Summary: An overview of storage software and changes in the market.

All businesses face the challenge of storing their data easily, inexpensively and in a timely fashion. Initially, companies used tape-based systems to store data. There is now a rapid change to disk-based systems. At the same time, there has been a change in the software that supports this function and manages the stored data.

With rising numbers of branch offices, servers and amounts of data, storage needs are continually increasing. Organisations need to invest in systems that will save and back up data. This is where storage software comes in. It performs a threefold task:

• It simplifies control and management of hardware resources (devices and networks).
• It assures backup, archival and recovery of data.
• It takes care of replication and copying of data as it is created or downloaded.

While older systems of storage were more time intensive, the newer ones are more investment intensive. Many new storage software tools aim to reduce the cost of disk-based storage to encourage adoption of the newer technology by all sizes of organisation. Some providers also offer hosted services that are more scalable and affordable for small and medium-sized businesses.

Most storage software solutions rely heavily on hardware options. The ideal combination is a system where the software and hardware work together for an optimal performance and high level of flexibility. Many software storage providers partner with hardware manufacturers such as Dell, IBM, Fujitsu and HP to offer solutions like this. Larger players have acquired storage specialists such as Veritas and StorageTek so that they can offer these services.

This consolidation is not necessarily a bad thing. It means that more established players will offer bundled products that include additional features such as content management systems within the storage software to allow integrated retrieval and archival processes.

With changes in the regulatory and business environment and the growth of your business, you need to select storage software that is optimal for your current needs but can also meet your future ones. Make sure you consider the following areas before purchasing storage software.

• Compatibility with existing hardware: The majority of expenditure on storage is for hardware components and devices. Ensure that your software selection is compatible with the existing hardware and work towards component reusability to keep costs down. All upgrades and new technologies should enhance the use of the currently installed hardware. Many vendors of storage software have partnerships with hardware manufacturers. Make sure that you pick the correct combination and that any new hardware is from a company that has a good support network in your area.
• Compatibility with operating system: Ensure that your chosen software application runs on your existing operating system. Many applications are compatible with multiple platforms. But some applications are restricted. It is best to maintain flexibility by selecting an application that supports multiple operating systems.
• Bundled offerings/integration: The market is moving towards consolidation and many of the established specialist storage vendors are being acquired by larger players. This means that you can expect more feature rich bundled products. Look for security software and content management software that’s integrated or available as a bundled offering.
• Long-term partnership: Look out for companies that are likely to remain in business and that are interested in building a relationship with your organisation. This will allow you to work with the vendor more effectively to find solutions for current problems and potential threats.
• User friendliness: This storage software is technology that the whole organisation will need to deal with at some point, so ensure that your employees are able to cope with it easily. Select a user-friendly and simple user interface.

Summary: A look at the benefits that storage software can bring to your organisation.

The importance of protecting your business data cannot be overstated. Not only is it the intellectual capital and historical record of your business, it is also a mission-critical asset. Storage software can help look after this data and brings benefits in the following areas:

• Compliance with data handling regulations: Changes in the regulatory environment have led to stricter measures for handling data and storing records. Regulations like Sarbanes-Oxley Act and Basel II have increased the need for data integrity and records storage. This is one of the more critical issues today, and storage software can play an important part in ensuring compliance.
• Meeting growing business needs: As your business grows and becomes more complex, systems need to be developed to control and manage information. With a growing number of branch offices within the UK or worldwide, there will be more data and more servers. Centralised storage and retrieval for all this data requires a robust and easy to use system.
• Avoiding legal issues: Businesses needs to have access to past records and files so that they can refer to them in the event of lawsuits or other investigations. Storage systems can ensure that this data does not go unprotected and reduces the chances of losing or misplacing it.
• Maximising investments in storage hardware: As hardware forms the larger portion of investment in the storage sector, companies are loath to change it. The best way to get the most out of existing hardware is by using newer software that is compatible with the hardware.
• Management of the information lifecycle: An emerging area is the management of the data lifecycle, which allows organisations to retain and manage their past data. Many integrated solutions have come on the market that offer content management and other useful features along with simple data storage in order to enhance and simplify the user experience.

Summary: A detailed description of security software and its uses.

Security software is used to protect a computer system or network from external threats such as viruses, hackers and phishing attacks. These attacks can do a great deal of damage. Valuable information can be destroyed and applications loaded on the system can be corrupted. Your entire system can be rendered useless by a few lines of malicious code.

Worse still, attacks may be targeted specifically at certain sensitive information in your system such as credit card information. Additionally, hackers may try to get mission-critical information from your system when there is corporate espionage underway. In these cases, it is absolutely essential to protect your business systems with security software.

The need for security software continues to increase. In fact, no system can survive without it in today’s environment. But as the viruses gain complexity and hackers become more creative, the security software makers have to remain equally resourceful.

When you purchase security software, the company will keep providing you with updates via the internet. This ensures that your system is always armed against new generations of viruses. Your system will also benefit from a firewall, which is the first frontier against attacks from outside the system.

The security software will scan documents and files that are downloaded onto your system and try to identify whether or not they contain any harmful code. Security software will also protect your Web browser, preventing it from being a point of entry for threatening code.

Summary: Factors to consider when selecting security software for your business.

 

To make the right choices for your security software, consider the following aspects:

 

Cost of administration: In addition to the purchase cost, you need to factor in how much it costs to administer and manage the security software. It may require additional skills and expertise. Consider the cost as a whole and come up with a realistic return on investment before you make a purchase.

User friendliness: The security software will affect every system on your network. You need to be sensitive to the user friendliness of the products that you purchase so that employees do not have serious problems getting used to them.

Software distribution: The security software should not interfere with an employee’s access to software that he or she needs in the course of their work. If there is too much interference, it can lead to unnecessary delays and a loss of productivity.

Updates: The security software company should offer updates that can be easily and quickly downloaded to keep the software current. Charges for these updates should be nominal and the process should be seamless and automatic. There should also be adequate and innovative updates.

Integration: The software should be able to run on your software and hardware platforms and enhance your specific systems. Choosing an established and innovative vendor can help you achieve the convergence level you will need.

Licensing and pricing options: Ensure that the security software vendor offers flexible and plentiful licensing and pricing options so that you can scale up or down depending on your changing needs. Make sure that you get and pay for the exact amount of security that you require.

Support and maintenance: A vendor with an established presence and a track record of providing good support and system maintenance is a key requirement. Ensure that you do a thorough background check and ensure that the provider will be there to help when you need them.

Summary: A list of the benefits of using security software for your computer systems.

In today’s connected environment, it is essential to protect your system from attack and subsequent downtime. Losing your data is just about the worst possibility. But you can avoid this by using security software, which brings many benefits. These include:

· Data security: Sensitive company and customer data is recorded in your systems. Security software will protect this data from random or targeted attack from viruses and hackers. It will also reduce the chance of falling prey to corporate espionage.

· System security: All the applications that have been purchased and run on your system stands to be lost if the entire system is corrupted. Customised applications can take a long time to rebuild and install, and this will be an expensive exercise. Security software can protect you by securing your systems against internal and external threats.

· Freedom to communicate: A robust security system allows users to feel comfortable communicating globally without fear of opening an attachment that contains harmful code. These systems can also provide peace of mind for your employees.

· Emergency preparedness: More advanced systems provide early warning alerts to ensure that intruders can be detected before they have a chance to do much damage.

· Internal fraud detection: Many systems have the ability to track internal activity and this helps identify internal crime such as embezzlement or information leaks because everyone leaves an electronic trail.

· Compliance: Security software will protect all your records. This is extremely important in ensuring that you have all the right data to comply with business regulations.

Summary: An introduction to the role of software developers.

A software developer is an individual who lends expertise at some stage in the software development process. This individual could be a project manager orchestrating the entire project, a lead programmer, a user interface (UI) designer, a software programmer involved in writing the application code or a testing engineer who identifies bugs or problems with the product.

A software developer’s technical expertise is usually limited to a certain set of coding languages. For example, a software developer working on the Microsoft platform will usually be an expert in .NET technologies, including SQL Server database and VB.Net or ASP.NET. This developer will tend to have little or no knowledge of PHP and Apache, which usually run on the Linux operating system. Often, a software engineer will have expertise only in configuring computer networks. The engineer might never write a single line of code but simply has knowledge of specific commands required for setting up secure, scalable and efficient networks.

Software developers also have specialisations based on the nature of applications they develop. For example, software developers working on ERP or business applications will generally have expertise in developing software for specific vendors such as IBM, Microsoft or Sun Microsystems. Alternatively, developers working on hardware automation such as embedded code for smart cards will have expertise working on non-proprietary technologies such as C++, which is generally referred to as “low-level programming”.

Summary: Factors to consider before choosing a software developer.

Writing a software application is a complex task. The task involves pre- and post-project execution strategies. The software development lifecycle must have a detailed phase-by-phase implementation plan with projected completion dates.

Ensure that your needs are significantly unique to warrant a customised solution that will require software developers. Check that your needs can’t simply be fulfilled by existing products or plug-ins.

Evaluate your needs carefully and decide whether you need an offshore development company or one that is based locally. Offshore development from countries such as Russia, India and Israel can be low-cost but pose significant management challenges.

Assess the entire software team’s skill set. Make sure you select a team with an experienced project manager.

Make sure you have a good understanding of the communication skills of the team. Examine documentation samples from previous projects. This documentation should be simple enough for a non-technical user to understand.

Seek evidence of software quality certifications such as Capability Maturity Model (CMM) and ISO, which are good indications of internal process control. But be aware that highly certified companies might charge significant premiums as a result.

Choose a vendor whose size is consistent with your company’s requirements.

Try to retain ownership of the code to avoid vendor lock-in. If you are given a license for the code instead, negotiate the terms of the license carefully.

Perform the usual due diligence that goes into selecting any vendor. Look for relevant industry experience, references from previous customers, post-project support capabilities and so on.

Don’t enter into any agreements until you are a 100% sure that the developer really understand your needs.

Summary: A look at how software developers can help your company succeed.

The software industry has achieved such a degree of maturity that lines of codes are almost commoditised. Think of a problem, and there is a solution available for that very issue. You could take a low-cost option and look for online software directories such as download.com.

However, with that approach, you will often find that the solution is not ideal. And, for any business, “almost there” is just not good enough. There are times when you will need a piece of software written from scratch. At other times, you might simply want help to tweak an existing application to make it run with your latest business software.

Software developers can also help you reap the benefits of a new technology before your competitors have access to it. For example, a telemarketing company might seek help from a software developer to customise a VOIP solution to lower costs and gain customers ahead of its competitors. If the technology is fairly new, it may be harder for competitors to find a wide array of similar off-the-shelf solutions.

Software developers also give you the chance to own your own application code. This allows maximum control over the software that you use to run your business. This can lead to other business opportunities, too. Many businesses have been known to create lucrative businesses by selling products they initially had developed for internal use.

A successful application implementation requires both technological as well as domain expertise. If you can identify a software developer who has domain knowledge in your industry, you can often procure solutions that address your problems in a cheaper and more user-friendly manner than by purchasing off-the-shelf products. Businesses often find it difficult to identify their technological needs. A software developer with domain knowledge will not only help you identify your needs, but also fulfil them in the most cost-efficient and effective way.

Summary: Factors to consider when selecting a content management system for your business.

 

There are a number of alternatives you can consider if you are planning on developing or purchasing a content management system:

·        Open-source applications: This is an option if you are extremely price-sensitive and do not have very extensive or complex needs. In most cases, an open-source application will require further customisation to meet your requirements.

·        Corporate portal software: These instant, out-of-the-box solutions can be built upon to create content management software that fits your needs. This is a quick and easy solution for smaller businesses, but does not meet the needs of large businesses.

·        Commercial content management software: Many vendors produce packages for medium-sized and large organisations. They tend to have a complete suite of features, and many industry developers are familiar with them.

 

Before you decide to develop or purchase a system:

·        Assess additional component requirements: Check whether there will be additional hardware or software requirements to make the system work with your current software portfolio. Factor this into your cost analysis.

·        Determine whether you need open applications: Remember that there is both an upside and downside to open framework software. While it is able to accommodate broader sets of requirements, it can be more expensive to build it out.

·        Examine need for post-purchase customisation: Find out whether you will have to carry out  post-purchase customisation. If so, factor this into your cost analysis.

·        Understand company-specific needs: Make sure you fully understand the value of the business process to your company. Look at company size, locations involved, the value of tangible savings, benefits, integration with other business applications, ease of implementation and data migration issues.