Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category

IT has never been about learning a skill and then generally sticking with it for a large part of your career. If you plan to do that, pretty soon you won’t have a career because you’ll be left behind with outdated skills. The IT business changes faster than most and so you need to learn up-to-date skills to keep you employable. Knowing the ones that are really going to be in demand means you can gear yourself up for the best paid jobs.

Communications is a big issue, with many companies moving towards phone systems based on VoIP rather than the traditional PSTN technology. At the same time, various communication methods are becoming more unified, with users expecting to access everything (email, text messaging, voice mail and so on) through a single interface and from various devices such as laptops, PDAs and smartphones. All this makes networks more complex, so skills to manage them and implement the various services will be increasingly in demand.

Networks are also getting more complex for other reasons, often having to support PCs running under Windows as well as various versions of Linux, with Macs often thrown into the mix. Added to this is a tendency for employees to work at least a part of their time at home and an increasing need to access company systems remotely. Not only that, but access is by a variety of devices as well as from different locations.

All these developments will require skills in supporting mobile users on different platforms, configuring mail servers and implementing wireless networks. This increased access puts much more emphasis on security aspects, with the need to authenticate users and prevent access by those who don’t have sufficient security measures to meet minimum criteria. A thorough knowledge of VPN technologies, authentication methods and the security implications of various devices will be in demand.

Software as a Service is something that’s been hovering around for some time and is likely to grow. If applications are accessed remotely rather than being installed on the users’ own machines, this may move job opportunities away from the user sites and more towards application providers. The likely increase of large data centres will require changed skills, with the need to support multiple customers and plan resources. This may also lead to a rise in virtualisation to make best use of servers at the centres.

Being aware of what’s happening and keeping your skills up-to-date will improve your job prospects. Contacting UKContracting.net to sort out the way you’re organised will also increase your business efficiency.

Any PC owner knows that performance starts well and then slows as the machine gets older. It’s not just a case of a geriatric machine finding it harder to get out of bed in a morning but is due to a combination of things that can all be overcome. Aside from problems with the registry, viruses and other nasties, the main cause is that data gets fragmented across the hard disk, with the read heads having to move about to find everything.

The answer is to defragment the disk regularly so that the data is organised more efficiently but it’s one of those things that many users never do. Part of the reason is that lots of people don’t even realise it’s necessary. They simply aren’t aware that the operating system writes data into the first free area it can find, resulting in files being dispersed to different areas so that reading the data becomes increasingly slow.

Even those of you who do know what happens often don’t think of defragmenting until the system virtually grinds to a halt. Sometimes this is put down to it being too much of a hassle, getting in the way of work and taking too long to achieve only a negligible improvement in performance. However, this is generally because most people use the defragmenter that comes with their operating system and, in the case of Windows at least, it’s not usually thought to do a good job. The XP defragmenter does at least show a graphic representation of what’s happening whereas Vista doesn’t give a single clue about progress. And when it’s been running for a few hours and shows no sign of finishing, you really do wonder if it’s actually making any progress. Windows 7 is, apparently, a little more informative but still has a reputation for being slow and inefficient.

If you’re really serious about keeping your hard disk healthy, the best option is not to rely on your operating system but to get a third party specialist application. There are a few about and you can get a free trial version before you part with any money. It’s also essential that you read the reviews before making a choice.

A specialist defragmenter will be quicker, more efficient and won’t keep you in the dark about what it’s doing. You can use one to sort out individual machines or several networked PCs. Any initial cost should be more than repaid by improved performance, fewer system crashes and, ultimately, a healthier disk with a longer life.

We’ve all heard the warnings about the internet in general and social networking in particular. Be careful what we post on there, we’re told. Don’t record personal and private information because our identity will be stolen, our bank accounts emptied and we’ll end up on the street with nothing. We IT sophisticates have, of course, ignored all this because we know what we’re doing and we won’t fall victim to any scams like the computer illiterates of this world.

Now our confidence is looking a little misplaced with the news that Facebook has changed its default security settings. The outcome of this is that everything you posted that you thought would remain private may now become much more available. The upsetting thing for many users is that Facebook has unilaterally changed the agreement, which is hardly what a site that’s all about building relationships should be doing.

The belief is that Facebook, having existed as a free service that makes its money from adverts, is now going to cash in its investment by selling some of this information. This does mean that you should be checking your entry, and not just on Facebook, to make sure there’s nothing there that you don’t want to become public. However, if it’s already recorded, this might be a case of shutting the stable door after the proverbial horse has disappeared over the horizon.

The development is probably not the best of ideas at a time when companies are increasingly looking at social networking to promote their business. Firms are generally more security conscious than individuals and will have second thoughts about dealing with a site that’s perceived to be too free with information. Other users might be tempted to jump ship although there’s no guarantee they won’t finish up in the same situation elsewhere.

The Electronic Privacy Information Center in the US has filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, claiming the changes to privacy settings are unfair and deceptive, violating federal consumer protection law. Closer to home, the EU has several pieces of legislation going through the process that aim to protect users’ rights online. However, the data might be out there before the legal wheels have turned fully.

Social networking is pretty much the flavour of the moment although most people naturally see it as only a social phenomenon. However, businesses are increasingly appreciating its value and IT contractors should seriously consider it as a means of enhancing their careers. Sites such as LinkedIn are aimed at professional users and so need to be considered first but others can be equally useful if approached in the right way.

The nature of being a freelancer means that you work for many different companies and with lots of people. Social networking enables you to keep in touch with previous employers and co-workers, which may lead to future job opportunities if nothing else. This may extend to people you’ve never met because your entry can set out your capabilities and experience. However, you need to be careful not to post confidential information and to avoid confusing the issue by mixing professional and personal details.

Sites such as LinkedIn do have established groups that deal with different aspects of technology. You can join those that interest you to participate in forums, keep up-to-date with what’s going on and generally gain current information on particular topics. There are also details about forthcoming events, so you can find out about training courses and trade shows that might be of interest. LinkedIn also has job opportunities listed and, although many of them might not be in your part of the world, they do present another employment opportunity.

Social networking sites give you the opportunity to gain some publicity, learn from others and keep in touch. Best of all, they’re free to use so you only have to invest some time and effort. However, they do require a bit of self-discipline otherwise you might waste more of your time than you intend doing.

If you’ve used email for any length of time, you’ll know that messages coming into your inbox seem to be on the increase. Most of them are unwanted and a lot probably result from signing up for various deals over the years. The problem is that there are so many of them that you can’t give them all a lot of attention and you might easily miss the important ones. This, of course, is a problem shared by others and so you need to make sure that the emails you send aren’t overlooked.

One way to try to get your messages noticed is to set them as high priority. However, if you do this too often, the impact will be quickly lessened. Even worse, if all senders set their messages as high priority, the effect is totally lost, so be very selective. The same goes for asking for a read receipt — if you always do it, people will ignore the request. Always make sure your message has a subject that clearly identifies what it is about. This allows the recipient to prioritise the important ones and helps to get your message across.

Ensure your message is clear and to the point but covers everything it needs to do. Missing out important information results in emails bouncing backwards and forwards, which wastes a lot of time. Cover the main topics first and use numbered lists and bullet points so things stand out and the message is easy to follow. Send your emails only to people who have a direct interest in the subject rather than using a scattergun approach to include everyone you can think of.

Lastly, check your message before you send it. If it’s sloppily written and contains many obvious errors, people might easily dismiss it as not being worth reading. If you gain a reputation for sending messages that are relevant, concise and easy to understand, they’re more likely to be read.

Check the effect by sending a message to UKContracting.net. If you’re interested in using our services, you can be sure we’ll respond.

USB memory sticks have been around for quite a long time and have increased their capacity over the years. Many people use them simply to carry data around but they’re missing out on a lot of potential from these handy devices.

One of the better-know functions is ReadyBoost, which uses the USB drive’s storage space as additional memory cache to improve performance for Windows Vista. Significant improvements are promised but we’ve all heard these claims before and you need to try this for yourself to see the effect.

USB drives are small and therefore easily lost so, if you’re transporting sensitive data, make sure it’s secure. There are various utilities available that let you password protect and encrypt the whole drive or a created partition. The converse of this situation is that you can use a USB drive as a password reset disk on Windows Vista if you forget your user account password.

If you’ve got a wireless network and often want to connect other devices to it, using a USB flash drive simplifies the process. Select the Windows Connect Now feature in Vista or the Wireless Network Setup Wizard in XP to save the wireless network configuration information to the drive and then use it when you want to connect other devices.

Drive capacities are big enough these days to boot from an alternative operating system on a USB device. You can also run portable applications, such as the Open Office suite and Mozilla Firefox. These and other applications are available from various websites, many as free downloads, giving lots of potential for the humble USB drive.

With further signs of an improving situation, the future is starting to look a little brighter. But what does 2010 promise for IT contractors? Are we really out of the woods or just going through a clearing before it all gets a little dense again?

The messages are decidedly mixed, although the majority vote seems to be towards the bright side. The general consensus, in fact, is that the IT contracting sector hasn’t suffered too badly through the downturn, unlike banking and construction that have been badly hit. In the case of the banking sector, most people will say ‘serve them right’ since they got us into this mess in the first place.

Many people believe the recovery is underway but will be very slow throughout 2010. This is partly due to a lack of confidence and also because bank lending is unlikely to get back where it was, so financing may not be available in the required amounts. There’s also a tendency, to give the banks a good kicking, especially in government circles, which probably won’t help matters.

Oddly, the lack of confidence may well work in the favour of IT contractors. Companies have put projects on hold and will want to get them going, but may be reluctant to commit to permanent staff. Indeed, if they’ve made people redundant, they can’t suddenly resurrect a job that was declared obsolete. These factors open the way for contractors, who are seen as more effective and flexible in uncertain times.

The reason that IT contracting hasn’t been as badly hit as other sectors also bodes well for the future. The fact is that computers are at the heart of most companies now — they enable businesses to operate efficiently and, without them, most things wouldn’t work at all. So companies can’t just shut down sections of IT and wait for better times. They need IT staff to increase their efficiency and it is a proven fact that IT spending gives a good return on investment. And although IT contractors may be more expensive than their permanent equivalents, they offer greater flexibility and good value for money.

While improvement may be slow, IT contractors are likely to be leading the way out of recession and 2010 looks brighter.

Whatever type of contract you’re currently working on, you’ll get the best income using one of UKContracting.net’s schemes. Get in touch to find out more.

Christmas means various things to different people. To some, it is a traditional religious celebration while others think of snow, family gatherings or a break from work. For the geeks among you, it’s an excuse to get the latest gadget.

If you’re an avid reader of novels, you’ve probably got shelves full of paperbacks. The availability of the latest ebook readers gives you the chance to get rid of the clutter, cut down on weight when you go on holiday and, as a bonus, pretend you’re Jim Kirk on the flight deck of the USS Enterprise.

One of the best-known readers is Amazon’s Kindle, now into its second generation. It is small and light with a 6-inch screen that’s easy to read, even in sunlight. It’s also got wireless connectivity, good battery life and a 2GB storage that can hold up to 1500 books. There is the danger that you’ll tie yourself into Amazon as your book supplier to some degree and other devices are coming along, so check out the competition.

If you’re into gaming, there are bargains to be had with most third generation consoles having come down in price, been upgraded or both. All the major consoles offer online gaming as well as having multimedia facilities so you can view photos, videos and listen to music. The PlayStation 3 is the only console with a Blu-ray player while the Xbox 360 will be able to access Facebook and Twitter after a software upgrade. With no fourth generation consoles on the horizon and plenty of games available, it’s a good time to buy.

Lovers of music as well as gaming can choose from various rhythm games to live out their fantasies. The latest and best of these is The Beatles: Rock Band, which combines classic tracks with memorable moments and music history. Although the game software is reasonably affordable, buying all the instruments to create a realistic experience can make a big hole in your wallet.

If you’ve taken advantage of the UKContracting.net service, at least you’ll have plenty of spare cash to buy these unmissable gadgets since you’ll be paired with the best possible solution out there. If you’re not convinced you’re getting a good deal with your current umbrella company or other arrangement, give us a call to see what we can do.

Recent figures point to an improving situation in the contractor market although the trend is neither consistent nor broad-based. A recent SSL/Computer Weekly survey showed an increase of 26% in IT contractor vacancies in the last quarter. Developers and system designers were most in demand, with vacancies up by a third in each case.

The rise contrasted with an increase in permanent vacancies of only 1%, reflecting the usual position where temporary staff are first out of the door but also the first to be taken back on. However, the level of demand for IT contractors is still down by almost two thirds against two years ago, resulting from the steepest fall for many years and more than eighteen months of continuous decline. Nevertheless, contract rates are reported to be only marginally down on 12 months ago.

The financial sector, which of course is held up as the prime culprit for the crash, does seem to be leading the upturn. Improving results in the sector have meant that projects that were put on hold are now being restarted, with staff being hired to resource them. The change has encouraged more staff to see opportunities in the sector, with the number of people expecting to get contracts in finance rising by half over a six-month period, according to a poll by Giant plc. A higher number also expected to improve their pay rates as a result of the better situation within the sector.

The apparent improvement in prospects has led to a change of attitude to obtaining work. Whereas the uncertain market had caused contractors to focus on achieving a regular income, increasing confidence means they are now concentrating on other career matters.

There is now some real hope that the downturn may be coming to an end. One cause of this could be that some of the largest companies involved in the software, internet, computing and electronics sectors have tried to maintain their R&D budgets during the recession. Booz & Co’s Global Innovation 1000 report showed that 80% of the biggest R&D investors in the software and internet sectors increased their spending in 2008. This was above the average for the 1000 company index, with two thirds of all respondents having increased or maintained R&D spend despite income having fallen. Forward thinking companies see this as an investment for the future, giving them a competitive advantage when conditions improve. From a contracting viewpoint, it may have prevented the situation being worse than it otherwise might have been.

The public sector doesn’t have the best of track records when it comes to managing large and complex IT projects. One of the most infamous cases is the National Health Service’s electronic patient record project, which is currently running over four years late and costing double the original budget, with no end in sight.

The blame for some of the disasters now seems as though it’s being shifted back to the private sector, with calls for companies to be blacklisted if they are deemed to have failed to deliver what they have promised. Austin Mitchell, MP for Grimsby, reckons that IT consultancies and suppliers have made excessive profits through overstating the capabilities of their products and gaining contracts by misrepresentation.

The MP does concede, however, that government departments are also often at fault, being guilty of over-specifying requirements and making systems needlessly complex. There’s also the suggestion that the departments don’t have the capability to understand and manage what is being proposed. The results are developments that go significantly over budget, run well past their target dates and don’t deliver what is required.

One solution is that departments get better advice so they are more able to control IT suppliers. How they gain this advice is unclear but may mean engaging yet more consultants. Another suggestion is that the Office of Government Commerce has an audit and control role over contracts. This will give it some influence over the firms that are selected for contracts as well as allowing it to impose penalties for misdemeanours, including blacklisting those that make untrue claims about their products or services. Whether this will lead to a more satisfactory outcome, only time will tell.