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Words from the good Doctor...
What is Cloud Computing?
You may have seen this term a number of places recently, including here. So what is Cloud Computing? It is a key component of what is generally referred to as Web 2.0. The Cloud is a metaphor for the Internet, "the cloud" and is a familiar cliché, but when combined with "Computing," the term takes on a much larger persona. Cloud Computing comes into focus only when you think about growing resources technology needs to keep up with the rapidly changing demands of business. Cloud Computing is a way to increase capacity or add capabilities on the fly without investing in new infrastructure, training new personnel, or licensing new software.
Cloud computing functionality encompasses all types of subscription-based or pay-per-use services that extends IT's capabilities in real-time via the Internet. Cloud computing is just emerging with a wide range of providers, large and small, delivering cloud-based services. These services range from full-blown applications to utility services, such as storage services and spam filtering. Currently, IT departments plug directly into cloud-based services, but a number of cloud computing aggregators and integrators are emerging. These entities will package applications and services to match the business needs and collectively sell and support third-party processing power. Just another evolution of the information hungry age where power means processing power and data is the new currency. Just thought you would like to know.
Four Don'ts You Should Do
Don't Open e-Mail if you do not know the sender, and e-Mail attachment until you have scanned it first. Save the attachment and then run your virus protection software against the file.
Don't Plug It in. New software allows flash drives to be self aware and automatically run programs when they are plugged in. Hackers are using this technique to invade computers. If you find a flash drive, DO NOT PLUG IT IN. Take IT for proper identification or destruction.
Don't Throw it Away. Think twice before you discard a memory card fixed disk, as sensitive data may abound on it. Make sure you destroy all magnetic and memory disks completely to be safe.
Don't Share Your Password. Most of us would not share our toothbrush with our most beloved.Treat your password the same way and do not share it. As soon as you think someone has discovered your password, change it.
Stop Staring!
Let's face it, none of us are getting any younger, and I will be the first to testify that working excessive hours behind a computer screen has taken a toll on my eyes. So, before it is too late, take some well founded advice. Check your work station. Ideally your monitor should be roughly 18 inches from you and 5 to 9 inches below eye level. This brings your eyelids downward, and according to optometrists, this helps maintain the healthiest blink rate. Use a no-glare screen, or purchase a screen protector to place over the display to reduce glare.
If you spend five hours, or more, a day on a computer, ask your eye doctor if a special pair of computer glasses would help reduce strain and save the deterioration of your eye sight. Finally, follow the 20/20 rule, that is, for every 20 minutes you spend staring at a screen, look away for at least 20 seconds at something in the distance.This helps maintain your eye's ability to focus correctly. Buy a quality display. Today we recommend either 22 or 24 inch as optimal. Many users are now using multiple monitors to reduce the effort of moving between applications, and most applications will allow you to zoom out on the display, making the screen text larger and easier to read without actually changing the font size. This helps when reviewing documents or working with large workbooks.
Microsoft SaaS Entry Announced
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Microsoft has been talking about entering the Software as a Service (SaaS) market for the past several years, both in their Office suite of products, as well as their solutions for business. The solutions for business we should see in the next year or so, but Microsoft has announced their foray into SaaS (software available via a subscription-like service over the Internet and not locally installed.) Equipt (beta tested as Albany earlier in the year) includes a version of Office Home and Student 2007; Windows Live OneCare, Microsoft’s PC management/security bundle; a few Windows Live communication and collaboration services; and Office Live Workspace, Microsoft’s online-collaboration add-on to Office. The pricing is $69 and the software can be run on up to three Windows PCs. Comparably priced Office Home and Student 2007 is $129 and three years of OneCare is $90, making the breakeven for Equipt three years. With new updates coming out every two years, this makes Equipt a pretty good deal, assuming you have high-speed Internet. |
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Microsoft Equipt is a subscription service that,
in one easy installation, delivers security and performance with
Windows Live OneCare plus Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007
and other essential tools to help home PC users be more protected,
productive and connected.
Windows Live OneCare offers all-in-one security
and PC management by combining anti-malware protection, centralized
backup and PC maintenance features. Office Home
and Student 2007 contains Word 2007, Excel 2007, PowerPoint 2007 and
OneNote 2007. Note Outlook not included. If you purchase Microsoft
Equipt, you can also extend your Office experience via Microsoft Office
Live Workspace, a new service from Microsoft for saving and sharing
documents to a dedicated online Workspace.
You can purchase an annual subscription of Microsoft Equipt for $69.99 (estimated retail
price). You can install each subscription on up to three home
PCs. Version upgrades for both Office Home and Student and
OneCare, plus updated virus definitions, are automatic at no additional
cost.
SaaS will be old news soon, as more software is released to run as a service. Some pundits are even projecting that Microsoft may offer the Windows Operating System to run this way. But, whatever happens, the move is still dependent on high-speed quality Internet access at a point-in-time where Internet providers in some parts of the country are struggling to keep up with demand and seeing cost escalate and profits on Internet services drop. Combined with the move to Internet- based phone services, the infrastructure may not be able to keep up with demand. Interesting times we live in.
A Call for Help
I have been hearing from a number of conference and seminar attendees about state and federal legislative requirements to redact sensitive client information, such as Social Security Numbers and even Signatures ,when sending such documents electronically. However, while this makes sense, I have done a fair amount of research and do not find specific information directed specifically to accountants or the profession. There is considerable guidance for city clerks and state records managers, but little otherwise. I obviously feel that this is a quickly evolving area of concern and want to keep on top of it for my attendees. For those of you who stop by and visit, and have specific URLs that I can refer to, would you please let me know so that I can continue researching and spreading the word to accountants as new laws are adopted?
Posted July 15, 2008
Robert H. Spencer, PhD
Dr. Bob Spencer
Twenty Seconds In the Future
1522 Knob Hill Road
Elizabethtown Kentucky 42701
270.300.9550