CIO Essentials: Email stress, spam threats and "broken" IT...

Ever wondered what CIOs are reading on silicon.com? Our CIO Essentials feature puts you in the picture. Each week a leading IT chief picks his or her top stories and explains why they matter.

This week we hear from Matthew McGrory, group head of IT for Brands Hatch MotorSport Vision.

Email - the root of your work stress?
I now check mine twice a day and have become instantly more efficient overnight. Well worth implementing email training to educate users.

IT's not broken but still needs fixing
IT needs a constant PR makeover and this article just proves the point. Make sure you shout about your achievements.

Spam surge emanating from the Far East
This is a real problem for my user base and even the spam filter specialists are finding it hard to keep up. I see this as a real threat to usability online in the coming year.

Read our series of features on how F1 relies on technology

♦ F1 champions put their faith in technology
♦ Photos: The tech driving Renault Formula 1
♦ Q&A: Alex Burns, COO at AT&T Williams F1 team
♦ AT&T backs F1 in bid to go global
♦ How Formula One takes tech to the extremes
♦ Photos: Tech titans back F1 racing hopes

Data sharing shake-up on the cards
This is well overdue. I deal with large quantities of personal data and the lack of a clear legal framework that is unambiguous is often frustrating. It's good to see something is starting to happen along those lines.

AA slammed for "slow and unreliable" IT systems
The general public, non-IT personnel and clearly even Trade Unions are getting more IT intelligent. They know what's possible and won't tolerate second best any more. I envisage many more stories along these lines in the months ahead.

If you are a UK-based IT director or CIO and would like to take part in the CIO Essentials series by choosing your top five stories of the week, send us an email here at silicon.com.