5 ways to make your computer faster

At London Data we often have clients asking for advice on how to improve the speed and performance of their computer. In most cases, a few simple measures can make a noticeable difference, and the five ways described here are part of best practice daily management of any workstation.

1. Save your files onto the server instead of on your desktop or in My Documents, making sure they are on the correct drives and in the proper folders, so you can easily find them again. This saves disk space and ensures that the files are part of the company data backup.
2. A clear folder structure will make it easier to find files, and will reduce the risk of duplicating or losing documents.
3. Some programmes are set up to start when the computer is turned on meaning that they will slow down the whole start up process. Turn off automatic start-up of programmes such as Skype, Messenger etc. and schedule your daily virus scan for the lunch break instead.
4. Have regular tidy-ups of files and folders making sure you archive or delete items you no longer need. Also remember to empty the recycling bin as well as the deleted items folder in Outlook. In addition, every time you open a document online, a copy is stored in your Downloads folder on your local drive, go through it regularly and delete what you no longer need.
5. Uninstall any excess programmes you have no longer have a need for e.g. expired trial versions of programmes. Make sure the system does not need the programme. Open your control panel, go to programmes, then right click and click uninstall.

These steps will clear disc space, and reduce the risk of the computer clogging up trying to do too much at the same time.

Full Support Client Restructured Their Business and Doubled in Size

A Full Support client in EC2 London conducted a complete restructuring of their business setup, creating a 2 company structure working closely together, doubling the headcount at their offices. They took the opportunity to boost their IT infrastructure, and asked London Data to identify the key areas where their investment would benefit the most and carry out the required work.

Internet, Servers and Backup System Upgrade

Firstly, a leased line internet connection was installed, providing our client with a dedicated ad stable internet connection, something that is hard to come by in Central London.

Next, a state-of-the-art backup solution was implemented using Microsoft DPM, removing the need for backup tapes and giving full accessibility to files up to 10 versions back and capture and keep emails for a set number of days. This incorporates a failsafe Disaster Recovery solution protecting both companies’ data at all times.

Furthermore, new servers were installed with Windows Server 2008 Standard R2 providing the stability and manageability necessary when a company is reliant on IT. We set up servers for the new company and upgraded the existing company’s servers to ensure the clear division between the companies but at the same time maintaining the interoperability and benefits that come from two companies sharing office space. The setup of the servers included installing and configuring Microsoft Dynamics CRM, SQL Server 2008 Standard and Microsoft Exchange 2010, along with 2 brand new high-speed switches to accommodate the extra network access required.

Lastly, new workstations were set up with Windows 7, Office 2010 and the latest version of Sage Accounts, ensuring optimum compatibility with the servers.

Stability, Manageability and Performance

This all-round upgrade took couple of months to complete, ensuring a smooth transition and least possible disruption to the employees. The new hardware has a life expectancy of 3-5 years meaning that our client should have minimal hardware expenditures for the foreseeable future. Our client now has a more manageable and secure IT infrastructure that offers 


Terry May, Support Manager

Protecting Your Mobile Business Data

In today’s business world a smartphone gives value to some businesses and an indispensable tool for many more; providing far reaching flexibility and convenience. The diversity and portability of core, sensitive business data can however present big problems for pragmatic IT security.

London Data has made it its business to protect such precious data and we can recommend a few simple measures giving any smartphone a security upgrade that can prove essential if your smartphone gets stolen or left behind somewhere. For instance, there are apps available such as Theft Aware (for Android), Mobile Me (for iPhone) or Mobile Security (for Blackberry) giving you the opportunity to remotely locate and if necessary lock and wipe all data from your phone. 

Protecting your portable devices need only cost a tenner - contact us today for more information about how you can protect your personal information.

Failsafe Backup Solution for Busy Telephony Provider

One of our Complementary Support clients is a multinational mobile telephony provider offering global mobile services to customers throughout several countries. The client’s business does not permit any downtime in their IT infrastructure as they must be available to their customers at all times.

London Data has been commissioned to provide complementary support to the client’s offices in London hosting among other things a multi-lingual support centre operating 24/7.

In the past, London Data has worked closely with the client’s in-house IT support on upgrading and developing their infrastructure and ensuring stability in their system while eliminating errors that can lead to downtime.

The latest solution we have provided is an enterprise class backup solution as part of a comprehensive Disaster Recovery plan. This state of the art solution ensures both an on-site backup of all servers and an off-site full backup of the on-site backup.

This backs up not only the usual emails, files and folders but also programmes, suites and even the operating system. This provides a fully operational backup that in case of any incident can be re-setup at any office space, and everyone will be able to return to their work within the hour. In addition, this solution enables granular data retrieval in case of a user accidentally deletes overwrites or alters a file, email or database record. The backup will store 10 versions of any given document and each can be selected and restored into the original location in minutes.

These precautions will protect the client from any damaging downtime even in case of a major, medium or minor disaster, and give the employees a safety net for their data ensuring optimum operability for this busy telephony provider.

Server upgrade for not-for profit organisation

A not for profit client in London,NW3, had for a long time run their operations on an out-dated server providing only 130 GB space, greatly limiting the opportunities of file sharing to a point where they would no longer save larger data files on the server for fear of running completely out of space. The existing server dated back to 2003 and there was no option of adding more disk space; so a new server was necessary.

London Data planned a project to install a brand new low-energy server with over 1TB usable disk space, which would drastically increase the available capacity, providing a much needed and lasting upgrade. We took the opportunity to move the physical location of the server to release office space by setting up the server in an existing managed rack in a controlled environment. This will prolong the life of the server and also ensure maximum stability, while minimising the nuisances of noise and heat generated by a server.

The client has busy peak seasons where downtime of the server would cause major inconveniences; this is taken into account both in designing the solution and the setting up of the server. Everything was installed onto the new server and thoroughly tested before the server went live. We spent three days on site; migrating data, testing and ensuring a smooth transition.

The result is a high-performance server solution that provides the necessary stability and data security that is needed for the client to carry out their work in a dynamic and busy setting.

Cloud computing

IT network diagrams often include a symbol for the internet, a fluffy cloud. Just like it’s natural namesake, ‘The Cloud’ as an application service delivery model is a mysterious, organic, opaque and immeasurable entity and just as likely to show a silver lining as conceal then release a malicious electrical storm. As a customer of a Cloud service ­provider you place your data into a system that deliberately, in the name of commercial confidentiality and security, reveals nothing about it’s internal workings. Sure there are reassurances and even guarantees but watch out for the caveats; in the same way insurance companies disclaim with force majeure, The Cloud service provider will only guarantee what he can directly control and IT history tells us that’s very little.


One could, and is near forced to, blindly trust the provider -relying on your perceptions that they are an honourable company, who know what they are doing and that they can be trusted to protect your data come what may. From a security point of view (not to mention matters of operational, privacy or compliance) the concept of blind faith has a difficult place in an organisation’s business.


Once signed up to a cloud service you and likeminded peers are close together, sharing the service and it’s resources but where in nature there can be safety in numbers. In technology, if part of the service is under attack, there’s a fair chance you’ll be caught up in the collateral damage and suffer along with the intended target. So a question for the service vendor is ‘am I sited anywhere near a prolific, controversial or combative organisation?’
One counter argument could that these companies have excellent reputations, that nothing so far has ever compromised a client’s data security and that they make every possible effort to keep it that way. The service provider will give assurances that you and any other organisation are electronically separated by a large margin and that they have an infrastructure resilient to power outages, theft of hardware, theft of intellectual property (data), single point of failures and digital attack or denial of service. They will say they perform x number of penetration tests per year. But it will always be in your mind; you may have hired the IT equivalent of an unknown person looking after the kids overnight.


Keeping your servers and it’s data locked up in your own office or server room, with your own internet connection or two (which is wise) paying your own power bills, making sure your antiviri and system security patches are up to date, making sure when employees leave they don’t leave with the accounts or the master client list, means you are master of your own security and system availability.
If you don’t trust yourself to do this properly, there is the option is offload these IT functions to a cloud service provider out there, in the internet, amongst many others. Better, get to know and a trustworthy and proven IT solution provider but keep the data and it’s dependencies under your lock and key.

Is cloud computing safe?

No, all you have is blind faith.


The cloud service provider will only guarantee what it can directly control and IT history tells us that's very little.
One could, and is near forced to blindly trust the provider - relying on your perceptions that it is an honourable company, that knows what it is doing and that it can be trusted to protect your data come what may. From a security point of view (not to mention matters of operational, privacy or compliance) the concept of blind faith has a difficult place in an organisation's business.


Keeping your servers and their data locked up in your own office or server room, with your own internet connection or two (which is wise), paying your own power bills, making sure your anti-virus and system security patches are up-to-date, making sure when employees leave they don't leave with the accounts or the master clients list, all mean you are the master of your own security and system availability.
If you don't trust yourself to do this properly, there is the option to offload these IT functions to a cloud service. Better is to get to know a trustworthy and proven IT solution provider but keep the data and it's dependencies under your lock and key.


Paul Appleby, Owner and Technical Director
This article was first published in Civil Society IT, Sept 2009


London Data is now offering a private cloud computing solution reaping the benefits of the cloud in a managed and controlled way.