1. What about daily back-ups?
Data files are stored on Network Access Storage (NAS) servers with 4 continuously running discs and using a RAID 5 configuration. RAID stands for Redundant Array of Independent Disks. RAID 5 is the top specification configuration. It requires three identical mirrored disks running in parallel. One disk is denoted as the master and the other two are mirrored slaves. If the disk failure applies to the master disk, one of the two mirrored slave disks takes over as master. As soon as one disk of the three active disks goes down the fourth disk is brought into play. The two
remaining active disks rebuild the fourth disk so that there are always two identically mirrored slaves. This allows the failed disk to be replaced so as to maintain the three active mirrored disks with one hot standby. This can all take place without rebooting (restarting) the server.
This is clearly a very resilient solution but we still take back ups to give you improved peace of mind. We do a full back-up once a week and an incremental backup every night. The incremental backup captures everything that has changed since the previous night’s backup. This protects you from lost or corrupted files or files that have been accidentally written over when with hindsight an earlier version should have been retained. Let us know and if the file exists in the back up copy we will be able to perform a full recovery.
Secure Remote Archiving is a service to provide mirrored replication of important client data at a remote site. This is recommended for all the clients accounting package and payroll databases.
It is also recommended for any company confidential and important information that needs to be archived and securely protected.
Any MS office application data files that are considered to be important can be copied and archived to the users Vault folder on the file registry of the active data centre. The Vault folder will be continuously monitored and archived onto the remote data centre NAS server.
The archiving service is provided at a remote hosted data centre. It is a facility intended to minimise the size of active current data files while preserving permanent access to important historical records.
Archived records can be downloaded at will to an archive folder on the user directory in the active data centre. These records will be locked as read only.
At calendar year end the remote archived records folder will be locked for new file submissions and a new remote archive file will be opened for the oncoming year. So that data consistency can be maintained the open Vault files on the active portal will be closed and new Vault files will be automatically opened.
3. I only want to use MS Office Applications?
That is fine. However, if you want to continue with support from your current ITC support provider you should encourage them to register with the service, so that they can continue to provide efficient diagnostic support. Otherwise you can choose from a list of registered ICT support providers in your area. Alternatively our ICT alliance partner is GCC. You can reach them through the following link: http://www.gcc.co.uk/ . Contact them to make arrangements to enrol
to our service. They are equipped with the latest remote diagnostic and monitoring tools and can provide a cost effective and comprehensive service tailored to your needs.
4. I only want to use an Accountancy Application?
That is fine. However, if you want to continue with support from your current Accounting Services provider you should encourage them to register with the portal, so that they can continue to provide efficient Accounting Services support. Otherwise you can choose from a list of registered Accounting Service providers in your area.
5. I want to use an Accountancy Application but I do not have a current arrangement with an Accounting Services Provider?
Check our register of Accounting Service Providers and search for one in your area.
Alternatively go to: http://www.icaewfirms.co.uk/section.asp?catid=14&docid=2
https://www.acca-business.org/dom/
and check for a suitable accountant in your area. Accountants are normally identified through geographic or industry sector search.
6. I want to use an Accountancy Application but I do not want to disturb my current arrangement with my Accounting Services Provider?
The simplest thing to do is ask your current accounting services provider to review the information at: http://www.securevirtualoffice.com/sfd.htm . If (s)he is interested (s)he can then register to become a member and then follow the process to enrol you to the service.
7. I want to register for this hosted service for MS applications but I do not want to sever relations with my current ICT support provider.
The simplest thing to do is ask your current ICT services provider to review the information at: http://www.securevirtualoffice.com . If (s)he is interested (s)he can then register to become a member and then follow the process to enrol you to the service.
8. I want to register for this hosted service for MS applications but I do not want to maintain relations with my current ICT support provider.
Our ICT alliance partner is GCC. You can reach them through the following link: http://www.gcc.co.uk/ . Contact them to make arrangements to enrol to our service. They are equipped with the latest remote diagnostic and monitoring tools and can provide a cost effective and comprehensive service tailored to your needs.
9. What do you mean by a hosted solution?
A hosted solution is one provided by an Internet Services Provider (ISP) that allows third parties such as secureVirtualOffice to rent space, electricity, air-conditioning, light and direct access to the Internet backbone. These services are generally provided in a physically secure building with tight access control, multiple redundant connections to power supplies and the Interne, and stringent fast acting, self contained fire retarding systems. Third parties then install computers and software applications to rent on a
monthly subscription to provide end users with a high availability physically secure and electronically resilient solution. The level of safety and physical and electronic security matches the data centres now routinely used by banks and financial services companies but now at an economically affordable price for individuals and Small Medium-size Enterprises). Our hosting solutions partner is PIPEX. You can find further details at: http://www.pipex.net/ .
10. What is meant by co-location?
ISPs offer a range of services starting with a connection to the Internet
11. I am not satisfied with my current access to the Internet, can you offer alternative suggestions?
The basic level connection to the Internet is through a dial-up modem. The fastest of these is a narrow band connection operating with a maximum data transfer rate of 56kb/s (kilobits per second). This is usually to a local telephone number connection and payment is basically for connection time. Some tariffs will include a core number of connection minutes each month and or a maximum amount of data transfer before additional charges apply.
ISDN provided an intermediate solution for many years and operated at two bandwidths for data transfer 64kb/s and 128kb/s. Although a step-up in terms of speed and convenience from a dial-up modem it was always an expensive and therefore never a popular solution.
The modern cost effective solution is ADSL (Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line) ubiquitously known as ‘Broadband’. It is known as Broadband because at its base level download data transfer from the Internet is 10 times faster than narrow band. It is described as asynchronous because the upload data transfer rate from the user to the Internet can never be faster than 256kb/s although increasingly expensive tariffs will allow download data rates of upto 10 Mb/s (million bits per second). This suits many users who want to download lots
of information and have a relatively small uplift requirement.
Another broadband service is SDSL (Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line). This is more expensive than ADSL broadband but can be a cost effective solution for those users that require to transmit as much data as they receive from the Internet.
Our alliance Internet Service provider is PIPEX. PIPEX offer a variety of connection solutions to the Internet. You can find further details at: http://www.pipex.net/
12. I am not satisfied with my current dial-up service, can you offer alternative suggestions?
The modern cost effective solution for most small businesses is ADSL broadband.
13. I am not satisfied with my current broadband connection, can you offer alternative suggestions?
Our alliance broadband connections provider is PIPEX. PIPEX offer a variety of connection solutions to the Internet. You can find further details at: http://www.pipex.net/products/access/broadband/business/ or: http://www.pipex.net/products/access/broadband/home-office/
14. I am worried about you holding all my data. Can I get regular copies of it?
Yes. You maintain ownership of all your data files. You can retrieve these at any time. Your data files are held on a RAID 5 disk configuration, which means that at any one time three secure copies of your data is available. You can copy these data files to another location of your choice or you can use our facilities to archive them to a remote location.
15. My apps are business critical to me what happens if I can't sign on?
If you can get out to the Internet you will be able to sign-on. Our PIPEX co-location solution is at 1 Bricklane.
1 bricklane is located just a short distance from Europe's leading financial centre, the City of London. Totally refurbished to a high technical specification, 1 bricklane is a true carrier class facility providing a resilient and secure environment for the hosting and management of IT equipment and web servers.
The 78,000 square foot, six-storey building provides a massive capacity for fully monitored and temperature controlled prime co-location space, featuring the power, connectivity, security and technical assurances required by today's leading businesses.
With services and facilities backed by industry-leading service level agreements, 1 bricklane guarantees the reliable hosting of high availability web services and the continuous function of mission-critical applications
16. Is there a minimum term I must sign up for? What happens if I want to leave early?
Standard contract commitment is for 6 months. With this there is a 30 day no quibble money back guarantee. Subscription is payable monthly in advance. There is an initial set up fee that equals the first month subscription fee. Full details of current prices can be accessed from the members area.
17. What applications do I get?
You get access to the complete MS Windows 2003 Office Applications suite. This includes MS Word, MS Excel, MS Access, MS PowerPoint and MS Outlook
18. What computing facilities do I need to run them them?
You need a PC running MS Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows ME or Windows XP operating systems. You also need MS Internet Explorer 6.0 (or later) and available as a free download from …. [Paul can you insert the appropriate URL – thanks]. You will also need a connection to the Internet.
19.What sort of support do I get in a crisis?
The Data Centre is monitored and technically supported 24 x 7 x 365. You can continue to get first line technical support from your current ICT support provider. Alternatively you can arrange first line technical and applications support from our Alliance ICT Support partner GCC (see: http://www.gcc.co.uk/about.html ).
20. Where can I find out more?
- If you are the proprietor or manager of an SME Click here
- If you are an accountant or financial services provider Click here
- If you are business services adviser Click here
- If you are an ICT Services Provider Click here
21. How can I register?
That is easy. Click here
22. What happens if a user logs in more than once?
A user cannot simultaneously login to multiple sessions on the same machine. When the user is logged in they are able to open as many sessions as they wish of the applications that they are registered to use. The login process only takes a few seconds and so the normal procedure would be to logout from the first computer before moving to and logging in from a new machine.
If a user really does require to have two computers running at once then the system will accept multiple logins from the same user, but each login is counted as a discrete user and minimum subscription fee is one month. Remember, that in this business solution the server is processing the application and it will process as many applications as you require.
23. Why do I have to wait 4 working days before a replacement user becomes active?
The new user has to be issued with a new user ID and PIN. For security reasons this is always done through the postal service to reduce online masquerade or identity theft.
24. I have just bought the latest release of MS Office, can I have it installed on your server?
No, the MS Office software that runs on our servers is a special version designed for hosted applications and remote access by users. We would be in breach of our licensing agreement if we were to run the two different types of application on the one server.
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