Microsoft Azure is an incredibly powerful Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) platform, but costs can quickly escalate if not carefully managed. “Out of the box” default configurations are often over-specified, storage over-provisioned, and backups are missing Surprisingly few organisations optimise their Azure configuration, make use of discounts, or regularly review their setup – meaning…
Managed IT Infrastructure Services from Smartdesc Smartdesc provide a full Managed IT Infrastructure service, delivered as a turn-key, fixed cost solution. The day-to-day management and maintenance of IT Infrastructure is time-consuming, repetitive and often takes resources away from in house IT teams at the expense of continual service improvement. Our managed IT Infrastructure service removes…
Welcome to the Smartdesc October newsletter! Smartdesc are NCVO-approved charity sector experts, supporting charities and Not for Profits to achieve more with their technology and modern ways of working. This month we focus on hybrid working, how to win the hearts and minds of your hybrid workforce, and the evolution of the IT department. Resources …
Co-founder of Smartdesc, Adam Monks, discusses how charities can use the momentum of 2020 and 2021 to fully embed a high-performance hybrid workforce with our friends at Hart Square. Challenge The hybrid workforce is here to stay. Truly establishing a high-performing hybrid workforce, through digital enablement, is a prerequisite to digital transformation ambitions. Staff need…
MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) Background SMARTDESC LIMITED, incorporated and registered in England and Wales with company number 08233739, whose registered office is at Evolution House, Inceni Court, Delft Way, Norwich International Airport, Norfolk, NR6 6BB (“Supplier”) is an IT Services provider and value-added reseller in the UK, and has developed and will provide professional…
Many charities struggle with laborious processes, pulling data between systems, and manipulating in Excel; it’s time consuming and prone to human error. Process Automation is simple and cost-effective and Microsoft 365 tools are low cost or free. In this case study we talk through how low-cost automation tools that are included in Microsoft 365 benefited…
Common mistakes charities make with Information Governance (IG) Many charities and non-profits approach us because they do not have an information Governance structure, sufficient processes, or training in place to ensure that data is being processed correctly and securely. This almost always is simply down to resource capacity and budget, which is of course understandable.…
On May 10, 2022, as part of the Queen’s Speech, the UK government announced its intention to introduce a Data Reform Bill.
Internet Explorer 11 Retirement: Internet Explorer to Microsoft Edge Internet Explorer 11 (IE11) will officially retire on 15th June 2022. This means that the IE11 desktop application will be retired from the 15th June and will not be supported from that date. After 15th June, the IE11 desktop application will be removed from in-scope versions…
Launched in October 2021, Microsoft Windows 11 is the latest Microsoft Operating System (OS) for PCs. A free upgrade has been rolled out to Windows 10 computers that meet the hardware specification, so you may have noticed a message offering you to upgrade already. New PCs are now starting to come pre-loaded with Windows 11…
