Riverbank It management

Topping the Fortune magazine list of the world's fastest-growing companies is Research in Motion, manufacturer of the BlackBerry phone. The BlackBerry is a hit with business users and consumers alike, and the BlackBerry Curve has become the top-selling handheld device in the US.

How long RIM can keep up this rate of growth is debatable, with serious  competiton from the iPhone and Windows Mobile devices. But for now sales are powering along, due in large part to the great software that makes the BlackBerry a delight to use.

If you aren't already hooked on BlackBerry (or iPhone), speak to Riverbank. We'd be pleased to show you what you are missing out on.

Parcel delivery company UPS has given a formal undertaking to the UK Information Commissioner's Office to encrypt all laptops following the theft of a laptop last year.

The laptop was password-protected but not encrypted. It contained personal details of UPS employees.

Mick Gorrill, Assistant Information Commissioner, said "Password protected laptops are not secure. I urge all organisations to restrict the amount of personal information that is taken off secure sites. I am pleased that UPS has encrypted its laptops and smartphones, and I urge other organisations to follow suit."

Have you suffered that sinking feeling when you accidentally deleted a file on your network, or clicked Save when you meant to click Save As?  If Riverbank is managing your network, you should be able to recover lost files using a feature called Previous Versions.

With Previous Versions you can:
1. Recover a file or folder that was accidentally deleted. Recover it to its original location or open a previous version and copy it to another location.

2. Recover from accidentally overwriting a file. Just recover the previous version of the file.

You need to establish a security perimeter around your organisation. Inside this perimeter are your trusted users. Outside is everyone else. This is your IT fortress. Or at least it was. In today’s world of mobile IT you really need a whole set of mini-fortresses rather than one big castle to protect you.

You have security risks with every laptop computer and every e-mail enabled mobile phone. You do need to protect your office network, but you also need to protect every laptop and every item of data that leaves your office so you can work securely wherever you work.

 

Several Riverbank clients are running more smoothly thanks to e-mail archiving software that we have installed for them.

The sheer quantity of e-mail passing through your business can become a major headache. Accumulating quantities mean that your e-mail system works more slowly, the e-mail database can fill up, and searching for anything takes longer and longer. Add to that the legal obligation on many firms to keep all e-mail correspondence for several years, and e-mail management becomes a real problem.

The solution is mail archiving. Mail archiving software regularly moves old e-mail from your main store to its archive, keeping your main e-mail system slim and fast. The archive is accessible to everyone and fully searchable, so if you do need an old e-mail it is easy to get to.

Do you need to be certain that every e-mail passing through your business does get archived? If so, there are systems available that will do this for you. You then have the reassurance that you are meeting your legal obligations.

We have received a number of enquiries from clients making preparations to minimise disruption if there is a major outbreak of the disease.

In response to this we have produced a guide called "Use IT to reduce the impact of swine flu on your business". If you would like a copy of this free guide please e-mail help@riverbank.co.uk or call 01844 278036.

If you would like our help to create a plan for your business, do contact us. We would be pleased to arrange an initial telephone meeting with you to advise on the action you need to take.

We have found an easy and low-cost solution to a major problem caused by finger trouble – accidentally dragging and dropping folders.

 

It’s a regular issue on the Riverbank helpdesk, when large quantities of data suddenly disappear. “Help, all my client folders have disappeared!”, is the sort of call we get. After half an hour’s searching we discover that they have been accidentally dumped somewhere in the middle of your admin files.

Printing is one of the hidden costs in your business. Like driving the car, it’s free at the point of consumption. You only wince at the cost when you buy fuel (or toner cartridges) or have to get it serviced or repaired.

 

Riverbank partner company BCB is offering a free assessment of your printing costs, helping you to reduce your costs. If you would like to take up this offer, just let us know and we will put you in touch. E-mail help@riverbank.co.uk or call 01844 278036.