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# No, don't spend public funds to protect students' homework
- URL: https://www.techstories.co/no-dont-spend-public-funds-to-protect-students-homework/
- Published: 2024-09-19T17:01:00.000Z
- Updated: 2024-09-20T17:09:26.000Z
- Description: On Mobile Guardian, lithium-ion battery fires, and attacks on the supply chain.
- Author: Paul Mah
- Tags: Unfiltered

Can you handle the truth in the face? Here's what some of you privately told me about 3 recent stories.

One of the things that make it a pleasure to post regularly is the very thoughtful and insightful comments that many of you write.

I do learn a lot from them.

**Unfiltered Fridays**

While most leave comments, some of you also message me – due to seniority or industry affiliation that makes it unwise or impossible to comment publicly.

I've always thought this was a pity.

But what if I gave some of these (non-confidential) insights an airing every week? Let's call it "Unfiltered Fridays" for the unvarnished truth from tech leaders on the front lines.

Completely anonymous, of course.

The only question: Can you handle the truth if it hits you in the face?

**Preventing another Mobile Guardian**

When I asked for suggestions about how MOE should [evaluate the next vendor for cybersecurity](https://www.techstories.co/after-mobile-guardian-how-can-we-do-better/), a CISO told me dropping them is a knee-jerk reaction.

The thinking:

- Cyber security is a balance between cost and data.
- The data here is essentially students' homework.
- Vendor is already ISO27001 accredited.
- It's a low-cost SaaS provider.

**It boils down to the ROI**

Last week, a fire broke out at a Digital Realty data centre in Singapore. According to the SCDF, it started in a battery room containing lithium-ion batteries.

Due to its propensity to reignite, the [firefighting was protracted](https://www.techstories.co/why-the-prolonged-firefighting-at-digital-realtys-data-centre-2/).

Speaking about the growing use of lithium-ion batteries in the data centre industry as a whole, a senior operations executive told me it boils down to the TCO.

Li-ion batteries have:

- Long 10-year lifespan.
- No regular maintenance.
- Smaller than lead-acid batteries.

**The lithium-ion explosion that wasn't**

When I wrote about the [pagers that exploded](https://www.techstories.co/exploding-pagers-a-brazen-supply-chain-attack/), I shared my initial thoughts about them stemming from lithium-ion batteries, before explaining that it's really explosives.

Someone pointed out that some readers might be misled. If you were, I'm sorry!

Make no mistake about it though, I expect supply chain security to be a much more closely watched topic now.

**What do you think?**

Agree, disagree?

Look forward to hearing from you!

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