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

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.

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.

Most small and medium businesses can’t afford the luxury of a qualified IT administrator, let alone an entire IT department. If you’re in this position, how do you maintain the information technology infrastructure that’s critical to your organization?

One option is Managed Services, in which you outsource this role to an IT expert called a “managed services provider,” which will typically offer on-site or remote network and security monitoring, data backup and technical support.

Because the Managed Services model allow a business to focus on its core competencies, it is increasing in popularity—but sometimes it’s hard to separate the real benefit from the hype.

What’s the value to you?

• Peace of mind. Your managed services provider will monitor your IT infrastructure and prevent or resolve any problems—a sharp diversion from the traditional “fix it when it breaks” model of IT management.

• Simplicity. Your managed services provider will provide many of its services remotely, via the Internet, instead of through on-site visits. This reduces time and cost.

• Constant support. You don’t have to worry about support; your  managed services provider will offer the assistance you need, when you need it.

• Affordability. Managed services providers typically offer several price structures, including a per-month fee—which is much lower than the cost of building an in-house IT support department.

• Accountability. Have you ever tried to resolve an IT problem only to find that one vendor blames it on another who blames it on another? With managed services, you don’t have to go to multiple vendors to figure out why your network is down or you’ve experienced a security breach. You’ll have one point of contact: your managed services provider.

Want to learn more about how Managed Services can give you dependable IT with predictable costs? Give us a call.

In a report by security firm Websense, an alarming rise in the growth of malicious websites was identified in 2009 as compared to 2008 – almost 225 percent. The study also found an increased focus among hackers and spammers on targeting social media sites such as blogs and wikis. Social media or so-called Web 2.0 sites allow user-generated content, which can be a source of vulnerability. Researchers identified that up to 95 percent of user-generated comments to blogs, chat rooms, and message boards are spam or malicious – linking to data stealing sites or to downloads of malicious software. Email also continues to be a target for malicious activity with tens of thousands of Hotmail, Gmail and Yahoo! email accounts hacked and passwords stolen and posted online in 2009, which resulted in a marked increase in the number of spam emails.

For our clients on our Managed Service plans, we work hard to ensure your systems are protected from harmful or malicious activity coming from the Internet. If you’re not under our Managed Service plans perhaps now is a good time to talk – let’s make sure your systems are safe in 2010.

Related articles

• Top search results riddled with malware (v3.co.uk)
• Email phishing attack spreading say experts (telegraph.co.uk)
• Fraudsters Go Phishing For Victims’ Friends (news.sky.com)

I have been reading heaps of books lately about accomplished sporting heroes, and one thing that they all attest to assisting them in their goals of world-wide acclaim is core strength. This is the muscles around your mid-section which give strength and poise to the rest of your body. If your core is strong, the rest of the body follows.

I know you’re asking what this has to do with IT, right? Well, lets have a look at your business. The arms and legs are your workers and their PC’s. The brain is the server and programs that you use, and the core is your network – your modem and all the switches,  firewalls and cables that keep you connected.

To enhance the way your brain operates you add knowledge through reading or education. You server needs processing power and capacity through chipsets and hard disk space. Like a boxer on the speedball to improve speed, your PC’s can get faster simply by adding RAM and using the cache. Imagine if it was that easy with your body!?!?!? I would just download some knowledge online and go to the store to have WWE superstar John Cena’s arms fitted. A fancy thought, I know.

Putting it in simple terms:

·         Einstein’s Brain = HP ML or DL server with Windows Server 2008

·         John Cena’s  arms = HP P Series workstations or laptops running Windows 7 Professional

·         Giselle Bundchen’s stomach = Good internet connection, quality modem and switches, high quality cabling, professionally specc’d wireless network, firewall to prevent attacks, antivirus to prevent viruses, business quality support and locking down programs to prevent abuse. See, it’s a little more complicated than the others…

So how do you strengthen your business core?

If you ask any fitness guru worth his salt they will tell you that balance and poise help to strengthen your core. Standing on a medicine ball, or balancing on a beam while doing other activities like catching a medicine ball.  With your network, this is the same – kind of…

Like balancing on a medicine ball, your network can be strengthened by balancing processing power, throughput speed, load and the programs that you allow to operate on it. No point in exercising your body if you’re going to eat burgers every day – similarly there is no point in increasing your throughput power if it’s just going to be used for people to look up video clips on You Tube or illegally downloading songs on Limewire.

At Evolve IT we do a lot of work with businesses to balance out the way that their network operates. Strengthen the core through good quality gear, and balance the load through ensuring that the traffic on your network is productivity based and not just Facebook and iTunes.

And like having a fitness instructor, Evolve IT can be there to personally train your business core to be the best that it can be. Unlike a personal trainer, who you only see once a week, Evolve IT can be on call all the time to ensure that your network is working out the way that it should be.

With the start of a new year, businesses commonly implement changes and launch new initiatives that have ramifications for your IT environment. Ignore them at your own peril.

Chief among your IT considerations should be a Business Continuity Plan, or BCP, which will allow your business to resume normal operations in the event of a significant data loss or network downtime. Unfortunately, recent studies have found that about half of small and midsize businesses have no BCP. That’s a huge risk; more than half of companies that experience catastrophic data losses go out of business within a couple of years.

And while it’s important to have a plan in the first place, it’s equally important that your BCP is flexible and scalable to adapt as your business undergoes changes.

Software installations, modifications, and updates as well as the addition of new hardware are an important part of business continuity planning. You must ensure your backup, storage, and recovery procedures and systems are kept current with these changes. Improper maintenance and outdated procedures can lead to backup errors that result in costly data losses. Unfortunately, some companies discover these errors too late – when they try to recover the data.

In addition to the IT considerations of a BCP, don’t ignore the human element. Someone, typically your IT staff, has to be in charge of overseeing BCP execution. But it doesn’t end there. Other employees have their roles, too, but do they know what those roles are? Have they been brought up to speed on the importance of backup and recovery, and what they need to do should you experience a catastrophic data loss? Has your business produced and printed a manual for employees to use as a reference?

Let us help you assess your business continuity strategy to make sure it takes all relevant aspects into account and is kept current with your evolving needs. Your business may depend on it.