Open Source. Pros and contras.

   Open source software become more popular recently– everybody switch to it, the future is seen after it.

 

   But on practice most of users became confused when sees Linux products as Ubuntu with all known Firefox, and simple Open Office should be an ideal variant. And common users bump with heap of questions like, where are my files stored, how to do this, how to do that, etc.

    Business owners who discovered the possible economy from Open source seek to transfer the whole infrastructure to it. But they never think about the price of holding such solution and what looses can cause the declining productivity.

   Many specialists can say that such solutions could be acquitted in small Business.

   A computation for a company of 25 persons:

• Window SBS Standart
• Windows 7 pro
• MS Office 2010
• Licenses for connection, etc.

In total – about $13 000 

   If use free software – this funds saves on the first stage, but goes for the salary for a person responsible for support of the given product. Namely, instead of one admin appear two - so-called help-desk who answers and solves the users questions. Yearly expenses for these specialists are something about $28k.

   In such cases the existence of two specialists – admin and specialist on help desk - is extremely important, because if someone of them will take day off or sick pay – another can support him, but if there is no any support – the whole office work can stop, for example if the accountant don’t know where the calculation of the salaries for the dept has located for storage.

   Considering that it would be spent some time for staff education – the workflow will decrease during this time, thus your losses can surpass your profit from using the open source soft.

   But the biggest minus is a bondage to the system administrator. As a rule, created infrastructure on Linux platform don’t documented in such companies. All in all it should not be challenged that big IT Company can employ high-level IT specialists and using of Linux servers will cover the efforts.

   In the large company these disadvantages (great help desk service and work efficiency) can also cause more great losses. Though the company can employ highly qualified professionals and use Linux servers for several tasks can exonerate one.

   As alternative Outlook can be used – it is very convenient and has heap of business instruments. To the surprise many companies of about 25-50 employees don’t know how to use it. CRM implementation is overmuch in functionality and too expensive. All this functionality has Windows Small Business Server – Exchange 2010. And it’s work and it’s easy and understandably.

   But there are much more variants really exist. Some of them:

• Google Docs
• MS Office 365
• Windows 7 + Open Office

   There is no one universal solution for everybody. To build the most optimal solution it should considered a lot of factors as fault tolerance, availability of high-speed Internet channels, start-up costs, cost of ownership, etc.

   All in all, the decision is after you.

Two platforms - two different worlds

   Apple and Google are two global giants that firmly occupy the leading place in the market of software for mobile platforms. These two companies, one way or another, try to oust Microsoft in the area it doesn’t have benefits (at least for now), and concentrate their forces on mobile devices.

 Apple’s IOS operating systems and Google`s Android have their advantages and disadvantages. Let's try to understand what platform is more functional and adapted for the modern user.

   1. Universality of the system

It is much easier to implement modifications and create applications on Android. This may explain the choice of HTC, Samsung and Sony in favor of Android, while the IOS supports only Apple products.

This is a serious disadvantage for Apple and a huge plus for Google. Choosing a smartphone on Android, you can install and use a variety of third-party applications and extensions.

   2. Browsers. Page loading speed

Once again, it is clear that first position in this category holds Android. Browser Safari is fast and reliable in terms of security, but unfortunately not as universal as Chrome.

   3. Battery life

Apple devices have an obvious advantage in energy consumption. Where in Battery capacity doesn`t play a role. Even the most capacious batteries of leading manufacturers quickly go dead on Android. Apple developers have paid more attention to this component and devices on the IOS work much longer.

   4. Applications from developers.

Applications for the devices may vary according to the developer and the device, but in general the leadership keeps ITunes.

The conclusion – one can choose in its sole discretion what platform to choose by the criteria described above.

The main principles to Secure Outsourcing

   Today, customers are hesitant to outsource because of security issues.  However, you can ease your concerns by following the guidelines listed below.

       1. Security Policy

  The first step is to ensure that everything is in order in your organization. You must also check your security policy. The policy should state clear standards and guidelines. These guidelines should be finalized by the stakeholders, managers and employees of your organization.

       2.  Choosing the Right Vendor

  This is an important step for the security of your business. You must ensure if the selected vendor has strict security policies in place and enforces those policies within his or her organization. Make sure he or she has security policies preventing anyone from copying your data to portable devices.

        3. A sound Privacy and Intellectual Property Policy

  Check if your vendor has sound intellectual property protection laws. Make sure that your vendor will go by your privacy and intellectual property policies. Ensure that all of this is clear to avoid later misunderstandings.

        4. Protect Your Data

  Start employing the use of application layer firewalls and database monitoring gateways. These devices can help you enforce usage policies. Such devices can also prevent privilege abuse and vulnerability exploitation. Choose a vendor who uses these functionalities as well as they help in total data protection.

        5. Providing Education on handling data

  Check if your vendor is educating his/her employees on how to handle and protect sensitive data. In case your vendor is not providing education, ensure that he/she provides education. This is very important, as this will help ensure the security of your data.

              6. The rule of least privilege

  Determine a method to monitor material exceptions. In addition, guarantee the Rule of Least Usage. Never allow access to all of your records at one time and never allow unmonitored access.

        7. Leak-Proof traffic

  To ensure leak-proof traffic, make certain outbound e-mail and Internet traffic is monitored to prevent information leaks.

         8. Security Audits

  Conduct regular application/database security audits and network security audits to make certain of secure outsourcing. These audits can help identify issues and potential vulnerabilities with databases, devices, and applications on the network.

         9. Prevention Technologies

  Check the prevention technologies that your vendor uses. Inquire if your vendor has a technology to control data flow. Also check if your vendor’s policies are followed by the employees. In addition, make sure that your vendor has technologies to protect sensitive data from being emailed or copied to removable types of media.

  NuPortSoft provides staff outsourcing services to the companies operating in various industries and business areas, positioning itself as an IT staffing company and cooperating with the customers to deliver highest quality solutions.

Top 3 common missteps of IT start-ups. A view from inside.

   Seems only lazy person haven’t tried to launch a start-up nowadays. Beginners as well as experienced people try to start a project. As a rule newcomers get hooked with many mistakes, but even veterans can follow wrong way. I won’t go into details of business ideas analysis and niceties of monetization, just focus on the essentials. Let’s review the most widespread missteps that are the most evident.

   1. So, you decided to create your service. As a matter of fact you faced with the dilemma to choose a developer. As usual, there are two variants: you cooperate with the company that specializes in your issue, or search for freelancer. Usually the second is much cheaper. Sometimes the difference in price could be even 100%. But wait. Stop this rat race and analyze the situation logically: do you remember that there are no miracles in this world and when you trying to get lower price, you definitely lost in something else?

Here is a short list of risks that you get to boot to the low price

Freelancer	Company
Your idea could be stolen	Company sings NDA and never dares to do that under the threat of losing authority and business.
Obscure warranties	Company gives distinct warranties and unlike freelancer won’t suddenly disappear.
Low quality	Before launching company full complex of testing including Stress Testing
Unclear outlook for growth and post-implementation support of the project	Company gives whole source code that is precisely documented, all documentation and instructions

    2.  SRS. Many do not even know what it is. It is very important to create SRS before the development process will be started. SRS helps to revise the completeness of the system. And only after SRS is done the terminal cost of the project can be determined. I have seen many start-uppers who rushed into the battle without realizing what they really want from the system. And after the first launch they began spending money modifying the system, because there were something missed in it. And it could be an infinite process until you’ll ran out of money. From this moment the project can be claimed as dead. The money has been spent but the result is null.

   The SRS is the main document for the developer which states the work. Many a time when the SRS elements written with SOV, but, as usual not detailed, and, thus, this causes conflict in the future when the system provides to the client.

   If you not so qualified as a customer to write SRS by yourself you can entrust this to your developer. It could be a good practice when on SRS and development of the system according to the SRS work two independent developers. 

   As a rule SRS is paid. The cost for SRS may be even up to 30% from the cost of whole project.

   The next are the principal myths in SRS writing

 

Myth	Reality
This is a waste of time. The development should be started strait of the ice.	The time spent for SRS development doesn’t extend the project’s space but reduces it. Anyway the developer should work under the some specifications. And if there is no SRS, will be made an inner document based on the consultations with the customer or, even worse, the development will be conducted by only conversations without any document. In both cases developer spends his time, that, be sure, will be added to the cost for development
Waste of money. First you pay for the SRS and then on top of that – for the development.	Consecutive development – first – the SRS and then – the system will make the work more manageable, predictable and strictly planned reducing general time and cost as a result. Besides, you have a document you can bring to another developer

         3. Cost

  News that extra money needs to be spending after project implementation sometimes startle start-uppers. The reason is the market analysis to plan promotion of the product was missed.

  I’m proud I took part in work for commercially successful projects of my customers-start-uppers. Even more I proud of - I have dissuaded those, whose imperfectly planned ideas were doomed to fail.