ttfb - technology thoughts for business

From Generation X to Y and Z!

2010-09-01T18:06:00.000+01:00

Why understanding new ways of working is vital to any enterprise

‘If Facebook were a country, it would now be the third largest country in the world’. That astonishing fact was recently upheld across the media as an indication of the way in which (the so-called) ‘Generation Y’ is already changing the way in which the world interacts. It is a strong indication that we are witnessing a noticeable shift in the way in which the future workforce wants to communicate, and consequently will have a huge impact in the way future business leaders will want to do business.

Seismic changes in the way we do business are nothing new. In much the same way that previous generations adopted the telephone, television and computers, the business leaders and entrepreneurs of tomorrow will be looking to use the tools they know best to solve problems – and they will be looking towards potential employers to ensure they have these in their arsenal when they enter the business world.

A good example of how things are already moving is email. The ubiquitous communications tool of the last decade or so has become a staple portal for the sharing of letters, memos, documents and files – largely replacing a sizable percentage of reliance on postal services, fax machines and even telephones. However, to many graduates email is already out of date, with Instant Messaging applications making it seem slow and inefficient – especially in a fast moving and time sensitive environment.

Similarly, the huge increases in mobile data usage in the last few years show that the Smartphone is rapidly overtaking traditional Internet access as the web portal of choice. Generation Y has fully embraced the use of mobile devices and school-leavers and graduates will be eager to transfer their Smartphone prowess to the world of business, along with their peers.

So where does this leave the business leaders of today? All businesses should be aware of the wealth of talent entering the workplace each year, and smart businesses leaders will recognise that it is important to embrace new ideas to attract fresh talent. The soon to arrive influx of graduates and school leavers, hungry to cut their teeth in the world of business, will often expect more than basic IT in their new career. Lightweight laptops/netbooks and Smartphones are integral to the personal lives of Generation Y, so they will expect business to equip them with similar tools if their position requires them to think and act on their feet to benefit the organisation.

The clues can be found from all our own experiences within the business world during the last 10, 20 or 30 years. The pace of change in the workplace, thanks to technology, has been astounding. From the computers, phone systems and fax machines of the 1980s through to the mass adoption of the Internet and email in the 1990s and the explosion of communications options during the last 10 years, the modern workplace is a very different one to that of the previous generations. Undoubtedly there had been reluctance to adopt even the simplest IT by some quarters upon its introduction. Today, as always, there is hesitancy from some business leaders to make the investment (and a sometimes fundamental mindset shift) needed to embrace new ways of working, but any tool which gives an organisation an edge over its competition will always find favour with anyone with the vision to fully capitalise on it.

Savvy businesses realise they can significantly improve productivity, increase their profile and raise the bar for customer service (as well as opening the door for new business opportunities), by having a well managed, proactive and rapidly reactive work force. What could be more helpful to the spirit of entrepreneurship than arming fresh talent with the relevant tools they need to help your business continue to thrive in a changing environment?

The simple truth is that business, like all aspects of society, is constantly evolving and so are the young breed of up-and-coming professionals who play a large part in keeping industry and commerce relevant and profitable. A firm understanding of the benefits of change is an important one for all business leaders who want to continue to thrive. The older generation may be confounded by some of the ideas that come from Generation Y, but they represent the upcoming market as well as future employees, so it is vital to accept new ways of working and ensure your business is blooming for the inevitable rise of Generation Z!

http://www.ramsac.com/

Technology update for non technical executives - 23rd September 2010

2010-08-18T09:19:00.000+01:00

It’s a fact that modern businesses can’t survive without embracing technology. IT has developed in the last five years at a faster rate than in the last 50, and there’s always someone out there using the latest buzz words, and telling you just what your business should be doing to stay ahead of the game.

Techies reputedly have a knack of hiding behind jargon and baffling people into decisions that they don’t necessarily understand. At ramsac we’ve always hated jargon, along with the sort of people that use it to pressure businesses into making decisions that aren’t necessarily right for them or proportionate to their needs. Therefore our latest seminar will be a review of the latest business technology products to have been launched over the last year, as well as a look at what’s in the pipeline, presented in a non techie, business focused way, to give you the information that you need to be able to decide if something is relevant for your business. We’ll do a few live product demonstrations and explain the business benefits and draw backs of the latest options available to you.

This complimentary seminar will be held on Thursday 23rd September at our offices in Godalming. Tea and coffee will be served from 5pm with the main event starting at 5.30pm. Afterwards there will be drinks and canapés and an opportunity to network with fellow local businesses.

You can register here: http://www.ramsac.com/tech_for_non_tech_execs

No such thing as a free launch

2010-06-18T17:02:00.000+01:00

Office 2010, the latest version of Microsoft's ubiquitous package was launched earlier this month with most of the attention focussing on the free online versions of its main applications. But is 'free' ever worth it?

Cash remains tight for most UK businesses, so this might not be the easiest time for Microsoft to be launching the latest version of its Office suite of software.

Perhaps this is why so much of the talk surrounding Office 2010 has been about the new suite of Web-based applications, which are free online versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, designed to compete with Google’s Docs, Zoho Office and various other open source Web-based productivity tools.

But just how much do you get for nothing? After all, Microsoft has stated that it created Office Web Apps as companions to, rather than replacements for, their desktop equivalents. Our review describes some of the newest features of Office 2010 and highlights some of the limitations of the free online versions.

Suite-wide changes
New online versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote let users create, edit, and share documents online, for free using the company’s SkyDrive website.

Improved customisation features, such as being able to easily assemble the commands you frequently use in user-created Ribbon tabs and groups of your own creation.

The big Office button has gone from the top left corner. Instead the File tab now brings up a new window called 'Backstage View' where you can create, share, save, print and access recent documents.

New Live Preview function for a paste that allows you to see what it will look like before you commit, saving on clicks.

Sophisticated image and video editing tools that could mean that many users no longer have to use third party applications to process media for use in Office documents.

Office documents downloaded from web programmes now open in a ‘protected view’ by default in a bid to tackle increasing Malware problems. This means that editing is disabled until you explicitly authorise it.

Word 2010
Better design tools with new artistic effects easily accessible from Fonts pop-up window.

New navigation pane which makes skipping between sections simpler in long documents

New 'Insert Screenshot' feature which permits you to add and edit a screen grab from any non-minimised window on your desktop instantly without exiting the document.

Word has now become such a powerful editing tool that its online version seems all the more disappointing. In particular, there is no support for Word's 'Revision & Review' toolset which seems illogical given that one of the primary uses of the online version must surely be to enable simpler collaboration between users. Please note that simultaneous editing in both Word and PowerPoint require the full desktop versions.

Excel 2010
Addition of Sparklines, a feature that can create tiny charts in a single cell to illustrate trends in a row of figures.

The ability to save complex spreadsheets to the Web, open and edit them in the Web version of Excel and return then to the desktop without losing the formatting is a great advancement.

As with Word, functionality in the web version of Excel is very restricted with no charting tools whatsoever. Functions may be used and tables can be refreshed from outside data sources however some tests have reported slow performance.

PowerPoint 2010
PowerPoint’s 'Broadcast Slide Show' feature is one of the smartest innovations in Office 2010, making it simple to show presentations remotely to anyone with a Web browser. The presentation just needs to be uploaded to a secure website which gives you a unique URL to pass to your friends or colleagues to create an impromptu presentation from wherever they may be. It's a very convenient way to collaborate, although to start this type of presentation, you'll need to buy Microsoft Office 2010.

Other improvements include advanced video-editing features where you can trim embedded videos and bundle them up so they travel with your presentation. You can now easily import video from the web too.

A new animation painter allows the application of an animation created for objects in one slide to objects in another.

As with other Office 2010 applications, the online version of PowerPoint is a shadow of its desktop self. You may only create slides using text, still images and smart art with no animations or transitions.

Outlook 2010
New layout features and options: i.e. default mail view adds a people pane that shows recent interactions with the sender of whichever message appears in the pane. This People Pane also has an Outlook Social Connector feature, which brings the e-mail and calendaring program into the world of social networking. Allows contact data to be synced with popular social networks, sharing status, pictures, shared documents and more.

The new Quick steps feature provides an easy way of creating rules and applying them to specific messages (as opposed to filters)

OneNote 2010 (now a component of all Office editions)
Microsoft is trying hard to promote the use of this application by including it in all Office editions. OneNote is billed as the ultimate place to store and share information in a single location as the application allows you to capture text, images, video and audio.

OneNote 2010 is perfectly mobile. You can post notes online and access them from virtually anywhere using the Web or a smartphone.

The latest version includes some smart new features such as the ability to record audio while you’re taking notes and then let you use the notes to play back the audio it captured as you were writing them. It can also turn handwritten maths equations into text.

Microsoft's Web Apps
These web-based Office Applications are skeletal shadows of the desktop applications.

Whether you purchase one of the desktop Office 2010 editions or not, you’ll be able to use Office Web apps, free of charge, although you will need a Windows Live account either way.

Web Apps allow you to create new Word, Excel PowerPoint and OneNote documents online, via the Office menu item which appears on your Windows live page. You can visit the file from any browser, in any location, and click the edit button to bring up editing options. The free versions do not include all of the functionality of the desktop versions of Office 2010, but some home users may find them sufficient.

For details on Microsoft Office licencing or to discuss the new features of Office 2010 in more detail, please contact your ramsac Relationship Manager on 0844 225 1600 today.

The politics of business and the business of politics

2010-05-20T07:05:00.001+01:00

Since starting my company ramsac in the recession of the early 1990s the impact of the incumbent government of the time, on the success or failure of small businesses cannot be underestimated. Twenty years and three prime ministers later and we find the country coming out of another recession and a new coalition government in place. So what does the future hold for the current and future captains of UK industry? Well, to learn about the future it is a good idea to look at the past.

We conceived our company, ramsac, along with many other entrepreneurial businesses, at the end of the last Conservative government under Margaret Thatcher. However, the business actually started life, in earnest, during the economic downturn in the early 1990s when John Major had taken office and the reality of doing business had altered. In many ways it was not an ideal time to be starting a fledgling company, but whilst the economy was tough, the government was always supportive of British business and the entrepreneurial spirit - which is just as important, if not more so, today.

My first experience of how the government can have a significant and direct affect on small business came in 1997 at the dawn of the new Labour era. Regardless of political persuasion it is evident to all who worked hard to build and grow their businesses during this time that many of the advantages we once took for granted had been eroded, with increased, costly and cumbersome legislation. In fact it is reputed that there was one new piece of legislation for every day of the Labour government’s term, despite a pledge to tackle red tape for small enterprises during the launch of the Labour party’s 2001 election manifesto. The cost to businesses since 1998 was estimated by the British Chamber of Commerce last year to be in the region of £77bn, so fingers crossed the new ‘one in one out’ rule will put a stop to much of required bedtime reading!

So what changes will the new government bring to business? Certainly, with the astronomical levels of government borrowing an increase in widespread taxation is almost inevitable. Yet most employers will be breathing a collective sigh of relief that the planned rise in National Insurance contributions will now not take place. In fact, the good news for those entrepreneurs starting out now is the planned waiver of the employers' National Insurance contribution on the first ten employees they hire in the first year of business.

I hope that the new coalition government with the former economist, Vince Cable as Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, embrace the importance of hard working and innovative UK businesses and the entrepreneurs who invigorate and drive them. To this end I hope that the entrepreneurs’ relief that was introduced in 2008 will be fully supported by the new government. Also, I welcome plans to make it easier for SMEs such as my own organisation to win prized government contracts, although only time will tell if businesses have the inclination to submit a tender.

Finally, I would argue that the announcement of a five-year fixed parliament is a positive step in uncertain times. Whether your views are left, right or centre the best government for business is a stable government that gives a strong signal that GB Plc is ripe for investment, something which is good for all businesses of all sizes and the country as a whole.

ISO 27001

2010-05-10T09:30:00.001+01:00

We’re working on a couple of ISO 27001 projects at the moment. For those who aren’t aware, ISO 27001 is an internationally recognised standard for information security, much like ISO 9001 is for quality management.

The demand seems to be coming primarily from clients who are bidding for contracts which are now starting to require ISO 27001, along with the usual ISO 9001, IIP etc standards.

Although it seems daunting at first, ISO 27001 is designed to fit the size and complexity of the organisation. So it doesn’t impose complex far-reaching requirements on smaller, simpler organisations.

At the heart of ISO 27001 is the Information Security Management System, or ISMS. This is basically a document containing policies and procedures, which if followed reduce the risk of information being lost or released.

We’ve been working closely on these projects with a specialist ISO 27001 consultant and auditor, so between us we’re able to create the ISMS with the client, and then take them through the initial and compliance audit process.

If you have any needs in this area please do not hesiate to get in touch and talk to us or visit our website at http://www.ramsac.com/

They think it’s all over – but business doesn’t need to suffer

2010-04-20T21:20:00.000+01:00

As this year’s long-awaited football World Cup approaches it will undoubtedly polarize the population between those for which it can be best described as ‘The Beautiful Game’ and the remainder who often feel it is an unwelcome distraction from the rest of daily life. For small businesses it can also spell a period where employee interest in the event, which often involves decisive games being played during normal working hours, can become obsessive and lead to distractions and even unwarranted absence.

Whilst the recovering economy dictates that small businesses need to keep their eye on the ball (if you pardon the pun), employee satisfaction is an important part of creating and maintaining a well-motivated and committed team – the key to any successful enterprise. Happily we are living in an age where remote or home working is a realistic and often beneficial facet of modern business and this gives a much greater ability to find a solution that can suit everyone.

Effective remote working has been significantly aided in recent years with the evolution of mobile devices, a vastly improved remote communications network and increasingly faster Internet speeds. Many IT systems with remote access can provide the home worker with the same level of systems access that is available in the office environment. However, most office-based server systems can offer staff members some level of remote access, even if it is web-based access to the company email system. For many workers it is access to communications that is the key consideration.

Unified Communications is another invaluable tool for remote working, but it is also an excellent way to streamline all business telephone calls. Unified Communications makes monitoring all the essential communication tools simple and effective. Everyday business essentials such as your mobile phone/email device, the telephone on your desk, voicemail, the customer database and your digital calendar can all be linked in one information portal. It also means that contact details are easily retrieved from a central database, voicemails immediately alert you of their presence and there is no need to play ‘telephone-tag’ with someone else in the company as your status is always available to show who is available. Incoming calls are swiftly routed to the appropriate device or person, all of which can be seamlessly planned and programmed into your diary to administer reliable and timely contact with clients or suppliers.

Naturally, for some companies business drivers mean that rigid working hours will need to be maintained, especially for client-facing employees. In these situations it may be advisable to block football or related websites, either permanently, throughout the tournament or during certain working hours, to discourage employee distractions. This is a straightforward procedure for your in-house or outsourced IT support team to administer and can be revoked later if appropriate.

If you decide it is appropriate, making sure that employees can function just as well away from the main company premises; means that businesses can now offer levels of flexibility that just weren’t realistic in the past. Whilst remote working won’t stop football-mad employees wanting to check the latest score or watch key games, it does mean that working hours can be juggled where possible and productivity maintained when traditionally it may have suffered – so everyone can be a winner this summer.

ramsac survey highlights the need for better emergency planning

2010-03-04T06:29:00.000Z

Poor business continuity planning at the beginning of 2010 cost SMEs an average of £13,800

A survey of SMEs conducted by my company ramsac shows that whilst 60% of businesses had at least half their staff absent during the snow in January, only 33% actually had an effective business continuity plan in place. As a result 94% of the organisations polled admitted that whilst staff worked hard to try and maintain service levels, they were often unable to do so whilst working from home.

The widespread adverse weather conditions that hit the UK earlier this year highlighted, for many businesses, that they do not have the appropriate contingency plan in place to keep business as usual when hit by crisis. The estimates of the cost to the UK economy caused by lost working days over the first two weeks of 2010 vary wildly (our survey suggested an average of around £13,800 for each business that responded), but it’s very clear that a huge proportion of businesses in the UK had large numbers of staff unable to get in to their normal place of work. Unfortunately it wasn’t an isolated case. Severe weather in December and also back in February of 2009, demonstrated that it’s not just a one off occurrence.

Despite the recent snow-bound reminders, bad weather isn’t the only thing that can render whole offices (or vital members of staff) out of action. Pandemic illness, child care problems, power failures, floods, fires - the list of possible interruptions to the modus operandi are countless – so it is essential to plan for these potential problems.

The ramsac survey shows that only 22% of respondents have a documented business continuity plan that they feel meets their current needs should a crisis hit. This is juxtaposed by the fact that all the respondents said that they had staff working from home during the recent bad weather and demonstrates a clear need for companies to take a good look at their needs and build a contingency plan to protect their business activities.

Another issue that our survey highlighted was the type of IT access that businesses provide remote working employees when away from the office. While all the respondents said they provide remote access to email and 67% could offer home workers access to CRM/customer databases and other key business applications, none of the businesses offered remote access to the office telephone system. In an emergency the telephone is still the main channel of communication for customers, suppliers and employees, so it needs to be up and running.

At ramsac we use a technology known as Unified Communications, which combines the telephone system with the rest of the IT communications system. It was invaluable to us during the recent bad weather as we were able to maintain a fully functional business telephone system, which extended to all the team members at their home/remote locations and facilitated a seamless service to our clients.

I advise that businesses plan as well as examine the key business opportunities to be won from being prepared for disruption ahead of your competition, rather than simply dwelling on the potential problems. New technologies are making it easier and simpler to provide employees with all the business tools they need, wherever they are, so building these into a continuity plan can help to ensure that business operations will continue whatever challenges you face.

www.ramsac.com

Support for Windows XP SP2 & Vista RTM ends 13th July 2010

2010-02-11T18:40:00.000Z

Windows XP SP2 & Windows Vista RTM End of Support Information

There are a number of Microsoft support lifecycle milestones in 2010. You need to be aware of the milestones and plan system and Operating System (OS) deployments to ensure that you maintain access to Microsoft support and updates.

Windows XP SP2 will no longer be the supported service pack level for Windows XP computers as of July 13th 2010. If you are running Windows XP SP2 or a previous version of the OS will need to upgrade to Windows XP Service Pack 3 (or Windows 7).

Windows Vista RTM will no longer be supported as of April 13th 2010. Customers running Windows Vista RTM should upgrade to Windows Vista SP2 (or Windows 7).

Extended support will end for Windows 2000 Server and Professional. Customers running Windows 2000 need to migrate to a supported version of Windows in order to receive updates or support.

You should also consider the cost in time and effort for migrating to a new service pack and consider whether that justifies a migration to Windows 7.

Important Dates

End of Extended Support for the following Products:
Windows XP SP2 July 13th 2010
Windows 2000 Professional SP4 July 13th 2010
Windows 2000 Server SP4 July 13th 2010

End of Mainstream Support for the following products:
Windows Vista RTM April 13th 2010

What is End of Support?

Basically support for the product ends! The Microsoft® Support Lifecycle (MSL) provides predictable and consistent support timelines for Microsoft products, to customers worldwide. The Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy offers a minimum of:

Ten years of support (five years Mainstream Support and five years Extended Support) at the supported service pack level for Microsoft Business and Developer products.
Five years of Mainstream Support at the supported service pack level for Microsoft Consumer/Hardware/Multimedia products.

Note: Mainstream and Extended Support is ONLY provided at the supported service pack level. Microsoft will support products running at the latest Service Pack level and the prior Service Pack level, 24 months after the release of the latest Service Pack.

Mainstream Support Phase
Mainstream Support is the first phase of the product support lifecycle. At the supported service pack level, Mainstream Support includes:
1 - Incident support (no-charge incident support, paid incident support, support charged on an hourly basis, support for warranty claims)
2 - Security update support
3 - The ability to request non-security hotfixes

Extended Support Phase
The Extended Support phase is available after the Mainstream Support phase ends for Business and Developer products only. At the supported service pack level, Extended Support includes:
1 - Security update support at no additional cost
2 - Non-security related hotfix support if the customer has purchased a separate Extended Hotfix Support agreement (per-fix fees also apply).

Note that Extended support does not include:
1 - Requests for warranty support, design changes, or new features.
2 - Support for Consumer, Hardware, or Multimedia products.

So what do you need to do?

If you have Windows XP SP2 currently deployed then you need to migrate to Windows XP SP3.

Companies running Windows Vista RTM should migrate to Windows Vista SP2. (Again consider the cost in time and effort for migrating to a new service pack and discuss with ramsac or your incumbent supplier the option of migrating to Windows 7).

If you have Windows XP you should use Microsoft Update or Automatic Updates to download and install Windows XP SP3. SP3 can be downloaded from Microsoft Update at http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate.

If you are using Windows Vista you should use Windows Update to download and install Windows Vista SP2. Although note that Service Packs may not be available through Windows Update on Windows Vista computers until other available updates have been installed. You will also need to separately install SP1 before installing SP2.

If you are running Windows 2000 Server or Professional edition then you need to migrate to Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7.

If you are still running Windows XP SP2 you obviously need to be aware of your options but without doubt it is a great time to talk to us about a Windows 7 deployment discussion.

www.ramsac.com

Snow or other Emergency working – our use of Citrix and ShoreTel

2010-01-26T09:11:00.004Z

The following are the thoughts of one of my co-directors at ramsac, Paul Mew. I thought I’d share with you his comments on working in the recent snow and how our application of Citrix and a ShoreTel Unified Communications Phone System made life so very easy!

Me!

For me as an individual it was quite straightforward to deal with being unable to leave the house, as I just worked from home in the same way I would any other time.

In my case I have a Windows based laptop that I use when I’m out and about, wherever I can get Internet access either via a wireless ‘hotspot’ or via my mobile phone. But when I’m working from home I’ll usually use my Apple Mac desktop machine.

We use Citrix, which allows me to run the same full Windows desktop that I have in the office, with all the same applications and files, from a web browser on any machine. So I can just click on a web shortcut, enter my username and password, and have access to everything in minutes.

Getting access to my e-mail, databases and files is great, but being available on the phone and making calls is also critical to me.

So, after logging into Citrix I used the Call Manager software for our ShoreTel telephone system to reassign my telephone extension to my home phone line. Call Manager is just a piece of software that runs on everyone’s desktops and laptops, and also in Citrix, which allows you to make calls, see who’s available, change your settings, all directly from your PC.

I could re-assign my extension to my mobile, which is what I often do when I’m out and about, but I get poor mobile signal at home so tend to use my home phone line.

By re-assigning my extension to my home phone any calls to my extension, either from colleagues or outside contacts, are passed straight through to my home phone. When a call comes in I get a pop-up in Citrix to tell me who’s calling, and when I answer my home phone the telephone system announces that I should press ‘1’ to accept the call. I’ve set it up that way to save my family having to worry about whether a call is business or personal when they pick up the phone. I could even have the system ask the caller to state their name, which is then re-played to me, so I can choose whether to take the call.

If I want to make an outbound call, I just use Call Manager – either clicking a contact, clicking a number on a website, or cutting and pasting in a number. My home phone then rings and again announces that I should press 1, at which point the ShoreTel system in the office dials the number and connects me.

The beauty of the ‘Office Anywhere’ system is that I’m never using my home phone line for outgoing calls, as the system in the office is calling me. I also don’t need to give out my home number if I want someone to call me when I’m working at home.

Someone who’s called into the office for me can be put through to my extension and then diverted to home without them ever knowing that I’m not in the office! During the snow I even set-up a three way conference call with one of our consultants and a client via the ShoreTel system, even though none of us had made it into our respective offices.

The Office

Obviously we have our Business Continuity plan and our Emergency Operating Procedures which cover various disruptive situations, but in the case of the recent snow they weren’t really required!

In years gone by when we’ve had disruptions due to bad weather, we’ve had to call our telephone company to ask them to divert the main phone numbers to a mobile. Two issues there, one is that the telephone company will be swamped with requests so it may take hours to get the number diverted, secondly the number is diverted to a single mobile so there are issues with it being busy and trying to free it up as quickly as possible when a call comes in.

Obviously we have plans to deal with a power failure, but when it’s just a case of the office being inaccessible things are quite straightforward.

For staff who can’t make it into the office, they just need to log onto Citrix, and as described above they use ShoreTel Call Manager to assign their extension to their home phone or mobile.

We had a few members of staff who don’t normally work from home, or who were working on different machines which weren’t set-up for remote working, but with Citrix it was simple for them to get access quickly without having to install software on their machines beforehand.

Once that’s been done, which takes seconds, they can work as if they are in the office. If they are part of a telephone workgroup (also known as a ‘hunt group’, where a single external number will dial several internal extensions either in groups or in order), as our support and operations teams are, their home phone/mobile will ring as part of that workgroup.

So, even if no-one makes it into the office, as long as everyone has diverted their numbers (which is easy to see from Call Manager) then all of the phones in the company will work as normal. If one or two people make it in, as was the case for us, they don’t need to deal with every incoming call, as all of the staff working at home are still members of the workgroup.

As things return to normal, which will be at different points for different members of staff, users just re-assign their extension back to their desk phone when they return to the office. We also have the flexibility to send staff to work from home early if conditions worsen, as it only takes seconds to log on, re-assign their extension, and start working.

What we’ve also found is that when staff are provided with an easy to use way to work at home, they are likely to use it. Most of our staff will log on, deal with a their e-mails and get a few things done when they get home, because it’s so quick and easy.

If you want advice on any of the technology described here please talk to me or my colleagues at ramsac (http://www.ramsac.com/).

Windows 7 Feature/Version Comparison

2010-01-21T10:48:00.001Z

There seems to be much confusion about the features available to users in the 6 versions of Windows 7, the following table is a really useful resource which explains the options in each. (Click on the table for a larger version)

http://www.ramsac.com

Making The Most Of Your Data Storage

2010-01-20T16:39:00.000Z

The safe and secure storage of valuable business data is an essential requirement for all organisations. Failure to do so correctly can result in lost, stolen or leaked data, leading to potentially embarrassing and damaging repercussions to the overall reputation of the business.

Yet the ongoing and incremental cost of storing more and more information can spiral ever upwards. Having a data storage policy in place will help you to understand, manage and budget for what information is being stored and where, what needs to be stored and what doesn’t, as well as who need access to it.

The first step is to think about where your data is being stored. In any organisation data can exist in a wide variety of formats whether it is on a memory stick, CD or DVD, the hard drive of a laptop, desktop PC, a server, or even a dedicated off-site data centre.

Following this, think carefully about what information needs to be stored and for how long. This will of course be different for every business. Continually purchasing additional storage as demand seemingly dictates can get expensive quickly, so it is prudent to only keep data that is valuable and likely to be needed in the future.

For example, you may be obliged to keep records for a specified period to meet the regulatory compliance demands of your governing body, but what happens after this time has elapsed? Many organisations simple leave it to unnecessarily clog up their IT systems.

Once you understand what you have, what you need and where it is, you can begin to declutter.

The wealth of different files (and often duplicate versions of files) being stored from different sources means there will typically be a mass of what could be considered unstructured data – the data equivalent of a cluttered desk.

By purging this unstructured data regularly it is possible to free up space a considerable amount of space, giving greater capacity for important business files without the need for additional expenditure.

Think about how you store data. As well as the convenience, regularly archiving files also gives greater assurance that data will be backed up safely in case of software, hardware, or user errors that can result in data loss.

For example Quality Assurance is very important for many service-based companies, so being able to keep an audit trail of e-mails and other documents is imperative. However, this does not necessarily mean that all files are needed immediately all the time. An archiving system that is used on an ongoing basis will move older files from everyday systems, where they can make the use and searching of current files more difficult.

Finally, don’t forget to backup. Figures from a recent Google survey suggest that hard disks have a failure rate of around 7% each year, which means that information stored on one server, or even physically on one computer, can be at significant risk of irretrievable loss unless backup copies are produced on a regular basis.

Data storage is much like physical storage – it needs to be well managed to make sure that it is secure, that the space is used efficiently and that nothing is being kept that needn’t be there. It’s very easy to retain old files that nobody takes ownership of, but it’s important to make sure files are accounted for, sensibly stored and ultimately archived then destroyed when they are no longer needed.

It may not yet be Spring, but it’s an ideal time for a data Spring Clean!

http://www.ramsac.com

Do you budget for annual tape replacement?

2010-01-11T18:02:00.003Z

Technically you should be replacing your backup tapes annually but I find that many clients don’t plan for this. There are a number of reasons why you should be doing this which include the following:

Reliability. As tapes wear the likelihood of the data itself becoming corrupted increases, which will cause backup errors and could result in problem when attempting to restore. Ultimately for an extremely worn tape there is a risk that it may snap during a backup, or worse still a restore process. You need to remember that tape ultimately stretches, in fact if you think back to the days of music cassettes it is easy to reconcile this, if you remember you could record onto a cassette many times over and unless the tape actually broke it didn’t stop you actually recording, however as the tape got older you would often find that the playback sounded warbled the same problem occurs with backup.

Damage. As the tape itself becomes worn, more and more debris will be deposited on the read/write heads of the tape drive, which means more frequent cleaning will be necessary, which in turn reduces the life of the tape drive itself. In addition, as the tape wears the surface becomes rough, again causing premature wear on the heads.

Although tapes are not cheap, they are considerably less expensive than a replacement drive!

Month-end Backup. I suggest that as you buy new tapes you use the older tapes (assuming they’re not too old!) for your month end archive which I recommend you keep offsite for a period of 5-7 years. This advice is based on industry best practice which emanated from the Enron enquiry (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1780075.stm) which replaced the previously long standing concept of grandfather, father, son rotation which is wholly inadequate. The specific resulting advice was based on the fact that the enquiry needed to see the accounts data at a specific period in time, clearly if tapes are forever rotated that is impossible, it also highlighted a major flaw in most peoples backup plan in that if you are backing up your entire system on to a single tape (or tape library) and replacing the content on said tapes, then if someone deletes an important client file from your system and nobody realises for several months the data is lost, the concept of month end archive gives much better protection against this. (This same concept is the reason why most industry experts still recommend the use of tape as part of the backup plan and advise against reliance on web based backup solutions).

If you take one call to action as a result from reading this please make sure you’re buying new tapes every year without fail.

If you need help or advice with backup policy or procurement of media and drives please contact the technical advisory team at ramsac http://www.ramsac.com/

GMC - God Mode Console

2010-01-07T14:22:00.004Z

Well that's a slight exaggeration – it's more an all-in-one-place, flat-view of all Control Panel pages, but useful nonetheless...

Here's how to do it:

Create a folder (anywhere, though probably not at root of C:) and call it...

anything.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

...where anything can be...well, anything, but you need the full stop separator. That’s it – double-click it and away you go.

For example: GMC.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

Note that this only works in Vista and later (although not 64-bit Vista).

http://www.ramsac.com/

What is Windows 7 and why should I care?

2009-12-28T11:13:00.003Z

Windows XP is now nearly ten years old and such you can no longer buy the product (as you would expect). In addition mainstream support for both Microsoft XP and Office 2003 ended in April 2009. (Microsoft’s extend support will only address vital issues that come up for the next 5 years ending in April 2014). Office 2010 (previously codenamed Office 14) will be with us in the first half of 2010 and many businesses find themselves with an IT network running multiple operating systems (and differing versions of Office to boot!).

When Microsoft designed the latest version of Windows, they wanted to make sure it was going to deliver what businesses really wanted. The result is Windows 7, a new operating system specifically developed to ensure that it works just the way you want it, allowing you to be more productive and flexible while still offering advanced security protection.

01. Get working quicker. Windows 7 starts up, resumes and shuts down swiftly and dependably.
02. Keep your current software. Most programs and devices running on Windows Vista will run on Windows 7, and Windows 7 Professional will even run dedicated Windows XP programs.
03. Makes networking easier. Share files and devices like printers easily.
04. Find what you need fast. Just type a few letters in the search box to find files, applications, even a control panel menu, in seconds.
05. Print first time. Windows 7 Professional detects whether you're at home or in the office and automatically chooses the right printer.
06. Work better on the move. Accessing documents and programs remotely is simple. You can even work offline, and then automatically update your network files.

Be even more secure with Windows 7 Professional - by encrypting your computer and removable devices without the need for additional software confidential business information now stays confidential.

What is Windows 7 and why should I care?

Windows 7 works the way you want
Windows 7 Professional has prioritised the basics that any business expects from its PCs. That’s why it starts up, resumes and shuts down fast and reliably. It is designed to work with the systems you already have, so the majority of software and devices working on Windows Vista® will also work on Windows 7 Professional. Also the latest technology advances with virtual PC in Windows 7 Professional mean you can keep using essential business software packages that run currently on Windows XP. At the same time, tasks such as easily setting up a secure network, sharing files and printers, have been made simple and quick to do, with or without servers. And powerful diagnostics and troubleshooting tools enable you to get to any potential problems without always having to call in the IT professionals.

Get more done
Windows 7 Professional has been designed to make everyday tasks easier, so you can focus on what matters most to your business. Just type a few letters in the search box to find files, applications or even a menu in Control Panel in seconds, arrange windows side by side or maximise windows to customise your view. Improved power management means you have longer battery life to keep you productive while on the go and helping to reduce your energy bills. New enhanced features in Windows 7 Professional can even detect whether you are at work or at home and automatically send your documents to the right printer, allow you to access files and programs remotely from another computer or enable you to work offline, while automatically synchronising information between your PC and the network.

In today’s challenging economic and competitive climate, small businesses are under ever increasing pressure to do more with less; whether it’s smarter working from your employees, or a more effective IT system with less management costs. Microsoft have spent a lot of time in discussions with businesses of all sizes to help develop the most effective computer operating system to help you face your business challenges head on. Windows® 7 Professional has been designed with your business in mind; it is faster, more secure, easier to use and more cost effective. By adopting this new operating system from Microsoft, you can help your employees achieve more in their day – whether working at home, in the office or on the road, you will have the ability to manage your day-to-day business processes more easily and reduce the time spent dealing with IT-related incidents, all resulting in your company focusing more time on actually doing business, gaining and retaining your customers and developing new business ideas to drive your organisation forwards. Businesses with a small number of PCs that want to improve the tools they have at their disposal to save both time and costs can deploy Windows 7 to help them work smarter while keeping their IT management simple and secure.

How will Windows 7 Professional help my business?
Windows 7 is an operating system that supports your business need for an IT system that is more manageable, more secure and helps your people to be more productive. It has been designed to help reduce the costs of doing business, speed up workflows and encourage your people to work smarter. Windows 7 Professional has been developed with feedback from small businesses in mind. It simplifies your IT system, requires less management time and offers more features to help you with your everyday tasks. Microsoft has addressed the fact that security is critical and any downtime caused by a security threat or data loss can have profound impacts on a business, while still focusing heavily on making Windows 7 work with all your existing systems to minimise the impact when you deploy the technology.

Safeguard your work
Windows 7 Professional has been designed to provide strong protection and control of your business information and assets, so you can select the security options that fit your business’s needs. Internet Explorer® 8 helps protect business information and data by delivering improved protection against security and privacy threats. Accidental data loss due to missed backups or a lost laptop can be prevented by scheduling a periodical backup to save data or an entire system image, while it’s also possible to restore previous versions of files that might have been accidentally deleted or changed. And, with Windows 7 Professional, it’s also possible to back data up to a network drive and even encrypt files on a PC.

The top ten benefits of Windows 7 Professional:

01. It’s fast and reliable
Responsive and ready – you can start using your PC quickly with fast start-up, shutdown, sleep and resume from Standby. Further performance improvements lead to fewer interruptions and prompts, as well as faster recovery from problems if they happen.
02. It works with what you have today
Specifically designed with compatibility in mind, Windows 7 Professional works with a broad set of devices and applications. In addition, Windows XP Mode can provide the flexibility to run many older Windows XP productivity applications right from the Windows 7 desktop.
03. Helps you find what you need quickly
Find what you need fast with instant search, Jump Lists and a larger, customisable taskbar with pop-up previews. Type a few letters in the search box and files, applications or even menus appear in seconds. Similar types of documents (such as financial records or customer lists) can be grouped into Libraries – making it easy to find them even if they are stored in different folders or on different PCs.
04. Makes the things you do every day easier
Everyday tasks are streamlined and simplified – with commonly used resources put within easy access and clutter minimised on the desktop. Enhancements to the Windows Aero® desktop experience (such as Aero Snap, Aero Peek and Aero Shake) help you intuitively navigate, arrange and work with multiple open windows on the desktop.
05. Helps you easily share your files and printers
If you’re a small business without a server, you can easily share documents, printers and devices across multiple PCs running Windows 7. For businesses with a server, Windows 7 Professional lets you connect PCs quickly and more securely to both your wired and wireless domain networks. This can better help you manage security and the costs of multiple PCs. In addition, with Location-Aware Printing, your documents automatically get sent to the right printer – whether you’re at work or at home.
06. Allows mobile workers to stay productive anywhere
Windows 7 Professional makes mobile computing on the go easier with access to all your mobile settings in one place and greater connection and networking options. Now you can access and share all your work computer programs, files and network resources – whether you’re at home, at work or on the road. You can even disconnect from the network, work offline and then have your network files automatically and seamlessly updated with any new changes.
07. Helps you easily restore deleted files or folders
Windows 7 Professional enables the scheduling of automatic periodic backups to save data or an entire system image to a network location or a local drive. This helps quickly restore individual files or folders that get accidentally deleted or even an entire PC in the event of a hard drive failure or the presence of malicious software.
08. Helps you better protect and secure confidential information
Protect your business’s confidential information, such as credit card numbers or employee information, with the Encrypting File System. This provides user-level file and folder encryption, enabling strong data protection and control.
09. Offers greater online protection
Help keep your business up and running with Windows Defender offering enhanced protection from Internet threats, spyware and other forms of malicious software. At the same time, the Internet Explorer 8 browser helps protect your data and business information by delivering improved protection against security and privacy threats.
10. Helps you solve PC problems quickly
Windows 7 Professional Action Centre gives you one place to view, diagnose and solve common PC problems. Now it is easy to access the built-in trouble-shooter for a range of different types of problems, such as printing, Internet connections, performance or power issues.

Q: “Why should I invest in Windows 7 Professional today?”
A: Investing in the Windows 7 operating system can bring long-term value to your business, while helping your workers to be more productive – at home, at work and on the road. New PCs with Windows 7 Professional are designed to be faster, more reliable, more secure and easier to use than older PCs running Windows XP or the Windows Vista operating system. More sophisticated networking and mobility features help mobile workers access their computer programs, files and network resources away from the office. PCs with Windows 7 Professional can do more to protect your valuable business and customer data. At the same time, compatibility features let you run many of the applications and devices you use today – including applications for Windows XP.

Q: “How is Windows 7 Professional better than Windows XP?”
A: Windows 7 Professional is easier to use, and has a range of new features that have been designed in response to feedback from small businesses. Put simply, Windows 7 is designed to make your day-to-day business run more smoothly, more effectively and more securely. Remember Windows XP is nearly a decade old, with limited support for new hardware and software. On the other hand, Windows 7 Professional has been specifically designed to meet the growing demands of modern technology users with more sophisticated networking, mobility, entertainment, data protection and compatibility features. Also, with Windows XP Mode, you get the compatibility of Windows XP in Windows 7 Professional.

Q: “Will Windows 7 integrate with my existing computer system?“
A: Windows 7 Professional has an option to run some applications in compatibility mode. There is also Windows XP mode, a valuable transition tool that lets you run many existing older Windows XP applications within Windows 7 Professional. Windows XP mode is easy to find and access from either the Start menu or the Windows 7 taskbar.

Q: “Do I need a new PC?“
A: No not always. Your existing PC will be able to cope providing it has the right facilities to run Windows 7. However, new PCs are designed to get the most out of Windows 7 in ways that older PCs are not equipped to do. Windows 7 Professional is preinstalled, preconfigured and fully supported on a new PC, which helps to maximise performance for faster start-up, shutdown and Web browsing. New PCs are also optimised for the latest peripheral software and mobility devices – supporting multi-touch functionality, all your wireless devices, Blu-ray, WiMAX, digital tuners and much more. We’ve found that upgrading many laptops to Windows 7 has given them a new lease of life and much better performance.

Q: “How is Windows 7 Professional better than Windows Vista?”
A: With Windows 7 Professional, Microsoft listened to their business customers. First and foremost, Microsoft strengthened fundamentals around performance, stability, reliability and security. Microsoft improved ease of use through user interface (UI) improvements, better wireless networking and more comprehensive troubleshooting. Microsoft added Windows XP mode, giving businesses the option to extend the life of older productivity applications and Microsoft made everything faster, more convenient and fully customisable, so your computer works the way you want it to.

Q: “How much time do I need to invest to learn how to use it?”
A: Using Windows 7 Professional is intuitive and easy. Everyday tasks have been streamlined and simplified – with commonly used resources put within easy reach and clutter minimised on the desktop. UI improvements make finding things easy – simply type a few letters in the search box and documents, applications or even menus appear in seconds. You can easily access the programs you use the most with just one click by pinning them on your taskbar or with a simple keystroke, you can minimise or maximise windows or arrange them side by side so you get the view you want from your PC.

Microsoft and the Microsoft logo, Windows, Windows Vista, Aero and Internet Explorer are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Registered Office: Microsoft Limited, Microsoft Campus, Thames Valley Park, Reading, RG6 1WG. Registered in England no 1624297 VAT no GB 7245946 15.

http://www.ramsac.com/

Finnish Intel staff fired just before Christmas!

2009-12-18T06:43:00.002Z

The following video shows five Finnish Intel employees firing themselves from cannons in a bid to play the Intel five-note jingle.

They were shot at a giant set of chimes and the impact of their heads on the steel tubing sounded the notes recognisable from any advert that contains hardware made by the corporate giant.

Intel filmed the frolics and uploaded it to YouTube. Their marketing boys said "This Cannonbells video is so funny and definitely worth taking a look, it’s great for people who need a pre-Christmas pick me up – especially if they’re in the office counting down the days to the holidays."

Well I'm not sure about that but it is amusing!

http://www.ramsac.com/

Rightsizing your IT and office usage

2009-12-15T07:08:00.002Z

The optimists say we are seeing the greenshoots of recovery, meanwhile the doom mongers believe that the recession looks likely to continue for the foreseeable future. Whatever your view, everyone is focused on streamling their businesses, looking to maintain or improve efficiency at the lowest possible operating cost.

Of course the drastic measures of redundancy and reduced working hours have hit the headlines. Yet whilst such action inevitably has a place, there are often overlooked routes to reduced expenditure. It is simply a matter of knowing where to look and one of the first areas to review is IT.

In an effort to tighten the belt it can be tempting to adopt a break/fix approach for the IT systems that are relied upon day-in-day-out. Whilst this can seemingly reduce costs in the interim, the longer-term implications of stifled productivity, due to a failure of a vital system such as email, often outweigh these nominal gains. The key to improved efficiency and reduced costs in this instance is forward planning and reliable ongoing maintenance (whether this is managed in-house, or via a trusted IT outsourcer).

Often an overlooked part of this ongoing process is software licensing. Under-licensing brings with it the risks heavy fines from the BSA and FAST, so often organisations will over compensate. However, paying for software applications that are not used is a major source of wastage. Does every employee need the same applications on their computer?

It is also worth considering the type of PC that employees use. Whilst a laptop or mobile device may be more expensive, they give a much greater degree of flexibility in the working environment. Whether you have a wired or wireless office it is simple for an employee to place their laptop on their desk (or a hotdesk) and connect to the network services they need. Remote access to servers and email can easily be set up by an experienced in-house or outsourced IT team, with portable laptops, PDAs and smartphones giving employees fast and efficient access from almost any location.

Also, do all the desktop PCs, scanners and printers need to be turned on and left running all day and night, draining energy, prematurely aging the technology and costing you money?

Finally, look at the office itself. As the popularity and demand for remote and home working has increased the office space requirements (and associated infrastructure) have typically decreased. However, many organisations fail to recognise this and continue to rent space that is no longer required. For example, organisations that operate in premium areas, such as the City, can pay as much as £9,500 per annum for 10m sq of desk space and this doesn’t take into account the cost of office equipment, utility bills, general maintenance and cleaning which are expensive.

In fact, figures suggest that some businesses only have a desk occupancy rate of 45% at any one time, so the potential savings from rightsizing the office space is evident.

What your business needs today isn’t necessarily the same as yesterday, or indeed tomorrow. Flexibility and adaptability are bywords whether times are fruitful or frugal in order to eliminate unnecessary wastage, controlling the costs that need to be incurred and improving operational efficiency.

Making sure the festive period doesn’t go with a bang

2009-12-10T16:38:00.001Z

With the Christmas period nearly upon us, many businesses are thinking about the inevitable slow-down of operations for the year-end. Undoubtedly we all want to celebrate the end of the year and get into the festive spirit, but it is important to remember that even though many people are on holiday, the IT needs of businesses still continue and need to be properly maintained during this time, especially if you don’t want to come back to another headache long after the new year celebrations are over.

Requirements vary according to the nature of the business, but for many organisations there will be a much smaller number of staff present for the holiday period. Despite the apparent decrease in IT needs, its imperative to make sure that there are experts on hand should there be any issues. Potentially a problem could go unnoticed for 10 days or more, which could have serious ramifications, come the new year. This is magnified for companies that close down for Christmas altogether. It may seem a bit ‘bah-humbug’, but the IT Manager (or outsourced IT team) need to be able to check vital systems and if need be, act on problems during this festive time. Remote access is ideal as it can save the IT team having to be on-site for the duration, whilst alerting them of any problems and giving them the tools to sort out any issues that arise.

Naturally the Christmas period is as prone to disasters as the rest of the year. It’s a good idea to make sure the emergency backup plan is up to date. Should the worst happen, such as a fire or natural disaster, it is essential to ensure all the vital systems can continue and that alternative arrangements are in place to keep operations running. It’s also worthwhile making sure that key data is safely and regularly backed up (preferably off-site for greater security) as it is the one resource that is irreplaceable.

Equally important, especially if the office is being closed for the duration, is to make sure that the security (both of IT systems and of the physical building that hosts and protects it) is maintained. With the Festive Spirit in full swing staff may be less vigilant than normal, but it is worth making sure that the office is secure when everyone leaves, that all unused hardware is turned off and that mobile devices are either taken home by the team or secured on-site in a suitable place. Surveys show that 25% of mobile devices carry mission-critical information (source: BPMF) but that 30% of mobile devices are lost each year (source: SANS Institute) – which presents a serious risk to data security. The chances of losing or having a mobile device stolen undoubted grow when people are preoccupied by the change of routine and seasonal activities.

IT is an essential facility for most businesses, and as such is particularly conspicuous by its absence. It’s easy to be blasé about downtime over a quiet period such as Christmas, but whilst there may, on the whole, be less demand on the IT department, there is also a greater risk that small inconveniences could be overlooked and escalate into something a lot more serious.

www.ramsac.com

Making The Most Of Social Networking For Business

2009-12-05T12:14:00.001Z

Social networking websites are a modern cultural phenomenon, offering easy ways to reunite with old friends and keep in touch with family and friends. However the social element of these sites is sometimes perceived as being at odds with business, with employees sneakily wasting working hours using them. Whilst abuse of these facilities can happen, its important to realise that social networking is becoming a hugely popular communication tool and there are important business benefits to be had from using them.

Its vital to understand which of the popular social media sites are most applicable to your business. Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and Linked-In all offer specific communication tools and have different audiences. Remember your postings are publicly visible, so it is far better to participate in one or two sites efficiently, than to spread your resources too thinly and neglect some. Timing is key, as fast moving websites require timely updates and commitment to fresh posts on a regular basis. You should also attract the right followers, keep them engaged and have a strategy to quickly feedback information to the right people internally.

Specialist blogs and online forums can indicate the positive and negative impressions of your products and services - giving valuable insight into the minds of customers and potential customers. They also give important clues as to the performance of competitors and can offer a competitive advantage. It is vital to establish who is authorised to respond to posts and monitor responses, which also helps establish an acceptable usage policy and mitigate the risk of abuse by employees. It is equally vital to educate employees on the implications of posting comments that could incriminate themselves or harm the organisation.

Using Social media has the same advantages and pitfalls for an organisation as any other public interaction. Despite the potential for abuse, the tools are in place to target the right audience and with careful planning it is possible to promote your business to those that have the biggest impact.

Does the cloud have a silver lining?

2009-11-27T10:43:00.003Z

The IT world is buzzing over the concept of ‘cloud computing’, with its promise to reduce the cost burden associated with procuring, installing and maintaining the IT infrastructure, that until now has always been located on-site. So, can it really live up to the all of the hype and is it a viable option for every organisation?

Essentially, cloud computing involves trusting a third party - typically a service provider and a large datacentre, that could be located anywhere in the world - to host the organisation’s email, databases and other mission-critical systems, which are then accessed via a secure Internet connection. This can deliver compelling cost savings, which at first glance may appeal at a time when most organisations are looking to trim the fat from their operations. The trade off is that the organisation will lose direct and immediate access to many of its biggest assets, which would normally be located within its own four walls.

Clearly, there are also security and reliability risks to be considered. What would happen if there was a leak of confidential data, the Internet connection fails, or the service provider / datacentre encountered financial difficulties and is forced to close down? If the IT infrastructure and the information it holds isn’t within the possession of the organisation then its retrieval is not likely to be straightforward if at all possible, meanwhile the financial and resource cost would inevitably accrue as the organisation struggles to keep pace until a solution is found - which ultimately is likely to mean reverting back to an onsite approach!

Cloud computing is still in its infancy and it does definitely hold a number of attractive benefits for small start-up businesses that can ill afford the sizable set-up costs of a traditional IT infrastructure. It can deliver tangible saving to small organisations on the costs of running its own IT, but perhaps the definitive question to ask is - when does your company data become valuable enough to invest in your own secure IT infrastructure, to guarantee you know where it is and that its safe.