Kopano Groupware just gets better and better #igaware #linuxsbs #kopano

Kopano Groupware is a powerful communications platform that delivers email, calendars, tasks, shared folders, video conferencing, real time chat, file sharing and email encryption.

As part of the Igaware Linux Small Business Server it offers a highly secure, robust and easy to use communications suite.

Kopano Groupware is constantly being developed through customer feedback.

Learn about recent developments:

https://kopano.com/releases/kopano-releases-in-november-2017/

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GDPR – Don’t be nuts! #igaware #linuxsbs #GDPR

If you don’t know where your data is and who has access to it then you will have a problem come May 2018 when the General Data Protection Regulations come into force.

GDPR makes you responsible for keeping your data safe. You will need to know precisely where your data is and who has access to it.

It would, of course, be nuts to hand your data and email over to a third party if it then means you have no idea where it is, who has access to it and what laws govern it. But that’s exactly what businesses do when they sign up for cloud services!

If you are using a US cloud provider you will likely have no idea where your data actually is or who has access to it. In fact 96% of cloud providers are not GDPR compliant*.

No matter who you do business with, you need to know where your data is physically stored, and that such storage and processing is compliant with current laws.

GDPR compels organisations to take responsibility for their data and email instead of just trusting a third party who’s business model is reliant on you handing over control of your data, on their terms, but with the liability with you. It’s not a good deal, and not a safe one.

So what’s the smart option? Well keeping your data and email on a server under your control makes sense. For SME businesses the Igaware Linux Small Business Server puts your data under your control, securely located in your office or a trusted physical location that you can access 24 x 7.

Be smart!

*http://www.securityweek.com/94-cloud-services-not-gdpr-compliant-report

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Complexity steals your time, money, and puts your data at risk #igaware #linuxsbs

The software market has long been dominated by ‘Corporateware’ – software that has been developed for large enterprises. Such software has a ‘million and one’ ways to be configured so that it can be flexible enough to meet the complex needs of large enterprise customers. That’s fine if you are a large enterprise with a dedicated IT department, but for an SME business such complexity is expensive to manage and a serious threat to data security – increased complexity increases introduces too many opportunities for error.

Igaware software, on the other hand, has been engineered specifically for the needs of SMEs customers, with a focus on simplicity, ease of use and keeping data private and secure.

The Igaware Small Business Server and UTM Firewall were launched in 1999, developed specifically for SME businesses to provide enterprise class security and services but without the burden of complexity.

Complexity introduces too many opportunities for error, so keep it simple!

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Software platform is an important consideration for data security #igaware #linuxsbs

Software companies can take one of two approaches to keep their software secure. They can keep their software code hidden, which is known as Security Through Obscurity or they can take an Open Software approach and release their software code for anyone to see.

Software companies such as Microsoft use Security Through Obscurity, whereas Igaware and others use Open Software.

Security Through Obscurity is the idea that by hiding your software code no one can find holes in it. It’s akin to burying your money under a tree. The only thing that makes it safe is no one knows it’s there.

The problem with this approach is that someone may find your tree. Microsoft’s tree was discovered by the US Government who documented vulnerabilities in Microsoft software through which they could access systems for the purposes of surveillance.  Unfortunately the vulnerabilities were leaked to the hacking community; 8000 documents via Wikileaks (https://wikileaks.org/ciav7p1/). The result was the global Wannacry Ransomware attack.

Now imagine putting your data behind a lock or combination, say in a safe. You should be able to put the safe on a street corner because what makes it secure is that no one can get inside it but you. Open software uses the principle that the code is visible to all, making it easier to identify and plug security vulnerabilities faster. It’s like having a team of world-wide experts constantly trying to crack the safe, and reinforcing it immediately a weaknesses is found. It ensures a safe that’s incredibly hard to crack.

So if you want to ensure your email and data is secure then have your data on a Linux software platform such as that used by the Igaware Linux Small Business Server. Your data is your crown jewels. Keep it safe!

Related articles

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_through_obscurity

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IT Support now please! #igaware #linuxsbs

Companies are so reliant on computer systems for communication and operations that any downtime is very costly and frustrating. IT systems are inherently complex so having access to timely support from technology vendors is critical, mission critical!

Igaware has differentiated itself from big US vendors, not only in the robustness of it’s underlying Linux Small Business Server software, but in it’s approach to support.

Igaware doesn’t do support tickets, on-line self help or self-serving SLAs, we just take calls and solve issues there and then. This is one reason why Igaware don’t tie customers into contracts; customers loyalty comes from the fact that Igaware is incredibly reliable and help is always at hand if there’s an issue. What more could customers want?

Next time you are looking to upgrade your server, or recommend a server to others, just remember the last time you pressed ‘2 for support’ and then tore your hair out being put on hold for 30 minutes, and check out how the Igaware Linux Small Business Server can make life a lot less stressful. But hey, that can be stressful and those stress management classes at Legacy inpatient rehab Orlando are always waiting for you.

Not only is immediate access to support essential for customers, but it is also a revelation to IT resellers and consultants who recommend Igaware to their clients. Partnering with Igaware means any customer issues can be resolved with a call to Igaware in minutes. There’s no need to trawl Google for a solution, get put on hold with a large US vendor or shrug your shoulders and tell your customers ‘it’s out of my hands’. The end result is IT companies reselling Igaware can build a large loyal customer base without getting bogged down in stressful fire fighting.

 

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Service is Unavailable – is something you’ll never hear from Igaware

Last night, and continuing into today, hundreds of companies were unable to access their email, data and applications, as the data centre company UK Fast had a complete power failure – and their backup generators didn’t kick in.

Power has now been restored but thousands of servers take time to reboot so many customers are still waiting for the servers to come on stream.

Igaware Linux Small Business Server customers were unaffected 🙂

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Igaware Version 13.3.12 released #Igaware #linuxsbs

New in Version 13.3.12 [Dec 10 2017]
=======================================

* New Features and Improvements *

  • Updated the MySQL server to version 5.5 for all Kopano/ Zarafa sites.
  • Updated the automatic Mail Scanner email phishing scam whitelist and blacklist scripts.
  • Added a DNS blacklist lookup for the Anti-Spam Mail Scanner.
  • Updated Zarafa/ Kopano to newest version kopano-core 8.4.2
  • Updated Z-push ( Active sync components) to newest version 2.3.8
  • Update Kopano Webapp to version 8.4.0
  • New SSL VPN activity report added.
  • Activity reports now export to a file with a CSV extension. ( TAB delimited format).

* Fixes *

  • Several Config interface fixes.
  • Turned off the Kopano client update log. Too many log files created

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Cloud Computing – a legal minefield? #igaware #linuxsbs

Cloud computing involves handing over your data to a third party. This is called outsourcing and as with any outsourcing arrangement it comes with legal implications.

When outsourcing IT you no longer have control over your IT infrastructure and data, but you are still responsible for it. You have to check and understand your supplier contracts to ensure compliance with data protection and privacy laws, such as GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).

Cloud providers are by and large US corporations. The laws that they have to comply with, regarding data and privacy, are based on US laws. You have to comply with EU/UK law.

Under US law, there is no right to privacy for your data in the cloud as it is deemed public. This is contrary to EU law where privacy is a human right. This means that having personal data in the Cloud may not be legal under GDPR.

US Cloud providers say they are committed to being GDPR compliant but being committed does not mean they are in fact compliant. And achieving and maintaining compliance is difficult as it is the US government that make the laws. The current US administration is focused on ‘America First’ so data privacy is seen as a barrier to tracking down terrorists and criminals.

Even where US companies have opened up EU data centres there are problems as the US government sees these as US subsidiaries.

Microsoft admitted as far back as 2011 that

‘We can hand over Office 365 data without your permission’

Unless US Cloud providers can protect the privacy of data in the UK and Europe in law, they are dead. And they are battling with their own government.

Even if you ignore the legalities of holding data in the cloud there are other issues too:

Contracts
US cloud vendors provide non-negotiable contracts that they can re-write at anytime – you have no control or influence. Your data is in their hands wholly on their terms. Any legal dispute will mean a trip to the US for you to undertake legal action.

Data Ownership
Legally data doesn’t exist. You have no rights to your data. You surrender your data to cloud providers. If your data is lost you have no legal protection whatsoever. You must have a local physical backup at all times. Not an easy thing if you have gigabytes of data off-site somewhere.

If you fall foul of terms of use, or your payment fails, then you may find access to your data and email is blocked. Your data can be held to ransom.

Business Continuity
If you fall out with your Cloud provider how will you move away from them and keep your IT running?

Cloud providers can increase prices and services can be withdrawn as they deem fit. If you find yourself in a situation where things aren’t working out then how do you exit and keep your business going?

An on-premise server with your data and email under your control is a big step to keeping your data private.

Related Articles

The Safest Place for your Data and Email is On-site

Why We Can No Longer Trust Microsoft

Why GDPR Compliance is Difficult in the Cloud

GDPR: Killing cloud quickly?

Risks of Outsourcing Your Data Center

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The safest place for your email and data is on-site #igaware #linuxsbs #GDPR

Your email and data are your crown jewels. If they are lost, stolen or corrupted there will likely be severe consequences for your operations and a hefty fine for breaching the General Data Protection Regulation (*GDPR).

The safest place for your email and data is under your control, on a dedicated security hardened server, protected by a PCI compliant firewall, managed by people you know and trust. This is the level of security Igaware offers.

The alternative is to outsource your IT and hand over your email and data to third party suppliers who, if they are US corporations, may not be GDPR compliant and therefore unable to legally supply you with IT services now and in the future.

Outsourcing has been a growing trend under the marketing banner of ‘Cloud Computing’ and has been heavily advertised by US corporations including Microsoft, Google, Rackspace and Amazon. These companies have used their marketing muscle to push cloud computing because it suits their business model, not because it is in customer interests. Microsoft has even gone as far as removing on-premise server options to force customers into the cloud.

The good news is that Igaware offers a wholly secure, robust and cost effective on-premise Linux Small Business Server. It includes a UTM firewall that ensures your data and email secured. And because Igaware is an on-premise server you know exactly where your data is and who has access to it. This means GDPR compliance is simplified and you can completely forget about the significant practical and legal issues faced by cloud users.

*GDPR comes into law in May 2018

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Cloud Warning #igaware #linuxsbs #GDPR

Any EU (including the UK) organisation using US cloud services (Microsoft 365, Google Apps, Amazon Web Services, Rackspace Hosting etc.) will have to find alternatives before GDPR kicks in next May.

https://kopano.com/kopano-documents/EU-US-Cloud-Privacy.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiUYWIqsQ9Y&feature=youtu.be

The alternative is Igaware: www.igaware.com

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