Technology

I love coffee, but I also love my sleep, so after about 2pm I always switch to decaf to avoid being kept awake at night. It works well, but opting for decaf generally means you miss out on some of the more unusual flavors around – like the double-fermented passionfruit beans I got from my local coffee roaster recently, or Nespresso's white chocolate and strawberry coffee pods, which are an unlikely but delicious combination of flavors.

My Speciality Coffee Association (SCA) instructor calls it 'cheating coffee', but when it tastes this good, who cares?

Thankfully, just as alcohol-free beer is now mainstream and varied, we're starting to see roasters and manufacturers start to get more creative with decaf – and Nespresso's new Sweet Vanilla Decaffeinato pods are so comforting, they might just become my new favorite bedtime drink.

The Sweet Vanilla Decaffeinato pods work in any Neespresso Vertuo machine (Image credit: Future)

Coffee beans can have notes of vanilla by themselves, depending on the variety and the roast, and when extracted correctly (a tricky process to get right), coffee does have a natural sweetness. However, it's quite subtle, and if you want something more dessert-like, a coffee with added flavor is the way forward.

Decaffeinated coffee is made by removing the caffeine from green (unroasted ) coffee beans by dissolving it in water. There are a few different ways to achieve this, and Nespresso uses two different methods. The first involves simply soaking the beans in hot water to dissolve the caffeine (known as the Swiss water process). This process leaves behind no residue that could alter the taste and character of the coffee

The second method (the carbon dioxide process) is more efficient. Again, it involves soaking the beans in water to make them porous, but this time the soaked beans are placed in a pressurized container and exposed to CO2, which dissolves the caffeine.

Once caffeine has been extracted from the beans, it can be re-used to make high-caffeine drinks like Nespresso's energy-boosting functional coffees.

The vanilla flavor works well with barista oat milk (Image credit: Future)

After loading a pod into my Nespresso Vertuo Pop (one of the best Nespresso machines around if you need something compact) and hitting the brew button, I was left with a cup full of creamy decaf coffee with a generous layer of foam.

It's delicious by itself, and the added flavor doesn't overpower the taste of the beans, but I enjoy a milky bedtime drink and vanilla typically works well with dairy, so I was keen to see how it would hold up as a white coffee.

The Sweet Vanilla Decaffeinato pods are mug-sized, meaning they'll fill a 230ml mug, but I still had room for a little caramel-flavored barista oat milk, or regular dairy milk. The flavors both combine very nicely, though regular milk would work best if you don't have a particularly sweet tooth.

Hopefully we'll see even more decaf options soon – cheating or otherwise.

• IBM's fastest mainframe computer to date has a Telum II CPU with on-chip AI coprocessor
• There is also an AI accelerator that it hopes will make it an attractive option
• The IBM z17 brings Big Blue in the age of AI but will this be enough to fend off competition?

IBM has announced the z17, a new mainframe to address growing AI demands on enterprise infrastructure.

Positioned as a foundation for hybrid cloud environments, and with support for real-time AI and enterprise-grade resilience, the IBM z17 is designed to handle transaction-heavy workloads, improve operational efficiency, and address security concerns in industries with stringent compliance needs.

Central to the new mainframe is the Telum II processor, which was originally announced at Hot Chips 2024. Developed using Samsung 5nm technology, it integrates an on-chip AI coprocessor to support inferencing tasks, including small language models with fewer than 8 billion parameters.

Big on security

Alongside the processor, Big Blue plans to offer the Spyre Accelerator card (also originally previewed at Hot Chips) to complement the Telum II and extend the AI compute capabilities for unstructured data processing such as text-based generative AI.

The z17 can accommodate up to 48 of these accelerator cards, allowing scalability across enterprise workloads. It is expected to be available 4Q 2025 via PCIe card.

Security is a big focus for the IBM z17 and includes AI-powered features such as Sensitive Data Tagging for z/OS and IBM Threat Detection for z/OS, both of which use natural language processing to identify and protect sensitive data or scan for potential threats.

In addition, it supports NIST-standardized quantum-safe cryptographic algorithms to address future regulatory requirements.

The z17 system also incorporates a new data processing unit to accelerate I/O protocols for networking and storage.

IBM says it expects application developers to benefit from AI-driven assistants that can automate tasks across the software development lifecycle, improving productivity and reducing skill transition issues in mainframe environments.

Transactional AI use cases such as fraud detection, money laundering prevention, and anomaly detection can now be deployed closer to the data source, IBM says, with support for multimodel inference to improve accuracy and reduce false positives.

"The industry is quickly learning that AI will only be as valuable as the infrastructure it runs on," said Ross Mauri, general manager of IBM Z and LinuxONE, IBM.

"With z17, we're bringing AI to the core of the enterprise with the software, processing power, and storage to make AI operational quickly. Additionally, organizations can put their vast, untapped stores of enterprise data to work with AI in a secured, cost-effective way."

Available in configurations that support up to 208 processors and 64TB of memory, the z17, which is the culmination of five years of design and development, is designed to operate at 5.5GHz and comes housed in up to four frames. While aimed at critical workloads, IBM is also positioning it as part of a larger hybrid cloud strategy.

IBM also took the wraps off z/OS 3.2, the next version of its flagship operating system for IBM Z systems. This is planned for release in the third quarter of 2025.

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• New leaks have given us our first glimpse of the Fujifilm 'X-Half'
• The half-frame compact camera would be a first for Fujifilm
• It'll seemingly combine digital half-frame shots with a retro design

Fujifilm has never exactly followed the herd, but even by its standards the company's next compact camera will be an eccentric one – if new rumors about the so-called 'X-Half' are to be believed.

Fuji Rumors recently shared what it claims is the first leaked image of the camera, and has now followed that up with new post that gives it a name. The X-Half, it seems, will be a compact camera with 1-inch sensor that rivals the many half-frame cameras that have become popular among young snappers in recent years.

What is half-frame? As the Pentax 17 and Kodak Ektar H35 show, the format –traditionally found on 35mm film cameras – sees shots taken in vertical format, effectively giving you twice as many photos from a roll a film. The X-Half's twist, according to rumors, is that it'll be digital and, potentially, a bit more desirable than those two cameras.

Meet the Fujifilm X-Half – Fujifilm’s Upcoming Digital Half Frame Camerahttps://t.co/5Bpynjtpy9 pic.twitter.com/viEj6jIThIApril 11, 2025

Another reason why half-frame cameras are popular is because they easily let you create 'diptych' images, or two side-by-side frames. This lets you juxtapose two different angles on the same subject, which is a very social media-friendly trick. To help you compose these shots, Fuji Rumors claims the X-Half will have a vertical LCD on its rear panel.

Like Fujifilm's other big hits – notably the Fujifilm X100VI – the X-Half will also seemingly again blend digital convenience with film-like charm. The leaked specs include an optical viewfinder (which should keep the price down, compared to an EVF), a retro, Leica-like design, and a few manual controls including an exposure compensation dial. It'll also apparently have a fixed lens with an f/2.4 aperture.

There's unfortunately no rumored released date for the X-Half yet. But with speculation on the rise, it seems possible that Fujifilm could launch it in time for the summer seasons in the US and UK – assuming tariff-related complications don't derail it.

Analysis: A fun idea, if not for the hardcore Fuji faithful

The recent Fujifilm GFX100RF (above) sits somewhere towards the opposite end of the scale to the rumored X-Half (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

With many Fujifilm fans patiently waiting for more 'serious' cameras, like an X-Pro 4, these X-Half rumors probably aren't what many have been waiting for – but I'm happy to see something new on the horizon.

While the idea of a digital half-frame camera seems odd on paper – after all, you don't need to worry about saving film costs with digital – the X-Half could definitely find an audience among those who want a retro sidekick that's different from their smartphones, but easier to use than the best film cameras.

In that sense, it'll likely have more in common with Fujifilm's Instax series than pricier pro models like the GFX100RF. If it is Fujifilm's next launch, you could see it as the perfect flip-side to the latter, which is a medium format powerhouse that costs $4,899 / £4,699 / AU$8,799. The X-Half could, instead, be a compact that caters to a new, younger audience who want something with a bit more substance than an Instax.

That may leave Fuji fans who sit in between those two extremes feeling a little unloved, but a Fujifilm X-E5 is still rumored to be en route in 2025. For now, it seems Fujifilm is doing what originally brought it such big success in the early days of mirrorless cameras – hopping on new photographic trends with its own unique twist.

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They can't keep getting away with this.

T-Mobile is boosting some fees that it says are for governmental or telco uses.

• Garmin has announced a bike light that doubles as a 4K safety camera
• That means it's effectively a cycling dash cam with a 600-lumen light
• The Varia Vue is available now for $549 / £459 (around AU$965)

Garmin has just revealed a powerful new gadget for cyclists who want to invest in their road safety – a cross between a powerful 600-lumen front light and a 4K safety camera, which means it can double as a cycling dash cam.

The new Varia Vue is effectively the flip-side of Garmin's rear tail light and radar (called the Varia RCT715), which it can also sync with. This model is much more powerful, though, being much brighter thanks to its 600-lumen output. It also packs a 4K front-facing camera (rather than 1080p), which can automatically save videos if it detects an incident – just like the best dash cams.

It's one of those products that it feels like Garmin should have made years ago. Whether you cycle in busy, well-lit urban areas or on country roads – or, like me, a bit of both – a powerful front light and a camera are essential cycling accessories, so it's good to see them combined one nicely designed, albeit expensive bundle.

Garmin says the built-in camera has electronic image stabilization to help you make out license plates even on pot-holed roads, although this does come at the expense of a crop. We'll have to see how well that stabilization compares to the best action cameras like the GoPro Hero 13 Black.

While Garmin has experience with action cams with its now-discontinued Virb series, I'm not expecting the Varie Vue to match GoPro and DJI for image quality. Even so, it needs to reach a certain level to make it a viable cycling dash cam, as capturing small details can be important. To help capture those incidents in full, it also has a concealed microphone for audio.

(Image credit: Garmin)

The only potential downside of combining these two gadgets is battery life, but Garmin's claimed specs suggest it's workable. It says the Varia Vue will last "up to seven hours" in day flash mode with the camera recording (although this drops to just over an hour on full brightness) and or "up to nine hours" when the headlight is turned off, and you shoot in 1080p. If you're planning a long ride, the camera can also be used while charging.

Your video clips are stored on a microSD card (which isn't included), and you can also save footage automatically to the cloud via Wi-Fi using Garmin Vault.

The downside? There's inevitably a subscription for using Vault, and it's a pretty pricey at $99 / £99 a year.

Still, the overall concept is a good one, and as a London-based cyclist, I like the idea of neatly combining a light and cycling dash cam in one relatively small unit. The Varia Vue is available to buy now for $549 / £459 (around AU$965).

Safety comes with a hefty price tag

In many ways, bike tech still feels a little behind the times, which is why I still combine a fairly dated Lezyne front light (which still has a micro USB charging port) with an old GoPro if I'm heading out on a long-ish ride on the roads.

But it seems there's finally a little more competition in the smart bike light space, with Garmin's Varia Vue arriving to take on the more established Cycliq Fly12 Sport (which combines a 4K camera with a 400-lumen light for a more affordable $319 / £299 / AU$449). Wahoo also recently announced the new Trackr Radar, a rear taillight with radar tech like Garmin's Varia RCT715.

None of these are exactly cheap, and there is an argument that you're better off going with two separate devices if you don't need a camera for every ride. While nice in theory, Varia Vue's cloud storage component could also prove to be an excessively expensive extra if you don't often use it.

Still, it's good to see some long-awaited innovation in bike safety tech, and the increased competition should hopefully mean some more affordable options follow in Varia Vue's slipstream – depending on tariffs, of course.

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• Sarah Wynn-Williams, former Director of Public Policy at Facebook, spoke in front of the US Senate
• She said Facebook offered data on US citizens to the Chinese Communist Party in exchange for being allowed to operate in the country
• Facebook has denied all claims

A former Meta executive recently spoke in front of the US Congress, accusing Facebook and its CEO of allegedly offering sensitive data on American citizens to the Chinese government, in exchange for being allowed to operate in the country.

Sarah Wynn-Williams, former Director of Public Policy at Facebook, spoke in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism.

During the hearing, she alleged that for her former employer, there was “no bridge too far” to get into the Chinese market, and that it would do anything to get access to 1.4 billion people living there, including offering data on Americans to the Chinese Communist Party.

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AI and censorship

“The only reason China does not currently have access to US user data through this pipeline is because Congress stepped in,” she was cited saying.

The company slammed her testimony, calling it “divorced from reality and riddled with false claims,” according to a Meta spokesperson.

“While Mark Zuckerberg himself was public about our interest in offering our services in China and details were widely reported beginning over a decade ago, the fact is this: We do not operate our services in China today,” the spokesperson added.

Wynn-Williams did not stop there, either. She also alleged that Meta contributed to China’s advancements in artificial intelligence, since its Llama AI models were “openly available” in the country.

There were even mentions of military applications of AI. Finally, she also alleged that Meta collaborated with the Chinese Communist Party in developing censorship tools, and then lied about it in the public.

Some senators commended Wynn-Williams’ testimony, and the fact that the filed whistleblower complaints with the SEC and the US Department of Justice after leaving the social media business.

They commented that Facebook was afraid of the truth coming out and that they would stop at nothing to prevent Wynn-Williams from testifying.

Via The Register

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• Nvidia's new RTX 5060 Ti GPU is almost here as MSI's third-party models have been leaked in new images
• The images reveal the GPU's PCIe 5.0 interface along with 16-pin or 8-pin power connectors
• PCIe 4.0 motherboard users may need to upgrade to get the best out of the new GPU

Nvidia has yet to complete the full launch of its RTX 5000 series GPU lineup, as it still has some low-end cards in the pipeline. Fortunately, a new leak has given us a first look at third-party models of an unannounced Blackwell GPU. Spoiler alert: you might want to upgrade your motherboard.

Thanks to VideoCardz, MSI's GeForce RTX 5060 Ti graphics cards have leaked with new images showcasing four different models, and each of them uses either 16-pin or 8-pin connectors. More importantly, all of these GPUs will use PCIe 5.0, as the leaked images (which I won't post here) indicate.

While higher-end RTX 5000 series GPUs can provide great performance results for users on non-PCIe 5.0 motherboards, it might not be the same story for lower-end cards like the upcoming RTX 5060 Ti.

Since low-end GPUs don't have the same processing power as what you'd get with an RTX 5080, for example, aspects like VRAM capacity and PCIe bandwidth speeds have a bigger impact on performance.

If the RTX 5060 Ti is indeed PCIe 5.0 x8, it's more than likely going to hinder performance for gamers still using PCIe 4.0 (or older) motherboards, as the GPU won't be used to its full potential when it may desperately need it - especially for the rumored 8GB VRAM models.

In this case, you have to wonder whether buying a new budget GPU and possibly having to upgrade to a PCIe 5.0 motherboard (if you don't already have one) is worth the cost: instead, it may be a better choice to purchase an older high-end GPU - if one can be found at launch price, anyway.

(Image credit: Nvidia) Is budget PC gaming gradually becoming non-existent?

Let me get one thing straight: this isn't me having a go at Nvidia or any other GPU manufacturer making the jump to the PCIe 5.0 interface. It's rather an observation of how bad the GPU market is in terms of consumers finding GPUs at their launch prices, and the high likelihood of having to mandatorily upgrade your motherboard or other components to get the best out of your new graphics card.

For those using PCIe 4.0 motherboards, the RTX 3000 and 4000 series GPUs are ideal, as they are all PCIe 4.0 cards. While the new PCIe 5.0 cards can still be used on other motherboards, you will definitely feel the performance loss, particularly with weaker hardware as its capabilities would be cut in half by bandwidth limitations.

It's also easy for me to suggest buying an older high-end GPU, but you'd either struggle to find it in stock anywhere due to discontinuations, or end up overpaying (just look at XFX's Radeon RX 7900 XTX for example).

So it begs the question: is 'budget' PC gaming becoming non-existent? Inflation, scalpers, low availability, and tariffs are all active, making what is supposed to be budget hardware more expensive. When you tie that in with an entire PC build, it's no longer 'budget'.

Aside from handheld gaming PCs or laptops, PC gaming is currently an expensive hobby, and I'm hoping things can change sooner for the better...

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• WhatsApp has just rolled out a plethora of new features and functions for chats and calls
• This includes zoom for video calls, scanning and sending documents directly from WhatsApp, and a new way to prioritize group chat notifications
• Out of all the new additions however, there are two that haven't sat right with users

The aftermath of Apple’s latest iOS 18.4 update is still lingering, and we’re all coming to grips with its roster of new features. With that said, WhatsApp has also just dropped its own big update, announcing brand new additions to its existing call, chats, and channels sections.

Now I say ‘big update’, but that’s a bit of an understatement as WhatsApp’s list of new upgrades is extensive, and includes minor new features such as smoother video call quality, and voice message transcripts on Channels. However there are nine stand-out features we think are interesting additions to the messaging platform, but two of them have rubbed us the wrong way.

A plethora of new functions

First of all, despite how small-scale some of the new features are, there’s a handful that could make a significant impact on your WhatsApp experience, starting with its simple pinch-to-zoom feature in video calls.

It’s taken WhatsApp a considerable amount of time to catch up to the likes of FaceTime where users have been able to zoom for a while, but regardless of the delay on WhatsApp’s part, this is a benefit I know frequent video call users like myself will reap. In addition to this new call feature, WhatsApp now allows you to add someone to an ongoing 1:1 call right from a chat thread.

Calls aside, WhatsApp has brought even more functions to its chat section. If you’re an iPhone user that gravitates towards WhatsApp as opposed to using its flagship iMessage service, there’s now a way for you to set WhatsApp as your default, provided you’ve installed the latest version of iOS. All you have to do is go to your iPhone Settings, select Default Apps, and choose WhatsApp.

(Image credit: Future)

It doesn’t stop there. WhatsApp is doubling down on its integration with your daily and personal life, introducing new events updates in 1:1 chats as well as groups, as well as a new feature that allows you to scan and send documents directly from WhatsApp on iPhone.

(Image credit: Future)

The last two helpful features that could benefit WhatsApp users include video notes (like voice notes) for channels, allowing admins to instantly record and share videos up to 60 seconds. Finally, you can highlight notifications in groups, giving you an easier way to prioritize your group chat notifications.

Overall, the new additions to WhatsApp pack a lot of value, even though some may have a slightly less impact than others. But of course, there are two other functions that WhatsApp has added that haven’t quite sat well with users – one which made quite a bad impression this week.

Meta AI is interfering once again

If you’ve been out of the loop, WhatsApp introduced a new Meta AI button in EU regions that you can’t remove from the app’s UI – leading to an uproar of angry WhatsApp users.

Essentially an AI chatbot feature, Meta’s new button in WhatsApp is a place for users to go to for a number of functions like answering questions or generating content. But the function itself isn’t necessarily what users are mad about, and it’s more to do with the fact they’ve not been given the option to remove it.

Quietly introduced in WhatsApp’s recent wave of new functions, there’s now a way of seeing who in your group chats are online, thanks to a new function that shows you the real-time status of each member in a group chat. This is obviously less of a headache compared to the untouchable Meta button, but it means that there's a lot more pressure to be swift in your replies.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a punctual text-replier, but we all have those days where we just don't have the energy to deal with our group chats – especially when plan-making goes horribly wrong, or you just don't want to reply to particular person. This new feature makes it easier for your friends and family to call you out, and WhatsApp knows exactly what it's doing.

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Surveys show that Black, Hispanic and Native Americans are significantly less likely than their white counterparts to have a home internet connection and computer.

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Learn about common flowers and plants that may be beautiful but pose a threat to you, your child or even your pet.

• Oracle had started sending out data breach notification letters
• In the letters, it downplays the significance of recent attacks
• However not everyone agrees with that assessment

We now apparently have confirmation that Oracle has been notifying its customers about a recent data breach - but the company is still standing its ground and saying it was an irrelevant attack that will make no difference whatsoever.

In early April 2025, a threat actor with the alias “rose87168” opened a new thread on an underground forum to advertise the sale of a database stolen from the company. The database allegedly contained six million records, including private security keys, encrypted credentials, and LDAP entries, all belonging to Oracle customers.

To confirm the authenticity of the information, the hacker even uploaded a new document to the cloud, containing their own email address.

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Oracle denies severity

Oracle first denied, and later confirmed the breach, but said it was a pointless attack since the servers were old and unused, and the data contained within was outdated.

Now, BleepingComputer reports that email notification letters started going out: "Oracle would like to state unequivocally that the Oracle Cloud—also known as Oracle Cloud Infrastructure or OCI—has NOT experienced a security breach," the letter allegedly reads.

"No OCI customer environment has been penetrated. No OCI customer data has been viewed or stolen. No OCI service has been interrupted or compromised in any way," it added in emails sent from replies@oracle-mail.com, prompting customers to contact Oracle Support or their account manager if they have additional questions.

"A hacker did access and publish user names from two obsolete servers that were never a part of OCI. The hacker did not expose usable passwords because the passwords on those two servers were either encrypted and/or hashed. Therefore the hacker was not able to access any customer environments or customer data."

A report from The Register claims the data belonging to one of the victims was created in 2024. The investigation is currently ongoing but so far it seems that the attacker exploited a vulnerability in Oracle Access Manager to breach Oracle-hosted servers.

Cybersecurity experts CrowdStrike are currently analyzing the incident. The FBI was also notified about the attack, Oracle has confirmed.

Via BleepingComputer

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• The OnePlus Watch 3 now costs $499.99 in the US
• It was originally set to cost just $329.99
• The 'Meda in China' watch is likely just the first of many tech price hikes

While the US government’s stance on import tariffs has softened for many regions (at least at the time of writing) it’s still full steam ahead with major import duty being imposed on China-made goods. Which is perhaps why the new OnePlus Watch 3 costs $499.99 – $170 more than the $329.99 price tag that had previously been revealed for the smart watch.

OnePlus has yet to confirm if the price hike is tariff-related, but we do know that goods coming from China to the US are currently facing a 145% tariff. That amount has only been increasing, as China and the US seem locked into a trade war neither wants to back down from.

We know it’s made in China after a now-infamous typo on its back, which declared the smart watch is “Meda in China.” This actually caused the watch’s full release to be delayed until now – perhaps inadvertently leading to this price hike as in that time major new tariffs were introduced.

(Image credit: Future)

What’s more, while the device has had a price hike in the US, in other countries that’s not the case. For example in the UK store it still costs just £319.99, suggesting that this cost increase is indeed a US tariff issue.

A sign of what’s to come

Unless the US Government’s stance on tariffs changes sometime soon, you can expect prices to go up for your other favorite gadgets. While smaller import duties could maybe have been eaten up by brands looking to stay competitive in the US market, 154% hikes are impossible to ignore and they will be passed to consumers.

You simply can’t keep prices the same if products that previously cost, say, $100 to manufacture in China now at a minimum have to be sold in the US for $254 – and that's before you account for any kind of profit margin.

It’ll be especially frustrating for people looking to pick up more budget-friendly tech like the OnePlus Watch 3. You'll feel the squeeze of tech costing a few hundred bucks extra more than folks who were already happy to splash a lot of cash on high-end gadgets.

(Image credit: Future / Cas Kulk)

I wish we could offer some sound advice on what you should do to try and fend off price hikes, but apart from rushing to buy before you start to feel their sting, or hoping they go away again, there’s not a lot you can do. And it doesn’t help that the US government’s stance on tariffs seems to change every day – making predictions of what’ll happen next near-impossible.

Our best advice is for you to be prepared to make your existing tech last longer – or to buy secondhand or refurbished tech that won’t be subject to import duty because it’s already in the US. Because for the foreseeable future new tech is going to feel even more like a luxury than it did before.

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This comes after months of delays, privacy concerns and questions about whether the tool is something users really want.

In today’s fast-paced business world, organizations rely heavily on SaaS (Software as a Service) applications to drive efficiency, reduce costs and foster innovation. However, with this growing dependence on software comes the complex task of effectively managing SaaS contracts. Without robust contract management practices, organizations risk inefficiencies, hidden costs, non-compliance and missed opportunities to optimize their software spend.

For IT leaders, mastering SaaS contract management is a strategic necessity. Giulio D’Ali, Senior Vice President of SaaS Management from Technology and SaaS management solutions provider Calero shares five strategies to streamline SaaS contract management, reduce risks and enhance financial control.

1. Centralize SaaS contract management for greater visibility

One of the key challenges in SaaS management is the decentralization of contracts across various departments. Without a single view of all contracts, it becomes increasingly difficult to track renewal dates, service level agreements (SLAs) and vendor performance. This lack of oversight can lead to costly mistakes, such as missing renewal deadlines or overpaying for unused licenses.

Centralizing SaaS contract management through a dedicated platform helps organizations consolidate all contract data into one system. This centralized system provides comprehensive visibility into contract terms, pricing, renewal dates and vendor performance. For IT leaders, having this centralized view is crucial for aligning software expenditures with business goals. By understanding how each contract supports or hinders organizational objectives, you can make more informed decisions, mitigate compliance risks and negotiate better terms with vendors.

2. Automate renewals to avoid unnecessary costs and downtime

Managing renewals is one of the most time-consuming and error-prone aspects of SaaS contract management. Without automation, it’s easy for IT teams to miss renewal deadlines or to renew contracts without fully assessing the vendor’s performance. These oversights can lead to unexpected costs, service interruptions, or worse - being locked into unfavorable terms without the chance to renegotiate.

Automating the renewal process is one of the most effective ways to streamline SaaS contract management. By setting up automated reminders and alerts for upcoming renewals, organizations can ensure that they never miss a critical deadline. In addition to avoiding auto-renewals at high rates, automated renewals provide an opportunity for IT teams to assess the software’s value. This proactive approach allows businesses to negotiate better terms, eliminate underutilized licenses and reallocate resources to more strategic areas, ultimately maximizing ROI from SaaS investments.

3. Integrate SaaS management with procurement for seamless workflow

While SaaS management typically falls under the IT department, its impact stretches far beyond IT, touching procurement, finance and other areas of the business. The key to efficient SaaS contract management lies in ensuring that all departments are aligned and working off the same set of data.

Integrating SaaS management with procurement workflows allows organizations to align software purchasing with broader financial and operational strategies. This integration makes it easier for procurement teams to compare vendor offerings, track spending and ensure that purchasing decisions adhere to corporate policies. By automating and streamlining the contract management process, procurement and IT teams can work collaboratively to negotiate better deals, identify cost-saving opportunities and prevent unnecessary spending on duplicate or unused software subscriptions.

For IT leaders, this collaboration with procurement not only improves financial oversight but also reduces the risk of SaaS sprawl - where software subscriptions proliferate without oversight - leading to wasted resources and unnecessary complexity.

4. Ensure compliance and mitigate risk with proactive monitoring

As SaaS applications continue to play a critical role in business operations, compliance with industry regulations and internal policies is non-negotiable. Whether it’s adhering to data privacy laws like GDPR or ensuring that SaaS vendors meet specific security standards, managing compliance manually is no longer feasible.

SaaS management platforms equipped with compliance tracking capabilities allow IT leaders to monitor vendor performance against established security protocols and compliance frameworks. With real-time alerts and automated audits, organizations can proactively manage risks and ensure that vendors are meeting their contractual obligations. By integrating compliance monitoring directly into the contract management process, businesses can reduce the likelihood of regulatory violations, data breaches, or costly fines.

Furthermore, SaaS management platforms can help IT teams keep track of data protection and security certifications, providing peace of mind that all vendors are compliant with the necessary standards and minimizing potential risks to the business.

5. Gain financial control and improve forecasting accuracy

Managing SaaS contracts isn’t just about monitoring performance and compliance, it’s also about gaining financial control. With so many subscription-based services, it’s easy for costs to spiral out of control, especially if there’s a lack of visibility into overall usage and spending.

Streamlining SaaS contract management provides organizations with granular financial insights, enabling IT teams and CFOs to better forecast costs, optimize spending and eliminate waste. By consolidating all contract data, including license usage, spend history and renewal terms, businesses can gain a clearer picture of their software investments. This visibility allows for more accurate financial planning and better control over SaaS-related expenses.

Additionally, with better insights into software usage, organizations can prevent SaaS sprawl by identifying and eliminating underused or redundant subscriptions. This level of financial oversight helps organizations avoid unnecessary costs and keep SaaS expenses aligned with actual demand, improving overall budget predictability.

In an age of digital evolution, SaaS contract management is no longer a back-office task. For CIOs, CTOs, SAMs and other IT leaders, it’s a strategic lever for optimizing software investments, ensuring compliance and driving cost efficiency. By centralizing contract data, automating renewals, fostering collaboration between IT and procurement and utilizing compliance and financial insights, organizations can unlock the full value of their SaaS applications while avoiding the risks associated with poor contract management.

By adopting these five best practices, businesses can streamline their SaaS contract management process and stay agile, competitive and financially efficient in an increasingly complex digital landscape.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

The quantum revolution is no longer a distant dream; it is an approaching reality. With Amazon and Microsoft recently solidifying their positions in the quantum race, the conversation around quantum computing is moving from theoretical to practical. While we are still several years away from "Q Day" – the moment when quantum computers break today’s encryption standards – the leap from niche research to mainstream awareness can happen in an instant. If generative AI tools like ChatGPT are any indication, when quantum computing truly takes off, it will do so at an unprecedented speed.

For businesses, this presents both an opportunity and a challenge. The opportunity lies in leveraging quantum computing for unprecedented computational power, problem-solving, and innovation. The challenge, however, is that quantum computing will render current cryptographic protections obsolete, posing significant cybersecurity risks. Organizations that fail to prepare for post-quantum cryptography (PQC) could find themselves vulnerable in a post-quantum world.

Investing in innovation: A national and industry-wide commitment

Encouragingly, governments and businesses alike are acknowledging the potential and risks of quantum computing. The UK government has pledged £2.5 billion over the next decade to support quantum research and development, reinforcing the importance of staying ahead in this field. This investment has spurred businesses across the technology sector to accelerate their own quantum readiness plans, adopting new standards and preparing for a post-quantum future.

However, this is not a concern exclusive to the tech giants that have been investing in quantum computing for years. While companies like Google, IBM, and Apple have led the charge, smaller businesses must now prioritize quantum preparedness as well. Apple’s recent introduction of PQ3, a post-quantum cryptographic protocol for secure messaging, highlights how quantum security is becoming an industry-wide focus.

The underdogs must prepare: no company is immune

For smaller organizations, the transition to a quantum-secure future can feel overwhelming. Unlike major tech firms with dedicated research teams and vast budgets, smaller enterprises may struggle to dedicate resources to quantum readiness. Yet, these companies cannot afford to delay preparations.

Quantum computing threatens not just national security or financial institutions but any business that relies on cryptography – which is to say, nearly every company operating in a digital world. Sensitive customer data, financial transactions, intellectual property, and corporate communications all depend on encryption. If that encryption is suddenly compromised, the consequences could be catastrophic.

This is why businesses of all sizes must take stock of their vulnerabilities today. Assessing cryptographic dependencies, mapping out which systems rely on outdated encryption, and planning for a transition to PQC should be on every company’s roadmap. Cybersecurity leaders must work alongside technology providers to identify the best path towards quantum resilience before it becomes an urgent necessity.

The road to "Q day": A five-year countdown

While we may be at least five years away from "Q Day”, the timeline for quantum computing’s impact on security could accelerate unexpectedly. As advancements in quantum research continue, the ability to break conventional encryption algorithms could arrive sooner than anticipated. Organizations that set out a comprehensive quantum strategy today will be best positioned to weather the transition when the time comes.

Already, the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has issued guidance on preparing for PQC, emphasizing that companies must act now rather than later. The shift to PQC won’t be as simple as flipping a switch; it requires careful planning, testing, and industry-wide coordination.

Businesses that embrace the transition early will have a competitive advantage, securing their data and maintaining customer trust while others scramble to catch up. Meanwhile, those that delay could find themselves facing increased regulatory scrutiny and reputational damage when quantum threats become a reality.

A call to action: prepare now, stay secure later

The era of quantum computing is coming faster than many realize, and its impact on cybersecurity will be profound. As we saw with AI, technological advancements can transition from the lab to everyday use at lightning speed. Companies that recognize the urgency of post-quantum cybersecurity today will be best equipped to navigate the future.

Governments and large corporations have already begun laying the groundwork, but this is not just an issue for the biggest players. Businesses of all sizes must take the quantum threat seriously and begin their transition towards quantum-secure encryption now. The call to action is clear: invest in post-quantum cryptography, assess security vulnerabilities, and develop a strategy for the quantum age. Waiting until "Q Day" arrives is not an option – because by then, it will be too late.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro