Working From Home (WFH)

Many people have never really contemplated working from home before. Many people don’t think it’s possible, or it will be painfully slow, or some vital tools won’t be available. Of course, for some that’s true but for many of us it’s entirely possible to work from home without any negative effect on our work.

The staff here at OMSUK have been routinely working from home on occasion for years and for the last week we’ve all been doing so full time. We don’t feel we’ve had any issues because we’ve planned well and put measures in place. We can help you do that too.

Of course it’s not just about accessing the server and making phone calls though, there are other human aspects too. Being comfortable, keeping an eye on the kids, keeping a routine and setting work/home boundaries are among the things people tend to struggle with. We have loads of suggestions for you so please get in touch if there is anything we can do to help.

In the mean time, Glen Fleishman has written a book all about WFH which is currently available free of charge. It’s full of tips and tricks you might find useful. You can grab your copy here.

Service update: Coronavirus/COVID-19 illness

Due the continuing escalation of the COVID-19 illness and the spread of the Coronavirus, OMSUK staff will only be performing site visits when absolutely needed over the coming weeks, to try and prevent the spread of the virus.

Site Visits

OMSUK colleagues are at a higher level of risk than most when it comes to potential exposure to this virus. This is due to the number of locations, people and equipment we come into contact with on a daily basis when making site visits.

By reducing the number of site visits, it also significantly reduces the risk of OMSUK staff spreading the virus to our clients.

Service Repairs

We will continue to offer service repairs in our workshop as normal, and you will be able to bring your machine in for repair. When bringing your machine, or collecting it, please press the Doorbell and one of the team will come to meet you at the door.

Remote Support

The OMSUK team are able to work from home or remotely very easily. There is very little that can only be done on-site, often we visit to do these tasks purely to say hello at the same time.

Supporting you & your business

OMSUK are more than happy to support you with planning for, and dealing with the impact of COVID-19. We would kindly ask that you contact us with plenty of notice for any changes needing to be implemented so that we can help you plan for this, and we can make sure we have resources available to you.

OMSUK have already assisted a number of businesses with ensuring their colleagues have the ability to work from home from their own device. In cases where the colleague needs a high spec iMac, Mac Pro, Windows PC or perhaps simply doesn’t own a computer at home, they will need to take their workstation with them.

I’m sure that you will understand this is in the best interests of your business, your colleagues and OMSUK.

Khalid Mehmood

Managing Director, OMSUK Ltd

iPad Pro - Security

Encrypted, managed with MDM Enterprise Security Certificates, and passwords protected with FaceID; the iPad is business secure

When I told the guys here at OMSUK that I’d ordered an iPad Pro to replace my work laptop they had some concerns, mostly around security. However it’s far less of an issue on iPad than a traditional computer.

The first great thing about all modern iPads is that they’re all encrypted. It’s not really an option, it’s just on when you setup a passcode, TouchID or FaceID and one less thing to remember to do when you get the device from new. This means that if it’s stolen then our confidential information (and yours) is safe.

Of course it’s only as safe as the passcode which can be 4 numbers, 6 numbers or a full password. A secure password would be annoying to type every time but with FaceID all I have to do is to look at the iPad and it’s unlocked & ready to use. Fast, secure and convenient.

FaceID goes further though. I use iCloud Keychain for my personal passwords and information and that is also unlocked with FaceID. So if I want to login to my iCloud, Gmail or even bank account, all I have to do is look at the iPad.

To keep customer data separate and accessible to the rest of the team we use LastPass. This lets us store logins for customers systems, computers, email and much more and share that information with the appropriate people within OMSUK. The great thing about that is that it also uses FaceID, so I can go to your secure website, look at the iPad and it logs me in which is super convenient.

The iPad can also be managed with our MDM solution. This uses Enterprise Security Certificates to manage security settings on the iPad, allow it on our corporate WiFi and even lock or wipe the iPad in the event it was lost or stolen.

All this is possible on the Mac, but with FaceID on the iPad Pro it’s even more convenient to the point that it’s almost invisible to the user.

Spotting Scam Emails

We all remember the “I am a Nigerian Prince” scam emails from a decade ago which has become a pop-culture reference for scam emails.

These days, people are putting a lot more effort into trying to trick you into giving over your personal information and/or payment details. Some copy a genuine email that a company uses, including logos, then tweak it to help them get the details they need. They are often forceful and try and use scare tactics to make you fall for the scam.

Below is an email I received back in March claiming to be from Apple:

Here are some things to look for that can help you decide if this is a genuine email or a fake.

Full Contact Email

If you click on the downward arrow as you hover over the sender name you can view the actual email address that sent it.

This is not an Apple address, so this just screams scam to me.

Multiple Recipients

If there is ever a problem with your account, why do 479 other people need to be receiving this email about your account?

Use of Language

Very often, scam emails have poor spelling and grammar. In the example email “You must be verified it an be used to recover your account.” has clearly not been proof read before sending.

They are often very forceful. Saying things will be deleted or removed permanently. This is a scare tactic to try and make you go along with their scam straight away.

If in Doubt

If you are unsure if it is a genuine email or not, close the email and visit the company website and contact them by the details they provide in their Contact page. That way you can be sure you are speaking to the real company and they can tell you if there is genuinely an issues with your account.

Anti-Spam/Anti-Scam Solutions

There are anti-spam services available to help stop these types of emails reaching your inbox in the first place such as Reflexion. This can help reduce the amount of junk and scam emails you receive.

If you would like to know more about products and services that could reduce your spam/scam email that lands in your inbox, please give us a call. One of our team would be happy to discus ways of helping you.

iPad Pro - Portability

Portable, lightweight, never-ending battery

When my MacBook Pro died at the end of last year I was faced with a decision; what do I replace it with? I considered at my requirements and top of the list was portability.

Looking at Apple’s laptop line-up I was stuck between the power of the MacBook Pro and the portability of the MacBook/MacBook Air. Then one other option occurred to me; the iPad Pro.

I picked up the 12.9” model for maximum screen size (mostly for multi-tasking) with 256GB of storage. It was a gamble, but one that 9 months later I’m over the moon with. The iPad Pro isn’t for everyone but for me it’s been a revelation.

The hardware retains the power of a MacBook Pro and while you lose the power of macOS, you also gain the power of iOS. It’s a different beast that takes a little getting used to but it’s works amazingly well.

Most importantly, this is the most portable device I’ve ever owned. It’s nearly half the weight of my last MacBook Pro (only 631g) and super thin. It fits in any bag and is so light you forget it’s even there. It works just as well on the couch, at a desk, in bed, on my lap or even on the floor. I work in all kinds of environments from offices to server rooms to coffee shops and can find a way to use the iPad in positions I just can’t use a laptop.

The other major revelation is the battery. With a genuine 10+ hour battery life it mostly lasts all day, which is more than I can say for my old MacBook Pro. Unlike the laptops, you can also use external battery packs. I picked up an Anker battery for about £35 that has another 2 full charges in it, meaning I don’t need to use the wall to power the iPad for over 30 hours of actual use. I can also use either the iPad or the battery to charge my iPhone too. This has been a life-saver when out and about, away for the weekend or when I’m sat too far away from an outlet for the charger to reach.

The iPad Pro has been a brilliant addition for me and I’m thoroughly enjoying using it. I’m planning to write some more blog posts about it so if you’re interested in how it’s working for me and how it’s fitting into my work then watch this space.