Blogs

Why Should Nonprofits Care About Cloud Computing?

posted  by Anonymous -  Thu, 22/09/2011 - 12:57  

Clouds are no longer just about the weather; the term has taken over the Internet, as well. The Indian cloud computing market is expected to reach $16 billion by 2020. Are you a part of this growth story? Have you used cloud computing for your work processes? There's a good chance you've already used some form of cloud computing. If you have an e-mail account with a Web-based e-mail service like Hotmail, Yahoo or Gmail, then you've had some experience with cloud computing!

What Are the Benefits of Working in the Cloud?

• Little to no upfront costs, but watch out for recurring operating costs.
  From Wikipedia: "Cloud computing users can avoid capital expenditure (CapEx) on hardware, software, and services when they pay a provider only for what they use. Consumption is usually billed on a utility (for example, resources consumed, like electricity) or subscription (for example an annual subscription to a newspaper) basis with little or no upfront cost."
• No IT staff required: Ok, this might be an oversimplification, but many applications available in the cloud require much less in-house IT support because the hosting provider takes care of installs, upgrades, backups and standard maintenance for you.
• No servers need to be researched, purchased, maintained, or recycled.
• Rapid deployment: Often, accounts can be set up in minutes. More complicated pieces of software (CRM, accounting packages, donor management software) still require more set up and probably training of your staff.
• Convenience: Staff and volunteers can access your applications from almost any Internet connection with their login information. No more setting up VPNs or systems to allow remote access to your servers.

Green Benefits

• Fewer servers are built and running, meaning fewer toxic materials and water need to be used, fewer toxic materials are dumped, and less energy is consumed in the running of the servers.
• Client computers do not need to be as powerful since all the processing is performed on the hosted server(s). This means that you can keep your older computers longer and reduces demand for new computers, again saving on toxics and water.

Microsoft Offers Get Genuine Windows: Full Operating Systems Versions Now Available

posted  by Anonymous -  Tue, 26/07/2011 - 16:43  

As part of the recent updates to the Microsoft Software Donation Program, Microsoft made donations of full versions of its Windows operating systems available through the Microsoft Get Genuine program.

Your organization might have PCs with illegal, free, or basic operating systems — either from accepting donated machines or buying the computers at bargain-basement prices.  Microsoft’s Get Genuine program offers your organization a one-time chance to get your existing computers running fully legitimate and upgradable Windows operating systems, enabling your organization to easily upgrade through TechSoup when a more recent OS version is needed or released.

To be eligible for the Get Genuine donations, the existing computers on which your organization will install the full Windows OS software must currently have one of the following:

·       Counterfeit, pirated, or otherwise illegal, unlicensed, or improperly licensed Windows operating systems

·       Home Premium, Home Basic, or Starter editions of Windows 7 or Windows Vista

·       Home or Starter editions of Windows XP

·       Linux, FreeDOS, or other operating systems

·       No operating systems

 

Special Rules for Get Genuine Product Requests: 

 

· Eligible organizations may place only one request ever for Get Genuine products.

 

· Requests for Get Genuine products may not contain any other products.

 

· During check-out, the Get Genuine Windows Agreement for Small and Medium Organizations must be accepted on behalf of the organization.

Request Get Genuine Products here

• Windows 7 Professional 32-Bit – Get Genuine

• Windows 7 Professional 64-Bit – Get Genuine  
  

Request Carefully — Get Genuine Windows OS Products Are a One-Time Donation

Microsoft-eligible organizations can request donations of full Get Genuine Windows operating systems only once, ever, so please make sure to plan your request carefully. Since the Get Genuine products are part of the Windows Desktop Operating Systems title group, a request for this product will count against your two-year cycle allotment of 50 licenses in the Windows Desktop Operating Systems title group.

Windows Upgrade Still Available

If your existing PCs already have a qualifying base operating system in place, you can still request the Windows OS Upgrades donations that TechSoup has always offered.  Since you only have one chance to request Get Genuine Windows OS products ever, you should request the standard upgrade products if you have one of the following qualified, base Operating Systems already in place on your machine:

·       Enterprise, Professional, or Ultimate editions of Windows 7 or Windows Vista

·       XP Professional version of Windows XP

·       Windows 2000 Professional

·       Windows NT Workstation 4.0

·       Windows 98 (2^nd Edition)

·       Apple Macintosh

 

Still Have Questions? Easily see what you can request from Microsoft: To help you manage your Microsoft donations, TechSoup has created the Microsoft Donation Center (accessible from the Donation Request/History page under My Account), where nonprofits can get all key details in one place. Organizations can easily track what they’ve received so far, what remains of their software allotment, when their cycle resets, and the value of Microsoft software donations to date.

 

Help Us Donate More: Spread the word!

Many organizations have benefited from software donations from Microsoft, but there are many more still to reach! Help us spread the word to our fellow nonprofits. Check out this great video on the impact of Microsoft software donations and share it with your networks.  You can find more on Facebook and follow via Twitter @mfstcitizenship.

Virus Stopper Foundation IT Research enabling technologies and innovating to research, develop and deploy Anti Virus Software

posted  by Anonymous -  Fri, 22/07/2011 - 22:35   Virus Stopper Foundation Information Technology Research Wing (VSF Research) is an Independent Research Institute enabling technologies and innovating to research, develop and deploy Anti Virus Software Development – Virus Stopper. Virus Stopper Foundation (VSF) is a Scientific Society of the Virus Stopper Foundation Information Technology Research Wing (VSF Research), VSF is primarily an R&D institution involved in the design, development and deployment of Anti Virus Software – “Virus Stopper” to Indians and advanced Information Technology (IT) products and solutions. To develop security guide book for preparedness of the cyber security. To support, promote, and launch a national public service campaign on cyber security. To develop an open source cyber security tool kit for home users, school children and others, To partner with educational groups, school boards, volunteer, superintendents, teachers, and colleges and universities etc to develop and distribute materials to school children and institutions of higher education that raise awareness of appropriate cyber security behavior. To provide cyber security and ethics curricula and explore opportunities for introducing awareness content as part of courses and Implementing help line through Web Portal. VSF Research Periodic study of information security best practices, awareness levels of various stake holders and outreaching of information security awareness (dipstick Analysis/study Physical achievements with specific intermediate milestones. Innovation & Creativity: Virus Stopper Foundation Always Accepts the Novel concepts and modes of delivery given the context of social needs. Virus Stopper Foundation is working to secure freedom for computer users by promoting the development and use of free (as in freedom) software and documentation — particularly the GNU operating system — and by campaigning against threats to computer user freedom like Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) and software patents. VIRUS STOPPER FOUNDATION is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization started to awareness on 5 important things that was eliminating by the people in India. By philanthropists and some professionals led by Mr.G.Vimal Kumar. VIRUS STOPPER Foundation was started by a group of like-minded and concerned IT Professionals and Non-IT professionals committed to releasing the reach of the public. Realized the Scarcity, Deficiency of IT Security in India, taken a Challenging Task and Promised to Our Mother Land – INDIA - Virus Stopper Anti Virus Software Research & Development.  Anti Virus Software Research & Development - Namely “Virus Stopper ".  Anti Pollution & Global Warming, Stress and Strain of Human Pressures,  Anti Traffic Congestions, Road Safety,  Anti HIV/AIDS, Dengue Fever, Typhoid Fever, Malarial Fever, Chicken Guinea, Viral Infections,  Anti Corruption. • STOP DOING BUSINESS WITH VIRUS. • To enhance the security of India's Communications and Information Infrastructure through reactive and proactive action and effective collaboration with cyber users and industry. • Preventing cyber attacks against the country’s cyber space • Responding to cyber attacks and minimizing damage and recovery time • Reducing ‘national vulnerability to cyber attacks • Enhancing security awareness among common citizens. Vision, Mission, Objectives and Functions: Vision: Proactive Contribution in Securing India’s cyber space Mission: To enhance the security of India's Communications and Information Infrastructure through reactive and proactive action and effective collaboration with cyber users and industry. Objectives: • Preventing cyber attacks against the country’s cyber space • Responding to cyber attacks and minimizing damage and recovery time • Reducing ‘national vulnerability to cyber attacks • Enhancing security awareness among common citizens Functions: In the Information Technology (Amendment) Act 2008, • Collection, analysis and dissemination of information on cyber incidents • Forecast and alerts of cyber security incidents Results • Emergency measures for handling cyber security incidents • Coordination of cyber incident response activities • Issue guidelines, advisories, vulnerability notes and whitepapers relating to information security practices, procedures, prevention, response and reporting of cyber incidents • Such other functions relating to cyber security as may be prescribed. Aims of VSF TEAM Reducing national vulnerability to cyber attack Issuance of security alerts on latest threats and vulnerabilities Enhancing security awareness among common citizens Publicize the security site for common citizen - virusstopper.org Preventive Functions of VSF TEAM Preventing cyber attacks against the country’s cyber space Improving the security posture of organizations and cyber users and enhancement in the ability of IT systems to resist cyber attacks Conducting Security audits of critical sector organization Conducting cyber security mock drills at national level and participation in international drill. Awareness/Training by VSF TEAM Number of topics covered for awareness / trainings the training programmes conducted in different relevant areas of cyber security for targeted audience to enhance their awareness for threats to different systems and suitable counter measures to prevent the attacks and reduce the risk. Improvement of the security of information and communications infrastructure and effective cyber incident resolution Multi-Lingual (Multiple Languages Support) – to VIRUS STOPPER Making the Indian PC / Working Computers / Laptop, Indian Based Web Servers – Linux most strongest and better standards of securities at an affordable price and effective service VIRUS STOPPER - INDIAN COMPUTER EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM These services are of two types open for 24/7, 365 days with Telephonic / Fax / Web Based Ticket System / Online Support – chat services will be available with the help of Customer Id 01. Tele Calling Based on the Customer Id, 02. Web Support Online Submission of Virus to Update the Viruses and Incident Reporting, Vulnerability Reporting and Resolving the Problems and Updating the Service Servers Information with in 2 – 6 Max. Of Hours Only.

Data Backup

posted  by Anonymous -  Fri, 25/03/2011 - 12:12   Data backup is essential for Organisations having Servers. MS Data Protection Manager is best suitable for MS Servers. If bigtech can arrange donation of Data Protection Manager, it will be very helpful. Jose S AFPRO

Staff Leave Tracking & Staff attendance tracking:

posted  by Anonymous -  Fri, 24/12/2010 - 08:00   Staff Leave Tracking & Staff attendance tracking: Staff leave tracking & Staff attendance tracking is one of the critical area of HR management of any NGO. NGOs are spending times to do the same by doing mannually, which is not always error free. In the market the software for Leave and attendance Tracking is available, but it is costly and beyond our affordability. So, If BiGTech can arrange donation of Leave & attendance Tracking software at discounted price, then it will helpful to the NGO sectors. Akhil Ranjan Panda, SHAKTI ORGANISATION, Rayagada, Orissa.