate the cost for those in search of the best display technology.
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NBN Co is tackling the problem of excessive planned outage notifications by removing alerts for outages that do not occur. This strategy aims to decrease the 120,000 monthly notifications, which have become a point of annoyance for both consumers and retailers.
Retailers have voiced their displeasure regarding the substantial number of notifications and the brief notice periods for scheduled work. NBN Co is addressing these concerns by refining its notification systems for enhanced clarity and efficiency.
NBN Co is testing enhancements in how it gathers data on power outages, transitioning from unreliable website information to more trustworthy API sources. This adjustment is expected to improve notification precision and diminish unnecessary alerts.
There are plans to decrease cancellation notifications and refine the scheduling process for works. By the first half of FY26, NBN Co intends to eliminate 1.2 million cancellation notices annually, thereby cutting down confusion and communication overload.
The company is investigating the feasibility of fewer but extended outage periods, as favored by 64% of survey participants. This approach will initially be trialed with Hybrid-fibre coaxial (HFC) users to consolidate maintenance and upgrades into fewer disruptions.
As part of the plant modernization upstream (PMUS) initiative, HFC users will encounter longer outage periods to facilitate simultaneous upgrade activities. If proven successful, this method will be broadened in Q1 FY26.
NBN Co is poised to considerably lessen the number of planned outage notifications by enhancing alert accuracy and instituting longer but less frequent outages. These modifications aim to address concerns from retailers and users, streamline communication, and ultimately improve service quality.
