Cloud is a top technology for 2012

With the countdown to New Year just around the corner it is time for businesses to start thinking about their strategies for the coming year. With leading technology analysts, Gartner, predicting cloud computing to be in their top ten technologies that will have an increased impact on the enterprise for the next 3 years, it is something SME’s should seriously be considering in regards to the future of their IT systems.

In 2010 the cloud computing movement revolutionised the IT industry, which led to more widespread open source adoption this year. The main focus of cloud has been upon its core ability and efficiency but now the trend appears to be leaning towards the potential of PaaS (Platform as a Service). PaaS is a model for delivering operating systems and associated services over the Internet without downloads or installation. This could arguably define 2012 as an important year for fully implementing cloud plans and realising efficiencies in enterprises and beyond.

Gartner describe a strategic technology as one that “impacts the organisation’s long-term plans, programs and initiatives.”

David Cearley, Vice President of Gartner said: “These top 10 technologies will be strategic for most organizations, and IT leaders should use this list in their strategic planning process by reviewing the technologies and how they fit into their expected needs.”

Netmetix offer Cloudmetix, which is one of the leading cloud computing solutions in Coventry, and have also been ranked as the number one Gold Server Partner on the Microsoft Pinpoint website. Their level of expertise is demonstrated by a team of professionals who work to the highest levels in the industry and are all Microsoft Certified IT Professionals. Cloudmetix is hosted locally at a data centre in Derby and uses state-of-the-art equipment with the latest technologies.

Netmetix bring specialist care organisation forward with IT

Netmetix recently won the contract to upgrade the IT systems of professional care providers Options Group, who provide specialist integrated services for children, young people and adults with autistic spectrum disorders and behavioural, emotional and social difficulties.

The Options Management team turned to Netmetix for assistance when it became clear that its server hardware and software needed replacing to keep pace with its business strategy.

Over the years Options has been subjected to the IT issues that many other companies will face as they expand – managing disparate systems, trying to integrate and develop common platforms and so on.

Netmetix were able to urgently replace the company’s ageing servers which were causing problems for maintaining optimal service levels and limiting the ability to develop the various systems that the group was keen to expand and deploy.

Suzy Green, Group Finance Director of Options Group, comments: “Replacing our servers was the first large IT project we undertook with Netmetix and it demonstrated the confidence we have in our partnership. Our experience had been that the Netmetix team do what they say they will do and most importantly, from a risk-management perspective, they would quickly resolve any problems that would arise, doing whatever it takes to rectify the issues.”

This project has enhanced the working relationship between Netmetix and Options and opened the gateway to additional projects further down the line.

Suzy Green concluded: “There are a lot of things happening within the group and so long as it continues to demonstrate value Netmetix will be the first choice for us. I see the relationship going from strength to strength as we face our future IT requirements with the knowledge we are in safe hands.”

Cyber crime has soared over 2011 and risks will remain high over Christmas period

Cyber crime is continuing to skyrocket, as a report from the world’s largest professional services firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has revealed. According to the report more than one in three companies worldwide said they had been victims of fraud in 2011, which is a shocking rise of 30% from 2009.

The study said that the apparent increase in fraud was down to more effective detection methods, with the proportion of companies noticing suspicious transactions up from 5% in 2009 to 18% in 2011.

Businesses should be using these significant statistics to employ a robust strategy to combat any risks that their company’s IT may have. 23% of companies in the study said they had been a victim of computer or Internet related crime in 2011.

At a time of year when hacking is at it’s highest Netmetix have addressed the issues of cyber crime and offer a wealth of advice for companies centred around their IT security in the form of an eBook.

Some of the following tips can be passed onto colleagues and employers:

Hacking – Keep your operating system and web browser software fully up to date with software patches and updates.

Block Malware – Invest in good quality anti-virus software to prevent malware getting onto your systems. (Go by reviews NOT price)

Stop Spam – Use a reputable Internet based spam filtering service to filter out the majority of spam before it even reaches you.

Plug the Leaks – Involve all staff when drawing up a data leakage prevention strategy as this draws their attention to the potential problems and invites them to change their work practices if necessary.

Avoiding Infections – Invest in good anti-virus software to scan emails (both internal and external) as well as all machines.

To download the full eBook for FREE, follow this link: http://www.netmetix.net/it-knowledge.asp

Talari cuts WAN costs by half

Multi-site companies can save up to 50% on Wide Area Network costs with the award-winning Talari Adaptive Private Networking (APN).

The reliability of leased lines can sometimes be counteracted by the huge expense of them year on year. But Talari can offer significant cost savings by using a RAID-like approach to the reliability, security and predictability issues associated with the Internet and other affordable shared IP networks.

Netmetix recently installed a Talari WAN on a multisite which was costing the company £120,000 year on year for their lease lines. Installation and implementation in the first year gave an immediate cost saving of £10,000, but more significantly by the end of year two, costs had dramatically fallen to only £12,000 per year.

By combining diverse sources of bandwidth, Talari delivers high-bandwidth WANs at radically lower cost while delivering true business quality.

Netmetix has been providing complete IT network solutions for over 10 years and are proud to offer Talari as one of their products.

For free impartial advice on updating your WAN and how you can get the most from your business IT contact Netmetix today on 024 7640 8100.

Netmetix is No.1 Microsoft partner in UK

We are proud to announce that Netmetix is currently ranked Number 1 Gold Server Partner on the Microsoft Pinpoint website.

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Not only are we ranked Number 1 within 200 miles of Coventry, but no other partner ranks higher than Netmetix anywhere in the UK at this point in time.

In October we announced our accreditation for becoming Coventry’s first Microsoft Partner with a Gold Server Platform accreditation, which set us apart as one of the best IT solutions providers in the region.

We’ve worked very hard to attain the accreditation, with four of our experienced technical engineers completing a rigorous examination to attain the Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Enterprise Administrator qualification.

Being a Microsoft Gold Partner means we have the technical ability and expertise to work closely with our customers and help them to streamline their operational processes so that they can focus on achieving sustainable business growth rather than on their IT systems.

Cloudmetix could cut Coventry business IT energy costs by 90%

Netmetix, is urging businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire to consider the benefits of cloud computing for their corporate social responsibility.

Recent statistics from the Guardian, noobpreneur.com and the Carbon Disclosure Project report have stated that cloud computing can save business IT energy costs by 90%, with an estimated annual energy saving of £1.2 billion for larger UK companies, whilst at the same time reducing carbon emissions by 50%. These staggering figures highlight the huge impact a simple IT switchover can have for a business.

At a time when energy costs are soaring through the roof, the prospect of cost savings whilst having a more positive effect on the environment is already proving enticing for business owners. A report from IDC states that cloud adoption is growing five times faster than all other IT spending.

And the beauty of cloud computing is that it is a great leveller with all the services and benefits it offers being available to small businesses as well as large corporates.

Netmetix is one of the first companies in the region to launch a full platform cloud computing solution. It has invested heavily in developing Cloudmetix, which it provides from two Midlands-based data centres. As well as providing a highly secure data environment within local reach, the centres use the latest energy-saving technologies with cold aisle cooling techniques that are far more efficient in energy consumption. Enrolment in a carbon offsetting program also means the data centre is committed to the Trees 4 Business Campaign through Carbon Managers.

Paul Blore, Managing Director from Netmetix said: “Becoming a ‘green’ business can positively re-engage your company with its customers and demonstrate a strong commitment to your corporate social responsibility. One of the key benefits of Cloudmetix is that it is completely elastic with the customer using only the IT services they require, meaning they will produce less waste and have less redundant capacity. This is achieved through our servers being more fully utilised so they are running at their optimum levels. This makes them far more efficient than most in-house servers.”

Cloud computing is the way forward for Coventry and Warwickshire businesses

A survey carried out at business workshop hosted by Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber last week highlighted that Coventry companies are now considering replacing their traditional IT systems and are heading towards cloud-based computing.

Coventry IT specialists, Netmetix, were invited to talk about how cloud computing can benefit businesses throughout the region, helping them to reduce costs, reduce their carbon footprint, and improve performance and efficiency.

Netmetix is taking the lead and is one of the first cloud computing providers in Coventry. The company has significantly invested in cloud infrastructure with its own product, Cloudmetix, which includes state-of-art technology housed in two data centres in the Midlands and the latest software.

With cloud computing predicted to grow to a market worth $160billion by 2015, according to a report by Gartner, it is not surprising that industry leaders are seriously considering the cloud for their business operations. Two industry sectors already rushing towards cloud-based services are the financial and legal services professions. In these sectors, cloud computing is seen as the great leveller with SMEs having access to the same platforms as large corporates, thus taking advantage of the benefits this offers in cost savings, greater efficiencies, flexibility, ease of access, and elasticity.

Not everyone is convinced however, and one of the key concerns about cloud computing is the security of data which is held on third party servers in off-site locations. After delegates learned about how cloud computing actually works, the survey feedback illustrated their fears had been allayed, with all respondents stating they now felt that cloud computing is a more secure option than most in-house IT systems.

Managing director Paul Blore said: “We were really pleased to see such a positive reaction from local businesses about the buzz of cloud computing. As IT professionals we are always on the lookout for innovative processes that can help other businesses in our area. We have a strong vision for the future of cloud computing as industry research has shown that it is adopting five times faster than traditional IT. We want to be able to bring SMEs in Coventry forward in terms of this technological revolution.”

Cloudmetix is a total business IT infrastructure solution that takes full advantage of the technologies available and gives users complete freedom to do business wherever and whenever they like. Other benefits include low running costs, scalability and minimum maintenance.

Cloudmetix launch goes the ‘extra mile’

We have now officially launched our cloud computing solution, Cloudmetix and after a positive month, one of our first customers has already commented on how the Cloudmetix team went the ‘extra mile’ for them.

With cloud computing as a hot topic in the business world and speculation that it is going to be a company necessity within the coming years, companies can no longer ignore its presence. According to the Cloud Industry Forum (CFI) nearly half (48%) of UK organisations are already using some form of cloud computing.

We are proud to be launching our new cloud computing solution at a time when we have just received Coventry’s first Microsoft Gold Partner - Server Platform accreditation as a result of our entire engineering team being certified as Microsoft Certified IT Professional – Enterprise Administrators.

Automation Experts is an engineering recruitment company based in Nuneaton that has just adopted the new Cloudmetix solution for their business. Jaclyn Cox, Senior Administrator said: “Netmetix has worked very, very hard on our new cloud platform and I feel both Steve and Richard have gone the extra mile for us. We would like to say a big thank you to them and that it’s really appreciated!”

Cloudmetix has been developed to liberate the way businesses operate offering complete accessibility, scalability and flexibility. It can expand quickly to meet the increased demand for resources without the need for costly new equipment and the time required for installation. Similarly, if a company is moving or downsizing, Cloudmetix can be easily adapted with no disruption to the business.

One of the main barriers to companies adopting cloud-based solutions is security. Cloudmetix is hosted at an extremely secure data centre, which potential customers are invited to view before making the move to cloud, giving clients peace of mind.

At Netmetix we offer a 30-day no obligation trial to give customers the chance to experience the benefits of Cloudmetix, aiming to allay any residual concerns they may have.

Achieving Microsoft Gold Server Platform status

We are proud to announce our recent accreditation as the first Microsoft Partner with Gold Server Platform status based in the Coventry area. This accolade came at the end of September as our fourth technical engineer passed his examination which meant we qualified for this highly regarded status in the IT industry.

In order to attain the accreditation, four of our experienced technical engineers completed a rigorous examination to qualify as Microsoft Certified IT Professionals: Enterprise Administrators. The Netmetix team congratulates Steven Watson, Richard Gillis, Ashleigh Warner and Andy Child for boosting the status of our company.

The other criteria we had to meet was to provide five specific customer references, complete a customer satisfaction survey reaching a defined satisfaction score, pass Microsoft Licensing and Sales & Marketing accreditations and meet a revenue commitment.

Customer service has always been extremely important to us and this accolade gives us the recognition for providing a great service and our customers peace of mind, knowing that everything we do is backed by qualified expertise.

Previously a Silver Partner we have been able to upgrade our certification based upon the long-standing experience and vast knowledge in the industry. A Microsoft Partner can help companies streamline work processes alongside building and sustaining profitable growth.

Paraglide record broken to beat blood cancer

While many were enjoying the record breaking September temperatures last week, Stephen Groundwell, Cloudmetix team leader, was breaking his own record with his charity paraglide.

It was second time lucky for Stephen as his first attempt on 15th September was unsuccessful with feeble winds, meaning he only reached 5 miles of an attempted 30 miles. However, his determination paid off on his second attempt as he soared non-stop for 7½ hours, tripling his personal record with an astounding 60.5 miles.

There has been a lot of support for Stephen’s chosen Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research charity, with him raising in excess of £1,000 for the worthwhile cause. The charity helps to find better treatments and cures for all blood cancers. He took off for flight at 8.30 am from the Mam Tor hill in Derbyshire on 29th September while many were enjoying the pleasant autumn heat wave.

Kate White, Director of Fundraising at Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research said: “We would like to congratulate Stephen as it’s a big challenge to have completed. All the money raised will go towards our vital research into better treatments and cures for blood cancers including leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma.”

With only 2 years experience of paragliding, Stephen did extremely well to triple his personal record of 20 miles. He said: “The whole day was brilliant. I’m really happy with my success and the contribution that has been raised is fantastic. If the money I have raised can help towards saving the lives of others then it has all been worthwhile as this is a cause close to the hearts of both myself and my Managing Director Paul Blore.”

Cloud followed by a very bright future

Why not try Cloudmetix for 30 days with our No Obligation trial

Netmetix comes up Gold

Netmetix has just been awarded the prestigious Microsoft Gold Partner - Server Platform status.

Microsoft define this status as follows:

"Partners with this competency are experts in designing, building, deploying and supporting the Windows Server operating system, Windows Server–based applications and the Microsoft server infrastructure. They can help you meet a variety of IT goals, from reducing infrastructure costs to improving your disaster recovery system."

This new certification is due in no small part to our entire engineering team being accredited as Microsoft Certified IT Professional - Enterprise Administrators.

This accreditation further underlines our committment to the highest levels of technical expertise and customer service.

The forecast is good for cloud computing

‘Cloud’ seems to be the word on everyone’s lips right now and not because of yet another typical British summer, but because we are seeing a computing revolution which will allow companies to revolutionise the way they do business.

As an IT solutions provider for over ten years, we are proud to be a part of the revolution and this month we are launching Cloudmetix, which offers a complete and very robust cloud solution for our customers.

Unlike many other providers in this growing market, Cloudmetix is hosted here in the UK on state-of-the-art equipment and using the latest technologies. This is underpinned by our in-house IT expertise, with a team of technicians who work to the highest levels in the industry and who are all Microsoft Certified IT Professionals.

The benefits of using cloud are numerous. As well as providing complete flexibility, freedom and elasticity, Cloudmetix is also extremely cost-effective as it requires very little equipment to operate (the main requirement being an internet connection) and you can scale up or down in line with the needs and demands of your business as you only pay per user.

No more costly software upgrades as everything you need is catered for through our Software as a Service (Saas) provision and the accessibility means that you can maximise your company’s internal communications, making them much more streamlined and efficient.

We are so convinced that you will love being in the cloud that we are offering a 30-day no obligation trial. Simply contact our Cloudmetix Sales Executive, Stephen Groundwell, for an informal chat, or visit our website for further information: www.cloudmetix.net

Cloud gliding to beat blood cancers

Cloudmetix is helping to beat blood cancers with a sponsored paraglide this month.

Stephen Groundwell, Sales Executive who heads the Cloudmetix team, doing his longest ever paraglide this month.

Stephen will be heading to the skies in aid of blood cancer charity, Leukaemia and Lymphoma, a cause that is close to the hearts of both himself and Paul Blore, managing director.

The aim of the event is to be air-bound for as long as possible flying the furthest achievable distance. Over a full day Stephen aims to travel 30 miles, which is 10 miles further than his previous personal record.

He said: “It took me a whole day to do 20 miles previously, so this is going to be very difficult. But it’s all in aid of a good cause and I really appreciate all the support I have already had.”

Please support this worthwhile cause by sponsoring Stephen’s paraglide. Email Stephen directly for further information stephen.groundwell@netmetix.net or visit www.justgiving.com/cloudmetix

Cyber threats are still a major problem

Although the hacking scandals appear to have calmed down in the press, the problems haven’t simply gone away. IT security still remains a crucial area for companies to be aware of and has been forecast to remain a major threat for the next few years.

There are both external and internal cyber threats to all businesses, with companies constantly being hacked into. Local software and British video game developers, Codemasters, recently encountered an online security breach which highlights how close to home hacking scandals can be. With the company experiencing intrusion into their databank of customer names and addresses, email addresses, telephone numbers, encrypted passwords and order histories, they were the victim of a major security breach.

It is still extremely important that awareness is made about IT security risks, as many employees can be naïve to certain threats. For example a recent report by Mimecast, shows that 47% of employees are still not recognising the danger and risk of sending work emails from personal accounts.

Netmetix offers sound advice on how to protect your businesses IT systems, which can be passed on through to colleagues and employees.

Hacking – Keep your operating system and web browser software fully up to date with software patches and updates.

Block Malware – Invest in good quality anti-virus software to prevent malware getting onto your systems. (Go by reviews NOT price)

Stop Spam – Use a reputable Internet based spam filtering service to filter out the majority of spam before it even reaches you.

Plug the Leaks – Involve all staff when drawing up a data leakage prevention strategy as this draws their attention to the potential problems and invites them to change their work practices if necessary.

Avoiding Infections – Invest in good anti-virus software to scan emails (both internal and external) as well as all machines.

NETCARE provides peace of mind

With all the complexities currently surrounding IT, including all the IT security risks, Netmetix are showing support to clients through the form of an IT support package called NETCARE FLEX.

NETCARE FLEX follows suit with Netmetix’s convention of providing flexible support and solutions to customers. As all businesses vary in requirements, this support package is something that can be called upon as and when it is needed, rather than the customer having to commit to a full fixed term agreement.

As only the second company in Coventry and Warwickshire looking to achieve the new Microsoft Gold Server Platform accreditation this month, businesses will be reassured that their computer servers are being monitored in real-time by a team of qualified experts.

Team Netmetix scales new heights

Netmetix continues to be at the forefront of technical knowledge and expertise in the region. Our Senior Helpdesk Support Engineer has just become the first member of our technical team to be accredited as a Microsoft Certified IT Professional - Enterprise Administrator.

This is the culmination of over seven years training and ten different certifications and exams and represents a major milestone in our internal training programme.

Other members of the technical team are due to complete the same programme by the end of September 2011, which will mean Netmetix will be part of a very exclusive club, and will become only the second company in Coventry & Warwickshire to achieve the new Microsoft Gold Server Platform accreditation. This accolade will take us onto a new platform as Microsoft Enterprise Server providers. Basically, it doesn’t get any better than this in the IT industry!

What this means to our customers is that they receive the highest standard of technical service backed by excellent customer service. We want long term relationships with our customers and we go that extra mile to make sure our customers are happy.

In the Cloud

Cloud computing is rapidly making it to the mainstream and looks set to be the next big wave that changes the face of the Internet and the way companies do business.

A recent study carried out by IBM of more than 3,000 global CEOs revealed 60 percent of organisations are ready to embrace cloud computing over the next five years as a means of growing their businesses and achieving competitive advantage.

Amid these findings, Netmetix is about to launch CLOUDMETIX, its cloud infrastructure platform. This enables us to offer a wide range of SaaS (Software as a Service) and IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) services and solutions to clients across the UK.

The benefits of cloud computing are numerous. As well as providing our clients with a fully managed and supported IT infrastructure for a monthly fee where you pay only for what you use, CLOUDMETIX will also give you freedom and flexibility to run your office wherever you are in the world. You do not have to commit to large capital expenditure for computer hardware and software, while software licences like Microsoft Office can be added or taken away as required and only charged for what is used. CLOUDMETIX will provide a full managed and supported IT infrastructure for a flat, all inclusive monthly per user, making it the perfect solution for small businesses, whether new or well established.

Our Sales Team is available to talk you through the benefits of CLOUDMETIX and what it can do for your business in terms of savings in cost and time, and how it can run your business more effectively and efficiently. Call us today on: 024 7640 8100 for further information.

A decade of success

This year we celebrate our tenth anniversary and what a journey the last ten years has been. We have seen many changes in the IT market and many of these have been dramatic changes. Who now remembers floppy disks? In just ten years this media storage device has become obsolete, replaced by media storage no bigger than your thumb nail that can hold vast amounts of data.

More recently data storage has taken an even more exciting turn as companies start to embrace cloud technology.

We’re proud that we have always been at the forefront of the technological advancements and testament to this are the number of clients who have stayed with us for the journey over the past ten years, including Wilden Services, Darke & Taylor, Gould Singleton and Pick Everard.

We believe the key to our success has been delivering excellent customer service. It is the bedrock of our business and is underpinned by our leading accreditations with some of the industry’s leading vendors, including Microsoft, Riverbed, Cisco and HP, accolades that we have worked hard to achieve.

We are looking forward to the next ten years and beyond and welcoming new customers to our ever growing family.