We have all heard it before when buying a TV, a stereo or an iPod – “And would you like the extended warranty with that?”

Most of the time the knee-jerk reaction to this is “No, I would not!”

But should we be reconsidering our cynical reaction to the sales guy at Harvey Norman?

I bought a TV over Christmas and this proved how powerful a warranty is. I wont mention brands etc, however a brand new 42 inch LCD lasted two weeks and the main-board blew up. I had it replaced, no questions asked, and then in another two weeks the new one failed as well. In the end I ended up changing brands, however it was the warranty which ensured that I could do this. Without it, I would have been a couple of grand ($) down with a 14 inch CRT in the corner with no HD!

Not long after this I purchased a new computer for my wife. With it came a printer, backup USB drives, MS office and anti-virus. All up I was, again, looking at about $2k and this time I went for the extended warranty. On all of this, I have managed to protect the main investments, the PC and Printer, for as long as they are likely to last before I should look at upgrading them anyway.

For business, many of us are buying on finance now and this means payments are spread over a number of years.

This means that our loan may well outlive our warranty, and this can only be bad. Just imagine paying off a PC that may as well be a door-stop!

So, some quick advice; buy the warranty to match your finance terms.

Financing of IT infrastructure is becoming the norm in business, as there are some things that are expensive like Servers and SAN’s, however if you finance it, you have a monthly cost of your IT which is great for budgeting and P&O’s. Your IT becomes a fixed cost and therefore one of the things that is covered in your business at all times.

In many instances, you also finance the cost of the warranty upgrade, so that you know you are covered in the event of a malfunction.

So think about it – finance your gear, finance the warranty and you have a built in insurance policy on your new infrastructure.

If you are unsure about how to finance your IT gear, there are many options, however I think the best on offer at the moment is Microsoft finance. If you have any Microsoft licenses included in your bundle, which you will, then you can finance this through Microsoft. They will finance the whole sha-bang and you needn’t worry about 50% deposits and the like.

If you’d like more information, click here to contact me and we can have a chat about it.

Once this is done, you need someone to support your users – and this is where Evolve IT can help. But that is another article…

SaaS has several characteristics that set it apart from other services:

1. SaaS allows the access and use of commercially available software through a remote, network, or internet connection. This means that the software is not installed in the subscriber’s computer, but rather on the SaaS provider’s server. This also makes the software accessible to the subscriber regardless of his or her location.
2. SaaS provides commercially available software, not custom made software, meaning that a particular software service is made available to multiple clients, so customization is limited to only what the software or SaaS provider allows.
3. The SaaS provider shoulders the responsibility of updating the software, and subscribers can request updates, upgrades, and additional features.

Regarding implementation, SaaS architecture is classified into four “maturity” levels based on factors such as configurability, multi-tenant efficiency, and scalability.

1. Level 1 is the “ad-hoc/custom” level, in which a modified version of a particular piece of software is offered to subscribers, which is then run on the provider’s host server. This level is requires the lowest maintenance.

1. The second level offers more customization and allows subscribers to configure the metadata of a program. This then allows a customized version of the same software, based on the needs of the subscriber.

1. Multi-tenant efficiency is added to the third maturity level, which means that the SaaS servers are made more conducive for subscribers to use separate instances of a single application.

1. The fourth and most “mature” SaaS architecture offers all four factors, with the service reaching optimum efficiency.

Considering SaaS for your business? Let us help you sort through the details.

I just bought an old 1972 Merc 230. It’s a beautiful old car. The colour’s not right, and then engine sounds rough, however I love it and it’s a project that should keep me amused for the next 6-12 months at which point I will likely take it for a few laps of the block and then sell it to the highest bidder.

One thing that I realized though, is that this car is not something that I would rely on as a daily-driver. Yes, it has all the romance of the 70’s, however the ride is soft, the aircon doesn’t work and carpet is almost non-existent. The exterior noise is so loud the radio is useless and I couldn’t imagine driving down south, or even to work, more than once in a blue moon to clean out the carby’s.

For the daily stuff I like my Pajero. It’s comfortable, and the ride is quiet. The radio, aricon and electric windows all work. The power steering is effortless and I have four wheel drive at my fingertips. It’s fuel injected, so it starts first time every time and I can go on holiday for a month, come back and its starts again after not being turned over for that amount of time.

This got me thinking about business infrastructure.

Are your business systems a reliable daily driver, or are you running on some Vintage gear?

A great analogy for this story is a company car. You upgrade them every few years, they are maintained well, they get you around and you don’t really get too attached to them. This should be the same for your servers and computers. They should be leased every 3-4 years and upgraded with the latest technology you can afford so that your business benefits from it.

Reliability should cover everything in your business, and just think, like the car not starting in the morning, what happens if your PC will not start?

There are always affordable bundles available for people looking to upgrade their infrastructure, and there is always finance available to ensure that you can have it now, fixing your monthly IT spend and ensuring that you can smoothly upgrade again in a few years time. So here are some things to consider:

1. What do I need?

Talk to a professional, like Evolve IT, when considering an upgrade to your IT infrastructure. We can advise on what you need, the benefits of the new systems and what best way to use them and deploy them for you.

2. Brand matters

At Evolve IT we specialize in HP. Why? Because they make very reliable gear, and their warranty/ after sales service is impeccable; the best in the business.

3. Extend the Warranty

Extend the warranty to cover the term of your lease on the computers. This way, not matter what happens you are going to be covered as long as your payments exist.

4. Finance if you can

Why spend all your capital up front if you can lock in a good finance option and pay a small monthly on your purchase? Finance limits capital expenditure and maximized cash flow for the more important things like marketing and stock. This also enables you to upgrade at the end of the agreement and refinance with similar payments, ensuring that your IT is always cutting edge, without breaking the bank.

5. Join the RAC / RACV

Like a car, your computers will require call-out professionals to assist when things do go awry. The RAC (WA) or RACV (Victoria) are the choice for the company cars. As for your computers Evolve IT can help you, for a small monthly fee, to ensure that your systems are working well, are maintained correctly and are fixed quickly if anything does go wrong. Think of it like insurance, with RAC and mechanics all rolled into a simple monthly payment.

If you consider these simple things when you upgrade your company gear then you are going to limit the expense, maximize cash flow, ensure the highest quality of gear and guarantee that your after-purchase care is at a level that car lovers would expect from Rolls Royce.

If you have any questions, or want to arrange a time to meet, please let me know here.

Have a great week!

Mark Ehlers

Microsoft recently released a number of security bulletins and patches addressing vulnerabilities in Windows and Office that are of high risk to users. It’s widely believed that many will be exploited by hackers within the next 30 days. One of them could potentially allow hackers or malware authors to easily compromise systems by tricking users to download malicious AVI-formatted files. Others require nothing more than just visiting a website. Another specifically targets Powerpoint Viewer 2003, and opening a malicious .ppt file could affect your system.

This latest round of patches and vulnerability updates is really nothing new – although the sheer number made public in one day is notable. This highlights the need for a comprehensive security policy, because vulnerabilities do exist in even the most mundane or old versions of software. Customers under our Managed Services plan can rest easy since we monitor and update their computers as soon as these patches and advisories are released. Find out more about what we do to make your systems safe and secure. Contact us today.

Related links:

• Patch Tuesday: Microsoft plugs critical Windows worm holes (zdnet)
• Researchers warn of likely attacks against Windows, PowerPoint (computerworld)
• Microsoft delivers huge Windows security update (computerworld)

A malicious piece of software making the rounds of news websites this week is believed to be behind the compromise of over 75,000 systems in over 2,500 international organizations – many of which are government agencies and large Fortune 500 companies.

Called the Knebner botnet after the name in the email used to register the initial domain used in the campaign to propagate the malware, the software infects computers and captures user login access to online financial services such as Paypal and online banks, social networking websites such as Facebook, and email. Infected computers can be centrally controlled from a master computer, which presumably harvests the data captured for nefarious means.

The Knebner botnet itself is not new. It’s based on the ZeuS botnet, and has gained prominence lately because it’s slipped under the radar of so many organizations. However, there are ways to prevent compromises from botnets – one of which is to have a proactive security system and policy in place. Our Managed Security customers have this assurance in place since we continuously protect their system from botnets and other malware. If you’re not sure that you’re protected, talk to us today.

Related articles:

• Kneber botnet described as ‘massive’ and ‘worldwide’ (inquisitr.com)
• Kneber attack resurrects notorious Zeus Trojan, say experts (guardian.co.uk)
• Malicious Software Infects Corporate Computers (nytimes.com)

In my 10 years in the IT industry I have seen some abominations of service. “Service” is a word that is used so flippantly by IT providers that it really should be investigated as to what you are really getting.

Some simple tips for auditing your IT providers:

1.       Survey your staff

At Evolve IT we recently had to renew once of our biggest contracts. The client had a new CFO and therefore she shopped around for a better deal to what we were providing.

Once the pricing came back and was about the same, the new CFO did a very smart thing: she surveyed the staff who we deal with every day to see what they thought of Evolve IT’s service and the people that provide it.

The result, needless to say, was good. The staff members were extremely happy with us and therefore there was no competition to the renewal of our service. So ask yourself the question: If you asked your staff what they thought of your IT support provider, what would the reaction be? Better yet, actually ask them and take the guess work out of it.

2.       Study your SLA

Your service level agreement is what you should be basing performance on at a scientific level. What is the agreed turnaround time for a job? What is the actual time logged?

At Evolve IT our clients are the most important thing. We have many opportunities to make more money through using our resources to do paid jobs rather than looking after our pre-paid clients, and here is where we differ from our competition: we don’t take these opportunities. Evolve IT managed Support Services clients are our only priority. We endeavor to serve our clients quickly and to the best of our ability to ensure that our clients never want to leave.

Is your provider making you a priority?

3.       Do you have an Account Manager?

Sometimes you just want to get someone on the phone. Anything can trigger this: advice, recurring problems or purchasing decisions. All of these things warrant a phone call to someone who knows you, knows your business and knows what the consequences are of bad decisions.

At Evolve IT we pride ourselves on providing an Account Manager for all of our Managed Support Services clients. Our Account Managers can provide you with guidance and advice on how to better, not only your network, but your business.

4.       Does size matter?

Evolve IT is a national company with 20 staff across Perth and Melbourne. With this size comes depth of experience and qualifications to ensure that our clients always have someone to talk to about specific problems that they are encountering.

Be it a project or simple service, expertise and depth ensures that it is completed quickly and to a higher degree of success than smaller “back yard” operators.

5.       What kind of infrastructure does your provider have in place?

Infrastructure management requires some very important tools on the providers side as well. There are so many jobs that don’t require a technician to come out on site if this infrastructure is in place. These jobs are often done remotely, if the provider has the tools in place to do so.

At Evolve IT we have invested more than $350,000 into our client services infrastructure  to ensure that all jobs are logged, completed and tested in the shortest amount of time possible.

6.       Vendor relationships

Does your provider have good enough relationships to get you the best deal possible on new hardware and software?

At Evolve IT we have very strong relationships with the large Vendors; Microsoft, Sophos, Acer, HP and Trend Micro. We have very strong relationships with the supply chain across Australia. This all enables us to get the best technology at the best price for you, the client.

So here are six things that set Evolve IT apart from the rest, and questions that you should be asking your boss, or yourself about your provider.

Let’s recap then and ensure you are getting the best service from your IT company. They should have:

1.       Positive staff encounters and service levels

2.       Be sticking to well within the SLA

3.       Provide you with an Account Manager

4.       Have the skills and depth to fix any problem that you encounter

5.       Have infrastructure in place to ensure timely and accurate solving of problems

6.       Supplier relationships that benefit you when you need to spend money

If you like the sound of a company that can give you all of this, then why don’t you contact me and we can arrange a meeting to discuss the possibilities.

Mark Ehlers

For businesses of all types and size, managing data online is critical to the smooth operation of a website. However, incorporating data collection programs can be time consuming, especially if any of your data is “time bound” – meaning it’s only valid and useful during a specific period of time.

Here’s a solution. FormSpring provides free and paid website data collection services that eliminate the need for additional programming or the purchase of additional software.

If your website includes contact or event registration forms, surveys, and the like, FormSpring provides services ranging from a basic free option to more feature-intensive offerings with custom made forms based on your unique requirements. There’s no long-term registration contract, and you may cancel at any time. FormSpring also offers a 30-day money back guarantee.

It’s worth noting that the data is stored on FormSpring’s servers, so if you have special compliance requirements for privacy or security you might want to check to ensure you remain compliant.

Overall, FormSpring is a very useful website for companies or groups that need a hassle-free way to collect data through their website. Check out their free version of the plan or use the 30-day money back guarantee to explore whether FormSpring meets your data collection needs.

If you suspect that you’ve responded to a phishing scam with personal or financial information or entered this information into a fake Web site, take these steps to minimize any damage.

Read more

Phishing, pronounced “fishing,” is a type of online identity theft that uses e-mail and fraudulent Web sites that are designed to steal your personal data or information such as credit card numbers, passwords, account data, or other information. Follow these guidelines to help protect yourself from phishing scams sent through e-mail.

Read more

The growing reach and power of the internet has changed the way people do business, with more and more web-based services popping up. One of these is SaaS.

SaaS stands for Software as a Service, which refers to any licensed software being “rented” to a company by another company on an as-needed basis.

To illustrate, let’s say Company A is in need of licensed software, but only for a specific period of time because of a one-time client or project. Company B, as the SaaS provider, rents out the use of the software  to Company A for the time Company A needs to use it – weekly, monthly, and so on. (Company B is specially licensed to do this, of course.)

The term became popular near the end of 2000, but the service started in 1998 with a website called siteeasy.com. The concept has become increasingly popular because the legal alternative to rent/outsource the use of the software spares the expense and hassle of procuring software licenses.

As with other outsourced services, the hardware used for SaaS are remotely located and hosted, and accessed through the internet by the subscriber. Virtually all kinds of software can be used through a SaaS service, and availability of the software depends on the subscriber.

There’s vast potential in the use of the internet and web-based services such as SaaS, but the nature of the remote hosting service is not for everyone. If you’d like to learn more about the pros and cons in relation to your business model, we’d be happy to discuss a possible SaaS road map with you.