Article Orange » Software

Communication Between VLANs

anandsoft10 — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 22:27:57 +0000

IT Certification Practice Exams

Virtual Trunking Protocol (VTP) is used for communication within VLANs. VLANs, short for Virtual LANs, are used in place for traditional LANs for ease of maintenance, and security. The article discusses different VTP protocols.

Body: Communicating within VLANs: There are different protocols available for communicating between VLANs. These encapsulation schemes are also known as VLAN trunking protocols. These protocols are based on Layer 2 of the OSI model.

These are:

Inter-Switch Link Protocol (ISL)
IEEE 802.10 Protocol
IEEE 802.1Q Protocol
ATM LANE Protocol

ATM LANE Fast Simple Server Replication Protocol (FSSRP)

Inter-Switch Link Protocol (ISL): The ISL protocol is used to interconnect two VLAN-capable Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, or Gigabit Ethernet devices. Here, VLAN information is tagged to the standard Ethernet frame. The packets on the ISL link contain a standard Ethernet, FDDI, or Token Ring frame and the VLAN information associated with that frame. ISL is a Cisco proprietary protocol.

IEEE 802.10 Protocol: This protocol provides connectivity between VLANs. The protocol incorporates authentication and encryption techniques to ensure data confidentiality and integrity. The protocol operates at layer 2 of OSI model, and hence ensures greater efficiency.

IEEE 802.1Q Protocol: This protocol is used to interconnect multiple switches and routers, and for defining VLAN topologies. IEEE 802.1Q is the industry standard for communicating within VLANs.

ATM LANE Emulation Protocol (LANE): Using LANE, you can benefit from the legacy LAN hardware. The LANE protocol operates over traditional LAN, emulating a broadcast environment like IEEE802.3. LANE makes. LANE allows standard LAN drivers like NDIS and ODI to be used. Applications can use normal LAN functions without the underlying complexities of the ATM implementation. Client work stations need LAN Emulation Client for running LANE protocol. The switches or routers also need to support appropriate LANE functionalities.

ATM LANE Fast Simple Server Replication Protocol (FSSRP): Cisco introduced the ATM LANE Fast Simple Server Replication Protocol (FSSRP). FSSRP provides better network redundancy. If a single LANE server is unavailable due to any technical reasons, the LANE client transparently switches over to the next LANE server and BUS.

Example:

Question:

Match the trunking protocols with respective media:

1. Inter Switch Link         A. FDDI
2. LANE                         B. Fast Ethernet
3. 802.10                         C. ATM

Choose the correct choice.

A. 1-> C, 2->B, 3->A

B. 1->B, 2->C, 3->A

C. 1->B, 2->A, 3->C

D. 1->A, 2->B, 3->C

Ans: B

Explanation: ISL, 802.1Q are the VLAN trunking protocols associated with Fast Ethernet. The VLAN trunking protocol defined by 802.10 is associated with FDDI. LANE (LAN Emulation) is associated with ATM.

Please visit CCNA Tutorials section for more information on VLANs, and VTP trunking.

Home: http://www.simulationexams.com/

About: The web site Simulation Exams offers practice tests for Cisco Certifications, Comptia Certifications, and others. Free tutorials and online questions on CCNA, A+, Network+, and others are available.

The OSI Model – An Introduction

anandsoft10 — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:55:22 +0000

Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model is a reference model developed by ISO (International Organization for Standardization), as a conceptual framework of standards for communication in a network across different applications by different vendors. It has become the primary architectural model for inter-computing and internetworking communications. Most of the network communication protocols used today have a structure based on the OSI model. The OSI model defines the communications process into 7 layers, which divides the tasks involved with moving information between networked computers into seven smaller, more manageable task groups.

The ISO OSI model is explained below. The seven layers of the OSI model are:

Application
Presentation
Session
Transport
Network
Data Link
Physical

1 Application layer:
This layer provides a means for the user to access information on the network through an application. Many user applications that need to communicate over the network interact with the Application layer protocol directly. The user applications are not part of OSI Application layer; use the networking services offered by the networking protocol suite. Application layer functions typically include identifying communication partners, and determining availability of required resources. Some examples of application layer implementations include Telnet, File Transfer Protocol (FTP), and Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP).

2 Presentation layer:
Presentation layer converts local host computer data representations into a standard network format for transmission on the network. On the receiving side, it changes the network format into the appropriate host computer’s format so that data can be utilized independent of the host computer. ASCII and EBCDIC conversions, cryptography, and the like are handled here.
Examples of Presentation layer coding and conversion schemes include common data representation formats, conversion of character representation formats, common data compression schemes, and common data encryption schemes.

Presentation layer implementations are not typically associated with a particular protocol stack. Some well-known standards for video include QuickTime and Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG). QuickTime is an Apple Computer specification for video and audio, and MPEG is a standard for video compression and coding.

3. Session layer:
The session layer establishes, manages, and terminates communication sessions. Communication sessions consist of service requests and service responses that occur between applications located in different network devices. These requests and responses are coordinated by protocols implemented at the session layer. Some examples of session-layer implementations include AppleTalk’s Zone Information Protocol (ZIP), and Decent Phase Session Control Protocol (SCP).

4.Transport layer:
Transport layer is responsible for providing reliable service between the hosts. Upper layer datagrams are broken down into manageable datagrams and then appropriate header information (such as sequence number, port number, etc.) is added to the datagram before passing it on to the Network layer. Two frequently used transport protocols are the TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and the UDP (User Datagram Protocol).

Important features of Transport layer:

Transport layer ensures reliable service.
Breaks the message (from sessions layer) into smaller datagrams, and appends appropriate unit header information.
Responsible for communicating with the Session layer

Important features of TCP/UDP:

TCP/IP widely used protocol for Transport/Network layers
TCP: (Transport Control Protocol) TCP ensures that a packet has reached its intended destination by using an acknowledgement. If not, it retransmits the lost messages. Hence, TCP is called a connection oriented protocol.
UDP (Universal Data gram Protocol): UDP simply transmits packets over the internet. It does not wait for an acknowledgement. It is the responsibility of upper layer protocols to ensure that the information had reached the intended partner(s). Hence, UDP is often called connectionless protocol.
Application programs that do not need connection-oriented protocol generally use UDP.

5. Network layer:
Network layer is responsible for the routing of packets through the entire network. The layer uses logical addressing for this purpose. Note that the physical address (like MAC address) keeps changing from hop to hop when a packet travels from source to destination. As a result, an address that doesn’t change is required to ensure continuity between hops. This is nothing but logical address. For IP networks, IP address is the logical address; and for Novell network, IPX address is the logical address, and so on. This layer also provides for congestion control, and accounting information for the network. IP (Internet Protocol) is an example of a network layer protocol.

6. Data link layer:
Data link layer provides delivery of information frames between communicating partners. This layer is responsible for flow regulation, error detection and correction, and framing of bits for transmission. The network data frame is made up of checksum, source address, destination address, and the data itself. The largest frame size that can be sent is known as the maximum transmission Unit (MTU).

Important features of Data link layer:

Assembles bits into frames, making them ready for transmission over the network.
Provides error detection, and correction to transmitted frames. If the checksum is not correct, it asks for retransmission. (Send a control message).
Consists of two sub layers:
- Logical Link Control (LLC): Defines how data is transferred over the cable and provides data link service to the higher layers.
- Medium Access Control (MAC): Controls media access by regulating the communicating nodes using pre-defined set of rules. (i.e. Token passing, Ethernet [CSMA/CD] all have MAC sub-layer protocol).

Different Data link layer protocols define different network and protocol characteristics, including physical addressing, network topology, error notification, sequencing of frames, and flow control. Physical addressing (as opposed to logical addressing) defines how devices are addressed at the data link layer. The protocols used in Data link layer are SLIP, PPP, and CSLP.

7. Physical layer:
This is the bottom-most layer of the OSI model. The Physical layer handles the bit-level communications across the physical medium. The physical medium could be made up of wired electrical signals, or light, or radio (wireless) signals. Physical layer specifications define characteristics such as media, data rates, maximum transmission distances, and physical connectors.

Some of the important standards that deal with physical layer specifications are:

RS-232(for serial communication lines), X.21, EIA 232, and G730.

Physical layer and Data link layer implementations can be categorized as either LAN or WAN specifications.

link: http://www.tutorialsweb.com/networking/computer-networking.htm

keywork: Computer Networking

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key word: 7 Layers of OSI Model

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mlm software

rajusoma — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 00:51:05 +0000

Smartsoft is MLM software designing company. We developed all types of MLM Softwares (ex: Binary, Australian binary, any matrix, tri binary, spillover, Board, UNI – level)SmartSoft has the highest records of client site presence to understand the efficiency of our software solutions in practice. This will help us to understand the grass-route level feedback and enable us to improve our solutions to an improved ease of use.

Our vast experience in MLM Softwares Development over 9 years enable us to deliver the software solutions & services to suit any MLM type of plans on-time. We deliver perfect solutions to all sorts of MLM and Network Marketing concepts with multiple & advanced features that are in Demand as well as in trends. We are committed to provide perfect solutions to your unlimited Imaginations & ideas by executing the projects as per the specifications given by our clients. It is our challenge to accept each variety of projects and deliver as per the requirement.

Software is equipped with a team of 38 dedicated hardcore professionals in for the software development & support service activities. The post delivery services are equally valued with the development of software, because the MLM Industry demand new trends every day. To meet the constant updations process we made ourselves ready to attend all the time. We work in 2 shifts in a day right from 7 AM to 10 PM in the night.

software has the highest records of client site presence to understand the efficiency of our software solutions in practice. This will help us to understand the grass-route level feedback and enable us to improve our solutions to an improved ease of use.

software is compatible parallel to develop all variety of MLM Business plans like given below, not like other who knows one type of plan and they do experiment on client for other plans.

The article mlm software is writter by Raju Soma

MLM Software

Online Learning Tutorials – An Easy Way to Become Professional.

talbertcafer — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 21:23:29 +0000

From the past decade, it has been observed that so many technologies are changing the way of lifestyle. One of them is the internet technology, with this technology; so many people are getting opportunities in different continents. To obtain these opportunities, every one of us needs some fine quality of qualifications, and we need to improve professional skills. However, everyone’s life has become busy scheduled and so many people are having no time to add some more qualifications to their skills. The online tutorials are one of the best ways to learn our desired courses. Every one of us believes that the computers are an ocean subject to learn. With these tutorials, everyone can become professional towards computers. And learning through online tutorials will give you more fun and enjoyment. In these recession days, adding some qualifications to you skills will boost up your opportunities. Most of these online tutorials are available at free of cost, some of them are charging a few dollars to provide some additional features. In these technology days, the computer courses like Photoshop, HTML, PHP, Java Script and adobe Photoshop are providing numerous job opportunities. Here we will discuss some of these online courses.

If you are interested to learn Photoshop, the online Photoshop tutorial is the best place to learn. Obviously, this online Photoshop software is used to creating and manipulating graphics and photographs. The tools and advancements provided in this software are very much helpful to learn this software easily. There are so many well experienced tutorials are available in internet. With this online learning Photoshop tutorial, definitely you will get a very good opportunity. The web development in these days would be the best business, designing and hosting web sites and e-commerce websites and many more. To become a professional web designer, you should have to learn the HTML basics. With these online html tutorials, definitely you will become professional to design your own web sites. And also it is mandatory to learn PHP programming to become an experienced web developer. However, learning these PHP tutorials could be the expensive one. To resolve this issue, online learning PHP tutorial is the best one for you.

If you are very much an interest to become a developer for e-commerce web sites, it is a best idea to learn java tutorials. The online java script tutorials add some additional functionality to your web designing skills. Finally, learning this software would definitely increase your chances to get more income. And now a question rose in your mind that was to find these online tutorials. There are some well established and experienced web sites are offering these online tutorials to their valuable customers. For more information, please visit their web site.

Welcome to Tutorial Machine – Get Tutorials, tutorial, Photoshop tutorials, html tutorials, php tutorials, online learning tutorial, online learning Photoshop tutorial, online learning html tutorial, online learning JavaScript tutorial, and online learning php tutorial, learn adobe Photoshop at Tutorial Machine. Need of more information Visit us at http://www.tutorialmachine.com

Powertrak CRM for Microsoft Customer Relationship Management Helps Increase Revenues.

axonom121 — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:36:05 +0000

In the past several years, MSI Systems Integrators, an IT solutions company, has experienced rapid growth. Its annual revenue jumped from about $133 million in 2002 to about $343 million by the end of 2006.

During this period of rapid growth, MSI experienced significant issues related to the amount and diversity of information pouring into the company. Information was scattered throughout several different kinds of applications, leading to frequent duplication of data and strained employee resources.

MSI decided that it needed a solution that could integrate its enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management processes and information. The goal was to manage its data and personnel resources more effectively, streamline internal processes to respond to customers and opportunities more efficiently, and maintain the company’s growth for the long term.

The solution MSI chose was Microsoft Dynamics™ CRM, which includes modules for sales, marketing and customer service. MSI also worked with Microsoft Gold Certified Partner Axonom to deploy Powertrak for Microsoft customer relationship management. Powertrak integrates with Microsoft Dynamics CRM through the use of add-on modules that include advanced marketing, customer and partner portals, call center capabilities, service management and workflow features.

By redesigning its IT system with these products, MSI has dramatically transformed its internal processes and procedures. Benefits of the solution include:

• Improving bidding processes by 85%

• Handling resources, leads and marketing efforts more efficiently

• Achieving a $2.3 million return on investment

Learn more about the success Axonom has helped MSI achieve by downloading the full version of this case study, “Customer and Data Management System Helps Maintain Growth, Increase Revenues,” at: http://www.axonom.com/press/case_studies/casestudyinfo.asp

Best iphone applications to increase your smart gadget performance.

heninroy — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:26:58 +0000

From the past decade, we are seeing an extreme change in technology. Especially, a small gadget, cell phone has made this world as a smart and well equipped communication village. There are lots of cell phones are available in the market. Among all of those phones, the iphone is the best and smart one for your needs. With this iphone, so many people around the world are getting everything with full of satisfaction. However, this is one side of the coin. What if your communication gadget fails to operate in such an important moment of the day? When you are in a long drive, what if your phone fails when you are trying to listen to your favorite songs? In those situations, we cannot imagine those things. However, this iphone has an ability to restore its applications.

One of the best parts of this iPhone is its features. There are lots of most finest and advanced features are available with these iPhone. Everyone should have thrilled about these features. The best one among all of those features is music capability. There are some features like big data storage, multiple connectivity and sparkling sound effect will give you an inspiring music. The most important point about this iphone is supporting 3rd party applications. This iphone allows you to install 3rd party application like entertainment, gaming and business and many more for your daily usage. There are lots of esteemed companies are designing and developing best iphone applications. Without any stress, you can download this power full applications for your needs.

There are lots of best looking applications are designed and developed by some clients for the end users. In this situation, Internet is a very help full task for you. You can download the application categories depending upon your iphone version. All you need to do a small search on these web sites and enter your device version and download it for performance. They are charging a few of dollars as a nominal fee to download your favorite applications today.

This article is written by a Article writter , Abest iPhone application design and development company in India. We offers the best designed iphone apps .

Don’t ignore parental control on Mac

siennal — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:13:17 +0000

There are many MAC fans, they love their macs just like their children. They would carefully protect their macs from any hurt. But for parents who have macs, do you pay enough attention on your children using your mac and their online safety?

I read a father’s writing, he thought he had paid enough attention to his 7-years old boy surfing the internet. But one day when he got the copy of his boy’s AOL Instant Messenger and check the profiles in his buddy list, he was really shocked what he found. There are some dangerous guys with wretched names, what’s more, tons of information which are supposed to be private about them listed on their profiles, even including their house address and the father’s working place.

Internet is a place that good and bad mixed together, where kids can get a lot of fun,friends and knowledge as well as traps and fraudulency.You barely find a palce for your kids cruising in the cyberworld but avoiding those adverse stuff.Most parents love and trust their children. But children are curious by nature. They like exploring every unknown thing. The nature is good but the outside world is dangerous. So it is up to us to monitor what they are doing online and control what websites they can browse to protect them.

As a parent, you do have responsibility for that.

Maybe you would say “Of course I did, I have the built-in Mac Parental Control set up.” You may find the built-in Mac Parental Control is useful, but not powerful enough to protect your children. The function of the Mac Parental Control is limited only to timely control and basic websites recording. If you just do this, I can only say that you are a lazy parent for the safety of your children.

To keep your children safe online, you should also install a professional parental control keylogger on your Mac machine. Keyloggers for Mac such as Aobo Mac Keylogger can record all keystrokes typed on any application and capture the desktop screenshots in a preset interval. It won’t be found by your children as it is totally stealth and undetectable. Besides, the mac keylogger can even record passwords typed in safari, firefox, msn, aim, ichat or games. You don’t need to check your children’s daily online activites on the Mac machine as it is able to secretly send the logs to your email or ftp space.

Perhaps some people oppugn this way of protecting kids by infringing their rights, but all I want to say is that it’s better to be sorry than not. There is no measure what a parent should not do to protect their children from all the harm lurking on the Internet. And sometimes strong action can be taken into account if necessary.

Use a keylogger to get back a stolen pc

siennal — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:08:17 +0000

A long and incredible story, I get back my stolen computer by a keylogger!

I have 2 devices in my house, one is used for my work, and the other mac laptop is in my children’s room. Taking into account their online safety, I think parental control is necessary. At last, I got a trial of one type of mac keylogger. It can record all keystrokes typed on any application and capture the desktop screenshots, then secretly send the logs to my email. So checking emails becomes a routine.

It was a normal day. After I finish the task, I opened my email and checked the new information as usual. It was an email from the Mac parental control software. The email showed clearly the websites visited, chatting messages and netgame screenshots. When I read the message of my 12-year-old girl, I smelled something. She was talking with a guy every late night during the past November. Am I too paranoid? I love my children and I would like to take any measure to protect them. I must be clear about the overall situation. But I was in the trial period and only 3 days left. After so nice a trial experience, I bought the keylogger service without hesitation, so I could get continued emails from the software.

However, it never rains but it pours. The next day, a thief came when we were out. Loss was huge including 2 computers, one digital camera and bucks. I called the police, and they brushed me off. Obviously they had handled so many such cases. In these days, home burglary is on the rise. As to the thief, there was no clue. I never expect that I can get back my stolen computer one day.

Two days after the burglary case, my office computer hinted me getting a new email when I was bargaining with my client. The data in the email really astonished me! A guy swanked his big affair and loot to another. It was the thief! He must be using the computer which I had installed parental control software that sent his information without his knowing. I consulted the software manufacture, asking about if I could receive the logged keys and screenshots by email as before, thanks god they replied me timely that I could start receiving the emails with the screenshoots and logged keys again without having my computer back if the computer is connected to Internet. In the next days, I received some emails uninterruptedly, then I handed over this evidence to the police. The anxiously waiting days were so long, but the burglars eventually get caught and arrested. I got back of my property.

That’s all the surprised accident, I must appreciate the software after service and their sound quality products. Owning to them, I can minimize my loss as well as catch the criminal. However, it’s not the end. Kids online safety still bother me. I need to rely on the parental control software for helping me keep an eye on my children .

I’m telling you this story, maybe it makes you a sense of keylogger. If yours is PC, installing a remote spy software could be beneficial some day.

Active Directory Management and Reporting

ChilySoft — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:59:52 +0000

Define Users Logon Time in Domain for Windows Server 2003 Environment

Organizations that work 24 hours a day in different work shifts are always keen about the new ideas that can help them using the available resources, products, and accessories to the fullest. One of the resources in such Organizations is Computer. To take full advantage of a Computer, multiple user accounts are created on it so that different users can easily work on it by logging into their respective accounts depending on their working hours. However, having multiple users account on a computer is beneficial for organizations, it can also be a problem. Because, if a user knows the login credentials of another user then s/he can easily logon to his/her account and can take advantage of this facility in wrong way. For example, s/he can steal/transfer important information thus, generates a data security issue for the Organization and employees too.

The above mentioned incident can be resolved if logon hours are set for different user accounts. Setting logon hours force Windows to authenticate login credentials depending on the logon hours. Once logon hours are set, a User even after having the correct login credentials cannot logon to his/her account before or after the specified logon hours. Therefore, setting logon hours is the perfect solution for security. But, the problem is how to set logon hours for a user. Setting logon hours is not an easy task; it is an expert’s work and Organizations suffer if the administrator is not experienced enough to set the logon hours. This article describes how to set logon hours in Windows Server 2003 environment for both local and remote computers. Following are the well-known processes to set logon hours:

. Using Microsoft Management Console (MMC) Snap-ins

. Using Net User Command

Using Microsoft Management Console (MMC) Snap-ins

Execute the following steps to set logon hours for users listed in Active Directory:

1. Click Start > Administrative Tools > Active Directory Users and Computers. The Active Directory Users and Computers window appears.

2. Now, expand the tree in the left pane and click the container having user accounts.

3. Select the user in the right-pane for which you want to set logon hours. Now, right-click the selected user and select the Properties option. The Properties dialog box opens.

4. Select the Account tab and click the Logon Hours button. A dialog box to let you set the logon hours for the selected user appears.

5. Click the Logon Denied option.

6. Select the time block on which you want the user to successfully logon to his/her account. As you select the time block, a status line appears at the bottom to let you know the selected time blocks.

7. After you have selected the time blocks, click the Logon Permitted option. Color of the selected time blocks gets changed.

8. Click the OK button.

9. Click the Apply button in the Properties dialog box to apply changes.

10. Click the OK button.

11. Repeat steps 3 to 10 to set logon hours for every user, you want.

12. Exit the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-ins.

Using Net User Command

Execute the following steps to set users logon hours by using the net user command:

1. Open the Command Prompt window.

2. Consider the following syntax:

net user user_name /time:first_day-last_day, start_time-end_time

In the preceding syntax:

. net user is the command that helps you set logon hours.

. user_name is the name of the user account for which you want to set the logon hours

. /time is the switch that helps you specify logon timings

. First_day-last_day is the parameter that represents the days of the week for which you want to set logon hours. First_day represents the first day of the week while last_day represents the last day of the week depending on the organization’s working day. For example, if the organization has 5 days working then first_day represents Monday and last_day represents Friday. Values for first_day and last_day can be any day of a week but both values must be separated by hyphen (-).

. Start_time-end_time represents the logon timings. Start_time is the value from which user can logon to the computer and end_time is the value after which a user cannot logon to the system. You can specify value for this parameter in 24 hours format. For example, to set logon hours from morning 9 AM to 5 PM, type 9:00-17:00

3. After specifying values in the command prompt according to the preceding syntax, press the ENTER key.

4. Exit the command prompt window.

These are the processes to set logon hours for different users account. However, to set logon hours for a user account you must have admin rights. In addition, if you want to set logon hours for all users in a domain then you must have admin rights for that domain. Furthermore, you must either have enough knowledge about using MMC snap-ins or have exposure on the commands used to set logon hours. In case, you are not aware about the commands used for setting logon hours or MMC snap-ins required for this purpose, you as an admin should opt for an automatic tool, which can help you set logon hours with ease.

Chily Active Directory Management and Reporting is an outstanding tool that helps you set logon hours in just few mouse clicks. As an admin, you may need to set logon hours for local computer users as well as domain users, which is very tedious and time-consuming. Chily Active Directory Management and Reporting software provides you a central location to set logon hours for both local and domain users. Therefore, you do not need to personally visit every computer in a domain for setting logon hours. Thus, the software apart from simplifying your tasks as an admin also saves substantial time.

RISKY BUSINESS – A FIFOSYS OPINION PIECE

whiteboxlinkLondon — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:42:51 +0000

How many mid-market and SME organisations are unknowingly risking the business because they have failed to actively consider the risks associated with IT? If you think the answer is ‘A few but definitely not you!’ you probably need to think again explains Mitesh Patel, Managing Director of outsourced technology infrastructure provider, Fifosys.

Many SMEs have simply not read or understood the service and support level that their IT contract provides. In many cases the in house IT department has not shared the risks with the business or, even worse, is unknowingly jeopardising the business through a lack of understanding and insight. Whilst most organisations now recognise that good technology is key to business success, from 24×7 access to email, to robust storage of sensitive customer data, many have no idea that such core functions will not be immediately restored in the event of a disaster under their existing arrangements.

IT Delusion
Most companies blithely assume that an IT support contract covers all the major issues – from email failure to data loss. But that is simply not the case. Look more closely at the not so fine print and organisations will be stunned to discover just how vulnerable the business is to server failure, severed connections and software glitches.

How many organisations recognise that failure of an email server could result in the business losing access to all email for up to five days? Most assume that restoring the server within hours is part of the service contract – but is it? If the hardware fails, the onus is likely to be on the hardware provider, not the service company, to repair the fault or provide a replacement, a process that could take days.

Failure to read the contract means that when problems do occur, organisations put the blame firmly on the IT department or support organisation, whilst suffering significant business loss. But has anyone asked the right questions of the IT support team – whether internal or external? Getting the right IT support contract requires a real understanding of the business risks associated with IT and demands technology service delivery and remediation is prioritised to match business needs.

Failure to do so adds significant business risk. Take a busy city centre bar. A brief power outage at 9am will have limited business impact: there are no customers and the till is not in use. Should that same failure happen at, say, 10pm on a Friday night, when the bar has perhaps as much as £10,000 in customer tabs, a loss of till functionality will result is massive financial cost as the organisation has no way of checking customers’ charges and payments.

Risk Assessment
To mitigate the risk associated with technology delivery, organisations need to identify the single points of failure across the IT infrastructure. Yet while businesses routinely assess the single points of failure in core operations, from manufacturing to distribution, they are patently failing to apply the same robust operational practices to IT. Take as an example a manufacturing company with 12 machines on the production line and, as a result, two machines – at £100,000 each – on system stand-by at all times in case of failure: a massive £200,000 investment that is rarely used.

Meanwhile this same organisation, with 150 employees, has only one email server. The company is sending 1000s of emails daily both internally and externally to customers and suppliers, yet there is absolutely no email resilience. If the single email server, or any one of its key components, goes down the business will stop until it is fixed. It is clear that no-one in the organisation has asked the right questions about IT risk.

So why are SMEs failing to take steps to understand IT risk? In part the problem is one of culture: individuals within the IT team are neither encouraged nor, to be frank, have the skills to map business needs with IT risks and availability. But continued failure to consider IT requirements in isolation from business need will compromise business stability and undermine the value of IT investment.

IT InsightMid-market and SME businesses face a real challenge: for any organisation with less than 250 employees, it is simply not possible to justify one full-time IT Director role. Yet far too many organisations of this size not only have an IT Director but also a team of up to three staff. More often than not these IT Directors are long term employees who have progressed to senior status through longevity and loyalty. As a result they may not have the strategic skills required and it is unlikely that an IT team of this size has the breadth of skills needed to manage today’s complex network and application infrastructure.

This expense of full-time employed, in-house IT staff is really not the best approach. Organisations should be considering best practice above all other factors. That means accessing the best skills as and when required in the most cost effective and efficient manner – from strategic direction to network support.

Organisations, of every size, need a team with the ability to deliver real risk assessment and strategic IT decision making. By opting instead to promote long term IT staff to a Manager/Director role, organisations probably end up with an individual who is overpaid to undertake the mundane day to day tasks associated with a small IT team, from plugging in cables and manning the help desk. In addition, the organisation is highly unlikely to have provided the support for this individual to have the resources, time or expertise to assess business risk or undertake strategic planning and long term IT budgeting.

This is simply not a viable model and is adding untenable risk to SMEs. Furthermore, unless organisations continue to invest in new technology, in-house skills will rapidly become out of date. In this fast changing technology environment organisations cannot possibly attain the breadth of skills required to support today’s complex IT requirements – from online order taking, to 24×7 email services, local and wide area networks, as well as business continuity – within a one or two person IT department.

So just what value are these individuals providing to the business? They are not generating revenue nor providing an essential administrative role. Indeed, combining a lack of skills with the organisation’s inability to accurately define ongoing requirements, internal IT departments are incapable of effectively managing third party service and support contracts, adding both further risk to the business and unnecessary cost.

Business Focus
As the recession looks set to continue towards the end of 2010, SMEs need to maintain and win as much business as possible, and can therefore not afford to take any risk at all. Businesses cannot continue to waste money on unfocused technology investments that fail to support short or long term business needs or mitigate operational risk. Nor can they justify third party supplier service contracts that fail to reflect true operational requirements.

A simple, but frank and honest IT infrastructure audit from a competent professional can provide immediate insight into the single points of failure. Now you need to translate that into simple statements, in business terms, that the board can comprehend. Put it plainly and clearly with real timelines. From the risk of how many hours or days of email downtime, to the implications of the loss of access to data and premises? This enables directors and management to determine and prioritise IT needs and investment based on real business requirements.

With this understanding, it is far simpler for an organisation to attain an IT service and support contract with a relevant and, critically, measurable Service Level Agreement. And, once in place, SMEs can look to build on this relationship to attain quantifiable technology value, including advice on strategic investment and long term budgeting.

It is this shift in emphasis away from a grudge purchase towards a demand for value that is essential for mid-market and SME businesses. All IT service and support contracts are not the same. Cost is obviously a key consideration but too many organisations are actually spending too much money on contracts that are failing to reduce operational risk. The objective must be an effective solution that reflects the organisation’s appetite for risk based on real, in depth understanding.

It is only by taking a step back, assessing and understanding the current levels of risk associated with existing IT deployments, that an organisation can truly determine its ongoing IT requirements and then put in place the technology, skills and resources to reduce operational risk and transform IT from a cost centre to business enabler.

Boris Hooper is a Professional writer converses about Fifosys the best IT infrastructure provider based in London, comprehensive IT Support London, IT Support Services UK, IT Audit, IT Solutions, IT Infrastructure Services, Information Technology Support.