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We’re delighted to announce that Our IT Department has achieved the Microsoft Gold Midmarket Cloud Solutions competency - http://bit.ly/2ethUXo. This accreditation confirms our highly technical expertise and ability to provide the latest Microsoft Cloud technologies in today’s dynamic and ever changing business environment. Visit the blog to find out more about our new accreditation and the many cloud services that we provide to businesses throughout London and across the UK

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Congratulations to every member of Team Our IT Department ‘AKA the dirty dozen’ that gave up their spare time this weekend to raise money for the charity Pursuing Independent Paths by participating in this year’s Mountain Bike challenge. http://bit.ly/2eIhYHj. We’re delighted to say that all 12 team members completed the gruelling 22 mile course along the River Thames, eventually crossing the finish line at Lovibonds Brewery. You can find our teams finishing times on the http://bit.ly/2ebWmQD. website (see wave 4). We’d also like to take this opportunity to thank EVERYONE that helped us beat our £2500.00 target by making a donation on our JustGiving page. We managed to beat last year’s total of £2126.60, which is a fantastic achievement by everyone involved, so thank you all very much! This year’s Mountain Bike Challenge may be over, but there’s still time for you to head over to our JustGiving page and make a donation to this wonderful charity, helping them to continue their great work - http://bit.ly/2eIlDEZ.

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WHAT IS RANSOMWARE & HOW CAN I PREVENT AN ATTACK? http://bit.ly/2dG0H2s

WHAT IS RANSOMWARE & HOW CAN I PREVENT AN ATTACK?

What is Ransomware? What makes it a critical threat to your business and how can you keep your sensitive data and files away from unauthorised access?Regardless of any type of software you use, it is …

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The ability to work virtually offers significant benefits – from reduced staff turnover to higher productivity and lower stress. We explore why in more detail, as well as addressing common concerns managers have about employees being out of sight. We also look at some of the practicalities of creating your own virtual workforce – it’s easier than you might think. http://bit.ly/2d5IRTy.

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WHITE PAPER: A BUSINESS CASE FOR MOVING VOICE TO THE CLOUD. http://bit.ly/2dS1adD.

WHITE PAPER: A BUSINESS CASE FOR MOVING VOICE TO THE CLOUD.

INTRODUCTION. Many businesses are aware they have outgrown legacy on premise telephone systems but hesitate to upgrade due to cost concerns and lack of knowledge of modern solutions. As a result, businesses still running an on …

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Modern technology has allowed for some amazing advances in IT Support. Web 2.0 has changed with the way we think about web based software solutions and remote support while other advances in software technologies have introduced a range of new Specialist IT Solutions.

One of these new support solutions is remote Network Monitoring. OK, it’s not that new, Network monitoring has been around for a good few years now, but recent advances have seen a massive improvement, including increased monitoring capabilities and simplified dashboards. Network monitoring is used mainly by IT outsourcing companies that have to keep a close eye on multiple networks and it is commonplace to see a huge LED screen in the centre of an IT office displaying a dashboard which contains details of client networks.

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Interesting blog entry looking at the comparisons between onsite and remote IT Support.

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Interesting article about personal shopping. I never really thought about giving it a go but I might consider it now!!

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Why choose a Bespoke Software Application?

Bespoke software is starting to take off more so then ever before. In the past, it was a service that was unaffordable for most of us, but the introduction of Open Source software in recent times has made bespoke software available to the mainstream, and not just blue chip organisations.

So why would you have software created for your business? well that depends entirely on the industry you work in and what you would need the software for. Here are a few examples of bespoke software solutions that many businesses implement within the workplace;

CRM software;

Software designed to help businesses track and organise current and prospective customers. CRM offers  an effective way of capturing your customer information for analysis and distributing data to relevant staff within your organisation.

Database;

A collection of records stored within a computer system, replacing the old fashioned "paper" filing system we all know and love. Databases have been around for years now but in recent times they have improved greatly.

Intranet;

The perfect solution for sharing business critical data internally. Anything from documents to customer forms can be shared to allocated groups and users. You can also access calendars and shared contact lists.

CMS software;

CMS stands for "Content Management System ", a way in which all aspects of a website can be created, amended or deleted from a web driven interface. CMS has changed the way we administer websites, no longer do we have to contact our webmaster to add a picture or change some text because now it can all be done from a web driven interface.

Why would I make a bespoke software application instead of just buying one off the shelf?

The main reason  people have bespoke software made is so that it does EXACTLY what they need it to do, without any restrictions. You can have your software branded and most of the time it isnt licensed, which means that other then support, there are no other ongoing costs involved.

The software can be structured around your organisation, your staff and your products and if you have any future requirements you can just have then added to your package.

Resources;

Open source software has now made it more affordable for any business to have their own customised software. Visit this bespoke software website for a more detailed overview of how it can be implemented to improve your business.

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I am giving up with....

eBay.

I am sick to death of ebay now. Years ago it used to be really good fun selling stuff on eBay but now in my opinion if you are a buyer then you are fine, but if you are a seller then they have got you over a barrel.

There are lots of things I hate about ebay now. If you sell something then you get charged fees which is fair enough as you are using their service, but if a buyer pays you with paypal then you also get charged a fee, yet ebay own pay pal so they are raking it in from start to finish!! If someone buys something from you then there is nothing stopping them anymore saying "actually, I don't really want this anymore" because sellers cannot leave negative or neutral feedback (who thought that one up by the way).

I sold an Apple magic mouse the other day and the guy that bought it actually paid for it with pay pal, then emailed me to say he had changed his mind and he wanted a refund.

In the past you could insist on the transaction being processed because you have the weight of leaving honest feedback if someone didn't co-operate, but now if you don't co-operate you can get left negative feedback just because you insisted on the buyer honouring the auction, which is ridiculous. In the end I had to refund him and I could have reported him but whats the point? It doesn't get you anywhere anymore I just paid his fees for him.

You even get charged for refunds now, what a joke.....

And then there is the case of someone reporting you to paypal if they chose to do so. Once this happens, the money for the transaction is immediately taken from your account without you having any say in the matter. I thought that in this country you were innocent until proven guilty. arent you??? apparently not according to pay pal.The whole thing has become a farce. Honest sellers get penalised while buyers get away with whatever they want.

So what is the answer? We need a true competitore to eBay as they have become a monopoly. we need an interface that can compete with eBay but operates in a fair way with a third party payment process, NOT using a payment company that belongs to them.

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I found this interesting article the other day about IT Support and how the demand for support is set to increase during 2010.

This article made me think, " are there other ways to save money by outsourcing services?" what else could your business outsource in order to save cash in what is suppose to be a very tough 2010 for most of us that own a business?

if anyone has any throughts then I am all ears :)

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I found some funky Wallace and Gromit dog beds!!

Anyone that keeps up with my tumblr entries will know that I love all things animal based, particularly dogs. On Wednesday it was Wallace and Gromits 20th birthday, (great doogle yesterday by the way Google)  I am an avid fan of the show and I think it's great how long it has kept going, and it's even better that they made a film!! If there are any dog lovers out there that like the show then you may be interested to know that you can now get a range of Wallace and Gromit dog beds!!

I found them on the internet yesterday while looking for Wallace and Gromit pictures and if you want to take a look for yourself then check out this dog beds website, I have already ordered the box bed myself :)

They sell  5 different types of bed, from a little kennel to a roll up mattress. I personally like the box bed as it is the perfect size for my babies to share but if you have a small dog then there is plenty to accommodate. (I should get commission for this company!)

Anyway, happy birthday Wallace and Gromit!! 20 years young!

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I recently came across this article about Alaskan Malamute which made very interesting reading. The malamute originated from Alaska, where it was originally used by the Mahlemuit people for hunting polar bears, seals and hauling. The dogs had to work hard for their food and shelter, and would often fight amongst themselves for scraps to eat in order to survive. The Alaskan Malamute gained American Kennel Club recognition in 1935. IN 2004 it was marked no 58 in the all time popular breeds, with over 2000 owners registered.

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Very interesting article that may interest people who are thinking about dipping their toe into the SEO pool.

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Hosted Desktop's get the thumbs up from me

I recently had my first experience using a Virtual Desktop. I work for an E-commerce company based in the south of England and I am part of the customer service team that provides quotations to clients and I also handle day to day queries such as complaints, order chasing etc etc.

Recently my company has been main a big deal about the ability to work from home. This stems from the swine flu outbreak where they were concerned about half the company being off sick. Apparently the government is also promoting working from home in order to cut down on travelling etc etc and because of this; the company has implemented a Hosted Desktop solution. For those who are not sure what a hosted desktop is, here is an overview. You can basically access your desktop from any machine that has an internet connection. You simply type in a web address that is specific to your company and then you type in your username and password, the same username and password you use at work. Once you log in you will have full access to your very own virtual desktop.

I stress that this is NOT the same as “Go to my pc”. You are not accessing your desktop at work. Instead, your entire network is hosted on an external server and you access your work directly from there.

I have to say that so far I am really impressed. There really is no difference in the desktop from the one we use at work, in fact i would go as far to say that if you sat me down in front of 2 screens, one running windows and the other running a virtual desk I would not be able to tell the difference. Everything is in the same place and we have access to outlook, local company drives, documents and we can even use MSN messenger which of course, is a priority :)

My company are being very flexible when it comes to working from home as well. They are comfortable with it because they can monitor what we are doing, all phone calls are forwarded straight to our mobiles so in theory, working from home is no different from working in the office, apart from the fact that we do not get the banter :)

Anyway, this Hosted stuff gets the thumbs up from me. If you are interested in the service then take a look at our suppliers Hosted Desktop website. It contains a comprehensive overview of the service and how it works. Highly recommended.

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A history of the Collie dog.

A nice article about Collie dogs.

The Collie dog makes an excellent sporting dog, and can be taught to do the work of the Pointer and the Setter, as well as that of the Water Spaniel and the Retriever. He can be trained to perform the duties of other breeds.  He is clever at hunting, having an excellent nose, is a good vermin-killer, and a most faithful watch, guard, and companion.

Little is known with certainty of the origin of the Collie, but his cunning and his outward appearance would seem to indicate a relationship with the wild dog. Buffon was of opinion that he was the true dog of nature, the stock and model of the whole canine species. He considered the Sheepdog superior in instinct and intelligence to all other breeds, and that, with a character in which education has comparatively little share, he is the only animal born perfectly trained for the service of man.

At the shows this type of dog is invariably at the top of the class. He is considered the most tractable, and is certainly the most agile. Second to this type in favour is the smooth-coated variety, a very hard, useful dog, well adapted for hill work and usually very fleet of foot. He is not so sweet in temper as the black and white, and is slow to make friends. There is not a more  graceful and physically beautiful dog to be seen than the show Collie of the present period. Produced from the old working type, he is now practically a distinct breed. 

The skull should be flat, moderately wide between the ears, and gradually tapering towards the eyes. There should only be a slight depression at stop. The width of skull necessarily depends upon combined length of skull and muzzle; and the whole must be considered in connection with the size of the dog. The cheek should not be full or prominent. 

The muzzle should be of fair length, tapering to the nose, and must not show weakness or be snipy or lippy. Whatever the colour of the dog may be, the nose must be black. The teeth should be of good size, sound and level; very slight unevenness is permissible. The jaws Clean cut and powerful. The eyes are a very important feature, and give expression to the dog; they should be of medium size, set somewhat obliquely, of almond shape, and of a brown colour except in the case of merles, when the eyes are frequently (one or both) blue and white or china; expression full of intelligence, with a quick alert look when listening. The ears should be small and moderately wide at the base, and placed not too close together but on the top of the skull and not on the side of the head. When in repose they should be usually carried thrown back, but when on the alert brought forward and carried semi-erect, with tips slightly drooping in attitude of listening. 

The neck should be muscular, powerful and of fair length, and somewhat arched.  The body should be strong, with well sprung ribs, chest deep, fairly broad behind the shoulders, which should be sloped, loins very powerful. The dog should be straight in front. The fore-legs should be straight and muscular, neither in nor out at elbows, with a fair amount of bone; the forearm somewhat fleshy, the pasterns showing flexibility without weakness. The hind-legs should be muscular at the thighs, clean and sinewy below the hocks, with well bent stifles. The feet should be oval in shape, soles well padded, and the toes arched and close together. 

In general character he is a lithe active dog, his deep chest showing lung power, his neck strength, his sloping shoulders and well bent hocks indicating speed, and his expression high intelligence. He should be a fair length on the leg, giving him more of a racy than a cloddy appearance. In a few words, a Collie should show endurance, activity, and intelligence, with free and true action. In height dogs should be 22 ins. to 24 ins. at the shoulders, bitches 20 ins. to 22 ins. The weight for dogs is 45 to 65 lbs., bitches 40 to 55 lbs. The smooth collie only differs from the rough in its coat, which should be hard, dense and quite smooth. 

Resources.

Dog Beds website where I purchased my new collies dog bed. A lovely website that is well worth a look if you have 5 minutes browsing spare.

Wikipedia page on the Collie.

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A Fantastic Knol about one of my favourite breeds of dog.