Private event key note speaker, Bruce Wynn wows MoD audience with ‘impossible’ cyber-attack demo

Media Release 10/12/2014

Related Images below ; Press Release Related Keywords: IT, Ministry of Defence, Cyber-attack, Future, IT Events

Cyber-attack prevention specialist Bruce Wynn demonstrated a live cyber-attack that is ‘supposed to be impossible’ as he delivered his key note speech at Centerprise International’s private Defence Technology Event, 2 December 2014.

The event, which takes place each year, presents to an invite-only audience the latest and greatest defence Information Technology offerings. This year it was held in the charity building, the Ark Centre in Basingstoke, Hampshire.

His live demonstration of how cyber specialists of the ‘past, present and future’ can and will use hacker specific applications to collect information left the audience absolutely stunned.  Many left reconsidering the way that they use mobile devices!

Of course all his demos were safe and performed on unsuspecting dummy PCs he had prepared earlier – never the less he left his audience with much to talk about.

As well as the keynote speaker, the star guest list of vendors invited to speak and demonstrate their latest IT developments were world-renowned brands Dell, Fujitsu, Becrypt and Toshiba.

Various other vendors showcased their latest offerings in the vendor village but Bruce Wynn produced something a little more unexpected in his afternoon presentation.

Richard Austin, Marketing head of Centerprise International, had only great things to report on the day’s keynote speaker:

“We were delighted to introduce Bruce Wynn to the event attendees this year. His presentation and live demos of cyber hack-attacks and ways for avoiding them were absolutely riveting. He had the attention of the audience in his palm for a full hour that honestly went by in a flash. We would very much like to invite him back again.”

When asked for his comments on the day Bruce Wynn responded by saying:

"I'd be delighted to come back to another Centerprise Defence Technology Event - the audience was both knowledgeable and happy to interact with me during the demonstrations, and that interaction helped get the message across"

&

"There are many people out there who seek to use the technology of the internet to exploit the naive and the unwary, but there are many simple things that can be done to reduce the risk. My demonstrations vividly show what 'they' can, and how 'we' can help reduce the risks"

Ends

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Editors notes:

Centerprise International

For over 30 years Centerprise (CI) has been acknowledged as one of the largest and most respected IT providers in the UK. A real British success story, CI has developed a steadfast reputation for delivering large scale IT projects within the Business, Defence, Education, Government and Healthcare sectors.

CI  has been a major incumbent supplier to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) through the Information Communication Systems (ICS Catalogue formerly operated by Defence Equipment & Support) throughout its lifespan. CI value the MoD as its longest standing customer and recognise that the rewarding relationship has made a significant contribution to its success.

Links:

http://www.centerprise.co.uk/defence.html

http://www.centerprise.co.uk/defencetechnology2014/index.html

http://newshub.centerprise.co.uk/

For more information on CI, visit: www.centerprise.co.uk/about.html

For more information, images or quotes please contact Katheryn Tilling at the press office on:

E:             Kathryn.Tilling@centerprise.co.uk

DD:         01256 378059

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bruce Wynn

You can find out more information about Bruce (that he chooses to make public!) on his linked-in profile at www.linkedin.com/in/brucewynn

You can catch Bruce at events, such as http://www.infosecurity.be/?lang=EN

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IMAGES:

Read More

Centerprise awarded three Lots on £6bn CCS RM1054 Public Sector Framework

Media release 

3/12/2014

Centerprise were approved on the three lots that they tendered for on the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) Technology Products Agreement, RM1054, enabling it to bid on high-value and pan-Government opportunities.

The three awarded to Centerprise were:

• Lot 1, Technology hardware – to provide a wide range of end user devices and hardware such as audio-visual, network infrastructure equipment, peripherals

• Lot 3, Secure Technology Products and Disposals – for the provision of a wide range of hardware and software commodity items and solutions. Additional requirements include audio-visual solutions and secure destruction and disposal services

• Lot 4, End User Devices – to supply client user devices including desktops, laptops and tablets

It opens up and maintains a key route to the public sector for Centerprise who have been a long-term supplier to the Ministry of Defence. They recently became one of the first SMB’s to win a major Central Government contract under new procurement rules and are looking to strengthen their position further under this new framework.

Garry Stevens, Chief Executive Officer at Centerprise, said: “The government’s commitment to providing opportunities for SMEs to bid for public sector contracts is a huge opportunity and one we have been able to successfully capitalise on already.

“Being accepted onto this framework is a major step for Centerprise International and a key part of our plan to build on our success in the public sector, with the potential for securing significant high-value contracts

CCS, as the Contracting Authority, in collaboration with Pro5 and the MoD, have now established a contracting route to meet the demands of Government including products, services and Information Assurance. The new Technology Products Framework encompasses RM721 - Commoditised IT Hardware and Software (CITHS) and the Information Assurance framework managed by the communication technology element of the MoD and RM1696 – IT Hardware and Solutions (ITHS) which were recently all co-termed to expire 31^st January 2015.

Centerprise International, established more than 30 years ago, is one of the largest and most respected IT providers in the UK and has an enviable reputation for delivering large-scale IT projects and managed services in the corporate, education and public sectors.

For more information, visit: www.centerprise.co.uk

Ends

Read More

WW1 Centennial Remembrance

Centerprise staff showed pride, honour and respect on their chests at 11:00 on the 11th day on the 11th Month – on the centenary of the start of WW1.

The Centennial is a remembrance milestone, one of the greatest and most devastating times in humanities world history, ‘The War to End all Wars’. The memories of the people who served their countries will be felt by our ex-military staff members, and the world this year in particular.

The ex-service men of Centerprise International wore their medals to pay homage to this historic occasion with their colleagues at Centerprise Head Office in Basingstoke.

The staff and managers at Centerprise have a long history with, and actively show support to, the Defence services. CI currently supplies IT systems to all three and also gets involved with various events and charities.

CI is a major sponsor of the Navy Field Gun competition and a contributor to The Help for Heroes charity. Help for Heroes supports wounded soldiers, that have made sacrifices on our behalf, to help them come to terms with their injuries or subsequent disabilities and achieve their full potential.

The two minute silence on the 11th, although soundless, will echo loudly within the Centerprise atrium to remember those that sacrificed their own wellbeing for each and every one of us to be prosperous and live our lives to the fullest potential.



Author: Chris Hunt,
Centerprise International.

Read More

IT Governance congratulates client Centerprise International on achieving Cyber Essentials Plus certification

IT Governance, the leading cyber security services provider and CREST-accredited certification body for the UK government’s Cyber Essentials scheme, congratulates Centerprise International (CI), one of the largest IT providers in the UK, on achieving Cyber Essentials Plus certification.

CI delivers large scale IT projects within the corporate, education, government and reseller sectors and achieving certification to the government’s scheme was important. IT Governance helped the company implement the necessary measures to meet the requirements of Cyber Essentials Plus by delivering the Cyber Essentials consultancy and certification service. As part of this service, the IT Governance technical services team conducted an external and internal scan, and issued the certificate subject to the client’s compliance.

Alan Calder, founder and executive chairman of IT Governance, says, “I am pleased to congratulate Centerprise International on their achievement. Compliance with the Cyber Essentials scheme demonstrates commitment to securing valuable data. Our client has clearly shown that it takes cyber security seriously and can differentiate itself from other firms in the sector that haven’t yet complied with the scheme.”

The Cyber Essentials scheme is emerging as the default minimum standard for cyber security, offering two levels of certification: Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus.

Cyber Essentials requires companies to complete a self-assessment questionnaire, signed off by a senior company representative, and then verified by an external certification body. An external vulnerability scan will also be required if the company has chosen to be certified through a CREST-approved certification body like IT Governance.

Cyber Essentials Plus provides a more advanced level of assurance, in addition to the requirements stated for Cyber Essentials. This level of assurance will be reached by an internal assessment and internal scan, conducted on-site by the certification body.

From 1 October 2014, the UK Government requires UK organisations bidding for government contracts that involve the handling of sensitive and personal information and the provision of certain technical products and services must be able to prove compliance with the shceme.

IT Governance offers three ‘all-in’ packaged solutions for certification to Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus. Each solution is a combination of products and services in a fixed-price, fit-for-use package sure to meet any organisation’s preferences for tackling compliance projects. Each of the three packaged solutions is available at a transparent price that enables every organisation to know exactly what their chosen journey to Cyber Essentials certification will cost them.

The all-in, Cyber Essentials ‘Do it yourself’, ‘Get a little help’ and ‘Get a lot of help’ can be ordered online at www.itgovernance.co.uk/solutions-for-ces-certification.aspx.

Alternatively, organisations can call +44 (0)845 070 1750 or send an email to request a custom quote.

-----------

Press Release written by IT Governance Ltd

Read More

Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise enters strategic UK relationship with Centerprise International

Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise today announced a new strategic relationship with Centerprise International Ltd, one of the UK's leading IT service specialists.

Centerprise International will integrate Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise's technically flexible solutions and advanced networking technology as an integral part of its IT infrastructure offering at a time when Centerprise International looks to open up further business opportunities in the UK with a strong focus toward Government, healthcare and education verticals.

Centerprise International has already secured the first contract in the Treasury’s HMT ICT 2015 Programme to deliver wireless services based on Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise network equipment. This win adds to a number of previously announced successful go-to-market strategies which include Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise and strong business partner relationships delivering its infrastructure solutions into the fast growing data centre and cloud markets.

Centerprise International specialises in implementing hardware and software solutions, IT infrastructure, system integration and providing data management services. Over the last 30 years it has established a reputation for supplying high-end solutions to the public sector and corporate clients. Centerprise International will deliver Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise campus LAN and data centre technologies to market in the UK, as it looks to strengthen its network infrastructure solutions offers.

Richard Austin, Group Marketing and Communications Director, Centerprise International, said “Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise is strong in education, local government and healthcare solutions, with technically impressive equipment, so this is an excellent fit for us. We have been able to develop a great working relationship with the team at Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise. They clearly see the importance of the relationship they have with their partners, which can't be said for all vendors..”

Peter Tebbutt, Country Manager UK&I, Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise added “Over the last 30 years, Centerprise International has built an excellent reputation for delivering reliable solutions in some of our key markets. They have a great understanding of their customers' needs and the challenges they face. Our comprehensive networking portfolio will offer their customers advanced network infrastructure that gives real value for money in both capital expenditure and TCO.”

Read More

EVENT: Centerprise and YoYoTech to exhibit at ADS Members Forum on 6th November

Basingstoke based System Integrator, Centerprise International, will be one of only ten exhibitors at the ADS Members Forum on the 6th November at QinetiQ, Farnborough.  

ADS, the premier trade organisation advancing the UK Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space industries, in association with Farnborough Aerospace Consortium (FAC) is hosting its second Members Forum for 2014.

The event will provide the opportunity for its Members to engage and network with the wider industry and to discuss topical issues.

As one of only ten exhibitors, Centerprise International will be demonstrating their range of custom built, ,high-end workstations and water cooled PCs, in partnership with sister company, YoYoTech.

For more information on the event, visit: https://www.adsgroup.org.uk/articles/43140

Read More

Rafi Razzak to feature on BBC Radio Berkshire

Centerprise's founder and chairman, Rafi Razzak, will be interviewed on BBC Radio Berkshire today, Tuesday 14th October 2014. 

During the mid-morning show (10:00 am to 1:00 pm), Rafi, a prominent Berkshire businessman, who is also the chairman of Basingstoke Town Football Club, will discuss his background and passions with Sarah Walker, today's stand-in host for Anne Diamond.

To listen live or to catch up with the show, visit BBC's iPlayer Radio: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p027pv5p

For more information on Rafi Razzak, click here.

Read More

EVENT: The New World: New Ways of Working - Tuesday 2nd December 2014

Centerprise International will be hosting our annual event for new and existing customers from across the MoD / Tri-Services on Tuesday 2nd December 2014.

This year's event will be focused on "The New World", looking at new technologies and the new CCS Framework.

Running from 10am-3.30pm at the Ark Conference Centre in Basingstoke, this year's event promises to be bigger and better than ever.

More information will be available soon but if you would like to register your interest in attending, please contact Tom Kearns on 01256 378059 or email tom.kearns@centerprise.co.uk.

Read More

Double success as Centerprise is shortlisted for two awards

Leading technology reseller Centerprise International is hoping to scoop two top honours in the same day after being shortlisted for national and regional awards. 

The Basingstoke-based IT reseller and services provider is a finalist in the Reseller of the Year
category in the CRN Channel Awards after making it onto a shortlist of just five companies.

The CRN Awards are considered the top honour for resellers and distributors working in the world of IT. Centerprise will now make a presentation to awards judges and will find out if the company has won during an awards ceremony at Battersea Park Events Arena in London on Thursday, November 13.

Centerprise is also in the running for a top regional award, having been shortlisted in the Business of the Year category of the Inspire Business Awards, which celebrate companies in North Hampshire.

Centerprise is down to the last three firms in the category after the first round of judging was completed, and will find out the result at an awards ceremony to be held at the Highfield Park Hotel in Hook – also on November 13.

Richard Austin, group marketing and communications director at Centerprise International, said: “It’s a bit of a diary clash but we’re hoping 13 will turn out to be a lucky number for us!

“To be shortlisted for these two awards is a great achievement and shows that Centerprise is leading the way both regionally and nationally in our areas of expertise.”

The nominations are the latest in a string of successes for Centerprise, which earlier this year won two contracts with Her Majesty’s Treasury – one for media and wireless systems and one for printing services. It has also launched an industry-leading video conferencing service, called Mix Connect, which offers unrivalled clarity and security to business users.

Centerprise International, established more than 30 years ago, is one of the largest and most respected IT providers in the UK and has an enviable reputation for delivering large-scale IT projects and managed services in the corporate, education and public sectors.

Read More

Key appointments as ADAM Continuity strengthens cloud services

Data backup and recovery experts ADAM Continuity have made key appointments as the company strengthens its position as a leading cloud specialist.

The company appointed Ronan McCurtin as Managing Director earlier this year to oversee the implementation of a number of new cloud backup and recovery solutions for businesses.

Ronan, who has a strong background in sales and client management in the technology sector, has now made several strategic appointments to help build on the firm’s success.

Nigel Hoggart, formerly of Capital Continuity, joins ADAM as a business continuity specialist. Nigel has a proven reputation in the business continuity and managed IT services market and is an expert in cloud services.

Joining Nigel as a business continuity specialist are Simon Lloyd, who has 16 years’ experience in business continuity and managed services, and telemarketing expert Jo Godridge, who becomes ADAM’s lead generation manager. Both Simon and Jo join ADAM from previous roles at Phoenix.

Kieron Moore, previously a client account manager, has been promoted to Partner Manager, with responsibility for recruiting partners to market ADAM’s solutions.

The appointments come as ADAM Continuity, based in Basingstoke, Hampshire, relaunches its range of new cloud-based solutions to help businesses securely and reliably back up their systems.

The firm’s Backup and Recovery service manages 40,000 backup jobs for clients a month and provides lightning-fast server recovery in the event of a system failure.

Its Replication for Recovery service offers real-time backup and virus protection for critical business servers, reducing system downtime to a matter of minutes.

ADAM uses NetApp’s market-leading replication services to give protection against issues such as data corruption, virus attack and user error.

Ronan McCurtin said: “I’m delighted to make these appointments as we further strengthen ADAM Continuity’s market-leading cloud-based business continuity solutions.

“Nigel, Simon, Jo and Kieron are key members of the team who place excellence and customer service at the heart of everything they do. I look forward to working closely with them during this exciting period for ADAM Continuity.”

Unlike other cloud backup companies, ADAM also has a host of physical backup services and is able to provide fully kitted-out offices with seamlessly backed up systems for staff to move into in the event of a major disaster such as a fire or flood.

The firm has relaunched its website at www.adam.co.uk which gives comprehensive details about the range of services it offers.

ADAM Continuity will be exhibiting and demonstrating its services at the IP Expo Europe exhibition, which takes place on October 8 and 9 at ExCeL in London and wil be opened by Sir Tim Berners-Lee. For more information see http://www.ipexpo.co.uk/Exhibitors/Adam-Continuity

Read More

Industry-leading video conferencing service launched by Centerprise

A super-fast, highly secure and incredibly flexible service designed to make video conferencing part of everyday business life has been launched by leading technology supplier Centerprise International. 
 

The company has unveiled Mix Connect, a highly secure “business class” service that runs on its own private and encrypted network and offers users unrivalled flexibility at low cost.

Mix Connect requires no equipment to be bought or set up – it can run on a company’s existing laptops and desktop PCs, or on tablets and smartphones, across virtually any network. This can be further enhanced with bespoke telepresence hardware for meeting rooms or board rooms.

The public launch of the product comes after Centerprise signed a multi-year deal with Her Majesty’s Treasury to supply services including video conferencing – with the high level of security being one of the defining features.

In a survey of business leaders, Centerprise International found that half of all respondents had never used video conferencing technology before. And almost a third (29%) said they had tried it but did not currently use it.

Centerprise International believes its Mix Connect technology has the ability to change that – and to make video calling and collaboration a part of daily working life.

Richard Austin, a Director at Centerprise International, said: “Video conferencing has a host of benefits – it’s quick, it’s easy, it’s green because it cuts down on travel and a video call is much more personal than a phone call.

“The people you are meeting with are more engaged while on a video call than they are on a phone call because it’s much less easy to be distracted when you are face-to-face with your colleagues.

“Despite these obvious advantages it’s clear from our research that many business leaders have not used video conferencing for a long time, perhaps because they were frustrated by its limitations while the technology was in its infancy.

“It’s time they tried it again – Mix Connect is a game-changer. It is pin-sharp, flexible, incredibly secure and lag-free – a world away from the cumbersome systems of old. And because companies don’t need to provide any extra equipment, it’s an incredibly versatile and cost-effective service.”

The innovative Mix Book software allows user to easily host or schedule a multi-way meeting in seconds. The technology can track who its users have met and for how long – making it easy for managers to monitor workflow and efficiency.

Businesses are being offered a two-week trial so they can see the benefits of Mix Connect for themselves at no risk. For more information see www.mixconnect.co.uk

Survey results: 

Have you ever used VC or video-chat technology before?

50 % - Yes, I currently use it
29% - I’ve tried it before, but I don’t use it 
21% - No, I have not

Who do you usually contact using VC or video-chat?

25% - Colleagues
19% - Friends
19% - Candidates
16% - Family
14% - Customers
7% - Suppliers

Do you use video conferencing for any of the following?

17% - Catching up and networking
15% - Interviews
14% - Sharing ideas
12% - Talent recruitment
10% - Webinar
10% - Training purposes
8% - Sharing files of photos
7% - Project management
3% - Forecasting
2% - Classes
2% - I use it for something else

Read More

EVENT: YoYoTech and MSI team up for prize-packed Insomnia 52 gaming festival

PC experts YoYoTech and MSI will join forces to offer prizes, discounts and charity fun at the UK’s biggest gaming festival. 

Master gaming PC builders YoYoTech and hardware supplier MSI will team up for the Multiplay Insomnia 52 event at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena over the August Bank Holiday weekend (August 22 to 25).

To raise money for Help for Heroes, YoYoTech and MSI will demo two GT Omega Racing cockpits running the latest Assetto Corsa racing simuator game.

Entrants must donate £1 each – with every penny going to the charity – and the fastest driver each day will win an MSI Gaming Graphics Card.

YoYoTech and MSI will also be hosting a LAN gaming tournament beginning on Saturday 23, along with the opportunity for contestants to pick up tips and try to beat experts from MSI’s sponsored professional gaming team, Infused.

Those who sign up are in with a chance of winning BYOC (Bring your Own Computer) tickets for the next Insomnia event, i53, due to take place later this year.

As a fun sideshow, the YoYoTech and MSI stand will also have a giant-scale Jenga set with an MSI Gaming Mouse Surface up for grabs for winning contestants. There will be hardware on offer at discounted prices over the weekend.

YoYoTech Business Development Manager Ryan Pearton said: “Insomnia 52 promises to be one of the UK’s biggest ever gaming events and we’re delighted to be teaming up with MSI to show thousands of gamers what we have to offer.”

Multiplay Insomnia 52 is one of a series of Insomnia events set to reach tens of thousands of gaming fans in 2014. August’s event is crammed with competitive gaming, tournaments, new game showcases, panel talks, meet and greets and more exhibitors than ever before.

The event takes place at the Ricoh Arena, Phoenix Way, Foleshill, Coventry CV6 6GE from Friday, August 22 to Monday, August 25.

For more information on the festival visit http://insomniagamingfestival.com

To find out more about the event wih MSI and YoYoTech, visit http://www.yoyotech.co.uk/insomnia-52?campaign=cooperations/media/kitguru/msi-i52

Read More

EVENT: Toughbook Activity Day!

Centerprise and Panasonic have teamed up to offer Toughbook and Toughpad resellers the opportunity to join us for a fun-filled Activity Day! 

Taking place on Friday 26th September in Bristol, the activities include: Military Off Road Driving, Air Rifle Shooting, Blind 4x4 Driving, Bomb Disposal and Tank Driving.

Breakfast and a BBQ lunch are included at the event, as well as wine tasting from the local farm after the activities.

Following the action-packed day we will all head to DoubleTree by Hilton, Cadbury House, a four-star hotel set in rolling English countryside, where you’ll be treated to a three course meal and drinks, offering a great opportunity for further networking right across the channel.

Breakfast will be included at the hotel the morning after and the excellent spa facilities will be available to you throughout your stay at the hotel.

For more information and to register your interest in a place at the event, visit:  http://www.centerprise.co.uk/panasonic-activity-day/

Read More

EVENT: IP EXPO 2014

ADAM Continuity will be on stand M21 opposite the Backup and Recovery Theatre at this year's IP EXPO, Europe’s number ONE IT infrastructure and cloud event at London's ExCel. 

IP EXPO Europe is the only must-attend show of the year for CIO’s, heads of IT, technology experts and engineers. You can register to attend IP EXPO for free through this link: http://www.ipexpo.co.uk/Register/?utm_source=IP14LAADM

Read More

Lunch event to demonstrate the benefits of video conferencing

Businesses and organisations are invited to learn the benefits of video conferencing at a lunch event hosted by leading technology supplier Centerprise International.

Centerprise, which has just won a contract to provide IT services including video conferencing to Her Majesty’s Treasury, is to hold two events at its Basingstoke headquarters, on June 12 and July 10.

Delegates will enjoy lunch and the chance to network, and will get to see a demonstration of Centerprise’s cutting-edge, affordable and fully supported video conferencing service.

Everyone who attends will also be entered into a prize draw for the chance to win a 7” Samsung Galaxy Tab III, which the winner will take away on the day.

Marc Gravett, Business Development Manager at Centerprise, said: “We know that businesses value the many advantages of video conferencing including the fact that it means they can spend less time and money travelling to meetings.

“Video meetings are so much better than audio-only calls – they’re much more personal and you can be sure that you’re getting the full attention of the people at the other end without them being distracted by other things. They are a great way of building much closer business relationships with people who know and trust you.

“However, we’ve found that business leaders don’t like the problems that come with traditional video conferencing – the amount of equipment they need to set up and the unreliability and high cost of traditional video conferencing setups can put them off.

“Our service is different – it’s hugely flexible as it can be used in dedicated video conferencing suites or on any PC or tablet across virtually any network. It’s highly reliable, it offers superb image and sound quality and it comes at a very low cost.

“Our aim is to make video conferencing so straightforward that it’s something businesses use all the time as part of their working day. We believe that once business leaders see what our platform is capable of, they won’t look back.”

Centerprise International’s “business class” video conferencing service is platform-agnostic – meaning it works across any network and any device to offer a low-cost, ultra-reliable and highly secure way to hold meetings, conferences and business catch-ups.

The service is hosted on a secure network and in the cloud, minimising the need to install equipment. The service is fully supported by Centerprise so businesses do not need to put any time or manpower into keeping it maintained.

The system operates on a low fixed monthly fee for unlimited use and makes use of real time activity monitoring to ensure it delivers high quality video and audio to a consistently high standard. Businesses are being offered a two-week free trial so they can try the service out for themselves.

To sign up for the lunch events or to find out more about the service, see www.centerprise.co.uk/video-conferencing-solution-event.html

Centerprise’s top tips for video conferencing:

1. Check your equipment – do a dry run to make sure everything’s up and running well ahead of your meeting

2. Dress appropriately – try to avoid bright colours or complicated patterns which may be distracting on screen

3. Share information – if you’re working from an agenda or referring to reports, make sure these have been emailed to everyone taking part before you log in

4. Look at the camera – not at the screen, so the person you’re talking to can see your attention is focused on them

5. Check that there’s enough light in the room – you don’t want to appear in silhouette

6. Be natural – don’t exaggerate gestures or speak with an unusually loud voice – there’s no need

7. Be on time – there’s nothing worse than being late for a meeting whether that’s in person or on video

8. Be personal – address your comments to the person you’re talking to, eg “Sue, I’d just like to ask…”

9. De-clutter – make sure your meeting area is free of distractions so the focus is on what you’re saying and not the state of your office

10. Sign off properly – don’t forget to make sure the connection is properly severed and equipment isn’t transmitting before having that post-meeting chat with your colleagues

Read More

YoYoTech gaming PC experts move to new home as company expands

Leading gaming PC manufacturer YoYoTech has moved to new premises as the company meets growing demand for its products. 

YoYoTech has moved from its previous premises in Hemel Hempstead to a new home in Basingstoke, Hampshire.

It will be business as usual for online customers who use the company’s site www.yoyotech.co.uk – and orders will now be fulfilled from warehouses in Basingstoke.

The company is working on setting up a showroom at its new base, which is inside the headquarters of its parent company, Centerprise International.

YoYoTech is also planning a click and collect service so customers can buy a product online and pick it up from the trade counter.

Ryan Pearton, business development at YoYoTech, said: “We were finding that our existing premises were just not meeting our needs any more.

“It made perfect sense to move our operation to Basingstoke to a building that can house our manufacturing facility and our online operation and everything else we need, but also gives us the opportunity to serve customers face to face.

“All our staff are PC gaming enthusiasts and expert advisers and it will be great to give our customers the opportunity to come in and chat to us face to face.”

YoYoTech has won numerous awards from industry publications and has an enviable reputation among PC gamers for innovation, specialised knowledge and value for money.

The company has held the world PC performance record on several occasions and has attracted national press coverage for its most expensive PC – the super-powerful gold-plated XDNA Aurum, priced at £7,979.

As well as producing cutting-edge PCs, YoYoTech also caters for beginners and gamers on a modest budget.

 Gaming PCs in the firm’s Warbird series start at just £349 and out-perform next-generation consoles, while build-your-own PC starter kits are sold from from as little as £152.99.

YoYoTech has launched a reseller programme and is actively recruiting resellers for its range of PCs. Ebuyer, Laptops Direct and Amazon have already become its stockiest.

YoYoTech is owned by Centerprise International group, a major reseller and provider of bespoke IT systems and services.

For more information see www.yoyotech.co.uk

Read More

YOYOTech launches award-winning retro-style chassis into UK market

UK buyers can get their hands on an an award-winning retro-style PC chassis for the first time thanks to gaming PC experts YOYOTech.

The  901 Retro Mini-ITX Chassis, which combines a classic look with cutting-edge performance features, is now for sale at www.yoyotech.co.uk

The chassis, whose classic style brings to mind the home entertainment systems of the 1970s and 80s, has won a host of design accolades.

It was highly praised at CES in January, where it won Computer Shopper’s “Best of CES” award, and has also been honoured with a Red Dot Award for Design and Innovation.

The chassis, ready to ship at just £149 and compatible with mainboards in the small and highly-efficient Mini-ITX format, is created from a single piece of 4mm aluminium alloy with tinted, tempered glass side panels.

YOYOTech are also selling fully-assembled PCs housed in the retro-styled chassis in three models that form its NINE series - the Nine Silent Q1, Q2 and Q3.

The Q1 model at £699.99 includes a 2TB hard drive, the Q2 version at £849.99 adds a faster Nvidia GTX760 graphics card and 120gb solid state drive and the high performance Q3 at £1,159.99 has a lightning-fast 16GB of RAM. All three models include a noiseless passive cooling power supply.

 Despite its retro stylings the Retro Mini-ITX Chassis features a host of 21^st century features including:

•  Support for graphics cards up to 300mm
• CPU cut out for easy installation
• Hidden optical disk drive bay
• Support for external liquid cooling systems, removable hard drive brackets
• Super-efficient airflow design
• USB 3.0 ports
•  Magnetic aluminium fan filter and hidden vents

 Internally, there are two 2.5-inch bays suitable for SSD drives and another pair of bays that can take two more SSDs or a pair of 3.5-inch drives.

For users who require a slimline optical drive, there is a secluded bay underneath the main chassis.

Connectivity is taken care of with a standard 3.5mm audio port and a pair of high-speed USB 3 ports. 

Airflow is smooth thanks to a whisper-quiet 90mm rear fan, a 120mm fan at the bottom of the chassis and a 120mm liquid cooling radiator. 

The overall dimensions are 350mm x 173mm x 400mm and the 901 can support a CPU heatsink that’s up to 130mm in size. 

YOYOTech business development manager Ryan Pearton said: “This chassis has turned a lot of heads and deservedly it has been on the receiving end of some prestigious awards.

“Its classic design combined with the latest in performance make it an excellent buy and we’re delighted to be offering it for sale in the UK for the first time.”

For more information on the Nine Series see www.yoyotech.co.uk/yoyotech-nine-series 

For information on the chassis, see www.yoyotech.co.uk/inwin-901-available-now

If you would like to see a sample for review, then please email ryan@yoyotech.co.uk

Ends

Read More

Forum on disaster recovery and data backup to go with a swing

Experts on data backup and disaster recovery are to give advice at a free session – followed by a round of golf.

Award-winning data recovery specialists ADAM Continuity will host the forum, called The Future of Backup and Disaster Recovery… in the Cloud, at Sandford Springs Golf Club, Kingsclere, near Basingstoke, on Tuesday, May 20.

The event is open to delegates from all firms and organisations and will be particularly relevant to IT managers, systems analysts, finance directors, IT directors and anyone involved in back-ups and data resilience roles.

The session begins at 9.45am and concludes with a lunch and networking opportunity at 12.30pm. Guests are welcome to join staff from ADAM Continuity for nine holes of golf after the session.

Ronan McCurtin, managing director of ADAM Continuity, based in Basingstoke, said: “As industry experts, we understand the importance of securely backing up your data.

“This forum is an opportunity to learn more about some of the trends surrounding data, the impact this could have on your business and how you could protect your organisation should the worst happen.”

ADAM Continuity, which holds the Evault Service Provider of the Year Award, offers a round-the-clock service to step in and help businesses whenever disaster strikes.

Its cloud-based data backup service means data can be quickly restored and enables employees to access it by working remotely if required.

ADAM also offers entire office recovery suites which businesses can move into at a moment’s notice in the event of a problem such as a fire or flood.

To secure a place at the Sandford Springs event contact Wendy Mills at ADAM Continuity on 01256 378 134 or by email at wmills@adam.co.uk. The event is free but spaces are limited.

For more information about ADAM Continuity, which is part of the Centerprise International group, visit www.adam.co.uk

Read More

Centerprise celebrates winning major contract with HM Treasury

Centerprise International (Ci) has won a major four-year contract to deliver media and wireless ICT services to the Treasury.

The Basingstoke-based IT services specialist has been awarded the first contract in the Treasury’s HMTICT2015 Programme.

The programme introduces several contracts to replace current services provided by a single supplier responsible for delivering the restricted and unclassified network, hosting and development of applications, service, and end-user computing.

In line with the current direction of Government ICT to deliver efficiencies in its supply chain and to encourage SME participation, the Treasury is breaking up the single provider arrangement into a number of managed service contracts.

Being awarded the first is a significant milestone for Basingstoke-based Ci, a leading supplier of managed IT hardware and services, as this is its first Central Government contract and coincides with the business’s 30-year anniversary.

Jeremy Nash, systems integrators business manager at Centerprise, said: “This is a big win for us. We are an SME employing about 130 people, so to be able to compete for Central Government contracts opens up a whole other level of business for us.

“We have a great deal of experience working in defence, education and wider public sector markets, so we are delighted to be given this opportunity.”

More than 100 companies, about a third of which were SMEs, showed an interest in the ICT 2015 opportunity. Ci competed for the Media and Wireless Tower and will provide:

• support and maintenance of a wireless infrastructure and associated services
• support and maintenance of a TV distribution infrastructure and service
• support and maintenance of unclassified end user devices and associated services
• cloud-based Video Conferencing Services
• on-site support services that include an ICT Loan service and a service to ensure meeting rooms are in working order

Ci will deliver its ‘business class’ video conferencing service into the ICT2015. The system is platform-agnostic – meaning it works across any network and any device to offer a low-cost, ultra-reliable and highly secure way to hold meetings, conferences and business catch-ups

 The service is hosted on a secure network and in the cloud, minimising the need to install equipment.

The service is fully supported by Ci so organisations do not need to put any time or manpower into keeping it maintained. The system operates on a low fixed monthly fee for unlimited use and makes use of real time activity monitoring to ensure it delivers high quality video and audio to a consistently high standard.

For more information, visit: www.centerprise.co.uk/vc

Read More

Businesses warned to act now as Windows XP deadline looms

There are just two weeks to go until Microsoft pulls the plug on its Windows XP operating system – and businesses are being warned to act now or  face falling victim to hackers and viruses.

Support for Windows XP will officially end in a fortnight’s time on Tuesday April 8, which means Microsoft will no longer issue updates to patch bugs and security vulnerabilities.

It is thought that around 30 per cent of desktop computers are still running XP, meaning that hundreds of businesses only have a short time to act to keep their systems secure to make sure they are safe from viruses.

Centerprise International, based in Basingstoke, Hampshire, a leading supplier of managed computer systems for businesses, says companies need to make sure they aren’t relying on the outdated system. Firms can be fined under the Data Protection Act if their security fails and customer data is exposed.

To help concerned businesses, Centerprise has launched a microsite with useful information about the change at www.centerprise.co.uk/xpeos

Darren Smith, Government and Corporate Sales Manager at Centerprise, said: “Businesses have a responsibility to make sure their data is secure and if they are still running XP then they are at risk of leaving themselves vulnerable to viruses, hackers and system problems. Later versions of Windows have much better security features and will be regularly updated to keep them secure.

“We think it’s very likely that XP systems will be targeted once official support ends. The only way businesses can protect themselves is by moving to a properly-supported operated system. If you hold any kind of data for customers, it’s not something you can afford to ignore.

“Failing to update to a newer operating system may see companies fined because those that hold customer data are required to take measures to protect themselves from hackers.”

Windows XP was released in 2001 and by 2006, more than 400million copies were in use worldwide. Microsoft stopped selling it in 2008, a year after its successor, Windows Vista, was released.

Centerprise International is one of the largest and most respected IT providers in the UK and delivers large-scale IT projects in the corporate, education and government sectors.

For more information about Centerprise International, see www.centerprise.co.uk

Ends

Read More