Putting Our Customers On The Map

In This Issue:

Vision Overview

Infrastructure Upgrades

The first phase of the new infrastructure rollout has already begun, and this will see the implementation of the following enhancements:

• 7 new IBM servers
• Upgrade of core network to 1 Gigabit
• Implementation of Fibre Channel SAN (Storage Area Network)
• Additional clustering of the supporting services

These upgrades will improve the scalability of the service by clustering a number of the supporting services, as well as adding an immediate storage base of well over a Terra Byte (that's 1000 Giga Bytes) with a clearly defined upgrade path. We will be migrating users onto the new storage system over the coming weeks - we are pleased to report that there have been no issues with the users that have been migrated so far.

Security Update

You may have seen the high profile case of a high street financial institution that had to close down its website for a number of hours after a reporter discovered that they could access their customers' accounts using only a username and no password. Understandably some users have asked for confirmation from us that we cannot suffer from the same problem.

According to the reported issue this problem was caused by an upgrade that was applied and was around 10 days old when it was discovered. We are confident that the same issue could not apply to our systems for the following reasons:

• We run a split authentication system that uses our own proprietary (secret) code and requires independent authorisation on two separate operating systems.
• If authentication could be bypassed on one system the other system would still remain.
• All data is kept independently in separate databases, this means that having access to one set of data does not also give access to other users' data.
• No Sage passwords are generated by us or communicated to us giving you additional security and confidentiality.

As always, please remember that if you use a weak password (like 'a' for example) it will be easier to crack your account than if you use a strong password (like 'gr4sw!T&' for example).

We have a number of extra security options available. For example we can restrict logins to particular Internet Addresses (which could map to your office or home for example). We can also provide a secure 'tunnel' through the Internet using a VPN and restrict logins so they are accepted only on this tunnel. As part of our drive with BACS for online BACS transmissions we expect to be providing a SmartCard login option in the new year. To discuss these options and the cost implications please contact the Sales Desk.

Introduction to BusyDesk

“BusyDesk provides us with an excellent CRM system for marketing, and has helped us in our quest for the paperless office. With all our client files in BusyDesk, including scanned incoming documents and all outgoing documents produced, our biggest risk was if our client files became corrupted or our network crashed with loss of data. Luckily for us Online50 were willing to help and have been hosting our BusyDesk files on their managed servers for the last couple of months. This also means that we have access to client files 24 hours a day from anywhere in the world, along with our emails and Sage accounts. Throughout the process of transferring data onto the system we have had tremendous support from the guys at Online50 and we would like to send a huge thank you to them. I would also recommend this system to anyone – BusyDesk and Online50 are definitely a winning combination.”

Sage Provides Rental Model

Barclays already offer the Intuit based Clearly Bookkeeping package through their Clearly Business arm. This scheme also allows accountants to register as a 'Clearly Business' advisor and there are now a significant number of accountants in the scheme. Jo Ray, the new managing director of Sage's Small Business Division, highlighted the scheme at Sage's Visions conference at the start of November. She stated that the offering allows Sage to underpin their market position and address gains made by rival software providers. When she was asked by one of the delegates how this would impact on the accounting channel she stated that Sage believe that they will not be significantly affected. She also added that if the model proves successful over time, they expect to make a rental model available through accountants. It is expected that Sage will not reduce their targets for products resold through the accounting channel.