The Big Picture: The government is failing to follow its own rules

The big news this month follows a legal theme, with the UK government breaking its own security guidance and formal checks beginning for IR35 compliance. Welcome to this month's Big Picture.

In this series, Delta Site Editor Tom Allen looks back at the technology industry's most important stories in the last month, through five different lenses.

In our first story, we're looking at a 'massive' breach of national security guidance. No, this wasn't the work of a prolific hacking group or a rogue insider: just government ministers who fail to understand - or worse, understand and ignore - the difference in security between official and personal devices.

Using a personal phone or email account for official government business is a significant national security risk. Opposing nation states could potentially gain insights into sensitive matters - or ministers could avoid scrutiny by using unofficial channels, as in the case of former Health Minister Lord Bethell.

The Good Law Project is challenging the government over its actions.

Moving to the civil service, HMRC has begun formal IR35 compliance checks in the oil & gas and financial services sectors. The new legislation attempts to close a tax loophole, and many contractors are unhappy about the added complexity - and, of course, the lost revenue. However, these compliance checks just reinforce HMRC's commitment to its decision.

We're also looking at two high-profile reversals by some of the world's biggest companies; a new tactic from ransomware gangs; and the life and death of a British computing legend.

All of this, and more, in this month's Big Picture.