Big changes on the way for Apple

Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) kicked off today and will run until the 17 June. If you weren’t able to make it out to San Francisco, Apple are live streaming daily sessions on their website here http://www.apple.com/apple-events/june-2016/

From slight tweaks to major overhauls, you can expect to hear some wide-ranging announcements. Rumour has it that Siri is to launch on Mac and that there are big changes happening to Apple Music, too.

See what others are saying by following the hashtags ‪#‎WWDC2016‬; ‪#‎applewwdc2016‬; ‪#‎AppleWWDC‬

No iPhone is Safe from the FBI

Image credit: Macitynet.it

The US government has successfully accessed data stored on the San Bernardino gunman's iPhone, thus ending a six week-long clash between Apple and the FBI. Apple were refusing to unlock the device, citing privacy issues, however the FBI enlisted a third-party company to do the job for them. But the question remains, could a law enforcement agency have forced Apple to unlock the device?

This definitely won't be the first or the last Apple device that the FBI will want to crack, in fact it has been reported that there are a dozen other cases where the law enforcement agency want access to an individual's personal device. Does this now mean that the FBI can access any iPhone with a passcode? 

Originally, the court order filed by the FBI had instructed Apple to come up a new version of it's operating system that would have prevented the iPhone from deleting its data or imposing long lock out periods if too many incorrect passcodes were entered. It's important to note that the latest court filings do not say that someone else has now done this, but merely that a third-party company had helped the FBI to retrieve some data stored on the device. 

The firm who reportedly helped the FBI with the case is called Cellebrite and they had previously discussed bypassing the passcode lock rather than trying to figure out the number. However, by doing this it would yield a limited amount of handset data and even if it works once, Apple upgrade their software regularly, so it might not work again if security fixes have been made. 

Theresa May is also intending to bring in a new surveillance law that will make tech firms hand over information if the law enforcement requests it through "equipment interference warrants". 

While it is always going to be possible that someone could hack into your phone, it doesn't mean that you should make it easy for them. Update the iOS software as soon as Apple releases it and use encryption-enabled apps to digitally scramble data. 

Feeling a little unsure of your company's security? Get in touch with 360ict today for more information on how to keep your business secure. 

360ict provides managed IT services and support for SMEs in central London and the south-east, including Croydon and Bromley. For more advice on gaining competitive advantage as a mid-sized company, give us a call on 0208 663 4000 or head to our website. 

A Fond Farewell to Microsoft's Internet Explorer Browser

Image credit: Gizmodo

Microsoft has ended all technical support and security updates for the older versions of its Internet Explorer browser. Currently 20% of web traffic takes place on versions 8, 9 and 10 of the browser, with only 55% of Internet Explorer users using the latest version. 

Around 340 million people still rely on older versions of the IE browser and customers are encouraged  "to upgrade and stay up-to-date on the latest browser for a faster, more secure browsing experience." The older browsers will now be more likely to be hit by hackers and cyber attacks, so it's worth updating to keep your devices secure. 

However, upgrading to the most recent version of Internet Explorer isn't catch-free, as many website and online services are designed to work with specific versions of the browser. 

NetMarketShare estimates that Internet Explorer accounts for 57% of the browser market, compared with 25% for Chrome, 12% for Firefox and 5% for Apple's Safari. Microsoft has been warning users of the upgrade for some time, but will user actually make the switch to the latest version of IE or will it draw them to rival browsers? 

What will you being doing? Let us know your thoughts. 

360ict provides managed IT services and support for SMEs in central London and the south-east, including Croydon and Bromley. For more advice on gaining competitive advantage as a mid-sized company, give us a call on 0208 663 4000 or head to our website. 

Microsoft Unveils Enterprise Class Devices

Image credit: The Next Web

Last week Microsoft unveiled the new Surface tablet and Surface Book, a high-end hybrid laptop, aimed at being the only devices professionals need at work and home. 

Microsoft says that both devices have enough battery life to last the working day, are thin and light with high specs and a sleek finish. Microsoft also boasts that the new Surface devices are up to 50% faster than the MacBook Air and Pro.

We like many of the new improvements including a screen that has very precise detection of touch with pen input. The Surface Book is a powerful machine with an Intel Core i7 processor, Nvidia GeForce graphics card and the screen can be detached so it can used as a tablet or flipped so it sits on top of the keyboard.

The Surface Pro 4 will be the first to run Windows 10, which will include Windows Hello and MDM support. According to Principal analyst from Ovum, Richard Edwards, these additions should appeals to enterprises’ need to simplify management and security.

With flexi working slowly becoming the norm, Microsoft is hoping that these machines will appeal to professionals who want to use a device in and outside the office. 

Edwards says Microsoft is looking to "displace the MacBook Air, which it sees as the target device favoured by the young and trendy people who like to be super mobile but still want that laptop experience".

Gartner research director Roberta Cozza highlights that capturing this market is essential if the Surface is to gain popularity within business. Enterprises are starting to listen to their staff on what devices to purchase, especially when they’re to be used at home as well and in the office. 

"They are building a portfolio that many professional users will like," she said.

360ict provides managed IT services and support for SMEs in central London and the south-east, including Croydon and Bromley. For more advice on gaining competitive advantage as a mid-sized company, give us a call on 0208 663 4000 or head to our website.

The Collaboration of The Year: Windows 7 + 8 = Windows 10. Will You Update?

Windows 10, the new operating system from Microsoft, has started rolling out to customers worldwide. 

Back in 2012 Windows 8 didn’t receive a very warm welcome from users, so this release is extremely important for Microsoft. There has been much speculation and hype about Windows 10 over the last few months, but was it worth the wait? 

Microsoft decided to bypass Windows 9 and jump straight to Windows 10 (a good marketing ploy to keep up with Apple’s OS X?!) in an attempt to combine the “best elements” of Windows 7 and Windows 8. One of the more controversial features of Windows 8, the “live tiles”, still features in Windows 10, but now they are used as shortcuts to the user’s favourite applications. The start menu is also back from Windows 7, which allows users to browse through a list of their most-used programs. 

Microsoft hopes that Windows 10 will steer the company in a new direction. Chief Executive, Satya Nadella, describes the OS as “Windows as a Service,” meaning that users can expect improvements to the OS at anytime through the internet, rather than having to wait for another big update in a few years.  

Aside from the live tiles and start menu, here’s what else is new in Windows 10: 

• The interface looks similar to Windows 7
• The “familiar and easy to use” OS has moved away from the touch-screen
• The virtual assistant, Cortana, is now available
• Windows Hello - a biometric authentication facility that lets people unlock their computer and specific applications by fingerprint of facial recognition scan
• Edge - A successor to Microsoft’s Internet Explorer
• There’s a new notification sidebar that lets users review recent notifications

Consumers and small businesses are being offered free upgrades on existing computers running Windows 7 or 8 at any point over the next year. Microsoft has made the OS system more appealing to developers through it’s new “universal app platform” too.

Big businesses are unlikely to adopt the OS right away, but will SMEs? Tech consultancy Gartner has advised its clients to wait until the second half of 2016 before they do the update.

For home uses, if you decide you don’t like Windows 10, it is worth knowing there is a "rollback" option that works for the first 30 days.

Have you started using Windows 10? Tell us what you think of it! 

360ict provides managed IT services and emergency IT support for SMEs in central London and the south-east, including Bromley and Croydon. For more advice on gaining competitive advantage as a mid-sized company, give us a call on 0208 663 4000 or head to our website.

Encrypted Communication Apps Could Be Banned in the UK

Over the past few weeks the press has been warning that WhatsApp and all other encrypted communication applications could be banned in the UK. But why would the government ban these extremely popular communication applications? 

In 2012, Home Secretary Theresa May proposed a new communications data bill called Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Bill, which would compel technology companies to track, record and store mobile phone and web usage from their users. It has become known as the “Snooper’s Charter” but aspects of the bill have been deemed “inconsistent with EU law” - most notably Article Eight of European Convention of Human Rights, which concerns an individual’s right to privacy.

WhatsApp, iMessage, SnapChat and other popular messaging services use end-to-end encryption to keep texts and multimedia safe from prying eyes. David Cameron had hoped to outlaw this level of privacy to help law enforcement services track and monitor potential terrorist threats.

Many technology companies have spoken out against the measures and refuse to remove the end-to-end encryption from their services. Apple CEO, Tim Cook, said that Apple has “never worked with any government agency from any country to create a backdoor in any of our products or services ... and we never will."

Out of the 55,772 readers of the bill, 49,079 voted against the changes proposed that meant providers, phone companies and technology firms store a record of all online activity. This would include everything from Google searches to Facebook conversations and SnapChat videos, which could be accessed at anytime by law enforcement agencies. 

Here at 360ict we understand the need to protect the country from potential threats, but do you think this bill takes it a step too far? Let us know your thoughts.

360ict provides managed IT services and emergency IT support for SMEs in central London and the south-east, including Bromley and Croydon. For more advice on gaining competitive advantage as a mid-sized company, give us a call on 0208 663 4000 or head to our website.

Apple Pay: A Fad Or The Future Of Real-World Payments?

Apple Pay went live in the UK this week.

The UK is the first country outside the US to get Apple Pay, but what exactly is it? Apple markets the Apple Pay as a high-tech service that provides a hassle free credit and debit card alternative. No more cards that could be stolen or lost, just a phone to make all payments? Sounds good so far. Apple, however, are not the first to try the digital wallet, but they are the first to get such a large backing from UK businesses. 

There are more than 250,000 locations in the UK that are set up to accept Apple Pay, with support from RBS, Natwest, Lloyds, Halifax and Santander. Once a user has added their payment card details from one of the supported banks, they can buy things from real-world locations by using just their iPhone. To trigger a payment the shopper must tap their phone on one of the contactless readers already used in the UK for tap-and-go sales. The handset’s fingerprint sensor confirms the user’s identity.  

Incorporating Apple Pay into the daily running of a business may be big news in the UK, but some countries are far more advanced when it comes to these sorts of payments. Dan Wagner, CEO of Powa Technologies, is working with Denmark’s Danske Bank to help it usher in a new level of payments freedom in the country. He stated recently that “anyone wanting a glimpse of the future of cashless payments need only look overseas to Denmark, which has the lowest cash payment level in Europe and is currently considering removing obligation for some retailers to accept cash at all.”

It will take time for the UK to catch-up with Denmark, but businesses need to be ready for a new era. "Rather than seeing it as a challenge, they should take it as an opportunity to rethink their strategy," says Wagner. "Taking physical cash out of the equation creates a huge amount of freedom, enabling them to completely restructure the retail experience and do away with cumbersome tills and queues entirely.” 

We predict that with the release of Apple Pay, contactless payments will fast become the most used form of payment in the UK. Is your company on track to move into this new era of cashless payments? 


360ict provides managed IT services and emergency IT support for SMEs in central London and the south-east, including Bromley and Croydon. For more advice on gaining competitive advantage as a mid-sized company, give us a call on 0208 663 4000 or head to our website.

End Of The Road for Windows Server 2003

Time has nearly run out for Windows Server 2003, in a few short months Microsoft is going to stop support. This means that the stream of security updates and bug fixes customers have received over the last 12 years will cease. 

People may wonder what all the fuss is about: Windows Server 2003 has been around for 12 years, surely it’s time for an update, right? However, businesses typically don’t replace critical servers and infrastructure often, definitely not in the same way consumers upgrade to the latest Apple products. 

Microsoft will pull support on July 14, and over the last week businesses have been discussing the effect impending support suspension will have on SMEs who haven’t upgraded their servers. Over the next few weeks these businesses will have some major decisions to make about the future of their server environments, and we're here to help with this awkward transition.  

A recent survey from Spiceworks revealed that companies across the US are allocating $60,000 for migration-related expenses on average, and that many of these migrations have already begun. For SMEs in the UK, if you haven’t started migrating to new servers, now is definitely the time to do so, because after July 14 2015 holdouts face a risky future. 

When it comes to security, Windows Server 2003 is certainly no Fort Knox, but continuing to use it post July 14 could have some serious security repercussions. 

Ade Foxall, CEO of application portfolio management firm Camwood, believes that “after the recent migration away from Windows XP, IT departments should be more aware than ever of the dangers of using an out-of-date platform. And yet, the lack of awareness surrounding Server 2003 is about to pose an unprecedented security threat to businesses all over the world.”

There is an upside to moving away from Windows Server 2003: businesses have the opportunity to modernise their environments, like moving to the cloud. In another survey conducted by Spiceworks, they found that 64% of business planned to migrate to Windows Server 2012 while the remainder would take their applications into the virtual space.

This is a critical time for SMEs and it’s important that the right decisions are made. Here at 360ict we can help businesses move away from Windows Server 2003 in a simple and affordable manner. If you have any questions, please get in touch!  

360ict provides managed IT services and support for SMEs in central London and the south-east, including London Victoria, Euston, Bromley and Croydon. For more advice on gaining competitive advantage as a mid-sized company, give us a call on 0208 663 4000 or head to our website.