So what is consumerisation in the context of IT? The consumerisation of IT is a trend that has gathered momentum in recent years and refers to ways in which the consumer sector and business sector are converging. It is used as an umbrella term covering many things, including allowing employees to buy or bring to the workplace devices of their choice. This will sometimes replace being given designated computers or other devices, but it can also supplement the traditional model. The IT consumerisation tag can also be used to refer to the way in which some companies (or individuals) use consumer software and services such as Facebook and Twitter to accomplish business tasks.

Indeed, the boundaries between professional and personal lives are being redefined. Users no longer work within their offices (thanks to Cloud Computing/SaaS), but often check email late at night and update personal web pages during the day. Users are demanding freedom and IT needs to figure out ways in which to help them maintain a balance between work and personal time.

Those in favour of consumerisation of IT see it as a way of liberating their employees, increasing creativity and loyalty, and as a tactic for restoring work/life balance and enabling the recruitment of the brightest new talent. Opponents, however believe it leads to inconsistency, manageability issues and information security risks.

Here are some factors to address if you are considering consumerisation for your company/organisation.

• Assess your users – Assess what consumer grade applications and devices your employees are using at work today. It will also be useful to create a profile of your end-users and the typical scenario they encounter. Depending on the individual user’s impact on the business and their needs, you will be able to form an opinion on whether consumerisation is right for them and you.

• Understand content and information security – Some users may deal with confidential legal issues, whereas others may deal with information that is intended for public readership. Similarly, some information, such as sales contracts, is highly sensitive while other data, such as marketing brochures, can be shared using consumer technologies such as Windows Live SkyDrive without risk. Access to areas should be strictly limited by role and credentials.

• Recognise device types and application needs – Individual devices are not good for all tasks and one size does not fit all. Devices without keyboards may be inadequate for data creation and PCs generally provide the best environment for data creation and manipulation tasks. The challenge is to match work profiles with the right device.

• Define the criteria for a successful solution – Consider what benefits there will be and how these benefits will be measured. Plan to protect sensitive data, allow data access and sharing, provide tools for application delivery and access, and deliver a centrally managed environment through technologies such as cloud-based applications and services and desktop virtualisation.

• Update your organisational policies – Your policies should reflect your solution, requiring collaboration beyond IT. Areas such as data classification will require legal counsel and finance departments will need to tackle the tax issues of benefits in kind and issuing cash allowances when users select their own devices or bring their own devices to work. Occasionally, consumerisation is driven by the HR department which has an interest in providing a modern, dynamic environment to attract the best talent in the industry.

• Provide implementation and development resources – Ensure you provide sufficient assistance to support and develop the delivery of applications and data across multiple platforms. This will affect the likely cost and timescales for the successful implementation of a consumerisation project. Be aware that adopting a consumerisation strategy or implementing a ‘bring your own’ device model will not cost the enterprise less. Invariably it will cost more and increase complexity and risk. If the only driver is cost reduction, you are almost certainly making a bad move.

• Pilot your solution and plan for continuous improvements – Use highly motivated volunteers who are keen to create a consumerisation strategy. Do not pilot just a single device because it is unlikely to suit all users. The programme should not be a way for particular users to get ‘cool stuff’. Roll out the programme to all employees or to those you have identified as most likely to benefit.

The consumerisation of IT is a very real trend that is being adopted by many organisations, particularly those going through a period of change. Positive outcomes may include employees who are more engaged, productive and creative and a powerful aid to recruitment. However it should not be viewed as a cost saving exercise and like any change management programme, strict governance and measurements must be put in place to gauge success.

Thanks

Richard

While the desktop computer is not set for extinction any time soon, research says that by 2020, most people will not do their work with software running on a general-purpose PC. Instead they will work in internet based applications and in applications run from smartphones. Cloud computing will continue to expand and come to dominate information transactions because it offers many advantages, allowing users to have easy, instant and individualised access to tools and information they need wherever they are, locatable from any networked device.

The generation entering the workplace today have never known a world without computers in their living rooms, internet on their mobile phones and networking without using social media. And in order to entice this generation, 68% of those surveyed believe companies will have to offer the very latest in technology and flexible workspaces to attract and retain the brightest workforce – and cloud computing is a fundamental foundation for this.

Synonymous with this new generation is their behaviour within the workplace – as companies seek to become ever more innovative, to drive new ideas and new services and products, employee collaboration will be instrumental, using, sharing and changing documents and ideas together using cloud computing as a tool.

Ultimately technology and the onset of cloud computing will change the way we all work in the future, ensuring anywhere, anytime access to the information and the people we need in order to get things done and drive business growth.

A recent report from IDC, IDC Predictions 2011 highlights that cloud use by SMEs (that’s SMALL and Medium Size Enterprises) is expected to surge in 2011, with the adoption of some cloud resources topping 33 per cent by year’s end.

Even though more small businesses are starting to adopt cloud computing, it’s clear that many are still unsure of what it is, how it relates to their specific business sector and most importantly how it can benefit them.

Why small businesses should look to the cloud

A major challenge for small businesses, especially start-ups, is the upfront cost of IT infrastructure and the huge costs incurred managing IT, when they could be saving money and investing it in other core business areas. Cloud computing reduces the need for costly infrastructure associated with on-premise software and the additional management overheads required.

These benefits can be categorised as follows:

Cost: Unlike traditional IT systems, cloud applications require no more infrastructure than an internet connection and can even work wirelessly on mobile devices. This reduces upfront capital expense and slashes maintenance costs.

Mobility: Having access to email, documents, contacts and calendars while out and about can help your staff keep in touch with customers and remain productive when they are not in the office.

Speed: IT departments don’t have to go through the lengthy process of building IT infrastructure and deploying software to multiple computers when using cloud services. Instead, they subscribe to services and receive them.

Reliability: The cloud computing provider is responsible for maintaining and upgrading the infrastructure. This means greater security and higher levels of uptime, leaving your staff free to focus on more important core business processes.

Scalability: You only have to pay for the resources you use. Instead of buying hardware, software and consultants to set up and run applications, businesses can pay a cloud-based provider i.e. Ancar B on a per-user per-month basis. So as your company grows , your IT systems can grow with you, with very little hassle or cost.

Innovation: Small businesses can now get the very latest versions of software they need at all times, with no refresh cycles, so they are always working on the very latest technology to help drive their business forward.

Cloud objections

Data security and privacy is often cited for wariness of going the Cloud route. Sceptics argue that once your data exists out in the cloud, you are hard-pressed to ensure no one else has access to it or to get it back if you want to change providers. This also includes the issue of uptime i.e. how your service provider ensures the internet doesn’t ‘go down’ and what guarantees are there for this. This issue may be causing more than a few firms to delay adoption of the cloud, but needn’t be an insurmountable problem. In fact, when it comes to securing your information in the cloud, top tier cloud providers have such stringent security protocols and security service level agreements, the data is often seen as more secure than many small businesses would provide for themselves.

In conclusion

Technology has to be seen for what it is – an enabler of business processes – and cloud computing is no exception. Technology was on the cusp of becoming a hindrance to many small businesses because of cost, unreliability and complexity. Looking to the cloud to offload technical services, such as patching and upgrades and security and uptime, whilst only paying for IT you actually use, puts IT back at the heart of business, but not dictating business.

There has never been a better time for SMEs to make the switch to cloud computing. The technology is low-cost, scalable, easy to implement and use. For SMEs, life in the cloud is too compelling a prospect to ignore.

In June we secured the business of a small local tool and plant hire business of over 30 years standing, who required a centralized server solution to allow them to store documents safely, send email and backup data securely. We deployed a Small Business Server 2008 solution that they feel has enhanced business productivity, data management and customer service.

Conversely, in July we secured the business of a large international door fittings business with an HQ in Germany and UK offices in Gillingham, Birmingham, Swansea and Glasgow. Each of these offices were connected via a Cisco based VPN and connected to Germany using their Citrix thin client solution. In addition, we secured the IT Support for this company (some 80 Users in the UK) to make sure that lines of communication, which are critical to their business, remain in service at all times.

In August, we upgraded an award winning painting and decorating business, who had expanded five fold and outgrown the Small Business Server 2003 solution we had sold them back in 2006. The company now has numerous staff who work remotely, for which a more powerful server running Small Business Server 2008 and incorporating Blackberry Enterprise Server provided the ideal solution.

Finally, we have recently secured the business of two companies requiring a virtual platform to run 1) Sage 50, Sage ACT and Office 2010 and 2) Sage 200 respectively. In both instances, the companies recognised the significant cost savings to be made by essentially ‘renting’ resources from our virtual platform in order to run their line of business software. This negated the need for them to purchase new hardware to run their new accounting software – kept capital expenditure down – and allows them to allocate the monthly cost to run their software into their operational expenditure, which they can easily budget for.

We look forward to reporting more account wins in the very near future…

All the best

Richard

Hosted Sage solutions are not a new concept. For years companies have outsourced their Sage solutions to data farms just like SAP users.

However, due to technology advances and licensing models introduced and developed over the last 24 months, hosted Sage solutions are becoming a much more viable solution.

Ancar B Technologies has been working with major UK Sage Partners in deploying Hosted Sage Solutions for several years in physical environments. However, due to developments in virtualization technology, we also offer solutions within a Private Cloud.

Cost Reductions

Microsoft in recent years released a licensing model that allows companies to “Rent” Microsoft licenses based upon monthly usage which allows for low cost deployment of hosted services and has created the increase in deployment of such services.

Unfortunately, Sage still operates a policy where the software has to be owned by the user outright for its deployment.

So, with the cost savings with Virtualization and the Microsoft License Agreements, the initial Capital Expenditure is reduced to the costs associated directly with the procurement of the Sage software.

Sage 50 to Sage 1000

Don’t forget Sage 200 and Sage Line 500 either! They can all be hosted remotely. Sage 50 can be deployed in a single virtual server config using Server 2008 and Remote Apps to offer extremely cost effective solutions. These are hosted within Ancar B’s “Customer Cloud”.

Larger deployments of Sage are hosted within Private Clouds dedicated for each customer, offering high data security and availability.

Hosted Sage ERP, CRM and ACT!

The benefits don’t just end with the Account ranges. With all the applications now turning into Web Services, the Sage ERP, CRM and ACT! solutions can also be deployed in a virtual or cloud environment.

Read more about Ancar B Technologies Hosted Sage Solutions.

Backwards compatibility prevented many companies from deploying Windows XP upon it’s release in 2002 as the NT Kernel changes meant that many applications were no longer compatible with the mainstream Operating Systems at the time.

By utilizing Virtualisation, Microsoft are have pretty much guaranteed that a correctly spec’d Windows 7 PC will still run your “Legacy” applications from Windows XP.

The Windows 7 “XP Mode” runs a Windows XP Virtual Machine on your Windows 7 desktop using Microsoft’s Virtual PC technology. When up and running, you can install your legacy applications inside your Windows XP knowing they will work. Once installed on your XP VM, you will find them conveniently located in your Windows 7 start menu and able to be run on your usual desktop.

I must also warn, that NOT ALL applications will be able to be run from your Windows 7 start menu, but they can still be operated from within your Windows XP Mode VM.

So, what’s required to be able to run the Windows XP Mode?

Hardware wise you need at least 2GB or RAM in your computer, and a Processor that supports Chip-Level Virtualisation. Does your CPU support Virtualisation? Use “Securable” to find out.

Additionally you will need to install the Windows XP Mode updates for your Windows 7 PC from Microsoft. There is a link for that here. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx

So, with a little forward planning and testing, deploying Windows 7 across your organisation need not be the headache usually associated with OS Upgrades. I would also suggest speaking with your IT Support company/department to ensure your network will accept Windows 7 clients before pushing to test it.

Please Note:- The XP Virtual Machine WILL require security to prevent the same threats as your desktop PC. i.e. Antivirus.

It is true that physical servers are under utilised. According to reports, the majority of servers are used approximately 15% of the time that it is powered on. So how or why are these deployments failing? Well, usually bad resource planning and undefined project definable deliverables and I will try to outline some of the major failure points in this post.

1. Resource Planning

When planning a Virtualisation deployment needs time. In a multi server environment you need to monitor resource usage of your existing physical servers, or have a solid understanding of their needs when planning the architecture and specification within your Virtual Infrastructure. You need to know, which services and physical services can blend well to ensure that a physical node isn’t overloaded and a performance decrease is witnessed.

Key items to monitor include:

• Processor idle time
• Page File use
• Free Memory
• Disk Queue Length
• Bandwidth

2. Additional Network Complexity

Consolidation of your physical environment into a Enterprise/Private Cloud has many business and IT advantages, which include reducing the network complexity. Ironically without the correct training, many IT Administrators and Support Teams are failing to be able to support the the solutions correctly due to a poor understanding of the architecture.

3. Hidden underlying costs

Tied with number one, poor planning of an installation can leave companies needing to add additional servers and complexity into their Virtual networks that weren’t initially planned. With the addition of more servers usually comes the deployment of a Storage Network which adds another costly layer to the deployment.

4. Unrealistic Expectations

In a Virtualised environment, you are sharing server resources. It will be inevitable, that there will become a queue on a specific resource demand at some point and a performance drop will be seen over ths queue length.

You cannot expect to receive the performance of a single server from within a Virtual environment without the correct investment.

5. Not utilizing High Availability

One of the best features that Virtualisation and Cloud computing offers is the ability the fail over ability. The Virtual Machines are not dependent upon hardware, so can be simply configured to move from server to server in the event of failure.

Now as this can be a “Server Consolidation Exercise“, many companies do not use this feature and this can leave them in peril. In our current networks, if one server fails, one service is unavailable. However, if a virtualised node fails, all the servers hosted on their fail, potentially taking down the entire network.

Businesses suffering extended IT outages are statistically more likely to suffer massive financial losses and potentially fold.

Is it all bad?

Definately not, No! Ancar B is an advocate for Virtualisation, and with the correct planning and budget all SME users can take advantage of the benefits whether it be in house or hosted.

Had a bad experience?

If you’re working on a current virtual network and you’re suffering with resource overuse or performance degredation, I suggest you take a look at your performance monitors and see where improvements are needed or bottlenecks occur.

If you’re in a Windows environment, check Microsoft’s Measuring Performance on Hyper-V to help shed some light.

Hopefully, this post will allow you to avoid any issues in depolying a Virtual Network, or just a little insight into the traps that are out there.