Data breaches from bad outsourcing decisions - making the right choice!

According to the 2013 Trustwave Global Security Report, based on 450 global data breach investigations, two thirds of breaches were linked to third-party IT system components.

Information source – www.ComputerWeekly.com

Organisations can be too quick to base IT purchasing decisions on cost, particularly when considering outsourced solutions. 

Organisations need to be aware of what business and security risks may be introduced and should definitely include security considerations, as part and parcel of their procurement process.

There are a variety of considerations with regards to IT and security management decisions, generally, the person responsible for IT security within an organisation is not involved at the point of making purchasing decisions. 

Organisations at most risk are those that are not diligent enough at the point of purchase. 

Organisations need to ensure that their preferred supplier will treat security at the same high priority level as themselves, it should not be taken for granted that the preferred supplier will do so.



Also, purchasing decisions focus heavily on cost and SLAs, security really also needs to be a consideration.


Organisations would truly benefit from having the person responsible for IT security included within  the purchasing process.  This would at least ensure some measure of security that is appropriate to the needs of the organisation, is encompassed within the proposed solution. 


The Trustwave report recommends that smaller organisations should look for third-party verification that their chosen service providers are trustworthy and knowledgeable about security measures.

StyleTech Solutions are a Hull based organisation that specialise in

"Bespoke Software Development".

 

Doing Business in the iPad Age!

StyleTech Solutions has reviewed how ‘bespoke iPad software for business' has been applied and how it is benefiting a wide selection of organisations throughout a spectrum of industry sectors.


It goes without saying that bespoke mobile applications and digital hand held devices be it iPad, Android, Windows or other tablet technology can prove to be a powerful and profitable tool for business!

Bespoke Software Development organisations such as StyleTech Solutions accompanied by IT development managers and business leaders throughout the world are identifying innovative ways of utilising bespoke mobile technologies within business environments.

Sure, there are your usual personal Apps available through iTunes or Android and there are Apps that are billed as ‘all-encompassing bespoke business apps’, when really they are just existing Apps aptly renamed for business e.g. A ‘business suite of apps’ may consist of a diary, a calendar, a calculator, a bespoke financial recording tool (a two column spread sheet), an instant messenger, a photo manager and even a spirit level for an added measure!

Could a business suite of this generic nature ever really achieve the ability for you to manage your data securely and efficiently, support your bespoke ordering process or communicate effectively with your suppliers, whilst updating their bespoke product pricing and descriptions?

Could this ‘business suite of apps’ ever enable your suppliers to communicate with you effectively whilst you review their account status?

Could it provide you with a real time bespoke business dashboard packed with bespoke real time company production activity and profitability data?

Could it assist your warehouse managers with stock management and staff rotations?

Could it support your customer service team to deliver improved bespoke service levels to clients?

Could it really provide all those valuable bespoke information commodities that are essential for survival in today’s techno savvy business world?

So what could a bespoke iPad or tablet software development achieve for your business?

The truth is there really are no restrictions to bespoke software development opportunities!

There truly is a whole wide world of possibilities and the iPad world of possibility is open to all.

It is a very rousing time within the digital mobile world and we are very excited about being on board with StyleTech’s bespoke software development expertise for iPad and digital tablets.

If you are looking for ways to utilise iPad and digital tablet technologies to the max, here’s a list of considerations for your business, to get you started:-

Getting ahead of the game!

• Bespoke software development and integration of iPad and / or digital tablet technology is an opportunity to truly “lead the way in your industry”, if you’re not doing so already!

• It’s here, it’s now, it has the opportunity to be bespoke (just for you and the needs of your business) and it provides forward thinking organisations with a unique opportunity to get ahead and stay ahead of their competition.

• See how a national Facilities Management organisation has identified benefits from implementing bespoke iPad software, designed and developed by StyleTech Solutions Limited.

Maximising mobility for service teams!

• You could look at the iPad as a way of maximising mobility for your field sales, call out managers, client and customer service teams, as did StyleTech’s Facilities Management client!
• You could for example:- monitor activity within your organisation in real time with the ability to identify staff shortages, production fluctuation data and profitability status!
• Not to mention monitoring your KPI’s in real time and obtaining all that valuable “Business Intelligence” data with a 360 degree vision on a 24/7/365 basis.

The limits are truly endless and people that are “not limiting their imagination”, are developing new ideas for the application of bespoke iPad and digital tablet technology in a business environment, every single second of every day.


So what are the true business benefits of iPad technology?

Tablet technology has been available for some considerable time, but since the iPad launched into our lives in 2010, the technology has been embraced effectively not just for personal consumer use.



Businesses all over the world within a wide expanse of industry sectors have adopted iPad and digital tablet technology in a bid to improve their business processes and support long term growth and profitability.



Many are already identifying benefits within their business from improved morale through to improved service delivery times. Resulting in increased customer satisfaction levels and in the longer term improved profitability.



Businesses that have taken early adoption of iPad technology now find themselves identifying other areas of their business where mobile technology can be applied, promoting further service improvements and supporting their vision for increased profitability.



The potential benefits of mobile technology are incredible, to name just a few:-

• Mobilisation of teams
• Mobilisation of real time data
• Financial benefits, low cost compared to Desktop and Laptop purchase options
• Time savings – super efficient usability
• Data reliability
• Competitive edge
• Boost morale

We take a brief look at how different business sectors are applying the technology within their organisation, a little later on.



You can also review a recent case study on the development process and benefits of a bespoke business directory and job planning system for the iPad.


What about data security?
Data security and data integrity is always the priority no matter what your industry sector, be it private or public!



StyleTech reviewed an article that appeared within Computer Weekly recently about the HRMC ensuring compatibility with their data and their systems as they roll out 7,000 mobile devices, including iPads.

HMRC to roll out 7,000 mobile devices
HM Revenue and Customers (HMRC) is to roll out 7,000 mobile devices, including Apple iPads as part of a move to increase mobile working.



Historically HMRC has used standard, locked-down Windows desktops, but now wants to introduce a broader range of devices.



HMRC CIO Mark Hall told Computer Weekly that the move will have a huge benefit for mobile field workers and that they are working on a piece with HR at the moment about mobile working, and how we can make our VAT inspectors more mobile.



The devices will work on non-restricted information, classified at Impact Level 2 security levels and below, with the department working closely with government security arm CESG to ensure that security will not be compromised.



The government is about to re-categorise its data security rules to widen the range of devices cleared to handle sensitive data.



A review last year by GCHQ’s information security arm CESG concluded that iOS6, the latest Apple operating system for iPhones and iPads, is now secure enough to handle restricted government information, providing departments build in additional security controls.



HMRC’s move is likely to make it the biggest Whitehall user of consumer devices such as tablets but large organisations elsewhere are increasingly moving away from the traditional Windows desktop.



For example, Barclays said last year it is rolling out 8,500 Apple iPads across branches to improve interaction with customers.

Article Source:- Click here for the full article (found here on the Computer Weekly website).

What are the many business sectors up to?



We’ve hand-picked a variety of business sector and bespoke project reviews, representative of organisations leading the way within their industry sector.



Within this article we uncover how the financial sector, the B2b supply chain, health, travel and retail are all applying bespoke developments for iPad and digital tablets within their organisation.

Financial

Barclays bank deploying 8,500 Apple iPads across branches to improve interaction with customers.

Article source: http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240172777/Barclays-bank-to-give-thousands-of-staff-iPads

Deutsche Börse, Standard Life and Resolution are three finance firms that have transformed board room meetings through the use of Apple iPads.

Article source: http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240173783/iPads-get-IT-into-the-boardroom

Standard Chartered Bank is an international bank with 1,800 branches on six continents. iPhone and iPad provide a perfect platform to expand the bank’s mobile services, both internally and to its increasingly tech-savvy customers.

Article source: http://www.apple.com/uk/ipad/business/profiles/standard-chartered/

B2b Supply Chain

In a world packed with warehouses running complex ERP systems and barcode scanners, there are some operators out there who are using off the shelf hardware that's reducing costs and delivering new functionality.

Bordo International, a premium wholesale supplier of industrial and engineering tools is using iPads and iPhones across their business to simplify data collection and warehouse operations.

Article source: http://searchcio.techtarget.com.au/feature/iPads-in-the-warehouse

Health

The popularity of iPads and iPhones has provided virtualisation vendors a huge boost, because the technology not only gives doctors the freedom to choose their preferred mobile device but also to meet IT's need for structure and security between servers and those devices.

Before the iPad, the main purpose of virtualising an Electronic Health Record (EHR) was to bring the medical record into a patient's room. Since the iPad came out, it's changed the physicians' lifestyle, allowing them to accomplish care tasks outside of the hospital previously unimagined.

Article source: http://searchhealthit.techtarget.com/news/2240149176/Virtualization-vendors-working-with-iPad-see-opportunity-challenges

South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT) is to digitise its paper-based library of medical records and provide staff with mobile devices to access the information from the bedside in hospitals or while in the community visiting patients at home.

Article source: http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240146773/NHS-trust-to-use-iPads-for-real-time-access-to-patient-records

As a leading provider of hospital-based rehabilitation facilities, medical and surgical therapies, and outpatient services, RehabCare has one important goal: helping people regain their lives after medical treatment. Now RehabCare has turned to iPhone and iPad to make both its caregiver services and its business operations faster, more accurate, and more responsive.

Article source: http://www.apple.com/ipad/business/profiles/rehabcare/

Travel

British Airways has rolled out more than 2,000 iPads to senior cabin crew since November, but is now focusing on mobile apps, security and building its internal app store.

Article source: http://tabtimes.com/tablet-leaders/traveltourism/2013/01/28/british-airways-deploys-2000-ipads-cabin-crew-widens-gaze

Retail

An enterprise app store – John Lewis IT chief Paul Coby told Stuart Sumner at computing.co.uk how the tablet phenomenon is impacting customer service and online sales at the retail giant.

In tandem with enabling remote devices, Coby is looking at creating a John Lewis app store where staff can download apps to help them in their work.

Article source: http://www.computing.co.uk/ctg/interview/2168516/interview-retail-ipad-age

Conclusion

The generation of fresh ideas and bespoke development of data systems in the bespoke mobile technology world is growing stronger by the day.



For organisations that are contemplating a PC refresh, the bespoke software development, iPad and digital tablet marketplace is evolving.



Bespoke Software Development for digital tablets within industry and commerce is pushing the likes of Apple and iPad to the fore.



We would love to hear about your plans for your own journey towards securing your place within the digital mobile future?

StyleTech Solutions is a Hull based organisation that specialise in

"Bespoke Software Development".


www.styletech.co.uk

Choosing your Bespoke iPad Software Development Specialist!

Practical tips for choosing your bespoke iPad software development company!

StyleTech has taken some time to provide some practical tips to ensuring a bespoke iPad software development that delivers!

As industry and commerce hook into the many benefits of mobile working, StyleTech review how iPad technology can be utilised within the new mobile working world, you can read more about this in the StyleTech blog post!

You can also review a recent bespoke iPad development case study based on StyleTech Solution’s development of a national bespoke Facility Management Solution for iPad technology here . . .

To assist you on your journey of taking your business into the mobile working world, StyleTech are providing a variety of practical tips in preparation for when you are ready to review bespoke iPad software development organisations.

 

 

Utilising iPad technology in business!

Supporting mobility within the workforce and providing employees with the ability to work effectively within the mobile world, is no longer just about supporting a “working from home” culture.

Mobility working can be rewarding financially to any business in the promotion of time savings and assisting with ensuring data integrity for team members.

Enabling a Communications Manager to take their office with them in one small compact case of technology, enabling them to travel from their otherwise lonely self-contained office into the big wide world of the workplace, be it a factory or office environment.  It enables them to connect and to communicate effectively and more directly with team members.

Taking iPad technologies with them even when they are within the confines of their own organisation, let’s say in the board room, or out on the road, enabling their business and work to travel with them whilst capturing information and data quickly and effectively whilst on the move.

As an example, iPad and digital tablet technology is enabling health service providers to utilise their iPad technology to undertake and record quality patient assessments whilst out on the road.  It is enabling the iPad technology to present information in a graphical way to patients, supporting improved engagement and communication with their clients and peers.

 

 

So how do you ensure your chosen developer can interpret your needs correctly, will deliver on time and within budget?

Firstly, you are seeking quality standards being at the forefront of the analysis, design and development process, from communication through to best working practices, every element is key to the successful delivery of a bespoke software development project be it within a desktop or mobile development environment.

Secondly you are looking for enthusiasm from the development organisation to increase their understanding of your organisation and its needs in the longer term.  They should demonstrate the ability to undertake the right in-depth analysis process and work closely with yourself and your relevant teams.

With the right quality working standards at the forefront, understanding your business and the needs of your business in the long term, will follow.

Unfortunately, the quality element is not something that can be learned from the client communication process. 

Quality covers many different disciplines, particularly within the bespoke software development world, from ensuring the analysis planning and process is high quality through to a good quality project management process. 

Quality is a key standard that any business worth their salt will have achieved and will strive to achieve with every project, for every client relationship that they build.

StyleTech specialise in the development of quality bespoke software development, we live by the fact that we are only as good as our last project. 

Quality is demonstrated in a number of ways and StyleTech has provided a number of items that you too can consider when identifying the best from the rest.

 

 

What do I look for?

Firstly, you are looking for an organisation who has a sound understanding of iPad technology, the benefits, the positives and any negatives, it’s limitations and very importantly its security standards, they are all key elements for consideration and should be reviewed in detail before diving into the design process.

 

 

 

What is a good attribute to look out for?

When looking to develop your business system for use with iPad technology, the organisation you choose should have a sound understanding of the bespoke software analysis, design and development process within a variety of industry sectors, especially if they can’t demonstrate previous work within your own industry sector.

The principles of good quality bespoke software development are transferrable into iPad software development, tried and tested development process models are identified as an appropriate fit. 

You wouldn’t necessarily want to commission a website developer to develop your new iPad software development.  A website developer would not normally get involved with the analysis and development of a bespoke software solution or business system i.e. such as a job planning or mental health assessment programme, apart from maybe the graphical design of the screens etc. 

The analysis process and skill base requirement for a new website compared to bespoke software development are two totally individually skilled processes.

You wouldn’t instruct your Marketing Manager to provide you with the expertise and service that a skilled Finance Director would normally provide!

 

 

How can I confirm the development company will deliver?

The easiest and most efficient and effective ways of confirming whether an organisation can and will deliver on its promises is to review its previous project deliverables, outcomes and relationships.

Any organisation will support your request to speak with one or a selection of its recent clients. 

You are looking to review the process that they worked through and the outcomes of their project.

Did they work closely with their client, did they call when they said they would, did they communicate effectively and without delay throughout the process.  Did they deliver on time and within budget?

Does their delivered project achieve what was laid out in the deliverables?

Where there any professional or technical issues throughout the project duration and how did they handle any issues that arose?

 

 

What about the technical jargon and working relationship?

You should be made to feel at ease with your new potential iPad software development team, right from the point of your initial conversation with them.

The process that they are going to take you through whilst designing and developing your project, should be clear and easy to interpret. 

You should be able to understand every word that is communicated, the development organisation should tune their technical language into your own level of technical understanding.  (A valuable skill and attribute for a bespoke software development organisation that comes with the experience of working within multi-discipline teams.)

You should always be able to understand them and be given the opportunity to respond in plain English, and if you don’t understand, you should never be afraid to ask what the heck they are talking about?

If you still can’t interpret their technical response, ask for a plain English explanation in writing as a last test of the integrity.

They should always be pleased to respond to you in plain English (verbally).  If they can’t explain what they are trying to say verbally, there is little chance that they understand their jargon themselves, this is a “Beware Sign” - just for future reference! 

There is always a way to explain!

 

“It is a foolish bespoke developer that doesn’t

take the time to listen or tune in to the bespoke needs of their bespoke client”

 

StyleTech like to keep everything simple . . .

 

These are just a few tips to be going on with, your bespoke iPad software development journey will be a rewarding one as long as you choose the right vehicle to engineer it with!

 

StyleTech Solutions specialise in bespoke software development, should you wish to discuss your future iPad software requirements in detail, don't hesitate to contact a member of the Business team on 01482 325779. 

 

www.styletech.co.uk

To keep up to date with IT industry movements -

Follow me on Twitter @StyleTech_HULL

 

What do you look for in a Software Development Specialist?

Communicating in the IT world!

It never fails to surprise me how IT organisations whether from a technical or consultancy approach try their best to confuse their clients by baffling them with science.

Why can’t the industry just make software development an easy process for a client?

Us mere mortals (I am allowed to say “us” as my job role within the industry is to ensure a project runs smoothly based on communicating at every level, in good old fashioned plain English).

We don’t want to have to Google every other word or phrase to interpret a conversation.   We don’t need to know about WYSIWYG’S or C# and we certainly don’t care about GUI’s or Log Files. 

What we do care about is working with people who take the time to relate to us, explaining in plain English the impact of the development decisions we make, when working within the bespoke software development world.  

So why do IT people find it difficult to speak freely and easily? 

Well, firstly, I believe there are several different types of IT persona, depending on their job role:-

The Creative

• There’s the design wizard  
• The website and SEO guru
• The social media and marketing genius
• And the design wizard, website and SEO guru and social media marketing wannabe’s and worse of all who profess to already be!, BEWARE OF THESE ONES, research them, check out their website and review client references!

and . . .

The Assuming

• The bespoke software developer that develops what they believe is the best solution for a client.  Forgetting or dismissing the fact that communication is the key to knowing what the client and their business wants, plans and needs are.  Starting and planning their design and build immediately on receipt of the order and prior to any analysis taking place, or worse still, building a solution based on someone else’s or on a template that they developed two years ago.

and . . .

The Customer Centric

• The bespoke software specialist that assumes nothing and communicates very  effectively with a client.  Delivering award winning bespoke software development that is aimed at the exact current needs and long term requirements of the client’s business. 

Q & A time:-

Client: 

• What attributes do you look for when deciding who you would like to design and build your bespoke software development?

Developer:       

• Which type of developer do you believe you are?  
• Which type of developer do you aspire to be?

 

 

"Keeping it simple" is what the StyleTech Solutions Team do best!

Find out how - http://styletech.co.uk/awards

 

Keeping IT simple with StyleTech . . .

When we talk with our clients about their requirements for a software system, application or enhancement, words and phrases like; web based, mobile, tailored, streamlined, user-friendly, intuitive, robust, secure, seamless and integrated are sprinkled liberally through the brief.

The route to satisfying these requirements is invariably a bespoke software system that delivers ‘simplicity’ for the businesses of today accompanied by ‘scalability’ for businesses of tomorrow.

StyleTech’s version of ‘simple’ is clever without being complex, straightforward without being basic and forward thinking without being quirky. It is the most elegant solution and the one we aspire to deliver.

Delivering ‘simple’ could be a bespoke CRM system or database application that integrates seamlessly with existing software to create one central hub of data, a business brain capable of simultaneous recording, updating, analysing and reporting.

Delivering ‘simple’ could be real-time reporting based around financials, sales and production activity.  With 24/7 data access via a cross section of mobile devices such as iPhone and Android, this level of accurate and reliable business and consumer intelligence supports faster and more effective management decisions. 

Delivering ‘simple’ could be an SMS text based mobile application, a bespoke system that could open fast and efficient customer and supplier communication channels via a two-way text messaging service.

Having a finger on that business pulse is critical and has never been simpler!

For further information surrounding bespoke software development talk to Sarah McKenzie at StyleTech Solutions Limited on 01482 325779 or by email sarah.mckenzie@styletech.co.uk.  

www.styletech.co.uk
Follow us on Twitter @StyleTech_HULL

 

IT Outsourcing - multi-sourcing & extending your IT team

An alternative solution to extending your IT team!

 

2014 will see even more multi-sourced IT outsourcing arrangements compared to traditional large and lengthy tied in contracts. 

Breaking down larger, non-viable contracts into smaller more manageable ones provides an organisation with the ability to take back control and create many cost efficiencies. 

Utilising a variety of specialist organisations to meet your IT requirements ensures you get specific expertise within the industry sector.

No longer do organisations need to settle for mediocre expertise or feel they have to accept an add-on service offering.

The following examples demonstrate how an approach to a multi-sourced IT solution may be fragmented, gaining valuable exposure to specific expertise for your organisation:-

·         New business software development and the analysis and development of legacy systems

·         Business intelligence data reporting and scrutiny

·         System analysis through to implementation plans

·         Networking, infrastructure management through to training and the supply and installation of hardware

·         Data security and back up management

·         Hosting accompanied by support and maintenance arrangements

As technology develops and business intelligence becomes imperative for both business survival and growth, it becomes increasingly difficult and more expensive by the day to manage the ever changing technical needs of the business when outsourcing all IT with one supplier or employing contractors.

Companies want to receive that valuable personal service again, the personal service that the large long term contractual agreement promised and in many instances failed to deliver.

Outsourcing elements of your IT rather than the whole can pay dividends in the long term:-

·         Valuable business and IT knowledge doesn’t just leave the business when the contractor does.

·         Costs are minimised as long term relationships between client and IT partner is developed.

·         Knowledge of IT systems develop, enabling faster response and more efficient and secure management of business critical data.

StyleTech Solutions are a Hull based organisation that specialise in “Bespoke Software Development” and has been supporting multi-sourced IT management with its “Outsourced IT service as an extension to your business” since 1999.  

Developing mobility for your industry sector!

So when it comes to mobile, what are the many business sectors up to?


We’ve hand-picked a variety of business sector and bespoke project reviews, representative of organisations leading the way within their industry sector.


Within this article we uncover how the financial sector, the B2b supply chain, health, travel and retail are all applying bespoke developments for iPad and digital tablets within their organisation.

Financial

Barclays bank deploying 8,500 Apple iPads across branches to improve interaction with customers.

Article source: http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240172777/Barclays-bank-to-give-thousands-of-staff-iPads

Deutsche Börse, Standard Life and Resolution are three finance firms that have transformed board room meetings through the use of Apple iPads.

Article source: http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240173783/iPads-get-IT-into-the-boardroom

Standard Chartered Bank is an international bank with 1,800 branches on six continents. iPhone and iPad provide a perfect platform to expand the bank’s mobile services, both internally and to its increasingly tech-savvy customers.

Article source: http://www.apple.com/uk/ipad/business/profiles/standard-chartered/



B2b Supply Chain

In a world packed with warehouses running complex ERP systems and barcode scanners, there are some operators out there who are using off the shelf hardware that's reducing costs and delivering new functionality.

Bordo International, a premium wholesale supplier of industrial and engineering tools is using iPads and iPhones across their business to simplify data collection and warehouse operations.

Article source: http://searchcio.techtarget.com.au/feature/iPads-in-the-warehouse



Health

The popularity of iPads and iPhones has provided virtualisation vendors a huge boost, because the technology not only gives doctors the freedom to choose their preferred mobile device but also to meet IT's need for structure and security between servers and those devices.

Before the iPad, the main purpose of virtualising an Electronic Health Record (EHR) was to bring the medical record into a patient's room. Since the iPad came out, it's changed the physicians' lifestyle, allowing them to accomplish care tasks outside of the hospital previously unimagined.

Article source: http://searchhealthit.techtarget.com/news/2240149176/Virtualization-vendors-working-with-iPad-see-opportunity-challenges

South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT) is to digitise its paper-based library of medical records and provide staff with mobile devices to access the information from the bedside in hospitals or while in the community visiting patients at home.

Article source: http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240146773/NHS-trust-to-use-iPads-for-real-time-access-to-patient-records

As a leading provider of hospital-based rehabilitation facilities, medical and surgical therapies, and outpatient services, RehabCare has one important goal: helping people regain their lives after medical treatment. Now RehabCare has turned to iPhone and iPad to make both its caregiver services and its business operations faster, more accurate, and more responsive.

Article source: http://www.apple.com/ipad/business/profiles/rehabcare/



Travel

British Airways has rolled out more than 2,000 iPads to senior cabin crew since November, but is now focusing on mobile apps, security and building its internal app store.

Article source: http://tabtimes.com/tablet-leaders/traveltourism/2013/01/28/british-airways-deploys-2000-ipads-cabin-crew-widens-gaze



Retail

An enterprise app store – John Lewis IT chief Paul Coby told Stuart Sumner at computing.co.uk how the tablet phenomenon is impacting customer service and online sales at the retail giant.

In tandem with enabling remote devices, Coby is looking at creating a John Lewis app store where staff can download apps to help them in their work.

Article source: http://www.computing.co.uk/ctg/interview/2168516/interview-retail-ipad-age