Over the past 3 years I have been going on and on about Cloud Computing and how the days of running applications on Laptops will soon be a thing of the past, and Servers will, like the fax machine gather dust before going to the recycling shredder. So this year I have decided to eat my own dog food and work 100% in the cloud.

To ensure my operation transformation to 100% cloud will work I needed to kit myself out with all the right ingredients and tools to help keep me on track. First step was to replace my ageing Netbook with a device that was within budget (€400) and did not come with all the extra baggage that ships with traditional computers. I was always a fan of thin client devices so moving to the Google Chromebook was an easy choice – No hard drive, No power hungry operating system – no additional add-ons to purchase to make it secure and finally no beefy applications to install before it was ready for use. I just turned it on and 10 seconds later I was online and ready to go.

Going on a new diet is always a challenge but  when there are lots of new and tasty dishes to choose from then the easier it gets. Moving to the cloud is much the same and when you see the range of applications that are available you will not be disappointed. Here are my top five Cloud Apps that I use every day to help keep my business in top shape. For a comprehensive list of Cloud Applications see the Google Apps Marketplace and the Chrome Web Store.

1. Google Apps for Business

Celebrating its 5th Birthday this year, Google Apps for Business is used by over 4 million businesses for email, document collaboration and voice & video communications. Google Apps now incorporates Google’s new social network Google+. Businesses can now easily build stronger relationships with customers by sharing photos, links, promotions and company news with the right contacts at the right time. The cornerstone for any size of business moving to the cloud should be Google Apps for Business.

2. General Audit Tool for Google Apps

This free tool is a must for any businesses that use Google Docs for collaboration. I have been using Google docs for over two years now and I need to be able to run quick reports to see what documents I own and which documents I have shared out with others. This audit tool highlights in RED any documents that I have made public which is a great security feature as mistakes do happen.

3. Insightly – CRM

A CRM application is only as good as the data it contains. The easier a user can update a CRM application with current information then the more success they will have using it. Built right into Gmail, Insightly can keep track of your email messages and ingeniously associates and links each message saved with the right contacts and organizations so you have a complete email history – all without lifting a finger. With one click you can easily  create  tasks and opportunities from the Insightly gadget in Gmail making life much easier for the account manager or sales rep. The automatic email reminder on tasks will improve your overall management of prospects and customers.

4. Yendo Accounts

Q. Which computer is the accounts computer?

A. All of Them!

Yendo is a cloud accounting package for SME’s that can be used from anywhere, anytime and from any Computer, Smartphone, Chromebook, iPad or Tablet. It has everything you need to manage invoicing, purchases, expenses and payments.  You can also make use of single sign-on and integrated information by adding Yendo to your Google Apps account.

5. Project Manager.com

Houston – We have no problem…

Project Managers need to manage people, tasks and money to succeed. This smart cloud Project Management software helps you plan, monitor and report on your projects. As well as including all of the commonly used features found in Microsoft Project, this online project management software tells you the actual vs. planned progress as it happens. Because it’s cloud based you can login from anywhere, anytime to check on the status of your projects. You can print your status with the click of a button, or export your reports to PDF, Word or Excel to customize them on your desktop.

It’s so safe and secure that NASA trusts it to help manage their projects.

Seeing is believing

If you would like to witness me eating my own dog food then you are welcome to join us at the Going Google Cloud Computing Roadshow  in Google’s Dublin offices on Thursday 2nd February at 8.30am. You will see first hand why businesses of all sizes use Google Apps as their tool of choice for cloud productivity and collaboration.

Check out the agenda and register @ http://www.go-oodles.com/index.php/2012/01/going-google-roadshow-dublin-feb-2nd-2012/

Unfortunately due to prior commitments my dog Toby (Pictured) is unavailable to attend.

Cloud Computing is a hot topic for many of today’s business leaders, but what does it actually mean? Would you like to see how companies are actually using cloud services today? Come along to this breakfast event in Google’s Dublin offices on Thursday 2nd February at 8.30am to see what’s driving over 4000 businesses a day to Google’s cloud-based services.

Please note that this event is for IT Executives & Business Decision Makers in the medium to large business sector in Ireland.

Agenda

8.30 am   Arrivals and Coffee

9.00 am   Welcome and Google’s vision for Business – 100% Web

9.30 am   Live Demo – Product launch using Google Apps for Business

10.15 am Gone Google – Customer Success Story

10.30 am How to make all of this a reality? By Baker Security and Networks

11.00 am Open Q&A and discussion

11.30 am Close

Register

BBVA, one of the worlds largest financial institutions, today announced that it is adopting Google’s cloud-based collaboration and communication suite Google Apps for Business to drive innovation and increase productivity.

Initially over 35,000 Spanish BBVA workers will use the productivity tools integrated into the Google Apps suite including: Gmail with Google Chat, Google Docs, Google Calendar, Google Groups, Google Sites and Google Video. BBVA expects to migrate 110,000 employees in over 26 countries to Google Apps by the end of 2012.

BBVA chose Google Apps to increase efficiency and to help its workers collaborate more easily, regardless of location. BBVA’s new global intranet will be built around Google’s collaboration tools, changing it from a corporate communications and process management site to a place where all employees will be able to share, contribute and manage knowledge globally. In addition, BBVA will create a social network to improve communication and explore new ways of working.

José Olalla, CIO at BBVA says, “We were looking for a technology that would transform our business operations – not just make our workers more efficient. Integrating the Google Apps for Business suite with our own tools will allow us to introduce a new way of working where employees have access to all the information they need with just one click, no matter where they are, and can reap the benefits of using advanced collaboration tools.”

Because they will be able to access the information they need at any time from any internet connected device, anywhere in the world, BBVA’s workers will be able to be more flexible and mobile. Google’s collaboration tools such as Google Talk, Google Docs and Google Sites  will allow them to communicate and share ideas more easily.

“Companies of all sizes, including those with tens of thousands of employees, are now embracing cloud computing. It means a lot to us that BBVA, one of the largest financial institutions in the world, has decided to migrate to Google Apps. It shows that cloud computing is now a reality – and leading organisations are already realising its potential to transform their business,” comments Sebastián Marotte, Vice President of Google Enterprise EMEA.

BBVA will now join the four million businesses worldwide which are using Google’s enterprise solutions to embrace technological change, and open the door to constant innovation, collaboration and cost savings.

From BBVA Press Room

DIT project team for Google Apps

Dublin Institute of Technology has moved all of its email and calendaring for 22,000 students to Google Apps for Education as part of new commitment to provide the latest technology experience for students. The move to Google Apps has  enhanced collaboration and mobility for students, allowing them to engage with each other anytime, anywhere, from any computer or mobile device.

The service has been implemented for new and returning students at the start of the  2011 academic year.
The migration began in September and Baker Security & Networks, a Google Enterprise partner, provided assistance in reviewing DIT’s approach and advising on various aspects of the project.

DIT Information Services department managed the project and evaluated the different products available for students. Together, DIT students joined faculty representatives in the selection process which helped select the best product for all and eased adoption.

“There were many reasons for choosing Google Apps but for the students the ability to hold onto their current email addresses and passwords was of key concern,”

explains Dearbhla O’Reilly,  IT Chief Technology Officer.

“We also wanted to provide our students with the ability to access their documents while outside of college or on the move.”

Ciarán Nevin, President DIT Students Union noted that

“Google Apps will give students the freedom to use their smartphones to access their email and will enhance their day to day interaction with the college.  They will also be able to collaborate together on projects and work on the same document at the same time from anywhere.”

One of the added benefits of the implementation of Google Apps is that any future cloud services introduced by DIT can quickly and easily be made accessible to the student body. It is expected that Google Docs will become a key component of the service as it supplements other collaboration and eLearning tools available to students.  This is part of a programme of work to improve student experience and increase mobile delivered services.

Some of Ireland’s top educational institutions have moved to Google Apps.
In 2007 Trinity College Dublin transitioned to Google Apps and more recently UCD signed up to Google Apps. In September DCU also announced a deal to provide Chromebooks for Education to students on a small number of selected programmes.

Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) has been an integral part of the Irish Higher Education system for more than a century and currently accounts for over 10% of the Irish undergraduate student population.  Its core values are reflected in its mission and emphasize student-centred learning, useful knowledge, rigorous processes of discovery and critical enquiry and support for entrepreneurship and diversity.

Baker Security & Networks have just released version 3.7 of the General Audit Tool for Google Apps.

Using the General Audit Tool you have full visibility and control over all your Google Docs, Sites, Groups and Calenders, allowing you to quickly and easily see who has read or write access to each of your files.

As a Google Apps Administrator you can audit each of your user’s Docs to ensure the security and confidentiality of your company’s data.

With version 3.7 we have added scheduled reports, you can now automate detailed audit reports which will be generated as required and stored in your Google Docs account. We have also updated our help and support pages.

Chrome Web Store
To coincide with the launch of version 3.7 we have added The General Audit Tool to the Chrome Web Store. You can now install The General Audit Tool directly into your Chrome Browser making it easier than ever to access and schedule your audit reports.

The General Audit Tool is free for Google Apps domains.
If you find The General Audit Tool useful we would appreciate a review either on the Google Apps Marketplace or the Chrome Web Store.

We got a call from one of our Customers today just to say thanks for  helping them make the move to Cloud Computing. Their office and Car  Park was flooded but it was business as usual.
“The carpark in our Ballsbridge building was flooded (see pic) and we  were without power. No problem, we use Google Apps for Business  and other Cloud apps, so just needed the laptops and stayed home.  ZERO downtime. GO CLOUD!!!”
To understand how Google’s Cloud Computing can help keep your  Business running when disaster strikes come along to the Google  Roadshow in Google’s Dublin offices – Rain, Hail or Snow! Register  HERE.

Eoin Lyng, Head of Information Systems at Carlow County Council putting the Chromebook to work.

The amount of IT time and energy that goes into maintaining and supporting a desktop environment is immense.  There are processes for creating machine images, distributing and updating applications, managing group policy, etc.  And this is an ongoing process for each machine. Users get frustrated by the complexity of their desktops – patches, security systems, etc.

There are multiple security concerns with the current computing model.  Data stored on machines can be compromised when those machines are lost or stolen.  Applications represent substantial security risks to both the users and the larger network.  IT spends a lot of time trying to mitigate many of these risks.

Increasingly, IT is dealing with a heterogeneous environment – especially in the mobile world.  Applications for customers and users must work across a variety of operating systems and platforms – making it difficult and expensive to deploy applications to all users.

The average cost of ownership of a desktop computer is $4,597 per year [H/W & S /W $1106, IT Operations $612, Admin $206, End User {Fixing,Downtime,Training} $2672] Source: Gartner Research, 2010

While these specific numbers may not be right for all customers, the general concepts are right – administration, management, and end user costs are significantly higher than the actual cost of  the Hardware & Software. The cost of ownership for a Google Chromebook  is $336 per year – a compelling reason why businesses should consider using them.

Google’s enterprise Gmail is building momentum with commercial organisations, and it now presents a viable alternative to Microsoft Exchange Online and other cloud email services, according to Gartner, Inc.

Warwickshire County Council is to be the first major public sector organisation to provide e-mail services via the public cloud in a pilot scheme that has potential to change how local authorities use e-mail and ICT services.

The county council is working with Cabinet Office to pilot the use of cloud-computing within Government to introduce exciting new ways of staff working, sharing information among partners and the public.  This could potentially be adopted across the public sector, increasing efficiencies for authorities across the country.

A foundation partner on the government’s G-Cloud programme, Warwickshire County Council has led on the selection and provision of a cloud-based email solution for the county council and helped to set standards for service management, information assurance and procurement that will be adopted throughout the sector as the G-Cloud programme is rolled out further.

Having investigated various options as part of the G-Cloud project, Google has been selected as the preferred supplier for e-mail solution.  Warwickshire County Council will join other businesses and agencies, notably the Guardian, Rentokil and  Jaguar Land Rover  have all selected Google Apps as their preferred option for e-mail.

There will be a range of benefits including greater flexibility of working and reduced costs of licenses for email.  Savings will increase long term as the current e-mail solution is phased out and the e-mail infrastructure operates entirely from the cloud.  Estimated savings will be around £250,000 per annum for Warwickshire County Council

Staff will have access to a range of tools which Google Mail also provides as part of its e-mail solution.  Not only is e-mail and calendar available, other facilities include:

·    Instant messaging and chat
·    Desktop video conferencing
·    Web-based office productivity tools (word processing, spreadsheets, presentations and drawings)

The function will be available from a range of devices including mobile phones and tablets.  The cloud will link into the county’s new ways of working in which staff may not require a fixed space in an office, enabling hot-desking and working from home and will give the council greater flexibility in its programme of property rationalisation.

It will also enable partner agencies to engage with council staff and will also create opportunities of sharing information easily with the public.

The issue of security is being addressed by the county council and the government’s own specialist information assurance agency Communications Electronics Security Group (CESG).  It will reduce the need for carrying sensitive information on memory sticks, or for it to be stored in the hard drive of laptops, reducing the potential for possible leaks of information.  In addition, Warwickshire is also working with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) to ensure it is aligned with the necessary data protection act policies.

The pilot is set to begin with 100 staff who will volunteer and be selected to ensure that it provides not only a cross section of staff but a range of officers who have a commitment to testing the capacity of G-cloud working.

By mid-October the project will have been designed and will then be tested from the end of the month through to the end of the year.

A paper will go to cabinet making recommendations for the scheme to be rolled out to remaining email users during 2012, hopefully during the summer months.

Cllr David Wright, portfolio holder for Finance, governance and IT, at Warwickshire County Council said:  “By joining the G cloud and adopting Google apps, the council will be at the forefront of smarter working among ourselves, our partners and our residents.  We are proud of our commitment to act as a pioneer to enable agencies across the public sector to make efficiency savings with their ICT.

“This programme can be implemented rapidly so we will be improving how we work and making savings quickly.  It is an exciting venture with great benefits for staff.  We look forward to seeing how it works in practice and how it improves our ways of working.”

Chris Chant, programme director for government cloud said

“This pilot is an important step forward in revolutionising the provision of ICT services in government. By exploiting innovations in this manner, government will transform public sector ICT estate into one that is agile, cost effective and environmentally sustainable.”

From: warwickshire.gov.uk