SMEs lack disaster preparedness

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are still not making disaster preparedness a priority until they experience a disaster or data loss.

This came out of the Symantec 2011 SME Disaster Preparedness Survey, which measured the attitudes and practices of SMEs and their customers towards disaster preparedness.

The study included more than 1 840 respondents from 23 countries in North America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America.

It was also discovered that the cost of not being prepared is high, putting an SME at risk of going out of business. According to the survey, downtime not only costs SMEs several thousands of dollars, it also causes their customers to leave.

Read full article: http://www.itweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=40543:smes-lack-disaster-preparedness&catid=69

Gartner Identifies the Top 10 Strategic Technologies for 2011

Gartner, Inc. today highlighted the top 10 technologies and trends that will be strategic for most organizations in 2011.

The top 10 strategic technologies for 2011 include:

• Cloud Computing
• Mobile Applications and Media Tablets
• Social Communications and Collaboration
• Video
• Next Generation Analytics
• Social Analytics
• Context-Aware Computing
• Storage Class Memory
• Ubiquitous Computing
• Fabric-Based Infrastructure and Computers

For the full article: http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=1454221

Businesses Pay £6.5 Million Software Piracy Bill

The Business Software Alliance (BSA) has announced that legal action against companies using unlicensed software has cost businesses in EMEA £6.5 million in the first six months of 2010. More than £2.5 million was paid out in settlement fees and a further £4 million was used to purchase business-critical software to ensure companies were legally compliant. In the UK alone, the total cost to businesses reached more than £2 million.

Read full article here: http://www.is4profit.com/small-business-news/20100902-businesses-pay-65-million-software-piracy-bill.html

Companies postpone IT spending in preparation for “second recession”

The slight recovery in business demand for desktops and PCs follows a 20pc decline in the whole market last year.

In contrast, consumer spending on PCs increased 23pc in the last three months, driven by demand for laptops and netbooks. This took the overall growth in PC sales growth to 15pc, Gartner said.

Ranjit Atwal, a research director, said he forecast a recovery in PC sales of around 12pc this year in the UK. This lagged second quarter spending in France and Germany, where PC sales grew 30pc and 23pc respectively.

Read full article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/yourbusiness/7960391/Companies-postpone-IT-spending-in-preparation-for-second-recession.html

Business decision making relies upon high quality data

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) which have access to high quality data tend to make sound business decisions, it has been claimed.

Ian Huckle, chief executive officer at Business and Decision, suggested that it is important to have confidence in the information that is being used to guide company strategy.

“The ability to make confident and consistent decisions is determined by the quality of data on which they are based,” he noted.

Mr Huckle was speaking after industry commentator Jim Harris stated that high data quality “can be a very powerful thing” for an organisation.

Writing in his regular column for the SmartData Collective website, he added: “It’s a corporate asset that serves as a solid foundation for business success.”

However, Mr Harris warned of the dangers of human error when SMEs are inputting data into their vital systems.

He claimed this is the most common reason for company bosses basing their decisions on poor quality information.

Earlier this week, Jeremy Jones, marketing director for Datanomic, claimed that too little attention is paid to the data entered onto business systems, meaning companies end up relying on intelligence that is not fit for purpose.

Half of SMEs in the cloud by 2011

Easynet Connect’s latest research shows that just over half of SMEs will be using cloud computing by the end of this year.

This compares with similar research conducted at the end of 2008 where just 22% of SMEs planned to adopt the cloud in a similar timescale (within one year).

Looking longer term, those planning to adopt the cloud within five years has gone up from 47% to 73%, showing that most small businesses now see the cloud as a viable option.

Also, those flat-out refusing to adopt the cloud at any point has halved, from 53% to 27%, reflecting the growing awareness of what cloud computing is, and the benefits it can provide, among SMEs.

Read more: http://www.commsbusiness.co.uk/RSS_News_Articles.cfm?NewsID=9926

Broadband tax could hurt small firms

Small businesses could be worst hit by the government’s proposed Landline Duty, after further details were released in a new consultation paper issued by the Treasury.

The so-called Broadband Tax will charge homes and businesses 50p per line, meaning that small firms with multiple lines could be charged more than larger corporations, which often have fewer, higher capacity connections.

The consultation paper, Implementing a Landline Duty: consultation on draft legislation and impacts, admitted that there would be an “imperfect relationship between the amount of duty paid and the size of the business in terms of number of employees”.

“Large firms usually have bespoke telecommunication solutions. For example, large offices or call centres may only have a single high capacity fibre connection and therefore could pay as little as 50p per month,” the consultation explained.

When it comes to small businesses, however, the report admits that companies with “comparatively few employees” could have several copper lines for which they will need to pay.

The Duty will have to be paid on any lines that are made available to firms, even if they are not used.

One bit of good news for businesses is that, where a single provider offers broadband and voice services through separate cables, the customer will not be charged twice.

Source: http://www.v3.co.uk/v3/news/2255144/government-landline-duty-hurt

Why is cloud suitable for my business?

Web-based service on demand that’s cheap, scalable and reliable: what’s not to like?

Cloud services make effective mobile working possible. Communication is quick and hassle-free: no matter where you are, once you can access the internet you can access your files. Offering everything from data storage, spreadsheets and word processing, to presentations, conferencing and hosting, the cloud does everything an office, an office server and an office computer can do. On the go.

Businesses opt for the cloud to facilitate flexible working: so if you are a business spread across a number of physical locations and you need access to given services that can’t be locked down to a single server in your office, cloud is for you.

There are lots of other advantages of the cloud, as well.

Read more: http://www.startups.co.uk/6678842908460848140/why-is-cloud-suitable-for-my-business.html

Some businesses missing out on best communications deals

Telecommunications services are becoming more important to UK businesses, new Ofcom research revealed today, with communicating on the move vital for many firms.

Ofcom’s first comprehensive research into how UK businesses use telecoms services explores take-up, use of services and views about landline, mobile and internet services.

Businesses spent 13.9billion on telecoms services in 2008, accounting for 45 per cent of total retail telecoms turnover. For businesses with five employees or more, the mean annual spend on telecoms services per year is 14,600 which is 19 times more than the average household.

The mix of services being used by business is changing over time, with mobile, internet and data services becoming increasingly important. More than 85 per cent of businesses were satisfied with the range of products and services available across all telecoms markets.

The research shows how businesses are an important part of the telecoms market and telecoms services are playing an increasingly key role in the success of UK businesses.

However the research also shows that they could be getting more from their communications service.

The research highlights three main areas of concern amongst businesses using telecoms services:

• Some dissatisfaction with customer service and broadband speeds;
• Difficulties in negotiating a better deal and switching providers; and
• Problems with mobile not-spots in certain areas of the UK.

Read more here: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2009/12/nr_20091209

SMEs invited to live Apple webchat

SMEs invited to live Apple webchatSmall business owners have been invited to take part in a live webchat on the 2nd of December that discusses the benefits that Apple technology can bring to your business.The webchat is with James Stevenson, Managing Director of Virtual Aviation, who switched his company to the Mac platform. James explains how switching to a network of Macs has helped his company improve operational efficiency, share data with ease and even manage customer accounts and bookings remotely using the iPhone.”The integration between Apple products has been seamless. It allows us to get on with work and be as productive as possible. Theres no doubt that we run a more efficient operation now,” said James Stevenson. To take part in the live webchat please click below.

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