Small Business Computer Consulting

Computer business Cisco’s CEO John Chambers recently announced he predicts that Google will be the company’s biggest rival in the future.   This announcement came during the April 5 Cisco partner conference in Las Vegas.  He also stated he thought other rivals for the computer business will include Microsoft, Alcatel and Huawei Technologies.  

Computer business Cisco has never fully been labeled a software company, but executives believe the IT industry will cause the company to be incredibly important as unified networks, multiple claims and Web 2.0 applications start to be necessary.  

Chambers feels that his computer business is ahead of the game in the unified communications market, specifically in regards to Microsoft because his company has been dealing with the industry for three years longer.

The event in Las Vegas was attended by 2,500 IT consultants – Cisco partners. The attendance of the event Chambers believed supported his idea that computer business Cisco is a leader in the IT industry.

Cisco executives are concerned about competitors such as Google, but confident the computer business will be able to keep pace.  

Added By:  Joshua Feinberg

On Monday, April 2, BEA Systems will release an update for the WebLogic Server for solution providers.  This release will be the first release of a complete Java Enterprise Edition 5 application server from a leading vendor for solution providers.

The WebLogic 10 server has Eclipse tools and comes with support for many different standards, including the Java EE 5 platform that was released almost a year ago in May 2006.  Solution providers and experts are not predicting great use for Java EE 5 yet because most server manufacturers have not updated their software in a long time to support the platform.  

BEA is competing with Oracle and IBM for control of the app-server market.  IBM has taken the lead in terms of the overall share of the market, but BEA enjoys a spot as the top vendor in the solution providers channel of app-servers that are designed around Java and .Net.

The most recent data from surveys taken comes from 2005, which showed BEA holding 24 percent of the market and IBM and Oracle close behind, according to IDC.

Sun and SAP have started making some Java EE 5 app servers, but not many compare to the craftsmanship of the BEA product for solution providers.

Blogged By:  Computer Consulting Kit

GovernmentVAR magazine, a magazine published by the CMP Channel Group for solution providers recently announced it would be hosting a seminar about IT products.  The solution providers seminar will be on March 21 in Washington, DC and will focus on selling IT services to the public sector.  “Public Sector Channels 2.0” will offer speeches from solution providers and integrators that have been pioneers in top trends in federal, state/local and education markets in the U.S. 

The solution providers seminar will offer keynote speaker Vance Hitch, CIO of the Department of Justice.  He has been the CIO of the Department of Justice for nearly five years and manages the Department’s $2.1 billion IT program.  Hitch has previous experience with Accenture and 28 years of leading government organizations.

Jill Aitoro, GovernmentVAR senior editor will also head off a panel discussion featuring the top government solution providers.  The panel will focus on the evolution of the government channel.  Other panelists and solution providers taking part in the event include Steven R. Perkins of Northrop Grumman, Mac DeShazer of Lockheed Martin and David Hadsell, Vice President of Government Sales. 

According to spokespeople for the event for solution providers, those attending the seminar for solution providers will gain insight into the future of the government marketplace in order to help them strategize and grow their business plans.  The event is free of charge, but seating is limited.  The breakfast starts at 8 a.m. at ZOLA in the Le Droit Building.  For further information, solution providers and technology professionals should visit the attached link. 

Added By:  Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit

Company Nexsan Technologies recently announced a new tool for solution providers and small businesses.  The Assureon appliance delivers a disk-based archiving and compliance solution.  The company will release the tool for solution providers on Monday, February 26 at the Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) conference in New Orleans.

The Assureon SA is a more compact rendition of Nexsan’s Assureon compliance appliance, released originally in August 2005.  It was updated in May 2006.  Features of both the products for solution providers will help store content files, images, recordings and other object contents.  Those using the device will be able to search documents by date.  The device for solution providers also allows users to search by keywords, location, title, size, author and by other components.

This new device was created to make the technology more accessible to more customers, not just highly sophisticated solution providers.  This product was meant to be a competitor for EMC’s Centera.  It is a more affordable option for solution providers, and Nexsan hopes it will help make storage solutions simple and streamlined.  For more information on the release of the Assureon SA for solution providers, visit the attached link.

Added By:  Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit

A leader in providing W-Fi-based RFID solutions to VARs, AeroScout, Inc. recently announced the launch of its new AeroScout Partner Program.  This program for VARs would provide them, along with systems integrators and software providers new tools in order to help with the customer demand of AeroScout’s product suite.

AeroScout currently helps over 150 VARs and other professionals offer solutions for healthcare, manufacturing, logistics and many other industries.  Key VARs in the network include Philips Medical Systems and NEC Unified Solutions.

A value added reseller states that there are a great deal of opportunities for VARs that join the AeroScout Partner Program.  As AeroScout partners, VARs can expect an increase in the number of available tools to deal with Wi-Fi and RFID technologies, including new types of tracking and detection systems for businesses.  AeroScout has offices serving VARs in North America, Latin America and EMEA, among other places worldwide.  

AeroScout also stated it has achieved certification of the company- wide internal procedures consistent with the standard ISO 9001:2000.  This means that AeroScout has been recognized for providing business solutions that are efficient and effective.  

A spokesperson for AeroScout states that the RFID and Wi-Fi markets are steadily growing, and VARs need the new partner program to help manage new demands.  The partner program for VARs also includes technical training and sales training seminars for partners throughout the world.  

Added By:  Computer Consulting 101

Atlanta-based IT consultants Benchmark Consulting decided to merge with Castor Technologies, an application modernization services company.  The Tampa-based IT consultants at Castor Technologies signed an agreement with Benchmark that would allow for the purchase, though no details on finances have been offered.

IT consultants at Castor Technologies develop an application modernization platform called Intelligent Rejuvenator for Information Systems (IRIS).  This product is the main item for data porting and migration belonging to the company.  

The merger between these two IT consulting firms presents great opportunities for the two firms’ clients, shareholders and partners and will help improve the IT services provided by IT consultants in Canada.

Castor Technologies’ chief executive officer Stephan Berube will head the Canadian presence of the newly merged IT consultants’ firm.  As president of Benchmark Consulting Canada, he will be responsible for Canadian operational policies, objectives and initiatives according to spokespeople.  President of Castor USA Alain Picard will become executive vice president of services and the main strategy officer according to a press release.

IT consultants at Benchmark Consulting describe themselves as part of a business process and application transformation company.  

Added By:  Computer Consulting Kit

The British government recently scrapped plans to build a giant new computer system that would help with national identity cards.  Instead of building one multi-billion-pound system, information will instead be stored on three separate databases.

While Home Secretary John Reid said it would save him money, others still see the ID card project as a huge undertaking.  All non-Europeans already in the UK will have to register fingerprints or iris scans from 2008.

The computer business project will take the National Identity Register (NIR), a controversial group responsible for updated seucirty 5.4 billion pounds over the next ten years.

Low Risk Security

Because the information will be spread across three IT systems, including the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) Customer Information Service that holds national insurance records, security will apparently be better.  Reid emphatically denies that IT companies have wasted millions of pounds preparing for the new system that never happened.  Still, the government has spent 35 million on IT consultants since the project began in 2004.  Apparently it is lower risk, more efficient and faster to rework the current infrastructure.

Computer Business:  Iris Scans

Biometric data will be stored on systems that are currently being used for asylum seekers and biographical information will be stored in the DWP systems.  Foreign nationals outside the European Union already in the UK will be forced to register fingerprints and iris scans starting in 2008.  Reid hopes this will help decrease the number of those staying in the UK fraudulently.  Those outside the European Union will not be able to get a National Insurance number in the UK without biometric identities.

ID cards are set to exist starting in 2009 and be required for anyone applying for a passport starting in 2010.  There has been controversy within the computer business about the impact on civil liberties.  The card itself will offer basic identification information such as name, address, gender, date of birth and a photo.  A microchip will hold all the biometric information.

Many experts in the computer business are still seeing the ID cards and the security systems as a financial disaster and are worried about what it could mean for money loss. 

Blogged By:  Computer Consulting Kit

To provide virtual IT support, you often need to be a generalist, but to be successful in the IT industry you have to be an IT specialist.  As an IT specialist, you will have to provide the following very generalized services: network design; procurement services; management; phone company interaction; interaction with web hosts and ISPs; configuration, testing, integration, customization, training and troubleshooting problems.  

The truth is, as an IT specialist you will still be doing everything, which is technically being a generalist.  But, while you might have to be a generalist, you don’t necessarily have to be a generalist for everyone in the world.  If you are an IT specialist by carefully choosing the right clients, your marketing efforts will be much simpler.

Be Selective with Clients

You can be all things to some people by providing a complete solution.  You will offer virtual IT services and be a place for them to go for all their needs.  You take responsibility for all your clients’ needs, but still are selective about what kind of clients you pursue.

An Example for an IT Specialist:  Real Estate

If you’re specializing in the real estate industry, you have probably worked with commercial real estate firms in the niche, and might be a top IT consulting professional in that field.  You will have testimonials and references to show the work you’ve done in the field and will come across as an IT specialist in the real estate world.   

Specializing Does Not Mean You Have to Have Much Experience

Finding a niche can just involve having one or two clients you’ve had for a year or two.  You may have started migrating an older DOS industry application to a 43-bit or to another web-based application.  Work over an extended period of time will give you mastery of the line of business applications, which is often the difference between you and anyone else in the IT industry.

What is It to Be an IT Specialist?

You don’t have to have very much experience in the IT industry to become an IT specialist.  But the specialization is necessary to being a successful marketer of your business.

Blogged By:  Computer Consulting 101

IT consulting firm Tata Consultancy Services recently placed among the top 10 U.S. Application Management Services Vendors, making it the first offshore vendor to make it into this category.

IDC report “Worldwide and U.S. Application Management Services Vendor Shares, 2005” reported the IDC top 10 vendors and IT consulting firms as of October, 2006 based on their geographic regions and management application services revenue.  This report predicts that the worldwide application management systems market will increase to $32.2 billion by 2010, making a 9/5% annual growth rate.  While the U.S. market is not growing quite as quickly, at 7.7%, it will still reach nearly $13.4 billion in 2010.  

According to experts, competition within the AMS market is increasing and causing global competition, which is probably why Tata has entered the U.S. rankings for IT consulting firms.  IDC has been hoping for this phenomenon for a long time to expand the market.  In the management market, IDC’s research confirms that the hosted application model will expand quickly as it continues to increase in value and complexity.

Spokespeople from Tata state that application development and management is one of its main strengths within the world of IT consulting, and it will continue to offer sophisticated solutions as business needs grow and change.  The IT consulting firm is one of the world’s leading IT consulting services, business process outsourcing and engineering service organizations.  The IT consulting firm is based in India.

Blogged By:  Joshua Feinberg

Earlier this week, security vendor SecureWave announced it would be offering a free tool to solution providers that helps uncover properties of portable storage devices connected to networks.  

This new Device Scanner discovery tool for solution providers can help them determine the threat of data theft of breaks in security.  It shows customers how many portable USB storage devices have been connected to the network, including thumb drives, Apple iPods or other MP3 players.

SecureWave is going to offer Device Scanner to channel partners.  Spokespeople for the company state they hope these solution providers will use the tool to help sell some of its Sanctuary products.  According to the company, many customers do not realize the threat devices connected to important networks pose.  Studies show that enterprise PCs each have approximately three to four USB devices connected to them.

Device Scanner analyzes a network to figure out all devices that have been connected to Microsoft Windows endpoints.  The scanner provides a historical log because it gets data from the Windows registry.

Solution providers have expressed surprise over how many portable storage devices are being used by the average employee.  Customers and clients have been equally surprised at results uncovered by the new security device.  This device can be particularly important in health care, financial services and legal markets where customer privacy and data security are incredibly important.

While many companies have policies regarding thumb drives and iPods, enforcing them before this point or at least figuring out if they are being followed has been a near impossibility.  This security device allows businesses to monitor employee use and make network security tighter.

Stenstrom Scientific intends to offer services based on Device Scanner for free or as an extra pat of its network security assessments.  The company hopes Device Scanner will open up opportunities for solution providers to sell other security products.  

Added By:  Joshua Feinberg