Books published by BCS Learning & Development Limited

Increasingly, organisations rely on information for their day-to-day operations, and the loss or unavailability of information can mean the difference between success and ruin. Information risk management (IRM) is about identifying, assessing and prioritising risks to keep information secure and available. This accessible book is a practical guide to understanding the principles of IRM and developing a strategic approach to an IRM programme. It also includes a chapter on applying IRM in the public sector. It is the only textbook for the BCS Practitioner Certificate in Information Risk Management.

This practical guide provides insight into software testing, explaining the basics of the testing process and how to perform effective tests. It provides an overview of different techniques and how to apply them. It is the best-selling official textbook of the ISTQB-BCS Certified Tester Foundation Level.

Adopting an Agile approach can revolutionize the way business analysts work. This book provides a comprehensive introduction to Agile methodologies and how these can be applied to business analysis.

Agile principles and values transform the way organisations carry out business and respond to change. To realise success, an agile mindset needs to be adopted throughout an organisation, not just within the IT team. This book is an introductory guide to agile principles, values and mindset that will equip individuals and teams, regardless of role, to apply Agile from first principles. Practical examples are used throughout to illustrate agile theory with real-world context. This book is ideal for those wanting to achieve the BCS Foundation Certificate in Agile.

AI presents a new paradigm in software development, representing the biggest change to how we think about quality and testing in decades. Many of the well known issues around AI, such as bias, manifest themselves as quality management problems. This book, aimed at testing and quality management practitioners who want to understand more, covers trustworthiness of AI and the complexities of testing machine learning systems, before pivoting to how AI can be used itself in software test automation.

The journey towards the autonomous enterprise has begun; there are already companies operating in a highly automated way and with artificial intelligence (AI) solutions offering compelling returns on investment. More organisations will be joining their ranks. With a workforce of machines that are augmented by humans, the autonomous enterprise will turn the current organisational model on its head. Corporate decision-makers will need to understand the opportunities and risks that the autonomous enterprise presents, to learn how best to navigate the shifting competitive landscape on their journey of change. This book is your guide to this innovation, presenting the concepts in real world contexts by covering the art of the possible today and providing glimpses into the future of business.

It has long been recognised that the technology industry is not diverse and gender inclusive. In the UK, the proportion of women in technology roles has remained stubbornly beneath 20% for the last twenty years. With this book we hope to help address that. This guide to tackling the gender imbalance in technology professions offers expertise, initiatives and true stories to support those wishing to bring greater gender diversity into the workplace. It aims to inform regarding background, theory and policy; advise on concrete actions that can be undertaken, and to be an exemplar for companies, organisations, establishments and campaigns in the form of real-world case studies.

Solution architecture is a relatively new specialism but is at the very heart of the relationship between business and IT. This book is an authoritative and practical introduction, suitable for new entrants to the field but also of benefit to experienced professionals wishing to consolidate their knowledge and skills. The tools and techniques of solution architecture are presented in the context of a framework and life cycle, taking a problem or idea through logical steps to design a holistic and evidence-based solution. There is a focus on collaboration with the business as well as other disciplines such as enterprise architecture, business analysis and cyber security.

The practice of test automation is invaluable for modern software testers. Done well, it significantly increases software testing's efficiency, effectiveness and coverage and is essential for continuous testing and continuous delivery. This comprehensive guide for managers covers test automation in-depth for medium- to large-scale implementations, from the benefits of test automation to defining, building and implementing a test automation approach that is fit-for-purpose, to acquiring and executing test execution tools and frameworks. Industry examples are included throughout the book, templates and checklists can be found in the Appendix.

A well thought out, fit-for-purpose data strategy is vital to modern data-driven businesses. This book is your essential guide to planning, developing and implementing such a strategy, presenting a framework which takes you from data strategy definition to successful strategy delivery and execution with support and engagement from stakeholders. Key topics include data-driven business transformation, change enablers, benefits realisation and measurement. Case studies, example scenarios and reader questions throughout the book are designed to stimulate real-world thinking and help you put the framework into practice in the context of your own organisation.

Large-scale data loss and data privacy compliance breaches continue to make headline news, highlighting the need for stringent data protection policies, especially when personal or commercially sensitive information is at stake. While regulations and legislation exist to address these issues, how organisations can best tailor their compliance approaches to their own operational circumstances has remained an open question. The focus of this book is on operationalising a truly risk-based approach to data protection and compliance, beyond just emphasis on regulatory frameworks and legalistic compliance.

This book explains data quality management in practical terms, focusing on three key areas - the nature of data in enterprises, the purpose and scope of data quality management, and implementing a data quality management system, in line with ISO 8000-61.

Cybersecurity issues, problems and incidents don't always relate to technological faults. Many can be avoided or mitigated through improved cybersecurity awareness (A), behaviour (B) and culture change (C). These ABCs are key components of the overall security maturity of an organisation. This book is a practical guide to the Cybersecurity ABCs, for business and IT leaders looking to enhance security culture in their organisations by improving understanding and practice of cybersecurity at an individual level. Crucial awareness, behaviour and culture concepts are covered from the ground up alongside practical tips and examples, providing a key resource for those looking to create lasting cybersecurity awareness, behavioural and culture change initiatives.

This comprehensive guide for management professionals discusses the IT-related legal issues faced by businesses on a daily basis. Legal concepts and terminology are notoriously difficult for non-specialists, but this book explains in plain English the most relevant legal frameworks and gives examples from actual cases.

With technical skills in ever increasing demand and software updates coming thick and fast, the need for technical training is rising rapidly. This book is the essential guide to establishing, managing, growing and controlling a technical training business within a national or global organisation.

Business analysts must respond to the challenges of today's highly competitive global economy by developing practical, creative and financially sound solutions that will address business problems and grasp new opportunities. This excellent guide sets out the essential toolkit required. It is also ideal for students wanting to gain university and industry qualifications in business analysis and information systems, and is particularly beneficial for those studying for the BCS Professional Certificate in Business Analysis. Important additions in the third edition include expanded discussions regarding gap analysis and benefits management, the impact of Agile software development and an introduction to business architecture.

Extensive advertising and review coverage in the leading business and IT media, and direct mail campaigns targeting IT professionals, libraries, and corporate customers.

In this practical guide, the relationship between incident response and digital forensics is explored and you will learn how to undertake each and balance them to meet the needs of an organisation in the event of an information security incident. Best practice tips and real-life examples are included throughout.

Commercial, personal and sensitive information is very hard to keep secure, and technological solutions are not the only answer. In today's technology-driven environment, there is an ever-increasing demand for information delivery on various devices in the office, at home and in public places. A compromise has to be struck between security of information and its availability. This book provides significant first steps along the path of dealing with information assurance in a realistic and comprehensive manner. The second edition has been expanded to include the security of cloud-based resources. The remainder of the contents have been reviewed and reordered to reflect the changes to the BCS Certification in Information Security Management Principles which the book supports.

This book is for executives, practitioners, and project managers who are tasked with the movement of data from old systems to a new repository. It uses a series of steps developed in real life situations that will get the reader from an empty new system to one that is populated, working and backed by the user population. This new edition of the primary text on the subject is updated to take account of changes in technology and the maturing of the market for Data Migration services. The most recent figures suggest that nearly 40% of Data Migration projects are over time, over budget or fail entirely. Using the proven methodology in Practical Data Migration will vastly increase the chances of achieving on time, on budget, and zero defect migrations.

This book walks you through how to establish and grow a strong security operations team, including hiring the right people, understanding the business the team is working to protect, knowing when to build a tool rather than buy, and crafting procedures that allow the team to detect and respond to a wide variety of security threats.

This book explains the software developer role, including the relevant skills and competencies you will need. Discussion of popular programming languages is covered, as well as tools and techniques of the trade. Career progression tips and software developer case studies round off the book.

Ideal for IT practitioners with project management responsibility, this book explains the principles of IT-related project management, covering key areas such as project planning, monitoring and control, change and risk management and communication between project stakeholders. This edition introduces the latest thinking, terminology and standards.

This book presents the key test design techniques, in line with ISTQB, and explains when and how to use them, including in combination, with practical, real-life examples. Automated test design methods are also explored. Tips and exercises are included throughout the book, allowing you to test your knowledge as you progress.

Change management is about the control of all changes that have an effect on the IT services and hence, the business of an organisation. This practical book describes the change manager role in depth including purpose, required skills and career progression. It also covers relevant tools, standards and frameworks.

This book takes you through the creation and management of a BA service, from setting strategy to recruiting business analysts, to continuous improvement, through to useful supporting tools and technology. Top tips, case studies and worked examples are included throughout.

This book provides a reasoned and authoritative description of what user experience (UX) is, why it works and what tools and techniques are involved, in line with the BCS Foundation Certificate in User Experience, based on ISO 9241-210.

Many IT professionals who find themselves in a management position for the first time can find it daunting. With this book you will learn that management is about people rather than process or procedure, it is an art rather than a science. There is no one particular right way, your approach has to be geared to the individual and the task in hand. With a focus on practical advice, this book will provide you with theory, hints and tips, case studies and examples from the world of IT management. All the stories you will read in this book are true; all the advice has been personally tried and tested; all the tools and techniques have been applied by other aspiring leaders with positive results.