The ability to leverage off a single infrastructure and support many customers continues to drive investment in virtualisation and

related product.

Essentially, cloud-based service is seen as a cost-saving measure, a viewpoint underpinned by the offer of low-cost flexibility to enable businesses to concentrate on their core focus. But like any rapidly developing technology trend, companies must be cautious in their approach and selection of service providers when it comes to cloud-based service, support and offerings.

Key questions to consider are: how long has the service provider been operating within the outsourcing space? Who are their partners and investors? What is their existing client base? and where is my data and infrastructure being housed?, amongst others.

We are encouraged by the rate at which web-based computing and applications is being integrated into the mainstream commercial enterprise and trade. There is value in this investment and the fact that it does not require up-front capital outlay, and many operators across a wide variety of industry will be in a position to benefit. This is where we believe we are positioned to add significant value and, in line with our strategy, we continue to break new ground through partnerships.

To this end we are also very proud to have launched the IntegrS Entrepreneur Partner Program® (IEPP), an initiative that was initially intended to offer internal support to ideas and innovation. It has now developed into a comprehensive membership-based program that can truly empower would-be entrepreneurs. We believe this initiative equates to benefit in the form of joint marketing and a boost to

the credibility of a business or venture.

Candidates that have an innovative idea, entrepreneurial flair or are in need of mentorship, leadership or venture capital investment now have the means to begin their own business and are free to apply to the IEPP board for consideration (entrepreneur@integrSit.com). The South African economy can only be strengthened by a forum that offers entrepreneurs and innovators meaningful help to establish businesses.

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Lance Fanaroff, Joint CEO, Integr8 Group

Robert Sussman, Joint CEO, Integr8 Group

Integr8 face-to-face with Zuckerburg

The IntegrS Group is planning to capture further market share within Africa's expanding cellular-based mobile Internet segment. Having recently met with management at Facebook at the company's headquarters in Silicon Valley Palo Alto, California, Rob Sussman returned to South Africa with a fresh strategy to capitalise on what he describes as "the most viable platform to expand access to online resources in Africa."

"There is great interest in addressing the need for Internet access within the mass market in South Africa and Africa. However, whilst the PC and laptop have been identified as the most practical means of providing access in other regions and markets, from a domestic point of view the convergence of cellular technology with Internet applications represents the most practical way of engaging the local market," says Rob.

According to him there is definitely room for other service providers within the integration of social platforms with mobile devices. He points out that aspects such as access to Facebook applications via iPhone and Blackberry represent key drivers behind the market. "However this access is not available for text-based only phones, so this may emerge as a key area of opportunity for new players."

IntegrS is now planning to bolster its Africa strategy to leverage off the popularity of social networking platforms and the ripple effect of increased access within ICT infrastructure development and managed services. "Our objective is to deliver first-world applications and services to Africa. We take heed of greater access to global social media sites via last mile and undersea cables, as well as the value that social networking has in business today. This is something that decision makers must embrace and use as a highly strategic resource," Rob continues.

As a reminder to the market of its intent, IntegrS recently hosted multiple National premiere evenings of The Social Network movie, a depiction of Zuckerberg's rise to fame. The evening was attended by IntegrS's customers, business partners, Facebook Fans as well as the country's leading CEO's, CIO's and Entrepreneurs.

The Social Network, directed by David Fincher, is about the founders of the social-networking website Facebook and its impact on the world.

photos on last page of the Facebook event

Exciting ti:mes ahead for end users

Whilst the Ief industry is without doubt one of the most dynamic (complete with constant change and innovation), lately business end users cou Id be forgiven for th In king otherwise.

Apart from a couple of new operating system releases and some movement in the mobile space, there hasn't been much excitement fm this user group.

MIDst of the Innovation and changes have taken place within the data centre and back office environments, with the maturity of technologies like vlrtualisatton and cloud computing.

Jan Raux, M'D, Integra Group

However there is light on the horizon and a 'great deal to look forward to as a myriad of technologies are set to combine and wiil forever

change the way people do business. With a whole wave of tablet PCs from Apple, Blackberry and HP hitting the market, true mobility has now become a reality.

If we combine these mobility solutions with technologies like cloud computing, which has finally matured to such an extent that it is a true business solution for the business enterprise, we can say with confidence that the workplace will never be the same. Exciting times lie ahead for the business user and Integr8 is positioned to assist our clients to take. full adva ntage of the opportunities.

Rica! leglislation latest

Many mobile phone subscribers have, we are sure, breathed a huge sigh of relief with news that the deadline to c-omply with the Rica (Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act) has been I' extended. \

Meclia reports confirm that the deedllne of December 2010 has been extended by six months . Aside from the frustration for end users in terms of logistics involved and the administrative regulation etc., the legislation does point to the fact that authorities. believe data remains a highly coveted asset.

The ability to communicate from mobile devices Is a mechanism that warrants closer inspection in terms of control. This will remain a contentious issue for some time to come.

Alert, focused, driven and competitive - doing business in 2011

Decision makers will have to adapt a vigilant, determined and focused stance in order to successfully negotiate challenges and capitalise off opportunity In comingfinanciai year.

SQuthAfricCl, much lik'e many other developIng markets, continues to feel the pressure and the impact of a global credit crunch on socio-economic development.

BUsinesses am grappling with ever-changing legislation, regulation covered by corporate governance and significant changes within human resource management.

Of course technology will playa critical role and will add value, but technology alone will not suffice. Companies will have to be even more flexible and proactive than they have been, specifically with regards to decision making and application of strategy.

Decision makers will have to raise the bar on communications and operations against a backdrop of increasing legislation, the need to innovate and keep up to date with trends such as cloud computing' and virtual-based services and support.

Whilst we' have to remain steadfast and resilientto pressures, we must also be realistic.

Tami Sussman, Marketing&' HR Director, Integr8

Human Resource management will be at the forefront of commerce and trading, and we have to position ourselvesac.cordingly.

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Pr'o'curement launches excitin,gweekly specials

Be on the look out every Monday for a weekly special sent out from Procu rem ent,

Watch this space for interesting and exciting products that will be on offer from the latest technologies the . world has to offer! .

When aniPAD is just not good enough for me anym.ore

recently read an article on 'techplnqer.com' which

highlighted certain aspects of the BlackPad. The device has a seven-inch touch screen, up to two cameras, as well as Bluetooth suppbrting QNX as instead of Blackberry 6 as.

According to the article the Blacl<Pad will offer mobile Internet, but only through another BlackBerry smartphone - so one will need a BlackBerry. This will not be a problem for most of u s at Integr8.

The BlackPad matches the brilliance of BlackBerry's Apps Store and leverages off the safe reputation BlackBerry devices still have within corporate circles.

The assurnptlon ls that Citrix, whose recetver application is a hit on the .Apple .iPad, are is planning to support .RIM's device ..

The BlackPad, which will be launched at a RIM developer conference, will challenge the domination of Apple's iPad in the tablet arena.

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Other manufacturers such as. Samsung, Dell and Motorola all are looking at similar devices running on the Android 0/5 made by Google.

Once you go Black, you'll never go mack!

Organisations often ha.ve to face the challenge. of limited resources in providing an adequate: level of protection. As a result they either recruit and train security experts or divert critical IT resources from projects designed to drive growth a nd productivity.

Both options leave organisations to manage the complexity of ever-changing regulations, technologies and threats, which isa time consuming and expensive proposition.

Key challenges thatorganlsatJons face today include:

Protect data and endpoints from malicious internal and external threats Zero-day threat protection (requires behavioural analysis)

Handle complexity in the management of multiple endpoint security solutions

Reduce costs associated with managing multiple endpoint security solutions

DevelopabiHty to effectively manage policy violation incidents and handle false positives

IntegrB's Managed EndPoint Security offering addresses these challenges by combining management and 24)(7 remote monitoring of the endpoint (devices). Organisations benefit from enhanced protection! lower total cost of ownership and improved operational efficiencies.

Know:ing more about people - the writing is on the wall

An interesting emerging trend within the human resources arena is that of the use of graphology (handwriting analysis) to learn more about prospective employees.

There is so much at stake as far as the protection of key resources in business is concerned that any mechanism that can help to raise character traits and simplify decisions, is considered a worthwhile investment. According to onllne reports grapholog,V Involves the measurement of involuntary impulses between the brain and whichever appendage is used to Write.

Handwriting, it is said, can be analysed to offer information about an employee such as motivation, strengths, weaknesses, creativity am! flexibi lity, amongst a number of other character traits. As withanyHR process that is ratified by a company and subject. to analysis, reports and inSight, this level of assessment can only be done with the consent of the 'employee.

Weare not sure to what extentthls process is being used, if at all, but it certainly raises an interesting debate as to what measures decision makers could go to in order to recruit and retain the very best of the best.

GSKeeper Servke Desk - updating cans

Are you aware that 'Iou can Update your support tlcketsImply by replying to the email update sent to you with the Ticket ID in the. subject line?

Simply dick reply, add your comments J Updates (just do not change anything in the subject line) and the call will be updated and all affected parties notified.

Each call has three 'affected parties', and they will all receive this update. The three affected parties are the submitter from the dlent, the call owner from Integra Nerve Centre and the assignee (assigned engineer), who is currently working on the call.

'GSKeeper - Always Alert'!

Technol:ogy that offers more than. paper-based beneflt

For years people have been talking about the· paperless office, but between 1980 and 2000 paper oonsumption has doubl'ed.,

Since 2000 consumption has dropped by a few percent each year. However with the proliferation of smart phones, a-readers, tablet PCS, the I-pad and the soon to be released HP Slate - with more sure to follow and the usage I of online storage and document sharing, it is likely that -..--_ ....... ' there will be a, real decline in paper usage.

E-tickets for everything from movies to flights, electronic prescriptions, maps: and GPS, the abJllty to scribble notes on a tablet among numerous other electronic aids, are. all considered Important contributions to the saving of trees.

Unfortunately, this may not bea meaningful contribution to the environment as we are already witnessing a problem ln the disposal of old electronic devices that cannot be recycled as easi 1'1 as pa per.

Integr8 team members recently took pa,rt in S.W.E.A.T •. 1000,a new workout that: has just arr.ilfed in South Africa.

Welcome to our new clients

Eurosteel & Value Logistics

UIR,'O STEEIL

ILOGISTIICS

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CU.stomier ICentric

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Seen with

INTEGR'B® GROUP'

Custo.mers, partners and clients of the Integra Group recently put on their best faces for the premiereof The Sodal Network •. The company hosted national premieres of the movie about those behind the rise of Fa.cebook and used the opportunity to engage its malrket about the impactofonliine social platforms in eommerce,