Kelvin Davis

Almost everything important to our everyday lives are on line and vulnerable to attacks by cyber criminals. The biggest threat faced by computers is crime ware – a malicious software written by cybercriminals for making money illegally. In a world without borders, do we have the proper defenses to keep us safe?
 

CYBER THIEVES BECOME PERSONAL.
Increasingly, Australia’s, New Zealand, and the United States financial data are at the risk of cyber theft. The two examples detailed here are from Australia (Taxation Office) and United States (Atlanta – Social Security) where personal information was targeted and stolen by cyber thieves.
After discovering that its very own agents had been compromised, the Australian Tax Office issued a warning as attackers used ATO’s digital authenticator to access the countries personal tax records including those of the tax agents themselves.  http://tinyurl.com/ato-officers-compromised.
With the same fraudulent means, attackers will put these victims “lives through hell” as they will also be able to:
 

• Obtain ATO's sensitive data – eg:  on children, dependents and businesses
• Submit cash out tax returns from the ATO
• Superannuation fund (FNPF) withdrawals
• Withdraw cash from bank accounts

The Agents network was compromised, giving a secured “open door access” to the ATO portal and client data.
 

How did the Thieves Gain Access?
The majority of cybercrimes happen through e-mails sent as “phishing” emails to extract information from users. The weakness therefore, was not in the ATO security systems but a separate network (an agent’s Network) that securely accessed the ATO data client. This step effectively opened a “back door to personal information”.
 

Social Security Details
 In a disastrous similar case where 3.8 million social security numbers were stolen, the attackers simply sent a spam e mail containing a “dangerous” link that activated software which stole employee’s user names and passwords. The rest was easy, read more in this link. http://tinyurl.com/a3r6luq
 Surpassing physical theft, the theft of digital information including personal information has become the most commonly reported fraud. Therefore taking a proactive approach towards creating, aligning and continuously updating one’s security culture is a must.

 

Remote controlled robots will be part of the normal office allowing remote teams (teleworkers) to feel at home in the office of the future.

Project teams will also replace traditional departments in the office of the future, assembling and disbanding as needed.You will not even have to be in the office.

Sounds Crazy?

With virtual notice boards and desks on treamills, the future office will help succesful companies efficiently achieve their goals.Therefore staff and workplace must change according to evolving demands. http://tinyurl.com/worklife-office-of-the-future

According to Pier Faukes, founder of PSFK in the US and editor of "The Future of the Workplace" report, there will be at least five notable changes in your workplace of the future:

1. No More Departments - staffing reshuffle is done according to company projects and skills for this are detrmined by algorithm
2. More Spaces for Catching Up - spaces that allow staff to bump into each other for interaction will be a must to enhance ideas for growth.
3. Changing Workplaces 9to5 - adapting to office environment with a click of a switch, furniture and software will be tucked away and moved around depending on project at hand.
4. Living Knowledge Shared Equally - instantly accesible knowledge flowing readily through the socila network and other internal systems will allow everyone to share skills and information.
5. Continious Skill Updating - taking ownership of their work skills, employees of the future will frequently be updating and teaching new skills to each pthet through virtual learning.
6. Teleworkers Robots - allowing virtual members to be part of a physical team.

Breaking down the barriers of traditional workplace, the office of the future will emerge as a full blown systems approach that will revolutionize how offices work.Technology is therefore launching office workers forward at a pace unimagined a decade ago and future changes will create an office space totally unrecognizable to today's workers.

There will be no management hierachy in the Office of the Future, just talented people working fabulously with robots doing an excellent job.

Preparing For Changes 

The challenges facing business owners and managers with remote workers will include

• Maintaining accountability and reporting
• Worker communications
• Occupational health and safety "at home"
• Differentiating persinal and work lives.

This future work environment is built on a findamental shift of thinking.It will have flexible work spaces that change according to need providing  the right infrastructure, physical environment and contenet to complete a meeting objective.

Challenges facing businesses today as they shift towards this new model are

• Aging workforce outdated on technology skills
• Intergrating latest technologies
• Regulatory restrictions
• Work delivered without traditional "managers"
• Lost export opportunities

In the end, the future workplace will be more of an analytical and digital environment with sensors that uses data to increase work effectiveness.Therefore, it will smartly enable more competitiveness to increase the compnay's bottom line.

Are you ready for the future - in your role, in your workspace, in your environment within your organization.

 

 

Many times without warning, business technology is constantly being threatened by the attack of virus infection, malware and a growing list of cyber threats.

The attack often starts with a simple opening of an e mail or clicking on a web site, accessing data or USB drive and even downloading known programs.

What Is the Business Risk?

In the event of a virus attack, business will suffer from one or more of the following
•    Data loss
•    Bank access accounts stolen
•    Lost productivity
•    Lost money

How will you know that your PC has been infected with a virus?

You must take heed when your mind confirms that your computer is just not working the way it normally should. These are 7 simple warnings that Director of Greymouse Kelvin Davis takes his businesses through which you can check for yourself should you encounter a problem :

1. Network and PC together with your mouse and keyboard will run slower than usual. A malware (virus) infection affects performance.
2. Pop up messages wanting you to click to web sites, shows warning or wanting you to pay money for the continuous use of software will frequently appear.
3. Incorrect websites pop up when you are asking for a totally different topic.The sudden disappearance of your antivirus program.
4. Some antivirus attacks will remove the antivirus you have installed and in its place will install itself as replacement.
5. Some malware will stop you from accessing the internet or receiving relevant assistance even after you have checked your cables, access and ISP (Internet Service Provider) to make sure that you have access.
6. Not being able or allowed to open applications or programs. Sometimes your PC will crash and shutdown often with a strange blue screen
7. New icons and buttons will suddenly appear on your desktop.

Prevention

Its way easier to prevent a virus attack than curing it. The following basic steps are your best  approach:

•   Daily or Weekly antivirus updates
•   Reliable commercial virus scanner (www.avg.com)
•   External email scanner or scrubber (www.gfi.com)
•   Data backup and recovery test
•   By using an experienced engineer, check and audit your system

Offering a free antivirus checker house-call, Trendmicro http://housecall.trendmicro.com/us/ offers will check for

• Viruses
• Worms
• Trojens
• Spyware

Plugging Holes

Families having their own networks, phones, cameras, and centralized data become a potential avenue for virus attacks and human error. It causes harmful incidents because it is an explosion of many end points.

A proactive approach for security awareness involves making your site and newtwork less vulnerable than others.

Transitioning all new customers must always involve a check for virus infection. Greymouse confirms this because it has helped safeguard its business technology operations.

 Running a periodic vulnerabilities scan to "plug those dangerous holes" before they are used by the attackers on their next attack is reliably cheaper.

 

 

Technology today has certainly transformed the boundaries of human expression with the extraordinary inception of telepresence.

Imagine talking to your colleagues whilst roaming around the office and not actually being there yourself. Even better, imagine proudly watching your child in his first play even though physically, you’re attending a conference in Fiji.Telepresence now saves you the agony of deciding how to attend two equally important situations that both demand your presence.

What Is Telepresence

Telepresence has amazingly taken “being there” to a whole new league as IT allows you to manage your remote office, attend meetings and participate in multi office functions, without you actually being there.

Technically, telepresence is a set of technologies which allows a person to feel as if they were present at a place other than their true physical location.Specially designed not to distract people or cause unwanted attentiont this technology can be used for

• Client meetings
• Socialising
• Inspecting work and monitoring progress
• Employee or student supervision

There are a number of different Telepresence robots available for sale with prices ranging from $1,999 USD ($3520 FJD) up to $16,000 USD ($28,178 FJD). The purchase can be justified because it actually helps save costs of:

• Travel
• Accommodation
• Meals
• Transportation
• Time

Users and potential buyers can visit http://www.anybots.com/drive/ to take a free test drive of any of the Anybot robots..Availability of special skills and early diagnosis is a crucial difference between the life and death of a patient and this technology is saving lives by

• its innovative use in healthcare
• providing expert assistance to health care professionals globally
• connecting a patient with a loved one thus cutting costs and saving time

Read more on this link -  http://tinyurl.com/vita-robot
                   
iPad With Wheels

To experience having a device that is ready to act as your double all you need to do is order an extension kit download the application and insert your iPad into it before starting the application.The iPad functions as the computer ‘brain’ and the application allows you to control it via the internet.

With this technology physical location has not only become a thing of the past it’s now no longer the criteria for attending meetings. To connect your physical business anywhere in the world all you need is an iPad, an internet connection and the extension kit.

 

Online stores are already threatening and undercutting traditional retail outlets and the loss of 4000 jobs in the traditional music industry around the globe further confirms this.

“His Masters Voice”(HMV), a 92 year old famous music retailer using the dog sitting in front of the gramophone as its logo is now calling it a day.

Greymouse Director Kelvin Davis highlighted the stiff competition being faced by many traditional music retailers such as HMV on his Fiji Sun Business article on January 21st 2013.

In his article he also reveals lessons highlighted in a book published by musician Derek Sivers, who became the creator of the first on line music sales.

Modern technology apparently has paved a new, faster and more efficient way for musical artists, retailers as well as consumers to record, sell and purchase music.

The traditional channel used so reliably has now changed forever because technology has now changed business models.

The internet, which has more or less become an integral part of global retailing and its future development, now provides retailers with a powerful marketing tool that simply cannot be ignored any more.

Music retailers and artists alike will be able to build value on their brands and enhance opportunities because websites now have the ability to create huge ”shop windows” just for this.

Eagerly embracing the internet, consumers are now able to interact anytime with any type of retailer from anywhere about the music of their choice.

As technology continues to quicken its pace , online is no longer an “alternative” to store based catalogue business. It’s therefore necessary for music retailers and artists alike to rapidly innovate relevant changes to allow best use of advantages in the future.

Committed on fulfilling Greymouse’s corporate obligations, Directors Kelvin Davis and Marisa Wiman have once again donated funds towards the needy children of Fiji. Helping the less fortunate has become an orgnisational goal.

This being one of the company’s significant traditional virtues, Greymouse clients of which 90% are in Australia , Solomon Islands and Fiji all partake in contributing towards this worthy cause.

In handing over the donation, Marisa emphasized the company’s belief in upholding and respecting the value of every child in Fiji and that Greymouse’s contribution will go a long way towards helping these children fulfill their hopes and dreams.

Marisa willingly shares hers & Kelvin’s belief that “the love we freely share is the only love that we gratefully keep” and in readily having the basic necessities in life humbles them to donate willingly to enable these less fortunate children to experience these comforts too.  

In addition, Marisa with the support from Mrs. Jo Hassan, who is one of Greymouse's many important clients, are close to finalizing all details on a twenty feet container that will bring items for our cyclone victims such as canned food, clothing including shoes, toys and kitchen utensils.

Save the Children Company Director Chandra Shekar expressed sincere appreciation upon receiving Greymouse’s kind gesture. "We would be using the donation towards buying stationery supply for needy children who come from families living below the poverty line."

The experience on this participation including similar previous ones has helped Greymouse develop and grow priceless traits like humility, respect, empathy, compassion as well as building and cherishing everlasting friendships.

 

Dramatic Technology Advances

Bill Ford a global executive of Fords and a great grandson of founder Henry Ford, has confirmed in a science conference at Barcelona in 2012 that a fully self driven car would be a reality by 2025.

Making cars into a mobile platform of communication, car makers will map the future of vehicle technology by increasingly taking advantage of the car itself as a rolling collection of sensors to reduce  congestion and help prevent accidents. Therefore as vehicles will increasingly become computers on wheels, IT brings a whole new term to the term “self drive”.

Golden Age of Safe Driving.

Being “stuff” straight out of science fiction, IT’s wide spread adoption could help speed up traffic caught in jams by up to 37% and reduce journey times by up to 20% by helping cars keep pace more efficiently with the flow of traffic. .

Inevitably new technology has to kick in and therefore automated driving will mean that drivers and their driving skills are virtually taken out of the equation. This then could possibly be the golden age of road safety and driving. Just imagine no more accidents when the driver has fallen off to sleep whilst taking out a family for a drive. 

 Mapping Out the Road Ahead.

Cutting out by a huge margin on the serious fatigue of long and continuous driving, an autopilot is basically designed to perform most of the tasks usually done by a driver and specifically includes:

• A camera on the windshield that allows car to interpret obstructions read signs and understands traffic lights.
• Wheel sensors that keep track of the vehicle’s movement and helps determine its location more precisely.
• A laser range finder mounted on the roof of the car generates a detailed 3D map that lets the car know whets going on around it within a radius of about 200 feet.
• 4 radar units are embedded in the front and rear bumpers to provide a more complete picture of the landscape.
• With the use of sensors, drivers can switch to auto pilot or semi – autonomous driving and the vehicle can use sensors to drive almost bumper to bumper.
• Because the technology will reduce accidents, auto pilot cars will need fewer structural safety measures thus making them lighter (and of course flashier!) and more fuel efficient.

As for the inevitable skeptics who will surely say that THIS is just another “pie in the sky”, the experts knowingly point out that the same notion was voiced regarding satellite navigation, air- bags and automatic braking yet amazingly, all of these features are on all cars sold and driven today.

Destined to become one of the many fruits of the new technological generation, autopilot cars are here to stay. Early versions are already being designed and tested and aimed to be on the road by 2017 and 2025.

Elance is a website where people can hire an independent freelancer to provide all types of skilled services.

This employment platform offers a flexible and cost-effective way for project owners to hire, manage and pay contractors (freelancers) online to get work done.

The types of services that are offered include programming, writing, administrative assistance, graphic design and so much more.

Buyers are not charged to use the service, other than to pay for the providers they hire. Creating an account is very simple and within just a few minutes you can post your first project.

Elance is designed to make it as easy as possible to get your “job postings” on their web pages and in front of potential bidders.

Before setting up your first Elance project, I recommend taking a few moments to review the talent available to get a feel of how the system works. It is important to be as detailed as possible when outlining your needs so that you can attract the right type of contractor who can deliver the task.

After receiving your bids, read the samples, ask for references and set up checkpoints to ensure that you are receiving the quality of service you are seeking for your project.

According to Kelvin Davis in his article in the Fiji Sun, the contractor is only paid when the project owner is satisfied with the final work. This increases confidence in the payment system.

On Elance, “you get what you pay for”. If you want quality work, the top level and premium providers in any category will cost more. Providers are rated by the buyers and the scores are posted to help you scout out the best and most skilled talent. 

Elance offers an escrow service between buyers and providers. The term ‘escrow’ refers to money held by a third-party on behalf of transacting parties.The freelancers pay the escrow fees out of their earnings and transactions are instant.

The Workroom on Elance enables Contractors and Clients to work together safely and effectively. They can communicate with each other in real time, share files, hold live meetings, make job status and progress visible at all times, eliminate paperwork and ensure payment for results.

There are many benefits of outsourcing your project on Elance. Whether you outsource to free up time, or because you are in need of a particular skill, it is just another way the Internet is allowing us to stay competitive.

 

Australian workers who want to use their own smartphones and tablets at work are facing strong resistance from employers.

This was the result after an IT company, Unisys, conducted a 2012 research titled "Consumerization of IT".

The research highlighted that more than half of Australian employees are buying their own tablet or smartphone to use at work, forcing employers to create a policy known as Bring Your Own Device (BYOD).

The “Consumerization of IT” report found that the most common mobile apps supplied to employees are: email, word processing and IT help desks.

Many employees have figured out which applications make them more productive in their own lives which is why they are using it for work purposes as well.

As stated by Kelvin Davis in his Fiji Sun Article, employees prefer to use tablets for work because the apps enable them to get their work done more efficiently.

According to the research, there’s also a rising trend in ‘Mobile Elites’.These mobile elite use personal tools because it enables greater productivity than the tools provided by IT.

Enterprise IT departments are falling short in understanding and supporting this trend and thus missing out on the potential productivity benefits of these mobile-enabled employees and on dealing with important security risks.

On the other hand, the main concern of employers is the workers’ ability to access business data via smartphone or tablet in the workplace.The reason being these mobile devices may contain confidential information that the company needs to protect.  

Business owners attribute this concern to mobility allowing the end points of access beyond office walls and the network firewall.

Companies normally monitor their own systems, but this becomes more difficult if employees are using and accessing information from their own equipment. Therefore, it is vital that employers consider how IT monitoring can be affected by BYOD.

There are potential advantages for employers, but it pays to think carefully before leaving staff to their own devices.

Lastly, these personal devices can afford staff with more freedom and most importantly improvements in efficiency and productivity - a benefit for both the employer and the employee.

 

Remote working can be defined as the ability to choose when and where you want to work whether it is from a home office, coffee shop, beach, airplane, or wherever you choose.

Essentially an individual has the freedom to choose the time and location where he or she wants to work.

Work from home programs are becoming a standard practice with many companies. It offers increased productivity, happier employees, less turnover, less overhead and less time and money spent recruiting.

If an employer implements it properly then their workers will view working from home as a reward for their hard work, and will continue to work harder – whether they are in the office or in their home office.

The three key factors that are influencing businesses to implement a remote working solution are due to:

• Less office space
• Less resources
• Workplace travel reduction

For any business, the most important thing to enable remote working is having the right network infrastructure in place. Reliable, fast and secure transfer of data is essential within a normal office environment.

Here's an interesting article about working remotely:

Fiji Sun Article

With new technological gadgets like tablets, iPhone and laptops more employees are choosing to work remotely. This can be made possible through instant messaging, audio/video calling, web conferencing and collaborated software.

By working from anywhere, employees are more flexible and highly motivated. Hence, they are able to communicate faster with clients resulting in greater productivity. With increased motivation, staff avoids problems such as sickness and stress.

However, for an employer, managing someone you hardly see may be difficult as they can become distracted by family matters or domestic duties. It can complicate an employee’s perception of an adequate workload making them less productive.

Technology and Cloud services have made it possible for workers to perform their jobs from almost anywhere. With just an internet connection and Cloud services you can turn any place into a ‘remote office’.

The iPad mini is set to be released in Apple Stores on the 2nd of November, 2012.  This small hardware has a screen that measures 7 inches with a weight of just 308 grams.

The iPad Mini will run all of the same applications as the full-sized iPad, including streaming movies from Netflix, playing a game, making music or creating presentations for work purposes.

A unique built-in app that acts as a personal assistant enables one to communicate using simple English commands. With this app, it lets you use just your voice to send messages, schedule meetings, place phone calls, and so forth. 

The iPad Mini also offers the ideal screen size and hardware for apps such as maps and navigation, where pinching and zooming on a mobile can be annoying. Although it is smaller than a standard iPad it may appear bigger than a seven-inch Android tablet.

The iPad mini sports an A5 processor which is the same dual-core processor in the iPad 2 and the iPhone 4S. This processor is more than capable of handling even the most demanding apps providing users an enjoyable experience.

An advantage of the iPad Mini is its long battery life, with up to 10 hours of web surfing, watching movies or downloading music. The power socket has also changed to a new lightening connector same as the iPhone 5.

This mini gadget will have all the benefits of the iPad but in a much smaller and more portable format. This means that it's perfect for playing games or even taking it with you to meet friends.

The iPad Mini is the competitions' worst nightmare because it is smaller, thinner and has a lighter weight. The iPad Mini is easy to hold making it durable to go with you throughout the day.

A week ago I was stunned to meet Peter who is my long time business companion.  So we decided to catch up and get re-acquainted over coffee.

Like any other person who has absolutely no idea about cloud storage, Peter bombarded me with questions one after the other asking me,

“What does it mean when files are stored ‘in the cloud’?”

“Where will my data be located if it’s in the Cloud?"

How can you exactly store data in the sky?"

"Is cloud storage secure?”

Cloud storage is quickly becoming the latest trend when it comes to sharing, archiving and collecting data particularly amongst small scale businesses.

The phrase ‘cloud storage’ has made everything possible from a client's email and personal files to a large corporation's backup data, readily available as a service through a network.

However, when it comes to storing data in the Cloud you can’t just send your files off into the Internet.

You have two options either to rent cloud storage also known as public cloud or you can buy cloud storage also known as private cloud.

But what about security?

Whether it’s the physical security of your home, car or business, it is just as important as the security of your network.  The data servers are vital not only because the equipments itself are costly, but also the data stored in them may contain very valuable information.

For any user, the primary concern regarding cloud storage is the security. Customers won’t easily hand over their data to any another business without an assurance that they can freely access their information whenever they want without anyone else accessing at it.

The need to store sensitive information has led to the improvements to address these privacy concerns.

Clearly, the services offered by cloud storage providers are handy, cost-effective and readily available.

Yet the safety and security of cloud solutions is frequently questioned by both consumers and business owners.

 

It was a blissful experience to be part of Brisbane’s 2012 Australian Partner Conference and what definitely made it even more exceptional was the introduction of the Windows 8 experience.

Without a doubt, the engineers of Microsoft have invented an operating system that truly stands out from its previous computing platforms.

In my opinion, Windows 8 represents an enormous change since the launch of Windows 95.

I’m pretty sure you’re familiar with Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 as you might’ve used it daily either at home or at work. Even though certain options have been tweaked a little, you can effortlessly switch between any of these versions.

With Windows 8, things have changed drastically. The desktop, as you know it, now has a new look and feel. Frankly, you can literally see notifications, upcoming calendar appointments, instant messages, news feed, and a photo of your preferred choice in large colorful boxes known as ‘Tiles’ which are spread out on your Start screen.

This makes it possible for the so-called Modern UI (User Interface) that is specially tailor-made for touch screens. This sleek feature not only allows you to maneuver your way around the PC with just your finger tip.

But it can also enable you to easily switch between phones, tablets and PC making it a much pleasant experience.

Apart from that, the live ‘Tiles’ continually update information and you are guaranteed to receive the latest news whether it is from your email, Facebook, MSN, eBay or Twitter.

Without taking the hassle of clicking on your internet explorer and checking for any daily news, Windows 8 enables users to access information that is constantly and readily available right at their fingertips.

The Windows 8 definitely offers unique features that prove to be very beneficial to both businesses and consumers. Furthermore, it has certainly provided people with more intuitive and innovative ways of interaction.

A recent product of Microsoft that struck me as a stepping stone to the future is the Microsoft Lync.

It incorporates instant messaging, teleconferencing and audio and video calling all into one.

By simply using your email address you can now connect with almost anyone who uses Lync from either inside or outside of your business.

Even though, Lync integrates with almost any PBX, it places the PC at the centre of the stage.

The Lync software has clearly made communication particularly between businesses, so effective and efficient that it could throw your traditional telephony out of the window.

The good news about Lync is that it provides clear VoIP calling and excellent videoconferencing without the need of any special network privileges.

With a click of a button you can be connected to the office, from the road or home while communicating with your remote and local employees.

It creates a feeling as if they were in the same room conducting their meetings or as if they desks were side-by-side.

For example, in your user status you can auto publish detailed information that goes beyond “busy” or “not here.”

You can use this tool to show “on a call” or “be free in X hours” so others will know precisely when to contact you again.

Lync offers a much richer experience with its various added features that can change the way you do business. It can help employees communicate more quickly and they become more productive as customer queries are dealt with promptly.

Microsoft Lync is perfect for small businesses who wish to unify their company but also reduce costs compared to the traditional PBX. You no longer need to pay excess amounts when making international or local calls.

Instead, you are able to save so much when conversing and communicating with your staff, customers or supplies.

Evidently, the days of the hard phone seem to be dwindling as a new league of users live and breathe communications devices.  

Microsoft Lync really is a big step forward into a new era of the combined comfort zone of instant messaging, voice, and video in a single convenient platform.

 

Recently, an outbreak of "Anti Cyber Crime Department of Federal Internet Security Agency" (ACCDFISA) malware called “Ransomware” is on the rise. This special type of malware targets any version of Microsoft Servers running Remote Desktop or Terminal Services taking the system and its data hostage for the purpose of getting money from its owner in exchange for handing control back to the owner.

The attacker does a dictionary based brute force attack on systems found to be running remote desktop or terminal services to obtain the username and password.

If the attacker is successful in obtaining the username and password, the attacker then logs into the remote system and executes the malware to apply an AES 256-Bit encryption to data and the logs are erased to hide evidence. The attacker then demands money from the owner in return for the decryption secret.

Here, the victims are left with no choice but to comply with the attacker’s demands or restore a previous backup, either option results in loss of productivity.

There are a few pro-active measures you can implement in your system to prevent intruders from accessing your data such as by raising alarms if incorrect passwords are detected or perform a 24/7network monitoring. This will definitely assist you in identifying threats and taking appropriate actions to keep intruders at bay.

I would highly recommend these local providers to assist you with any related issues:

 

Cloud Technology For Businesses (CT4)
www.ct4.biz
 

Burg Networks
www.burgnetworks.com

Greymouse IT
www.greymousefiji.com
 

Sonar Technology
www.sonartechnology.net

 

Contact us if you need us to perform network health checks on your system.

You can also download a FREE Cheat Sheet prepared by our security specialist containing technical description of this threat and prevention options. 

Apple, has launched its latest invention, the iPhone 5.

This new model of Apple’s phone is everything it should be: faster, thinner, lighter with a longer battery life.
With a 4inch screen size, it provides enough space for the fifth row of icons on your home screen.

The bigger display on iPhone 5 is noticeably brighter and more colourful making images and videos much more vivid and life-like. I think the most enhanced app will probably be the Apple iTunes application due to its simplicity, it will l enable anyone to organize their digital media collection.

The iPhone 5 is a device that we use on the go, with a coffee in one hand and an iPhone in the other. We can send an email, visit a Web page or make a phone call. Its slim model makes it convenient for us to put in the back of our pockets without really thinking about it.

The good news is that we won't need to wait for too long to get hold of the iPhone 5. Instead, you'll be able to pre-order the phone now.

It was publicized by Microsoft that the Small Business Server (SBS) standard edition will be excluded from the latest product line-up. Consequently, various small businesses with up to 75 staff that utilize Microsoft technologies for email and database services will be affected.

With cheaper licensing software costs, small business owners previously had access to advanced technologies. However, the costs of replacing standard SBS and premium editions today are equivalent to corporate businesses.

Now Microsoft requires all small businesses worldwide to use cloud technologies and with the next upgrade the simple email and database storage service will be removed from the upgrade options
As a vital small business technology change; this leaves you with four options:

1. Stay on the current version as long as possible
2. Upgrade to corporate edition licenses
3. Relocate to Cloud messaging systems and databases
4. Migrate to a Linux small business server platform

Options

1. A volume license proves that the current version will work for several years but with an OEM license your software will expire when the server has been replaced.
2. When buying corporate edition licenses of email, server and database; buy it separately as software license costs are expensive.
3. Move all your internal services to the Cloud particularly all your specific business software, customized or internal accounting software which will also be Cloud based. Thus, an important factor to consider is your internet link speed and reliability.
4. A proper replacement obtainable is the Free Linux software. Below are two of the options:

• Zentyal http://www.zentyal.org/
• Cent OS https://www.centos.org/

The Linux alternatives need additional support skills because it is much more complex to configure and maintain compared to the ordinary Microsoft SBS.
 

Your highest risk

Some business areas that use specific software namely motel bookings, accounting software, HR and banking are highly prone to businesses continuance risk. In order to avoid this risk, a network health check should be performed to identify any possible business continuance problems.

Side effects

Due to this change, the IT service providers are affected resulting in a decline of software license revenue caused by the shift to Cloud and Linux free software.

Another issue is that as it becomes more and more complex, the computer support technicians will struggle which is why they need to be re-trained and re-certify in other products.
In the world of business and technology change is inevitable so I advise you to prepare well in advance for any unforeseen circumstances with your IT support company.

I would like to thank all the readers for their comments and feedback on my articles.

Recenlty, I was requested for information on the benefits and challenges faced when exporting services such as Call Center and Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) delivered through internet from the South Pacific.The different types of call centers include tourism, airline booking and telecommunications and each type requires a different type of skill. The deliverty entirely depends on the target market and the business purpose.

Market Research

It is essential to carry out a market research to identify the potential customers. Client profiling includes

• Target Country
• Customer Expectations
• Service delivery hours
• Accent and language barriers
• Current Market Rages
• Quality Stantdards
• Competition

Infastructure

• High quality and low cost internet
• Stable power supply
• Public transportation
• HR skill availability
• Accuracy and quality
• Disaster recovery site

Human Resources

Delivery to international standard requires an understanding of the quality and standards

• Quality spoken and written english
• Accent
• Accuracy
• On time
• Cleanliness
• Hygene
• Work ethic
• Certifications

Technology Requirements

• Depending on your business needs, technologies will include:
• Cloud technology
• Local servers
• Website chat
• Email
• Technology redundancy
• Security
• Disaster recovery

A local call center (delivered to the local market) is a vastly different standard to an international call center or BPO. Agent training to an international standard may take up to five months depending on the quality and certifications needed.

Once established and working, benefits include local employment, export income and business expansion to include happy overseas clients.

Businesses today need not to choose only between India and Philippines for their outsourcing operations. Instead, they should consider the Pacific Islands that are developing high levels of efficiency while maintaining close proximity to clients.

Greymouse is one of the leading outsourced call centers in the Pacific. We have more than 8 years of experience delivering high-quality services for a wide range of clients.

Maintaining call center equipment and staffing can be expensive, so some companies choose to outsource their telephone functions to an external call center. Most overseas customers when choosing to outsource the call center services to any other outsourcing destinations often face the problems of accents.

It is often assumed that outsourced call cenjters are staffed by people with bad English accents that destroy the client relation process. This is often an exaggerated concern that many companies are worried about until they try our service.

With so many outsourced call centers to choose from and each with different strengths, here  the trick is to find the best match, and the way to do that is through a proven, structured selection process.

Why should you consider Fiji Based Call Center

Here at Greymouse, our agents speak fluent English, enabling you to cuts costs and maintain your customer relationships. We use the Australian and New Zealand nuances to ensure 98% of the calls have no idea they spoke to an international person. The patient and caring nature is the same that greets international visitors to our paradise every day.

We take this customer service level and delver it real time to your customers.

We specialize in representing your company and brand with the level of knowledge, professionalism, and customer service you require. Our focus on product knowledge and quality service adds value to your brand.

When you hire a Greymouse call center agent, you can be rest assured that, regardless of how well they speak, he or she will still be trained.

We ensure that all team leaders are constantly managing their team’s performance to increase productivity, by delivering high quality service to our clients.

To enhance knowledge, skills and attitudes of our call center representatives according to industry standards, regular training is mandatory.

Click here to listen to some of our staff conversations.

What’s the next step?

We’d love to hear what your specific needs are and discuss how we can meet them. Just fill out our short contact form and we’ll get in touch right away.

You can also call us on + 61 (0) 7 3118 9594 or email us at sales@greymouse.com.au

Thanks for your interest in Greymouse Virtual Assistants! We look forward to speaking with you!

 

 

Last month I attended a conference where I met an old business colleague, who I havent seen for six years. George and I sat down over a meal and we talked about the changes in the respective business worlds. George mentioned that the increase in electricity prices were high and he needed more savings from his IT.

IT is sometimes treated as a cost for the business and increasing cost doesnt help.     I have often witnessed computer resources being wasted  so I shared with George ways in which he could save money and reduce wastage.   George had four physical servers in an air conditioned room used by sixty staff from Monday to Friday.  Consider this, most corporate servers use 15% or less processing power. The memory rests 70% of the time and each server comsumes 550-850 Watts of power in an 24 x 7 air conditioned environment.    3 Stages of Consolidation  Businesses can benefit from three stages of virtualization by consolidating four differnt servers into one physical box   Cost Efficiency Cost efficiencey can be achieved through buying a single(larger server) and running a virtualization program. Virtualization options include :

• ESXi (VMWare)
• HyperV (Microsoft)
• XenServer (Citrix)

The four servers can than be reloacted into the new virtual enviromnet as part of a "Phycical to Virtual" relocation. The old server is then removed. This brings about immediate savings. The power consumption is reduced by 60 to 70% and less heat is emmited from the Server therefore the air conditioner works less and consumes less power   Quality of Service For redundancy, a second server and software to switch accross the virtual servers to the second physical server can be purchased.This increases the quality of IT service.    Business Agility Larger businesses use Infastructure as a Serveice (IAAS) providing appkications internally. This is used to provide interdepartmental billing, track resources.    I called George last Friday. He only needed to progress to stage two "quality of service". He thanked me and said "My Savings are worth it"