Blog

Pondering thoughts and random ramblings from Hightrees Organisation Limited

Peter Tesar Logo

Peter Tesar website moves home to Hightrees Web Hosting
Peter Tesar website moves home to Hightrees Web Hosting 285 176 Small Business IT Solutions

Peter Tesar Logo

Peter Tesar Architectural Design, a small business based in Hampshire, have been using our VoIP service for a while now and and we have now just finished the migration of their website to our web hosting platform.

read more

Five pound notes picture

Overdue invoices and learning the hard way !
Overdue invoices and learning the hard way ! 1024 512 Small Business IT Solutions

A rather long and yet unresolved story to try and highlight the perils of trying to help fellow small business owners and then not getting paid in full !

The original draft of this blog named the individual and the company, however, whilst there can be no dispute to the events that have taken place, it was pointed out that we could potentially be open to a case of defamation !

We have tried to be fair, and not to disclose figures or any specific information relating to this debt, other than the relevant statements made to prove that this invoice is not in dispute, and has been agreed to be paid (including the typing mistakes!) Mr XXXX is the individual in question and YYYY is the company.

So it begins…….

Overdue Invoices - learning the hard way image

read more

Berkshire Concrete Logo

A new website for Berkshire Concrete
A new website for Berkshire Concrete 1074 500 Small Business IT Solutions

Wiltshire HBM, more commonly known as Wiltshire Concrete, are building on their success and have recently opened Berkshire Concrete.

Hightrees Organisation Limited have recently launched their initial website at http://www.berkshireconcrete.com to cover their core services

The group directors are keen to replicate the blueprint of Wiltshire Concrete, which has proved invaluable to its customers as a one stop shop, providing a vast range of products and services. Berkshire Concrete currently offer ready mixed concrete, concrete pump hire, skip hire, and concrete blocks.

We couldn’t be more excited about their new venture, and wish them every success !

 

Hive-Originals-Logo

A new home for Hive Originals website
A new home for Hive Originals website 500 149 Small Business IT Solutions

Hive-Originals-Logo

Hive Originals, a small business based in Wiltshire, have been using our VoIP service for a while now and recently moved their email to our Hosted Exchange system and we have now just finished the migration of the Hive Originals website to our web hosting platform.

After spending some time discussing with Claire the best timeframe for moving the site to minimise any impact to her business and customers, it was decided that a Sunday transfer would work best and allow DNS changes to update before the start of the working week. read more

Acronis Cloud Backup image

World Backup Day 2017 – Special Offer on Cloud Backup Services
World Backup Day 2017 – Special Offer on Cloud Backup Services 250 250 Small Business IT Solutions

To help encourage people to take an active part in World Backup Day 2017, we are offering 10% off our Acronis Cloud Backup systems !

For new UK purchasers only, we are offering 10% off your monthly backup bill if you use code WBD2017 in our online store. until 30th April 2017

Whether you are a one person home based business or a growing small company, your business data is one of your most important assets and should be backed up on a regular basis.

Imagine partially or even completely losing your business data ? It could mean the beginning of the end. At the very least, it would damage your company image.

Our Hosted Acronis Backup Cloud gives you the peace of mind that comes with the knowledge that your small business data is safely stored at all times – ideal for your PC’s, servers and now for your Office365 mailboxes (for more information, take a look at our Cloud Backup Services Page)

Benefits to your Small Business

  • Automatic Backups are made automatically through a schedule. Therefore human intervention is unnecessary.
  • Peace of mind – Cloud backup is ‘fire and forget’ software; once configured, it works fully automatically and you will receive emails with status updates.
  • High availability – With cloud backup your data is continuously and directly available. When you lose data, you can immediately start with restoring your data.
  • Low cost of ownership
  • Cloud backup needs to be configured once; thereafter all backups are executed automatically, saving you time and money
  • Easily restored – The restore of your data is very fast and easy. You select the backed-up data and choose the target location. In no-time your files and folders are back on their computer.
  • Versions – Cloud backup can keep a history of your file changes depending on your retention preferences. Changed files are stored as a new version; this allows you to go back weeks to restore the desired version.
  • Automatic reports, easy monitoring – Automatic reports in the software and through email make sure that you are always up to date about the status of your backups.
  • Office365 Email Mailbox backups now available, priced per mailbox with unlimited storage !

Make the everyday World Backup Day and purchase your online backup solution in our online store !

Did you know 31st March is World Backup Day ?
Did you know 31st March is World Backup Day ? 150 150 Small Business IT Solutions

World Backup Day Logo

March 31st has been declared World Backup Day

Again, World Backup Day is March 31st.

San Francisco, CA — March 31st has been declared World Backup Day. With so much of our lives, photos, and videos being stored in digital form, it is important that we begin to make backups of our precious data. Backing up your data is one of those easy-to-do procedures that many people ignore.

People now create and generate over 1.8 zettabytes of data per year.¹ That’s a lot of data that we need to protect! Unfortunately, nearly 30% of people have never even backed up their data.² Backing up your data will protect your life’s work when that hard drive fails. If you are a small business, a data backup can be what saves your company. World Backup Day is here to make sure that people actually start backing up.

World Backup Day can easily be observed by spreading the word of data integrity and automatic backup. Share World Backup Day with all your friends and family. The virtues of both local and offsite data backup sites should be extolled. People should relay and take heed of the tales of devastating data disasters like the loss of an entire season of a children’s television series³ or the near complete loss of customer data by Microsoft’s & T-Mobile’s Sidekick.⁴ Even Pixar accidentally lost nearly 90% of the animated film Toy Story 2 to an errant computer command.⁶ So sad, all they needed was a proper backup plan that included regularly testing the data restores.

And to all the IT professionals saying “Hoho! I’m good. I already got backups.” Then March 31st is a great day to tell your bosses and colleagues about the importance of data backups. If you are a small or medium sized business, then a data disaster can be the end your company. Ever heard of the bookmark sharing site called Mag.nolia? Of course you didn’t, they suffered a catastrophic data disaster and had to shut down when they lost both their primary and backup data stores.⁷

Already have a backup procedure in place? If you don’t, consider making a plan to protect your data. One should also check (and then recheck) your backup restores on World Backup Day to see if they actually work. After all, a backup plan that doesn’t work isn’t much of a backup plan.

A word from the founder of World Backup Day

“I’m thrilled with the response to World Backup Day, and I hope it’s made a difference in people’s lives,” said World Backup Day founder Ismail Jadun. “We all know someone who has lost critical data, whether it was their videos, photos, music, book reports, or personal stuff. Hopefully this day will make everyone think about their situation, learn about the various options and get their files backed up. I hope that World Backup Day sparks conversations about the enormous task of saving our digital heritage for future generations.”

About World Backup Day

World Backup Day was chosen to be the day before April 1st (April Fools) in order to drive the message that one should backup all those pictures, spreadsheets, love letters, cat pictures, & important financial documents before it’s too late.

Key points about backing up data from WorldBackupDay.com:

  • Items to backup:  Your computer, laptop, phone, iPod, tablet, other wireless devices, photos and videos on social networks.
  • Common ways to lose data:  Theft, hardware failure, natural disaster, alien invasion, obsolete file formats, you forgot where you put it (really, it has happened).
  • Backup options:  Backing up is easy. Once set up, your data should be backing up automatically. There are two main types of backup solutions:
    • Local backup: An external hard drive that can be easily retrieved at home. 
    • Cloud/offsite backup: An online backup service or hard drive securely placed in a different location
    • Having both local and offsite backups gives you piece of mind knowing your files are safe and secure.
  • If you are working in a business:
  • tell your bosses & colleagues about the importance of data backups
  • check your backup procedures & restores to make sure everything is up-to-date and working.
  • if don’t have one, consider creating a company data backup & continuity plan

Don’t be an April Fool. Backup your data. World Backup Day is March 31st.

——————————

World Backup Day is March 31st.

www.worldbackupday.com

Twitter: @WorldBackupDay

Facebook: www.facebook.com/WorldBackupDay

World Backup Day video embed: https://vimeo.com/sammularczyk/everything

Media Contact: press@worldbackupday.com

If you want to say hello or ask a general question, email us at hello@worldbackupday.com

P.S. Cake is also an acceptable method of celebrating World Backup Day on March 31st provided there is enough cake for everyone.

——————————-

Some sources:

[1] Extracting Value from Chaos, IDC Digital Universe study

[2] [Backblaze survey](https://www.backblaze.com/blog/the-survey-says-apathy-is-winning)

[3] [Zodiac Island data loss](http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9215417/Lawsuit_claims_fired_data_center_worker_wiped_out_TV_show)

[4] [Sidekick data loss](http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2009/10/10/t-mobile-microsoft-lost-all-the-sidekick-backups/)

[5] [Microsoft](http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2009/oct09/10-15sidekick.mspx)

[6] [Pixar Toy Story 2 data loss](http://www.quora.com/Did-Pixar-accidentally-delete-Toy-Story-2-during-production?share=1)

[6] [Pixar Toy story 2 data loss transcript](http://thenextweb.com/media/2012/05/21/how-pixars-toy-story-2-was-deleted-twice-once-by-technology-and-again-for-its-own-good)

[7] [Mag.nolia shutdown](http://www.wired.com/2009/01/magnolia-suffer)

 

This page is not officially supported or endorsed by World Backup Day.

 

Bitdefender is coming ….
Bitdefender is coming …. 150 150 Small Business IT Solutions

Coming in February 2017…..

It’s been the number one ranked anti-virus software on the global market for four consecutive years. It protects 500 million endpoints every single day. It delivers supreme protection against known and zero-day threats and detects them immediately.

Bitdefender Anti-virus logo

Our Bitdefender offering will include:

  • Ultra-secure anti-virus and anti-malware protection against known and zero-day threats for Windows, Linux and Mac OS
  • Active Threat Control
  • Endpoint Security Relay

Plus, exclusive features for Windows OS including:

  • Web access control and filtering
  • Enhanced security with a two-way firewall
  • Intrusion Detection and Sensitive Data Protection
  • Application and Device Control

Another tool for your Small Business IT Toolkit to help make your business more cyber-secure in 2017!

Does my Small Business website need a SSL Certificate ?
Does my Small Business website need a SSL Certificate ? 1024 1024 Small Business IT Solutions

Do I really need an SSL certificate on my website ?

It really depends the requirements that your business website needs to perform.

If you are running a purely “brochure” style website, i. e the customer looks at the site and then contacts you via email/telephone then the chances are, you probably don’t need one.

But, if your small business website provides a mechanism where it collects customer (or potential customer) personal data, then you ought to seriously consider it.

Ignoring the technical side of things for a moment, YOU, as the Business Owner have obligations and legal requirements with regard to the data collected.

 

Data Protection

The Data Protection Act classes personal data as any information relating to a living person (the ‘data subject’) who can be identified from that information. Personal information covers both facts and opinions about the individual so for an example names, addresses and telephone numbers are obvious identification methods. Other less obvious information, such as unique reference/order numbers could also be used to identify a person and so should be treated as personal data.

The second principle of the Data Protection Act 1998 is :

2.    Personal data shall be obtained only for one or more specified and lawful purposes.

This purpose also has to have been registered with the Information Commissioner.

So, if your website is collecting and/or storing personal data, then you have a responsibility to make sure that it is handled correctly and most importantly, securely.  Breaches of data protection legislation are criminal offences and can result in severe penalties.

ICO Good Practise

The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) has produced a handy summary of SSL good practice which states :

  • Ensure that personal data (and sensitive information generally) is transferred using SSL or TLS where appropriate.
  • Consider using SSL or TLS for all data transfer in order to reduce complexity. Remember that in the case of a website, any included content such as images, javascript or CSS should also be provided over SSL or TLS in order to avoid ‘mixed content’ warnings.
  • Ensure that SSL or TLS is set up to provide encryption of adequate strength.
  • Ensure that every SSL or TLS service uses a valid certificate, and schedule renewal of all certificates before they expire to ensure the services remain secure.
  • Consider obtaining an Extended Validation (EV) certificate if assurance of identity is of particular importance.
  • Do not encourage users to ignore SSL or TLS security warnings.

Show some Trust for your website

Google have announced that starting in January 2017, their Chrome browser (version 56) will label HTTP pages with password or credit card form fields as “not secure,” given their particularly sensitive nature. You can read more in the Google Online Security blog here

Firefox in its latest versions (51 &51) also bring  bring a new warning about insecure login pages, which appear prominently in the address bar/login boxes

This appears to be part of the industry-wide campaign to move away from HTTP, which is insecure, and could leave users’ online activity vulnerable to snooping, interception, modification etc.
Would you prefer to have to explain to your potential or existing customers why their web browser is showing your site as “insecure” or would you rather start with a position of “I am trusted site please use me with confidence” ?

In Summary

In our opinion, if your website collects your customers’ personal details, then you probably want an SSL Certificate.

Ultimately it is going to show your customers that you take their data seriously by encrypting it, you are going to demonstrate to the the Search Engines that you are the website you claim to be, and you tick a couple of big boxes on your Data Protection policy.

 

Interested in web hosting that includes basic SSL ? Check out our online store.

 

Small Business IT Online Services – October Specials
Small Business IT Online Services – October Specials 150 150 Small Business IT Solutions

We like to help Small Businesses get a good deal so throughout October 2016 we are offering the the current Small Business IT Services offers, ideal for if you are just getting your business started on the internet.

Small Business Email Offer for only £32.50/month

  • 5 x 25Gb 50Gb Exchange Mailboxes
  • Email anti-spam and virus protection
  • 1 year inbound and outbound email archive
  • Mobile email ‘push’ technology
  • Easy mailbox control
  • Public folders and subfolders (if required)
  • Instant scalability
  • Multiple UK Based Data Centres

Small Business Office 365 for Business Offer for only £6.95/month

  • Full Office Applications (Word,Excel,Powerpoint,Outlook,Publisher & OneNote) + access to web versions of Word,Excel & Powerpoint
  • 1Tb File Storage
  • Use Office 365 for Business on your PC, tablet or mobile device (up to 5)

Small Business 250Gb Cloud Backup Offer for only £15.00/month

  • Windows, Mac & Linux support
  • MS Exchange Server backup
  • MS SQL Server backup
  • MySQL database backup
  • Bare metal restore options
  • 256-bit AES encryption
  • Pre & post scripts
  • Centralised backup schedule management
  • UK based storage

Small Business Web Hosting Offer for only £15/month

  • 10GB UK UNIX Web Space
  • 5GB Bandwidth
  • Advanced Domain System
  • Unlimited MySQL Databases
  • Free installation of WordPress if required
  • If you don’t need the full features of Exchange and just need small mailboxes, then you get (included)-
    • Unlimited 1Gb IMAP/POP3 Mailboxes – Mailboxes allow you to send/receive e-mail on your server via your e-mail software and using our web based e-mail.
    • Web Based E-mail – Web mail is available for all mailboxes on our system, so wherever you are you can always check your e-mail.

 

Small Business VoIP Offer for only £25/month

  • 5 x Extensions – so great for up to 5 members of staff or staff with multiple devices. (no handsets included)
  • 1 Geographical Number of your choice included – one number, multiple lines !
  • 1 Geographical Fax to Email Number of your choice included
  • 1 Ring Group included
  • 1 IVR (Basic Menu system included)
  • 1 Conference Room – host conference calls with your clients or with staff in multiple locations
  • Voicemail to Email – get your voicemail in an email – ideal when you are unavailable, away from the office or heaven forbid, on holiday !
  • Choice of call packages available (not included) or just pay for your calls as you go.
  • Use the VoIP system on your mobile with a range of apps, or PC (with a headset/mic) or via a VoIP handset !

Now the small print

  • If your small business already has web and email hosting facilities there MAY be setup costs involved to move from one provider to another.
  • Some modifications of existing DNS records may be required to utilise the new service(s). It sounds confusing but don’t worry we can help with this !
  • The above pricing is displayed ex VAT and offer is only valid to companies based in the UK until 31st October 2016
  • The offer is based on a 12 month commitment, however this will be invoiced on a monthly basis.  Cancellation fees will be applied if you terminate any of the services before 12 months.

New website launched for The Little Wee Man
New website launched for The Little Wee Man 150 150 Small Business IT Solutions

We’ve donated a WordPress website, hosting and email and a quick spot of training to “The Little Wee Man” in order to help Jackson and his parents (Jim & Debbie) spread the details of Jax’s medical condition which has no diagnosis as yet.

The nearest recognised condition with similar characteristics to Jackson’s is a rare condition called Hyperekplexia. but genetic testing has come back negative for this, so the official diagnosis is we have “a none diagnosis”. Jackson’s condition is not recognised by the NHS and are no further tests that can be carried out at present, although his MRI & CT scan will be repeated when he is older.

Debbie & Jim will be publishing regular updates on the new blog site- The Little Wee Man to help keep his growing fan base informed as well as offer an insights and advice to other parents who are in a similar situation.

Little Wee Man image

Hightrees will be be lending a helping hand with the website over the coming months with website updates, SEO and social media and generally help promote “The Little Wee Man” !

 

Enter your
text here