We are able to source and supply powerful and reliable workstations and servers, along with all industry standard operating systems, relational databases and applications.
Importantly, we can take a pragmatic look at your business needs and help you with your IT buying decision.
We try to strike a balance between the cost of infrastructure and the expected increased efficiency to ensure evolution rather than revolution!
Client-server applications
The client/server software architecture is a versatile, message-based and modular infrastructure that is intended to improve usability, flexibility, interoperability, and scalability as compared to centralized, mainframe, time sharing computing. Operating systems such as Unix, Linux and Windows Server 2003 form the backbone of the client server systems.
Using a relational database management system (DBMS) such as Oracle or MS Access, user queries could be answered directly. The client/server architecture reduced network traffic by providing a query response rather than total file transfer. It improves multi-user updating through a GUI front end to a shared database that can be queried by any standard query language (SQL). Client server applications are designed to work reliably and securely together and interact seamlessly with other data and applications across local and wide area networks resulting in reduced ongoing costs.
Communications applications
"Delivering the right data to the right place at the right time" has been our slogan since 1990 and messaging systems have evolved to meet the growing business demands of communication and productivity. ACT keeps pace with continuing advances in technology and have vast experience in the commissioning of communication systems such as:
- Internet
- Broadband
- ISDN
- PSTN
- VPN
- VoIP
- Wireless
- Satellite
- LAN/WAN
Mobile applications
By extending the reach of your business applications you not only achieve significant cost savings but improve both customer and staff satisfaction. We can supply mobile hardware and applications tailored to your busines needs, guaranteed to maximise the potential benefits.
Acquiring hardware for any use, let alone mobile applications, is a fairly easy task but applying that hardware and its applications to the purpose it was bought for is not so simple. How many electronic gadgets do you have gathering dust in the office let alone at home!
We specialise in supplying "right fit" technology ensuring that both hardware and software are "fit for purpose".
Firewalls
In construction, a firewall is a non-flammable wall that prevents fires from spreading throughout a building. Like the firewalls used in homes and buildings, computer firewalls act as a barrier between computers on a network filtering out anything that could be harmful and preventing intruders from accessing and tampering with your network. Firewalls can come in the form of hardware or software, including anti-virus software and due to the increasing use of the Internet, many companies employ both forms providing both primary and secondary defences.
Combating cyber crime in general is a daily task but you must be aware that a) anti-virus software is retrospective i.e. the virus has been broadcast and already caused damage before the antidote has been produced and b) that you do not know if you have been the target of a malicious hacker until your systems have been hacked!
We can help you build your defences and put in place contingency and disaster recovery plans to ensure that if you are a victim of cyber crime, then the impact on operations is kept to a minimum.
Windows applications
Few people are unfamiliar with Windows applications and whether or not they are compatible with their installed operating system. However, increasing standardisation and security is a top priority for organisations and O/S manufacturers such as Microsoft are producing significant enhancements to make your desktop environment safer. Whilst customer satisfaction is important, you can't risk compatibility issues with your key applications. We can help you verify which applications are compatible and those that are not. We can then help you to prioritise and cost-effectively deploy upgrades.
Legacy Data Imports
You may have a system that is pretty ancient in computer terms and not compatible with the remainder of your network, that still produces exactly what you want for your business needs but operates in a stand alone mode. Or you may be upgrading your system and have a data migration requirement as part of your project. Either way, you and your staff may be involved in unnecessary data duplication.
We can provide an effective solution by integrating you legacy system or performing an automated data transfer. System integration/data migration can be a complicated business, there is an array of alternatives that is broader than most people realise. Our experienced consultants and technical staff can help you to achieve a professional integration/migration saving you both time and money.
Data Visualisation Software
Everyone has their own way of working - it may be the way they have been taught or it may be the something that has evolved over the years or, as is usually the case, a mixture of both. Problem is, it will not be the same way as other people in your organisation.
Do you have multiple information sources that have different user interfaces? Can you never seem to find the right files?
The first solution is standardisation that ensures like data is stored in exactly the same place in relational databases and document management systems. The second solution is to employ data visualisation software that primarily provides a single GUI (Graphical User Interface) to all information resources.
Data visualisation software creates a conceptual overview of your business processes. It also allows you to link files, Web pages, database records and proprietary systems together and can dynamically connect to relational databases and document management systems.
If you are thinking of obtaining certification to any of the ISO-9000 standards, data visualisation software can be of considerable help in managing your quality processes.