Windows Server has always been a bit different. It looks like your desktop computer, and includes dozens of features that you have no interest in using.

Some would say that’s not a problem, since you can just bypass the features you don’t need. Yet, then there are the potential vulnerabilities in those unneeded services, or the need to reboot when a patch is issued for a service you don’t even use.
Thankfully, Windows Server 8, now available in beta, will enable a core that can selectively add and remove components, much like Linux, so businesses can only run what they need.

David Cross, Partner Program Manager in Windows Server group, discussed on the Windows Server Blog Tuesday how the Windows Server 8 Server Core could be used to build more efficient cloud services. Microsoft spent one year and $10 million dollars talking to cloud solution builders to learn how best to tailor its offerings for them. Since large cloud deployments can include thousands of servers, optimizing the servers to have a small footprint and dedicated functions was one clearly-defined need.

Windows Server 8 addresses these issues, providing a core that can be expanded to provide any required services. 14 server rolls are now available, each able to be installed and removed as needed, including File and Storage Services, DNS Server, Print and Document Services, and Web Server.

Beyond the available roles, even the GUI is optional, with the standard interface being a command line. The traditional Windows Explorer desktop with Internet Explorer can be optionally installed, as well as a Minimal Server Interface which provides GUI access to only core configuration options.

Microsoft isn’t the first to create a minimal server that is highly configurable. In fact, it’s closer to being the last. Unix and Novell Netware were providing focused, modular systems in the 1980s and 1990s.

Microsoft’s changes are probably most driven by Linux, which has offered a minimalistic yet highly configurable server platform since the early 1990s, and has become the dominant web server operating system. With many computing services moving to the cloud, Microsoft needs to improve its web server offering to compete against Linux. Based on the changes it includes, we think most businesses that are using Windows Server will want to give Windows Server 8 a try.

Read full article http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/252496/streamlined_windows_server_8_offers_key_benefits.html

See the Managed247 interactive business communications are evolving presentation

http://portal.sliderocket.com/BOHXC/Business-Communication-Evolved

Managed247 are proud to announce that they have become a Watchguard Professional Partner in the UK. The technical team have been working hard through the winter months on the certifications required to gain this high status.

Managed247 Watchguard Professional Partner

WatchGuard builds affordable, all-in-one network and content security solutions to provide defense in depth for corporate content, networks and the businesses they power. WatchGuard’s award-winning Extensible Threat Management (XTM) network security solutions combine firewall, VPN, and security services to protect networks from spam, viruses, malware, and intrusions. The new Extensible Content Security (XCS) appliances offer content security across email and web combined with data loss prevention for complete content protection. WatchGuard extensible solutions scale to offer right-sized security for small businesses up to enterprises with 10,000+ employees. Since our founding in 1996, more than 600,000 WatchGuard signature red security appliances have been deployed worldwide. Today more than 15,000 dedicated partners back our products in 120 countries. WatchGuard is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, with offices in North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

Effective 06 December 2011

Managed247 Ltd has been re-certified as a Cisco Premier Certified Partner in UK.

Managed247 Ltd has again met all requirements for achieving Cisco Premier Certification, including personnel, support and specialization. Your company has continued to demonstrate that it is qualified to sell, install and support Cisco solutions in UK.

We value Managed247 Ltd’s ongoing commitment and look forward to continuing to work together.  

Thank you for your participation in Cisco’s Channel Partner Program. 

Sincerely,

Cisco Channel Certification Team

Gas, Electric, Water….. and IT?

“Cloud” is the industry buzzword that most IT providers use to dress up their newest offering.  Cloud IT is essentially providing your IT as utility?

The cloud computing vision is for businesses to purchase IT as a service and not worry about how it’s provided, in the same way we expect to plug in and just get electricity whilst not contemplating if it comes from a nuclear power station, coal plant or an offshore wind farm, all that matters is ‘it’s just there’.

So far Cloud computing has been much more complicated than a utility provision,  with multiple service providers offering components such as Server & Desktop virtualisation, then there’s a CRM cloud provider and another offering cloud storage and backup; trouble is these systems will simply not integrate, nor interconnect or be a flexible interchangeable service for you.  In fact, most IT providers are intent on in locking you into their solution.

So ‘Cloud’ may be good for marketing ploys but is it good for your business?

Will it really feel like electricity?

A comprehensive IT service needs to meet some core criteria before it can be labelled ‘cloud computing’ and in each case the comparison with electricity is helpful:

      Cost.   Days are long gone when you risk paying three times what your competitors pay to gain advantage.

      Transparency.  You need to be able to use as much as u need and when you need it.  If you need more, you should be able to get it.  Much like electricity, if you wish to consume more, you don’t have to call your energy provider and request it and you certainly don’t pay for what you don’t use.

      Reliability. Very few providers will take accountability for data loss and or data integrity. However, data preservation is essential in all businesses. Ensure your cloud partner is an IT support specialist and not just a hosted service provider.

      Trackable.  Most importantly ensure your IT power is predictable and understand how much it costs.

For further assistance in determining if the Cloud is right for your business, contact us for a no obligation review.

In 2010 Microsoft announced that it was changing the requirements for Microsoft Gold partners. The new qualification is technically more challenging and has a number of commercial hurdles.

The deadline for partners to meet the new Certification guidelines is October 2011. After this time partners who do not qualify will no longer be able to use the Microsoft Gold Certified Partner logo or advertise as a certified Microsoft Gold Partner. It is anticipated that 40-50% of UK Microsoft Gold Partners will not meet the new stringent technical and commercial requirements.

The Managed247 team have been working hard through the summer on their technical qualifications. Our customers have kindly participated in Microsoft customer surveys.

Managed247 is now a Microsoft Gold Partner certified under the new partner requirements.

Managed247 is proud to announce the launch of cloudstream a  cloud platform for SME’s.

cloudstream demistifies and simplifies Cloud based services by focusing only on Cloud technology that is robust, secure and most of all is useful to today’s growing businesses.

Combining Hosted Exchange, Internet Connectivity, Virtual Desktops, Cloud Based Anti-Virus & Anti-Spam, Software as a Service and Cloud Based Disaster Recovery – cloudstream is an all encompassing product range that fits together neatly or can be purchased as individual services.

There has never been a better time to explore the cost and operational benefit Cloud Computing brings to business.

For more information on cloudstream or a demonstration in the comfort of your own office, email info@managed.co.uk

Managed247 is proud to announce the launch of its telepresence CS-1 VU product set for small to medium enterprises.

High Definition Telepresence adoption for the UK SME market has been limited by cost and bandwidth availability. CS-1 VU provides businesses with High Definition point to point and point to multi-point high definition video content over a traditional SDSL circuit at each site.

Whats more, it can record up to 3000 hours of content locally, allow the sharing of screens and documents, plus the ability for lower resolution attendees to also join the conference.

David Gorman, Managed247, Technical Manager commented “Providing always connected wherever you are to whoever you want to connect with; is powerful but has always come at a price. We can now deliver High Definition video over traditional SDSL circuits and even in some cases ADSL. This marks a new era in no travel communications.”

Video continues to be the biggest buzzword for business owners and managers within the SME market, the CS-1 VU platform not only integrates with traditional operating systems but also with the CS-1 voice platform. This enables executives to establish a high definition video conference mid-call, record the content and have minutes emailed to them in PDF seconds after the conference end.

A very new era in High Definition Video Telepresence for the SME market is beginning and Managed247 is at the forefront.

In January 2011, Managed247 undertook an independent survey of its customers and the feedback is compelling

1. 99.7% of customers would recommend Managed247 to others
2. 99.5% of customers believe Managed247 provides innovative and forward thinking IT, VoIP, Disaster Recovery and Cloud Solutions
3. 99.1% of our customers are very happy with the services they receive and will continue to do business with Managed247.

Amongst the feedback:-

“There isn’t another IT, Voice, Cloud and Disaster Recovery company out there that can come close to this bunch. They listen, make great recommendations and deliver time and time again. Managed247 are simply on the button and we intend our relationship with them to be a long one…..”

“VoIP was always a concern to me. I knew the quick ROI’s but I always had a concern in the back of my mind that VoIP meant problems. Working with Managed247 has been great for us, we got hand held through the process of moving to VoIP by learning the pitfalls, avoiding them and building a competitive edge with VoIP technology. Voice over IP and the CS-1 product has really staggered us all, it ticked all of the boxes and continues to. VoIP done well…….Managed247″

“Bare Metal Restore and Time Recovery Objectives were unknown sentences to me before meeting the Managed247 team. We were reliant upon backup tapes and Jackie being willing to take the tapes home and store them safely every week. Since the Cloud based Disaster Recovery solution has gone in, we can restore files from the cloud within 2 minutes and if this office goes down we are back up and running remotely in 15 minutes. How would I describe Managed247? Innovative, Energetic, Passionate and know there stuff. I recommend them to everyone..”

Managed247 has deployed a realtime iPhone call centre application for a CS-1 VoIP customer.

The iPhone statistics allow managers of the call centre to monitor staff dialling and call length statistics live from their iPhone over 3G or wireless. The statistics update in real time as calls are made.

The CS-1 is a Managed247 engineered business class VoIP solution utilising Cisco handsets and foundation network technology. It allows businesses to communicate and collaborate across boundaries such as geography and office locations to enable truly mobile work forces, whilst improving customer experience and lowering operating costs. The CS-1 is a highly flexible voice system using internet based technology for businesses of 5-1000 users.

David Gorman, Technical Services Manager “We are continually developing new applications and features for our CS-1 voice platform and the deployment of real time iPhone wallboard statistics was for a specific customer requirement. However it enables us to offer this functionality to new and existing call centre customers whilst also demonstrating the flexibility of the CS-1 voice architecture.

Our customers find that we will say “yes” when challenged with a new business development or requirement. This compares with many of our competitors who would be unable to flex to the new demand or require large investment in new hardware or interfaces.”