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Japan
Begins Supercomputer Development
According to the Kyodo News, Japan is working on a computer that runs faster than
Tom Cruise from reality. In fact, it’ll be 73 times faster than the world’s
current speed demon, IBM’s American Blue Gene/L, or so says a very confident
group of Japanese scientists.
Windows
XP reinstall
Well, before calling to The Guinness Book I decided to ask others what was their
time record between XP reinstalls.
So my time is 10 months!:-)
WinXP
disk needed to install/repair missing! HELP!
My brother-in-law quickly hit the power button on his laptop while still online(dial-up)
to deal with a hospital emergency.
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Windows
Vista Beta Bound: Next Week
The Windows formerly known as Longhorn landed in the laps of developers today
in a beta format. August 3rd was the date they announced last week when the named
this beast Vista but Microsoft got so excited they couldn't contain themselves
and sent it out today.
IT
Career Error! Click Here to Repair
Two years ago Jeff was a discontented software developer. His work left him frustrated
and mentally drained each day.
Cisco
Snatches Sheer Networks for $97 Million
Networking mammoth Cisco Systems announced the purchase of Sheer Networks based
in San Jose, California. The $97 million deal will add Sheer's intelligent network
and service management products to Cisco's already vast services.
Microsoft
Looks Into The Vista
Microsoft's named their new version of Windows something other than the code name
of Longhorn. Vista's the name of the new Windows, due out sometime in late 2006.
I think liked Longhorn better.
Remote
Reboot Power Management Guide
Implementing a remote reboot power management solution is a required procedure
for assembling a true lights-out data center or co-location facility.
Environmental
Monitoring Reference Guide
Creating a safe and secure lights-out co-location or remote data center facility
ensues by incorporating environmental monitoring devices to remotely detect and
resolve unwarranted server room conditions.
What
is a Matrix KVM Switch Solution?
Enterprise KVM switches, such as the Raritan Paragon II, will often include the
word Matrix in part descriptions or throughout promotional means such as in features
and benefits sections on websites.
Top
5 Reasons Why CAT5 KVM Switches Solve Common KVM Switch Limitations
Simplifying server rack environments by introducing a CAT5 KVM to help ease server
cabinet clutter is an example of how beneficial UTP cabling can be.
42U
Server Management: 5 Easy Steps to Beef up your KVM Architecture
Discover how to clean up your server room or desk top by examining 5 easy steps
to beef up your current KVM solution.
Is
Off-Shore Outsourcing A "Bane" Or A "Boon"?
An article in CIOInsight, http://www.cioinsight.com/article2/0,3959,940251,00.asp
Quoted some interesting survey results from companies that have gone offshore.
Technology
in the Workplace: The Benefits of Video Conferencing
What once required the physical presence of a number of individuals in a common
location is now being accomplished through video conferencing. Thanks to the technological
leaps of the past several years, any number of people can attend the same meeting
from all points around the globe at any given time.
Worldwide
Raids on Illegal Filesharing
Law enforcement authorities from around the world raided illegal filesharing networks,
making arrests and seizing computers. Today's assault led by the FBI hammered
multiple locations in the Netherlands...
AMD Tries To Break Intel “Chokehold”
AMD filed an antitrust suit to attempt to break the "chokehold" they
assert Intel has on the processor market.
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07.28.05
Small Business Outsourcing:
An Introduction
 By
Ben Botes
Outsourcing is the delegation of a business process to an external service provider.
The service provider will then be responsible for the day-to-day running and maintenance
of the delegated process.
Before outsourcing an IT function, look at your firm's own goals and culture.
Price might be a key consideration, but a valuable outsourcing firm is more a
business partner than a service provider. Such a partner should lend a level of
expertise to your small business that builds upon internal know-how. Only then
can you rest assured that you have achieved an optimum blend of in-house and outsourced
IT functions.
Step 1
Do you really need to outsource?
Before outsourcing an IT function, look at your firm's own goals and culture.
What business objectives are you trying to accomplish by outsourcing this particular
function? How will sending this function to an outside party impact the workflow
within the company? Clear answers to these questions can help guide a business
owner toward the most appropriate vendor.
Consider the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing before you make your
decision.
Advantages
Allows a business to focus
on core activities
Streamlines a business' operations
Gives you access to professional capabilities
Shares the risk · Piece of mind that the process is in good hands (reliability)
Do not have to worry about continually introducing new technologies
VMware
Technology Network® (VMTN) improves how software is developed, tested, and deployed
learn more |
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Improves service quality
Frees up human resources
Frees up cash flow
Increases the control of your business
Makes the business more flexible to change (i.e. demand)
Disadvantages
The fear of the service provider ceasing to trade (bankruptcy, etc)
You may lose control of the process
Creates potential redundancies
Other companies may also be using the service provider. Therefore in some
cases, the best interests of the service provider may be diluted with other users
You may lose focus of the customer and concentrate on the product (the outsourced
process)
The loss of talent generated internally
Employees may react badly to outsourcing and consequently their quality of
work may suffer.
Step 2
Buy the expertise:
A valuable outsource partner will do more than lighten the load. Such a partner
will lend expertise to ensure an optimum blend of in- house and outsourced functions.
In the case of network management, for instance, an outsourcer should "provide
a small business with an operational, tactical and strategic view of their network
environment,
This allows for quality recommendations to ensure network availability, reduction
of total cost of ownership, optimization of network assets for meeting business
needs, and support of future growth.
Step 3
Know who you are outsourcing to.
The two most important factors in a successful outsourcing relationship are trust
and security - without these the relationship is destined for failure. It is therefore
important that you take the time and effort required to find the perfect partner.
Make sure your service provider is keeping current. "IT is very dynamic, so it
can be difficult to intelligently know what's happening in IT," said Jeremy F.
Shapiro, professor emeritus of operations research and management at MIT. The
best vendors can provide not just services, but also "state-of-the-art knowledge
about IT needs and developments."
Does this vendor value its employees? What is the average length of employment
of the staff? A company that retains its employees must treat them well and value
them.
Meet the team: Before signing anything, meet the people who will actually service
your account. Good outsourcers will have a dedicated team servicing the customer,
led by the controller who acts as the 'go to' person. Chain of command: Along
these same lines, know who is talking to whom. The last thing that you can afford
to have are layers of contacts, especially when time means money. Finding a provider
or consultant that provides one point of contact and even better, one person,
is any business' best bet. The language barrier: Finally, it's important to remember
that even an outsourced IT function does not go away entirely. In most instances
the small-business owner still will have to maintain some involvement. Look for
an expert who can clearly explain answers in non-technical terms and can make
tech-talk clear to even novice questioners.
Step 4
Know what you are buying
As you get closer to making a decision, it is important to agree upon a set of
service level expectations or objectives," said Hoyer. "Measurement objectives
can include streamlined operations, cost savings, and reporting with all activities
pointing to an improved bottom line," he added. What matters most is to agree
in advance on the service to be delivered and especially on the measures that
will be used to determine satisfactory performance.
Many of the disadvantages of outsourcing can be avoided if you research the service
provider and you do not regard outsourcing simply as a money saving scheme - this
is not always the case. Consequently, you should be certain that you have a valid
reason for outsourcing and that you intend to liaise regularly with the service
provider to avoid loosing all control of the process.
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