Ian Hunt Technical Director

1. Ian HuntTechnical Director Busted Networks LtdThe Business Focused IT Specialists www.bustednetworks.com

2. Who Are Busted NetworksLtd. • An IT Support Company. • Based in Sussex, Hertfordshire, Yorkshire • Full service from design to support. • Specialists in support for small businesses. • Jargon free. www.bustednetworks.com

3. Today’s Objectives • To review what remote or flexible working is. • To explore some of the myths. • To explore the potential benefits (the gains). • To explore to problems (the pain). • To look at two companies who have done it. www.bustednetworks.com

4. So What is Remote/Flexible Working Named Telecommuting in the 1970’s by Jack Nilles ? • A geographically dispersed office where workers can work at home on a computer and transmit data and documents to a central office via telephone lines. www.bustednetworks.com

5. New in 1972 www.bustednetworks.com

6. What Has Made it Possible. • Improvements in telecommunications • Availability of Broad Band (ADSL/SDSL). • Availability of cable. • Satellite connections. • Community Wireless networks. • Reductions in cost. • Computing improvements in hardware and software. • IT support companies to set it all up. www.bustednetworks.com

7. Some Employee Myths • I can get up and work when I like. • I can work via a mobile on the golf course. • My life will be all play and less work. • I need never go to the office again. • I can have all the gadgets imaginable. • If I work from home I will never get up the promotion ladder. www.bustednetworks.com

8. Some Employer Myths • Staff will bunk off in my time and I can’t trust them. • My data will be at risk from hackers. • It’s too difficult to setup. • I will get less out of them. • It will cost me a fortune. www.bustednetworks.com

9. The Benefits (the gain) • Us, the Environment/Social Responsibility • It’s a green solution. • It’s inline with Government policy. • Reduces pollution, global warming. • Reduces traffic and road building demand. • Reduces public transport demand. • Reduces demand for office space. • Grants are available. www.bustednetworks.com

10. The Benefits (the gain) • Employer • Reduced overhead, less office space required. • Improved staff motivation. • Staff retention, reduced recruitment, training costs. • Reduces absenteeism. • Seen as progressive by many staff, good PR. • Expands staff recruitment pool. • Faster decision making. • Not for everyone. www.bustednetworks.com

11. The Benefits (the gain) • Employee • Better work life balance. • Reduces costs. • commuting • subsistence • cars • Major stress reduction. • More family or prime time. • Improved productivity. www.bustednetworks.com

12. The Issues • Space in the home to work. • HR. • Loneliness and motivation. • Team spirit. • Adequate connectivity • Security. • Correct setup. • http://www.planning-inspectorate.gov.uk/pins/recruitment/information/questionnaire.htm www.bustednetworks.com

13. Security • “THE” key issue. • Broadband on always on line. • The bad guys are out there looking for poorly protected computers. • A recent survey concluded that 25% of all UK PC have been attacked in the last year, 24% in the USA and 7% in China. • 33% of wireless networks in London's financial district are unprotected. • It need not and must not be like this. www.bustednetworks.com

14. Security • So what to do? • Use a good quality modem (not a free one) • Survey your area before choosing wireless, cables are more secure and faster. • Use a firewall, preferably a separate hardware unit rather than software. • Ensure any wireless networks are very carefully setup by experienced IT staff. • Ensure the method of connecting to the company network is secure. • Ensure users log in credentials and passwords which should be complex and changed regularly. • Ensure everything is locked down and up to date including anti-virus, anti-spyware, operating systems. www.bustednetworks.com

15. Conclusions • It is viable • To extend the office out to a remote location • Mobile working is an option • Not particularly difficult • Requires a change in mindset • Many HR issues to address • Benefits all companies we have installed it in • I’m available after the presentation. www.bustednetworks.com

16. Nick AldertonManaging DirectorPeter Christian Direct Ltd www.bustednetworks.com

17. Who Are Peter Christian Direct Ltd • Specialist Catalogue and Direct mail clothing suppliers. • Formed in 2003. • Enjoying very rapid growth. • Competing with bigger companies who set customer expectations. www.bustednetworks.com

18. The Business Problem • Rapid growth in sales. • Low average order value, high numbers of transactions. • Fast response to mailings or advertising is key to profits. • Sales office resource requirement correlates to mailing advertising, fluctuates. • Out of hours response to customers required to compete with big boys. • Desire to get a better return from the warehouse facilities and it’s staff. www.bustednetworks.com

19. The Solution. • Existing staff given remote access to company system, office phones redirected to their home. • Access to the company DB and the Sales Order Management SW for order enquiries. • Offer facilitation services to other Mail Order Companies. They don’t need a warehouse or staff. www.bustednetworks.com

20. The Result. • Happy staff, sickness less of a problem. • Customers happy they perceive PCD’s service as good as the big boys. • Total cost less then £800 to setup. • Warehousing, facilitation services already sold to another company. More to come. • More growth without larger offices. • Margins improved. www.bustednetworks.com

21. Conclusion • It’s quick and simple for IT companies to install and setup. Less than a day. • Introduction was seamless no downtime. • It’s low cost. • It’s reliable. • It’s enabled growth, reduced overheads. • It’s good news. Do it! www.bustednetworks.com

22. Jeremy FieldBusiness Development Manager The Traditional Family Funeral Company Ltd www.bustednetworks.com

23. Who Are The Traditional Family Funeral Company? • Independent family owned funeral company. • Founded 10 Years ago. • Operating from 30 locations in the UK. • Seven generations of the family in the funeral industry. www.bustednetworks.com

24. The Business Problem • The branch staff are caring staff not IT motivated. • Some resources, eg vehicles & HR are shared. • Branch data is required centrally for:- • Accounting purposed. • Auditing. • Quality purposes. • Backup. • Visiting management staff from HQ must be able to work from a remote branch. • Directors require access to company data from home out of hours. www.bustednetworks.com

25. The Solution. • Trial branches were chosen and were given Broadband (ADSL) lines. • The funeral management SW was located on a central company server. • Secure remote access to this application only was provided. • Directors were given the same access rights to company data from home. www.bustednetworks.com

26. The Result. • Following a successful trial, schedule implemented to connect all 30 branches. • All data is held in HQ no longer at the branches • Data more secure, data protection easier. • Entries into the SW can be checked online queries deal with. • Directors can work at their convenience (family business) www.bustednetworks.com

27. Conclusion • Properly planned it is simple to install and setup. • No retraining required, no change to current work practise. Less to do no backup. • Controlled roll out plan minimised disruption. • It will allow more growth, without more overhead. • Remote access to all files and email is useful for any business. • The way that our business operates and our Client service improves daily. www.bustednetworks.com