OISG

Improving the workplace with VDI solutions for BYOD policies

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) brings greater efficiency and flexibility to your IT management, but can it improve 'Bring Your Own Device' (BYOD) policies?

Advances in technology mean that people can work in the office, remotely or even on-the-go – increasing demand for documents and data access on a variety of personal devices. Using a VDI means documents and programs can be accessed anywhere, on any device, since the data is stored remotely and the software runs from the server end, it minimises device technical requirements.

Email opens option

Using email as a stepping-stone into a BYOD policy is a great way to get started. Allowing email on mobile devices can have a positive effect on employee satisfaction, providing a bit more flexibility while testing the waters for future remote access behaviour.

Emails are the most common remoteor mobile-accessed data for any organisation, but also present the largest security risk because of the less controllable nature of the content. While web pages and applications can be easily blocked, sometimes that virus-laden link in an email is accidentally clicked. However, a VDI solution can deliver enhanced security by working with integrated security software - limiting or negating any potential damage from nefarious links.

Security is key

The most important thing to push home to anyone using their own device is online security. It would be worth updating your IT policy to reflect BYOD as common practice within your business, and ensure that all elements of security are covered regardless of the device used.

While integrating security across devices may seem like quite a difficult task, it really isn't. Not only is a VDI simple to implement on any device, the security systems can be just as simple too. Cisco has a comprehensive solution for mobile device management (MDM) that works on any device. Cisco’s comprehensive BYOD solution means your security policy is consistent across the entire organisation, instead of varying from device to device.

Adapting user behaviour

It sounds simple, but reminding those taking advantage of a BYOD policy of the potential risks mobile devices could involve, saves a lot of hassle in the longer term, i.e. treat people as responsible adults and they are less likely to flout the rules. Instead of a list of restrictions, which may well be impractical on mobile devices and therefore routinely ignored, highlighting a few key user behaviour guidelines will be better received and adhered to. For example…

When using a VDI solution there should be no reason for software downloads, so that is pretty straightforward to restrict. You could also investigate having graded access depending on device and role: while some may access all elements within a VDI solution, others may be restricted to only email and basic permissions.

Implementing a BYOD policy can take some time to shift everyone's behaviour. However, the longer term, the flexibility and cost-savings it can provide, outweigh the potential reluctance of changes in user behaviour.

Managing the shift

Moving to a comprehensive BYOD policy may seem intimidating, but it is essentially all about managing expectations. Your IT team need to realise that their role has shifted from device to data management, while your staff need to realise that their role has shifted from policy-enforced to policy-compliant.

Organisations should be treating people as partners of their data with VDI supported BYOD solutions. Organisations are setting themselves up for failure if they establish a prescriptive and limiting desktop-only IT policy, will free up time, save money and improve employee satisfaction as their flexible working options open up.

Have you thought about implementing BYOD in your business? Download our free and impartial IT support guide to find out how VDI and BYOD can boost efficiency and cost savings for your organisation.

How can businesses & SMEs afford competitive IT software & hardware solutions?

Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

By Dominic Stow, Sales Director, OISG Group Financial Services If you can resist the urge to throw your ageing computer equipment out of the window, I may have a way for any business to stay competitive without a huge capital expense: IT leasing.

We all know that after just a few years computer equipment can get frustratingly slow. Laptops are particularly notorious for losing battery life at an alarming rate. This was certainly the case with my laptop just a month ago – but as I began researching my replacement laptop I got to thinking about last year’s prediction by Forrester Research that enterprises would dramatically cut spending on new IT equipment in the face of economic uncertainly in Europe. Equipment sales will still grow, said Forrester, but only by 0.3% over the next year.

But what happens to those enterprises - big, small, educational or financial – who are going to be stuck with slow and outdated IT equipment? How can they hope to stay competitive when they are just ‘sitting out’ of rapid technological development? And an even more worrying thought: what will enterprises do when their hardware or software is not supported? – Disturbingly, this is one of the most common predicaments for enterprise.

After doing a little web research I discovered that actually, while IT purchase spend was slowing almost to a halt, IT equipment leasing was becoming the fastest growing asset leasing industry in the world. In the UK alone IT leasing grew by 21% in the year from February 2012, and now stands at a total value of £100m for February 2013 (source: FLA).

So what are the benefits that drive more and more businesses to IT leasing over traditional purchase? Let’s take a look by industry sector…

Education – a (good) computer for every child

For students, being tech-literate is an essential part of a well-rounded education. To tackle the job market, schools should be providing their students with software and computers that are current, not technology that is five to ten years old.

However, purchasing and deploying new computer equipment in the education sector every few years is a costly exercise that most educational organisations simply cannot afford. Besides, it makes the government aim of “a computer for every child’ an unobtainable goal. However, with IT leasing, schools and universities are, thankfully, provided with more options.

Leases are taken out with obsolescence in mind, so IT managers can plan their equipment redundancy and not be stuck with a huge amount of obsolete equipment after just a few years. As well as saving schools and universities from outdated equipment, leasing also saves them from the costly task of disposing of IT equipment in an environmentally-friendly way, an expense that many establishments fail to factor in when budgeting.

For more benefits of IT leasing for educational organisations take a look at the OISG blog: Computer leasing opens schools up to IT upgrades and cuts costs.

Enterprises – expand without overload

As a Financial Services advisor and professional, I know that businesses exist to grow and expand. It's exactly for this reason that leasing options are almost essential for businesses, whether they are an SME or a global enterprise.

Businesses will be keen to keep IT costs to a minimum with no interruption or headaches when IT hardware or software needs replacing, yet at the same time provide their growing number of employees with the best possible software and hardware.

With IT leasing, businesses have the capacity to expand their workforce quickly and easily with little intervention from the IT department. What’s more, businesses can hold onto more of their essential working capital, paying only a predictable monthly fee for each piece of equipment leased.

IT leasing can therefore help businesses grow even in times of economic uncertainty, just check out the OISG Virgin Holidays case study to see what I mean.

Finance – reduce your liabilities

Of all the sectors, the finance sector can benefit the most from IT leasing.

Due to the financial crisis and the resulting Basel III regulation, financial institutions are now required to hold more capital to cover their risk-weighted obligations. This means that they are being expected to save capital while at the same time continuing to be competitive – and it’s here that IT leasing can really come in handy.

As well as holding back capital, having predictable monthly payments and reducing the cost of deployment, IT equipment operating leases mean that financial institutions can move their lease costs to the footnotes of their balance sheets without having to declare it as a liability. This means that they can get all the latest computer hardware and software without massive overheads or even more balance sheet liabilities.

Our free guide: Why IT leasing is better for business sets out the full range of benefits businesses can expect when leasing. If you’re left with any lingering questions then take a look at our Financial Services FAQ factsheet or give OISG Group a call.

VDI technology event

Wed, 8 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

OISG Group will host a VDI technology event at their Curlew Street Demo Lab on 30th May. They will be joined by industry leading experts in the field of VDI from VMware, Atlantis Computing and RES.

These speakers will share their insights and experience in deploying VDI solutions through a series of demonstrations and presentations.

To book a place at our event please visit our registration page to reserve your spot today.

VDI for business and enterprise, the facts - VDI Event

Tue, 7 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) overcomes a lot of the problems of a more traditional local desktop infrastructure - but it's not one-size-fits-all.

The future of VDI will be discussed at the OISG event with experts from VMware, Atlantis Computing and RES – let’s take a look at some of the current myths surrounding VDI solutions.

“Virtual Desktop Infrastructure is not as costly as many would believe”

Developing a desktop infrastructure for businesses used to involve complicated and expensive solutions, but implementing VDI can cut a lot of the hassle from this process.

So why is there still some pushback from businesses on using VDI?

There are some common myths to address here - prepare to be debunked.

“Remote services are untrustworthy”

Having the technical aspects of a desktop solution managed centrally can make them more reliable, not less. Instead of having to apply individual changes to each device as software updates are rolled out, this can be done in one go in the data centre. The centralised system also means software is in the hands of experts, so any technological issues can be dealt with swiftly there and then - no need to callout the IT team to the office or deal with costly downtime.

“It's expensive”

The initial cost isn't cheap, but the long-term savings are what any savvy business should be taking into account. Desktop hardware updates are a thing of the past. With VDI environments, applications and operating systems no longer rely on specific client hardware. So a business can keep updating software without needing new computers to go with it.

Still not convinced? OISG Enterprise Solutions recently saved a college 66% in IT costs by using a VDI solution instead of a traditional desktop PC environment.

“It's a hassle to set up”

Again, not true. With the advance of technology such as Citrix's 'VDI-in-a-box',the process is hugely simplified. This solution takes away any need for expensive shared storage, instead using the local storage on servers and balancing workloads across the CPUs (central processing units). The solution doesn't take long to set up either, with GSM London proving a VDI implementation timeline can be less than six weeks from order to roll-out.

“It's not scalable”

Of course the solution is scalable: storage is flexible, 'bring your own device' practices are not limited, as new devices can be added whenever required, and centralised storage of data and applications means no requirement for local storage at your site. Whether adding one or one hundred terminals, a VDI solution is completely scalable - GSM added 600 terminals in one go, which would have been a mammoth task on local desktop infrastructure setup.

Let's face it: virtual desktops are the future for most organisations. VDI is transparently cost-effective, whilst also addressing and solving the issue of full scalability.
Leading VDI solution experts and OISG Group partners, RES, VMware and Atlantis Computing will be discussing important trends and challenges solved by VDI at a roundtable event, 30 May This event encourages you to pose all your questions around how VDI will change the future of your business.

Meet the team: Peter Kapsopoulos, OISG Group Enterprise Solutions on 2013 business IT trends & pub antics

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:08:22 GMT

Peter Kapsopoulos takes 10 minutes from his demanding role as OISG Group’s Enterprise Technical Services Manager to reveal exactly how he resolves client issues, and why he’s not lying when he says OISG is ‘the best place to work’.

How long have you been an OISGer, and what are you responsible for?

I've been with OISG Group for three and a half years, and am responsible for architecting virtualisation and storage solutions. I also manage and develop a team of Enterprise Solution consultants within the disciplines of IT Infrastructure, virtualisation and storage, desktop virtualisation and user workspace management, and Microsoft AD and Unified Messaging.

Sounds complicated. What does that mean and how does it benefit your customers?

It makes their support really flexible which enables them to turn things around, purchase hardware and configure software much faster. It also means they have a fully scalable option, depending on the growth of their business.

What are some commonly asked business IT support questions?

The most common questions almost always involve how to make a client's IT system work better for them, such as making it more resilient and easier to manage. We often respond with our 'N+1' theory: solutions are as modular and repeatable as possible, so an entire environment doesn't go down when something goes wrong. It also means they can scale up depending on their needs.

What upcoming IT support trends do you think will be ones to watch?

I definitely think that Automated Tiered Storage Solutions, automating workflow processes, and virtualisation technologies will be making a big impact on businesses in the near future.

What makes OISG Group a great place to work?

Being a relatively young and modern company means there is a great work environment with a lot of banter. On a more serious note, I like that the mantra, "Service is Everything", really does seem to apply across the company in everything we do, and our history and expertise means we really can provide a unique end-to-end service to our customers.

What's a typical day in the life of Peter?

There isn't one! Typical doesn't apply here. One day I'm working from home on customer documents, another I'm on-site resolving an issue with a customer at the other end of the country. As we provide a 24/7 service, sometimes you can get a call at a really funky hour, though those are always the most serious ones.

Working at OISG Group, one day we’re dedicated to the service desk, dealing with calls that either result in remote solutions or visiting the client site to tackle problems head-on. It’s great for knowledge and learning as well building relationships.

In our dealings with clients and our associated pool of partners, there is one common thread, we don’t leave our customers in the lurch 'Service Is Everything’. It’s our ethic and actions that prove our clients are our supreme priority.

And how about outside of work, what happens after 17:30?

While the team are all so passionate about delivering the best client services possible, we’re a young vibrant set of individuals. At the end of the working day, I'll be kicking back with colleagues in one of our locals in Butler's Wharf, London. That, or some go-karting and football. Not together, mind.

The OISG Group blog keeps you abreast of the most important IT industry news and trends for better business decisions, you can subscribe here.

A recent OISG Group survey of IT professionals found that responsiveness, cost and expertise are the most important factors in choosing an IT Support provider. For professional guidance, download our guide: selecting the right IT Support partner.

66% cost-reduction in VDI vs. installing individual PCs

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:11:12 GMT

Providing your organisation’s computer users with desktop infrastructure is by no means an easy task. The setup alone can take months, cost a small fortune and leave enterprises with a network that is difficult to maintain and scale up as needed.

Fortunately, enterprises have the option of implementing virtual desktop infrastructure, or VDI. The difference with VDI is that it enables users to access a virtual desktop through their networked device. All of the applications, data, preferences etc. are stored on a server and are easily accessed from remote devices connected to the network.

What are the key benefits of VDI?

Cost-effective – Since the desktop is virtual, it can run on almost any networked machine, regardless of its hardware spec. Unlike a local installation of Windows, a virtualised environment does not need expensive hardware upgrades, meaning a quicker, cheaper installation.

OISG Enterprise Solutions recently completed a VDI project at GSM London that saved the school around 66% when compared to a non-virtualised, local installation.

Centrally managed – All of the software within a VDI environment is stored on servers rather than on individual PCs. This means that essential application rollouts, or even a change in brand imagery, can be easily deployed by IT from a central location.

Along with updates, IT can also manage the day-to-day admin of all networked VDIs centrally.

Scalable – Adding a new device to a VDI environment is relatively straightforward and quick to do, which makes it simple to expand the network. Since all the software and the primary processing power is contained at the server end, IT simply needs to expand the server capacity to meet user demand. This makes VDI very scalable and perfect for rapidly growing organisations or those undergoing a merger or acquisition.

Quick installation – You may be under the impression that VDI is great long-term but a hassle to initially set up. However, VDI setup does not need to be a long, drawn-out process, especially with technology like Citrix’s 'VDI-in-a-box’.

This unique solution means that servers contain all the power, load balancing and storage you need to manage VDI, negating the need for expensive shared storage (SAN). This solution can also be scaled simply by adding additional servers. Once again, there is no need to be concerned about increasing SAN resources.

The VDI project OISG Enterprise Solutions completed for GSM London, for example, took under 6 weeks from placing the order to being fully up-and-running.

To discover the practical benefits of VDI for your organisation, watch OISG's case study to see how VDI saved client GSM London 66% over traditional PCs.

Does your business network run from locally installed machines or a VDI environment? Are you currently researching the pros and cons of VDI? Add your question to the comment box below. Alternatively, speak to one of OISG Enterprise Solution’s friendly staff directly.

To Windows 8 or not to Windows 8 - that is the question for enterprise

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:17:24 GMT

Microsoft's new Windows 8 operating system (OS) is gaining some serious traction in the consumer market, so businesses are starting to consider whether it is worth upgrading too.

With Windows XP (a firm favourite for businesses) only a year away from its end-of-support lifecycle, the need to at least investigate Windows 8 is becoming even more urgent.

”Stop! Don't upgrade!,” is the dominant message from across the web, but is this view a bit short-sighted? After all, Windows 8 is the first truly game-changing Microsoft OS since XP.

Unfortunately, the answer to the question of whether you should invest in Windows 8 for your enterprise is not a straightforward one. That said, let's start by looking at some of the pros and cons of Windows 8 and then suggest a compromise.

Pros

Easy sync: As you might imagine, Windows 8 has been optimised to sync with other Windows-based devices such as the Windows phone and Microsoft Surface. There is also an integrated app for Microsoft's Cloud storage platform making it even easier than Dropbox to sync your files between devices.
Speed and energy-efficiency: Due to the new algorithms and data structures within the core of the OS, Windows 8 is able to run the same functions with fewer instructions, making it quicker and more energy-efficient.
Security: The apps developed to run on Windows 8 must first be Microsoft approved and then contained within Microsoft's ‘security sandbox’, AppContainer, to help limit the damage rogue apps can do. A new feature called Secure Boot also enhances your IT security by checking the OS for corruption upon startup.

Cons

Steeplearning curve: The main problem for most businesses is the difficulty in migrating over to the new OS. Those familiar with the Surface or Windows phone will pick up things a little quicker, but the radically different design and layout is going to take some time to learn (especially for anyone used to the old style of Windows - there's no “Start'’ button here folks!). Migration will require a fair bit of training and support, and may cause a drop in productivity while users become more accustomed to the new UI (user interface).
Unsupported applications: As you may expect, with an entirely new core driving Windows 8, many legacy systems will need updating or may simply not work. Tasks like installing your printer may require a little fiddling around with drivers, while the Gmail app simply won't work (due to a tiff between Google and Microsoft – it still works through a web browser though). Fortunately, if your application doesn't work in Windows 8 OS then there are a few easy tricks you can use to get it going again.

Microsoft have also provided a handy Upgrade Assistant which will scan your system for any unsupported apps, programs or hardware. You can download it free from the Windows 8 website.
Non-touch handicap: While the new layout and UI might work wonderfully on touchscreen devices, using a mouse suddenly feels like a handicap on the new OS. It’s challenging enough getting over the loss of the “Start” button, but when you have to use your mouse to simulate complex hand gestures you'll suddenly feel like a Bronze Age man in an Iron Age world.

Overall, techies are split, in the sense of businesses upgrading to Windows 8. On the one hand it, promises a faster, more secure computer experience, ready for touchscreen devices and PCs. On the other hand it poses a real challenge for change management teams – checking apps and hardware for compatibility as well as extensive training and support once installed.

However, one thing all experts seem to agree on is that migration to a Windows 8-like OS is only a matter of time, whether it be Windows 8, 9 or even 10.

What is most likely, however, is that in the next 6-12 months, Microsoft will release some kind of 'crossover’ platform or Windows 8 patch, taking the radically new bits of Windows 8, like the panel UI, and integrating them with the bits of Windows XP/7 that we know and love, like the “Start’ button and taskbar to help business users migrate gradually to the new style platform.

The Compromise

Given the inevitability of touchscreen technology taking over the market, an operating system like Windows 8 is going to be a necessary change sooner or later. As such, it is probably best that businesses start getting used to the idea and testing the new OS on their systems and their staff. Using Windows 8 on small-scale projects, or even setting it up as part of your virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solution, will allow your staff to familiarise themselves with the challenging new UI while extensively testing the new OS on your network. This way, businesses will be able to avoid the same changeover problems experienced with Windows 7 after sticking with XP despite the release of Vista.

Conclusion

Give it a go on a few isolated devices or VDIs and see how it goes. At the very least you will be prepared for the 'generational leap’ that is inevitability going to take over. If you decide to completely ignore Windows 8 then you might just be left behind when Windows 9 revolutionises the industry.

To discuss trialling Windows 8 on your network via individual machines or VDI get in contact with the OISG team for guidance on the most suitable way forward for your business. OISG are here to support your IT systems, every step of the way. For more information on how to choose the ideal IT support provider for your company, download OISG’s free guide: Selecting the best solution to meet your IT support needs.

Have you tried Windows 8? What was your impression? We'd love to hear your experiences in the comments section below...

IT support survey: How important is IT support for business, really?

Tue, 9 Apr 2013 10:00:00 GMT

There will always be those areas of business that excite you – a new marketing campaign or product launch perhaps – but it's unlikely that IT support will ever be one of them. Yet IT support is one of those things that when you need it, you really need it! If you do find yourself in a disruptive IT-related situation, you will be kicking yourself for not paying closer attention to it earlier when things were going well...

The problem for most businesses is finding the time (and the inclination) to wrap your head around what is needed from good IT support. Do you prioritise cost or expertise? What is more important: a single point-of-contact or out-of-warranty discounts? Do all IT support suppliers offer a guaranteed fix time?

Often businesses inexperienced in dealing with IT support services will simply view them as simply break-fix workmen, there to call when you have something that needs fixing. But IT support should be seen as an enabling force which helps your company stay competitive: a solution that cuts existing IT costs while curbing any potential IT costs.

For a full lowdown on the benefits a good IT support provider can provide to your bottom line, download part one of the free guide 10 ways to prevent your IT support from consuming your budget.

OISG has recently conducted a survey of senior IT professionals to find out what is most important when it comes to IT support so that you can learn from their extensive experience.

Why would I need outsourced IT support?

The IT pros surveyed made it pretty clear that there were three key reasons they would outsource their IT support:

- Essential 24/7/365 support – Businesses don't just operate 9-5 anymore – the world is always watching and may want to make a purchase at any time. That is perhaps why over 40% of respondents said that being able to pick up the phone for IT support cover any time was an important reason to outsource their IT support.

- Cost – Nearly 40% of respondents cited reduced cost as a main reason for outsourcing IT support. Keeping an expert on-staff “just in case’ can get expensive, while multi-vendor support contracts can also drive up your IT support costs over time. An outsourced solution allows you to have an expert on standby without the full-time wage cost.

- Specialist expertise – Almost 40% of respondents said that a need for specialist expertise in business IT support would be a major reason for outsourcing their IT support. The simple fact is that one business will use a wide range of technologies, so finding an in-house IT professional or team that has expertise in all your technologies is unlikely. A good outsourced IT support team will be able to provide expert IT support regardless of the technology as they’re likely to have a whole workforce of experts on different IT software and IT hardware. This means they are responsible for knowing the most cost-efficient and relevant solutions for your company.

What are the most important qualities in a great IT support provider?

By and large, the response to this question reflect the key reasons most business look to outsource their IT support in the first place: responsiveness (70%), cost (60%) and expertise (82%).

Discover the four key qualities to look out for in your IT supplier in 2013 and find out how developments in SaaS/Cloud, virtualisation and IT security are changing the IT support landscape.

What services should I look out for in a great IT support supplier?

Different IT support suppliers will provide different services – some you will definitely need, some you may not. It is important that you compare the services against what you will actually need in order to get the most cost-effective cover. Here are the services the survey respondents said were most important:

- Single point-of-contact – Speaking to the same person each time you call IT support is both reassuring and helps to minimise repetition of information. Your point-of-contact gets to know you and your business and can respond to your needs quicker.

- Multi-vendor support – As mentioned earlier, businesses rarely rely on just one technology, so it is important that an IT support provider can assist regardless of vendor product.

- Guaranteed fix time – Service-level agreements are important to any aspect of IT – you want to know what to expect before something goes wrong rather than after. A guaranteed fix time means that the IT support provider isn't just going to be on site within a specified timeframe, they will actually have it fixed too!

- Comprehensive management reporting – Reporting is the only clear window to see behind the scenes of your IT support, so it is important that it is comprehensive. A good report will highlight the expertise of your IT support provider while helping to illustrate the issue found with your IT. This may allow you to take preventative measures in the future to minimise the chance of the same issue arising.

In the end, the reason for IT support is to minimise downtime and get your business back up-and-running as quickly as possible. An IT support provider should have the expertise to deal with multiple vendor issues, the experience to keep a cool head in a crisis, and provide a service-level agreement (SLA) as a guarantee. Discover the true extend of downtime to businesses in our free infographic.

OISG have a comprehensive outsourced IT support solution offering a guaranteed fix time, out-of-warranty support, comprehensive reporting and more. Just take a look at the IT support section of the OISG website for the full service offering.

Don't forget to download the free guide to cutting IT support costs for a more in-depth look at the benefits of a good IT support provider.

What boxing can teach us about the importance of good IT support

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:14:24 GMT

With the annual CRN Fight Night event fast approaching, we thought it would be interesting to take a look at what boxing can teach us about the importance of good business IT support.

As you may remember from last year's CRN, we at OISG Group have a deep affection for the sport of boxing – one of our Account Directors, Tunji Oyedele, fought valiantly at the 2012 CRN fight night to help raise funds for the Orangutan Protection Foundation.

But other than the benefits of the work hard, play hard attitude that we embody in our IT services, what else can boxing teach us about business IT support?

A great team

A boxer can only find success with a great team behind them – a team with their interests at heart. Choosing your IT support team can be very much the same. A dedicated team supporting you whatever happens can make the difference between effortless IT support and a K.O. for your IT systems. For more advice on picking the perfect IT support team, download our free guide:Selecting the best IT support solution.

Going down can change the game

Getting knocked down even for a short time can change the course of a boxing match. It can be very hard to find your feet once again and you can easily lose confidence in yourself, giving your competition the upper hand.

This is also very true of IT support: if it goes down even for a short amount of time you may never fully recover. In fact, it’s estimated that UK businesses lose a total of 300,000 hours and £2bn in revenue due to IT downtime each year. Your clients and end users will lose confidence, your competitors can jump on the chance to overpower you, and you may never really find your feet again afterwards.

Make sure you choose a business IT support supplier with an impeccable track record and a guaranteed service level agreement (SLA) to ensure you are never knocked off your feet.

Diligence and focus breeds success

It's sad to see, but all too often great boxers lose their ranking when they give up their diligence and focus. When once great fighters like Ricky Hatton or Mike Tyson begin indulging in drugs and heavy drinking they lose their focus and their boxing goes downhill fast. On the other hand, diligent and highly focused fighters like the great Muhammed Ali are immortalised in history as the greatest boxers ever.

The same is true of business IT support suppliers – some maintain their diligence and focus by continually earning new qualifications and partnerships, such as our recent Silver accredited partnership for Signify's 2-factor authentication (2FA) security solutions.

One good hit can take you out

As any boxing fan will know, it only takes one good hit for a K.O. In terms of business IT support that hit could come from just one strong virus or malicious attack. It would only take one successful attack to punch through your IT security and cause permanent damage to your reputation, finances and overall health of your company.

A good IT support supplier will be able to reassure you about their security credentials and demonstrate that they are up-to-speed with the latest developments in the world of IT security.

To see for yourself the benefits of a heavyweight IT support service supplier get in touch with OISG Group today.

What are your major concerns when looking for a new IT support supplier? Budget? Security?

Leave your comments below.

The Atlas of emails: A 'traditional email archive' is not a storage facility

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:32:43 GMT

In ancient Greek mythology Atlas was the Titan forced by Zeus to hold up the sky as a punishment. In the computer age, it's businesses that are forced to hold up a growing email archive both as a source of potentially useful data and for compliance with regulations such as Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) or eDiscovery requests. Wouldn't it be a weight off your shoulders if your archive, or the 'sky', supported itself simply through the Cloud?

What should an archive be?

An archive is not a storage facility - an 'attic' in which to dump all your old letters in case they're needed again. Why? Imagine a loft with thousands upon thousands of letters dumped in there, it would take you days to find the information you were looking for...if at all!

An email archive can be a valuable reserve of information and data, and is certainly the most used and ubiquitous means of transferring data. As such it should be well-organised, searchable, and secure in order to help increase productivity rather than impede it.

Given the regularity with which people communicate via email, an archive also needs to be readily scalable to cope with any large influxes of data. Scalability can prove exceptionally difficult with on-premise hardware as it can take months to deploy additional resources to cope with the increase in data.

Cloud Support

Cloud technology has developed rapidly over the last few years, transforming business IT in new and fundamental ways. The Cloud now provides a fast and secure method of using software and infrastructure as a service (SaaS and IaaS respectively) and because of its flexible scalability, it is the ideal solution for email archives.

The Cloud also helps to deliver a consistent and secure service to mobile devices and tablets. Securing email on users' own devices, or BYOD as it's called, was a concern for 39% of professionals surveyed by Mimecast. With Cloud-based email management, mail can be securely delivered, while being archived naturally and consistently across all your staff's personal devices.

Interactive Archive

Using this new model of Cloud support for your email archive, the email experts at Mimecast have developed their Interactive Archive. Mimecast realised that in the world of 'big data', emails had to contain a huge amount of useful data, but in order to take advantage of that data an email archive needed to be highly interactive for end users.

But creating a separate email archive would break up the user's workflow, which can often lead to users searching for easier alternative solutions. As such, Mimecast have integrated a whole host of other applications, such as Dropbox, Sharepoint, Office 360 and Outlook, to nestle the Interactive Archive seamlessly into the usual workflow.

Want to find out more about the Mimecast Interactive Archive? Download our free guide to this enhanced new email archive system: Making your email work harder for your business advantage or speak to OISG Group today.

Over to you!

What do you find to be the biggest drawbacks of your current email archiving solution? Share your frustrations in the comments box below…

Infographic: How to combat IT downtime

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 09:54:03 GMT

IT managers know that IT downtime can wreak havoc on employee efficiency and put a big dent in a business’s balance sheet.

In fact, according to a report by an OISG Group partner, CA Technologies, UK organisations are losing 300,000 hours and £2bn a year as a result of IT-related downtime. And while the national costs are significant, individual businesses feel the pain in a more drastic way: research revealed that the average UK business loses £208,000 each year as result of time spent on fixing failed IT systems.

In Europe, the UK ranks eighth in terms of average losses as a result of downtime-related IT repairs – beating out Denmark (£137,000), Belgium (£71,000) and Italy (£28,000). This downtime affects productivity as well: 200 UK businesses surveyed said they experienced around 27 hours of IT downtime each year.

So what does this mean for a company’s bottom line? As the result of compromised IT systems, UK organisations believe their ability to generate revenue is cut by 22%.

While the whole business will suffer as a result of downtime, certain individuals feel the effects more than others. The three business areas most affected by IT stoppages were operations (76%), finance (52%) and sales (39%), the study found.

However, there are ways to deal with IT downtime quickly and effectively. The right IT support provider can be a viable solution. Look out for suppliers that offer a guaranteed fix time vs. response time. Other key qualities to consider are:

Accredited engineers
Out-of-warranty support
Multi-vendor support
Offer a fixed monthly cost
Provides contract consolidation
Provides a single point of contact for technical support
SLAs and guaranteed response and fix times

The right IT support provider can help make the downtime less costly and time consuming. With a proper IT support solution in place, you can rest assured you’ll experience minimal impact to your bottom line with professionals at the helm.

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Download our IT support guide to learn even more about how to select the right IT support provider.

Financial Services: The top 5 FAQs behind IT leasing

Thu, 7 Mar 2013 16:21:21 GMT

It’s a sad fact that IT financial services have a reputation for being deliberately confusing and tricky to deal with. It's a real shame though, as for some businesses the benefits could be great. In this blog we’re going to answer some of the more frequently asked questions we receive from customers and prospective clients when it comes to IT financing. To read answers to all of our most frequently asked questions, check out our computer leasing FAQ page or, if you have a question that is not covered here, add it in the comments section below.

1. What are the financial benefits of leasing over purchasing IT equipment?

It’s natural to assume that a lease will cost more overall and leave you empty-handed when it comes to an end. However, this usually isn’t the case, specifically when it comes to IT equipment.

A lease allows you to spread the cost of the purchase and only pay a fixed amount each month. This not only makes your financials easier to predict but it also stops you having to fork out a huge chunk of capital on IT equipment up front.

There are also some tax benefits to leasing. As purchased equipment depreciates over time, so too will your tax benefits. With an IT lease you can continue to enjoy the same tax benefits throughout your lease while also allowing you to invest your capital more wisely.

2. Is it really more cost-effective to lease IT hardware and software?

Yes. Not only are there the financial benefits detailed above, but leasing can also make it quicker and easier to obtain new hardware and software. As IT is an arena where things move along fast, it is important that any pioneering company have access to new technology. When you purchase your IT outright you risk rapid depreciation, difficult reselling and big outlays for new equipment.

With an IT lease, on the other hand, you can swap your existing equipment and take out a new lease with minimum fuss. And since the process is managed externally, IT management and procurement costs are lower too.

3. What happens to your existing assets with an IT lease?

At OISG Financial Services, we are able to buy-back or dispose of your existing IT equipment as necessary.

If you choose to dispose of your existing equipment, we will ship it to our logistics centre in Germany where all hardware will be wiped to a military service grade to ensure no confidential information can be recovered.

If you choose to have us buy-back your existing IT equipment we can do so, sometimes at the current book value. So if you bought £100,000 worth of equipment three years ago, we can buy this equipment from you at its depreciated value of £33,000 and then add on a new lease – effectively switching you over to a lease system for £133,000 and providing £33,000 cash back.

4. But we can’t lease if we have a purchase-only policy, right?

We cannot change your internal policies, however, we would question the value of such a policy in the modern IT environment. Technology moves so fast these days that an IT procurement project could see your new IT equipment out-of-date in no time at all, and after investing a huge chunk of capital.

The first thing to ask yourself is: do we actually have a purchase-only , or is that just the way we have traditionally worked? Businesses often discover that there is no formal policy, in which case you can begin to enjoy the benefits of leasing your IT equipment.

5. What is the difference between an operating lease and a finance lease?

Finance leases, also called “full-payout leases’, require the lessee to make regular payments for the full value of the IT equipment, plus interest. These leases are sometimes preferred by the accounts department as they include the lease liability and corresponding assets on their balance sheet, balancing out the equation.

Operating leases, or “residual value leases’, on the other hand, cost less in total than the value of the equipment over the total of the lease and, at the end of the lease, the equipment can be returned or re-leased. These kinds of leases are not included formally in balance sheets, which provides tax and financial benefits for some businesses.

If you'd like to know more about IT equipment leasing speak to one of our team today, read our full FAQ page or simply use the comments section below to ask your question.

Tech Wars: Computer leasing a new hope

Mon, 4 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

“Help us computer leasing experts, you're our only hope”...

The dark side of finance hangs over the business galaxy. Financial directors across Europe hold on to the few precious resources that remain in the hope that something will come along to save them from failure. IT managers live with the fear that their technology will become obsolete in the face of big businesses' Star Destroyers. But there is one area where hope remains, where the force remains strong: IT leasing (computer leasing).

Engaging Hyperdrive

To rid your business of the shackles of the financial empire you must find the flexibility for infrastructure optimisation by keeping up with technology (to stay competitive). IT leasing puts your technology into hyperdrive. It allows you to access the best and most up-to-date technology without the fear of obsolescence, and helps smaller businesses catch up and outmanoeuvre bigger, more powerful companies – just like the Millennium Falcon.

Being quick and nimble has its advantages, but it does not guarantee success. Without a permanent technological moon base the rebels have little to fall back on. So make sure you are deploying and utilising your new technology wisely in order to outrun the Empire.

Stopping off at Cloud City

The technology accessible with Cloud computing can be vitally important to young rebels such as yourself, but beware relying on the Cloud paradise. As with Cloud City, many businesses are still concerned about the security and credibility of the Cloud. It's incredible popularity means that Cloud solutions are susceptible to dark forces, or cyber security threats.

Once secure and regulated, the Cloud may prove to be a most useful ally, but until then, only use services from companies you know and trust to avoid nasty surprises.

Shielding yourself from the financial Death Star

By increasing capital reserve requirements, regulators have simultaneously cut down on funding to SMEs and made their balance sheets appear weaker. But by using the power of IT software leasing, businesses can shield themselves from this financial Death Star.

Operating leases mean that businesses can lease vital technology for growth without having to prove growth potential first. IT equipment is leased as and when it is needed to facilitate growth and is then returned at the end of your contract. Additionally, with no obligation involved, Finance Directors only need to include operating leases in the notes of their ledger too, which makes obtaining a capital investment that bit easier.

The only downside to operating leases is that the technology will not be owned by your business at the end of the contract, so make sure you factor this in to your cost calculations and ensure you are keeping an eye on your renewal dates.

“Always in motion, the future is”

As Yoda wisely points out, the future is always in motion. While operating leases may not be the pinpoint shot to the exhaust vent needed to completely destroy the Death Star, they do help address an uncertain future with immediate room for growth.

“In a dark place we find ourselves, and a little more knowledge lights our way..” - Master Yoda

If you'd like a little more knowledge then join us on LinkedIn to share in our weekly blogs, or to find out more about our IT leasing solutions in our computer leasing FAQ page.

Over to you!

What are the biggest financial or operational challenges your rebel army faces this year? Leave your comments below...

IT Security Solutions: Filling the biggest holes in business IT security policy

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Business IT security has had adifficult start to 2013– with Twitter system breaches affecting over 250,000 people, as well as high-profile Twitter account hacks on both the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. To add insult to injury, compromised Twitter accounts could still be used via third-party applications, signalling a worrying trend in IT security policy.

These high-profile breaches are likely to leave smaller businesses feeling uneasy about their own IT security policy. After all, most businesses are still unsure what the bigger security threat is: the Cloud, email or mobile devices?

Information everywhere

There is a perception among businesses that information is secure if held on-premises, and less secure if held on a data centre, within the Cloud or a mobile device. Yet all these 'information everywhere' technologies have developed along with modern information security policies, to the point that the Cloud is now recognised as just as safe, if not more so, than local servers.

The biggest threat

The biggest threat, on the other hand, oftencomes from your email system. Many of us are far too complacent about our email system, willingly sending secure logins, credit card information or personal correspondence via email. But email technology has not evolved a great deal since its inception in the 1970s.

Given how long email has been around and the comfort with which we send and receive sensitive information, it is not difficult to see why email systems are so vulnerable. Email security for business is an issue - we are in an age where messages can be intercepted before you send them - in transit, at the other end, much later on your server...so you can never be 100% sure that an email has not been compromised.

How to protect yourself

Fortunately, there are some information security technologies built into email platforms. Our partner, Mimecast, has developed a Microsoft Outlook-based Cloud email archiving solution complete with inbuilt email security. Their 'interactive archive' allows businesses to archive their email cheaply and securely in the Cloud, providing anywhere access without the overheads or IT security policy holes. One security policy can be applied to the whole archive, wherever it's accessed from.

To find out more about email archiving and security, download our free introductory whitepaper: make email archiving work harder for your business advantage.

Two-factor authentication

A more fundamental flaw in information security policies is the use of password-only access. Businesses are becoming increasingly aware of the vulnerability of passwords as they seem to be regularly hacked and leaked en masse. However, two-factor authentication (2FA) – requiring two forms of identification – usually a password and key fob – can appear too cumbersome to manage and too inflexible to be useful.

However, Signify, another of OISG Group's award-winning partners, has developed a 2FA security policy that works with smartphones. Instead of using a key fob or token, users receive a single-use access code on their smart phone. This reduces the cost of managing the tokens to almost zero whilst making your system more secure and flexible. There is even talk of Twitter implementing 2FA following their security mishap earlier this year!

Make sure you keep up with IT security policy trends – follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook or subscribe to IT industry updates. Download this essential business guide to uncover email archiving that works harder for your business advantage.

How are you tackling the shortage in skilled business IT support professionals?

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

According to an IT industry report by the European Commission there will be a shortage of around 700,000 skilled IT professionals across Europe by 2015, with the UK expected to be 100,000 short. The current pipeline of graduates and practitioners would not meet demand,figures released from the government, academia and business claimed, and the National Audit Office have recently said that the IT and cyber-security skills gap is a key challenge in the UK.

The EU Telecoms Commission has made some headway towards solving this shortage by organising a 'grand coalition’ between big tech companies such as HP, Cisco and SAP. These companies will be offering training, free online university courses or start-up funding to help fill the skills gap and keep Europe technologically competitive. But what will smaller companies do when key IT skills become a rare commodity.

Pressure on SMEs

Skilled IT freelancers and contractors can expect to earn upwards of £500 a day as the skills gap grows. This will put huge pressure on UK SMEs as they attempt to manage their information security and IT support with fewer staff. In order to remain competitive, small and medium-sized businesses should act now to secure their IT staff – but what can bigger businesses do?

The problem with an in-house team

One solution may be to look at your in-house hiring and retention processes. But with a shortage of highly skilled professionals, businesses may end up hiring individuals with limited skill sets and leaving parts of their IT infrastructure dangerously exposed. In fact, according to the latest Professional Hiring Index from US agency Robert Half, four in five CIOs find it a challenge to recruit skilled IT professionals.Tweet this stat!

A lack of skills in key functions such as business IT support and information security management may lead to costly downtime as well as potential gaps in security policy. Even a small issue arising in either area could prove extremely damaging to SMEs who rely on their reputation for business.

Why outsource business IT support services?

Outsourcing can be highly advantageous for many businesses as it allows access to highly skilled IT staff without needing to employ them full time. In fact, because all of the IT skills you need are centralised, you can be sure you are getting the very best IT support, security testing and other skills for a fraction of the cost of an in-house team.

The disadvantages of outsourcing your IT team is that they are that extra step removed from your business. If an emergency should come up, you want your IT support on site as quickly as possible, not to wait for them to complete another job. You also need a team that you can call out at any time of day, not just during the usual 9-to-5.

For help in navigating the shortage in skilled IT professionals, download our free guide: How to choose a business IT support provider or contact us today for a no obligation discussion about your current business requirements.

At OISG Group we know that when it comes to IT support service IS everything. That's why OISG offers 24/7 business IT support services across Europe, with a guarantee to be on site within two hours. We also offer a single point of contact and dedicated account management, so you can be secure in the knowledge that we are always there should you need us.

Over to you!

We want to hear your point of view! What other challenges are small businesses facing when it comes to keeping competitive? Let us know in the comment section below…

Computer leasing in schools opens up IT upgrades and cuts costs

Sun, 10 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

In our digital age, the importance of teaching ICT skills in school continues to grow. However the ideal ratio of one computer to one pupil is still not the case in many schools. The main hold-ups are usually unforeseen IT support costs and upgrades.

There’s also the issue that school management already have a lot to juggle - staff, budget, curriculum etc. As such they don’t necessarily have the time to get in to the classroom, assess the IT literacy of their staff and discern what systems will benefit both the pupils and teachers.

An effective ICT procurement solution has to be robust, manageable, scalable and tailored to fit the institution. It also has to be flexible: institutions and technology change, yet schools must be able to stay current even in the face of rapidly changing student expectations.

A new lease of life

Computer leasing can prove to be the big cost-saving solution to many of these difficulties. With parents making an initial or delayed regular payment, every child can have access to technology that’s likely to improve their engagement and skill set, as well as enormously expanding the resources available to them.

For the school, leasing reduces the initial capital outlay, allowing schools to spread out the payments and even the cash flow itself – something every Head wants to hear. Over the course of many contracts, the school can renegotiate for newer equipment and lower prices too, helping to avoid the inevitable redundancy of older technology.

As well as the balance sheet, leasing opens up real opportunities for schools to provide leading ICT learning for children. With coding and programming being discussed as part of the new curriculum, computers as a functional part of classroom aren’t going to be going away.

If you want to hear about what the OISG Financial Services partnership with Laptop for Schools Scheme can do for your institution, then get in touch with us today. We aim to offer you a bespoke system at a low or fixed-rate financing arrangement that the parents of your students can reasonably afford. ICT skills have become an essential part of school, not to mention employability and future learning – and no child should be left behind. Keen to asses your options when it comes to IT hardware and software leasing services? Download our free whitepaper on the: Laptops for students scheme.

Over to you!

We want to hear about your IT hardware and software hold-ups in the education sector. Add your concerns or challenges in the comments section below.

The Interactive Archive: Orlando Scott-Cowley of Mimecast explains the new Cloud computing landscape

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 17:11:06 GMT

With new security threats constantly catching companies off-guard – we must look to more advanced ways of storing and managing data to our advantage.

Where sensitive email data is concerned, what new solutions will help us to consider email archiving in a better way? OISG Group talks to partner Mimecast’s senior product marketing manager, Orlando Scott-Cowley about his new whitepaper on the illusive Interactive Archive enabling email to work harder for your business advantage.

1. What exactly is the concept of the ‘Interactive Archive’?

The concept of an Interactive Archive gives much more functionality for end users, administrators and the business itself.

End users can benefit from access to all their data, both email and file, from a variety of Interactive Platforms, such as desktops, Outlook, Sharepoint, Web interfaces, smartphones and tablets. For the administrator and business owner this interactivity drives a whole new set of interactions too, resulting in:

increased productivity
improved search
and a vital platform for collaboration

The Interactive Archive delivers a single central repository for all email and file data, aimed at the administrator and business. It includes newer platforms like Box and Dropbox. That central repository provides much more detailed tools for the administrator, such as powerful e-discovery and search tools.

The business can benefit from healthy analytics and centralised policy & retention too.

2. What laws and legislations around email archiving do SMEs need to know?

There are plenty of pieces of regulation that drive email archiving, most originate from the US, like Sarbanes Oxley. Here in the UK, there is a definite tendency to want to retain data to be able to prove or disprove anything that might turn into a legal issue. The proverbial smoking gun.

Having an immutable forensic record of all of your email data is generally a good idea these days, specifically for that reason. Because email exists in so many places, you can never be sure the offending email has been deleted, so it’s always good to have the original copy – and be able to prove delivery via the message metadata too.

3. How do you expect Interactive Archiving to dispel questions around Cloud security?

The problems people had with the security of the Cloud were pretty much a knee-jerk reaction to a new technology. Today the Cloud is generally accepted as being far more secure than would be achievable on the network. That’s not to say there aren’t Cloud vendors with vulnerabilities, of course there are, and at Mimecast we always recommend that if you’re considering a Cloud storage solution for your business you make sure the vendor you’re thinking of is reputable and prepared to tell you about how they protect your data. Sadly not all Cloud Service Providers are created equal.

The idea of the Interactive Archive is one that enhances trust in the Cloud; more data, more services and more functionality all mature the Cloud and make it more acceptable to the sceptics. Interactive Archives will drive a new breed of Cloud Service Providers, one that offers far more than would ever be possible on the LAN.

4. Why is ‘the Cloud the dawn of a new computing age’?

The Cloud is driving a new age of computing because it’s being brought into businesses by all types of end users. The slow consumerisation of corporate IT is largely driven by the Cloud, but more recently the BYOD phenomenon. We know from our own research that if corporate systems don’t work, or are too stringent in their controls, end users will jump out to their own Cloud and consumer platforms simply to be able to get their work done. This isn’t a malicious diversion from corporate policy, it’s simply a demand from users for systems that work.

The new age of computing is one that drives ubiquitous access and connectivity too. We don’t need to be tied to our desktops anymore, we can access all our services from anywhere and on any device. Only the Cloud can support that sort of functionality, and that type of working has become the new norm.

Mimecast is an OISG Group partner. To read more about Interactive Archiving and learn more about how it works, download the Interactive Archive guide: Making email work harder for your business advantage. Or get in touch with the OISG Group for a chat about your business objectives and how Interactive Archiving could keep you competitive.

Four IT supplier qualities to look out for in 2013

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Despite a gloomy global economic recession, the IT services industry has grown quite considerably over the last few years. Why? Because businesses are even more keen to save money long-term by making the most of new IT solutions. But when good IT is essential to business success, you really need to find the very best IT supplier. So what qualities should you be looking out for in an IT supplier this year?

1. Help Desk/IT Support

We have moved into an age of instant information and always-on technology. Business IT support services need to be second-to-none in order to maintain the standards your clients have come to expect. Look out for IT suppliers that offer guaranteed response and fix times, 24/7 availability, a highly-skilled team and a single point of contact.

2. Innovative Infrastructure Solutions

Technological innovations are increasingly coming from companies other than the big names like Citrix and Cisco. The best IT suppliers will have partnership-level competencies, awarded by the main players as well as good knowledge and understanding of the infrastructure solutions being innovated elsewhere. For example, a company called Violin Memory recently launched Flash Memory Arrays – an innovation in flash memory efficiency; DR and centralised administration being among its key benefits for SMEs.

Look for an IT supplier that demonstrates a consistent desire for knowledge and try to find one that hosts learning events for their clients. These suppliers will be the first to pick up on innovative technologies and the first to pass the benefits on to their clients.

3. Virtual Reality

We don't mean in an ‘Inception’ / ‘Matrix’ kind of way, but with the growing influence of both Cloud (SaaS) and Virtualisation it is important that your IT supplier is able to visualise and architect virtual networks. These technologies promise to save money and vital business hours, but only if they are constructed in a clean logical manner – otherwise they could create more problems than they solve.

Look for a supplier who can demonstrate depth of understanding in both Cloud/SaaS and Virtualisation and has the competencies to back up this knowledge.

4. Security

It is no longer good enough to have just a firewall and antivirus protecting your vital business data. New super-viruses have woken business, and even governments, up to the reality of protecting an IT system. Read our blog on the 2012 FLAME malware virus attacking many SMEs. Systems must now be monitored with more intelligent tools, such as Security Information Event Monitoring (SIEM) software, which automate the gathering of compliance data, and can produce instant reports.

Look out for an IT supplier that has already formed partnerships with SIEM specialists, such as LogRhythm. These suppliers will be able to ensure complete security – from firewall to event monitoring – to give you and your clients peace of mind.

So to choose the right IT supplier for your business, start by selecting the best IT support provider; download our free guide: Selecting the Best IT Support Solution today.

If you're left with any questions don't hesitate to get in touch with OISG. You can also or find OISG Group on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

How can SMEs gain a competitive edge & improve balance sheets with a computer leasing option?

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Since the so-called 'credit crunch' in 2008 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have found it increasingly difficult to stay afloat. With big banks being forced to hold higher capital reserves to back up their lending, fewer loans and overdrafts are being offered to SMEs.

This can make it extremely difficult for small businesses to compete with better-established and more financially stable firms, so how can SMEs gain the competitive edge in such a tough economic environment?

The 'vital backstop'

For many SMEs an overdraft facility remains a 'vital backstop' in times of financial uncertainty. Traditionally, overdrafts have provided the flexibility SMEs need to compete with bigger companies, however big banks have begun reducing or withdrawing overdraft facilities from businesses.

Recent research by ABN AMRO Commercial Finance found that 71% of small and medium-sized enterprises said their overdrafts had been cut back. Worryingly, 89% also claimed that they would last less than 3 months without their overdraft facility, making long-term financial stability look increasingly uncertain.

Small business loans

If SMEs are looking to expand rapidly and therefore compete with the big companies they will often go in search of a small business loan. There are about 8 financial providers who specialise in small business loans in the UK – the biggest being Dutch bank, ING Lease UK, who provided over £1bn annually in finance to SMEs.

However, ING Lease UK have recently withdrawn from the UK market, sighting the 'poor economy' as its primary reason for doing so. This is a huge blow to the UK economy at a time when business minister, Vince Cable, has claimed small businesses are vital to economic recovery.

Operating leases

One way in which small businesses can still gain a competitive edge in this tough economy is through operating leases. These leases allow for usage of new technology and equipment without large upfront expenditures, meaning SMEs can gain the benefits of technology from their inception and not just when they have grown.

Operating leases are particularly useful to small businesses as they do not appear on your balance sheet – making it easier to gain finance. Equipment gained through an operating lease is recorded only anecdotally on a balance sheet and not as a formal liability. This can make your businesses more attractive to investors and reduce the costs of bank loans.

OISG Financial Services

OISG Financial Services has forged and maintained strong relationships with some of the world's best and most trusted finance firms. We use these strong relationships to find a finance option that is right for your business to provide you with a competitive edge.

If you're looking to expand, new technology could help pave the way. Get in touch with OISG Financial Services team today to discuss the best options for you.

Security: Big bad Cloud software for business, the facts!

Mon, 7 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

With Cloud computing, it has come to a point where businesses have to ask 'when' and 'how' it will be incorporated rather than 'if'. The use of Cloud services by employees has become so ubiquitous that most businesses will already be utilising them informally if not formally.

But all this Cloud usage raises a problem for IT. Since users can now bypass IT when gaining access to new software and solutions – how can IT secure your business network?

All the myths and rumours around the Cloud – particularly when it comes to security – makes it even harder to know where to start. So today we will bust five of the most persistent myths around Cloud computing.

"We don't use the Cloud"

Businesses often think that because they haven't approved the use of any Cloud services through IT, none are being used. But online services such as DropBox and Gmail are still examples of Cloud services. Security managers cannot be complacent and assume there are no Cloud services running on their network – far better to investigate the extent of current cloud usage and prepare security systems ready for their growth.

"We can just tweak our current security system for the Cloud"

What worked then won’t always work now. Remember, you don't own the infrastructure, so you can't just walk down the hall to sort out a problem. Cloud computing is much more flexible and elastic than in-house systems, so your security system must be scalable enough for this new challenge. As you re-architect your infrastructure for the Cloud, your IT security must be re-designed with it.

"The Cloud will never be as secure as an internal server"

It is natural to assume that external servers accessed via an Internet line will be more vulnerable than internal infrastructure. However, according to a 2011 Verizon Data Breach Investigation Report, it is internally hosted, internally managed infrastructures that are breached far more often. When managing cloud services internally, there is a bigger emphasis on the day-to-day security than with internal servers. There is no evidence to suggest that if a cloud environment is architected and managed properly it is any less secure than traditional servers.

"If one company connected to the Cloud is hacked everyone is compromised"

While cloud-connected companies share a common infrastructure, things like data, networks, and device policies can be completely segregated. Setting up a public cloud environment so as to force all external and semi-external traffic to traverse the network means connected companies will have to get through the same security countermeasures and inspections regardless of the source of traffic.

"Using personal devices on the Cloud requires no extra security"

Personal devices pose a far greater threat to your network security than other cloud-connected devices. Figures from Trend Micro suggest that 52% of businesses have employees with out-of-date antivirus software on their personal devices. But external hacking is the least of their worries – 35% of data breaches occurred due to loss or theft of a portable device. But the trend of BYOD will continue, so security experts need a dynamic system that can monitor these devices on a real-time basis.

As with all technology, properly planned and managed infrastructure can lend an important boost to your business. However, Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) software can help detect security issues as they happen – moving your network from a reactive security system to a proactive system. We recommend looking into LogRhythm security – as used by online casino 32Red – for their leading SIEM software.

To find out more about securing your cloud infrastructure or the LogRhythm SIEM software, get in contact with OISG Group today.

Systems Monitoring - the new battleground for manufacturers in 2013

Mon, 24 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Businesses will typically monitor their in-house systems up to a point, but these monitoring systems tend only to be for reporting on specific systems such as servers, switches or virtual environments. This may have worked in the past, but with so many companies now relying on their digital media as both their first point of contact and as a services platform, 100% uptime and high performance are essential – not just from an operational point of view, but for business itself.

Where do we find Systems Monitoring in business?

Systems monitoring solutions have been around for many years, with a myriad of offerings available, ranging from ‘free’ shareware monitoring products to Business Service Management systems that include features such as IT Process Automation.

As businesses begin to rely more on their online presence for both marketing and service delivery, performance becomes a much higher priority. As such, IT process automation becomes a key feature – automating process fixes and ensuring smooth running.

Mainstream infrastructure software vendors such as Microsoft and VMware have recognised the need for more advanced monitoring systems and are ramping up their systems monitoring products to make this technology arena one of the key new battlegrounds of 2013.

How is Systems Monitoring changing – what do businesses need to know?

These big players aim to shake up the systems monitoring market by providing solutions that are much more highly tuneable. It’s vital for systems monitoring solutions to be this tuneable so that they return only the most essential information about each system, module or process while providing enhanced 'drill-down' data, on-demand. Fine tuning systems monitoring for your IT infrastructure also allows the solution to take up minimal processing power, further enhancing performance.

Systems monitoring solutions also need to be able to adapt to changes in your own business – a drawback to some current solutions. Fine-tuning a custom solution is all very well but to fine-tune your systems monitoring solution for each new switch, server or as new users are added to a virtual environment wastes valuable time.

OISG Group has developed keen expertise in advising which technologies are a best fit for its customers – particularly as no two business environments are the same. To fully understand IT automation in business and how to monitor your IT assets in a better way download our free guide. To get ahead of the curve and discover more about systems monitoring solutions, get in contact us today.

Expel hidden IT hardware and software costs from your financial balance sheet

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 15:14:10 GMT

On-boarding an IT solution can often be a costly expense. As an SME or large business you’ll have undoubtedly been stung by hidden vendor charges. Most of all, it weighs heavy on the time of both the IT and finance department. So, is it better to buy IT software or hardware items outright, or consider an IT leasing contract?

There is an obvious attraction to simply buying the items you need outright with your cash supply, but, as we revealed in our previous blog post: Busted: Five myths on why IT leasing is bad for business, cash is a post-tax asset that is much better used developing your business than on operating expenses. But surely an IT lease solution will cost more overall and sit on our balance sheet as a liability?

Oddly enough – this isn’t the case!

“What is an IT operating lease, what are the financing facts?”

An operating lease gives you use of the leased IT items for a set period of time. The lease life will always be shorter and cheaper than the lifespan of the IT equipment or software.

This means you can have the full usage of IT items without ever paying full price for them - and without worrying about redundancy.

Since operating leases are not technically a liability, there is no need to include them as a liability on your balance sheet – only as a footnote. There are also a few IT agencies out there that will buy your out of vendor warranty IT hardware, removing the dilemma of IT dead weight and costly IT upgrades – OISG Financial Services is one of those few.

“What IT solution is good for business and the finances?”

For some businesses, these types of leases can be essential. They allow the business to expand and grow without causing concern to their investors and destabilising their share price. They also allow companies to reallocate the funds normally used to purchase equipment, to paying off other debts. This helps reduce your liabilities without restricting your growth.

Given that IT equipment is usually a big investment, an operating lease allows businesses to spread out the financial outlay over the term of the lease. This makes your financial statements much more stable and prevents you from being hit with redundancy costs when the equipment has reached the end of its useful life (which is not always when you expect it to be!)

For executives with profit-related salary terms, stability of your balance sheet also translates to stability of pay. Huge outlays in one year and redundancy costs in another would otherwise cause sudden changes in your pay packet – which is never great from a personal financial planning perspective. So why should you have to suffer hidden IT costs when you can regulate them?

At OISG Financial Services we offer a number of different types of lease, depending on what works best for you. Download our free guide: Why is IT leasing better for business? Alternatively you can get in contact today for a chat about how your current IT solutions can be improved.

Multi-vendor IT support Services - bad for your business and your balance sheet

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 14:47:26 GMT

Network infrastructure is almost always comprised of software and hardware from many different vendors – all stitched together to create a complete solution. It is possible to gain vendor support for each piece of hardware or software individually, and there are certainly some advantages to gaining your IT support contracts in such a way.

However, while multiple vendor support contracts give you access to highly-specialised technical support, they can also potentially raise a number of issues that can lead you into perilous waters.

Changes

It is inevitable that, at some point, your IT system will change. Whether this is new or upgraded hardware or updates and patches to software, changes to any one part will affect the overall interoperability of your IT system. It is completely impractical, if not downright impossible, to study all of these changes for potential interoperability issues as they arise – impractical for both you and your vendors.

Individual vendors will be able to advise you as to the changes that accompany each update, but they will struggle to spot potential clashes with other hardware or software without a full overview of your IT system.

Knowledge

Even if vendors did have information on your entire IT infrastructure – the hardware, software, versions and all relevant connections – it’s impossible to expect vendors to have knowledge on how their solution interacts with every other piece of IT that your company uses.

Vendor technicians will receive training, which explains how their solution interacts or may clash with some other key pieces of hardware and software, but applied to a diverse multi-vendor environment this knowledge will be very limited.

Cooperation and communication

The interoperability of your IT infrastructure poses another hidden issue that becomes evident when a support-fix solution is required.

When a problem arises in your infrastructure it is usually quite straightforward to spot the general area causing the issue. However, this one area may contain hardware and software from multiple different vendors. It is then up to these different vendors (who may even be rivals) to cooperate and communicate in order to quickly identify and solve the underlying problem. In reality what tends to happen is a lot of stonewalling and finger-pointing to try and avoid having to resolve the issue altogether. A common problem we resolve with first-time clients of ours.

Putting service first

Individual vendors may try hard to provide the best support service they can, but with these fundamental obstacles in the way, they will always struggle. What's more, it is down to your IT department to manage each contract (all with different renewal dates) and to chase vendors for support – resulting in IT support cannibalising your time and budget.

By choosing a single vendor approach businesses can gain a useful ally in the war against system downtime – and let you get on with your day job. Unlike most IT business support and services companies, OISG Group solve your out of vendor warranty software and hardware issues by buying them from you. OISG Group is an ally that knows the landscape of your IT infrastructure, understands the compatibility issues with your individual system and can provide a guaranteed fix time regardless of where the underlying problems lie. They can even manage your vendor warranties, freeing up IT time and resources.

Unsure of how to gain the full control you deserve?

Visit OISG Support Services page

Download our guides Gaining control over your IT support costs and Selecting the best IT support solution or

contact an OISG representative directly for a no-obligation chat around tailored solutions for your business.

The Big IT Services Question: Can IT leasing streamline your budget sheet?

Mon, 3 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

We've already looked at some of the reasons companies back away from IT equipment and service leasing from both a policy 3 worst excuses to avoid IT leasing and a practical Debunking the top 5 myths around IT leasing perspective in previous articles. But, when it comes down to it, most business owners, CFOs and CTOs have objectives to streamline the business and keep unnecessary costs to a minimum. Here, we answer the important questions around the impact of leasing on company finances:

”If we have cash shouldn't we just buy our own equipment and services?”

At times of uncertain interest rates and inflation, cash, just as any other asset, is liable to change in value. In contrast, lease rates tend to be flat - making it much easier to predict your cash flow over the duration of the lease period. Cash is best used to reinvest in the business or saved in case of emergency and spares you from having to delve into your company overdraft.

”Why not purchase equipment and services using a bank loan?”

The benefit of leasing over a bank loan is that bank facilities should be utilised for cash flow purposes. If a company takes out a bank loan to acquire assets, then they are reducing any facility that they might require from the bank to fund day-to-day business activity - they might, for example, win a contract that requires large initial outlay, they might need to fund stock purchases or they might want to grab market initiative with a marketing campaign – if they have tied up bank facilities in assets, then that company is not able to use the bank when their business needs to react quickly to market opportunities. By leasing, you are leaving their bank facilities intact.

”How will a lease affect my balance sheet?”

Some types of leases (OISG Financial Services cover a range depending on your needs) can be recorded off-balance sheet. This can help improve some of your financial indicators such as debt-to-equity ratio or earnings-to-fixed-assets ratio. The knock-on effect of this is an improvement in your compliance with Basel II capital adequacy requirements and an overall reduction in your borrowing costs.

”Do IT leases carry any tax benefits?”

Yes. Currently lease payments count as operating expenses and are therefore fully tax-deductible. On the other hand, when using capital to fund equipment purchase, only the depreciation costs are deductible from your tax.

”Are there any other financial benefits of leasing?”

In creating a predictable and tax-deductible monthly payment structure, leasing also ensures you don't encounter redundancy or obsolescence difficulties. Selling your used equipment on the secondary market can be a difficult and long-winded process that does not regain you a great deal of capital.

IT leases are also much more flexible when it comes to changing your existing IT infrastructure and some will even ensure you are provided any updates or upgrades as they become available.

No more expensive IT items on the balance sheet

Want to know how IT leasing can slash your overall IT costs? Get the facts - download our Financial Services guide: ‘Why IT leasing is better for business’. If you would like some no obligation advice about IT equipment and service leasing then speak to OISG Financial Services directly or read up all things financial services on our site.

Event: Modernising your virtualisation management - POSTPONED

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 14:35:44 GMT

Unfortunately this event is being postponed due to staff illness.

Keep an eye out here for future Technology Update events. In the meatime, why not check out the latest industry news and trends.

Security: Penetration testing must be more tailored than just 'traffic lights'

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

With so many high-profile network infiltrations, such as the Sony PlayStation Network and the IMF, hitting the headlines in the last few years, businesses are right to be questioning the integrity of their network security. Network breaches can result in not only financial losses but also loss-of-trust and respect in the eyes of your customers. Yet over a third of British businesses had no idea whether or not their networks had been breached according to security firm LogRhythm.

How can businesses take better care of their network security?

By conducting regular penetration testing, businesses can benchmark their networks against the evolving practice of network hacking. While the majority of network breaches are the result of human lapses, hackers must still exploit structural weaknesses in a company's website, social media accounts, network operating system etc. to gain complete control over a network. Penetration tests are a simulated hack of a network in order to identify these structural weaknesses. The results are then presented to the business for review and action.

Why are regular penetration tests a necessity for businesses?

Penetration tests help to expose structural weaknesses in your business' network security, such as website plugins and database problems. But these weaknesses are going to change over time with the introduction of both new IT systems and hacker tools. So it is essential that businesses get regular penetration tests performed by external agencies.

The problem with standard penetration testing

The quality of your test will come down to the skills of your hired hacker but the approach will be fairly consistent - unlike the reporting side of things. Most agencies use a traffic light system to highlight the risk-level associated with particular test areas. This widespread practice, while useful, doesn't really take into account the controls and internal procedures already in place, and instead the reports can come across relatively vague or jargon-filled.

When your Service IS Everything

Here at OISG Group we believe that service IS everything. As such, our Security Services branch has developed new methods for testing and reporting to provide you with feedback you can fully understand and feel confident acting on.

OISG Security Services can work either on or off-site to identify weaknesses, taking into account local policies and procedures to give you a truly tailored service. We then compile a detailed report with feedback on all identified weak spots and rate them according to both Likelihood and Impact – helping you to easily prioritise the resolution of issues.

Following your report you will also get a full personal debrief in order to answer any lingering question you may have. While we do take the time to ensure our reports are in plain English and not just techno-babble, we also realise the benefits and importance of a face-to-face debrief with our clients.

When your outstanding issues have been addressed and resolved we can then carry out either a full retest or specifically retest the high priority parts of your network resilience to put your investors' and clients' minds to rest.

If you'd like to find out more about OISG Security Services then please get in touch today or to take a deeper dive in to our work around security, check out our Security Services space on our site.

OISG Group makes the top 100 VAR report

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Group Sales Director, Jody Pawson talks sales success and business secrets with CRN.

The UK’s 100 biggest Value Added Resellers (VARs) are championed in CRN’s second annual report. The report surveys 500 UK business leaders on their upcoming priorities and objectives and works to acknowledge excellence in the VAR landscape. With a focus on fiscal projections and expert insight from market leaders, analysts and vendors, the report features an interview with our very own Group Sales Director, Jody Pawson on his business insights in the VAR space.

Pawson reveals the secrets to OISG Groups’ success in FY12, explaining that it’s all about expanding and championing, with its Service IS Everything mantra in mind. It boils down to the development of a new high spec technical demo lab, and the launch of some key specialised services; ”we’ve launched OISG Security Services, which will reach £1.5m in it’s first year, plus the launch of OISG Financial Services, which offers IT Leasing.

”An ongoing recruitment drive has produced 10 grads and doubled consultancy staff. Sales headcount overall is up by a third”, explains Pawson.

With so many VARs out there - most somewhere between £15-30m - CRN asks what OISG Groups’ predictions for growth are? The answer does not lie down the obvious path of ‘quick and easy acquisitions’ Pawson reveals, for OISG Group the future of growth will be a result of “winning new business and continuing to operate as a boutique agency’.

”Your business won’t grow to £800m unless it’s about 35 years old, our targets are in line with us celebrating our 8th birthday, but we will continue to push growth,” Pawson confirms.

With so much noise in the IT reseller landscape, especially when it comes to support and services, it’s hard to distinguish IT suppliers who add value or ‘walk-the-walk’ from those who simply ‘talk-the-talk’ – OISG Group prides itself on its passion for providing a tailored service.

OISG Group understands the difficulties some company’s face when choosing an IT supplier worth its salt, for expert guidance, check out our recent post entitled: ‘Don’t choose an IT supplier without these four things.’ Alternatively for a deeper dive in to some of the perceived challenges around IT suppliers, and how to choose the best IT partner for your business, download our free guide: ‘Selecting the best IT support solution’ now. Tweet us with your questions or connect with us if you’re on LinkedIn.

For more information on the different ways OISG Group works to solve the problems unique to your business, check out our about us page. Alternatively get in touch with a member of our team today to uncover how to make the most out of a fully-fledged technology partner.

How the FLAME malware has changed IT security landscape

Wed, 7 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Earlier in the year a new super-virus was found by accident while searching for another malware circulating the Middle East. This new super-virus, called Flame (and more recently its 'cousin' Gauss) has been described by IT security experts at Kaspersky as a backdoor, Trojan virus with worm-like features, and “one of the most complex threats ever discovered.’

So why is the Flame virus so complex?

Flame captures an unprecedented amount of information from the machines it infects. It is able to record sound via microphone, screenshots of important programs, intercept keystrokes and even gather information about Bluetooth enabled devices nearby – making it a complete surveillance gathering device.

The complexity of the virus can be demonstrated by looking at its original code file size – 20MB. By comparison, the Stuxnet virus that wreaked havoc in Iran in 2009 only contained 500K of information, and even Stuxnet took several months to analyse.

How did it go undetected for so long?

The reason many have dubbed Flame as the most hazardous cyber-attack ever is the program's unique ability to evade anti-virus protection installed on machines – 43 different anti-virus tools to be precise.

Usually the signature of a virus, malware or Trojan is identified by a security firm and is delivered to an anti-virus program as an update. This signature is then used to spot the virus and trigger automatic countermeasures.

The difference with Flame is that it was not recognised by any of the usual signatures. This means it went undetected for over two years, presumably gathering vast quantities of information in the process.

How is Flame changing the IT security landscape?

Flame has been so hazardous because it takes advantage of traditional, reactive IT security measures as described above. Once the mechanism for evading the typical reactive processes of anti-virus tools has been understood, standard cyber-defences will be ineffective.

Ross Brewer, managing director of LogRhythm (OISG is a silver partner) said: "Because of the changes in the threat landscape, organisations recognise that technologies in which they have invested a huge amount of money are ineffective. It is not hard for hackers to break through and cause havoc and [organisations] need to rethink their strategy and move from a perimeter-based protective stance to a detective stance."

What separates LogRhythm from other security softwares?

LogRhythm is a security information and events management (SIEM) tool that takes a proactive or detective-style approach in detecting cyber-threats. Its proactive approach comes in the form of its real-time style of reacting to events and intrusions, it means your IT support team has a complete overview of any potential threats – something they may not previously have had.

By working in this way LogRhythm's SIEM software picks up on all unusual events rather than only filtering ones with a known signature. It is the difference between checking all passengers going through airport security and only stopping those with known criminal or terrorist backgrounds.

”Rather than just keeping threats out – which clearly no longer serves as an effective security strategy – data security now depends on addressing any potential threats in real-time. This enables proactive identification, isolation and remediation of any potential cyber threats the moment that they occur – rather than having to depend on reactive perimeter solutions that can miss sophisticated malicious components such as Flame.” said Brewer.

According to recent research by LogRhythm, almost a third of UK businesses had no idea whether or not their networks had been breached, yet according to the Internet Storm Centre (ISC) an unpatched computer will be penetrated within 40-200 minutes of connecting to the web.

Has your anti-virus picked up any malicious intrusions recently? Is your network secure against new viruses such as Flame or Gauss?

If you are interested in proactive virus detection or SIEM software then get in touch with OISG today for more information and personalised advice.

Stop IT support from cannibalising your IT budget

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

IT support can be vitally important to your business, making up an essential ingredient of your IT operations. Yet support contracts can soon become unmanageable, staff responsibilities and priorities can overlap and costs can grow out of control, threatening your business and eating through your budget.

From medium enterprises upwards, roles can overlap, leading to confusion about responsibilities and key tasks can slip through the net. From those in service delivery, to the CFO to Data Centre managers – everyone has their own competing priority when it comes to IT support, for some it’s cost-cutting, for others it’s seeking new technology to stay competitive and supply the framework for productivity. Focusing on just one priority means a mutated outcome and costs that quickly get out of control.

In business, we can often become blinded by unusual or seemingly important events and forget about managing the areas we thought we'd tamed. This is exceptionally easy to do with IT support as multiple contracts and warranties from multiple vendors all need to be reviewed and renewed at various different times.

So what can businesses do to keep these contracts under control?

Clearly designate tasks. One big issue many businesses have is that there is little formal responsibility for keeping an eye on IT support contracts, calculating their cost, renewing warranties etc. Break down the tasks and clearly assign them to your IT team.
Take or assign responsibility. Designating smaller tasks to individuals is a great first step, but there needs to be someone who can pull all the pieces together and look at the big picture. By doing so you may find more cost-effective ways to manage your IT support and you will certainly be able to spot costs climbing out of control.
Consider a dedicated team. You may have the resources to pull together an in-house team or full-time member of staff to manage your IT support. For others, it may be more beneficial to outsource your IT support provision to an expert team. Outsourced agencies provide many added benefits such as contract consolidation and out-of-warranty support, which may provide a huge added value to your business.

For a more detailed discussion of these tips and advice, download part one of our IT support guide “10 ways to prevent your IT support costs from consuming your budget’, today. In it, we take a look at some quick fixes as well as some longer-term solutions to your IT support requirements, including the pros and cons of in-house vs. an outsourced IT support supplier.

What area of IT support does your business struggle to keep control of? Let us know via Twitter or Facebook or get in touch today.

Busted: Debunking 5 myths about why IT leasing is bad for business

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Our previous article on the Top three worst excuses to avoid IT leasing exposed the most common excuses that we hear for not leasing IT gear from a policy point of view, but what about from a practical point of view? Are the reasons companies and SME’s give for not leasing really valid?

1. “Won’t it end up costing me more?”

No, monthly payments will pretty much always total up to more than the equipment costs to buy – but this is a very one-dimensional view. When it comes to business, the total paid doesn't always equate to the total cost. Sounds like some weird quantum maths going on...However, when you take into account the differences in tax exemption between leasing and buying, the cost of upkeep and the expense of flogging your obsolete equipment on the secondary market, leasing tends to work out cheaper.

2. “It’s better to own my equipment”

Not true! Keeping in mind what’s best for business, the main problem is: What’s the real benefit of owning the equipment outright? In the knowledge that it will become out-dated in three years!
Intuition tells you that an asset owned is better than an asset borrowed, but in this case it is not true. In your industry, if you own the asset, the onus is on you to keep it in good working order and to shift it once it is redundant – a headache no one wants to deal with. Besides, do you have the technical expertise to refurbish the equipment for the secondary market or will it more likely end up in the skip? A Financial Services provider worth its salt will offer to buy your IT deadweight and dispose of your redundant hardware free-of-charge.

3. “I’d have less visibility over leased equipment”

Exactly the opposite! You are handing over the time-consuming and complex management and oversight to a supplier – but you see everything through one window, with IT leasing losing an overview is not the case. Up-to-date software such as TESMA online as offered by OISG Financial Services, allows you to manage and keep track of your entire IT ecosystem, right down to the serial number and full spec of the PC, monitor and mobile device provided to an employee of the business. It allows IT managers to be the master of their own IT universe – tracking machine performance, updating schedules, usage, redundancy and so on.

4. “It is just another contract to manage”

With most IT suppliers or vendors you'd be right – it is another set of contracts that need managing, which takes time and resources. However, at OISG Financial Services we offer to consolidate and centralise all of your IT contracts with your various vendors. We can also centralise your warranties and will give you an advanced 6-month warning when it is due to expire. Less hassle, better results.

5. “I thought going straight to the manufacturer would be cheaper?”

Manufacturers, such as Dell, do sometimes offer their own leasing contracts. It seems obvious that a lease direct from the manufacturer would be cheaper. However, in a more modestly sized outfit, like OISG Financial Services, there are actually fewer overheads and complex costings, which means a better price can be on the table over that of a manufacturer, and as we operate independently from manufacturers, suppliers and banks we can act as a truly impartial partner and adviser. You are free to choose any equipment you like, regardless of brand. That is – after all – why we consider forging such strong and productive vendor partnerships a high priority!

Now we want to hear from you: Do you have an IT leasing challenge that you would like to put to OISG Financial Services? What has been your experience of leasing in the past? Get in touch, we're on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn - we want to hear from you.

For more information on our IT leasing solutions, visit our financial services page. You can also swot up on the ways that tailored IT leasing generates business growth, with no interruption to your current IT infrastructure..

5 key safeguards to help lower the creeping cost of IT support

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Comparing IT support contracts can drive you round the bend. You want to keep costs as low as possible, but when it comes to IT support, it is impossible to compare contracts side-by-side. A single-supplier contract may look low cost, but charge a small fortune for out-of-hours support, while a vendor contract may be simple and secure, yet work out to cost much more in total.

The key to finding a good IT support solution relies on knowing what to look for – otherwise you will overlook the key essentials, get caught out and end up with spiralling IT support costs.

With that in mind, here are our top 5 things to consider when finding your ideal IT support solution.

Vendor contracts vs. a single supplier contract
A vendor contract might look temptingly simple but, once you take into account the total price of all your vendor contracts and the time generating multiple support tickets consumes, it may work out an expensive option. A single supplier may appear more expensive overall but the flexibility, reliability and lack of finger-pointing may make it easier and cheaper in the long run.
Service level agreements (SLA)
SLAs come in all shapes and sizes so make sure you read through them carefully and take account both of what is included as well as what isn't. Some key things to look out for are: guarantee of fix or response time, out-of-warranty support, out-of-hours support and contract length. All things that crop up all too often.
Expectations of you
Most IT support contracts will require some input from your business. For example, some suppliers may require you to reset the servers periodically or ensure you have your own data backup solution in place. Make sure you pay attention to these requirements as they can drain your time and resources not to mention invalidate your contract if you haven't completed them.
Keeping warranties up-to-date
Warranties are tricky to keep on top of. With new custom-built IT solutions sitting on top of legacy infrastructure, you will have a great number of warranties to keep an eye on that will all expire at different times. A benefit of finding a good single supplier for your IT support is that they will often track your warranties and alert you if one is soon to expire – one less potential for spiralling IT expense.
Supplier flexibility
It is unusual to have an IT system that consists of hardware and software from only one vendor. However, some single-supplier IT support contracts and, indeed, most vendor support contracts, will only cover a specific section of your IT infrastructure. If a problem is hard to identify or exists on more than one section of your infrastructure then you will likely run into finger-pointing, problem avoidance and all-round difficulty – especially when you factor in legacy systems and new technologies. Make sure your supplier is as flexible as possible to keep costs from spiralling out of control and to avoid that nasty headache IT manager’s experience during extended downtime.

Do you have experience of IT support costs spiralling out of control? Download part one of our IT support guide '10 ways to prevent your IT support costs from consuming your budget’ to see where you might be going wrong. We talk; quick fixes and longer-term solutions for your IT support needs, and table the in-house vs outsource debate.

Still not sure how OISG works to maximise your productivity and support you in all things IT? Take a look at our services and the key benefits on our IT support page.

Don't choose an IT supplier without these four things

Wed, 3 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

When choosing your IT supplier you should be keeping an eye out for four key qualities; vendor accreditations, competence, client history and transparency. If an IT supplier can demonstrate that they have nailed each of these qualities then you can be confident in their value as a partner and in your investment in them.

But with so much marketing hype, how can we cut through the façade and accurately assess the supplier's quality?

Well, funny you should ask. Here is a checklist of things to uncover about your potential supplier:

Accreditation

Does the supplier hold professional accreditations for the hardware and software they are selling? Accreditations usually consist of partnership programmes with Microsoft or Hitachi for example, and often contain different levels such as Silver, Gold and Enterprise. Check out OISG Group’s accreditations.
Do they work with accredited organisations, for example when delivering financial solutions?
Do they have qualified engineers capable of installing and configuring a completely functional solution? If not, there is a real chance that the technology they supply will be mismatched and will struggle to work effectively.

Competence

Can the supplier demonstrate past success with companies similar to yours? Take a look at their case studies or request they write one to demonstrate their abilities.
Do you feel confident in their ability to deliver an integrated solution? A good supplier will know how technologies work together to form the best overall solution – look out for this quality in the proposal and in your meetings.
Are they able to train your staff in the latest and most suitable hardware or software?
Does the IT supplier host joint technology events with their partners? Technology events can be extremely useful in understanding new technologies and solutions coming onto the market, and is a sign that they are up-to-date, and passionate about educating existing clients, and interested parties.

Client history

Has the IT supplier worked with companies of your size and complexity before? You should be able to ask for specific examples or request case studies.
What do their past customers say about them? Check their website and other places on the web to find testimonials. Testimonials are usually very useful in spotting their key strengths and an absence of information often indicates a weakness. I mean, you wouldn’t go and invest in an everyday necessity like a mobile phone without chasing down some decent customer reviews first, right?

Transparency

Is the IT supplier upfront about all the costs involved? Look out for charges relating to upgrades and software fixes. If they start revealing hidden costs then be wary – there could be more!
Does the supplier intend to use any subcontractors for the project? If so, you will need to find out more about the subcontractor, their experience and their contract terms with the supplier.
Are they clear about exactly what sort of warranty they provide? Will they honour the warranty if you have attempted to replace hardware or software yourself?
Would they be happy for you to test the system before purchasing, perhaps under a non-disclosure agreement?
Do some fact-finding to assess whether the supplier is financially stable enough to meet your requirements in the foreseeable future.

For a more detailed discussion of the tips and advice outlined, download part two of our IT support guide; 'Selecting the best IT support solution', today; which looks at the big challenges around IT support, and how to avoid them.

Here at OISG Group we believe that Service is Everything. As such, we included as much information about our service and previous work as we could on our website. If after reading this, you see some shortcomings in your own IT supplier, let us help you move forward and get in touch today or find us on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn for more industry news and insight.

Top three worst excuses to avoid IT leasing

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The financial services industry has received quite a bashing recently, but it is important to remember that finance has its vital place in business and provides a great number of benefits. One such benefit is infrastructure leasing for IT procurement projects. It makes it easier for you to plan against hardware and software obsolescence, and, from a financial perspective, it is much easier to gain visibility and predictability over your infrastructure expense while spreading payments out.

However, some companies see the term 'lease' or 'finance' and are instantly scared off. But what are the real reasons businesses are so unsure about leasing programs? Well, here are the three most common reservations to leasing.

“We don't lease because...

…we have a purchase only policy.”

Often these policies do not actually exist, rather the company has a tradition of purchase-only, or buys that way simply out of habit. The issue with purchase-only is that, should the equipment or software become redundant to your company, you are stuck with it! So check your purchasing policy first before writing off leasing options.

Fortunately, if you currently have a large amount of redundant equipment, OISG Financial Services can either dispose of your existing equipment or buy it from you at the current market price...assuming it still has life left in it. Our experts will then refurbish it and our dedicated team of brokers will re-market it, helping smaller businesses gain the start-up tech they need.

...we have cash, and cash is free.”

Cash is an asset, a post-tax asset at that. And like all assets, it is liable to change in value, especially in times of high inflation and low interest rates such as we are currently experiencing. Leasing rates, on the other hand, tend to be flat, so you can more closely predict your future finances. Most companies will also find that investing their spare cash in their business directly, will produce a higher return than the rate of the lease anyway.

Operating lease payments are also tax-deductible, just like capital allowances, but are made with pre-tax money. Cash purchases, however, are made with post-tax returns and therefore provide less tax advantages.

...we've had a bad experience in the past.”

Sometimes businesses will be lured into a lease contract that is dressed up to look like an operating lease but is really a finance lease, or they take out a finance lease and are falsely led to believe they will end up owning the equipment.

At OISG Financial Services, we make great effort to provide you with the most beneficial lease for your needs and believe full transparency is imperative. Our motto is Service IS Everything and we embody this sentiment in everything we do. We want no hidden surprises or disappointments. We are even fully compliant with all Public Sector financing policies for that extra peace of mind.

To get completely clued up on all the benefits of OISG’s Financial Services leasing opportunities Tweet us - we'd love to answer your questions, or connect with us if you're on LinkedIn or Facebook. For more tailored advise unique to your company then visit our dedicated web page or get in contact with us today.

Defeat your inner hoarder with virtualised storage

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 14:03:06 GMT

Pathological hoarders keep hold of anything and everything, convinced that one day it will be of some use. As a result, they often end up trapped in a house full of rubbish, unable to throw anything away. Imagine a hoarder who could simply create some extra space and use it to store the bits they actually need and filter out all the bits they don't – what storage salvation!

Well, that is essentially what virtualised storage provides.

In business it is actually rather prudent rather than pathological to save bits of data – past account details, emails, media etc. However, with over 1.8 zettabytes of data generated in 2011 alone, businesses are still suffering from the same problems when they accumulate too much stuff. And the trend is set to continue. EMC estimates that by 2020 we will have 50 times the amount of data yet only 1.5 times the number of staff to manage it.

What businesses need is to be able to expand their storage capacity quickly, painlessly and without a massive operational expense, yet still keep data organised and clutter-free.

Storage virtualisation enables you to do just that.

Virtualised storage provides a flexible way of managing and keeping hold of all that useful data.

The panic of running out of physical storage and the cost of acquiring more (or replacing existing storage completely) can be negated by flexibly purchasing additional storage as and when it is needed, all for a predictable and lower cost.

Different systems offer different capabilities. While most will maximise the use of individual disks, ensuring that those unused portions of each disk actually get used; others will move data around so that the most frequently accessed data is stored on the ‘fastest’ drives. Automatic data allocation also helps consolidate data onto fewer physical devices – which means less capital outlay in the future. Fewer devices also means less building rental costs and easier maintenance.

OISG Group is currently the fastest growing reseller of Hitachi Data Systems hardware – the leading enterprise storage solution. The Hitachi Data Systems storage virtualisation units do not simply backup your business data, they ensure that it is restored as quickly as possible. This is an essential difference as 93% of organisations that experience trouble restoring data end up losing the majority of their customers within 18 months. Learn more about how to overcome disparate data growth with our research infographic.

We have also put together a free ebook to provide even more useful information about the benefits of storage virtualisation. Download the ebook Data hoarding without the clutter now.

OISG Group has experience of multi-site implementations and can cover any type of project from pre-sales to design, followed by implementation and then support. Discover how we saved NIIT millions and retrieved over 10TB of data by virtualising their storage in our case study.

OISG Group sponsors rising boxing star in upcoming bout

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 14:15:13 GMT

As those of you who sponsored our Account Director, Tunji Oyelede, in the CRN Fight Night in May will know, when it comes to boxing, we at OISG Group will fight as hard as we work. As part of our continued support of this ancient sport, we are sponsoring a local legend in the upcoming Don't Blink! International Masters Light Middleweight title-fight this October 5^that The Camden Centre, Euston Road.

So who is this local legend?

His name is Elliott Matthews, 31. As an amateur he was ranked number 3 in the UK and this year he launched his professional career with an impressive 4 fight-winning streak, 3 of which were KOs. Matthews is well-known for using his right fist to devastating effect while nimbly blocking with his left – a combo we look forward to seeing on 5^thOctober.

The heavy-hitter will be fighting Hatfield boxer Joe Smyth. Smyth only returned to the professional squared ring in February having taken a year out due to injury, winning his only match so far this year by TKO. A dangerous opponent, but one we are confident Matthews can handle.

So why is OISG Group sponsoring Matthews in his bout with Smyth?

As a younger man our MD, Alan Edwards, was a keen boxer himself. In 1998 Alan was crowned UK National Amateur Super-Heavyweight Novice boxing champion. However, instead of turning pro at that point Alan brought his hard fight and never-say-die attitude to the business world, establishing OISG Group.

The night itself will feature 6 fights in total and will conclude with the crowning of a new International Masters Light Middleweight Champion.

For your tickets, contact the ticket hotline on 020 7352 1593.

Upcoming Event: Attending IP EXPO 2012

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

IP EXPO 2012

17th Oct 2012 - 18th Oct 2012

OISG Group will be attending IP EXPO at Earl's Court, the UK's leading end-to-end infrastructure event where IP Networks, Virtualisation, Cloud, Wireless, Storage and Security work together.

We look forward to hearing about the big questions from fellow industry experts, such as:

- (Storage) How will Big Data change storage architecture?
- (Security) What are the current, evolving threats to IT infrastructure?
- (Virtualisation) What are the big risks involved with storage virtualisation?

For further details on the exhibition and how to get there visit the IP EXPO website. Follow @OrangeInfoSys on Twitter for comments and insights live from Earls Court. If you would like to discuss any of these challenges at IPEXPO 2012 book a meeting with one of our consultants today.

Fighting fit VDI takes on BYOD challenges

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 15:47:34 GMT

Businesses and educational establishments are discovering the benefits of allowing personal devices to be used on their network. In fact, since most people now have a tablet, personal laptop or smartphone, it can prove rather restrictive in not allowing personal devices to be used.

However, bringing your own device (BYOD) onto a network can pose an overwhelming number of challenges for network administrators: Can you keep these devices secure? How can you best administer the growing number of devices on a network? Can you provide the same user experience and seamless integration, regardless of the device being used?

Fortunately, data centre operators have been training up an old and reliable fighter to knock out the challenges of BYOD – virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI).

Virtual desktops have been around in some form for a good while now, but it is only recently that data centres have had the right hardware and software to offer a great VDI solution for mobile devices. So let's see how VDI stands up to the challenges of BYOD:

First challenger: Security. The development of the Websense TRITON mobile security solution has helped secure mobile devices far beyond your typical mobile device management (MDM) – essential when you consider the many reports of hacked apps and viruses on mobile devices. Find out more about the Websense TRITON software and how it can benefit your business.

Second into the ring: Device administration. In the olden days (relatively speaking) network administrators only had to deal with a few portable devices, mostly laptops. It was relatively easy to keep track and manage these devices on the network. However, now that practically everyone has a smartphone, laptop and/or tablet, managing all these devices becomes like trying to control the self-replicating Terminator robots...and we all know how that worked out.

But imagine how much easier it would be if you were SkyNet. You control the very desktop infrastructure that these devices run – administering the operating environment along with the apps and programmes they run.

Well, that is exactly what VDI for BYOD provides. The data centre provides the resources and you are left to simply manage the overall VDI ecosystem.

Final challenger: Integration and user experience. With such a menagerie of devices available – iPads, Windows phones, Chromebooks etc. – it might seem impossible to provide suitable integration onto your network. With VDI, all devices can run the same desktop environment – providing a seamless and fully integrated user experience regardless of the device.

Discover how an innovative new Flash Array from Violin is helping to improve VDI user experience be re-engineering network storage.

How is your business managing BYOD on your network?

If you would like more information on VDI, BYOD or Flash Memory Arrays then do not hesitate to get in touch with OISG today. You can also send us any questions via Twitter or Facebook.

OISG Group look forward to upcoming IP EXPO 2012

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Here at OISG Group we love to learn and make new business connections which is why we enjoy exhibitions and trade shows. If we had to pick a cliché to live by, it would certainly be “work hard, play hard", and at trade shows we get to play with new technology while we are hard at work developing our business.

The highlight of any IT reseller's year has to be the IP EXPO in October. This year’s will be held on the 17^th & 18^th October at Earls Court 2 exhibition centre. Registration is free provided you sign up before the 16^th October.

So what do we have to look forward to at the IP EXPO 2012?

Well, as usual, the IP EXPO will bring together leaders in the industry to cover 6 key areas: IP networks, virtualisation, cloud, wireless, storage and security. The main themes of this year's event will be focused on both big data and the cloud.

Big data is fast becoming an issue many businesses need resolved. Collecting demographics about your customers or keeping dense transaction records is clearly extremely useful, but storing and accessing this vast amount of data is difficult logistically.

View our infographic about how to overcome disparate data growth.

One of the big questions the IP EXPO will ask of big data is how it will change storage architecture. We are already seeing flash storage, such as Violin's Flash Memory Array, burst onto the market.

Will flash be the way forward for big data or are there other innovations that are set to help even more? If you’ve got any specific questions about this book a meeting with one of our consultants at IP EXPO.

Cloud computing has been a buzzword in the IT sector for a few years now, but what does it really mean and can it really help your business?

The IP EXPO has invited expert vendors Citrix to share their insight into the cloud. Stationed in their very own zone, Citrix and their major partners will help shed some light on cloud computing, how to design the best possible cloud ecosystem, and how to enable your staff to use their own devices on a company network. Expect live demos and expert talks on these issues and more in the Citrix Mobility and Cloud Zone.

Other big names hosting their own partner zones include VMware and Microsoft. VMware will be focusing on what they do best – virtualisation and cloud infrastructure. Their partner zone will feature companies covering everything from software to training, hardware to hosters, not to mention VMware's own expert advice on virtualisation.

Microsoft, the main hosts of the IP EXPO will have their own stand at A36 where they will host a number of educational and thought-provoking seminars across the two days. The seminars will kick off with The Hybrid IT Environment and will continue on to talk in-depth about new Microsoft products such as Azure, System Center 2012 and Windows Server 2012 – a stand certainly not to miss.

We are certain that this year's IP EXPO will be another roaring success and will give us some excellent insight and ideas to bring back into our work. Follow @OrangeInfoSys on Twitter to get updates from us live at the event or book a meeting with one of our consultants at the event now.

Re-engineering storage for virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)

Wed, 5 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Many businesses are already reaping the benefits of server virtualisation – disaster recovery and centralised administration being two major advantages. The cost, energy and work required to maintain your business network are also significantly reduced, making server virtualisation a no-brainer for most businesses and public establishments.

So what is holding some CIOs and CTOs back from moving to a fully virtualised desktop infrastructure?

Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) seems like the logical next step in the process of infrastructure virtualisation and consolidation, yet according to research firm TechTarget only 13% of businesses polled at the end of 2011 had a VDI solution in place.

While full of benefits, VDI still has a threshold to breach before it can provide a significant ROI for all businesses, not to mention deliver the same kind of low-latency stable environment as local infrastructure. Some of the key issues to be resolved are:

Boot Storms, which occur when a high volume of users attempt to boot their devices at the same time, and, let's face it, that's 8-9 every morning.

Random I/O Operations, generated in Windows environments can be up to 90% write operations. Due to the huge amount of input/output operations per second (IOPS) generated by Windows services these I/O operations can severely impact disk performance when performed by a large number of users, such as in a virtualised environment.

Desktop Re-composition, such as updates and patches, can be very disruptive, especially if it contains changes to the gold image or master template and is deployed to a large number of users simultaneously.

Yet there is a common thread that ties these issues to one another: disk storage.

Unfortunately conventional disk storage is one technology to which Moore's Law has failed to apply – performance has certainly not doubled every 18 months like processor speeds and memory capacity have. Capacity has increased dramatically with various disk innovations, yet performance remains stunted.

What is needed is a completely re-engineered storage solution that can deal with the demands of a modern-day virtualised infrastructure to deliver a high IOPS, low-latency and consistent performance.

Fortunately, that is exactly what Violin has done with their innovative new Flash Memory arrays.

Flash has long been a promising solution to the problems with conventional storage disks. However, given that most flash vendors use the HDD form factor (SSD) in a traditional storage array, legacy systems retro-fitted with SSD drives cannot scale to high workloads that are generated by large-scale VDI installations.

The Violin Flash Array concept re-engineers storage subsystems and optimises them for flash storage. This new architecture allows thousands of flash devices to operate as a Flash Array – masking device-level issues and delivering reliable and sustained system level performance.

This new concept has worked amazingly well: random writes at a 60-100 microsecond latency and 1,000,000 sustained IOPS. This delivers a simple and cost-effective solution to all the problems posed by implementing VDI on conventional disk storage.

The key benefits of Violin's Flash Arrays to VDI implementation are:

Smooth boot, login and logoff even at peak times, regardless of the size of the VDI deployment by delivering 1 million IOPS

Fast boot up and login due to the <200 micro-second latency

Consistent end user experience thanks to performance improvements and spike-free latency

By virtually eliminating I/O wait times caused by latency, Violin increases the per processor density from 6-8 users per processor core to 12-15 users per processor core, reducing the number of processors required and total cost by 50%.

If you would like to know more about Violin Flash Memory Arrays and the benefits they provide VDI deployment, then download the guide: Improving storage, speed and security of VDI with Flash Memory Arrays or get in touch with us today.

INFOGRAPHIC: How to Overcome Disparate Data Growth

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 12:44:31 GMT

How to Overcome Disparate Data Growth

Your organisation’s data is expanding at an almost unprecedented rate. It’s wonderful news, since it’s an indication of your expanding success. But after a while, the growth becomes cluttered, and the clutter becomes unbearable, not to mention its impact on your productivity. What can be done about all that disparate data?

In 2011 alone, the amount of data generated was equivalent to 200 billion two-hour movies in high definition. That’s 47 million years of movies back-to-back. Our information invasion shows no signs of slowing, as in less than a decade we’ll have even 50 times more data… but only one and a half times the amount of IT workers.

Just one out of every three businesses is growing its IT department rapidly – and even fewer are growing moderately. Because of this, nearly one in three businesses are due to outgrow their data centres soon. Most C-level execs are worried that their insufficient data capacity is preventing access to collected info, limiting revenue by around 14 percent.

What are the biggest storage concerns for IT departments? Seventy-six percent of organisations with over 3,000 employees are concerned about big data storage. Ninety-three percent of those that can’t properly restore their data go out of business within a year and a half. Over one in three businesses don’t test tape data backups, and 77 percent of those that do test their tapes find failures. Another 93 percent of organisations who lose data centre access for over ten days are bankrupt within the year; 60 percent of those with permanent data loss are gone in just half a year.

The challenges of data migration, however, can also be significant. One faces large monetary costs, a budget too constrained for special features, a need for in-house knowledge that may require training , a commitment of at least several months (averaging between four and six hours per host), disaster recovery drills, obstacles to backup availability and the likelihood of downtime. Additionally, some 70 percent of businesses exceed the original time scheduled for migration.

What’s the answer? Virtualised storage.

You can combine your existing system with a new virtual centre, removing the stress and guesswork from host discovery, configuration, testing and data copy. You’ll also improve reliability of access, reduce downtime risk, decrease impact on workflow and lower TCO.

Download our storage virtualisation guide to learn even more about how this smart option can help your business.

32Red bets on LogRhythm for award-winning log management and SIEM

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 11:21:57 GMT

As you can imagine, online gaming sites have to follow strict regulations to keep all those personal accounts secure. After all, you would be severely angry if all your winnings were simply swiped from your account – perhaps not as angry as Robert De Niro gets in Casino, but it may well mean the company's reputation is destroyed. As such, it is vitally important for gaming sites to maintain full compliance with strict regulatory requirements, such as the payment Card Initiative Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).

Therefore, a key technology for online gaming sites is certainly log management and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) software. Log management and SIEM software creates a log of all user account activity, scans it and flags any suspicious or unusual activity, helping to keep personal account details and payment details secure.

This was exactly the technology leading online casino operators, 32Red, needed when they came to OISG Security Solutions for help.

Due to their rapid expansion, 32Red did not have the staff or technology in place to be able to efficiently manage the vast amount of log data the company had started generating. Their compliance-cost ratio was at a tipping point and had begun significantly draining the company's resources. 32Red needed an effective solution, and fast.

Fortunately, 32Red chose to partner with OISG Security Solutions. We were able to procure and deploy LogRhythm's leading log management and SIEM 2.0 technology quickly and smoothly, enabling the company to continue operating efficiently and with a deep level of visibility into their IT network.

“The deployment process was very smooth and was completed very swiftly. We received excellent support from both LogRhythm and our partner OISG Security Solutions, which provided us with an outstanding level of service and assistance throughout the entire deployment process,” complimented Robert Deaves, IT Infrastructure Manager at 32Red.

LogRhythm is the leader in cyber threat defense, detection and response, and their software received a perfect 5-star review and this year's “BEST BUY” in SC Magazine's SIEM Group Test. So there is no doubt that the software is top of its class and provides the visibility, insight and remediation 32Red required to detect previously undetectable security issues and the flexibility to address the ever-changing cyber threat landscape.

Log management and SIEM technologies are useful to a wide range of industry sectors – from universities to fund management companies. So if you are in need of software to help you stay compliant, then get in touch to find out more about the LogRhythm log management and SIEM solution.

Optimised data deduplication and backup

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 13:32:40 GMT

The amount of data we need to store is increasing exponentially. This is fuelled by a combination of our growing dependence on IT, increasing legal and regulatory requirements to retain and secure data, and - for the future - the promise of big data analytics to improve our business.

In the short term this is placing a severe strain on our storage infrastructure and our recovery timescales. Put simply, we need to get a grip on our data, without losing control of our budget. There are, however, two technologies that can help: data deduplication and optimised backup.

The former can vastly reduce the amount of data we have to store, and therefore the amount of storage we need to buy and administer. The latter ensures that we backup what we need to, when we need to. If we can combine the two, we can reduce the cost and simplify the management of storage infrastructure while simultaneously improving data recovery timescales.

Deduplication is achieved by never saving the same data twice. That data is either structured or unstructured - Data stored as text in a document is unstructured; data stored in a database is structured. Each has different characteristics in how it is stored and how it should be deduped. Companies that are more reliant on file-based unstructured data should dedupe by file. Companies whose data is primarily stored in structured databases should dedupe by block.

In reality, the basic concept is similar in both cases. Data is compared and a single instance is stored. Whenever duplicate files or blocks are found, the duplicates are reduced to a cryptographic hash, and just the hash and a pointer to the original data is stored. The duplicate data is dumped – and the result, amazingly, can reduce physical storage requirements by up to 95%.

Backup should ideally be integrated with the deduping. Furthermore, if you have already heavily invested in a tape back-up system, you don’t really want to ditch that investment. What you do need, however, is a backup system that maintains your backup investment while significantly improving your recovery times. FalconStor is one company that can provide all of this: deduping suitable for both structured and unstructured data; and a virtual tape library (VTL) capable of reducing backup and recovery times by up to 800% with no major changes to your existing IT infrastructure or backup policies.

If you would like to discover more about deduplication and FalconStor please call us at OISG Enterprise Solutions on + 44 (0) 845 262 2121

Mobile Security: The risk is to your data

Mon, 6 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

It seems that whatever new piece of technology we create to make our lives easier, there are malicious criminals working to exploit it for their own benefit. We create defences and they work a way around them. It becomes a technological arms race that businesses especially cannot afford to lose.

Currently this technological arms race focuses on mobile technology. More affordable and effective cloud technology, smart phones, tablets etc. are all making it far easier for us to work flexibly. The benefits are huge, but so are the risks.

Did you know, according to Websense, 90% of all companies have experienced a data breach in the last year? And of those, 64% occurred when the employee was out of the office, highlighting the central role mobile devices are playing in data security.

What can we do?

Most businesses are now turning to Mobile Device Management (MDM) to enable them some control over mobile devices. However, while useful, MDM does not go far enough.

The real threat is not simply to the device itself but the data stored on it – just as computer security focuses on data attacks and not physical access of the machine. The problem with MDM is that it does not protect your devices against malware, phishing attacks, malicious apps, data theft or loss. What is needed is a complete mobile security solution that incorporates MDM, while also protecting your data.

Fortunately, in this arms race, businesses have a secret weapon: Websense © TRITON™ mobile security – of which OISG Group is a Silver Partner.

The cloud-based security application includes all the usual MDM controls like password enforcement, remote lock/wipe, and encryption, and also utilises their ThreatSeeker® network to create an Advanced Classification Engine (ACE). The ACE brings together over 850 million end points and analyses 3-5 billion requests per day – making it the largest security intelligence network with direct social networking awareness around.

If you would like to discover more about the Websense software for yourself, you can watch a demo, download a brochure, or call us at OISG Security Solutions on +44 (0) 845 262 2323

Escaping the IT Support Quagmire

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In a tough economy, every business will be watching their pennies while trying to provide the very best service possible. Providing a valuable, reliable yet cost-effective IT support service to your clients is fundamental to long-term growth and stability. But the combination of reduced budgets and higher demand for quality support can trap businesses in a tricky quagmire.

In order to provide the best possible service, businesses must invest in their staff. Professional competencies and vendor accreditations provide not only a better depth of knowledge, but also develop staff confidence in dealing with issues and reduce turnaround time. However, as you will know, training your staff in these accreditations is an expensive process.

Information Technology develops at such a fast rate that your team's skills need regular updating. When you consider the cost involved in all this training, it is tough to develop an effective low-cost/high-value service.

So what is the solution?

One alternative is to outsource your IT support. If you can find a good, reliable service provider, they will deal with the expensive and time-consuming job of training their staff leaving you to invest in your core offering. With specific partner programmes, cost-spreading and industry-specific expert knowledge, a good outsourced partner will be able to provide the service required at a lower overall cost.

A word of caution, however: buying into the wrong IT support supplier can end up damaging your business.

Take, for example, Mitsui O.S.K. Ltd (MOL), one of the world's largest transport lines. In an effort to focus more on their core skills, they outsourced their IT support. However, the company they outsourced to were experiencing a rapid turnover of staff and struggled to provide sufficiently well-trained replacements. This caused a growing back-log which led to a poor quality service. Find out more about MOL's IT support issues.

The key for MOL was to have competent staff on their help desk to ensure their customers received the best possible service – something not being provided by their outsourced agency.

At OISG Group, we realise the value and importance of our staff and work hard at employee retention. We have no great desire to spend money training our staff as experts only to lose them a few months later. Thus investment in our staff and their skills training is at the forefront of our IT support service. Just take a look at what this approach achieved for MOL.

If you are looking for ways to deliver an improved IT support service without the huge training expenses, then get in contact today to find out how OISG can help, or take a look at our case studies for a deeper insight.

OISG watch Olympic rings descend onto London

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 14:46:13 GMT

As local investors in the community, the senior management team at OISG Group, were invited to witness something quite spectacular happening down on the Thames. To celebrate a month until the Olympic Games descend on the capital, giant Olympic rings made their descent from Tower Bridge.

The three-ton rings had been installed onto a special frame suspended from Tower Bridge over the last few months. Then on the 27^th June, exactly one month before the start of the Games, the rings were lowered in a stylish celebration and are set to dazzle in the evenings with their coloured light show.

The rings are 11 metres tall and 25 metres long – making them visible from a long way into the capital. However, being at the event itself was a far more prestigious affair than simply watching the rings descend from afar. We were joined by Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, and London 2012 Chairman, Lord Sebastian Coe, on a barge on the Thames to watch the iconic lowering of the rings.

Lord Coe, who is also a two-time Olympic 1500m champion, said at the event: “The Olympic rings are an iconic symbol, inspiring athletes and uniting people around the world. To athletes, they represent the culmination of thousands of hours of training and reaching the highest level in sport.

“With one month to go to the Olympic Games opening ceremony, these spectacular rings on one of London's most famous landmarks will excite and inspire residents and visitors in the capital.”

Mayor Boris Johnson said: “This is now in the final furlong. This is when the horses start to change places and will make the difference between a good Games and the best Games ever, but I'm sure we are going to pull it off” before giving the thumbs-up for some press photos.

Following the Olympic Games, the iconic rings will be replaced by the Agitos, the giant swirling symbol of the Paralympic Games. Both structures were created by a British company in Yorkshire – further demonstrating the benefits of the Games to British businesses.

With less than a week to go, we at OISG Group are getting rather excited! What are you looking forward to the most? A particular event or the celebration of sport in itself? Let us know via any of our social media links Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook.

"A Computer for Every Child" - An Unobtainable Pledge?

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

"A computer for every child" sounds like the electoral promise of wacky New Hampshire Presidential Candidate Vermin “Love” Supreme, but it is a real aim of schools inspector Ofsted. Of course, Ofsted do not expect the majority of schools to be at that level yet, but according to their 2011 report looking at ICT in Schools, the inspectors are not satisfied.

Ofsted collect their results over three-year periods to give an idea of development in schools. This 2011 report states “just under half of the [secondary] schools in the survey judged good or outstanding” when it came to ICT and that this result was proportionally "no better than that in the previous survey."

So this shows that secondary schools are still falling behind in their standards of ICT and have not developed at all in 6 years. But why is this?

Part of the problem is that the computer industry develops so rapidly, so any ICT equipment schools purchase is quickly outdated. This generally leaves schools a choice: invest in a small number of powerful machines and keep them updated, or invest in a large number of less-powerful machines and replace them more frequently.

When viewed in this context it is pretty clear why schools are struggling to improve. But we at OISG Group are not content with watching our nation's children struggle when it comes to ICT (our favourite subject!). That is why we tasked our Financial Services arm with the mission to help schools overcome these ICT procurement issues.

The aim was clear yet seemingly unobtainable: provide every child access to a computer. Obviously, building computer labs that contained enough machines for every child was asking too much. The answer had to be laptops.

Laptops for Schools Scheme

Through the Laptops for Schools (LFS) Scheme, schools work in partnership with OISG Group to choose the most suitable machine for their students and then to build a repayment scheme that is affordable for parents. Parents then pay a voluntary contribution toward the cost of the laptop.

We have forged a strong partnership with CHG-Meridian to offer schools low and fixed-rate finance to cover the initial cost of the machines. We also provide insurance to cover those accidents and odd instances of theft.

The idea is to give each and every child the opportunity to learn through ICT, both at school and at home. This is not always possible for lower-income families and this disparity contributes to the growing divide in attainment levels between children. Our scheme is structured so that it is affordable for all parents, thereby demonstrating that it is possible to overcome socio-economic differences between families.

Overall, we consider ICT to be an investment that everyone should be able to make. The growing importance and prevalence of ICT use in business makes ICT skills learning one of the most important focusses for schools.

If you are an educational establishment, or you have a child who attends one, then why not suggest our scheme to your school? We even have schemes designed for universities and other educational institutions. You can find out more about the scheme and make an inquiry on our Laptops for Schools page

If you have any questions about the scheme, then don't hesitate to contact us or fire your questions over Twitter or Facebook and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Be Ready for Future Security Threats

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 16:01:05 GMT

Whether we like it or not, there is no denying that the digital landscape has shifted dramatically in the last decade. Broadband internet was soon followed by the rise of the social network and now we are seeing a mass adoption of various cloud models. On the one hand this development has been great – it has been a rollercoaster ride of digital innovation culminating in an almost anywhere network of information. On the other hand, almost anywhere information exposes companies to a vast abyss of IT security holes.

Is it possible to have the benefits of portable information without IT security threats?

Well, in one word: yes. We are now at the stage that vulnerabilities exposed by mobile devices can be significantly reduced by working in partnership with a specialist IT security company. In fact, the OISG Group includes an entire arm dedicated to just that. Find out more about OISG Security Solutions.

For most businesses, IT security has been a very sharp, very steep learning curve and hasn't been reached without its fair share of casualties along the way. The Sony Playstation Network is probably the most famous casualty, but hacktivists Anonymous and LulzSec have kindly provided us with plenty more examples over the last few years.

The essential problem is that hackers and malicious programs use the very tools of the modern business against us. Social networks are a great place for business networking and promotion, yet are riddled with security issues which can be exploited to gain access to other parts of a business.

Similarly, many of us would be at a loss without our smartphones delivering us all our latest updates and emails, yet these too are vulnerable to security attacks.

And now, the cloud. Amazing for allowing location-independent working, increased collaboration and overall productivity, but public, hybrid and even some private clouds expose your company's sensitive data to interception during its transit through internet networks.

But how do we assess how exposed our company is and what can we do about it.

I expect some of the more cynical of you are expecting a heavy sales pitch for some long, labour-intensive and pricey assessment consultation right about now. But you would be wrong. Instead OISG Systems Security division have teamed up with IT security giant Kaspersky to offer you a FREE assessment of your IT security.

We have worked with Kaspersky to develop an online questionnaire that will probe the different aspects of your company's IT infrastructure to uncover your potential security risks. We will then deliver you a free report detailing these risks and suggest potential and impartial solutions.

If you would like to take this free 'Be Ready' Assessment then simply click here to begin.

To talk with us in-depth about any security concerns you may have, give our security division a call on +44(0)845 262 2323 or click here to contact us in other ways. Of course you can always send us a message through Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook.

Upcoming Event: Cloud Solutions

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Next generation data centres (NGDC), and the cloud technology they are built upon, have been a hot topic recently. One of the key reasons is that this technology has reached a tipping point for mass adoption. On the one hand, the technology used to create a cloud infrastructure is now developed enough to make NGDC a viable option. On the other hand, there are still significant barriers to implementation for many businesses.

On the 5^th July, we will be hosting one of our infamous technology events at our swish new demo lab in central London. At the event, we will hear from some of the pioneers at the forefront of cloud technology: VMware, Atlantis and RES Software.

These giants in the field of cloud technology will come together to present some real world solutions to some of the toughest virtual problems.

'What are these problems?' ...we hear you cry.

Transitioning to cloud infrastructure – Having used in-house servers for so long, it can be tough to see a clear path to cloud adoption. What services do you outsource? How can you most effectively use the infrastructure you already have? How do you balance the need for flexibility and security?

One of the many great presenters and demonstrators from VMware will be there on the 5^th to explain the benefits of the VMware vCloud Director & vCenter Operations Manager as tools for directing and allocating virtual resources for the most efficient cloud infrastructure.

Making the cloud more cost viable – Imagine a world where virtual desktops were cheaper, faster and more secure than an equivalent PC or laptop. That is the aim of the Atlantis ILIO.

Discover how Atlantis plan to tip the scales for cloud adoption and get your business ahead of the game in terms of cloud benefits. It might sound too good to be true but we can assure you, this is one cloud that won't rain on your parade!

Securing BYOD – For most companies, mobile devices are a security nightmare. There is no denying their usefulness and there is little getting passed their growing influence, but how on earth are we supposed to keep the data secure?

This is the challenge being tackled by the RES HyperDrive. Experts from RES Software will demonstrate the ingenuity and innovation behind their new HyperDrive and answer any questions you may have. So if you want to allow mobile devices on your network without the inherent security risks, get yourself down to our event on July 5^th.

There are limited spaces available for the event, so book your place early. We will be maximising numbers by holding both a morning (8.30-12pm) and afternoon (1.30-5pm) session, so book your place on the event now.

We will, of course, bring you a full round up of the event. So make sure you keep in touch with us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to make sure you stay in the loop.

Fighting for Survival: Eye of the Orangutan

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

On the 24^th of May OISG Account Director, Tunji Oyelede, bravely stepped into the ring to fight for survival – not for himself, but for the endangered Orangutan.

It was, of course, the annual CRN Fight Night – pitching IT company against IT company. Rising up to the challenge of his life, Tunji selflessly fought long and hard for the honour of his company and co-workers, but more importantly, to help raise money for the Orangutan Protection Foundation.

Brave? Brave doesn't even begin to cover it. Tunji, who has never fought before, went toe-to-toe with the, as of yet undefeated, Comms-care team. In the four-year history of the Fight Night, Comms-care has not lost a single fight and yet here was our plucky new warrior determined to end their winning streak once and for all.

The resulting fight against Comm-care's Seb Hemmings was one of the closest in CRM Fight Night history – most judging it too close to call. But the referee had to make a call and, in one if not the most controversial decisions in boxing history, Seb Hemmings was declared the victor.

Why not watch the fight and judge for yourself? We'd love to hear your verdict, so tweet us @OrangeInfoSys.

But are we really losers? Hardly. With our customers' support we raised over £2364 for the Orangutan Protection Foundation and helped raise much more on the night. Tunji, an amateur who has never fought before, demonstrated courage, conviction and a disregard for his face that could only be described as heroic. These are not the qualities of losers, but the qualities of guardians – those who fight for those who cannot.

Fight Night consisted of 8 fights and this year, featured its very first female fight. There was a great atmosphere on the night with everyone getting into the charitable spirit of things.

There is still a chance to show your support for Tunji's dedication and commitment by donating to the Orangutan Protection Foundation. The Foundation works tirelessly both with governments as well as on the ground in Borneo to help save the most majestic, kind and human-like animals on our planet - the orangutan. These apes are facing extinction due to the destruction of their unique habitat. So please give whatever you can today and help the orangutan live on.

This really is a fight for survival.

Take Your Data Management Into Hyperdrive With RES

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:22:26 GMT

We are pleased to announce that OISG Group is now offering the RES HyperDrive to all new and existing customers. As much as the RES HyperDrive sounds like something you might find on the Millennium Falcon, it is actually a very cool piece of technology that offers a simple yet comprehensive cloud storage solution.

I'm sure most of us will have used some sort of shared storage solution in the past, such as Dropbox or SkyDrive, but there have always been issues with these types of public cloud applications. Slow upload speeds, limited storage capacity and base level security being just some of the many issues. The key issue facing many businesses is: How do we support mobile data storage, use it securely and easily manage it?

The RES HyperDrive is essentially a privately hosted version of Dropbox allowing you and your team superfast access to vast amounts of virtual storage from almost anywhere. And when we say 'anywhere' we don't just mean from any Internet-connected PC or laptop, we're talking truly mobile data. Seamless integration with smartphone, Blackberry and tablet devices means the RES HyperDrive really can be accessed from pretty much anywhere.

Better yet, data stored on your virtual drive can be shared with other team members and/or clients on a folder-by-folder basis. This makes collaboration far easier since there is no duplication of data and all files are backed-up and secured on a virtual server.

So let's talk about the security – what makes the RES HyperDrive more secure than other options?

Given that data is physically stored on a remote server, the RES HyperDrive can ensure an enterprise-level security infrastructure – securing all data across all devices. Also, since all data is remotely backed-up, the loss of a device does not mean the loss of data. All of you who have dropped your phone down the toilet or spilt coffee on your laptop will know how handy that feature really is!

But if your mobile device is lost or stolen can another user then access the HyperDrive and all the sensitive data contained therein?

This is where the RES HyperDrive really shows its worth. With remote management features, an administrator can disable access to the HyperDrive from any of the connected devices. So, if your iPad is stolen, you can have the access rights revoked and be safe in the knowledge that your data is untouchable; this is a feature that makes the HyperDrive even more secure than your inbuilt storage.

However, the best thing about the RES HyperDrive is its ease of use. The desktop integration is second to none and displays your virtual drives alongside your physical drives in 'My Computer'. This makes using the drive pretty idiot-proof even for those less technologically literate.

There is also a web-based interface for those times you are away from your own computer – just another way in which the HyperDrive makes data truly mobile.

Overall, the RES HyperDrive is the next generation cloud storage solution. Safe, secure and easy to manage, it provides a one-stop-shop for any business that requires collaborative or flexible data storage.

To upgrade today call us on +44(0)845 262 2121, request a callback or download the RES HyperDrive Brochure here.

Is Vendor Support Really More Secure?

Thu, 7 Jun 2012 15:44:53 GMT

It is a popular belief that the support gained from individual IT vendors is somehow more secure than third party support services. After all, they are the ones supplying the software or hardware, so they should be the most secure support service...right?

Well, not necessarily. At OISG we like to challenge assumptions and shatter illusions with our global support offering, – especially when it comes to unsubstantiated support myths. Our silver bullet? A guaranteed fix within 2 hours, available 24/7, 365 days a year.

IT support, from an original vendor, is obviously nothing to be scoffed at. They have the expertise to walk you through a suitable fix, but only for their product. The problem is that IT issues rarely occur in isolation. More often than not there are multiple issues, or at least a crossover of hardware/software issues, at the heart of the problem.

What is better: Product-isolated IT support from a collection of individual vendors, or broad, highly-skilled and worldwide support from a single UK-based company which contradicts the global support message? Well, 95% of our customers agreed that OISG provides an equal or better level of service than any of its competition.

So, apart from guaranteed IT support response times, a guaranteed fix and a broad range of experts at your disposal, how else can a consolidated IT support service provide better support than vendors?

As part of a consolidated IT support service, you can expect all your out-of-warranty IT to be covered for you. This means you can cut out the time-consuming and expensive task of ensuring you’re supported for each and every out-of-warranty piece of technology. Plus - you can also experience up to a 40% saving, compared to individual cover.

This means OISG global support will save you time while saving you money. You will get one contract with one guaranteed SLA, meaning you won’t have to keep track of which equipment is covered. Plus there’s no need to manage multiple service contracts, our consolidated IT support service does all this for you.

OISG global support offers exactly what it says – global support. This means worldwide support across verticals and across regions.We will create bespoke support contracts to suit your specific needs. So that's a guaranteed response and fix time, for any product, in or out of warranty, and all while potentially saving money.

Check out the case study, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines here, for an example of the service in action.

To find out more about our service, or to book your free consultation, give us a call today on 0845 262 1919 or email sales@oisg.com.

Orangutan Protection Foundation hangs out with new Indonesian Ambassador

Wed, 23 May 2012 16:43:51 GMT

As I'm sure we all know from millions of nature documentaries, Orangutans are native to the island’s of Borneo and Sumatra. Being that Borneo is 73% (-ish) owned by Indonesia, it seemed pretty important to have the Indonesian government working with the Orangutan Protection Foundation and OISG Group to help keep the beautiful auburn-haired apes from becoming extinct.

With this in mind we were invited to the Indonesian Embassy on Grosvenor Square in London to meet the newly appointed Ambassador first-hand.

OISG Group's very own Managing Director, Alan Edwards, went along as a trustee of the Foundation with CEO of the Orangutan Protection Foundation, Aaron Reid, to an informal reception hosted by the new Ambassador.

His Excellency Mr Teuku Mohammad Thayeb had been officially appointed by H.M. the Queen earlier that morning at a private reception in Buckingham Palace, so we were really busting in on his first day in the job!

Besides sampling the buffet of traditional Indonesian foods and fruits, we did manage to sneak in a word with his Excellency and his wife, Mrs Lastry Thayeb. The couple were very pleased that there were kind spirited people in the UK working to help save the Orangutan – it is, after all, the national symbol of Indonesia.

They quizzed us for a few minutes about the fund-raising work we have been doing from the UK, as well as the rescue attempts on the ground in Borneo. Both seemed to really love the Orangutan and were keen for us to continue our great work – agreeing to work with us and the Orangutan Protection Foundation wherever possible.

Overall it was a lovely afternoon filled with glamour, prestige but, most importantly, productive conversation around saving the Orangutan. We really do care a great deal for this loveable ape and are doing all we can to help and support those trying to save it from extinction. The demand for palm oil and timber is destroying the rainforest in Borneo and if nothing is done to halt the destruction of their habitat, the Orangutan could be extinct in the wild within just 10 years.

If you would like to support the Orangutan Protection Foundation then why not sponsor us in the up and coming CRN Fight Night? We will pit our very own Account Director Tunji Oyedele, in a fight to the death (of either their will or consciousness). Help us raise funds for the Orangutan Protection Foundation and sponsor Tunji here.

To see how we get on, follow us on Twitter or join us on Facebook.

IT Financial Services for Business Growth

Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

At the beginning of this year we at OISG Group launched our new IT Financial Services arm. The aim of OISG Financial Services, headed by the vastly experienced Dominic Stow, is to provide expert financial services to start-ups, SMEs, larger corporate clients and public sector organisations from across the globe. Essentially, we took a good look at the market and cunningly deduced that financial services might just be an area where good service was lacking.

By getting to know some of the biggest and most trusted financial service providers in the world, OISG Financial Services can provide the right financial solution or product for your IT needs. Not the product that makes us the most money, but the product that provides our clients with the finance required to improve their business offering.

Some of the key benefits to using OISG Financial Services:

Cash-flow – you can spread the cost of your IT equipment over a period of time providing you with financial flexibility.

Tax benefits – Leasing is treated as an operating cost just like wages, office rental etc. As such, every penny that is spent on a rental payment can be offset against your tax for that year thus reducing your corporation tax bill.

Reliability – we can give you an integrated maintenance contract and if anything fails provide replacements.

Future-proof – on average most hardware is old-hack after just 18 months. Some of our options allow you to keep your equipment up-to-date and ahead of the game.

Clear financial planning – surprises can be a thing of the past, ensuring peace of mind during budget forecasting and business planning.

Global – our financial services are available to you whichever country you are based in.

OISG Financial Services can help you to raise the money you need, whether its for new acquisitions, new equipment, or for that special project that’s popped up and requires a bit of additional funding. Most importantly we can help provide your business with a solid financial platform for growth.

But as they say: The proof is in the pudding – and our pudding is looking exceptionally tasty! Having launched only in January this year we have already helped a huge number of clients find the finance they need to grow. How have we managed such rapid success? Because we really do live by the principle that service is everything! In fact, in a recent customer satisfaction survey 99% said they would recommend us.

But don't take our word for it...

Just the other day @SimonThomasSky asked on Twitter:

"Apologies for the dull question but has anyone used one of these computer leasing schemes / companies? Any good or waste of dosh? #dulltweet"

To which @jmoorey (thanks, whoever you are!) replied:

"@SimonThomasSky They're only good if the rented kit is over a certain value, then there are tax benefits. @OrangeInfoSys are excellent at it"

In fact, given the recent reduction of the annual investment allowance from £100,000 to £25,000 from 1st April this year, there is more reason than ever to utilise leasing facilities. In doing so you can recoup 100% of the tax allowances over the term of the lease rather than relying on writing down allowances which take significantly longer to reclaim.

But isn't this all a bit too much from an IT supplier?

We don't like to think of ourselves as simply a supplier of your IT services; we prefer to be your complete IT partner. We draw the line at foot rubs, but in all other respects we try our hardest to make every aspect of your IT run like clockwork. A true partner supports your business needs, so we look for innovative and practical ways of offering our clients a complete service. And if that helps your business get where you want, well that’s just part of the service.

If you would like to know more about our financing your IT then subscribe to our blog or add us to your network on Twitter.

INFOGRAPHIC: Bringing IT Back to Business

Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Read the free guide, Managing IT Assets in a Better Way, to learn more about the advantages of IT optimisation and automation.

Bringing IT Back to Business

An enterprise’s IT department is critical to its efficiency, productivity and ultimately its revenue. Learn just how essential an effective IT department truly is to a firm.

Far too much money is lost in unnecessarily purchased software. IT professionals estimate the cost at a staggering £260 per workplace PC. About 10% of all software purchased by a firm simply ends up on the shelf or untouched on the hard drive. All that waste adds up to £1.9 billion every year in unused software.

For three working months out of every year, over one in four skilled IT professionals are simply performing routine maintenance. That’s 40% of their time on the job—time which could be spent on much more valuable tasks.

An employee’s onboarding cost of new joiners adds up to about 30-40% of their base pay. However, new hires who go through a structured joiners program are 58% more likely to remain in their positions one year later, making the initial cost a small investment.

Fifty-nine percent of firms’ IT solutions are comprised strictly of on-premises software, while 22% use a combination of on-premises and SAAS. Thirteen percent aren’t sure of their IT solution, and just 6% use solely SAAS.

Regarding improvements to enterprise productivity, 43% of organisations say they support them fairly well. Thirty-five percent feel improvements are supported extremely well. But 18% report inadequate support, and 4% don’t support them well at all.

Fifty-six percent of IT professionals cited efficiency as their most important departmental goal, while 35% hoped to improve development and management processes. It certainly seems that slow processes and sacrificed productivity are the bane of information technology.

Improving your IT infrastructure through IT automation has several benefits. Firms may see a 200% increase in efficiency—for example, one IT professional can manage 125-150 devices on his or her own, but automation boosts that capability to 500 or more. An organisation may also experience lower costs (under £1,500 per employee to implement), reduced waste and maximised profit.

Consider this: the cost to process one expense report manually is about £17.76. But with IT automation, that cost is reduced to just £3.90. In addition, consider that 20-40% of expense reports processed manually contain errors, and that spreadsheet developers miss four out of five errors.

Most IT professionals spend the majority of their time on a combination of operational and business practices (42%). Thirty-one percent spend most of their time on operational processes, 24% on business processes and 4% don’t know.

IT professionals rated the most critical areas for optimisation, and all came in fairly high in importance. From highest to lowest: backup and restoration, disaster recovery, service request and fulfilment, incident management, data movement and application provisioning.

The most important impacts of automation according to IT pros are improved response time to service requests, data error reduction, mobilised staff, increased production with the same amount of staff, staff reduction, “too early to tell,” spending reduction, and other concerns.

IT hardware purchasing increased 10% in 2010. By the end of this year, IT spending will increase 17% overall. And for those that have implemented changes, it was worth it. Only 3% were not particularly satisfied with automation; the rest were somewhat to completely satisfied.

Read the free guide, Managing IT Assets in a Better Way, to learn more about the advantages of IT optimisation and automation.

OISG Enterprise Solutions Appointed To FalconStor Partner Advisory Council

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:18:53 GMT

We are very pleased to announce that FalconStor (the award-winning US-based software developer) has appointed our own Steve Whitfield to represent OISG Enterprise Solutions as a member of their EMEA Partner Advisory Council (PAC).

The purpose of the Council is to provide a collaborative communication platform upon which business ideas can be openly shared and discussed. This opportunity will allow us to generate and develop new ideas, business strategies and technological direction, with the benefit of fresh insight and perspective from others.

FalconStor is leading the way in scalable and open network storage solutions. We like their kind of innovation and forward-thinking, which is why we partnered with them in the first place. Their network solutions are designed to optimise the storage, protection, efficiency, and availability of enterprise data and applications, so we're glad that they continue to innovate in their business approaches as well as their products.

Through collaboration on the Council, FalconStor and the OISG Group, as well as other members, intend to create positive momentum to even greater success all-round. By gaining a greater understanding of mutual needs, we hope to jointly define and prioritise business requirements and future product enhancements.

Essentially, two heads are better than one. And better than two is a small council of experts all working together.

The Council will be working to improve partnerships and to shape the future of FalconStor products and processes, as well as learning from others for our own benefit. We believe in the strength of strategic partnerships and have seen great success in all of our partnership programmes over the last 8 years.

We were invited to the Council after our “exceptional” performance as one of their leading partners. We have to admit that we are pretty excited about getting to work with the great team at FalconStor and their other partners and are rather proud of ourselves for getting there.

To find out more about our partnership opportunities then get in touch today on 0845 262 1919 or connect with us through Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

The Problem With Next Generation Data Centres

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:16:07 GMT

Like all new terms, ‘next generation data centre’ (NGDC) suffers from a blurred definition. Some consider it to be the use of virtualised storage servers outsourced to a specialist provider; others consider it to be a completely virtualised data centre, whether located wholly in-house, wholly with a data centre provider, or a hybrid split between the two. The one common factor is the use of virtualisation throughout the data centre in order to provide a private cloud. Moving a fully virtualised data centre to a colocation data centre provider in order to combine virtualised efficiencies with colocation cost savings is the next logical step in the evolution of the data centre.

Security company Crossbeam recently undertook a survey of more than 500 IT professionals in order to understand the current state of this evolution – and discovered that while almost everyone recognises the value of NGDC, progress towards that goal has almost completely stalled. Ninety-four percent of the respondents quoted network security as the primary cause for this lack of progress. Infosecurity Magazine took up the story and asked us for our opinion on why this should be so (you can read the Infosecurity Magazine article here).

Put simply, the main problem with moving to a fully virtualised cloud-based NGDC is one of perception aggravated by misunderstanding and a fear of the unknown. For example, what is now being offered by some NGDC providers are in reality managed hosted virtual servers with the name cloud appended. To circumvent the concern about network security this service is supplied with an air-gap between each customer's system. The provider may also offer a self-service portal of servers with CPU, RAM, and disk and manage the resource to the hypervisor level.

But most modern organisations are already almost there. They have already moved to a virtual server environment in-house and already have a private cloud. It is the final step to the outsourced data centre that is problematic. In-house, permanent IT staff are directly responsible for the smooth running of IT and are there to shout at when things go wrong. This is not the case when the infrastructure is located in a data centre and managed by a faceless third party, irrespective of the SLAs agreed in a contract.

If you’ve got any questions about NGDC or any network security concerns, give us a call on 0845 262 1919.

Optimism Bias Destroys Business

Tue, 3 Apr 2012 11:34:27 GMT

Optimism bias. It's a term used to explain why people keep up bad habits, like smoking, even though they know it causes cancer. Unfortunately for some, brushing risks off with the belief “it won't happen to me” doesn't really pan out. People still die, disasters still occur and companies still collapse. So is it not time for UK businesses to wake up to the reality of IT disasters and start building a 'plan b'?

It is shocking to think that even now over 50% of UK businesses don’t have any kind of disaster recovery plan in place. Whether it is simply optimism bias or whether they just don't comprehend the extent of the risk, it is clear that businesses aren't taking disaster recovery seriously.

But how serious is the risk of disaster?

Well, figures show that one in every 500 data centres suffer a severe disaster every year and 43% of businesses suffering a disaster will never recover. For you maths bods out there, there's a 0.086% chance of your business being completely wiped out each year – and that stat is even higher for SMEs. The risk might sound minimal but when you realise that’s a year-by-year statistic, times it by ten years and it goes up to almost 10%.

So why do disasters wipe businesses out?

A freak flood, some ferocious fire or even a bunch of hoodied rioters – whatever the cause of the disaster, the effects will be felt throughout your business. From emails to contact databases, payments to order history, you could find the whole lot gone. And this won't just slow you down for a little while, the confidence your customers held in you will also be lost – and that is much, much harder to replace.

Many businesses are guilty of underestimating their reliance on IT systems. It is only after the disaster that businesses suddenly realise the true cost of not having a disaster recovery plan.

Besides contacts, orders, payroll and continuing business operation there is the time and cost of replacing machines and software. Once all this is taken into account it is much clearer to see why nearly half of businesses never recover.

Disaster recovery planning should be essential for every business – after all, there's no point in holding 20/20 hindsight if your livelihood has been destroyed. Many businesses will be reluctant, thinking it is a long and costly procedure and one that is unlikely to be used.

Optimism bias or burying your head in the sand – either way it will be no use once the worst happens.

Talk to us today to find out how we can help you put a solid plan in place. Unlike traditional disaster recovery, OISG Enterprise Solutions can have you back up and running in a matter of minutes, not hours or days. We have won numerous awards and accreditations, such as the VMware Business Continuity Competency accreditation. So stop thinking “it won't happen to me” and get in touch today on 0845 262 2121.

vCloud & Deep Security Event Round-up

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:02:46 GMT

Last week we held one of our renowned technology updates at our newly opened Technical Centre at 36 Curlew Street, London. And what cutting-edge pieces of technology were we helping to showcase? Only the new vCloud Director from VMware and the new Trend Micro Deep Security from Trend Micro.

We had an intimate audience of well-informed IT directors and senior managers, which meant we could quickly get down to the nitty-gritty of what works, how it works and why it does it so well.

Speaking on behalf of VMware was Paul Manton, Sales Engineer at Magirus, who guided us all through the fantastic new vCloud Director.

The vCloud Director is setting a new industry standard for cloud workloads through its use of the vCloud Connector. This powerful new concept allows users to shift workloads between private and public clouds, creating a hybrid cloud dynamic enough to deal with usage spikes by cloudbursting into another cloud.

State-of-the-art security measures keep all your data completely secure while allowing a flexible, open-architecture system that’s fast and flexible.

While technically a little complicated to explain in detail, Paul did a great job and given the small, knowledgeable group he found the delegates were extremely interested in the vCloud Director.

To pick up a copy of the PowerPoint slides, or for further info on VCloud Director, simply call OISG Enterprise Solutions on 0845 262 2121.

The other piece of technology delegates were eager to see in action was the Trend Micro Deep Security system. The focus for Deep Security is securing VMs for the cloud but without the messy footprint new security systems often leave. Staff no longer have to continually configure, update, and patch agents for each new VM, which provides a much lighter yet more robustly secure system for operating within the cloud.

Even more good news: it has been specifically designed to integrate with the VMware environments. This means you can avoid security brown-outs commonly seen in full system scans and pattern updates.

Jon Burrough, Solution Architect at Trend Micro, was pleased with the interested response from the delegates in the presentation he gave. The fact they seemed to know their stuff made it easier to give a tactile and in-depth demonstration of Trend Micro’s product.

For more information about Trend Micro’s Deep Security system, or for a copy of the PowerPoint slides please call OISG Security Solutions on 0845 262 2323.

Overall, the event was a resounding success with everyone leaving a whole lot better informed about these exciting new technologies. Charlie Laing from Mazars said: “OISG Enterprise Solutions put on a great event, and the schedule was well designed to get the most out of the two offerings.” Thanks Charlie – we hope to see you at another one of our events soon.

To register for information about our upcoming technology updates click here to get in touch.

OISG enters CRN Fight Night

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:48:45 GMT

On 24 May, from the red corner, heavyweight contender Tunji Oyedele will be fighting for the future of the Orangutan – and the reputation of OISG. It’s Fight Night. Not the film, but the annual event organised by CRN. This year OISG Group is entering for the first time. It’s fighting for the survival of the Orangutan and supporting the Orangutan Protection Foundation.

The OISG champion is Account Director Tunji Oyedele, a newcomer to boxing. Tunji has never boxed before. He’s fighting now, he says, to get fit, to raise money for charity, “and because the MD Alan Edwards has a lot of passion for boxing, and was a keen boxer himself in his younger days.” This keen boxer, Alan Edwards, was crowned UK amateur National Novice super-heavyweight boxing champion in 1998. At the time, he declined an invitation to turn professional – instead, six years later, he founded OISG.

Tunji’s opponent on Fight Night will be Seb Hemmings from Comms-care. Seb has already thrown down the gauntlet by declaring himself to be the underdog and claiming, “it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog that matters.” The traditional pre-fight psychology has begun.

But Tunji is unaffected. He is determined to end the winning streak of Comms-care, as yet undefeated in the four-year history of Fight Night. “The fight will be won far away from witnesses – behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road – long before I dance under those lights,” he says, invoking the memory of butterflies and bees.

But it’s not just fun and games. OISG takes its social responsibility seriously. It already funds, administers and supervises the OISG Sports Academy, dedicated to the underprivileged local youths from the borough of Hackney. On Fight Night it also hopes to demonstrate the commitment, dedication and desire to be the best that is OISG Group - and to help protect the endangered Orangutan.

To sponsor Tunji, please click here to donate

Thank you for your support.

New fully-fitted Demo Lab in central London

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 09:49:18 GMT

We’re launching a new IT Laboratory for OISG Group clients next to our London HQ in Tower Bridge. This purpose built facility has a suite of rooms designed to allow our technical team to demonstrate the capabilities of our Technology partners in a professional and comfortable location.

The suite comprises a server room with six racks, and a separate Network Operations Centre (NOC). This allows our clients to see the latest products in action, prove concepts as well as provide a dedicated area for pre-configuring systems and asset tagging before shipping items to client sites.

Our vendor partners can invite prospective customers to full-scale live demonstrations in this comfortable, central location. With the latest hardware and software running in racks and the system controlled from the NOC, demonstrators still have a separate area to set up and configure end-user devices in privacy before demonstrating live systems to customers in the special demonstration suite.

Guests entering the suite will be immediately presented with a state-of-the-art video-wall that can be set to welcome a particular company or group. And after the demonstrations the party can retire to the conference rooms for further discussions in a relaxed and comfortable environment. One of these is laid out as a formal board room with full videoconferencing capabilities. The others are for more relaxed conversation with leather sofas.

The OISG Group technical team will be based in the same building to offer full technical support when required. This new capability will allow our vendor partners, particularly those based out of London to entertain their clients in a complete, fully-furnished, full-specification demonstration suite. And, of course, it’s a great opportunity for OISG Group demonstrate our technical capabilities.

Kennedys uses RES Automation Manager to Migrate Users to Windows 7

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:46:43 GMT

Kennedys employs over 900 people in the UK, providing specialist legal services for insurance, healthcare, construction, employment, rail, maritime and international trade. OISG Group was appointed to manage the migration of all 900 users from Windows XP to Windows 7.

OISG Enterprise Solutions, part of OISG Group, recommended RES Automation Manager for the project as it not only enables Kennedys to easily deploy core settings and applications to all 900 users, but also allows all of the PCs in their environment to be built in compliance with their company standards and regulations. Installations now take a matter of minutes and the automatic management of daily updates means that common actions can now be configured as pre-defined tasks, stored in a central data store and scheduled to run at pre-determined times.

Since Kennedys implemented RES response times on help desk issues have improved, as IT support staff no longer need to physically attend desks to resolve issues and can deploy applications remotely. Steve Whitfield, Director at OISG Enterprise Solutions, comments "The overall goal was to create a new image for their desktop machines, which could then be used to support automated deployment of software and settings to users. It would also make it easier to deal with the legacy applications that were still required," he explains.

Kennedy’s EMEA IT Manager, James Elmer is confident that with OISG Enterprise Solutions managing the XP to Windows migration, things will run smoothly. He said: "We have a small set of applications and have not experienced application compatibility issues so feel sure they will implement this migration project successfully."

Find out more about what’s involved in the current migration project in this Computer Weekly article: Law firm uses RES Automation Manager to migrate users to Windows.

OISG Group launches OISG Financial Services

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:49:56 GMT

Finance has never been more critical to business. At a time when money is in short supply, and banks are less helpful than they used to be, making best use of what you’ve got is essential. That’s why OISG Group is launching our new IT Financial Services Division, OISG Financial Services.

Under the leadership of Dominic Stow, a financial expert with many years experience and a wealth of knowledge, we are pleased to offer our latest option: finance via our Financial Services Division as an alternative to capital outlay. This leaves your existing capital free for other use without upsetting your planned monthly cash flow.

OISG Financial Services works with some of the world’s largest and best known finance organisations. The result is quick, easy and secure finance, for start-ups and SMEs to large corporates and public sector organisations. The finance can be used to fund anything from new acquisitions or new equipment to special projects and consultancy. Where used for the lease purchase of new equipment, it provides all of the long-term investment advantages of CapEx, with the reality and the operational and tax benefits of OpEx.

Drawing on Dominic’s vast knowledge of the financial markets and institutions, packages and advice are personally tailored to best suit each customer, and kept as flexible as possible. The Financial Services Division will get the best terms available, and offer the widest options possible, ranging from flexible upgrades and additions during the finance term, to refresh, hand back or low-cost purchase on completion of lease purchases. “The new Financial Services Division,” comments Dominic, “is a response to customer needs and feedback. Companies want greater flexibility in access to and use of finance. It is my challenge, and one that I relish and will deliver, to provide the best possible financial services to all of our customers.”

OISG Financial Services is the latest offering from the expanding OISG Group. Jody Pawson, Group Sales Director, added “It helps fulfil our determination to provide a complete service to our customers, delivering the best possible in all aspects of the information technology lifecycle – from initial funding through maximised use to eventual recycling”. It continues the Group’s philosophy of a close relationship with the best sources while being tied to none, we remain OISG Group: where the motto ‘service is everything’ is always delivered.

Read more about our service in CRN OISG gets a new lease of life.

Gibraltar e-Gaming Seminar

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:58:04 GMT

On 19th January Hitachi Data Systems, VirtualSharp and OISG Enterprise Solutions joined forces to launch the inaugural education series, starting with storage technologies, virtualisation and thin provisioning.

The slides from the event are available to download below.

Introduction and industry challenges - Steve Whitfield, OISG Enterprise Solutions

Exponential data growth, managing risks, driving efficiencies and cost reduction are all front of mind for today’s IT professionals. Steve will explain how taking a joined-up approach can avoid performance bottlenecks, keep your DR compliant and protect your High Availabiltiy applications.

Preview of 2012 hot new products & support - Roger Bailey & Richard Hilton, Hitachi Data Systems
HDS is launching exciting new products in 2012. You’ll learn about their journey, what they’ve achieved and where they’re going, including an overview of their critical Gibraltar, UK and Global support centres.
Download: Hitachi Data Systems Overview
Download: Hitachi Data Systems Product Overview

Storage economics for the e-gaming industry - Vere Perry, Hitachi Data Systems
We all know that storage purchase costs are only a small fraction of your total cost of ownership. In this session you’ll discover how to get maximum value from your investment with virtualisation, thin provisioning, tiered storage and de-duping amongst others.
Download: Hitachi Data Systems Storage Economics

Cutting edge disaster recovery - Ben Cupello, VirtualSharp
Find out how to improve the resiliency of your virtual IT infrastructures and align DR to your company’s business continuity plan. Ben will introduce DR assurance and explain how to automate all aspects of your DR plan from testing and execution to compliance reporting.
Download: VirtualSharp Cutting Edge Disaster Recovery

Sunday Times Tech Track 100 lists OISG Group for 3rd year running

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 09:40:53 GMT

We are delighted to be listed in the Sunday Times Tech Track 100 for the third consecutive year. The league table ranks Britain's 100 private technology companies with the fastest-growing sales.

Now in its eleventh year, the Tech Track 100 league table supplement was published in The Sunday Times on 18 September 2011, with Microsoft as the title sponsor. OISG Group came in 84th in the league table this year.

The 2011 Tech Track 100 ranked Britain's fastest-growing private technology companies, based on their revenues from the last three years. A typical Tech Track 100 company is owned and run by entrepreneurs and has between 20 and 100 staff. Growth ranged from 35% pa to 360% pa, with sales typically between £5m and £50m.

“It’s great to see our service is everything ethos proven with an award like this. It just goes to show that focusing on our clients needs keeps us growing at a tremendous pace despite tough economic times.” Jody Pawson, Group Sales Director, OISG Group

The Sunday Times publication stated “[OISG Group] established a subsidiary in 2009 to service larger companies and has offices in London and Birmingham with plans to set up shop in Hong Kong in the next year. A recruitment drive and the launch of its subsidiary fuelled sales growth of 42% a year, from £5.9m in 2008 to £16.8m in 2011.”

Other well-known and emerging brands on the 2011 league table include online money lender Wonga, price comparison website Gocompare.com, and music recognition service provider Shazam.

The 2011 awards dinner will be held on 15 November in London. The full list published in the Sunday Times can be found on Fast Track's Tech Track 100 website.

OISG is announced as a finalist in the CRN Channel Awards 2011

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The finalists for the CRN Channel Awards 2011, the most prestigious awards in the channel industry have been announced and we have been shortlisted, and we are very proud to have been nominated. The worthy winner will be announced on Thursday 17 November at the Battersea Park Events Arena, London.

We believe that our philosophy towards our customers, ‘service is everything’, combined with the close working relationship we maintain with our key suppliers and distributors, has been key to our selection. Over the last couple of years we have invested heavily in our bespoke order and supply software and systems. Couple this with our virtual warehouse and tailored stock-holding options and we provide the best possible solution: the right products at the best possible price delivered to the correct destination – over-night guaranteed throughout the UK, and often even quicker.

As always the awards dinner will be an eventful night and the team are looking forward to it. We would like to wish all of our competitors the very best of luck and we will keep you updated on how we get on.

Do you need to migrate to Windows 7?

Fri, 9 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The first in a series on planning to upgrade

Windows 7 is no longer new; “don’t be a guinea pig” is no longer relevant. Buggy SP1 has come and gone and been rectified by SP2, which is far more settled. So should you now be moving to this latest version of Windows? And if so, how should you prepare for the migration?

This is the first in a series of comments on preparing for and effecting an upgrade to Win7. But the first question is often the hardest to answer: do you actually need that upgrade? As usual, the answer is the most common in IT: it depends... It depends on what you’ve got, and what you need.

If you’re currently running XP SP3, you’re paying for Extended Support and everything’s working fine, why upset things? You might just as well wait on your hardware lifecycle and replace your aging hardware with new systems ready-installed with Win7. Unless, of course, you have or need new software that requires Win7 right now – then you have no choice.

If you’re running Vista, things are not so clear-cut. Users don’t like Vista. It’s slow and intrusive. So in this case you need to consider your user experience as well as system viability. You probably won’t need to upgrade from Vista to Win7; but what you’ve got will likely run better and your users will be more content.

The bottom line, however, is that ultimately you will eventually need to make the move. There will come a time when you have no choice, when your hardware ages and the only OS on offer is Windows 7. So whether you decide to combine the move to Win7 with the replacement of your desktops, or whether you decide to bite the bullet and upgrade everything sooner, the fact is you will need to do it; and it would be good to start planning now.

In a series of future blogs we’re going to help you with that planning. We’ll discuss what you need to consider to make the migration as smooth, and the implementation as effective, as possible.

OISG Security Solutions: the latest security solution

Wed, 7 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Over the last few years we have proved that we don’t just shift boxes – even though we shift them better than anyone else. OISG Group isn’t just about getting you the right boxes, it’s about making sure you get the most out of those boxes; or whatever other boxes you might already have. We’re about the complete service.

Security is no exception. We’ve always supplied security software, but where service is everything, that simply isn’t enough. That’s why we’ve launched OISG Security Solutions, headed by Mike Atkins. Our purpose is not just to get you security, but to make you secure. That requires a new and holistic approach rather than just a point product here and a point product there: a new, overall, layered, data centric solution that leaves no gaps.

A few years ago you could just ring your computer room with a gateway firewall and anti-malware. But with today’s cloud and virtual technology you don’t necessarily know precisely where your data is; and with cloud and mobility you certainly don’t know where your users are – or even what device they’re using. You need a specialist who can understand modern business, has a thorough knowledge of cutting edge technology, and understands both the theory and practice of information security. That way you can keep your data safe and your business free from the regulators and their ever-growing compliance requirements.

That’s us: OISG Security Solutions.

Take the mobile workforce. That’s something we’re all going to have to accommodate more and more in the future. People like to work where they want, when they want; and, with consumerization¹, using what they want. Modern companies no longer have control over the location or devices of their users. And that will require a new way of thinking about our security. We need to think about the security of the data on our servers, in transit across the Internet, and on the wide range of devices held by our users.

That’s the holistic solution you’ll get from OISG Security Solutions. Call us. Or get more information from our Secuirty Solutions page. Or learn more from this article in CRN: OISG launches security reseller.

¹ Consumerization is a stable neologism that describes the trend for new information technology to emerge first in the consumer market and then spread into business organizations, resulting in the convergence of the IT and consumer electronics industries, and a shift in IT innovation from large businesses to the home. For example, many people now find that their home based IT equipment and services are both more capable and less expensive than what is provided in their workplace. - Wikipedia

Taylor Vinters Case Study

Mon, 5 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Taylor Vinters has evolved from two small Cambridge partnerships into one of the UK’s leading, international, City-based law firms. It now employs more than 220 people, 120 of which are experienced lawyers – and it has new and prestigious offices in Tower 42. The danger with such rapid and extensive company growth is that it can outstrip its own IT infrastructure.

OISG were called in to ensure that this didn’t happen to Taylor Vinters. By integrating and updating the existing IT systems, this cutting edge law firm now has cutting edge IT: a virtual desktop infrastructure that fully reflects its own corporate ethos of excellence, innovation and thought leadership.

Read the Taylor Vinters case study

HP's UK head of PSG seeks to calm the waters...

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

In an open letter Paul Hunter, UK and Ireland head of HP's Personal Systems Group, has tried to soothe nerves over recent speculation about HP and the desktop by stating:

"There have been a number of incorrect stories saying that HP is quitting the PC business.

"Let me be absolutely clear in saying that at no stage has HP said it is quitting the PC business."

That seems clear enough, however he doesn't say categorically that HP is not quitting PCs. He then goes on to say

"Three options are being investigated, and whether the company is spun off, sold or kept in the HP portfolio, the team in the UK remains committed to creating and supporting great products and services."

Here’s the contradiction. Two of those three options involve what most people would consider to be 'quitting the PC business'. If anything, Hunter’s letter is simply stoking the fires of conjecture; and we are still left looking for clues over HP's long term intentions. In fact, the Guardian newspaper analyses with situation with an economic argument for the company to abandon PCs, pointing out that to do so would increase its share value.

Are there any further clues in what Hunter says?

"...customers can have confidence that existing HP products will be supported under the terms of their warranties as will any future purchases. Likewise, all webOS products will be supported and HP fully intends to support the future development of the webOS platform, though again how that will be managed is still under discussion."

One possible interpretation of this is that HP is leaving small system hardware manufacture, and that may or may not include PCs in the future, but is retaining software development and product support. This would explain why, throughout his letter, Hunter affirms HP’s commitment to 'ongoing support' for all existing and future customers.

So what should we conclude? Not much, to be frank. It’s all still conjecture; and I don’t think HP yet knows what it will be doing in the future. However, the one thing that Hunter states categorically and repeatedly is that full support will be maintained. In the final analysis, it doesn’t really matter whether HP’s PCs are made by HP, or under licence to HP. The important point, which is what Hunter is saying, is that they will continue to be supported by HP.

For the time being at least, then, there seems to be no reason to avoid HP desktops wherever that is the best system solution. With the full and committed support of both HP and OISG Group, customers can remain confident in HP PCs.

Read the Guardian’s analysis.

Read Paul Hunter’s letter in full.

IP EXPO

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 09:15:05 GMT

OISG Group will be attending IP EXPO at Earl's Court, the UK's leading end-to-end infrastructure event where IP Networks, Virtualization, Cloud, Wireless, Storage and Security work together.

For further details on the exhibition and how to get there visit the IP EXPO website.

OISG Enterprise Solutions wins VMware award

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

OISG Enterprise Solutions is delighted to announce that implementing successful virtualisation solutions for our customers has resulted in recognition from VMware.

Investment in expansion of the consultancy team, advanced technical training, and marketing campaigns with virtualisation based solutions has resulted in our VMware product sales growing by over 500% in the last year. This makes us one of the fastest growing VMware Enterprise Partners in the UK.

Our commitment to solution based sales embracing the business benefits associated with virtualisation was rewarded last week at the VMware Partner Recognition Awards Evening. In the face of stiff competition, OISG Enterprise Solutions was named the winner of the ‘VMware Partner Rising Star Award 2010'.

Steve Whitfield - Sales Director of OISG Enterprise Solutions said ‘This award confirms the belief that we are doing the right things for our customers. With the planned continued investment in this area of our business we will more than double our VMware revenue again this year to well over $1M and achieve VMware Premier Partner status by June 2011.'

OISG open new technical resource centre in Newcastle upon Tyne

Wed, 3 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

OISG Group open a brand new Technical Resource Centre in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne OISG Group continue their UK expansion by opening a new Technical Resource Centre in the heart of Newcastle.

Adding to our existing Technical Resource centres in City/Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, Birmingham, Walsall, and Crewe, our new branch in Newcastle strengthens our position to support and maintain client infrastructures in both the North East of England and Southern Scotland.

We welcome every tender opportunity to further expand our client ‘maintenance and support’ portfolio. Should you have an opportunity for us, please contact our sales offices - City/Tower Bridge (0845 262 1919) or Birmingham (0845 262 1818) or email us at sales@oisg.com

Thank you for your continued support.

OISG Group named in Sunday Times Microsoft Tech Track 100

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

OISG Group has been named as one of the UK's most successful technology businesses in the 2010 Sunday Times Microsoft Tech Track 100. The Tech track 100 ranks the UK's fastest growing privately owned technology companies.

The report published on Sunday 19th September 2010, has placed OISG Group as the 60th fastest growing UK technology company based on growth over the last 3 years. OISG Group has shown considerable growth over this period averaging 48% per year.

The listed companies will be invited to a national awards event in November. The full list was published in the Sunday Times on 19th September and can be found on Fast Tech's Tech Track 100 website.

OISG Group delivers Virtual Storage Solution for a leading Manhattan-based Financial Services company

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

OISG Group wins enterprise scale Virtual Storage Solution for a leading Financial Services company, based in Manhattan.

The success of OISG continues with another successful storage implementation that has significantly reduced cost and meets current and future business requirements.

OISG were approached to provide a storage solution that reduced the clients TCO and simplifies their current storage environment. The current solution in place, while fit for purpose and initially competitive had became increasingly expensive to upgrade.

After engaging with OISG, and running a number of proof of concepts it was decided that a Virtual Storage Solution would hit the companies objectives now and in the future.

OISG designed and implemented the Virtual Storage Solution that enables the client to separate the underlying physical disk infrastructure from the intelligent controllers, which not only reduced the TCO but also empowers the client with the choice for future expansion and growth by allowing them to become completely vendor agnostic.

The CIO stated:

“Since the implementation of the “Virtual Storage Solution”, we have managed to keep our capital outlay to a minimum and reduce our TCO, by procuring the most cost effective storage without compromising on performance and management tools”

The ability to supply and support a wide range of specialist storage expertise supported by the OISG City based 24/7 service desk was critical in the selection process. Another significant factor in distinguishing OISG from the competition was the large number of existing finance clients and a unique understanding of financial services business requirements.

OISG Enterprise Solutions Wins The 24-7-365 Systems Support Agreement For one of the UK's Top Five Law Firms

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The amazing growth of OISG continues with a '24/7/365 Systems Support' win, for one of the UK's prestigious 'Top 5' law firms.

The key issue the client was facing was scarce internal IT resource during a period of sustained growth.

In the face of an extremely competitive market, OISG successfully won the business to supply the full range of OISG services including infrastructure virtualisation, storage and networking, in a very cost effective manner.

The ability to supply a wide range of specialist expertise supported by the OISG City based 24/7 service desk was also critical in the selection process. Another significant factor in distinguishing OISG from the competition was the large number of existing legal clients and a unique understanding of law firms business requirements.

OISG is constantly building its portfolio of services to support existing and new customers.

OISG achieve Citrix Silver Partner Accreditation

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

OISG Enterprise Solutions continue to soar, and have been awarded the prestigious Citrix 'Silver Partner' accreditation, for 100% of the Virtual Desktop Suite.

In recognition of increasing customer demand for Desktop Virtualisation, OISG has increased capabilities for the whole of the Citrix Software Portfolio and attains the 'Silver Partner' Accreditation.

OISG has already rolled out many large Citrix based projects and has significantly grown the in-house virtualisation team to support the requirements of our clients.

OISG can help you plan, design and implement virtualisation strategies tailored to your specific needs. Our unique offering is further enhanced through relationships with Virtualisation Management Software vendors RES, DynamicOps, Liquid Labs, Platespin and Veeam.

OISG Group enjoys great success at Storage Expo 2009

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Building on the launch of OISG Enterprise Solutions, key technology partner FalconStor invited OISG Group to join them at Storage Expo at London Olympia.

As recognised experts in the FalconStor flagship products - Network Storage Server (NSS) and Continuous Data Protector (CDP), OISG Enterprise Solutions were keen to maximise their potential, and attend.

The event was unique this year, as for the first time there was a "Channel Zone" where resellers could meet end users during the event, in designated meeting rooms. With many organisations visiting the stand, and utilising the "Channel Zone" to discuss system resilience and backup solutions with OISG Group, It was a fantastic event.

OISG Group would like to thank FalconStor for partnering us, and working together at a great exhibition.

OISG Group continues to buck the trend

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

With the economic downturn presenting job loss, and uncertainty for many people, OISG Group continue bucking the trend by increasing its work force by 25% in the last year.

The launch of OISG Enterprise Solutions, and the continued expansion of OISG has allowed us to carry our ethos forward with the continued recruitment of staff, to service and maintain our clients.

Our motto "service is everything" is a byword for all we believe in, and is the beating heart of our company culture.

The core strength of our business is the quality, and commitment of all the people who work within it. We are proud of our employees who all without exception go that extra mile to ensure our clients receive the best possible service and attention.

Exciting new developments, and broadening business opportunities will see further expansion in job creation over the coming months, and will allow OISG Group to continue it's investment in people.

OISG Group Officially one of the UK's Fastest Growing Technology Companies

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Sunday Times recently published its prestigious Microsoft Tech Track 100 fastest growing privately owned UK technology companies.

With three year growth of 43.03% per annum, OISG Group is delighted and proud to be entered this year for the first time, achieving No: 86.

We strongly believe that this success is built on our ethos "Service is Everything" delivering what our clients have sought, and continue to expect, from a company that is proud to serve London and the UK.

The recently launched OISG Enterprise Solutions division is already contributing significant revenues supplying consultancy and business solutions, and combined with the planned expansion of Hong Kong and New York we very much expect to reappear in the Tech Track 100 next year!

Once again though, it is to our clients that we give thanks. It is your belief in our company that has made us what we are today, and what we will achieve tomorrow.

Read comprehensive details of the awards.

OISG Awarded the Prestigious VMware Enterprise Partner Accreditation

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

OISG recognise the increasing importance and awareness of Virtualisation within the technology marketplace. Having already rolled out numerous large scale VMware based projects for clients, and building a strong Virtualisation team in house, we decided to take this one step further by attaining our "VMware Enterprise Partner" Accreditation.

OISG's commitment to bleeding-edge technologies like Virtualisation means we are perfectly positioned to be the partner of choice for businesses looking at ways to increase their ROI (Return on Investment) in IT.

Further to this, our close relationships with Virtualisation Management Software vendors such as Platespin, RES and Veeam, enhance our ability to offer unique value to clients with existing virtual infrastructures looking to address the challenges that arise from managing multi virtual and physical infrastructures.

OISG Support Offering Delivers Again

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

OISG were approached by one of the UK’s leading waste management companies to resolve their day-to-day IT support issues.

Envirosol’s growth over the last 2 years has been significant within the waste management industry. As with most growing businesses, their IT was struggling to keep pace with their rapid growth.

Envirosol approached OISG with a view to completely outsource all elements of IT, Hardware Maintenance, full Helpdesk Support and Technology Planning for their continued growth. Having worked together for many years, our "OISG+" support service was the natural choice for them.

Aron James Managing Director of Envirosol said:

“With increased reliance on IT, it is no longer the case that IT is a business overhead. Good investment in IT with strong planning around the business requirements enables seamless growth. We see our investment in IT as directly proportional to our productivity.

By working closely with OISG we are seeing almost instant returns on this investment which can only help us grow again in years to come"

OISG are presently undertaking a full infrastructure refresh utilising best of breed technologies such as Citrix. In addition OISG is currently developing a bespoke software package specifically developed for Envirosol’s business model, thus facilitating lifecycle management of waste disposal in accordance with Regulatory and Compliance authorities IEEE.

Envirosol the company:

Envirsol operate the largest indoor Hazardous waste facility in UK: 75,000 SQ feet. Permitted to accept all types of waste including Explosives, Acids Laboratory Chemicals. The site has been developed as a waste stock destruction plant with a unique viewing gallery so clients can monitor destruction of their waste.

Envirosol have established a substantial client portfolio such as MOD, NHS, UKAEA, Glaxo, Toyota, Aston Martin, Crown, DHL and many local authorities across the UK.

OISG successfully implements VMWare plus active-active high availability storage cluster for leading UK accountancy

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The brief was simple; OISG were approached and asked to design a storage solution in conjunction with VMware which offered all round high availability and to solve the client's disaster recovery requirements simultaneously.

As the requirement for high availability storage increases, and virtualisation becomes more accessible, organisations are seeking to combine the benefits that VMware offers with quality storage solutions and disaster recovery.

The growing demands place on IT departments for continuous uptime for both Servers and Storage means that their architecture must be resilient.

By implementing a combination of VMware and Storage Virtualisation, OISG have been able not only reduce the number of servers in use but implement robust highly available storage resilience and a low cost DR solution all in one.

Over 2000 UK staff utilise these resources and since its inception the client has seen 100% system uptime.

OISG & NetApp Celebrate Storage Cafe Workshop Success!

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Having recently gained our NetApp Gold Partner accreditation, OISG hosted the first of their "storage cafe workshop" seminars at an exclusive event in London.

Anthony Bright gave an introductory overview of OISG and Matt Watts from NetApp then guided us through their technologies. The workshop focused on the challenges faced by IT Managers with today's ever increasing storage demands and how NetApp's product efficiency can be implemented to fulfil this cost effectively.

Anthony Bright said "Large seminars are attractive if you are appealing to the masses, but as a customer led business we wanted to understand their storage challenges on a more personal level. By hosting these smaller more intimate workshops, both OISG and our clients will gain a far better understanding of those challenges and the technologies available to resolve them. The feedback has been extremely positive, and will ensure we will continue to run them on a regular basis".

The seminar was then followed by a superb three course lunch, and an afternoon of test match cricket in the company of cricket legends Ronnie Irani and Graham Thorpe.

OISG Group become preferred IT supplier to the UK Atomic Energy Authority

Mon, 6 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

OISG Group are pleased to announce they have become preferred IT supplier to the UK Atomic Energy Authority. The UKAEA group are a global leader in decommissioning and regenerating nuclear sites, and in developing fusion as the future of sustainable, secure, and carbon free energy.

Account Director Jermaine Williams stated "This is not just about winning a new client, The pedigree of UKAEA as a leader in dealing with environmental issues surrounding nuclear energy sits well with OISG Group's own sustainable and environmentally aware business ethos. We are proud to have been given the opportunity to build a long lasting and environmentally considerate business relationship".

OISG Group RIB Experience takes the Thames by storm!

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

With not a cloud in the sky and the sun glistening off the warm waters of the Thames, accompanied by the gentle sound of birdsong, it seemed nothing could interrupt a perfect day on the river. That was until OISG Group took to the water in high powered RIB boats!!!

To celebrate our continued growth and success, Thursday 25th June saw the 1st OISG Group Client 'RIB Experience'. Having chartered high powered Rigid Inflatable Boats, OISG Group and some of our valued clients went blasting up the river at high speed. We took in all the sights of London en-route from the O2 to Parliament - albeit a little quickly.

OISG Group would like to thank those clients who risked life and limb climbing into the boat from the Butlers Wharf pontoon at low tide to attend. With everyone having a brilliant time, we guarantee an action replay in the very near future!

OISG Group are proud to announce the win of a prestigious contract

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

OISG Group are proud to announce the win of a prestigious contract to supply IT support and services to National Express for the next 2 years, for their Infrastructure and desktop environment.

OISG Group Technical Director, Tony Hogg, said "As a nationwide service company who are already working with a number of Blue chip UK companies, OISG Group have both the pedigree and resources to offer rapid response and resolution. We are ideally suited to provide National Express' various locations across the UK, with the very highest levels of service"

OISG Group achieve a record month

Mon, 1 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In a time of worldwide economic uncertainty, OISG Group, London's leading IT services company, continue to defy the trend, with consistent growth over the last six months. June saw our best month in our company history.

Despite market conditions OISG Group continue to invest in resources and technology to ensure we exceed our customers expectations time after time.

Anthony Bright, Non Exec Director, said "Our policy of constant re-investment within the business, ensures our clients get best of breed service with maximum return on investment. It's clear our hard work and concentrated efforts are reaping rewards".

In a month where OISG Group opened in excess of 30 new accounts, we are in a position of strength that brings new challenges to existing horizons.

OISG Group welcomes Anthony Bright as Non-Exec Director

Wed, 4 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Anthony has worked within the IT industry since 1986, and brings a wealth of experience with him.

Co founder of Profile Computers PLC, he helped build the organization until selling his holding in 1991. Then starting Panacea Services in 1992, he took the business into the 'The Times Top 100 Fastest Growing Companies' for 3 consecutive years during their first 5 years. After successfully selling the business in 2005 to his co-founder, Anthony has worked on a number of different projects covering a broad spectrum of commerce.

With our horizons set on our continued business development programme, the OISG Group management team welcome the skill-set Anthony will contribute.

OISG Group successfully implement 1500 user VMware solution for leading UK Law firm

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Virtual Desktop Deployment with VMware

Given the success of virtualisation and the growing challenge to manage desktops, companies are beginning to look for ways to get similar benefits by applying the same technology to the desktop environment.

VMware VDI is an integrated desktop virtualisation solution that delivers enterprise-class control and manageability with a recognisable user experience.

We were approached by a client, one of the UK's leading law firms, with a requirement to streamline the deployment and management of desktops.

By implementing a suite of products from VMware, OISG Group have been able to not only reduce the number of live environment servers by 50%, but also provide a controllable, centralised hosted desktop environment for the client's 1500 users. Benefits such as quick provisioning of desktops and easier deployment of new applications only reinforce the value of this implementation.

"We now have over 1500 users on VMware virtual desktops, which allow the users to access over 50 applications from any thin client workstation. VMware virtual desktops have streamlined the deployment and management of desktops to our staff, and we're confident it's a robust desktop strategy that will pass the test of time, and reduce our overall TCO" - Head of Infrastructure.

OISG Group would like to congratulate Catherine Younger on her promotion to the position of HR & Marketing Director

Tue, 3 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Catherine has been with OISG Group since its inception and has been a key participant in our exciting growth. She has been responsible for the development and management of our strict internal processes and our demanding recruitment program, ensuring our high levels of client care are maintained.

With Catherine's excellent business acumen and skill-set, combined with her creative edge, she was the natural choice to spearhead the 'OISG Group Sports Academy'. Catherine's future role will be to focus on the OISG Group 'Streets to City' Initiative, which will involve liaising closely with Hackney Council, Sports Action Zone www.thesportactionzone.org, and the media.

The aim of the 'Streets to City' initiative is to provide work experience and career opportunities that might not normally be available to underprivileged youngsters within our local communities.

OISG Group achieves consecutive double digit growth for 2008

Thu, 1 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Although market conditions remain challenging, consistent investment into our Technical Resource Centres combined with innovative strategy and an increasing skill-set progression of engineering personnel, has ensured our proposed expansion for 2009 is fulfilled.

OISG Group Appointed as HP Gold Preferred Partner

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

OISG Group are proud to announce their appointment as one of the first HP Gold Preferred Partners in the UK.

Alongside our Microsoft and Netapp Gold Partner status, this reinforces OISG's position as the one of the UK's leading IT solutions providers.

OISG Group attain NetApp Gold

Mon, 1 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

OISG Group have attained the NetApp Gold Partner status this ensures that we able to supply innovative and efficient storage technologies from one of the worlds leading vendors.

New Birmingham Office

Mon, 5 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Due to OISG's continued growth we have opened a new sales and technical resource centre in Birmingham.

Coupled with our existing locations in Canary Wharf and our Headquarters in the City of London, OISG are able to deliver our full service portfolio nationwide.