(1-Feb-2012) The toll of cyber crime appears to be rising as criminals become more sophisticated and more focused on financial gain. And while businesses are doing a bit better at protecting themselves, criminals have become better at bypassing...

Vendor Research

This agenda discussion document positions Info-Tech Indaba's upcoming cloud research. By uncovering the keys to cloud success, the research will help vendors ensure their channel's willingness to sell their cloud offerings, rather than their...

Video

Info-Tech developed these three rules of utility infrastructure investment as a way of establishing what matters to the business in increasingly abstracted infrastructures. Though cloud buzz calls both internal and external utility...

Note

Info-Tech's recent survey on cloud computing has revealed that although it is still early days, the external cloud is taking hold in small enterprises. And it appears to be more than just a fad: IT decision makers expect the external cloud to...

Solution Set

Cloud computing offers a compelling opportunity for small businesses to reduce IT costs. Cloud costs are orders of magnitude lower than the per unit costs of internally developed IT resources.

While cloud computing hype can be overblown, actual benefits are out there. Start by understanding the types of cloud service and what they can do for you. This note cuts through the cloud hype so you can start reaping tangible results.

Note

In the last few years, the mid-market CRM landscape has changed due to the emergence of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) into the mainstream market and changes in consumer needs and buying behavior. Examine the summary findings from a recent...

Effective Project Portfolio Management (PPM) is fundamental to the success of any enterprise. Market leading software solutions offer structured project and portfolio management functionality, robust reporting, full-bodied resource management,...

Help desk solutions have evolved from a variety of different approaches. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems have been adapted to service desk duty, and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) delivery is now a real alternative to on-premise...

Help desk software continues to evolve with diverse solutions, such as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) offerings and task-tailored Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems. Learn how these creative help desk solutions can meet enterprise...

In the age of terabytes, effective data management is imperative to business success. Turn to data integration solutions to provide stakeholders, both internal and external, with a unified view of enterprise information in preparation for the...

The Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) delivery model can offer considerable operational benefits, but it also challenges enterprises to better manage data that is dispersed across multiple stores and locations. IT leaders must ensure that their SaaS...

The Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) delivery model is most beneficial when enterprises have the ability to access and manipulate the data stored by SaaS providers alongside that which already resides within on-premise infrastructure. IT leaders...

At the recent 2008 Sage Summit customer conference, Sage unveiled further progress towards achieving their CRM 2010 strategic vision. Significant enhancements to Sage SalesLogix were unveiled and a new Web synchronization service for ACT! By...

At the recent 2008 Salesforce.com "Dreamforce" conference, Salesforce.com unveiled several new features and products. The most noticeable was formal integration with social networking giant Facebook.

Tool

SaaS is not a suitable alternative to on-premises applications for everybody. IT managers must thoroughly assess the appropriateness of the model for their enterprise before moving forward with it.

Enterprise technology investments are progressively addressing financial and environmental concerns. In a time of economic downturn, IT must focus on getting the best bang for its buck without being distracted by flashy marketing. Keep a clear...

For hype alone, 2008 will be the year of "the cloud." Among those jumping on the cloud computing bandwagon will be the major players in enterprise infrastructure virtualization. But making the cloud an external extension of internal utility...

Institutions of higher education have unique needs for Customer Relationship Management (CRM) applications. Info-Tech Research Group recommends building a CRM strategy centered on the unique student lifecycle of the institution and then partner...

Wikis are a solid alternative for workplace collaboration ? as long as enterprises implement them effectively. Examine these five case studies to learn from small organizations that have successfully integrated wiki solutions into their operations.

The Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) delivery model is impacting the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) project lifecycle. Understanding the impact that SaaS has on CRM is necessary to achieve successful on-demand CRM implementations.

Tool

For smaller service desks, a hosted (Software-as-a-Service) help desk tool may be more cost-effective than an on-premise package. Use this Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) calculator to determine which of the two options is best for your organization.

In growing numbers, mid-sized enterprises are adopting employee self-service (ESS) as part of their overall HR solution. To realize maximum returns on the investment, IT leaders must clearly understand the values and the limitations of...

Selecting the best HR software requires IT leaders to effectively manage, optimize, and expedite the vendor/product purchasing and procurement process. Cut through the vendor hype by focusing on key features and functions to choose the best HR...

IT managers that attempt to implement a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) system without adequate planning are setting the project up for failure. Introducing SaaS into an enterprise requires careful preparation in terms of process, people, and...

Given the right circumstances, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provides a faster and more cost-effective alternative for enterprises to achieve their business objectives. IT managers that want to use SaaS must first assess the appropriateness of...

Tool

IT managers need a robust and objective process for creating a vendor shortlist. By creating a best-fit shortlist of SaaS solutions, buyers will save time, eliminate frustration, and avoid vendor hype. Use this tool to lower risks when moving to...

Tool

IT managers should assess prospective vendors' IT infrastructures to eliminate immature vendors or vendors that are poorly aligned with the company. Use the Info-Tech "Vendor Infrastructure Maturity Assessment Calculator" to help map a course...

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is changing the landscape of the enterprise applications market. IT managers that understand the current trends and future prospects of the SaaS market will be in a better position to maximize the returns of their...

Tool

The Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) delivery model can bring a lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) than its on-premises equivalent. Use this calculator to find out if the enterprise can reap TCO benefits from the on-demand SaaS model.