Information Technology

Survey reveals 39% of enterprises not managing, or manually managing their virtual environments, negating any anticipated cost savings

When it comes to technology in the workplace, businesses have always placed efficiency as a top priority. Because nearly all transactions, record keeping, communication and other functions are conducted on computers, speed and safety are essential. In recent years a trend has developed that many companies are finding helps employees conduct their work in a much more efficient way. This trend is called “Bring Your Own Device” or BOYD. Companies who implement this system allow employees to supply their own mobile devices, laptops and tablets in the workplace.

Virtualization seems to be the way to go in the business world today. Many companies are talking about it, and most have either already implemented it or are thinking of using it.  Though there are costs to virtualizing, most businesses say they’re worth it since virtualization often brings big savings in the long run. When talking about virtualization, however, most of the discussion revolves around how large companies are able to take advantage of the technology. Often left out of the conversation are the risks and benefits associated with small businesses employing virtualization. There are a number of important items to consider before deciding if it is right for your small business.

For years, when it came to working in the office, an employee would need to use whatever equipment was provided by the company. The costs of the computers and other devices were the business’s responsibility, but once the equipment was in the employee’s hands, he or she was responsible for what happened to it. In recent years, however, a new trend has emerged that has changed the landscape of how companies conduct their business. It’s called Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), and it’s also changing how the world of marketing works.

One of my responsibilities at Argenia is the office IT guy. More by necessity than by choice, but I don’t mind stringing cables and installing software as a break from the everyday.

Early on I saw a gap in how we handled email and managed shared files. Email was a POP service hosted by Bell Canada Business (trash) and file sharing was done on a rickety Windows XP machine with a death rattle. DropBox was being used to share files as well, but this proved costly when a virus swooped in and encrypted their files which then automatically updated their DropBox versions.

Much of the discussion on the economic impact of cloud computing has focused on the cost savings and increased value for businesses, but the cloud is also impacting the IT industry, as new job roles are being created and the demand for other roles is decreasing. Many IT professionals may soon find themselves needing to transfer their skills and acquire new ones in order to be valuable in a cloud environment. Here’s a look at the impact the cloud is having on the job market and the skills IT professionals will need to develop.

Bring your own device (BYOD) and big data are pretty big terms in the tech space right now, but so far the conversations about big data and BYOD have been largely separate. Many articles have addressed the problems and headache it is causing IT teams, especially since many companies are not prepared to handle employees bringing their own mobile devices. A survey of small and medium-sized businesses found that 22 percent had a BYOD policy in place.

"Of course, the idea of making enterprise-grade software easier to use is a commendable one in the world of Web CMS.  That said, I’ve never seen a successful CMS project where either IT or Marketing/Business were left out of the decision making process."

- Irina Guseva, Selecting a cloud CMS without your IT department - is that OK?, Real Story Group, December 18, 2018.

One of the most common concerns businesses have when they consider adopting a cloud computing solution is that they will have less control over their IT system. Thus, they worry that their data will not be secure enough, and their concern is understandable. Data breaches are expensive, both financial-wise and reputation-wise, and with attacks becoming more and more sophisticated, security has become a top priority. Luckily, adopting cloud computing does not mean that you have to give up security, but you will want to do your research when comparing options.

Big data is an exciting opportunity for businesses looking for the information they need to use targeted messaging and personalized experiences to boost profits, but the thought of a company having access to all of their online information has many consumers worried. With information about the National Security Agency’s monitoring of email and phone calls, and social networks like Facebook constantly pushing that privacy boundary, it’s only natural that people are concerned about the privacy and security of their data.