The New Chief Information Officer.

There are many who say that the role of the Chief Information Officer is dead, that the rise of cloud and the death of the on-premise server is steadily diminishing the role. Indeed I read one article recently that said the process of downgrading the role had already started. This particular business magazine stated that many CIO’s were already starting to slip from the ‘top table’, no longer at the core of the corporate or company decision making process. If this is true I would fear for the companies that are going down this path; clearly the board and the CEO need a reality check. Never has the role of the CIO been more important because never before has information been more important to the business. Whether we make widgets or butter, we live in an information age. The mistake clearly seems to be to judge the importance of the role by the size of the departmental budget. This attitude displays two grave errors of thinking; firstly it associates size with importance, a correlation that is not always true and is certainly not linear and secondly it clearly fails to see the growing importance of (qualitative) information and, more importantly, the evolving nature of the CIO role in procuring and delivering that information. (In addition CIOs should be rewarded for slashing their budgets!)

The challenge for CIOs is redefining their roles in an era of cloud computing. Many less insightful CIOs will see the adoption of cloud inside the organization as something akin to turkeys voting for Christmas, with the CIO being the chief turkey. The more enlightened ones will see the advent of cloud as a golden opportunity to clear their desks of a lot of nonsense about server sizes and storage issues and give them the free space to focus on the ‘I’ in their job title – information. The identification, extraction and refinement of the information is more crucial than ever. The enhanced role of the CIO means putting Intelligence into Information. It will give the opportunity to focus less on the process and storage of information and instead concentrate more on the extraction and delivery. Ironically like the sage of legend the more aesthetic they become in terms of internal IT spend the more expansive they will become in terms of the questions they will ask. Not How do I store information but What information do I store. As specialist IT firms like Google take care of the storage and processing of information the focus for the CIO can shift to the nature and quality of that information and how best to extract knowledge from it, for the company. Whether that information is about the customer or the internal working of the company the CIO is now free to focus on the end product rather than the delivery, indeed his role is far from becoming less important is steadily becoming more important. He is becoming the ‘big question’ guy. Perhaps not exactly setting the direction of the company but definitely moving from the engine room to taking charge of the radar.

Until now the CIO inside most organisations has had to focus too much on process and not enough on big ideas. To be sure most senior CIOs delegated hardware selection and buying to systems managers and most software development and purchasing to project managers and senior analysts. However because both of these required such large spends and on which the reputation of the department and by extension the reputation of the CIO depended, they consumed a very large part of the CIO’s time. In fact in many cases IT departments became little industries in their own right, delivering servers, pc’s, patches, upgrades, software roll outs etc. and all that just to stand still. The means became the end in itself. The facts and figures that the company wanted often became a small part of the IT undertaking. Keeping the show on the road became a goal in itself. A CIO had completed a good year when ‘nothing crashed’. The goal of Information extraction often fell to others in the organisation, typically the CFO.

Baker Security & Networks are a Google Apps Authorized Reseller in Ireland and we have migrated over 100 Businesses to Google Apps.  We always get asked by businesses what are the main advantages of  Google Apps  and what can Google Apps do for their Business. Here are the main reasons why businesses Go Google.

1. Google Apps is 100% web based and can be accessed securely from anywhere, on any device. You don’t need to install software or manage updates – Just refresh your browser and you have the latest version. Google Apps requires a current standard web browser for full functionality. No desktop installation or management required.

2. With Gmail, your inbox has substantial storage (25GB) to minimize the need to delete email. Furthermore, there’s powerful
Google search functionality so you can quickly find emails regardless of the size of your inbox. With Google Apps you’ll enjoy a productivity platform with proven reliability. For instance, Gmail’s uptime was 99.99% in 2011. With Gmail for business you also get Industry-Leading spam and virus protection.

3. Google Apps is all about teamwork. You can share a document, a site, a page, a spreadsheet  with just two clicks to any user (internal or external). You can add users via their email addresses; they can then access shared content securely via their browsers. Everyone remains on the same page, and in the same version, at no additional cost, with no software requirements. With Google Drive you have unlimited data storage for Google documents (Spreadsheets, Docs, presentations) and you also get 5GB of FREE storage for non Google docs. With Google Apps your data is never lost, even if your laptop dies or is stolen.

4. Google Apps includes easy to use, mobile device management services at no additional cost including device location and mobile app management. If you loose your mobile device it can be remotely wiped to factory default.

5. 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. With Google+ you can have a video conference (Google Hangouts) with up to 9 people with Google + accounts. You can even join a video call from your smart phone. With the new Google Hangouts On Air option, you can broadcast live video publicly from a Google+ stream, a YouTube channel or embed it on your website – it’s like having your own TV station.

Last week was an interesting week for Baker Security and Networks, with 3 major Google milestones.

As Ireland’s leading Google Apps Reseller we signed up our 100th Google Apps for Business customer. We now support over 90,000 Google Apps users from our offices in Hume Street.

Separately, We completed the move to Google Apps for Business for Fermanagh District Council.  This is the first public body on the island to move their entire email solution to a Public Cloud Solution at a great saving to the ratepayers in Fermanagh.  It is the third council in the UK to make the move to Google.

Finally we launched version 4.0 of our General Audit Tool for Google Apps, one of the leading tools in the Google Apps Marketplace. This tool helps users of Google Docs identify all the permissions and shares on their Google Documents, Sites, Calendars and Groups.  It is currently used by over 2,500 organisations around the world, including WWF, National Geographic, Nat Semi, Logitech, Jaguar-Land Rover, Trinity Mirror group and many, many more.  It is the leading European tool in the worldwide Google Apps marketplace.

There is little doubt over the fact that Google Apps has revolutionised the way business is being conducted throughout the world, in a similar vein to how Google has transformed both the search and email world respectively. Championing cloud before it became fashionable, Google has succeeded in introducing a new way of storing and sharing files to a mass audience. More recently, Google has developed a more powerful offering for businesses and enlisted BSN, the original Google Apps Reseller in Ireland, to roll this out to the business community.

There are more benefits to using Google Apps in business than can adequately fit into this single article, so we have built this site entirely around the offering, for you to explore exactly how Google Apps can work for your specific needs. As developers of some of the most cutting edge administration and management tools for Google Apps, BSN is in a prime position to expertly guide your company into the cloud age. For those who still are not entirely convinced of this new wave taking over the business community, we are offering a free, no-commitments, trial to allow you to witness first hand the power of what Google can do for your company.

To Try Google Apps for business, email us now on apps@go-oodles.com

The term Cloud Computing has been floating around for a few years now, and is often used as a buzz word for politicians and development agencies who are looking to boost confidence around economic recovery and job growth. So what exactly is this “Cloud Computing”, and why is it such a big growth area?

To put it in as simple terms as possible, it is best to take a basic example. Many years ago, all of our emails were based on our desktop computer. If we were not at that specific computer, we were unable to access the emails. However, these days we all use email solutions such as Gmail, Hotmail and Yahoo to check our mail, no matter what computer we are on, or where we are in the world. The reason we can do this? The email is stored in the cloud.

Technically, what this means is that the mail is stored on a centralised server, owned by Gmail, Hotmail or Yahoo. As individual users, we then tap into this server whenever we need to access the mail.

It is this basic concept that is now being applied to almost all business functions. The idea is that we move from relying on our own hardware to storing everything “in the cloud” where we can access and pay for the storage as we need it. If you are a large company, this can mean massive savings.

With this mass movement of companies towards the cloud, this brings with it massive opportunities for growth and development; hence why cloud computing is often spouted as the bastion of hope for an otherwise flagging economy.

For more in-depth explanations and specific features offered by BSN and Google Apps, have a look around the rest of this site.

BSN is the Premier Google Apps Reseller in Ireland

Baker Security & Networks (BSN) are proud to announce the addition of the innovative Meraki Access Points to their product line, becoming the first IT company in Ireland to bring the high performance, cloud-managed wireless LAN solution to the marketplace. Embracing the industry-wide trend and fitting nicely within BSN’s cloud based philosophy, the Meraki Access Point is truly a game changer when it comes to usability, and combined with BSN’s longstanding record of excellence in management and support, this product covers all bases. Below we have included extensive information on the product. Email us now on sales@bsn.ie to discuss how the product may specifically benefit your company.

Centrally Managed from the Cloud

Meraki’s award-winning Cloud Controller provides powerful and intuitive centralized management, while eliminating the cost and complexity of traditional on-site wireless controllers. Meraki’s Cloud Controller seamlessly manages campus-wide WiFi deployments and distributed multi-site networks with zero-touch access point provisioning, network-wide visibility and control, cloud-based RF optimization, seamless firmware updates and more. With an intuitive browser-based user interface, Meraki WLANs configure in minutes – not days or weeks – without training or dedicated staff.

Control Applications, Users, and Devices

Meraki is the only wireless LAN to include Layer 7 fingerprinting and application QoS. Identify hundreds of applications, from business apps to BitTorrent and YouTube. Prioritize critical apps like VoIP, and limit or block wasteful bandwidth consumption such as P2P file sharing. Apply policies by device type, automatically assigning VLAN tags, traffic shaping rules, bandwidth limits, and firewall policies to iPads and other device types. And user fingerprinting with Google-like search allows administrators to easily identify and control individual users, iPads, Androids, and other devices.

Learn More

Guest WiFi

Meraki offers secure, easy to manage guest access out-of-the-box – without extra appliances, licenses, or complex VLAN configurations. Meraki’s built-in firewall and DHCP server provide a complete guest WiFi solution, enabling secure, Internet-only access that protects your LAN and other clients from virus or information leaks. Meraki also provides cloud-hosted, customizable splash pages, bandwidth limits, on-the-fly guest logins, and even content filtering, allowing you to customize your guest experience.

Enterprise Security

Meraki provides complete out-of-the-box enterprise class security. Segment wireless users, applications, and devices; secure your network from attacks; and enforce the right policies for each class of users. Meraki’s built-in stateful policy firewall, 802.1X/RADIUS support, and native Active Directory integration deliver fine-grained access control, while Meraki’s Guest Access Firewall provides secure, Internet-only guest WiFi in just one click. With built-in features like Network Access Control (NAC) and Wireless Intrusion Detection and Prevention (WIDS/WIPS), Meraki enables secure wireless environments without complex setup or systems integration. Meraki WLANs are fully HIPAA and PCI compliant.

High Capacity 802.11n

Meraki’s 802.11n APs provide high capacity wireless in dense, demanding environments. Meraki APs are custom-designed for cloud management. Built with enhanced CPU and memory capabilities, Meraki APs deliver rich services including Layer 7 Application QoS and NAC at the network edge. Industry-leading 3-stream 802.11n MIMO delivers radio rates of up to 900 Mbps, while cloud-based RF optimization with spectrum analysis ensures that Meraki APs are automatically tuned for highest performance.

Teleworker VPN

Meraki’s Teleworker VPN solution creates a secure IPsec tunnel from any Internet-connected Meraki wireless access point to your corporate network, providing secure remote access to IP PBX systems, file shares, and internal applications. Teleworker VPN is available on every Meraki 802.11n AP, at no extra cost. Remote APs connect securely and automatically to an easy-to-deploy VMWare-based virtual concentrator at HQ, while split-tunneling only routes internal traffic over the VPN, improving performance and saving bandwidth.

High Performance Mesh Routing

Mesh networking – the ability for APs not wired into the LAN to act as repeaters – is included in every Meraki AP. Mesh allows for two powerful use cases: extending coverage to hard to wire areas, and providing a self-healing network that is resilient to cable and switch failures. Meraki pioneered high performance mesh routing, with behind-the-scene technologies such as multi-radio routing and per-flow analysis that makes Meraki’s mesh faster and more reliable.

Device Management

Meraki includes powerful device management tools to control the clients on your network. Centrally manage iOS devices, Windows PCs, and Macs. Set security policies for the iPads, iPhones, and iPods owned by your organization, and centrally manage the applications installed on them, pushing new apps and updates to any number of devices. Control Macs and PCs, tracking inventory, pushing software, and even troubleshooting with built-in remote desktop. Device management is fully integrated available at no additional cost.

Learn About Device Management

In case reading isn’t your thing, the Meraki Access Point can be summed up nicely in this video:

BSN is the Premier Google Apps Reseller in Ireland

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

BSN is the Premier Google Apps Reseller in Ireland

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