Blog entries - May 2009

Stand by for the Palm Pre

malcolm@riverbank.co.uk — Fri, 29 May 2009 06:56:41 +0100

The Palm Pre, due to be launched this summer, could become the next must-have gadget and a rival to the iPhone. It's a very attractive touch-screen phone, but unlike the iPhone it also features a Qwerty keyboard.

It's much better to see it than talk about it, so take a look the PC Pro video, then decide it's something you simply must have.

Flexible working – working from home

malcolm@riverbank.co.uk — Wed, 27 May 2009 10:57:20 +0100

You need to work from home, yet still be productive. You need to be able to work as effectively when you are away from the office as you can when you are in the office.

What technologies work well, are easy to use and reliable? The answer is that you have a range of options, starting with the simple and inexpensive, and moving up to highly secure remote access systems.

But working from home is about more than just technology. You also need to think about protecting yourRead More...

IronKey – Don’t leave the office without it

malcolm@riverbank.co.uk — Wed, 27 May 2009 10:27:39 +0100

Where are you leaving your data? Could sensitive or confidential information be leaking out of your business through use of insecure USB data sticks? Your potential losses might not be as dramatic as MI6 or the British Council (see the news items below), but they could still have serious implications for your business.

British spy loses secrets in a handbag
A BRITISH agent has thrown the war against drug traffickers into chaos by leaving top secret infRead More...

MoD admits to losing 28 laptops so far this year

malcolm@riverbank.co.uk — Mon, 18 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100

So far this year the MoD has lost 28 laptop computers, plus 20 USB data sticks. There is no word on the key point of whether they were all encrypted.

Make sure all your laptops and USB data sticks are encrypted - the loss of reputation is too costly.

If you want all the details see report to parliament and a press article in IT Pro magazine.

PCs use 30% of total IT energy use

malcolm@riverbank.co.uk — Sun, 17 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100

A report from Gartner, reported by IT Pro http://www.itpro.co.uk/610570/it-energy-use-dominated-by-pcs-and-peripherals, says that PCs account for 30% of the total IT energy use. This means that all businesses can make substantial savings by reducing their PC energy usage.

They suggest that companies start with an audit of their IT electricity consumption. If you are a Riverbank client ask for a free loan of our electricity usage meters that can tell you exactly what each device, Read More...

Visa card with LCD screen and keypad

malcolm@riverbank.co.uk — Thu, 14 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100

In a bid to improve credit card and banking security, Visa is trialling a new credit card that incorporates a keypad and LCD screen. The owner enters their PIN number and the card generates a one-time code that can be used to verify online purchases and access to online banking facilities.

The card also has a second purpose because the one-time code could also be used to control remote access to company computer networks, providing companies with a corporate card and securiRead More...

Windows 7 out in August?

malcolm@riverbank.co.uk — Wed, 13 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100

PC Pro magazine is reporting that Windows 7 will be out in August, with a general release in October. No confirmation yet from Microsoft.

For most of us there is little excitement in an operating system; all it does is run the computer. But the operating system is the thing that a lot of us use almost all day every day - you probably spend more time with your operating system than you do with your family. So it's vital that it works well and provides rock-solid reliabilityRead More...

Tesco hit by computer problem

malcolm@riverbank.co.uk — Sun, 10 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100

An overnight computer upgrade has left dozens of Tesco stores unable to operate because their tills didn't function. It shows that even the most organised company can encounter IT problems But it also illustrates a couple of broader issues.

Issue number one is that, behind the scenes, there is constant change. Things tend to work well as long as you don't change them. If it ain't broke don't fix it, and all that. With IT systems there is constant change; the need to add new featuRead More...

How can Swine Flu disrupt your business

malcolm@riverbank.co.uk — Thu, 07 May 2009 19:08:38 +0100

There is a high likelihood of business disruption if the virus does spread through the UK.

You need to be prepared in case swine flu does turn into a pandemic. There are two areas you need to consider to protect your business.

1.Business continuity You need a plan to enable your business to continue in spite of disruption. The biggest impact is likely to be the high level of staff absence. This is not only because of people directly infected. The greater impRead More...