As they explained on the radio computing today is similar to how electricity was provided years ago.   Businesses apparently had their own generators back in the olden days and now they all get their electricity centrally supplied.  The same will soon also apply to how we access our data.

This is an interesting point and something worth considering.  In a downturn normally it’s the utility companies that are the very last not to be paid.   Most businesses cannot survive without key resources such as their phones and electricity.  Now potentially Cloud Computing could become another of these key resources that you’ll lose access to if you don’t pay up on time.

Of course that’s a worst case scenario.  But handing your critical data to an external organisation does introduce new security risks.  It’s also worth remembering that Microsoft spent $300 million on a campaign to tell us how great Microsoft Vista was when in reality I  think if they looked back now they’d wish they could just skip that operating system.

If only we had a crystal ball!

If the recipient of the call is duped by the caller they will be asked to install remote control software that allows the caller to take control of the user’s computer.   In some cases the caller will claim they have identified a specific issue and they will tell the user that they can repair this for a fee.

Letting someone else have remote access to your computer is a huge security risk as they will also have access to any personal information you have stored on that computer.   In addition the faults that the caller claims to have identified are bogus.

You should never agree to let any external party have remote access to your computers unless you can verify they are from an authorised source and large computer companies will never randomly ring you claiming they have identified faults with you system.

Please be on your guard and warn other staff members to be alert!

Deycom warns customers to be alter to a phone scam

In Deycom we are delighted to stock the ChargeBay Secure Laptop Trolley.

Laptop Trolley

The ChargeBay is an ideal way to securely store, charge and deliver laptops in a training environment. With a capacity of ten to thirty laptops the Chargebay has an anti-surge outlet with no restriction on the mix of laptops that can be charged in the trolley.

Features of the ChargeBay include:

* The ChargeBay has a large access area between fixed shelves, making placing and removing laptops very easy.
* Individual manufacturers’ laptops, this means no restriction on the make or mix of laptops to be charged.
* The fully retractable door folds back flat against the side of the cabinet and is retained by magnets, eliminating the possibility of injury from doors sticking out, an excellent Health & Safety point.
* All ChargeBays and ChargeBoxes are made to comply with EN60950:2000.
* Fitted with an anti-surge outlet and 2 metres of mains cable.
* Additional security kit and wall and floor mounting available.

For further details and pricing please contact Deycom by phone on 059 9130777 or by email to info@deycom.com

The key advantage to customers is that they can save up to 30% annually on their printing and photocopying costs.  Managed Print Services starts with an audit carried out by OKI where they assess your existing printing technology, they review your current printing levels and then finally they carry out a financial audit to establish your existing printing expenditure.

Following this audit Deycom and OKI will provide you with solutions to better utilise your printing technology and by incorporating new printing technology we will show you how you can improve your printing efficiency which in turn will help reduce your printing costs.

Another key advantage of Managed Print Services is that everything is taken care of from within your service agreement including the maintenance of your printers and the supply of your consumables.

If your organisation has with several printers, copiers or you do a high volume of printing we would highly recommend that you consider Managed Print Services from Deycom and OKI Printing Solutions.  You might also find the following video of interest with Paula Corden the Managing Director of Deycom speaking with Martin Deignan the Sales Director of OKI Printing Solutions about Managed Print Services.

Managed Print Services

Many organisations rely on external companies to configure and setup their backup systems and it’s assumed that the information that is critical to your business is being backed up.   But what exactly is critical to your business.  Maybe it’s your accounts data, your emails, quotes, etc.  Perhaps you have mission critical workstations.

Unfortunately all too often we see examples of companies with backup solutions where everything but their business critical data is being backed up.   Regardless of who is at fault it is your business that’s at risk.  Therfore It imperative therefore that you know exactly what is being backed up and just as importantly how easy it would be to get this information restored.  If you have any concerns around this area we’d be delighted to help out.

Remember backups are a bit like smoke alarms, there pretty useless until you need them and then you’ll discover they are worth their weight in gold.

Perhaps at first it appears a very small change, but over the last few months since Paula Corden took over as Managing Director of Deycom, the focus has been all about putting the customer first and this is reflected in the tag line as “People” is the very first word.

The new tag line represents a new focus in Deycom and it’s been implemented through customer service training and a constant review of service standards within Deycom.

We hope all our customers will see the difference in a “People Focused” approach to IT and that you like the new tag line.

Before we look at what exactly the Cloud is we have to bear in mind that countless applications and processes during the short time span of the computer industry where going to revolutionise the way we work and share information.  Most of these have come on gone without necessarily having changed the world.   Just as an example you can read this article from the year 2000 http://articles.sfgate.com/2000-02-28/business/17638530_1_thin-clients-microsoft-office-pcs (Seems like just yesterday!)

So before we go on this is a definition for cloud computing  “Cloud computing is Internet-based computing, whereby shared resources, software and information are provided to computers and other devices on-demand, like electricity.”  (Just one of many definitions available online)

Essentially the idea behind Cloud Computing is that our software applications such as Word, Excel, our Accounts and CRM software will be stored in a data centre and we will access these applications online via a desktop computer or notebook using our broadband connection and because the resources will be handled in the “Cloud” we only need a low spec PC or notebook.

The selling point for the Cloud is that there is no investment in the server hardware or the maintenance of this hardware and you simply pay monthly for the amount of users connected to the Cloud and based on the applications they are using?  Obviously there are financial models to prove that it’s more cost effective to use this model when you compare it to the cost of investing in new server hardware.

However you have to wonder if the companies offing Cloud computer facilities are doing so because it offers better value to their clients or if it makes them better profits?  In any case the Cloud model is fraught with difficulties including the security and accessibility of the data, continuity issues and the integration of applications.

Ultimately the future of Cloud Computing, as has happened in the past, will be determined by the demands of the client and not by the technologists.

So watch this space world!