Do Canadians avoid Cloud Computing due to the Patriot Act?

Having sold U.S. based SaaS solutions for over 5 years we occasionally encounter prospective Canadian customers that use the U.S. Patriot Act as an excuse to avoid cloud computing.

Note that as far as the Federal Government knows the Patriot Act has never been used to access Canadian data.  Consider also that your customer's data is far more secure on Microsoft's or Google's servers than it ever will be on their own server in their own office.

My editorial opinion is that ensuring you have secure passwords is far more important than being concerned about the very remote possibility that the U.S. government might access your data.  1 in 3 Canadian jobs is related to international trade; to require the data to be located in Canada limits a business' opportunity to utilize the best solution at the best price and makes us less competitive in the global market. 

Would you be willing to pay 5 to 10 times more for the same service in Canada?  I did the costing analysis with 2 large SaaS companies and that was the reality of the numbers.

For further reading:

• Treasury Board of Canada: Frequently Asked Questions: USA PATRIOT ACT Comprehensive Assessment Results
• IT World Canada: Don’t use the Patriot Act as an excuse

June 2010: 88% of all email is spam

According to Symantec, in the month of June 2010 88% of all email was spam.

So in other words 88% of the traffic handled by your on-premise email server is unwanted.  Why pay for the wasted bandwidth or manage hardware and software for something that is easily managed externally for a very reasonable cost?

The two major players in hosted spam management and email archival are Symantec MessageLabs and Google Postini.

Our recommendation is Google Postini.  It protects over 18 million users, is straightforward to configure, can be automatically synchronized to your Microsoft Exchange/Active Directory (or LDAP), and costs less.

• Postini TCO calculator

At Interlockit.com we're happy to make the deployment process painless for you.

Interlockit.com and Microsoft BPOS

We've officially become a Microsoft Partner for Microsoft Online Services.  Microsoft BPOS gives your business the powerful productivity of Exchange Online, Sharepoint Online, Office Communications Online, and Office Live Meeting starting at $12.50 per user per month.  All services are hosted in the cloud by Microsoft and are easy to setup without the upfront costs of an on-premise deployment.

This is a natural addition to our cloud computing service offerings at Interlockit.com since we have deep experience in migrating data from legacy systems like Microsoft Exchange or other POP3/IMAP based systems.  We're also experienced in synchronizing user lists from Active Directory to cloud based services eliminating the need to manage users in two places.

Cloud Computing is a disruptive wave that provides cheaper, more convenient, and simpler business solutions that work!

Google Apps Directory Sync: Tips for Microsoft Active Directory

The Google Apps Directory Sync tool really should be installed at any mid to large corporation using a Microsoft Windows Server (or any LDAP compatible directory server).  It eliminates the need to add, change, or delete users in two different places.

LDAP Directory Sync is definitely complex with a steep learning curve.  You need a good understanding of how to create LDAP queries as there are only limited examples in the provided documentation.  However, once it's configured there should be little reason to change it.

It's our experience that in most installations you'll need one configuration file for synchronizing Users, Profiles, and Contacts and another configuration file for Groups.

If you're migrating in batches from an email server such as Exchange Server to Google Apps it's best to synchronize only users that are a member of a Security Group such as "Google Apps Users".  That way the user is created in Google Apps only after they've been made a member of the security group.

Here's a sample LDAP user query: 

(memberOf=CN=Google Apps Users,OU=Security Groups,DC=domainname,DC=local)

Replace OU=Security Groups,... with the appropriate location in your Active directory tree of the security group.

And note that Google Postini has the same ability to synchronize to Microsoft Active Directory or your LDAP directory server.

Or give us a call at Interlockit.com.  We're happy to configure it for you.

Google Apps and Docs misconceptions

The Microsoft camp frequently points out how Microsoft Office has all the features that businesses want right now and therefore wants you to conclude that you don't need Google Apps, but this misses the main point; Google Docs are complementary to Microsoft Office.

Google Docs has been providing rich real-time collaboration to millions of users for nearly four years.  You can edit and share documents from the browser from anywhere in the world.  A growing number of corporations are using it as their primary productivity software but there's no need to.

Google Docs makes Office 2003 and 2007 better because you can store any file in Google's cloud and share them in their original format with anyone on the internet.  No more guessing if you have the latest version.

Google Docs represents a real alternative for companies: a chance to get the collaboration features you need today and end the endless cycle of "upgrades".

Try it out free for 30 days.  The only thing you have to lose is a server or two.

http://googleenterprise.blogspot.com/2010/05/upgrade-here.html

More applications coming for Google Apps Customers

More applications for Google Apps will reduce customer training time on why their Google Apps accounts don't work on Picasa and other handy Google services.  Currently your Google Apps login id will only work on the core messaging and collaboration applications forcing customers to use a personal gmail account for the rest.

The overhaul is expected this fall.  More details can be found here: http://googleenterprise.blogspot.com/2010/05/more-google-applications-coming-for.html

Last blog post... 4 weeks ago. What kept us busy in April

Lots on the go but having tons of fun.  Here's some of the things that kept us busy in April at Interlockit.com:

• Interlockit.com is mentioned in a PC World Article on Google Apps Sync for Outlook - note our mention of the improved return on investment with the web interface over sticking with outlook.  I am an accountant (CMA) after all...
• Hiring and mentoring of new technical staff members
• Joint presentations with Google Canada on Google Apps to a large group of franchisees in the transportation industry.  It was very successful... We'll share the exciting details in the future
• Lots of client deployments of Google Apps
• Received official Canadian reseller status for a brand of high quality internet routers.  Google Apps shines when we clean up the customer's internet connectivity and massively improve throughput and reliability.  We'll broadcast more details once we have the e-commerce site up and running
• and... my vote for best new feature among many released for Google Apps Premier Edition in April is Drag and drop file attachments

Another Update: Migrating from Microsoft Exchange to Google Apps now even easier

I've configured and fixed many Microsoft Exchange email implementations over the years but have never hung out my shingle as a Microsoft Exchange guru.  Having now put the Google apps exchange migration tool through its paces in the wild...

Here is my opinion that I'd enjoy hearing different perspectives on:

Migrating from Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 or 2007 to Google Apps Premier Edition is easier and less costly than upgrading to Exchange 2007 or 2010 respectively.

To help out those that currently use Microsoft Exchange:

• Feature debate: Exchange wins in some areas
• Prefer to manage your own in-house servers: Exchange wins
• Entire company loves Outlook: Exchange wins, or maybe not?
• Too much important historic email sitting in Outlook offline email archives: winner?

I'll pause there.  Please comment publicly on blog.  We do moderate all postings but only for politeness, not for opposing opinions.

Update: Migrating from Microsoft Exchange to Google Apps now even easier

We've put the new Microsoft Exchange migration tool through its paces and it's definitely delivering beyond expectations.

What is most impressive is the ability to do parallel processing.  It's now feasible for us to migrate hundreds of users in a single night.  Thousands of users could be done over a weekend with lots of time to spare.

This tool will definitely reduce the cost of customer migrations.

Android Phones and the Google Nexus One from HTC

I've now had sufficient time to put the Google One Nexus through its paces and I fully recommend it to all Google Apps customers.  It's a beautiful phone.  Businesses can save big on IT labour because setup is as simple as turning on the phone and signing the user into their Google Apps account.  Everything instantly integrates; email, calendar, and contacts.

Ask your IT department how many hours they spend on Blackberries, iPhones, and Windows Mobile devices and drop me an email (or comment if you don't mind making it public).  Since I'm a professional accountant I'm interested in calculating the ROI across a range of samples.

Here's what I now recommend to corporations running Google Apps for phones:

1. Google Nexus One running Android OS 2.1.  End user can completely configure it themselves.  It's unlocked so you can swap your Rogers Sim for an AT&T Sim and save big on roaming charges when you travel.  Only minus is that you need to install EasyTether or PdaNet for modem tethering with your notebook.  The LG Eve didn't require extra software for tethering.  I look forward to testing a phone like the Motorola Droid which has a hardware keyboard to see if the setup is just as simple as the Nexus One.
2. iPhone - You have to carefully read the documentation to get the full experience.  We usually help the IT department do the first few but the integration is excellent and second only to the Android.
3. Blackberry - still the preferred unit for speedy typing of emails on the go but it's really showing its age with too much complexity.  It still integrates wonderfully with Google Apps but the IT department definitely has to configure it for most users to get full email, calendar sync, and contacts sync.

Earth Shattering news: Migrating from Microsoft Exchange to Google Apps now even easier

For me as an insider this is teary-eyed stuff.  Customers should care because data migrations to Google Apps from Microsoft Exchange will be easier and more cost effective with this tool.

And our team and I will get to spend less nights waking up multiple times to check on desktop data migrations.  Getting ahead of myself... Let us put it through the paces on our own internal Exchange Server test beds first.  Overall Google has always impressed me with the quality of their product releases.  There are third party tools that do the same but most were poorly documented.

• Migrating from Microsoft Exchange now even easier

DocVerse joins Google

Google Docs is simply awesome because I can edit and share my documents from any computer instantly from anywhere.  However, it still has to coexist with the 600 million users of Microsoft Office.  It's a pain to remember to upload your Excel spreadsheet to Google Documents every time you change it.

This is the problem that DocVerse solves.  Google just acquired them.  I look forward to seeing how Google integrates DocVerse into their solution offering.

Throw away your USB drive

Now that Google Apps allows you to upload files of any type without having to convert them to Google Doc format you can stop carrying around your USB drive.  No more having to remember to copy that complex financial forecast in Microsoft Excel to your notebook hard drive or USB stick.  Just open a web browser at the board meeting, log-in and open the file from Google Docs.

Your Google Apps account starts with a minimum of 10 Gb's of storage.

Gmail and Google Apps Calendar management tips

I think children are sometimes the best test of whether a process is simple or not.  My 6 year old is like most and really doesn't care about daddy being late for something so I built him a schedule on Gmail and made sure it integrates with my schedule on Google apps.  He loves it!

Here's a few tips I think are worth sharing with business users from this exercise:

• Learn how "Quick Add" works.  It's a phenomenal time saver.  Enter "today 800 am Bus to School 20 min" or "wed 2 pm Budget meeting 2 hours".  Google Calendar will automatically create the appropriate appointment for you.  If you get it wrong use the Undo Link that appears as part of the yellow message telling you what you just added.
• Open your calendar, Settings, Labs (Gapps administrator has to allow labs for this to appear)
• Enable the components: "Who's my one-on-one with?", "Free or busy", and my personal and my 6 year old's favourite "Next meeting"

Sure there's a whole bunch of encouragement for my 6 year old that helps too, but now I can leave a screen open that's his schedule (coordinated with dad's and mom's) that he's enjoying keeping up with.

Yikes, I'm 2 minutes late for picking him up for the dentist.  Gotta run.

What if your notebook computer was stolen?

How long would it take for you to be up and running with full access to all Email, Calendaring, and Contacts?

If running Google Apps; as fast as you can get to another computer with a web browser; probably minutes.

If running Microsoft Outlook you have to restore from backups; or if on Exchange configure Outlook on another computer...  I'll spare you the details but probably a few hours at least.

Just had a customer have his notebook stolen while on a trip.  The data in his outlook PST file plus all his Excel spreadsheets is at risk because it wasn't encrypted nor password protected.  Identity and financial information theft is a real possibility.  Sure you can use a Windows password, but a tech guy like me can plug the physical drive into another computer and still access all the data unless it was specifically encrypted.

So buy a better notebook with an encrypted drive like this one from Seagate or upgrade to a more expensive version of windows?  Or simply pay $50/year and store your documents (even in MS Excel format) on highly secure Google Apps servers using Google Documents?

Google Apps allows all browser sessions to use https.  So no data will get transmitted nor stored on the local computer in a usable form for a hacker.

I may sound biased but I'll be recommending the Google Apps solution to my customers. :)

Bookmark Sync for Chrome

This is so handy for folks like me that work on multiple computers.  Install or update to the latest Chrome browser and you can synchronize and merge your web page bookmarks across all your computers.

Details are here:
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/extensions-bookmark-sync-and-more-for.html

Prior to this 4.0 release I found Chrome had some compatibility issues with certain web sites but it's definitely the no contest performance winner over all other web browsers.

Google Apps

This past year I did a fair bit of business strategy consulting for small businesses. Having been through the pain and heavy lifting of building a business myself it's been a lot of fun to counsel others on it.

I quickly saw a theme in small businesses where their company had grown and so too had the complexity and problems with their most mission critical system - Email. One client had implemented Microsoft Exchange for calendaring but was still using ISP based POP3 email accounts and storing all email locally on every employee's computer. Most Exchange consultants are already cringing as they read this but the client didn't know any better and why would they when their focus is on manufacturing high quality products not on information technology (IT). They were sitting on a house of cards that was going to bite them soon if we didn't clean it up but they had no budget for it.

Google Apps has over 2 million businesses using it yet it's surprisingly not well understood by the street. For $50/user/year we gave the client instant disaster recovery, a single system to manage, zero configuration of desktops, no spam software to manage, instant receipt of emails on their blackberries, and accessibility to all email from anywhere on virtually any device. Of course there were some lessons learned along the way too... such as Stockhom Syndrome with users when we tried to take away Outlook.

I enjoyed reading Chris Lyman's blog on Stockholm Syndrome and How Google and the cloud changed my company

Introducing... My Interlock IT blog

I'm a bit strange in being a professional account (CMA) with an insatiable curiosity for technology and gadgets.  I'm lucky that my wife of 16 years, Lesley, a psychotherapist, puts up with my constant tinkering and spending on the latest gizmo's.  Take for example, the birth of our first child in 2003, when I pre-built a website to host all the baby pictures and then spent too many hours trying to find a web cam that could see in the dark.  I ended up buying a camera solution from one of the baby monitor manufacturers that required too many steps to use the picture-in-picture on our TV, and had horrible image quality and lots of static... but I wasn't willing to give up.  Lesley had to stand by the TV and constantly give me feedback until I finally figured out the one spot on the wall that produced a reasonable image but required rearranging all the furniture in the baby room.  What normal wife would put up with that?

Anyway, back to the topic at hand.  For me this blog is about contributing tips that will hopefully help others with their business and technology challenges as similar contributions from others have helped me time and time again.

I love figuring out things that stumped everybody else and most of my solutions are found by scouring the internet forums for ideas. Some would say I'm gifted in my ability to make things work but it comes naturally when you love doing it.

Certainly, I also hope that my blog will generate referrals which are so critical to the long term success of an organically grown consulting firm.