Swine Flu and IT Remote Access

• Tags:
• mcware
• remote working
• swine flu

Posted by Jonathan Wheatley on August 4, 2009 10:11 AM

If Swine Flu does hit hard in the winter it could have a huge impact on the economy with some analysts predicting a 7% decrease when we were just starting to ponder a recovery. A few simple steps should be looked at that will give you the flexibility to keep your staff working from home whilst not infecting the rest of the workforce.
Many people have remote access to mail through outlook web access and on their phones and this will go some way to keeping things moving but what about true remote access. MCWare have found that unless you can offer a solution that looks and feels exactly like the system users are used to they are unlikely to use it properly. What are these solutions: -
Remote Desktop - This is a feature offered by Microsoft Servers but beware you will need to purchase terminal sever licenses for each user who wants to use it. Also you will need plenty of lovely internet bandwidth and around 32mb of RAM (memory) for each user.
We prefer VMWARE view see http:\\www.mcware.co.uk for an explanation. If you leave the office and you are in the middle of a report, what you get home and fire up the remote connection the cursor will be flashing where you left it. True remote working.

• add or read comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

• Post to:
•  del.icio.us
•  Digg
•  Newsvine
•  Nowpublic
•  Reddit

Outsourcing your IT – Can it ever really be done over the phone?

Posted by Jonathan Wheatley on July 8, 2008 2:16 PM

I write this blog bleary eyed, fresh from pulling an all nighter repairing a broken server on a site in Darlington. A hard disk failure meant that the domain controller for a very busy site was offline. We were able to restore all files using a VM Ware image (see www.vmware.com) and then repair the original fault and we got to bed at 4.30am. The problem was identified at 9pm by text message to one of the MC Ware field engineers.

This got me thinking as to how this kind of problem would be resolved by having a telephone support contract with a national, so called IT supplier. When an IT system fails and with over a million components in a server it will at some time, I believe that firms want someone pulling into the car park with knowledge of the site and the people and can be assured that the problem will be fixed either by close of play or by the time the doors open in the morning.

What good is remote access if the server or internet connection is down? What are the chances of getting the same person who helped you a month ago? Does your contract cover you at this time of night or on a Sunday?

I strongly believe that IT support for local business has to be provided by local IT firms. I am not against outsourcing of IT, in fact it is the main revenue stream at MC Ware but it should involve weekly visits to site, preventative measures rather that emergency fire fighting. The benefits of this type of outsourcing include: -

No employment issues, no need for holiday cover, access to a full team in case disaster strikes, raise and reduce the level of support as necessary, no tax or national insurance employer contributions, no train costs, no office space needed etc.

I think that North East firms should think about what they would expect if everything failed at 9pm on a Sunday night rather than worry about it when it happens!

• add or read comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

• Post to:
•  del.icio.us
•  Digg
•  Newsvine
•  Nowpublic
•  Reddit

Beware the online backup trap!

Posted by Jonathan Wheatley on June 2, 2008 11:50 AM

It would seem that each week there is a new offering of a tape free online back solution offering to help you sleep safe in the knowledge that your data is available and secure. I would like to warn the North East Business community of some potential pitfalls to watch out for.

Continue reading "Beware the online backup trap!" »

• add or read comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

• Post to:
•  del.icio.us
•  Digg
•  Newsvine
•  Nowpublic
•  Reddit

Should employers block social networking sites?

Posted by Jonathan Wheatley on May 16, 2008 2:16 PM

Can you prevent time wasting on the internet?

I am asked more and more as an IT Consultant with MC Ware to block and monitor websites due to managements concerns about time wasting but I am not sure if this is always the answer.

One week the panic will be related to Facebook, the next week Bebo and who knows what will be next. I am sometimes of the opinion that people who are committed to wasting time on the web have probably always found other ways of avoiding work.

Continue reading "Should employers block social networking sites?" »

• add or read comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

• Post to:
•  del.icio.us
•  Digg
•  Newsvine
•  Nowpublic
•  Reddit