Bring Your Own Device – flight, ignore or embrace?

The concept of staff, students and employees being able to use their own devices in school or in the work place, for some, is still the dark side of technology. So what do you do? Take flight and maybe address the issue at a later date? Ignore it altogether because that’s the easiest option or do you embrace it? It is vital to get involved. If ‘Bring Your Own Device’ (BYOD) isn’t fully embraced it is almost certain that problems will occur sooner rather than later.  If you choose to fly or ignore ultimately the ones that will suffer are teachers, learners or business.

The on-line world and new technology brings new potential and opportunities to students, employers and employees. The power of constant connectivity has been discovered and access to individual network is expected regardless of location. Rapid technology advancement and acquisition has changed the way we learn, work and communicate. The rate of change is unlikely to slow down any time soon, and schools and businesses should look towards the future to gain insight into the challenges and opportunities.

Being able to BOYD into school or into the workplace is on the increase to meet diverse computing needs and has resulted in a broad spectrum of devices being used, such as Smart Phones, Tablets, Notebooks and personal computers etc.  The unprecedented growth of consumerisation where new Information Technology (IT) emerges into the consumer market before extending into business and Government organisations is the principle driver of IT innovation. Schools and businesses are able to capitalise and reap the financial benefits of this growth as maintenance and running cost shift to the student or employee.

These developments raise plausible concerns about IT infrastructure, planning and governance, security and compliance, support strategies, teaching and learning and financial implications (John P Kotter – Educause Jan ‘13). Potentially BYOD can bring substantial benefits: operating BYOD alongside school-owned / corporate devices can offer the best of both worlds, i.e. both wired and wireless connectivity. Segmenting the network in this way means that mobile and handheld device users outside of the IT management and control (wired connectivity) lose the ability to access sensitive network resources, but they can continue to access the Internet with wireless connectivity with smartphones and tablets.

BYOD - Bring Your Own Device

The benefits of endorsing BYOD may equally present security risks and implementation challenges. The high availability and use of personal devices and mobile complexity is driving the need for a robust and secure mobile infrastructure. Different devices have different capabilities and responses. It is understandable that both school leaders and employers may be hesitant of allowing staff and pupils to BYOD. They will undoubtedly be concerned about threats to network security, performance, reliability and data and access to the corporate / school network from their mobile devices. Scott Dobson (Meraki – March ’13) describes network challenges as: ‘supporting multiple devices, stop the network slowing down when using multiple applications, users’ security with BYOD, new devices, higher bandwidth and access everywhere (including access to Google and social networking sites such as YouTube)’.

Schools and businesses should ensure that the right measures are in place to maximise success and to mitigate possible risk. It is fundamental that a schools or businesses infrastructure is sufficient to minimise any issues around capacity and capability to cope with multiple devices all wanting to access the Internet at the same time.  Ineffectual traffic shaping can result in decreased user productivity and satisfaction, as well as an increase in costs due to misused network resources. In addition extra costs may be incurred in Bandwidth upgrades purchased in an effort to improve the performance of slow applications or to increase productivity

Staff training and sound policies for what is and what isn’t allowed are imperative so that personal and sensitive data are kept separate. The demand for anytime, anywhere access to key applications such as email from mobile devices is driving the need for more widespread adoption of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and the need for network application services, i.e. get a handle on what applications your users are using and then prioritising / restricting what they can and cannot use. For example, mail and calendars are core applications. Facebook, Twitter etc. may not be so it would be wise to restrict users to viewing these over lunch times.  ‘The need to prioritise critical educational applications is more important than ever as students view, share, tweet and game with network resources. It also gives peace of mind that students / employees are not accessing inappropriate or illegal content ‘(Exinda Aug ‘12).

A cloud-managed networking infrastructure, sound platform, secure access points, centrally managed security and application control are the best way forward to combat security issues and warrant optimum performance ensuring it has the capability to deal with whatever volume of traffic / business is required with greater mobility and agility. A WLAN is significantly easier to deploy, manage and more affordable than traditional hardware controller-based solutions. A Cloud managed network service provides an on-line back-up service which allows storage of critical data on secure servers at a location away from school or business premises. In the event of a disaster vital lost data can be recovered through a simple interface or transference of data onto a different server.

In terms of maximising network and data security this can be done with an Unified Threat Management (UTM) system that integrates a firewall, Virtual Private Network (VPN), intrusion prevent, application control, web filtering, anti-virus and granular user controls (J Maddison, Fortinet – Wall Street Journal ’13). Fully integrated built-in support provides a secure, reliable and trusted BYOD network without the need for extra appliances, licences or complex configurations. Fully integrated support also gives appropriate protection and confidence of safe-guarding staff and students, where you can have customised monitoring and reporting applications, without installing additional software or hardware including  mobile device management (MDM) with remote wiping function and data destruction. This refers to students / employees when leaving an establishment for example their mobile devices can be swiped.

The advantages of BYOD far outweigh the disadvantages for the student, the teacher, the employee and the employer. The result of getting BYOD right could see the biggest change in educational and business opportunities.

Julia Sharman

Education Adviser & Consultant

Julia.sharman@nouveau.co.uk

www.nouveau.co.uk

The Internet and Web 2.0 applications such YouTube, Learning Gateways etc., are now widely used in schools and are well embedded learning tools.  Monitoring your network traffic and controlling Internet access is of the upmost importance to ensure that children and young people are kept safe. The Internet has drastically changed everyday life, both in and out of school. A recent study by TRU Research and commissioned by McAfee reports that ‘teens have access to an incredible amount of information that they didn’t have, just a decade ago.’  The research found that there has been an increase from 45% in 2010 to currently 70% of teenagers having hidden their online behaviour from their parents.  Whilst schools are limited to monitor and control what their pupils are accessing outside of school and on their own devices they do have a responsibility of e-safety when pupils are on-site. The research further found that, ‘this instant access to information and digital devices is having an impact on; friendships (bullying), physical safety, criminal activity (hacking and piracy), cheating and access to pornography – accidently or intentionally.’

 The Pornography Statistic Report (February 2013) has just been released. The report states that, ‘1 in 5 mobile searches are for pornography and 24% of smart phone owners admitted to having pornographic material on their mobile handset. Although the report collated the statistics from a mainly adult cohort it does include young people in the 15 – 24 year age range, particularly those who live in urban areas.

Nobody needs reminding that teenagers and young people are secretive, inquisitive and resourceful but we need to be constantly mindful of this and ensure that the most up-to-date software and security filters are in place.

Julia Sharman

Education Adviser and Consultant

Julia.sharman@nouveau.co.uk

The autumn term is now well underway and the summer holidays are a
distant memory. Staff and pupils will be back into the routines of school life.
The new term will have seen many schools / classes using iPads, tablets and
other handheld devices to support and enhance learning.  Whether the devices have been bought as a pilot investment for small groups of pupils or enough purchased for each pupil in whole classes to have one are you confident that your security systems and
safe-guarding policies are up-to-date? Safe-guarding young people and staff are
of paramount importance and schools are obligated, under the new Ofsted
Framework which came in to play at the start of term, to ensure that sufficient
security is in place. Schools should also be aware of strict copy-write laws
around downloading of material from the Internet.

In addition to devices that have been bought by the school many are now considering the option of pupils using their own. The debate around Bring Your Own Device (BOYD) is likely to continue for some time.

Whether devices are individually owned or school owned, if their usage
is embedded into the curriculum planning and delivery for on-site or remote
learning, careful consideration must be given to network security for both
wired and wireless connectivity.  Quite simply put… schools need to have sufficient bandwidth for critical applications, ensure acceptable response times, limit access to inappropriate sites and maintain application performance. Schools need to have application control and be able to block the usage of social media sites, watching or downloading videos or games which may also result in the school paying for that bandwidth.

The advent of web 2.0 applications such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc., is increasing the volume and complexity of a schools’ network traffic, exposing the school network to a new generation of web-based threats and malware.  More than ever, it’s important to monitor and control the use of web-based social networking application in order to
safeguard sensitive information.

‘The need to prioritise critical educational applications is more important than ever as students view, share, tweet and game with network resources.’ (Exinda 30.8.12)

Julia Sharman

Education Consultant and Adviser

Key events this year such as the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics could help boost retailers.

The coming months may be a highly important time for many businesses operating in the retail sector, as they could expect to see a significant upturn in demand due to major events taking place over the summer.

Therefore, it may be essential for companies to ensure they have good business software packages in place so their systems will be able to cope with any anticipated increase in interest from customers.

Solutions that are flexible and scalable may be of particular use, as they can ensure that a company always has adequate IT capabilities to deal with whatever volume of business they are being asked to handle.

For those in the retail sector – and particularly those doing business over the internet – such tools may be essential at the current time if they are anticipating seasonal increases in sales.

The impact one-off events can have on a business has been highlighted by the latest IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index, which observed the recent Diamond Jubilee celebrations had a significant effect on the sector.

Its statistics for May revealed Britons spent an estimated £6 billion over the internet in the month – an average of £117 per person.

This was an increase of 13 per cent when compared with the same period in 2011, with IMRG putting much of this strong performance down to people preparing for the celebrations to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s 60th year on
the throne.

Head of merchant services for Shopping.com Ryan Kemp observed: “Despite the mixed weather in May, consumers were determined to enjoy themselves and gear up for the Queen’s Jubilee.”

He added popular products included garden tools, cosmetics and clothing, which all showed strong year-on-year growth.

And with Euro 2012 still ongoing and the UKgearing up for the London Olympics, which get underway on July 27th, there may be several more opportunities for retailers to expand their operations this summer.

Therefore, having flexible, easy to use software to ensure a company’s IT infrastructure can handle extra demand may be vital for many enterprises.

What do you know about Phishing, Cookies, Worms and Trojans in a technological world? Do they still mean sitting out by the river waiting for a bite, biscuits, small garden slimy things or a person from ancient Troy?

The rise of online communication, financial management, social networking and education is expected to continue. As users of a whole host of technological appliances and devices, are you fully aware of potential threats and how vulnerable you may be? You hear the terms being spoken, but do you actually know what they mean? Most people place an enormous amount of trust in their devices, believing they are safe from viruses, hackers, etc., because they have created their own accounts and passwords. Technological advancement is leaving many adults behind, including some teaching staff, and they need to catch up. Growing up in an ever-changing world of technology, young people tend to be more adept at using devices and are familiar with a vast majority of terms, but do they actually know what they are, why they are so called and what the consequences may be? Whilst some of the consequences may simply be minor inconveniences, others can have catastrophic outcomes.

To understand the potential risks, a good place to start is to become familiar with some technological terminology:

Phishing

An attempt to obtain ‘others’ information such as usernames and passwords, including credit card details. Phishers disguise themselves as a trustworthy body alleging to be from popular social web sites and auction sites in an electronic communication. Online payment procedures are frequently used to bait the unsuspecting victim.

Cookie

Also known as HTTP Cookie, Web Cookie or Browser Cookie. A cookie is typically a small piece of data sent from a website and stored in the user’s browser. They were designed to be a reliable mechanism for websites to remember the user’s previous activity. When the user revisits the same website, the data (including logging in details or pages visited) is stored in the cookie and can be retrieved, from even months or years ago.

Virus

A computer programme that can duplicate itself. Viruses are able to reproduce themselves and spread from one computer to another, almost always corrupting or modifying files on the targeted computer, and are most likely to be extremely
destructive. Viruses should not be confused with other types of malware
programmes as these do not have a reproductive ability. Many viruses attach
themselves to files that are part of genuine programmes. They do this is order
to replicate themselves by translating codes and writing to memory. Viruses are
able to infect files on a network file system thus increasing their chances of
spreading to other computers and mobile devices. They can also send a web
address link as an instant message to all contacts on an infected device. If
the recipient believes the link to be from a trusted source, e.g. a friend, the
likelihood is that they’ll follow the link to a web site. This also enables the
virus hosted at the site to infect the new computer and continue spreading.
Viruses can be divided into two types:

• Non-resident – these viruses search for other
  hosts to infect and transfer control to the computer software
• Resident – these do not search for hosts,
  instead they load themselves into the computer memory on completion and then
  transfer control. The virus stays active in the background and infects new
  hosts when those files are accessed by other programmes or the operating system
  itself.

Trojan

A malicious file or programme that often disguises itself as a legitimate one. It does not attempt to inject itself into other files like a virus. Often appearing as helpful programmes Trojans can make copies of themselves, steal information, or harm the target computer system. Others rely on ‘drive-by downloads’. These are
downloads that may happen when visiting a website, viewing an e-mail or by
clicking on a deceptive pop-up window that appears to be genuine and presents
themselves as harmless in the form of ‘social engineering’. The victim
mistakenly authorises the installation on their computer without understanding
the consequences, such as; giving a hacker remote access to the computer system
which then allows them to execute all kinds of operations in an attempt to
defraud the victim/s of personal data or money. Operations may include and are
not restricted to:

• Electronic money theft Data theft (passwords or
  credit card information)
• Malware from third-party sources
• Downloading or uploading of files including
  modification or deletion of existing files
• Watching the user’s screen
• Crashing the computer

Malware

The term used to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive or annoying software or code. Whichever form it occurs in it comes with malicious content that helps hackers to gather sensitive information, gain unauthorised access to a computer system or disrupt computer operations. Malware should not to be confused with defective software. Defective software has a legitimate purpose but contains harmful bugs that were not noticed before release. Malware are blended threats and sometimes appears as a scrip or code, which may include; masquerading as genuine software and may come from an official company, e.g., tracking software to gather statistics for advertising purposes.

Worms

A computer worm is an individual computer programme that duplicates itself with the purpose of spreading to other computers. It usually does this through a network system which is often as a result of inadequate security protection on the target computer. Unlike a virus worms do not need to attach themselves to an existing programme. They almost always cause at least some harm to the network, even if only by consuming bandwidth. (In computer networks, bandwidth is often used as a substitute term for ‘data transfer rate’, i.e., the amount of data that can be carried from one point to another in a given time period (usually a second).

Spyware

A type of malware that is often secretly installed and typically hidden on a personal computer and can be difficult to detect. They collect information about user’s data and monitor activity without their knowledge. Spyware has more functions than simply monitoring a user’s activity. They can collect almost any type of data including user logins, bank or credit account information and also personal information like Internet surfing. Spyware is able to install additional software, redirect web browsers, and change computer settings that interfere with connections speeds, browser settings or performance of other software. (Some spyware such as ‘keyloggers’ may be installed by the owner of a shared, corporate, or public computer on purposed in order to intentionally monitor users.)

Rootkit

Software that employs surreptitious abilities that are designed to conceal the presence of certain processes or programmes, e.g. malware aiming to avoid detection by antivirus software. They do this by destabilising the software that is intended to find it. Removal of a rootkit can be complicated or practically impossible, particularly when it is located in the ‘kernel’. (The kernel is the main element of a computer operating system, acting as the bridge between data processing and applications. It also manages the communication between hardware and software mechanisms). Reinstallation of the operating system may be the only available solution to the problem.

“Bots”

The term derives from ‘robots’. A ‘bot’ is a type of malware that acts as an agent allowing the attacker to gain complete control over the affected computer. They can do this by hiding in the shadows of a computer, using file or process names that are either similar or identical so that they are not noticed. Once infected with a ‘bot’ a computer is then generally referred to as ‘zombie’. Attackers are able to access lists of ‘zombie’ PCs and activate them to carry out ‘Denial of Service’ attacks again websites, host phishing attack websites or send out thousands of spam e-mail messages. A ‘Denial of Service’ attacks floods a network with overwhelming amount of traffic, slowing its response time for legitimate traffic or grinding it to a halt completely. If the attack could be traced back
to its source all that would be found is an unsuspecting victim (agent) rather
than the true attacker!

“Botnet”

A network of virus-infected computers that are used to send about 80% of spam.

Spam

The use of electronic messaging systems to send unwanted bulk messages usually withcommercial content and often in large quantities to indiscriminate number of
recipients. E-mail spam is the most common although the term spam can be
applied to other similar abuse in other forms of electronic media; instant
messaging, web search engine, blogs, online classified ads, mobile phone
messaging, social networking and file sharing network spam to name but a few.
Over time e-mail spam has increased to infecting ‘zombie networks’ (see ‘bots’)
and networks of virus or worm-infected PCs in homes and offices around the
world. Spammers are able to access the computer via a ‘backdoor’ installed by
worms. They use it for malicious purposes. This ‘backdoor’ access complicates
attempts to control the spread of spam because the spam doesn’t usually
originate from the spammer. There are set-ups that deploy ‘e-mail address
harvesting’, which are dedicated to collecting e-mail addresses and selling
collected databases. Some rely on users not reading the ‘small print’ of
agreements who then unwittingly agree to sending messages to their contacts.
This very common approach is particularly prevalent in social networking sites.

Do not be over alarmed at the information given above. Rest assured that
there is almost always a remedy; however, it is important to consider all
security threats, both known and unknown, when selecting your network security
systems. To help counteract problems, ensure that you update your computer or
device with the latest protective software and that passwords are strong and
changed regularly. You should also make sure you use a personal firewall
programme to protect your computer from unauthorized access.

Improving IT systems could help manufacturers cope with a summer shut down at a time of reduced output.

In the current difficult economic environment, firms in the manufacturing sector may be looking for ways they can cut costs and improve the efficiency of their operations.

One way to do this may be to invest in project controlling solutions and software for business management that can help re-align supply chains and upgrade the crucial IT systems that are essential to the smooth running of the business.

Such solutions may be especially essential at the current time, as newly released figures have revealed the UK manufacturing sector saw a drop in activity in April.

The Office for National Statistics revealed factory output fell by 0.7 per cent compared with the previous month, which was worse that expected as many analysts has forecast little or no change.

Lee Hopley, chief economist at EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, described the figures as “disappointing”, adding: “Despite the fall coming on the back of a large uptick in March, this still leaves production hovering around levels seen at the end of 2010.”

Therefore, many firms may look to respond to the continued weakness in the sector by re-evaluating their strategy and streamlining their operations.

This may be especially crucial to manufacturers that are looking to shut down over the summer in order to undertake scheduled maintenance or capital investment projects.

Bringing a factory back online after this can be a slow process, but this can be improved with the use of detailed project planning tools, automated billing solutions for external supplier and better staff training before the break.

By using business software options, companies may be able to reduce the length of a shut down and improve on the ramp-up time as the enterprise returns to normal after the break.

This can ensure they can get back up to speed swiftly and return to their core operations, while they may also be left with a blueprint and benchmark that can be followed for future shutdowns, providing benefits for many years to come.

It may be up to IT departments to ensure customers are offered a good experience in times of high demand.

Firms looking to improve the experience they offer to
customers may be able to benefit from using small business IT solutions that
can help them manage this area of their operations.

Such solutions could be especially important at the current
time, particularly for businesses trading in the retail sector, as consumer
spending may be likely to increase in the coming months.

Figures released this week by the British Retail Consortium
showed the good weather seen in May boosted sales, with consumer spending up by
3.4 per cent compared with the same month in 2011.

And with major events such as the London Olympics set to
take place in the near future, businesses may need to ensure their systems are
robust enough to cope with an increase in demand.

Therefore, it may fall to the IT department and the chief
information officer to ensure a company is prepared for the summer months and
is able to offer consumers a positive, trouble-free experience.

Vice-president of Forrester Research Kyle McNabb told
CIO.com the way people engage with firms has been greatly changed by the advent
of new technologies, which is something small companies will have to respond
to.

Many bosses may look towards personnel in the marketing
department to boost customer experience and engagement, but in the current
business environment, IT professionals must also be involved.

This is because customer relations are based on their
interactions with an enterprise, its channels and business processes, which are
all embodied by an enterprise’s technology solutions, Mr McNabb said.

He noted: “Technology has empowered customers to wield
greater influence over the brands with which they interact. They expect things
to work the way they want. If an experience disappoints, they make their
dissatisfaction known.”

Therefore, he recommended companies invest in tools such as
services management software, business process analytics and mobile tools to
improve their agility and responsiveness, which could help them identify
potential issues and cope with periods of high demand.

“Your teams need to get closer to your customers,
rethink delivery processes and revisit your development portfolios,” Mr
McNabb said.

Reading based company; Nouveau Solutions LTD celebrated 20 years of business success!

Nouveau Solutions LTD, a provider of IT Solutions and Support Services recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. Nouveau Solutions was founded in 1992, by two partners, Andy Stevens and Gary Smithers; formerly work colleagues who had a shared passion of providing outstanding IT Support Services; one of the main services still offered to their customers today.

On the 18th April 2012, Nouveau Solutions invited their customers to an open day at their offices to commemorate this special occasion. The day was a great success and over 100 customers attended and shared in the celebration. Customers that have been with the company since it was founded attended and lots of new faces came too. ACD Designs quoted, “Nouveau Solutions are our IT Support Provider, they do a great job for us and it was brilliant to share in the celebration with them”.

Nouveau Solutions has grown to a company of 40 plus and continues to help customers with their complete IT requirements. Whether customers are looking to improve efficiency, reduce administration costs or plan for disaster we can offer unbiased practical advice and assistance in helping customers to realise their IT objectives.

Chris O’Brien from The Royal Shakespeare Company quoted, “Having been a customer for over 18 years it was great to celebrate the company’s success. The services they provide us are excellent”.

Andy and Gary would like to thank everyone who attended the event, “it was great to celebrate this milestone with so many of our customers. Nouveau Solutions has grown into such a success and it was great to share this celebration with you all” quoted by Andy Stevens.

Press Contact

Berni Maguire

Marketing Manager

Email: berni.maguire@nouveau.co.uk

Telephone: 01189 186823

Nouveau are a company established in 1992 dedicated to the management and deployment of IT in business. They are a totally IT focused company and strive to make your working life easier. They build long lasting relationships which they always make two-way.

They offer a range of services working in collaboration with various other companies. One of the companies they have a partnership with is Fortinet; a worldwide provider of network security appliances. Fortinet have a broad, integrated and high-performance system that deals with dynamic security threats whilst keeping the IT infrastructure simple. They put forward the system that will keep you secure.

As Nouveau and Fortinet have been partners since the latter’s move to the UK and are Fortinet Gold Partners.  Nouveau are committed to not only providing the right solution for the customer, but making sure the clients gets maximum return of out of their Fortinet investment.

If a client has a Fortinet Firewall in place but are experiencing problems, the Nouveau team are happy to fix any issues. They also provide renewals of hardware and enhanced support dependant on the client.

Listed below are some system renewal options available:

I.          8X5 Hardware Replacement

a. Firmware Upgrades

b. 8×5 Enhanced Support

II.         Advanced Hardware Replacement (NBD)

a. Firmware Upgrades

b. 24X7 Comprehensive Support

III.        Bundle renewal includes – 8X5 Hardware Replacement

a. Firmware Upgrades

b. 8×5 Enhanced Support

c. AV, IPS, CF, AS,

d. Vulnerability Management

As all the Nouveau staff are on-site, they are available to talk anytime and provide customers with their own support. Staff can advise and make recommendations as to what kind of system and service level would best suit the client.