Of basic security reminder...

Sometime security depends on end users in the company ! This concerns all employee with a mail address whatever the system is.

Ask them do not leave emails (webmail or pop mail with local client) containing : password, login, (mot de passe, profil, identifiant mot de passe en Français) and all other account information. These emails can come from eCommerce websites, bank website (poor security there!) or web 2.0 sites ...  Please just kill these emails once noticed login and password... and empty email trashbin.

Also kill the ones requesting a login to reset password...

Do it NOW : there is obviously one or two pending...

PS Don't keep this information on an excel or word file saved on the desktop with name 'passwords'! or worth on a postit! over your screen or keyboard.

Difficulty to say 'No, It is impossible'...

This morning a user wanted to recover à file saved with problems on the networkyesterday at 7:30 PM. She thought having saved it... but the file was nowhere ! We both scanned file server, local drive, temp folders and trash bin... without result.

I had then to say : "No it is impossible to recover your file , you have to do it again"
She Answered : "I was almost sure it was a problem, thanks for helping"

This means I saved a lot of time by saying "NO , I can not"...and of course explaining this answer !

Not only on support, but also regarding projects, I'm only starting on this : being able to say "No".When it is impossible whatever the reason is : technical, out of time, unknow process for me, and then I save time.

What is your experience on this ? Are you able to say "No" ?

Of remembering password after vacation

As IT expert you have a backup of your data, you have checked all systems with last security patches and upddated your antivirus program. You have stopped all modifications on application and or system since a week or two...

Did you save a list of your daily used passwords and keys ?

You may have given some of admin passwords to the team in charge of the support during your vacation. But if not ?

I already see comments like 'no, never write down any password, never !" I did not ask you to create an spreadsheet with all your password, and leave it under your keyboard (I saw that today from a supposed high lebel user ) But keep the paper version at home for example then delete the file.

My better choice : I've only one to remind the database key one of my keepass programm ! I've writen it inside my mobile phone contacts. I can now go on vacation ! I have a backup of this database file on my computer @ home... without keepass installed on it.

PS : another good tip for your users : ask them to change their passwords once back from vacation, not just before going to sea side for three weeks !!!...

What is your paswword policy , to keeep them in mind during vacation ?

Of justification versus outsourcing support...

Recently, I have been surprised during an interview :

"please describe in few words why your physical presence is needed for the affiliate, if the headquarter can do the support remotely ?"

My answer was based obviously first on the fact that this French affiliate needs a french speaking support available on daytime in France. Moreover, I thought about response time for support, quality of feed back to end users, local management toward French providers of internet and wan, localisation of trainings , localisation of micro project; I'm also the best ears that IT Team in Headquarter could have to get feed back on application they're deploying over affiliate.. At the end , in conterpart, I suggested that I am also the best link to convince end users in this affiliate to apply group policies (at least in terms of IT)

This question was in fact to test my english level both in technical and professional speaking...
The answers were more than ok on both level : english level (ok, my spoken english may be better than my written English) and quality of answers in term of company needs point of view.

But this question is reflecting the most common question about ROI, outsourcing and all these kind of questions that a IT Manager (or even IT Director or CEO !) have daily in mind these years, I'm sure.

So what do you think ? How would you defend your local presence versus outsourcing ? In order to convince the managment that you (or even your complete team !) need to be physically here ?

Or may be , would you help headquarter to hire you (or your team !) to do remote support on this affiliate you so well anderstand and know ?