Author Archives: Anton Roe

About Anton Roe

Anton has worked at ABM since January 2008 having joined from MidlandHR where he previously held the position of Software Director since 2001. Anton is responsible for all aspects of Software Development, Research and Technology within ABM.

Is your organisation looking to the clouds?

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Cloud Computing is the hot topic in the IT industry and will have a significant impact on how software will be developed and deployed in the future. There can be no doubt that there is a very real trend toward cloud platforms. Virtualisation, service orientation and the Internet have converged to allow individuals and businesses to choose how they will acquire and deliver IT services.

Used in the right way, Cloud Computing will transform IT delivery within your organisation, helping you reduce cost, increase flexibility and staff mobility. Used in the wrong way, then you run the risk of IT anarchy.

If you don’t have a strategy for how your business can harness and benefit from Cloud Computing, then you really need to start thinking about this now and remember, this is not just about the technology, but the benefits it can deliver to your business.

Cloud Computing is here and is here to stay. It will revolutionise the way we use software and services in our business life and private life.

So are you ready for the revolution?

Is your browser letting you down?

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Recent publicity over browser vulnerabilities re-enforces the view that it is vital for your system security that you maintain the software levels (especially critical updates) of your chosen browser.

Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 (IE6) is still widely used in the enterprise, which given the focus information security now has in many organisations, I find surprising. Released in 2001, IE6 has been dogged with issues of security and incomplete support for web standards such as CSS and XHTML, which hinders application development.

Both IE7 and the latest version, IE8, offer huge performance benefits, improved support for web standards and hardened security – something which Microsoft continues enhance for these later versions.

Microsoft has issued advisory notices, telling users to upgrade to IE8 to secure against the vulnerability that allowed hackers to infiltrate and steal source code from some of the world’s biggest technology companies. The French and German government’s recommendation that users move to another browser has certainly added to the weight to the discontinued use of IE6.

There is a wider debate about whether or not users running IE6 should migrate to Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Opera as these browsers are deemed to be more secure and implement common web standards in full, which makes application development and support far easier. However, to say IE7 or IE8 are not good browsers would be unfair. IE7 is a massive improvement on IE6 and IE8 builds on improvements further.

If you are using IE6, then sooner or later you will be forced to upgrade as new web sites and applications simply will not function as new web standards are adopted.

The reasons for not upgrading are usually down to internal costs or that existing deployed applications only work with IE6 and whilst I can sympathise with both of these reasons I believe securing your enterprise and reputation is far more important; therefore, my advice is simple, upgrade now!