So what is the cloud?

There are many definitions for cloud computing, but the essence really is: The use of computing resources (hardware and software) that are delivered as a service over a network (typically the Internet).

The fact is that the majority of businesses in Australia have been using cloud technology for years.  Just think about where your website currently lives… Is it sitting on a server in your office, or is it just “on the Internet” (already in the cloud)?  Your website is an excellent example of the use of cloud technology.

The big question is: When does it make sense to use the cloud and when is it not appropriate? We encourage you to start by asking yourself the following questions, and if  you are unsure of what is available or how it will work for you contact us so that we can provide tailored advice to meet your specific needs.

1. How important is the security of your data?

For businesses that work in the Medical, Financial or Legal verticals, moving sensitive data into the cloud can be a huge privacy consideration. If sensitive information resides with you cloud provider, can they see the information? If so, who else might they be sharing that information with? For those of you who use or have heard of Dropbox, are you aware of the following clauses in their privacy policy?

• We may use certain trusted third party companies and individuals to help us provide, analyze, and improve the Service (including but not limited to data storage, maintenance services, database management, web analytics, payment processing, and improvement of the Service’s features). These third parties may have access to your information
• We may disclose to parties outside Dropbox files stored in your Dropbox and information about you that we collect when we have a good faith belief that disclosure is reasonably necessary
• If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction

2. How important is the speed in which you access data?

Cloud platforms have a lot benefits in terms of provisioning, speed of setup, storage capabilities etc. However all of your information and data no longer exists onsite, in your office. This means that whenever you want to access information whether it be documents, or launching a program; the information needs to be downloaded off the Internet first. For many businesses this would not be suitable.  If you work with large files, or a lot of images/videos the cloud most likely will not be the best platform for you to use with your “live” data.

3. How reliable is your Internet connection?

Once your live data is on the cloud the only method of accessing it directly through the Internet.  If there are any problems with your Internet connection you will have problems accessing your live data, or you may not be able to work at all.  There are of course numerous measures you can take to increase the reliability of your Internet (multiple redundant connections, upgraded business grade connections with SLA’s), but all of these cost extra money and may make the initial low cost of moving to the cloud not as attractive.

Does all of this mean that you shouldn’t utilise the cloud?

Absolutely not! As with every decision or investment you make in your business, there needs to be an underlying need or problem that by solving is going to add value to your day to day operations and flow through to your clients. The above considerations may not be of any concern to you or your operations, in which case you could get the ball rolling today!

What are some of the common cloud Technologies?

The answer to this question is almost endless.  There are many great technologies utilising the cloud which will provide value to your business.  As we discussed earlier, website hosting is typical use of the cloud.  Other popular cloud services are CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tools and Microsoft Office (Office 365).  Online Backup is another popular tool and an excellent way to leverage the “endless” storage available in the cloud and it addresses a major issue surrounding backup which is making sure you keep your critical backup data offsite.  You can also reap the benefits of having years of retention on your information, giving you greater levels of resiliency to deletion or data corruption.

Where to from here?

Bigfish Technology are experts in Cloud Technology and Solutions. We have been using and providing cloud based solutions to our clients for over 9 years and are a trusted source for advice and  implementation of cloud technologies.  Please contact us on 1300 784 889 to  discuss how the cloud can work for your business.

Windows 10 is the most comprehensive and exhaustive overhaul of Microsoft’s Windows franchise in the history of the company. It is a complete rethinking of Windows partially in response to the poor reception Windows 8 got in the marketplace.

Microsofts Definition of Windows 10:

Windows 10 (“Windows”) is a personalized computing environment that enables you to seamlessly roam and access services, preferences and content across your computing devices from phones to tablets to the Surface Hub.

When will Windows 10 be available?

Windows 10 will be widely available on July 29th, 2015. Microsoft will begin releasing the Operating System to the general public in phases in an attempt to deal with several hundred million anticipated downloads.

How will Windows 10 be distributed?

The Operating System will be available via Microsoft’s Windows Update service in Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.

What will Windows 10 cost when it is released?

For the first 12 months after Windows 10 is released, users on Windows 8.1, Windows 7 and Windows Phone 8.1 can get Windows 10 as a free lifetime software upgrade.

There is some controversy regarding what that actually means but in general, if you take advantage of the free offer within 12 months, you will not have to pay for Windows on the PC or tablet you are upgrading ever again.

What does it look like?

For those who are familiar with Windows 8 launch the Start menu is back and comes with some new features. It comes first with the ability to be resized along with the Live Tiles within.

Live Tiles:  customizable shortcut icons that allow links to favourite websites, apps and even the latest news feeds from supported sites.

The Start menu also features empowered search capabilities as well, able to crawl your entire machine, not to mention web results via Bing.

Siri for Windows 10? – Cortana

Windows 10 will see the spread of Cortana, Microsoft’s Siri and Google Now competitor, into all versions of the new OS, including desktops, laptops and tablets.

Cortana will be a digital assistant to help you with easier access to files, apps and more with the simple use of voice commands.

Internet Explorer 11 and Edge Browser?

Edge is not a replacement for Internet Explorer, but rather a second browser. Microsoft have explained that while Edge will work with the rest of the web, IE11 will be kept for compatibility with legacy and enterprise websites.

Some of the features of this new browser are:

• The ability to mark up webpages before sharing them with others
• The ability to comment on those same pages at the software level.
• Built-in Cortana support and Integration

What if I don’t upgrade, What does it mean for me?

There would be no immediate issue with not upgrading to windows 10, in fact most providers would recommend not upgrading instantly until your aware of any potential compatibility concerns.

Currently Windows 7 and Windows 8 are the preferred operating systems in use respectively both of theses products will not longer be support beyond their Microsoft support periods of Jan 14, 2020 (Windows 7) and Jan 10, 2023 (Windows 8).

In a recent example of this is the Microsoft removal of Windows XP support, More information can be found on this here: http://www.bigfishtech.com.au/2015/07/the-risks-of-keeping-windows-xp/

Another drawback is that after the first 12 months of Windows 10 being released it will no longer be free and will cost per device to upgrade.

Bigfish Recommendations

With every new operating system it generates a lot of excitement in the market place but also creates a lot of fear, below is a list of things to think about before stepping into the new world of Windows 10:

• Product Compatibility – Not all software will be ready to use come the launch of Windows 10, keep in mind the longer you wait (past 12 months) the cost of migrating to Windows 10 increases
• User Training – Highly recommended for all users who have not have the pleasure of using Windows 8/8.1 or Server 2012 Remote Desktop server.
• New Hardware – Windows 10 is built to run of new hardware, while it is also compatible with MOST computers, the key concept behind the latest releases of Windows 8/10 which should be taken into mind when purchasing new hardware is the seamless transition between Laptop/tablet experience.

1. Don’t be tricked into giving away confidential information or going where you shouldn’t

1.1 Don’t respond to emails or phone calls requesting confidential company information, such information requests can appear genuine as they us such popular brand names like: Microsoft, Telstra, Australia Post, All Major banks

Stay on guard to avoid falling for these scams, one of the reasons these threats keep reappearing is due to the “Bad Guys” being so convincing they profit from their crimes, if you feel you at risk of becoming a victim due to one of these threats report any suspicious activity to Bigfish.

1.2 Review attachments/web links before opening – Web links can be quickly reviewed by hovering your mouse over the link to reveal exactly where you will be sent.  If you’re not expecting it or are not familiar with the source or destination DO NOT CLICK ON OR OPEN IT.  Attachments that are often unsafe are within small and unexpected ZIP files (file types can of course vary).  Below is an example of a bad link followed by a bad attachment:

2. Your Computer and Device Security

Mandatory protection for your device starts with Antivirus software but the best protection you have is your own common sense.  Below is a checklist containing important things to be aware of when it comes to PC/Device security:

• Secure Passwords – Difficult to self-manage at first but in the long run it could save you from being a victim of a hacking attempt
  • At least 8-12 characters long, use letters and numbers.
  • Use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters.
  • Don’t use descriptive words (like “hawthorn”) and add at least one of the following special characters: !#$%^*_
  • Don’t use the same password across multiple logins
• Be aware of suspect popups appearing when web browsing, if a random popup appears informing you that you have large amount of infections it’s probably false. If you are ever unsure take a screenshot of the pop up close it and contact Bigfish support.
• Don’t attempt to Google search illegal movie/music downloads these are most likely virus infections that will allow hackers direct access to your environment.
• Post Notes on your monitor (or on your desk) containing usernames or passwords is not safe method of password storage
• Lock your computer before you walk away from it, “Windows Key + L”  this will ensure your PC is not usable while you are away from your desk

Why didn’t my anti-virus software or spam filter detect it?

Traditional firewalls, antivirus and antispam software use signatures and behaviours (known actions that malware performs when running) to identify and block malware, they cannot identify unknown threats. As new versions of exploits are released, security software vendors are constantly trying to identify, detect characteristics and distribute updates to block them.

With up to 21,000 new malware being released each week, staying ahead of the instigators is no simple task.  The time to combat this constant stream of security exploits means that some businesses are being infected before updates are created and distributed around the world.

What automated systems can be put in place to assist managing these threats?

Below are some available options for Bigfish Technology customers that proactively run to protect businesses from being victim of potential security threats.

• If you are subscribed to a Bigfish proactive plan you automatically receive critical and security updates installed every Thursday night, it is extremely important that ALL PC/laptops are left online EVERY Thursday night
• Bigfish Managed Antivirus solution ensures your devices are all up to date and running regular scans
• Mail filtering protection, scans all incoming and outgoing messages for potential infected or harmful files/hyperlinks/images and quarantines them to ensure they don’t arrive in your mailbox.
• Web Filtering protection reduces the risk of a user going to an inappropriate website that could contain malicious software