This week: Microsoft allows US customers to pay using Bitcoins; the federal government gives telcos four months to develop a copyright code or have one forced on them; and Arista hits back after Cisco launches patent and copyright legal action. [ + ]

After months of negotiations, NBN Co has signed agreements allowing it to progressively take control of parts of Telstra and Optus's HFC networks, as well as copper assets from Telstra. [ + ]

Optus Business has won a seven-year whole-of-business deal to manage Suncorp's ICT services, including network and call centre services. [ + ]

Over 85% of Australian companies plan to at least sustain their IT training budgets next year, and consider improved proficiency to be the most effective outcome. [ + ]

Microsoft will start hosting its cloud-based Office 365 and Dynamics CRM suites in Australian data centres from March next year and has added more local partners to its network of providers. [ + ]

Hundreds of homes in the heart of Vietnam are now connected to broadband internet, IP telephony and IP TV, thanks to the smarts of Australian networking company Warren and Brown. [ + ]

NEC Australia has secured a three-year, $55m deal to provide end-user computing services to the NT government, and will distribute a third of the value of the contract to local partners. [ + ]

The most important step an enterprise can take to ensure that they are able to effectively capitalise on the changing requirements of application delivery is to understand the types of solution providers available, says Akamai's Gary Ballabio. [ + ]

The Federal Court rejects Apple's 'app store' trademark appeal, cybercrim attacks are actually stock market plays and the Australian Computer Society appoints Andrew Johnson as CEO. [ + ]

ICT recruiters took nearly twice as long to fill vacancies in October compared to previous months, with the problem most pronounced in South Australia and the ACT. [ + ]

Australian businesses lack confidence in their data protection and recovery capabilities, and most do not have plans in place for data from emerging technologies, an EMC study indicates. [ + ]

Commonwealth Bank will provide $5m to the ARC Centre for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology for its efforts to build a silicon-based quantum computer. [ + ]

Building a successful team of data scientists requires being aware of the range of requisite skills and hiring to maintain a balance of skills across the team, says Teradata's Ross Farrelly. [ + ]

In the Game of Thrones universe, the good guys lose as many battles as they win. But we can learn from their mistakes. Follow these six security tips and perhaps you’ll prevail when the digital White Walkers storm your network gates. [ + ]

IT organisations must plan effectively to ensure adequate operating system, firmware and patch support within the new IoT age and secure methods of providing IoT clients with access to core data and applications. [ + ]