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F UT UR E F O CUS ••
When something is ‘in the
cloud’ it means it’s stored
on Internet servers instead
of on your computer’s
hard drive.
Many businesses have made a
financial decision to move their
files onto the cloud. This means
they no longer have to buy their
own hardware equipment which
tends to depreciate or outdate too
quickly. Now their only costs are
incurred by how and when they
use the cloud and their programs
are easily updated. Business people have a world of possibilities
at their fingertips via the internet
instead of being limited by the few
programs available from software
packages bought by the company.
Two of the most popular servers
in the cloud are iCloud, specifically designed for Apple users,
and Google Drive. iCloud is a
tool which keeps all Apple devices
connected and securely stores all
photos, videos and documents.
The popular ‘Find My iPhone’
app operates in the cloud and
helps you find your missing
phone. Google drive is available in
two ways – either as an App (but
apparently this can slow down
the computer and use a lot of
your data) or online through your
Gmail account (which I am reliably informed is the better option
as it works just as efficiently).
Google Drive starts you off with
15 gigabyte of free online storage
from Google with the option to
buy more. Basically whatever you
decide to upload onto the cloud
will follow you wherever you go
and be available from any smartphone, tablet or computer – what
more could we want?
HOW SECURE IS THE CLOUD?
The cloud environment is as vulnerable as any other traditional
network to breaches of security.
Ultimately you are responsible
for protecting our own data. Your
information stored in the cloud
is as safe as how well you manage
your password. We all need to be
savvy when using the internet,
whether it’s while opening
emails or being alert to any
unusual reports. Phishing,
fraud and other exploitation
will not stop, so the secret is to
change your passwords regularly,
make sure they are not ‘obvious’
and at all times protect your credentials from being stolen.
As far as agriculture is concerned
we may think that we will not
need to learn to use these new
tools, but those who do make
time to do so will become more
efficient and easily adapt to new
technologies as they arrive at the
farm gate. The agricultural sector
is being transformed by the use
of data and increasingly in the
future we will see innovative new
uses from yield optimisation to
fertiliser management and new
apps will become available on our
phones to make our farming more
efficient and informed.
My next article will look at useful
Apps and I would love it if you
would drop me an email naming
your favourite app so I can explore
and share it with others here.
Email: [email protected]
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Legally Armed, in association with Martin & Visser Attorneys, offer
for the past 11 years, amongst others, the following services:
MOTIVATIONS FOR:
• any type of firearm licence
• accreditations for businesses
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2004 - 2015
Johan Martin 083 391 8180
[email protected]
www.legallyarmed.co.za
• import / export of firearms
• renewals
• appeals, etc.
40 000
satisfied
clients!
* Preferred service
provider for Wildlife
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SENWES Scenario • OKT/NOV 2016
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