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We are thrilled to confirm XMA’s Andrea Cairns has been named Business Manager of the Year at the Lenovo Annual Channel Partner Awards. The awards aim to acknowledge the outstanding collaborative business progress and innovation driven by channel partners throughout the year. Jane Ashworth, Channel Director at Lenovo was joined by Claudia Winkleman to present the awards virtually.

Andrea joined XMA in 2018 and is directly responsible for managing the Lenovo partnership at XMA. With over 25 years of experience in the commercial IT channel of managing vendors and selling solutions, Andrea has helped deliver the digital transformation solutions that set XMA apart from the competition.

On announcing her win, Lisa Ergun at Lenovo had this to say:

“Andrea has been a major contributor to the continued success of the partnership between XMA and Lenovo, owning the relationship at all levels and across all vertical markets. She offers continual support to the Lenovo team and easily manages a number of business critical engagements, advocating the importance of a closer working partnership, whilst also focusing on our joint priorities to drive the number and hit target. “

A huge congratulations Andrea! 

From 1st January 2021, regardless of the Brexit outcome there will be changes to how UK based organisations trade with Europe (EEA). XMA have developed solutions to meet all anticipated Brexit outcomes and specifically in the event of a trade deal not being agreed with the EEA.

Why Office 365 customers need a backup solution

Many business owners using Office 365 believe that their data is totally secure. The reality, however, is a different story. Although Microsoft offers many benefits in productivity, efficiency, and collaboration with Office 365, the company doesn’t provide users with a comprehensive backup system for their underlying data.

Mechanical malfunctions and physical damage, hacking and theft, user error, and power outages all put user data at risk in the cloud. While companies do their best to prepare for these problems, no plan is foolproof, and stories of data loss are far from rare, with the average data breach costing small businesses £120,000. About 32% of companies get hit by data loss in the cloud, with the most common cause being deletion. Although nearly two-thirds of data loss is accidental, 20% is lost to malicious intent, including hackers.

Cloud Backup saves data, time, and money

Cloud backup can be the difference between a slight blip and a disaster, and it can offer end customers a way to mitigate these risks. Skykick recently had one customer that didn’t think it needed backup besides Office 365. That was until an employee inadvertently deleted 50,000 files in the accounting department’s SharePoint library.

The information was recoverable in the recycling bin, but this would have had to have been done file by file, which was going to take an estimated six days. Luckily, they had been backing up SharePoint files with SkyKick’s Cloud Backup. So the entire folder and all the files were restored within hours — a significant improvement in efficiency. After that, the customer requested backups for its entire Office 365 tenant as well!

Ransomware is another issue facing organisations across the globe. Although it has become more sophisticated, many schemes are still simple and catch users off guard. A Skykick customer was hit with ransomware in 2016, and the perpetrators wanted $6,000 for the key to unlock the data. Luckily, the customer had deployed Cloud Backup a few months before the attack. So instead of paying the ransom or wasting hours recreating 44,000 encrypted files, the service provider was able to restore all of the customer’s files, including every pre-attack version.

The fact is that having only one copy of important data is asking for trouble, whether it’s stored in the cloud or elsewhere. If your data isn’t backed up, you could be facing not only a loss of productivity as you scramble to rebuild, but also a loss in revenue and reputation.

Office 365 is an excellent service that gives you access to your data from virtually any place at any time — and across many devices. As a software-as-a-service (SaaS) built on the industry-leading Azure public cloud, Office 365 offers users high reliability, geographic redundancy, and secure connectivity.

This should not, however, be confused with a comprehensive data protection solution. Microsoft does not back up O365 user data, so it recommends that customers use third-party solutions.

“Service Availability. 6b. We strive to keep the Services up and running; however, all online services suffer occasional disruptions and outages, and Microsoft is not liable for any disruption or loss you may suffer as a result. In the event of an outage, you may not be able to retrieve Your Content or Data that you’ve stored. We recommend that you regularly backup Your Content and Data that you store on the Services or store using Third-Party Apps and Services.” (Microsoft, 2020)

Furthermore, Microsoft doesn’t protect data from common issues like file corruption or everyday human error. Nor does it offer a way to easily revert to older versions if something goes wrong beyond their normal data retention policy.

XMA can help you evaluate your options in addressing these shortcomings and specifically discuss how implementing a backup solution can be cost-effective and seamless and offer peace of mind.

SkyKick’s Cloud Backup is easy to use, and recovery is fast

Not all backups are created equal, however. When looking into a solution that can protect your data stored in the cloud, there are a few fundamental questions you should be asking your vendor:

• What data is actually being backed up?
• How is the backup data being stored and protected?
• How often is data backed up, and how long is each backup version kept?
• How easy is the data restoration process?

SkyKick Cloud Backup is a flexible, agile, and reliable solution that offers comprehensive data protection across the full Office 365 tenant, unlimited storage and retention of user data, and a hassle-free setup and run experience. And data recovery, when needed, happens fast, which gets your company up and running with minimum downtime.

With flexible per user per month licensing available on our CSP program including free 24×7 support, speak to us today about your Microsoft licensing estate and ensure your data and users are secure .

Email CSPS@xma.co.uk for more details.

Microsoft (2020) Microsoft Services Agreement. Available at: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/servicesagreement

I can show you things using technology that can amaze and astound you. Give me a laptop, a Chromebook or an iPad, and after an hour you’ll wish you had stuff like this when you were at school: augmented reality, cloud collaboration, coding, stop-frame animation, podcasting, video editing, music production, 3D modelling, endless paint and pixels, wow moments and a round of applause. Stick me in front of a class, and I can engage them with some of the most amazing tools on the market. They’ll be absorbed and busy, making stuff and developing skills and working together.

Which is great. When you see it all in action, you’ll think “This is what it’s all about”. But you’re missing something. A question that needs to be asked. One that can easily be forgotten when you see all the energy and technology in the classroom.

Did learning happen?

Just because children are engaged and busy does not always mean that learning has taken place. Don’t get me wrong, engagement and enjoyment help a great deal when trying to drive learning, but they do not equal learning. And learning is what children are expected to be doing in a classroom.

The people who know how learning happens are teachers. It bears repeating that tech doesn’t teach children, teachers teach children (It’s a mantra of mine. Forgive me if you’ve heard it before). So, when we introduce technology into school to “transform learning and teaching” we need to pay heed to the people that will make that happen. Devices in themselves are inert, full of possibilities, but powerless when being used by someone who doesn’t know how to use it for learning. The car a wonderful thing but unless you teach people how to drive it, and adequately, it’s about as much use as an inflatable dartboard.

What technology can do is elevate and accelerate some of the things that teachers do to make that learning happen. For example, one of the most potent things teachers do is to model a concept or an idea for children in a way that will help them understand more deeply what it is you are trying to teach them. You’ll remember the diagrams you had to copy in science or the drawings in textbooks showing you what an ox-bow lake is (I’ve still no idea, I was off that day). These are still valuable, but we can extend the range and quality of our modelling by utilising technology to do things which would be impossible 20 years ago. That could include virtual tours of museums, augmented reality objects in your gym hall, a Google Earth tour of dozens of real ox-bow lakes in your area or visiting a double helix in Minecraft – the possibilities are endless and cut across curricular areas. They just might be the thing that makes an idea “click” in a young person’s brain.

What we advocate across all of our transformation projects in education is to match the investment in technology with investment in teachers. Professional learning is so critical to the success here and teachers need to know how technology can support those things that make learning happen – feedback, modelling, guided instruction, creativity, mastery learning among a dozen others – they understand learning, they just need to learn how to integrate technology to drive that learning in ways which are meaningful, relevant and engaging to them and their students.

At XMA our digital learning team are entrenched in using technology for learning. As experienced teachers across primary and secondary, we know how to leverage technology to make learning happen for teachers and students. We have ways of supporting the teacher journey with technology for learning that will help realise the ambition of the school. We’ve delivered professional learning to thousands of teachers and leaders and we will continue to do that and we’ll continue to advocate that teachers lie at the heart of transformation in education. Teachers already deliver great outcomes for our young people but we’ll leave this post with a quote from George Couros, author of “ The Innovators Mindset:Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity”

“Technology will not replace great teachers, but technology in the hands of great teachers can be transformational”

To meet our Digital Learning team and find out more about what they do visit here

Written by Michael Conlon, Education Transformation Consultant @ XMA

Creating a strategy for your organisation’s IT is – and always has been – a complex piece.

Back in March I was asking you to think about the ongoing needs of your business, including how to create agility within systems which are part of your legacy. So where were you on that journey? And how far have you moved from that course?

Innovation within any business will follow a certain direction and pace. Whether it’s incremental (using existing technology to develop new opportunities within your own market) or radical (developing new technologies for use in new markets), for innovation to be successful it needs a strategy. Once that path has been defined, however, unforeseen change can take you off your planned course – what is important is that you recognise the altered direction, knowing how to plot your next steps to return to those original goals.

Is it Transformation or Revolution?

It may be that your current position isn’t that far from your planned destination.
•Your workforce is more agile
•Your communications are happening online
•Your productivity levels have increased and
•Your controls are embracing new levels of flexibility.

But is that a fair picture?

What has been lost to achieve this dynamic change? Are you confident in your processes and security? Those things which were dictating your pace of change last year are likely still a concern and it’s essential your future position takes account of these risks.

Taking steps back to your Transformation Path

Whatever progress you’ve made towards your IT transformation goals, this hasn’t been lost. But to ensure you get the results you originally planned for, it may be necessary to revisit those plans.

Discovery

Review your current business and digital context. Take account of changes which have occurred since your transformation project first started – this is your new starting point. While your digital workspace and processes may have shifted, consider again the overall objectives of the wider IT strategy to ensure you stay in line with plans which will shape the future of the business.

This stage of your transformation needs to take account of those things which are fundamental to your organisation – the values and goals, drivers and objectives of the whole company. It’s essential to keep sight of this big picture to maintain relevance and keep everyone on board.

Definition

Once your ‘As Is’ has been identified, it is time to consider how you would like to shape the future.

Ensure you are working with the right people within your business to identify those areas between your current position and your goals. But don’t miss out on opportunities which will only be recognised by those able to look further afield, seeing potential growth in the future which those closer to the ground may be unable to see.

Only by recognising a broader vision for the future will you create new opportunities, alongside identifying the constraints you face, these are an essential part of defining your strategy.

Development

Having established the plans for your future digital workspace, the next step is to create your strategy.

You may have done this before, and that means you’re able to review and restart much of your previous plan. Recognising here – as you will have done in the previous steps – how far you have come from your original starting point, should provide some positive recognition for everyone involved.

While it may feel that your original IT strategy has been upturned and lost momentum, it is likely you have continued to make progress in the right direction despite changed circumstances. And if you can’t see the way back to your strategy without help, get in touch. It would be great to talk.

Written by Terry Chana, Workspace Solutions Director @ XMA.

Related pages: https://www.xma.co.uk/hybrid-workspace/

Researchers have warned that the COVID-19 pandemic could have a profound impact on the mental health of people globally now and in years to come.

With the introduction of social distancing measures, many workplaces have had to make changes. Whether an organisation have employees working remotely or have taken new safety precautions on site, these adjustments and isolation have the potential to increase stress levels.

Here are some great apps to help boost your mental wellbeing whilst working from anywhere:

1) Headspace App

This award winning app has been designed to ‘Clear your mind’ with the choice of a range of common mental health concerns, the app gives you a bespoke solution based on what you need. With hundreds of meditations to choose from, it’s a helpful tool to quiet the internal chatter.

2) Microsoft Teams

Microsoft have recently introduced new features in Teams and Outlook in order to help boost people’s mental well being whilst working. They have teamed up with Headspace to incorporate a virtual commute experience for remote workers to plan in time to switch off and meditate before or after work, as well as schedule in breaks, walks or writing to-do lists for the next day. They will also launch tools to help colleagues connect more easily, schedule focus time or breaks and see insights and personalised patterns for the individual to have a holistic view of time spent working.

3) Lake App

Mindfulness is seen as an important part to helping mental health. Lake is an app to be used instead of a traditional colouring book. The app is a useful way to spend 5 or 10 minutes away from work, whilst helping decrease stress and anxiety levels.

4) Daylio App

Daylio is an app to help you analyse your day to day emotions and help you keep track of activities you’ve done to see if particular parts of your routine are impacting your overall mood.

If you are interested in discussing how technology can help support mental wellbeing for your workforce, get in touch below.
 

The future of healthcare is changing before our eyes, with investments in digital healthcare technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, VR/AR, 3D-printing, Robotics and Nanotechnology. These technologies are uniting to transform the way patients are treated, and how medicines are created.

We have seen technology transform the world we live in, from the way we order food straight to our door, and the way we consume content through our smartphones. Healthcare is not isolated from this digital transformation; a new generation of emerging technologies are set to change healthcare beyond recognition.

The emergence of big data, smartphone adoption, cloud technologies and the huge increase in data capture has suddenly enabled data to be linked together and processed for new insight which previously was not possible.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence is redesigning industries across the world, and algorithms in healthcare are being used to design treatment plans, and even create drugs faster than any current method. Recently, Google’s DeepMind created an A.I for breast cancer analysis, with the algorithm outperforming human radiologists on pre-selected data sets to identify breast cancer by 11.5% on average (Hamilton, 2020)

Nanotechnology

It is estimated that by 2024, the global marketing for nanotechnology will exceed $125bn, and by 2025, the global smart pill market will reach $650M (Routley, 2019). These ingestible capsules containing sensors, cameras are already changing the face of healthcare, with technologies including Pill-Cams, Dose Tracking Pills, Vibrant Capsules, Atmo Gas Capsules and MIT’s Smart Sensor Capsules.

Augmented Reality

Augmented reality is seen as one of the most promising digital health technologies, with the potential to change healthcare and everyday medicines for patients and professionals alike. A device, such as your mobile phone, transmits a live or indirect view of a real-world environment, which is then augmented by computer-generated sensory input, such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data. In healthcare, this technology is being used for various purposes, such as showing nearby defibrillators and assisting in medical training and surgery.

Healthcare trackers and sensors

The future of healthcare powered by technology aims to empower patients and carers. Trackers and sensors are being used to manage weight, heart rate, stress levels and overall fitness.

If you would like to discuss Technology in healthcare with one of our specialists, please complete the ‘Contact Us’ form below.  

References

Hamilton, I, A (2020). Google DeepMind. Available at: https://www.pulselive.co.ke/bi/tech/googles-deepmind-created-an-ai-for-spotting-breast-cancer-that-can-outperform-human/5sc7d8r 

Routley, N (2019). The Future of Nanotechnology in Medicine. Available at: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/the-future-of-nanotechnology-in-medicine/  

Many higher education bodies have been investigating remote application delivery in order to provide more flexible working options to students and to reclaim the large spaces consumed by public computer resources. Social distancing requirements have forced most to consider accelerating the use of blended learning, with some deploying solutions at pace in order to support teaching remotely in the coming terms.

With a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, can you effectively secure your network, and provide a fully managed solution for your end users, staff and students? This is a complex topic with many contradictory messages being provided depending on which technology you’re reading about.

Download our whitepaper which discusses what you need to consider when selecting the solution that is right for you.

A staggering achievement saw XMA employee Marcus Moore run 315km during the month of September to raise money for the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

The equivalent of seven marathons, Marcus set himself the challenge as part of RNIB’s Marathon Mates event. With many organised races currently cancelled or postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, this virtual event allows pairs to split the distance of a full marathon between each other over the space of a month, side by side or miles apart.

Marcus had this to say:

“I’ve worked with RNIB through XMA for over 10 years, so I know the amazing work the charity does to help the blind and partially sighted community. When I heard about this event, I jumped at the chance to give back and raise money for the organisation.”

“It was also a great chance for me to increase my fitness levels, as I’ve been much less active than usual throughout lockdown and Covid restrictions. I don’t normally run regularly, so this was definitely a challenge, and sometimes I found it hard to get going, but I felt much healthier and fitter after running every day.”

“Right now, it can feel like we’re being bombarded with negative news, and that gets overwhelming. I found it very helpful to have an hour every day to just focus on running and the challenge, and it was really fulfilling knowing that I was raising money while doing it.”

Marcus managed to complete the distance despite having some injuries to his ankles and knees, and continued the daily challenge after his running partner had to drop out due to health complications. He raised over £3,400 for the RNIB which will help provide advice and support to over two million people living with sight loss in the UK during this particularly difficult time.

Every six minutes, someone in the UK begins to lose their sight. RNIB is taking a stand against exclusion, inequality and isolation to create a world without barriers where people with sight loss can lead full lives. A different world where society values blind and partially sighted people not for the disabilities they’ve overcome, but for the people they are.

To find out more about the amazing work they do visit www.rnib.org.uk

The Scottish Government published a Digital Strategy back in 2011, designed to extend connectivity, promote the digital economy, digitise public services and promote digital participation. The ‘Connected Falkirk’ project aims to give children and young people the confidence, skills and knowledge needed to thrive in an ever-changing, fast-paced digital world.

The following plans have been indicated as part of Connected Falkirk:

• Provide a digital device for all Primary 6 to Secondary 6 pupils
• Provide a number of devices to Primary 1 to Primary 5 classes
• Provide a device to every class teacher, supported by an accredited professional learning programme
• Ensure fast, reliable Internet connectivity in all our schools
• Provide families with an opportunity to be digitally connected**

XMA are pleased to confirm that we will be supporting Falkirk Council with their plans for the project, including the deployment of over 17,000 iPads across the local authority and training support services to ensure teachers and learners adopt the technology successfully. These will be supplied through the Scottish Procurement Web Based and Proprietary Devices Framework, helping the council to complete the procurement from XMA with a single contract.

Michael Conlon, Education Transformation Consultant at XMA had this to say:

“I know I speak for everyone in the XMA team when I say how proud and excited we are about our partnership with the council on the Connected Falkirk project. Falkirk Council understand deeply the need to secure the future for their young people in an environment where 13,000 digital jobs go unfilled every year in Scotland and where digital skills for life, learning and work will be paramount in helping them flourish.

XMA bring all of our experience in 1:1 deployments to the project to help make that happen and we are committed to ensuring learning and teaching sits at the heart of what we aim to achieve. We’re more than ready to get started and can’t wait to work with the great staff, young people and families.”

Robert Naylor, Director of Children’s Services, Falkirk Council, said:

“As digital technology continues to revolutionise how we interact with the world around us, it is imperative that we equip our young people, their families, and educators with the digital tools and skills to succeed.

The investment in Connected Falkirk gives increased access to devices, coupled with a suite of powerful digital tools, supported by a dedicated professional learning programme, which will bring learning benefits to everyone.

We are delighted to have XMA as a partner supporting this revolution in learning and teaching, and we look forward to their support in delivering digital learning excellence to our children and young people.”

To find out more about Connected Falkirk, visit the councils website here

References

**https://www.falkirk.gov.uk/services/schools-education/school-life/connected-falkirk.aspx