Accidental Techies Half Day Session
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Transcript of Accidental Techies Half Day Session
How to fight the credit crunch or do more with less
For those supporting or looking after technology ofsupport organisations
Miles Maier
Lasa
London ICT Champion21 July 2009
• A champion for ICT in your region• To see local infrastructure support organisations
Operate more efficiently in its day to day work
Be more effective in its reach and influence• Voice, representation, advocacy• Signposting sources of help• Strategic support
Regional ICT Champions
Take-Aways
1. Is your ICT at risk - risk assessments
2. Fight the big byte - plan and budget
3. Save time and money - top tips on free and low cost
ICT solutions
4. Know where to go for help and support
Help, I’m an Accidental Techie!
Are you constantly dealing with IT problems?
Do you have an ICT plan for when it all goes wrong?
How are you going to fight the big squeeze?
Where can you go for help and support?
The Accidental Techie 1(does this sound like you?)
Oversee network and server (if appropriate) Ensuring data is backed up on a regular basis Overseeing computer security and anti-virus updates
etc. Carrying out computer "housekeeping" tasks Providing IT support to computer users First port of call and initial troubleshooting Liaising with external support company
The Accidental Techie 2(does this sound like you?)
Inducting new staff on IT systems Keeping website updated Maintenance and inventory records Ensuring all software is properly licensed Input into IT strategy and annual IT budget One-off projects – databases, web sites Keep abreast of IT technology Advising on training needs and courses Help! I’ve become an accidental techie
Accidental Techie 101
What questions do you have about ICT?
What questions do you get asked?
ONE question per post-it, put them up on board/wall and group them in to themes under each topic
DIY ICT Health Checks
What is a health check? Benefits
EXERCISE: DIY Health Check Use the ICT Health Check worksheet to answer
questions about your own organisation Highlight one issue and discuss it with the group
Assessing Your ICT
Using the Managing ICT checklistshttp://www.ictknowledgebase.org.uk/healthchecklists
Inventorying – Belarc Adviser, Spiceworks (on the USB stick) – or pen and paper!
Coming soon ICT Handbook ICT FAQ cards
ICT Handbook
Being developed by Hillingdon AVS Organisational information (mission, strategy, budget) Compliance (H&S, WEEE, Data Protection, insurance) Inventory Configuration (passwords, server, network, Internet) Contracts (support, broadband, hosting, online services) Policies (disaster recovery, acceptable use etc) Procedures (user induction, backup) Appendices (ICT health check, help, advice)
Supporting your ICT and users
How are you currently supporting your ICT?
When things go wrong – what happens?
Troubleshooting
Avoiding Trouble 1
Back up data regularly Acceptable Use Policy Keep a troubleshooting log Only use licensed software Register software and hardware Keep discs and manuals in central, safe place Boot and recovery disks Back up copies of install discs List license keys Inventory of PCs and equipment (Belarc, Spiceworks)
Avoiding Trouble 2
Keep invoices & warranties Regular housekeeping Update anti-virus daily Security precautions Apply patches and service packs Replace equipment before it breaks down Plan for or procure a technical support contract Keep spare parts, cannibalise old PCs Reserve PC (keep an old one) IT Strategy
Supporting your users - Accessibility
Setting screen colours to suit them Increasing menu sizes Make text more readable Tuning the keyboard Taming the mouse Using the keyboard as a mouse Or using the mouse as a keyboard Install a free text reader Use free magnification and screen reader software Install free word prediction software
Risk Assessment 1
Why do this? Risk assessment - 15 mins Feedback - 10 mins
Risk Assessment 2
What are the risks?http://www.ictknowledgebase.org.uk/riskassessment
Assessing the riskschecklist
How can you reduce the risks?exercise results
Being prepared for disasterBusiness Link’s continuity planning
Keeping safewww.ictknowledgebase.org.uk/keepcomputerssafeandsound
Good housekeepingwww.ictknowledgebase.org.uk/maintenancetips
Planning and Budgeting
Where do you want to go – dreaming big
What is an ICT strategy?
What’s a realistic budget?
Budgeting for ICT
What should you budget for?
What are realistic prices?
Now do a rough budget for your organisation’s ICT – 5 mins
Budget Calculator
Strategy - 1
An ICT strategy is not about: detailed technical description unrealistic aspirations how you’re going to do it one bit of your organisation forcing another to do
something it doesn’t want to, by going over their heads to the Board of Trustees
Strategy - 2
An ICT strategy (sometimes known just as a plan) is about: having goals, even small ones, for:
doing things better doing better things
thinking things through setting out a framework and standards SMART objectives (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic &
timely) ensuring that your trustees are committed allocating responsibilities setting a realistic budget (of money and time) justifying your expenditure (of money and time)
Strategy - 3
Possible headings for an ICT strategy: Responsibilities Goals in the business plan for the next 5 years Contribution that ICT is expected to make: Major investments, including time-scale New developments and experiments, including time-scale Hardware purchase and replacement Software policy Security Support arrangements Training Budgeting Related policies Review period
Finding Your Way
Photo: flickr.com/photos/worldwidewandering
Finding Your Way 1(as a support tool)
When looking for information and advice which web sites do YOU use?
How do you find out about useful sites?
What questions do they answer?
What sites do you find unhelpful?
Finding Your Way 2
NAVCA www.navca.org.uk RuralnetUK www.net-gain.org.uk ICT Champions www.ictchampions.org.uk
(new website coming soon) Capacitybuilders www.improvingsupport.org.uk
(new Improving Support website coming soon) Knowledgebase www.ictknowledgebase.org.uk Suppliers Directory www.suppliersdirectory.org.uk UKRiders www.ukriders.info AbilityNet www.abilitynet.org.uk IT4Communities www.it4communities.org.uk CTX www.ctxchange.org.uk NCVO ICT www.icthub.org.uk
Top Tips 1(on doing more with less)
Software donation and discount schemes – save money
www.ctx.org and www.pugh.co.uk
Recycled and repurposed hardware
www.ictknowledgebase.org.uk/recyclingict
Green IT – saving energy and money
www.ictknowledgebase.org.uk/greencomputing
Open Office (on the USB stick) an alternative to Microsoft Office
www.openoffice.org
Top Tips 2(on doing more with less)
Online back-up services – secure, save moneywww.ictknowledgebase.org.uk/onlinebackup
0300, VoIP and saving money on phonecallswww.ictknowledgebase.org.uk/telephonesavingswww.ictknowledgebase.org.uk/voip
Sharing back office serviceswww.capacitybuilders.org.ukwww.improvingsupport.org.uk
Top Tips 3(on doing more with less)
DIY - www.ukriders.info
iTQ training - http://itq.e-skills.com/
Save money managing free events www.eventbrite.com
Free video conferencing www.oovoo.com
Collaborate Google Docs and Calendar
Aggregate the news – RSS
Arranging meetings – www.doodle.com
Online presentations – http://www.slideshare.net/– (these presentations will be available here)
Workshop prepared by
Miles MaierLondon Region ICT Champion
www.lasa.org.uk/ictchampion
020 7426 4496