Discerning Decisions with Opulent Managed Services
A complementary IT service facilitating an end to end management of a business process is one of the greatest assets that gravitate towards a definite and incremental growth. The convenience of simplified controls and comprehensive operations is a vital factor in leveraging efficiency in organizations and promoting a collaborative environment. The success of a business lies in its implementation practices and adaptable infrastructure. Not all employees are tech-savvy, and complicated procedures or unyielding functions can make them frustrated and unenthusiastic resulting in poor performances.
The time taken to understand and implement the complex procedures is like a ticking bomb and every minute wasted could be one more step towards an appalling end. Desktops are important equipments used for accessing information. Employees have to be provided with user-friendly desktops that do not confuse the users and prohibit their actions. In a large business organization where multiple units have to work simultaneously weak coordination can affect the performances adversely. A cluttered and mismanaged desktop with complicated instructions will not serve any purpose and can cause large revenue losses.
Businesses need to treat desktops as core elements of the business process and not just as appendages. Thus they need to employ managed desktop services that favor ideal practices and help in reducing costs, and eliminating all impractical methods that lead to a dead-end. The IT solutions employed should aid the customer service agents and help them to procure accurate information and resolve customers’ issues without wasting time.
The surmounting cost of resources and negligible profit margins have made many businesses turn to online self-help services, where customers are provided with voluntary search facilities to locate the answers to their problems. This is another tricky situation where businesses have to understand that all customers may not be comfortable with the web services, and thus they have to implement solutions that can help all customers find resolutions easily without any inaccuracies or errors. When customers are able to find the relevant solutions easily and without any assistance it adds to the businesses’ coffers.
The self-help service desk provided to customers should help in creating requests and viewing the status of the reports submitted, and it should also help in reporting any events.
It should provide the convenience of logging and tracking the service requests without causing any distress to the customers. In case of any escalations appropriate support actions should also be provided. Often businesses profess to have state-of-the art technology to accelerate services but they fail to deliver the results. Exemplary managed desktop services are ideal recommendations for prioritized value added services and constructive profits.
Also read on: Managed Print Services
Information Security
Posted by kelton08
at 4:22 AM EDT
Co-Sourcing Model Benefits
As IT moves away from being a support function to a key business enabler, the loss of control and inflexibility associated with the traditional approach has made it less and less favourable. Fundamentally, it is no longer possible to plan all aspects of costs and innovation over a 5 -10 year period upfront and package them as a business case and contract.
Co-Sourcing Model
Companies can now fulfil their global sourcing needs of its customers through the new co-sourcing model which provides a new and fundamentally disruptive sourcing proposition to companies that are primarily looking for flexibility and strategic control of their overall IT outsourcing engagements.
- The new co-sourcing model is based on a collaborative approach to outsourcing.
- It can be defined as a partnership between the customer and the service provider based on fundamental tenets of flexibility and transparency.
- In a way it helps to reduce sourcing risks and provide better control over outsourced processes.
- Some of the services include – internal audits, risk management, process definitions and amendments, IT infrastructure management etc.
- It may also include part-development of software or conducting software maintenance activities only.
By using the new co-sourcing model offered by consulting firms -
- Customers have the flexibility in choosing the right sourcing model.
- Companies can choose alternative delivery models like cloud based services (Saas)
- They can also set up shared and dedicated delivery centres depending on their client needs while balancing cost and economies of scale.
On the other hand, the IT outsourcing firms offer the following benefits to clients if they choose to use the co-sourcing model.
- They partner with other hosting partners across the world to host datacenter and field services.
- They provide desk-side support and also e-bond with their client companies to ensure that clients receive a seamless and uniform service, irrespective of the geographical location of the functions.
- They also deliver services by leveraging uniform and standardized tools and processes across the IT function.
- They offer engagement flexibility depending on customer environment- whether it is completely multi-sourced or whether the consulting firm plays part of a larger framework where the company is the primary integrator.
Some of the other services provided by IT outsourcing companies may include – information security services, managed desktop services, managed print services, managed network services, application management services, service desk services etc.
Other Links - Information Security
Posted by kelton08
at 6:09 AM EDT
Benefits of Application Management Services
An application management service is helpful in enabling an enterprise or client to control, deliver and manage crucial software concerns. This further leads to greater returns. When one implements these applications into a system, service providers find it easy to rise above the overall cost factors, thereby assuring the smooth operation of the company’s total IT structure. Hence, it is indeed a wise decision for any organization to invest in an upgraded application management service. The benefits will accrue in the long run.
Service providers of application management assist the enterprises in extending, maintaining and implementing a host of activities. Well-known companies in this segment provide high-end solutions to their clients and other users to deal various challenges that come up. Few benefits of application management services are as follows:-
- Resource flexibility
- The best resources are utilized
- Results in the total cost minimization that leads to a better quality output
- Has the advantage of putting into use expertise in association with definite areas
- There is an output growth
Famous global names that offer application management services are designing the solutions in such a way that it addresses some key issues within an organization. The various components that are looked into are as follows:-
- Application Packaging – This application offers automatic and pre-configured software packages via a factory prototype, thereby making them obtainable for client distribution.
- Patch Management –Patch management deals with activities that range from analyzing vulnerabilities and threats and helps in determining new updates. It also deals in testing, positioning and obtaining all necessary patches.
- Image Management – This include the overall activities that deals in positioning to image management. There are certain image guidelines that helps the client or user to align with an operating environment
- Software Distribution – This service consists of the services associated with automatic software consumption. It also includes all kinds of activities from pre-pilot stage to conducting pilot tests and includes the total software package operation.
Application management services are mostly used for multi-tier and complex transactional functions. In addition to that, the advent of the technologies related to hypervisor-oriented virtualization has proven to be a great medium for adopting application service management technologies. This is because, intricate applications have been heavily impacted with the hypervisors being introduced to an already existing environment. A research conducted by Aberdeen Group shows that majority of the virtualization technologies are obstructed by their influence on complex transactional functions.
Otehr Links: Datacenter hosting
Information security
identity and access management
Posted by kelton08
at 2:43 AM EDT
Updated: Tuesday, 24 May 2011 2:51 AM EDT
Accelerate Business Growth with Application Management Services
In the corporate world IT has always been a critical business enabler. Most of the advancements in technology are due to the finesse with which this particular department operates. Today IT infrastructure is critical to business because it helps in seamless integration with customer network and makes information readily available for business leaders to take strategic and informed business decisions.
Today the role of IT has become more challenging and important – companies depend on it to meet strict international standards/requirements such as USA PATRIOT and Sarbanes-Oxley acts. IT capabilities of a company are crucial in integrating and performing repetitive data management processes. This is where Client Application Management Services pitch in by offering services pertaining to managing and maintaining the end user application environment, one of the costliest activities within IT Infrastructure management.
By outsourcing non-core functions, companies can better focus on core business competencies; simultaneously, lowering the total cost of ownership as well. In this article, let’s understand some of the client application management services available in the market.
Application Packaging - This service ideally includes definition of packaging standards, package complexity, categorization, development of packaging standards, package creation, testing and, package conflict detection and resolution.
Software Distribution – This service usually covers activities such as automated software distribution, deployment process, customization and coordination, distribution to software repositories & workstation clients, pilot testing and implementation of rollback plan.
Image Management – Starting from establishing common operating environment, through image creation/testing, image release, and maintenance for new platform, security patches, driver updates etc., image management services ensures standardization and accuracy in all phases.
Patch Management - This service comprises of all the activities starting from assessing threats and vulnerabilities, discovering new updates, obtaining, testing and deploying all the required patches on time.
Usually, companies offering Application Management Service may also be catering to messaging and collaboration services, asset management, IT infrastructure management etc. The advantage of using these services lies in the fact that they are all cloud-enabled and delivered using business ready platform for enterprise tools.
Companies can now expect to achieve new industry benchmarks aligned to business outcome in less time. An experienced Application Management Service provider can ensure excellence in delivery quality and continuous improvement in the management and optimization of your applications. Such services use innovative tools that help in adopting new technologies for improved end user productivity. Above all companies can expect to enjoy competitive differentiation that will accelerate the ROI curve in no-time.
Read more on: IT infrastructure outsourcing
Managed security services
Posted by kelton08
at 4:38 AM EDT
What Is the Need for Information Security Management?
IT has become an indispensable component of a business’ existence as the processing, storing and distribution of business data is reliant on IT functionality. This data is sensitive and confidential and requires a competent management system to keep it away from any kind of unauthorized access or misuse. With growing amounts of data, IT administrators are perpetually challenged to ensure security management solutions for protecting information from not only outside threats but also threats from within organizations, such as disgruntled employees or those with vile intentions.
Information security has become top priority in today’s highly competitive environment. To survive any misfortunes, businesses need to implement the best IT solutions that are in alignment with their business goals and requirements. With several new emerging technologies, they need reliable technology partners that can implement ideal practices that help them grow and be successful among the competition.
Factors that demand resilient information security management are:
- The security policies, activities and objectives that denote the purpose of the business
- A supportive strategy for information security that is in alignment with the business and has affirmative implementation, maintenance, monitoring and improvement capabilities
- High levels of commitment and support amongst the different management units
- Focus on highlighting awareness amongst employees and other related parties regarding information security
- Identification of ongoing changes to initiate appropriate controls on the existing technology, processes and policies of the business
With the constant unfolding of IT and internet benefits, businesses have discovered the convenience of working while on the move without affecting the performance of the business. The freedom of remote accessibility through wireless systems has not only facilitated employees and employers but also security hackers who gain access to company systems and thereby inherit windfalls. The popularity of e-commerce, online trading, etc., has revealed the blatant exploitation of vulnerable systems and thus has created the need for high-end security measures such as cryptographic algorithms.
Businesses should be aware of the fact that their partners who provide information security services should also provide powerful identity and access management services to restrict any unauthorized or suspicious entries. The emphasis should be on a stringent identity and access mechanism to help identify fake users and snuff out their actions before they cause any damage.
There is no inclination about the kinds of risks that may threaten a business’ information security systems or from which direction they may come. It is best to be prepared for any situation at any time so that damages can be controlled and minimized, and businesses can be saved from being defunct. With effective information security management , businesses can be assured of dependable security policies that provide unfailing support to repel attacks of any intensity.
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Posted by kelton08
at 2:13 AM EDT
