consultancy and audits
contents
do you need a consultant?
Ever had an idea that had the potential to revolutionise the way you work and then found the practicality of the IT side a bit of a hurdle? Getting some good advice from a quality consultant will kick-start your ideas and plans and help you over that IT hurdle.
Similarly have you ever come across an IT need with no clue on how to implement a resolution. A good consultant will work with you and help you bring the project to fruition whilst ensuring you are able to run with the project while they back off.
Why use us?
The best way to help a client is to listen
- Years of experience of providing innovative and ground-breaking solutions
- Adept at looking at the bigger picture to help the sustainability of your project
- We are independent and have no “partner's” to earn commission from. The solutions we suggest will always be what we feel are best for you and the project.
- We understand that the best way to help a client is to listen!
- We give you a fair deal, the best advice and the freedom to make your own mind up
consultancy case study
Crippled by outsourcing
The new CEO of a medium-sized UK charity was concerned over the IT outsourcing arrangement they had inherited. With no in house expertise and costs rising they turned to us for some guidance. They simply had no idea if they were getting a good deal.
We reviewed the situation in full. Whilst the deal was by no means overtly expensive they had become heavily reliant on the one supplier. In addition the charity's IT was reactive and less cohesive and efficient. We recommended they employ a full-time IT manager who could manage the day-to-day running and planning for the IT service. They could also manage and liaise with all suppliers including the outsourcing contractor. The contract could then be renegotiated from a stronger standpoint. Although it meant some initial outlay, in the long term this would also provide a stable base on which to pro-actively build the charity's IT.
We assisted with the recruitment process and two months later their first IT manager started work. Shortly after that the outsourcing deal was renegotiated into something more manageable. Now the charity has greater confidence in their IT and how it will fit into the long term organisational strategy. Their IT is no longer out of control and has started to work for them,instead of the other way around.
auditing
Most IT systems have grown up organically: tacking on some new PCs here, adding a printer there. Pretty soon you get the feeling that you are working around you IT when it should be working for you.
Getting a professional audit will help you see the potential in what you have and how you could make it work better for you. Sometimes that will involve replacing equipment or upgrading software but which ones do you go for? Where do you begin?
A professional audit will help you see the potential in what you have and how you could make it work better for you
We have many years experience in auditing IT systems and because we are independent we always look with unfettered eyes. We won't be recommending our “partner's” solution to get a commission because we don't work that way. We won't recommend spending money unless we think it's required. What you get from us is sound, independent and effective advice and recommendations.
When we perform an audit we don't assume that we'll be doing any follow on work so unlike those “free” audits that actually cost you more in the long run, you'll get no hard sell from us. We believe you deserve a fair deal, an honest, expert opinion and the freedom to choose.
consultancy case study
Efficient IT on a tight budget
A small (five person) charity in East London was struggling with their aging IT setup. Donated kit and make-do solutions were not helping. But - like many charities of this size - they had no real budget to buy new kit. They contacted us and we performed a full and detailed IT audit for them. They decided to proceed with the recommendations and we assisted with the implementation:
- New PCs and laptops were sourced which met their needs and their budget.
- Application (productivity/anti-virus etc.) suppliers were found who gave charity discounts to enable further savings
- A network was installed (for the first time) using donated "left over" cabling from the ends of reels (100m of it!)
- Another company we have worked with donated a PC they no longer needed. We refurbished this into a full mail/file/intranet server using the GNU/Linux-based SME Server distribution.
All this revolutionised the way the charity work, all staff now have e-mail and the Internet at their desks, the server is both stable and fully-featured and can be remotely and securely supported.
news
- Backing up Googlemail locally
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24 Jun 2010
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Category: Free software magazine
I've just posted a new blog at Free Software Magazine entitled "Backing up your Googlemail locally with getmail" which does exactly what it says on the tin.
- RyansIOB demo available
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04 Mar 2010
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Category: Software
Due to popular demand, a demo of Ryan's In/Out board is now available on this site. See the project page for more details. Read on...
- RyansIOB v3 released
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26 Feb 2010
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Category: Software
Ryan's In/Out board version 3.0 is released today.
This is the latest upgrade in the intranet-based tool which modernises and enhances the traditional in/out slider boards found in offices of old. Find out where your colleagues are and when they'll be back with a single click. Fully customisable and easy to install and use.
Read on...
@equitas on Identi.ca 
equitas Latest Bizarre Cathedral toon over at FSM http://fsmsh.com/3374 !fs !linux
about 10 hours ago from Choqok
equitas @dme No worries. Be aware that battery life on this model is awful. My point was reallythat external monitors seem to work as you expect.
about 12 hours ago from Choqok
equitas @dme This hp6735 just handled unplug->plug-in external monitor no probs. krandr did the necessary. #squeeze !debian
about 12 hours ago from Choqok
equitas @richardsmedley I came off FB for a year (just forced to come back on due to work) - best thing I ever did
2 days ago from Choqok
equitas @eightyeight Well Choqok here didn't show many of your dents as replies so.. :-/ . Look I wasn't having a go at you.. just suggesting.
3 days ago from Choqok
equitas @eightyeight Yes YOU were "discussing" but nobody seemed to be responding. Thus it was one way speaking. Hence why perhaps # instead of !.
3 days ago from Choqok
