Archive June 10, 2022

AI Mobile Automation Testing (Fact or Fiction)

Leave a comment
Manual Test Automation

Technology is ever-growing, and so are the various testing techniques, such as AI mobile automation testing.

A study by Kobiton showed that companies are willing to invest more and more in mobile app testing.

Mobile app testing is something many applications have to go through. It can be slightly challenging, as Shannon, an evangelist at Kobiton, says, “mobile application automation is challenging to achieve however, new trends aim to ease the process.

Mobile testing continues to increase in importance. It’s essential to have the right strategy and tools for each type of mobile testing.

A big trend I keep hearing these days is about having the ability to integrate app testing with AI and ML. This new trend will help speed the mobile testing process effectively and efficiently.

In this article TestGuild writer, Laveena Ramchandani shares how mobile app testing has evolved and how AI helps deliver this successfully.

What is mobile testing, and why is it important?

Mobile device testing is a technique for testing for functionality, usability, and consistency on mobile apps. Testing on mobile devices is done manually or assisted by automation.

Mobile testing is vital for many reasons;

  • Conducting business
  • Make sure the app works as intended
  • Make sure it’s accessible to a broad audience
  • Mobile apps usually have more users and need to work on a broader range of devices, leading to greater complexity in testing. While web apps are increasingly used on mobile devices, testing them is not quite as complex.

When it comes to mobile apps, you need to consider various things when planning your mobile app testing.

What can you do before you start mobile testing?

  • Understand your application
  • Understand your needs
  • Critical components of the application and how they function ( eg, iOS device on an Android device)
  • Automation that needs to be done
  • Framework required (XY tests and Espresso to remove flakiness, aim for hybrid frameworks)
  • Make sure your tests are running
  • Test run at a decent speed
  • Tests completed in a timely manner
  • Aim for device fragmentation native frameworks however that work for one platform( could add Appium)

The frameworks for Mobile Automation Testing

There are various frameworks you can use when performing mobile app testing; however, the following frameworks are the highly used/ recommended ones.

Is Codeless Mobile app testing the way forward?

Should you focus on script-based testing or codeless automation?

Good question?

As you’ve seen, mobile testing is still in its infancy, and many scripting issues can cause your test to become flaky.

That’s why you are seeing a lot of frameworks coming out that try to combat issues, such as the Xpath error on Appium.

The answer might be to go codeless with machine learning behind it.

For instance, the ML code can look for another identifier if a locator is not recommended or can’t be found at runtime.

This is an area where artificial intelligence plays a significant role.

The new tech trend that we’re currently seeing ourselves in is commercializing artificial intelligence.

So that is why you see more codeless, scriptless automation solutions that AI is driven,

However, with some frameworks today, you still have to do a bit of manual collation of test steps to stitch everything up and then make it work via the AI enhancements, but this can increase inconsistencies.

That’s why Shannon thinks a solution like Kobiton, on the other hand, showcases true AI-driven, scriptless automation, and it’s true scriptless and based on machine learning algorithms. And there is no need to do the manual drag and drop step.

Pros of codeless

  • With AI the algorithm learns your application
  • Robust
  • AI becomes smarter every time you use the test case over and over
  • Not time-consuming

Cons of Codeless

  • More of a top-down approach from UI to the layers below
  • Not a lot of test coverage with scriptless automation
  • Not comprehensible, you can do some API tests and e2e but not as extensively
  • No granular control of what you are trying to automate

So how does Kobiton get around some of these cons?

Nova at Kobiton

The aim of Kobiton here is for Nova to go faster, forward, and be flexible. If you want to go scriptless using AI Mobile Automation Testing, then Nova helps with that too:

  • Nova captures the XPath associated with every element you touch
  • Nova generates an Appium script for you
  • Now you can run your scriptless script on as many devices as you wish
  • You can run the Appium script as many times as you like after that for any device set within your chosen framework
  • You can also run your scripts via a Jenkins job or on a CI/CD pipeline.

Kobiton supports CI/CD tools and has integrated with Jenkins. It’s a “first-come, first scriptless and not so much script-based at the moment.”

For those who are not going to go scriptless, Nova provides:

  • An auto-generated script that you can use
  • An in-house Appium server that is much faster can help with scriptless testing.
  • Appium being so great and how it can envelop both native frameworks or native app frameworks, Kobiton can do the same, but it can do it three times faster, leveraging Appium scripts.

flexCorrect to help AI with script-based automation

flexCorrect is the first of its kind coming to the market.

Shannon also mentioned that this is where we see artificial intelligence helps assist script-based automation, especially when it comes to flaky and inconsistent tests.

“So flexCorrect assists in script-based automation so that when you are running your Appium script and say it fails because an element not found on Page flexCorrect will prevent it from falling.

Furthermore, artificial intelligence comes into play by analyzing script-based automation.

So it’s capturing the object within the tree hierarchy of your application, and it’s also doing a manual session, or even just reruns of the test case on a real device Nova Kobitons AI engine can actually map elements across the screen, so if you’re tapping this element on the screen, it will pin that within the hierarchy and capture that XPath right there.

So that’s the two-pronged approach to how flexCorrect works in artificial intelligence, assisting script-based automation.

Also, have one prong that is again capturing the objects to capture the entire hierarchy and learning from it, analyzing it, and then the second prong of being able to map elements, map that element and pin it to the hierarchy. It will correct that instance for you, ensuring that your test continues running.

AI in Mobile Automation Conclusion

AI is currently enhancing mobile app testing and is an innovation again in itself coming from a really robust artificial intelligence engine that’s running it.
Shannon says. that this is constantly being worked on with every release to really make sure that it has the utmost confidence and failures and passes and everything so that we can allow our users to know that they’re in good hands using Kobiton.

Source

How to Create a Mobile App Wireframe

Leave a comment

Wireframing is a crucial step in the mobile app development process. It helps provide a clear vision for stakeholders, development teams, designers, and everyone else associated with the project.

An app wireframe is a backbone for creating a successful design and building an app that users will love.

This in-depth guide explains everything you need to know about app wireframes, including how to make an app wireframe and best practices to follow.

What is a Mobile App Wireframe?

An app wireframe is a two-dimensional blueprint and visual guide that represents the skeletal framework of a mobile application. 

The wireframe stage takes place early on in the product life cycle before any actual development or design begins. This initial stage of an app project helps demonstrate how the app will work and what it will look like.

Wireframes should visually illustrate different steps in the user journey as a way to identify potential pain points before the dev team starts building. It should include all of your page elements, navigation screens, content, and main objectives. 

An app wireframe gets everyone on the same page, so the team knows what they’re building, and stakeholders know what to expect as the final product. 

Wireframes do not include any colors, stylized graphics, images, logos, fonts, or mobile app design elements. They’re simply early sketches that show how the app will be used.

You can think of a wireframe as the blueprint of a house. It contains all of the rooms, doors, windows, electrical infrastructure, and plumbing but does not include any furniture or decorations.

Why Are Mobile App Wireframes Important?

App wireframes are a crucial part of the mobile app development and design process.

Wireframing helps provide a clear picture of how end-users will interact with your app. If you can’t explain how your app idea solves the problems of your customers, then you might need to go back to the drawing board. 

Let’s take a closer look at the reasons why it’s so important to create an app wireframe.

Visual Blueprint of the App

Having an idea is great, and having a good idea is even better. But even the best ideas are useless if you don’t have a clear plan and vision.

Verbally conveying your idea to a development team and assuming they’re going to deliver what you want is unrealistic. 

But a wireframe gets your point across and makes it easier to share your vision with project teams, investors, and stakeholders.

You can’t think about funding, user testing, or other business-related decisions without a wireframe. Putting these ideas into a wireframe first will make your life much easier. 

Faster Iterations

An app wireframe helps simplify an otherwise large or intimidating development process. Breaking your project into smaller, attainable tasks is a much easier way to achieve success. 

The great part about building a wireframe is that it doesn’t take a ton of time. This helps you build momentum and get the ball rolling as you’re assembling your team, giving presentations, and pitching investors. 

Executing these iterations in the early stages of development is much easier, and you can continue building on these steps. 

Avoid Mistakes

Your app wireframe should lay out the different screen functions. 

It helps you determine where certain app features should be placed and if there’s enough room on the screen to accommodate those functions. 

An app wireframe helps you establish a hierarchy of elements before you implement the design. It’s much easier to do this on paper than after you’ve committed any code. 

Mistakes here are really easy to fix. But fixing mistakes post-development is much more challenging.

Saves Time and Money

As previously mentioned, an app wireframe helps you identify potential flaws and pain points before anything has been coded. This saves you a ton of time and money on development costs. 

Wireframes also provide your developers and designers with a clear picture of what they’re building. So starting with a wireframe can actually speed up the development process and shorten your overall timeline. 

Even things like content creation will be streamlined since the structure of your app’s screens has already been organized. Content creators and designers won’t have to ask any questions about where certain elements should be placed.

An app wireframe makes it easier to estimate costs as well. For example, if you’re outsourcing a UX/UI design team, they’ll likely provide you with a more accurate estimate since they know exactly what you’re looking for. So the chances of running over budget are reduced.

How to Wireframe Mobile Apps in 5 Simple Steps

Creating a wireframe is easy when you follow the step-by-step guide below:

  1. Map Out the App’s User Flow
  2. Organize the Mobile App Content
  3. Determine the Layout
  4. Create a Detailed Wireframe
  5. Integrate the Design Elements

Step #1 — Map Out the App’s User Flow

User flows are the backbone of wireframes for mobile applications. 

A user flow is a visual guide that showcases the series of actions a user must take to reach a specific goal. Not all user flows are linear—meaning there might be multiple paths to achieve a goal within your app.  

You can start creating a user flow by sketching your idea on a piece of paper. Eventually, you can take this sketch to the next level with a digital version of the flow.

Remember, an app wireframe does not contain design elements just yet. So you can use simple rectangle boxes as image placeholders with arrows to showcase the flow. 

You can start to think about dropdown menus or the bottom tab bar of each screen, but these won’t necessarily be included in the early sketches of UX flows. 

After you’ve visualized the flow, you can share your early concepts with others. This allows you to get feedback from your team and other people. It forces you to create each screen with a clear purpose for achieving the end goal.

If a screen does not help a user do something related to the app’s purpose, then it can be removed from the flow. 

For example, let’s say you’re designing a food delivery app. The app’s goal is to get food in the hands of users who can order from different restaurants. 

After selecting a restaurant, should the user be brought to an “Our Story” screen for that particular establishment? No. That would disrupt the flow of ordering. 

These are the types of things you need to take into consideration when you’re going through this process. 

Step #2 — Organize the Mobile App Content

Now that you have a clear vision of your wireframe design, you can start to think about the actual copy and content that you’ll use in the app. 

What is going to appear on different mobile screens? How will that content integrate with the user flow?

Using a simple spreadsheet or reusable content blocks is an effective way to organize your content. You can start to list things like headers, images, links, and anything else that will appear in your mobile frame.

For example, let’s say you’re creating a fitness app to expand your personal training business. You could put together a spreadsheet with your main app content that includes training videos, meal prep instructions, and fitness guides. 

Then you could organize that content even further by segmenting cardio exercises from weight lifting. Within a weight lifting category, you can have sub-segments for arms, legs, back, etc. 

It’s much easier to organize your content now, as opposed to later on when you’re mapping out the screen layouts. You can refer to your content list as you plug things in during the next steps.

Step #3 — Determine the Layout

Next, you can establish the visual hierarchy and interface elements of your key screens. This will eventually set up the interaction design. 

Your app layout is essentially a combination of the first two steps we’ve already gone through. You’re going to take the content from step two and integrate it with the user flows in step one. 

You can still use basic shapes and tab bar placeholders instead of using any actual copy. But you can eliminate at least some of the placeholder text or screens with headers.

For example, your home screen layout might initially include Lorem ipsum placeholder text. Now you can get rid of those placeholder headers and add the main headers from your content list. 

You can establish the hierarchy of screen elements using size as a point of reference. 

Larger buttons, text, and CTAs are more important than smaller text located at the bottom of the screen. You can play around with different variations of the screen layouts as you’re going through this process. 

I strongly recommend using easily recognizable design patterns when you’re thinking about the screen layouts. 

For example, let’s say you’re going to include a bottom tab bar navigation on each screen of your app that includes the app’s most important screens. Having a house icon for a home screen makes more sense than a random shape or icon. This is something that users are already familiar with, and they understand exactly where that button is going to take them. A smiley face icon is not appropriate for your settings page. 

Look at the example above. You know exactly where the home button and settings button are, even without any text on the page.

Similarly, these icons would not fit in the middle of the screen, but they make sense placed at the bottom navigation. 

These are the types of things you’ll have to consider when you’re mapping out the screen layouts. 

Step #4 — Create a Detailed Wireframe

Detailed wireframes go beyond a basic sketch or hand-written notes. They are often high-fidelity versions of what your app will look like, including ready-made templates for your screens. 

You don’t have to put in real images, videos, or anything like that just yet. But the wireframes should be digitalized and include the real spacing between buttons and content. 

A detailed wireframe does not need to include any logos, custom fonts, or specialty UI elements. But they are a bit more formal for sharing with stakeholders and other team members. To make something stand out, you can use bold text, sizing, or spacing. 

As you can see, there is still some Lorem ipsum placeholder text in the author bio section of that particular screen. But the sign-up screen has been replaced with the actual text.

The screen in the middle of this example shows how different book topics will be displayed on the screen, but it doesn’t actually go into detail about the genres. 

Step #5 — Integrate the Design Elements

Technically, design elements are not part of the actual process for wireframing. Design is a completely different stage in the development process. 

However, wireframing and design are so closely related that it makes sense to start thinking about it now. 

If the design isn’t your strength, you can consult with multiple designers to show you different design patterns and ideas. 

The responsive design development stages and other design elements will be implemented later on, but you can still add some of them now, depending on your goals. 

For example, let’s say you need to raise money to fund your app. Pitching the app to investors is probably better if the wireframe includes more than just black and white placeholder text. Even some design elements can make the wireframe a bit more visually appealing.

Source

IOS VS ANDROID DEVELOPMENT – WHICH IS BETTER?

Leave a comment

Creating a ANDROID app is a mobile operating system  practical approach to expanding an existing business. In addition, this is a chance to increase client loyalty by allowing them to use your services on their smartphone or tablet.

Starting an app begins with a concept or solution to a specific problem and selects an operating system for app development.

On the market now, iOS and Android are the only two solutions worth considering.

Let’s find out which one you prefer: IOS or Android development?

Android vs iOS

Unlike in the past, when there were multiple possibilities, iOS and Android are currently the only platforms worth considering. When combined, they account for about 100% of the mobile market.

According to the most recent statistics, Android and iOS control about 97% of the worldwide smartphone industry. As a result, you should develop and deploy your software simultaneously on both platforms, as there is no reason to explore the third platform.

Unfortunately, due to time, resources, and money restrictions, this strategy may not be feasible. As a result, many entrepreneurs and businesses must consider the advantages and disadvantages of Android vs. iOS apps and launch on one platform first before moving on to the other. There are obvious distinctions between the two platforms.

Aspects to consider while selecting a mobile operating system

When deciding between Android and iPhone app development, these are the significant considerations to consider.

They are as follows:

The availability and cost of talent

Android developers must produce apps that function on various devices, whereas iOS developers are only responsible for Apple products. It’s helpful to know that Android development might take longer in terms of money and schedule.

Target audience

The percentage of your target audience who owns a smartphone must be taken into consideration when deciding between Android and iOS app development. Next, look at demographic data like age, income, and gender to gain a clear picture of your target population. This is a convincing reason to choose iOS over the others if you discover that your target market favors this platform over the others. First, you need to know how many smartphones your target audience owns and which platforms they prefer to use. 

Process of costing and reviewing

These are some of them:

Update to be compatible with the most recent operating system

Thoroughly test and update to work with the most recent devices.

While some developers’ app proposals are accepted within a few hours, there are numerous review horror stories of app submissions being stalled for weeks or even months. It’s crucial to remember that, regardless of how difficult App Store submissions maybe, if your market research suggests that your target market prefers iOS devices, this is the platform you should create first.

Monetization

The last thing to think about is your monetization plan or generating money from the app. Despite accounting for more than 75% of all worldwide app downloads, Google Play made around 88 percent less income than Apple’s app store last year (2018). This implies that selling an app via a subscription model or in-app purchases is more profitable if you create it for iOS. Ad-based monetization tactics, on the other hand, have a higher success rate in Android apps. Android developers are also growing better at driving customer spending, according to the data.

HOW DO AVOID APP STORE REJECTION FOR APPS WITH USER-GENERATED CONTENT?

Leave a comment

Creating an app is not easy. You might have worked on it for weeks or even months to get a version that you (or your clients) are happy with. However, this is only half the work, and the rest is concerned with getting your app live and running on the App Store.

Once you submit your app for reviews, it takes about 24-48 hrs for you to get a response from the App Store’s review team. Apple is infamous for its closed ecosystem and tight control. Any deviations from their app guidelines will warrant immediate rejection. The whole process is even more rigorous for apps that accept user-generated content.

What if Apple rejects your app?

The first thing to do is go through the rejection email carefully. Usually, the App Store team gives a detailed description of what has gone wrong. 

For example, Suppose you violated section 1.2 of App store guidelines which deal with User-Generated content. In that case, this is the typical response mail you will receive:

Your app enables user-generated content but does not have the required precautions in place.

Next Steps

Please revise your app to implement all of the following precautions:

  • Require that users agree to terms (EULA). These terms must make it clear that there is no tolerance for objectionable content.
  • Have a method for filtering objectionable content.
  • Have a mechanism for users to flag objectionable content.
  • Have the ability to block abusive users from the service.
  • The developer must act on objectionable content reports within 24 hours by removing the content and ejecting the user who provided the offending content.

From this message, it is clear that your app was rejected for not providing enough features for users to control what they wish to see inside the app. Start building the solution from here.

Whatever be the reason for your rejection, the great thing about App Store is that it has a vast developer community, and most issues are well-documented. So even if you don’t get your answer from the email, there are multiple forums, guides, or agencies that can help.

Remember, the benefits of having a mobile app for your business far outweigh any minor inconveniences you might have during its development. So stick to it.

Why are ‘special guidelines’ for user-generated content required?

Consider you are a team of 5 people managing a social media app with 10,000 active users. Each user, on average, shares one post a day in the form of either text, image, or video. That’s about 10,000 content pieces in 3 different formats that your team has to go through every day to find out if they are within the App Store guidelines! 

Now think about the case where you have a flag/report button on each content. Regulating your app becomes much easier with users actively participating in removing anything that doesn’t fit their taste (and your policies in the process). You can even prioritize the user reports- content that receives the most flags in a specific timeframe requiring the greatest attention and vice versa.  

This level of app self-cleansing is why the App Store ‘Special Guidelines’ exist. It prevents the proliferation of offensive content like pornography, objectification, threats, and bullying. 

How do you prevent UGC Appstore rejection?

If this is your first time creating an app with User-Generated content, keeping in mind these 7 points will drastically reduce any chance of the App Store rejecting it:

1. Written policy against objectionable content in T&C

It is essential to inform your new users about the app’s policies regarding user-generated content well in advance. Adding a section about this in the terms and conditions is the best way to go about it. No new user should be allowed to sign up without accepting your app’s T&C.

Your App’s T&C should elaborate on the following two points in much detail:

  • Respecting other’s rights: Dealing with privacy, IP, copyrights, spam, bullying, harassment, and defamation
  • Safety: 3rd party apps, external linking, use of bots and crawlers, soliciting login information, and similar infringements

2. Providing a flag or report button for objectionable content

The App Store requires you to provide a mechanism where users can flag or report objectionable content. There will be a 24 hr window before which you need to review the content and take appropriate action.

If the content is deemed inappropriate, you must remove it and warn or suspend the violating user, depending on severity. 

3. Provision to filter objectionable content

It is also good practice to allow users to hide content and users they don’t want to see. Providing a simple ‘hide this content’ or ‘Do not show me again’ button should do the trick. These allow users not to see certain content which might not otherwise warrant a report or a block. These also reduce considerable strain on you or your moderators by reducing the number of false reports.

Explore Al-based content filtering systems for prominent apps with a large user base. These includes:

  • Using AI-bot to scan text-based content to find banned words
  • Using speech recognition software to detect hate speech in podcasts or videos 
  • Photo filtering to find potentially objectionable images

4. Provision to block or report user

Similar to content, there must also be a provision for users to block or report other users. Moderators must then check the offending user’s profile for guideline violations and temporarily or permanently ban the user if required.

5. Add contact information

The Appstore’s UGC guidelines state that your app should have your official business contact information or support information so that people can easily reach you. A simple contact form will suffice for all intents and purposes, but you can go a step further by adding a help center on your app. This page will contain the most common issues and FAQs, apart from contact details.

6. NSFW content

‘Incidental mature’ content is permitted on the App Store as long as they come from a ‘web-based service’. This is why 9GAG is allowed to host an ‘NSFW’ section in their app. Such content should be hidden by default and only be allowed to turn on from the app’s website.

7. Other General guidelines you should know about

Apart from the above-mentioned specific guidelines for apps with UGC content, there are also a few general guidelines that you must keep in mind before submitting your app for review:

  • Proper age-rating 
  • No inappropriate content
  • Shouldn’t imitate or copy another app
  • Have a strong Privacy policy 
  • Have transparency in user data usage
  • It should be stable without bugs and crashes
  • Remove any broken links or dummy content
  • Compatibility across various devices and iOS versions
  • Shouldn’t have any private API
  • The app should not be slow
  • Accurate and up-to-date meta information
Source

THE MOST POPULAR WEB APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT PRODUCTS TODAY

Leave a comment

THE MOST POPULAR WEB APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT PRODUCTS TODAY industry is one of the most competitive and inventive. New programming languages, frameworks, platforms, products, and tools are released every day. So it’s no surprise that even experienced coders find it challenging to stay updated.

Furthermore, it’s getting increasingly popular since it’s less expensive to create, has many features, and is quite adaptable. Although it has advantages and disadvantages, you will discover that the advantages exceed the disadvantages.

The purpose of this article is to inform you about the most popular web application development products today. When you have web application development services, the procedure will be simple. Moreover, these tools will help you speed up and simplify your web development process.

Here is the list of Most Popular Web Application Development Products Today:

Chrome dev tools

Google Chrome provides several features that can assist with web application development. These are incorporated within the browser and are helpful for web developers. For example, users of DevTools will be able to examine messages right in their console; execute JavaScript in real-time without having to write a single word of code. This might be useful when solving issues or speeding up a website.

For any web developer, Chrome DevTools is a must-have. The performance panel allows you to improve site speed, monitor runtime performance, identify forced synchronous designs in Canvas documents, and investigate Network activity quickly due to its built-in Developer Tools feature. 

Furthermore, it also has security features like identifying security issues and detecting Web page errors.

AWS Cloud9

AWS Cloud9 is a cloud-based integrated development environment (IDE) that helps you write, execute, and debug various programming languages like JavaScript, Python, C, and PHP using only a browser. It was open-source in 2010. However, in 2016, it was bought by Amazon Web Services (AWS).

AWS Cloud9 also allows you to share your development environment and code with your coworkers in real-time. It saves you time and dramatically enhances the quality of your work because it comes preloaded with over 40 programming languages. File dragging, debugging, and code completion recommendations are valuable features.

Angular 

Angular is a TypeScript-based programming platform. It contains everything you need as an all-in-one set of libraries and tools for creating web apps that can expand from startups to huge enterprises with many developers. 

It also includes a component-based framework that aids in creating scalable database-driven websites without the need to write a lot of code, comprehensive form management solutions such as sanitization and data validation features, and routing capabilities that make developing easier by providing readymade components. With this fantastic toolbox, you will not have to go far to work on tasks.

Bootstrap 

The Bootstrap toolkit is a set of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript development tools.  This desktop tool is handy for creating Bootstrap-based responsive websites. It comes with various components that you may drag and drop to make responsive web pages. 

The app’s framework is Bootstrap. It creates semantic HTML that is clear and easy to read. The app offers many premia, fully responsive themes, which you may alter. In addition, each design comes with various pages and widgets that you can mix and match to create your ideal website. 

Many stunning components are included in Bootstrap Studio for creating responsive pages. Headers, footers, and galleries are all included in the design. Slides and essential components are also included. Bootstrap Studio can tell you which Bootstrap components are compatible.

ASP.Net 

Microsoft’s ASP.Net framework is a web application development platform. It is employed in the development of web-based applications. 

The initial version of ASP.Net was launched in 2002. The initial release of ASP.Net was version 1.0. Version 4.6 is the most recent version of ASP.Net. The HTTP protocol is intended to interact with ASP.Net. This is the universal protocol for all web apps.

ASP.NET is a module of the Microsoft.Net platform. ASP.NET applications are compiled scripts created with the.Net framework’s flexible and reusable components or objects. These scripts can access the whole hierarchy of classes in the.Net framework.

CodeLobster 

CodeLobster is a handy and cross-platform IDE that is also free.  Its primary purpose is to make creating PHP websites more accessible and faster. CodeLobster has been on the market for a long time, and each year it attracts a growing number of new users.

CodeLobster doesn’t work with PHP files. However, this IDE allows developers to modify CSS, HTML, Javascript, and Typescript files. Furthermore, it can give contextual help for any programming languages supported.

CodeLobster is likewise a highly user-friendly and straightforward tool. It combines a variety of essential elements into a single, well-organized location.

Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code is a “free editor that assists programmers in writing code, debugging, and correcting code using the intelli-sense approach.” In layman’s words, it makes it easier for users to develop code. Many people claim it’s half an IDE and half an editor, but that’s up to the developers to decide. 

Any program we use is based on code that runs in the background. Traditionally, coding was done in traditional editors or simple ones like notepads. These editors used to give simple and basic assistance to developers.

Source

HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR WEB APP DEVELOPMENT COST DOESN’T HAVE TO BE HARD

Leave a comment

Are you looking for tips to calculate your Web App Development Cost? If yes, you must read this article to learn about the cost of web app development.

Web app development is essential for every business as it has several benefits. But it is necessary to calculate the cost of web app development to make a budget for it.

People new in this field who wanted to develop their first web application found it challenging. But it is not as hard as you expect. In this article, you will get essential and valuable tips that will help you to calculate web app development costs efficiently.

Factors that affect web application development cost estimation

You might think that web developers only decide costs with their minds. But it is not correct; web app development costs depend on several factors, stages, and requirements. This section will tell about essential factors that affect the price of web app development.

  1.  Complexity

The more complex pages you want, the more cost will be needed. The difference is decided based on design, animation, and more. If you plan to make your application unique, you must spend more on it.

App developers and designers need more time and effort to make an app with solid UI or UX design. That is why they ask for more money. 

They need up to 20 hours to design simple landing pages, which cost up to $1000 based on vendor rates. If you need more complex pages in your app, it will cost up to $5000 as they will add 3D animation, UX design, and more. 

  1.  Developers area

The cost of web development differs from area to area. Countries like the USA, Canada, and more are charging high from other countries. At the same time, some countries of UKs are offering the lowest cost for web app development services.

  1.  Deadlines 

The deadline of submitting a web app also affects the cost of it. If you need it as urgently as possible, app developers will charge extra for the urgent delivery of the app.

  1. Hiring teams

The development of a web application is not a single person’s work. You have to hire some members to build a web app. Business analysts, frontend developers, backend developers, database engineers, and more are required for this team.

You do not have to hire all of them. You have to hire some of them, depending on your requirement. So the number of members in your web development team will also affect its cost as the price of each member differs.

Stages of web app development and estimated cost of web development

The process of web development goes through different stages. However, all stages are necessary and have their cost. Therefore, this section will get a web application development cost estimation of every step and detail of every stage.

  1.  Research 

You must build an idea of your web app before hiring a web app development team. First, the research is necessary to know the market and needs of your target audience. Then, you can conduct your research. Otherwise, if you hire a web app development team, they will charge up to  $25000.

  1.  Discuss requirement 

If you have conducted your research for your web app, you must share your research with your web app development team. It will save the cost of research for your web app.

  1. Design 

Designing stage is essential in the web development process because the app’s design is the first thing your user notices on your app. You do not have to compromise at this stage as a bad quality design can be a reason for failure for your app.

Developers and designers spend a lot of time building attractive and unique designs. This stage takes 3 to 6 weeks, and the cost of designing starts from $50 and goes up to $50,000. However, the cost of designing is dependent on the complexity of the app.

  1. Development phase

The development stage is crucial as front-end developers and back-end developers work to turn the ideas and design into a web app using the framework and tools of coding.

The time of this stage is not fixed as it depends on the app’s complexity. However, the cost of this phase will start from $5000 to $50,000, depending on your requirement.

  1.  Testing 

Testing is necessary for all types of apps. You must test all the features of the app before launching it. Testing can show minor errors and significant errors in your app. 

This stage will take 1 to 4 weeks, and you have to pay $500 to $50,000  to testers for this phase.

Estimate the cost of different app category

The development of apps is divided into three types. The cost of app development also depends on the type of application you want. There are the following types of apps –

  1. Simple app – these apps are the basic set of functions, simple landing pages, and straightforward designs. These types of apps take about one month to build. The cost of these apps starts from $500 and goes up to $15000
  2. Medium web app – these apps are more challenging to make than simple apps as they have interactive pages and lots of content. It takes 2 to 3 months in the building process and costs $15000 to $60000
  3. Complex apps – Complex apps are the hardest to build as they have a high level of complexity like exclusive CMS, excellent designing of landing page and layout, and more. The designing of these apps is also challenging. It takes almost six months to make, starting from $60,000.
Source

THE 5 BEST THINGS ABOUT A SAAS DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK

Leave a comment

Are you planning to deploy SaaS to your business? Are you confused about whether you should deploy SaaS to your business or not framework? Then this article will clear your confusion as you will get the five best things about SaaS in this article.

The demand for SaaS is increasing day by day in the market. As a result, most companies use SaaS software instead of traditional software. 

The high demand for SaaS in the market is that SaaS software doesn’t need any extra hardware, and the development team does. However, you need an internet connection and a web browser to deploy it to your business environment. 

This is just one good thing about SaaS; you will get to know more about the benefits of SaaS in this article. In addition, this article will also give quick information about the best PHP framework for saas.

What is Software as a Service (SaaS)?

Software as a Service, also known as SaaS, licenses software on a subscription basis. SaaS providers give the software to companies or users who need software for their business needs. Companies and users pay the subscription charge to the SaaS provider to use their software.

 The SaaS is part of cloud computing along with several other services. SaaS provider has delivered several business applications, mobile applications, payroll processing software, CRM software, and more. SaaS is also known as on-demand software as SaaS providers give software according to their client’s demands and needs.

What is the best PHP framework for saas?

While developing a SaaS product, the developer faces many challenges. It is hard to find the best PHP framework for saas. Every organization has to know about the framework of SaaS before deploying it to their company.

Laravel is the best PHP framework for saas. It is an open-source software framework. It is considered the best framework as it has several benefits, including model view control architecture, modular packaging, etc.

So make sure to choose SaaS products developed with Laravel Framework.

Differences between SaaS and on-premise framework software

When choosing software for your business, one is SaaS, and the other is on-premise software. SaaS and on-premise software are almost the same, but both have several significant differences, which you will learn in this section.

On-premise software comes with a license certificate. Software licenses are limited to one user or company. Due to this, the cost of on-premise software is too high. The user or company has to make a one-time payment to purchase this software. Then they can use SasS without any problem and compensation.

On the other hand, SaaS companies provide subscriptions on a monthly and yearly basis. As a result, users or companies have to pay for the subscription of SaaS products without spending large amounts on licensing software. 

Many individuals don’t require software for life, and then SaaS is the best alternative in this case, as one can discontinue SaaS after completing their need. 

This is just the beginning of the benefits of the SaaS model. You will get more detail about the benefits of the SaaS model in the next section.

Five best things about SaaS development frameworks

The SaaS model is an alternative model to traditional software. You only need an internet and web browser to deploy SaaS solutions to your business. It is less costly than traditional or on-premise software, and the benefits –

  •  Save money

You can save more by deploying SaaS software to your business. SaaS resides in a multi-tenant environment resulting in the less upfront cost of purchasing and installation. Apart from up costs, you can also save on maintenance and upgrade costs.

SaaS also saves hardware cost as it does not require any hardware for use; it is easily deployable in your business environment. In addition, you do not have to pay for the unused feature to SaaS Providers as they only charge for the feature you are using.

  •  Time-saving

This software also saves your time as SaaS products require less time than on-premise software for maintenance and installation. On-premise and traditional software needs time to develop and install the software.

On the other hand, SaaS has already installed and configured software on the cloud. SaaS providers will give you access to their software or application, and you can access the SaaS software in a couple of hours. This will save your time in the installation and configuration of the software. 

  •  No particular space is required.

You can use SaaS software from anywhere, even from your home. You do not need to visit a particular area to access this software. In addition, the SaaS system offers the option of remote access.

It is only necessary to have fast-speed internet and a web browser to access SaaS. SaaS products are helpful in the work from home. Anyone can access SaaS products from anywhere.

  •  Flexibility 

 Relatively more flexible than other software. You do not have to purchase an additional server. You have the flexibility to scale up and down in your software based on your requirement.

  • Easy to adapt

The adaptation rate of SaaS solutions is significantly higher than traditional software. The learning curve of SaaS products is less means more efficiency for employees. Software-based SaaS is easy to handle, and some employees can take it alone.

That is why the adoption rate of SaaS solutions is very high. The High-efficiency rate has become one of the best things for developers and companies.

Source

Software development Strategy Guide for Scaleups

Leave a comment
Software Development

How to define project definition?

Scaling up your business requires a change of approach toward project definition. In the context of software, we refer to it as all the aspects that need to be covered during the process of planning and execution.  A good project definition should answer the following questions:  

Why?

All projects should start by providing their business justification, Scaling up a prerequisite to initiating any project. We can see this phase in almost every project management approach, including PRINCE2, DSDM (Dynamic Systems Development Method), or even AgileSHIFT. The latter one, which is relatively new to the market, distinguishes a phase called “Startup” which asks if the project is worth doing. 

What?

Everything that needs to be done during the project. The scope of work has to be established before the project starts. As change is a part of every software-based project one has to take it into consideration when defining technical and system infrastructure, and the rules and procedures which will be used to operate the software. There is also a need to provide your team with training on maintenance or new organizational procedures introduced after scaling. 

Who?

There is a need for a simplified structure within the team, with a clear set of responsibilities assigned to every person. 

When?

A project definition has to include both a general and a detailed (with every task required) timeframe allowing the team and all stakeholders to track the progress. 

How to define the project scope?

Even if you have vast resources, without a well-defined project scope there is little chance of success. So what is a scope and how do you define it when you have to make frequent changes to your product during the software development process? In simple terms: by defining scope we mean adopting a clear vision and an agreement on the deliverables expected from the project.

While defining the scope you have to prepare a detailed description of what the project is supposed to achieve and what it cannot accomplish. Of course, in today’s world changes to the project are inevitable, especially if you assume scaling up. To deal with that situation project managers use project scope management which includes defining project needs, understanding the project objectives, and the project scope definition. 

By using Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), Product Breakdown Structure (PBS), or Resource Breakdown Structure (RBS) you can determine the impact of the change on the project scope.

These structures identify the features, components, or resources that would need to be added, changed, or deleted during the lifecycle of the project. Doing so will help to avoid scope creep. Furthermore, you must frequently update your project scope and communicate any changes to all stakeholders. 

Tips:

  • Use WBS, and PBS RBS to identify any changes that can impact the project
  • Update your project scope frequently 

How to re-organize a software development model when the product continually Scaling up changes?

To maintain both high-quality and high value when the product continually changes there is a need for a re-organization of the software development model, which means choosing the right methodology, preferably the agile one (Extreme programming, Scrum, etc.) When it comes to requirements, project managers using Scrum tend to freeze the model for the current iteration so developers have a certain level of stability, although XP and DAD practitioners allow a change during the iteration. Whichever you choose, it is important to bear in mind that it may result in moving some requirements to the next iteration.

When working on the software project, stakeholders are responsible for defining and prioritizing new requirements, whilst developers are in charge of estimating the effort it takes to implement them. As many examples show, dealing with smaller requirements is easy to estimate, while bigger ones can be challenging.

So how to manage more difficult requirements? You must reorganize them into smaller and more manageable parts, so they can be implemented within a single iteration. As for iteration itself, it has to be shorter than in Scrum because it reduces the feedback cycle, making it easier to stay on track for both developers and stakeholders. 

Tips:

  • Incline toward Agile rather than traditional methods. 
  • Try to manage any change to requirements within one iteration.
Source

Software Development Outsourcing Budget: What to Consider?

Leave a comment
Software Development

When it comes to software development outsourcing, most people associate high-quality work with high prices. However, those who have outsourced IT services before are familiar with their time and budget-friendly benefits. So, whether you need a custom software development service or wish to work with freelance developers for web/mobile application development, you will find several options to fit your needs. If you’re on the lookout for an outsourcing company or vendor to provide you with the best services and value, this list will be extremely useful.

Before you hire someone for IT-related services, you should consider several factors that will play an essential role in planning the budget for such operations. Once you’ve carefully defined the budget, the benefits of outsourcing are endless. 

Let’s take a look at the factors you should consider:

1. Average Cost of Software Development Outsourcing

Software development outsourcing companies typically charge by the hour, and their rates can be anywhere between USD $20 and $190 per hour. The type of outsourcing company you choose and their experience will determine the total cost you’ll pay for your work.

It’s best to check the vendor’s operational maturity level, list of services they offer, the quality of their work, and their work ethics before moving forward with the contract. More money often means higher quality, but that’s not always true. You can ask the vendor to provide work references and check online reviews, if available, before deciding. Additionally, there are four specific pricing strategies to consider before outsourcing software development services:

Fixed Price Plan: If you have clear goals and have agreed on all the deliverable details and deadlines, the vendors or freelancers will provide you with a fixed price. This pricing model is not flexible and any changes in the project will lead to cost adjustments.

CAP Plan: the CAP plan has features of both the pricing models mentioned above. While it is flexible and the project requirements are discussed in advance, there is an upper budget limit set by the client that the parties cannot exceed.

Monthly Flat Rate Plan: As the name of the plan suggests, if your vendor offers this pricing plan, you will pay a fixed monthly rate no matter how complicated or straightforward the software development process is. Typically, companies use this pricing plan for short-term services and when the scope of work is clear for both sides.

2. Evaluating Needs and Company Resources

Which IT services and operations will you need to outsource? If you need a complete software development project, including development, UI/UX design, quality assurance, project management, you will need to outline such needs from the outset.

If you decide to invest in IT outsourcing services without a clear goal, the project processes will not be optimized, and you will not get the best results from the services provided to you. It will be best to talk with the vendors and tell them which services you require in particular. An experienced service provider will conduct thorough research to identify product specifications and requirements before quoting a price.

3. Setting Expectations before Research

If your priority is finding vendors with the lowest rates, and you initiate your research based only on costs, there’s a higher chance that you’ll end up with an unqualified vendor. It’s always best to set criteria and a list of expectations (not just price) before conducting research.

First, you must analyze factors such as communication, management, and other processes and define the expectations of your ideal partner. Then you can conduct research to find a suitable software development outsourcing company.

4. Defining the Communication and Cooperation Model

Several companies report poor experience when outsourcing because communication issues overshadow the benefits of outsourcing. The communication gap is usually found when you hire off-shore outsourcing vendors. So, analyze how well the vendors understand your company goals and needs from the outset.

Additionally, following a specific cooperation model, such as a dedicated team, time and material, or fixed price, will make the services better for both you and your vendor. Before you set a budget, you need to analyze companies that offer clear communication platforms and control over the project. Ask vendors for their quotes so you have a clear idea of what they charge for scheduled reporting throughout the project. Poor communication can lead to delays and errors, which can cost your company more in the long run.

5. Examining Several Payment Models for Outsourcing

Choosing a payment model will help you consider all factors and apply them to a specific payment plan to calculate your budgeting needs. 

Additionally, you can select either a fixed-fee pricing model or a per-hour pricing model. The model you choose will depend on the type of services you require and the contracted period. For example, a short-term plan can be based on a monthly flat-rate plan. In contrast, a long-term plan could follow the time and material pricing strategy. It’s best to discuss this with your vendor and find the most suitable payment model for a specific project.

6. Short-Term vs Long-Term Contracts

Depending on the extent of the work and the services you require, you will need to determine whether the company requires a long-term or short-term plan. This will help you greatly in managing expenses and setting a budget according to your needs.

A short-term plan typically covers portions of a service or a smaller project, while the long-term plan will cover all aspects of a service or department and typically include relatively bigger projects. It would also be worth evaluating whether carrying out these operations in-house can be completed within the specified budget, thereby offering better value for money.

Determining whether your goals are short or long-term will help you communicate with the vendors clearly and precisely. You will also be able to set a budget according to pricing models and the length of the project before work begins.

Source

An In-depth Look at C++ vs. Java features

Leave a comment
Software Development

Countless articles compare C++ and Java’s technical features, but which differences are most important to consider? When a comparison shows, for example, that Java doesn’t support multiple inheritances and C++ does, what does that mean? And is it a good thing? software Some argue that this is an advantage of Java, while others declare it a problem.

Let’s explore the situations in which developers should choose C++, Java, or another language altogether—and, even more importantly, why the decision matters.

Examining the Basics: Language Builds and Ecosystems features

C++ launched in 1985 as a front end to C compilers, similar to how TypeScript compiles to JavaScript. Modern C++ compilers typically compile to native machine code. Though some claim C++’s compilers reduce its portability, and they do necessitate rebuilds for new target architectures, C++ code runs on almost every processor platform.

First released in 1995, Java doesn’t build directly to native code. Instead, Java builds bytecode, an intermediate binary representation that runs on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). In other words, the Java compiler’s output needs a platform-specific native executable to run.

Both C++ and Java fall into the family of C-like languages, as they generally resemble C in their syntax. The most significant difference is their ecosystems: While C++ can seamlessly call into libraries based on C or C++ or the API of an operating system, Java is best suited for Java-based libraries. You can access C libraries in Java using the Java Native Interface (JNI) API, but it is error-prone and requires some C or C++ code. C++ also interacts with hardware more easily than Java, as C++ is a lower-level language.

Detailed Trade-offs: Generics, Memory, and More features

We can compare C++ to Java from many perspectives. In some cases, the decision between C++ and Java is clear. Native Android applications should typically use Java unless the app is a game. Most game developers should opt for C++ or another language for the smoothest possible real-time animation; Java’s memory management often causes lag during gameplay.

Cross-platform applications that aren’t games are beyond the scope of this discussion. Neither C++ nor Java are ideal in this case because they’re too verbose for efficient GUI development. For high-performance apps, it’s best to create C++ modules to do the heavy lifting and use a more developer-productive language for the GUI.

Source

How Long Should an Audit Report Be?

Leave a comment

Is most internal audit report the right length? For many consumers of audit reports in the executive suite and boardroom, the answer is probably that they’re “too long!”

Audit reports may run to extraordinary lengths these days. For example, I recently talked to one organization where they could easily extend over a hundred pages. One hundred pages are clearly too long for anybody to rationally expect our stakeholders in top management and on the board to want to read them. When are there 100 pages of value, actionable information, in an audit report?

So, is the answer ten or twenty pages? Is it two or three? Let’s tackle the question in a different way.

Audit reports are a communication vehicle. The IIA Standards do not require that we write an audit report. Instead, they require that we communicate the results of our work to our stakeholders. So, a better question is: What should we communicate?

When is Will It Stop Hurting?
When you visit the dentist because you have a toothache, do you want even a three-page report? Probably not. You want to know: (a) Can he or she stop the pain? (b) When will that be done? (c) Is there a serious problem? And (d) What is this going to cost me? You don’t want to be asked to read a recap of your dental history, the status of recommendations from your last visit, or a report on the depth of your gums. You want to receive the information you need, concisely and clearly written, without wasting a minute of your time.

What about your executives and board members? What information do they want to get from you? They want to know:

  • Is there a problem that is serious enough to potentially affect the organization and the achievement of its objectives in a material way? Is there a problem I need to worry about at my level?
  • Are the right actions being taken?
  • Is there anything I need to do personally?
  • Is there anything I need to make sure others are doing?

So why do we include more? Is it because we feel a need to justify our existence? I know of chief audit executives who insist that every audit report has at least one finding and recommendation. Why? If you have this need, this irrational compulsion, stop!

Is it because the report is a form of documentation, or because it is really being written for a regulator rather than the executive readers? Both are equally wrong.

The Elevator Version
Imagine this. You enter the elevator at your company’s head office and are greeted by your CEO. She asks you about the audit your team recently performed of the Treasury function, saying that she is interested in the results. Do you tell her about the background of the audit? How about your scope and objectives? Do you list all the medium and low issues? Or do you just tell her whether there were major issues that merit her attention, whether management is taking the right corrective actions and any other insights that would be of value to her?

So why do we put more than these essentials in a written audit report? Why hide valuable, actionable information in a haystack of unnecessary detail? The length of the audit report, if one is even needed, should be just enough to tell the consumers of the report what they need to know—and no more.

Ah, I can hear you saying that the report has to include all the findings so you can make sure management owns the issues and will take necessary corrective actions. But do the executives and board members need to see that level of detail in the report? Weren’t these all discussed and agreed upon at your closing meeting (and if not, why not)?

Send a note to those present at the meeting, confirming the discussion and the corrective action details (who will do what by when, and other details). And then keep what you send to the executives and the board limited to what they need to read and no more.

Make it easy for them to pick up your reports promptly, digest the actionable information, and take whatever actions are needed—now when they are needed. Make it easy and not hard for them to read, understand, and take any necessary actions.

If you don’t waste their time with trivia when you have something to say they are far more likely to listen.

What say you? Can we cut most audit reports back to half a page? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comment section below.

Source

Internal Audit Isn’t the Brakes, It’s Part of the Navigation System

Leave a comment

I have always been on the lookout for clever ways to describe an internal audit role in an organization. Elevator speeches are fine when you have 60 seconds to describe the value your profession brings to an uninformed bystander. I even shared some ideas for the elevator speech in a blog earlier this year. However, an elevator speech doesn’t hold a candle to a well-crafted sound bite that will leave a lasting impression.

One of my favorites used to be “internal audit is the brakes that allow the organization to drive faster.” The reasoning behind this analogy is that brakes are a critical component in a vehicle. To be sure, they are used to prohibit a vehicle from moving. But more importantly, brakes are crucial to maintaining control of a vehicle. Of course, well-resourced, independent internal audit functions add little value if they impede an organization’s ability to take risks and achieve results. But they add value when, like brakes on a car, they empower management and the board with information to slow down or stop if critical risks lie ahead.

Over the years, I have come to view the “internal audit-as-brakes” analogy to be a bit outdated. It envisions internal audit as being primarily control-focused. Today, internal audit provides much greater value than merely a set of brakes. After all, a vehicle with an outstanding braking system can still end up in the wrong place. Brakes are great for stopping or slowing down. However, they do little to help change course. Internal audits in the 2020s must help create – not just protect value!

I believe a more powerful analogy is that an internal audit is a critical component of an organization’s navigation system. Consider the value of a modern navigation system. Once the departing and arriving locations are enter, a navigation system provides timely and crucial feedback on the progress of the journey. The friendly voice provides turn-by-turn advice on reaching the destination. It recognizes when a turn has been missed and quickly alerts the driver to “make a legal U-turn.” It can be program to recommend routes that are faster, less congested, or avoid tolls. Some alert the driver when the speed limit is being exceed, or the vehicle is being taken on unsafe roads.

Much like the navigation system in a vehicle, an internal audit shows its powerful value by:

  • Providing assurance that the organization is progressing on the course charted by management and the board.
  • Provide recommended corrective actions when the organization is of course (please make a legal U-turn).
  • Identifying risks in advance (much like a navigation system warns of an accident or road congestion ahead).
  • Alerting management and the board of compliance risks/failures (think excessive speed).
  • Providing assurance that the organization has “arrived at its destination.”

To succeed, organizations in the 21st century must manage risks – both internal and external, whether related to finance, operations, strategy, technology, regulations, or reputation. While organizations are raising the bar on effective risk management, executives face extraordinary headwinds spawned by a turbulent environment in which risks materialize virtually overnight. In the past five years, we’ve faced the most extraordinary global pandemic in more than a century, more global financial turmoil, cybersecurity breaches that even target our infrastructure, corporate failures induced by toxic cultures, the #MeToo movement highlighting sexual assault and harassment in the workplace, and more. In the immediate future, we are facing the prospect of severe supply chain disruptions, inflationary pressures not seen in 40 years, and likely more nasty surprises from COVID-19. Relying on a good braking system will be inadequate to navigate the hills and valleys that lie ahead. Instead, organizations need strong navigation systems with well-resourced and independent internal audit functions fully integrated to succeed.

Granted, my updated analogy may be oversimplified. Strong internal audit functions add value in a multitude of ways, and we are never more critical than management and the board in navigating risks that our organizations face. However, I find it is useful to think through analogies such as this one so that I can better articulate the internal audit’s role in ways that everyone can understand.

I welcome your thoughts.

Source

Board of Directors – Is One Required For a SOC 2 Audit?

Leave a comment

Upon scanning through the Common Criteria for a SOC 2, it doesn’t take long to come across criteria related to governance and the overall control environment. In particular, Common Criteria 1.2 (CC1.2)/COSO Principle 2 specifically addresses the role and expectations of the board of directors to provide oversight of internal controls. For small businesses or less mature organizations, this can be a potential hindrance in moving forward with a SOC 2. However, is a formal board of directors absolutely required to successfully address this criterion for a SOC 2 examination? Are other forms of governance sufficient? The purpose of this post is to examine this requirement in relation to a SOC 2 report and its application for organizations where a board of directors is not required or is not feasible or even unwarrant based on the nature of their entity.

What is a Board of Directors?

In the traditional sense (i.e. in relation to a corporation), a board of is a group of individuals, elected by shareholders, who form the governing body of the company and oversee management and the strategic direction of the organization. The board typically consists of internal executives as well as outside directors who are not employed or engage with the organization. The board of directors makes decisions on behalf of the company and its shareholders.

When is a Board of Required?

Certain organizations, such as public companies and S and C corporations, are legally required to have a board of directors in place. This is further defined by state laws. The board composition and roles and responsibilities are address in articles of incorporation, bylaws, and/or company charters. As such, public companies and corporations are well-positioned to satisfy requirements related to governance performed by the board of directors. However, limited liability companies (LLCs) and sole proprietorships, for example, are not require to have a board of directors. These organizations may elect to have a board of directors, but some may find it too costly or unnecessary to form a board of directors with independent board members.

What is the SOC 2 Requirement for a Board of Directors?

As set forth in TSP section 100, 2017 Trust Services Criteria for Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy, CC1.2 states:

“The board of directors demonstrates independence from management and exercises oversight of the development and performance of internal control. The following points of focus, specified in the COSO framework, highlight important characteristics relating to this criterion:

  • Establishes Oversight Responsibilities — The board of identifies and accepts its oversight responsibilities in relation to established requirements and expectations.
  • Applies Relevant Expertise — The board of directors defines, maintains, and periodically evaluates the skills and expertise needed among its members to enable them to ask probing questions of senior management and take commensurate action.
  • Operates Independently — The board of directors has sufficient members who are independent of management and objective in evaluations and decision making.
  • Supplements Board Expertise — The board of directors supplements its expertise relevant to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy, as needed, through the use of a subcommittee or consultants.”

As stated, the criteria require that a board of directors be in place to provide adequate supervision and oversight of the organization. There appears to be little wiggle room when contemplating the need for a board of directors when engaging in a SOC 2 examination. However, the characteristics called out in the points of focus are not exclusive to a board of directors. A management team, or even an owner-manager, depending on the complexity of the organization, could fulfill the characteristics noted above. It seems reasonable that other forms of governance, depending on the nature of the entity, could provide adequate oversight where a board of directors is not in place.

Are There Alternatives to a Board ?

Per TSP section 100, 2017 Trust Services Criteria for Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy, the AICPA offers a broader definition of a board of directors:

“Individuals with responsibility for overseeing the strategic direction of the entity and the obligations related to the accountability of the entity. Depending on the nature of the entity, such responsibilities may be held by a board of directors or supervisory board for a corporation, a board of trustees for a not-for-profit entity, a board of governors or commissioners for a government entity, general partners for a partnership, or an owner for a small business.”

Based on the definition provided by the AICPA as noted above, those with responsibility for overseeing the entity are not confined to the traditional board of directors model. Rather, the AICPA recognizes that different forms of governance, depending on the nature of the entity, may be sufficient for the organization to achieve its services commitments and system requirements. So, yes, different forms of governance, depending on the nature of the entity, may be sufficient as an alternative to a board of directors

For example, for a less complex organization with fewer personnel, a service auditor may conclude that a senior management team or executive committee provides sufficient oversight of the company and that the achievement of the service commitments and system requirements is not impacted by the lack of a formal board of directors. In such an environment, management likely participates heavily in the supervision and reviews of key controls thus providing oversight of internal controls. They would be influential in the organization’s commitment to ethical and legal conduct and would also be involve in the recruitment and evaluation of employees and consultants to ensure adequate knowledge and expertise are present. In addition, management teams in this setting generally possess adequate competence and knowledge of the organization and its processes to provide adequate oversight without overreliance on others within the organization.

Source

6 Ways to Protect Yourself From Online Catfishing

Leave a comment

Cybersecurity is a complex and ever-evolving subject. Just when you feel you may have understood a majority of common threats looming on the internet, something new comes up. Catfishing, for instance, may be a new term for many and you’re perhaps one of that regular internet and social media users who aren’t too familiar with catfishing and what exact damage catfish can cause.

In this blog, we get into the details of catfishing, the motives of online catfish, and most importantly, how you can protect yourself from them.

Catfishing involves a person using information and images to create a false identity for themselves on the internet. 

A catfish can sometimes steal another person’s full identity, including date of birth, photos, and geographical location, and pretend it’s their own. They then use the fake identity to trick others into doing business online or associating with them.

Catfishing is extremely common amongst dating app users as well. A catfish may pose as someone they’re not and trap others into romance scams.

It’s important to note that not all catfish are cybersecurity threats. Many people may catfish due to insecurities regarding who they are, mental instability, feelings of revenge, desire to experiment with sexual preferences, and more. While some catfish may not be malicious, many are fraudsters and perpetrators of cybersecurity scams against their targets.

How exactly do catfish scams work? Catfish trap unsuspecting targets to believe in their false identity and can extract vital, sensitive information in the process. Many can straight off ask for money and others may get precious credentials out of you. They may then use this sensitive information for monetary gains and in some extreme cases to unleash further sophisticated cyber-attacks or ransomware attacks against a business or organization you may be associated with.

While catfish are definitely out there in hoards and their intentions can range from impish to malicious, the only way to really deal with them is to know how to protect yourself from them. Below are ways to protect yourself and your personal information from potential catfish.

1. Do a background check

You can conduct a name search or an online background check with the help of services like Instant Checkmate. This can help reveal an individual’s social media profiles, news articles they could be mentioned in, or other digital content containing their name. After the initial search, you can confirm further personal details like their workplace, where they come from, their friends, etc. to make sure that who they claim to be matched with what the internet says about them.

2. Know the signs of being catfished

If the catfish’s description is thorough and detailed, it may be difficult to tell when you’re being catfished. Since the catfish’s profile is only created to target specific persons, they may not have a lot of followers or friends. A catfish may never want to voice or video call may avoid in-person meet-ups, and may even ask for money. These are all signs that you are being catfished and that you should put up your guard.

3. Never share your personal information

Oversharing personal information with strangers can be dangerous. If someone you’ve just met online begins asking for your personal data such as an address, additional contact information, or account details, or tries to push you to tell them things regarding your life or your work, they could be catfishing you.

If they ask you for a password on the pretext of an emergency, that’s a really major warning sign that something is up. Asking for personal data is another big red flag because that behavior isn’t normal, and it should raise cause for alarm.

4. Be suspicious of those you don’t know

Be careful when you receive friend requests, correspondence, or message requests from people you aren’t familiar with. Treat online conversations the same as real-life ones. While it’s okay to interact with new people and make more friends, you should be cautious and look out for catfishing signs discussed above.

5. Ask questions that require specific knowledge

If you suspect that someone is catfishing, ask them questions that only people with their reported background would know. You can ask about malls and restaurants from where they claim to come from or something particular about what they do. If they’re hesitant or try to avoid your questions, be wary of them.

6. Use reverse image search to identify fake profile photos

Social media is full of fake images and profiles. If you’re suspicious of the person you’re chatting with online, consider using a reverse image search to identify fake images. This tool also allows you to confirm a photo’s authenticity by looking at similar images and the original version of the photo.

Source

Cyber Security Best Practices that Every Business Should Follow

Leave a comment
Cybersecurity Consulting

Cyber Security Awareness amongst employees has emerged as one of the primary concerns that a business must focus on in the modern, digital age. Imparting basic skills needed for cyber security to employees has often been the critical differentiator between companies that get compromised and those that don’t. 

The 2017 WannaCry ransomware attack is a case in point – the global cybercrime “epidemic” managed to attack those businesses that had not made necessary updates to their Windows systems. 

Had the global cybersecurity awareness levels been higher and if more organizations across the world were following better cyber security practices, perhaps the number of attacks and the damage they’re able to cause today would be much lesser. 

In this blog, we highlight some basic cyber security best practices that businesses should follow to protect themselves from cybercrime, as well as to protect the data of their customers, clients, and partners. This list is just indicative and only scratches the surface in terms of what you can do to ensure greater cyber resilience for your business. 

7 Cyber Security Best Practices To Follow

1. Review Encryption Software: It is important to review your current encryption processes, and keep up to date with the latest technology. With cyber criminals getting more advanced every day and the number of people trying to steal information for monetary gains growing, encryption software and ensure that it is up to scratch. 

2. Review Vendor Security: It is important to review the third-party security because your data gets transfer between your company and theirs. Your company can be as secure as you want it to be, but if the people who receive and handle your data do not have the same level of security

3. Invest in the IT Team: As a company, your IT team is your first line of both defense and offense. The people who make up your IT team need to be trained and updated with the latest information on what to look out for in terms of cyber-attacks and potential issues.understanding their concerns, and investing in the best possible resources for them are all great ideas if you want to ensure that you have a good cybersecurity posture.

4. Understand your Backups: Check and understand how you backup your data on a regular basis. Backing up your data is an important operation, crucial to business functioning; but it is also one of the key components of a ransomware readiness checklist. your backup processes are foolproof, that’s half the battle won against ransomware attackers as they won’t be able to block your access to your own data.  

5. Review Authentication Processes: The way that authentication occurs in a business should always be record, and the way that employees use certain systems should have checks and balances to ensure that there is no use in bad faith. Authentication processes should be as watertight as possible, and it is important to have a record of who has what access within a business. Privileg access users should be monitored and trained with a greater degree of diligence. 

6. Continue emphasizing strong passwords: As a security-focused business, you’ve probably already highlighted the importance of using strong passwords for your staff. But this is one aspect of good cybersecurity hygiene that needs continuous reiteration.

Often one leaked password is all it has taken for cyber criminals to unleash large-scale attacks on massive organizations. It should also be make mandatory for everyone to use multi-factor authentication to log in to their systems or corporate accounts. This adds another very important layer of security.  

7. Staff Training: Finally, cybersecurity training is key not just for general employees, but also for IT teams and everyone in the management. It is important to make sure that your entire company is well trained in cyber security awareness and cyber incident response training.

In terms of cybersecurity awareness training, every employee must understand their individual roles and responsibilities when it comes to cyber security. They must understand the importance of not opening malicious links, suspicious emails, or pop-ups that look untrustworthy. These and other phishing tactics lead to most identity thefts and ransomware attacks.

Source

What is Secure Access Service Edge in Cybersecurity?

Leave a comment
Cybersecurity Consulting

The digital transformation of businesses around the world has accelerated significantly in recent years. With the spread of digitalization, there is a very high increase in the number of threats in businesses due to the deficiencies in traditional network security technology. This indicates that stronger measures are needed for data secure and network protection.

With the emergence of Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) as one of these measures, network and security professionals aim to adapt to the distributed nature of users and data. According to a recent global survey, 19 percent of respondents are planning to deploy SASE in the next twelve months to obtain high security.  

SASE stands out as a security approach combined with cloud services that distribute traffic faster than traditional network services. Before deploying SASE in your business, you should understand SASE capabilities. To use SASE consistently and implement it strategically, it would be beneficial to get more information about SASE.

What Is Secure Access Service Edge?

Expected to be an essential part of enterprise network systems, SASE is an advanced network solution that offers superior performance and the highest security at an affordable cost. SASE also refers to the process of combining SD-WAN with VPN and in this way, they both run as a cloud service at the source.

The unified SASE platform aims to:  

  • Reduce complexity and costs.
  • Prevent data loss wherever data is used, from the edge to the cloud.
  • Meet the instant and uninterrupted service demands of its customers.
  • Protect employees from advanced threats with cloud-based SASE wherever they are.

SASE runs organizations’ network and security functions closer to the endpoints and puts the cloud at the center of the network with cloud-built security tools. At the heart of the SASE platform, there is a data protection solution that gives you unmatched control over many aspects of your data and ensures uniform connectivity and protection from anywhere so you can work from anywhere.

SASE provides a distributed workforce with secure remote access to cloud resources. It’s easy to gain quickness, mobility, reduced complexity, and expense reduction by applying SASE to your business. 

What Are the Main Components of SASE?

SASE combines multiple solutions and five key components at the center of its capabilities. These components are as follows:

Secure Web Gateways | SWGs:

Secure Web Gateways protect against malicious web-based software on SASE networks. Filters unwanted malware from network traffic and enforces corporate policy compliance. In addition, web-based applications are also regularly monitored by SWG solutions.

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA):

Zero Trust Network Access offers secure remote access to any data or application. Unlike standard VPN solutions, it makes it possible to assign privileges and authorizations to users and devices. It works with the motto “Never trust, always verify”.  

ZTNA maximizes security by subjecting devices and users accessing the network to authentication processes based on location, identity, and other criteria through advanced authentication protocols that can be replicated.

Cloud-Native Architecture:

Cloud-Native Architecture works with WAN architecture with a combination of network security functions. It offers extensive scalability and flexibility. Cloud-based services can be easily tailored to user and company needs and requirements. You can build a secure infrastructure for location, mobile devices, edge computing solutions, IoT technologies, cloud data centers, and more.

Firewall as a Service:

Firewall as a Service acts as a comprehensive intrusion prevention system for online businesses much more efficiently than a physical firewall. FWaaS can be adapted to any network and need thanks to cloud technologies.

Data Loss Protection:

Data Loss Protection can be defined as a data loss protection engine integrated into the SASE architecture. DLP makes it easy to track by providing visibility into data in use, in motion, and at rest. It can protect confidential data and important activities. This protection may require encryption. It can send network security alerts to minimize the overall risk of any security and data breach.

Source

7 Ways to Prepare for a Sage Cloud Hosting Migration

Leave a comment

Cloud hosting for chief business apps including Sage HRMS, Sage CRM, or Sage ERP presents several advantages like IT cost reduction and workforce mobility. However, the decision to transfer the cloud frequently requires proper research and preparation. It is important for you to know that migrating Sage to the cloud may not be good for every business. Service providers will not only tell you if the move to the cloud is an accurate decision but also help you in leveraging your current software investments to their full potential. Transferring an on-site application, like Sage CRM provides the ability to increase its current investments.

1. Choose a cloud provider with Sage Hosting expertise:

The cloud hosting providers mostly understand the necessities required to transfer your company’s applications to the cloud. Since Sage CRM, Sage HRMS, and Sage ERP applications house the most relevant data of the business including customer information and finance-related data, selecting a service provider that has a good experience with Sage makes it simpler to troubleshoot issues related to applications and speed up the migration process.

CloudIBN offers reliable full-time support and the power of Softaculous to install many free applications with just a single click. We provide an easy control panel, free website templates, a 99.9% uptime guarantee, and 24 x 7 technical support.

2. Select applications you will like to host:

While thinking about hosting Sage, you must consider other apps that would like to host with your existing Sage application as well. Find out the applications that can be moved easily without any issues and apps that can take more time to transfer because of on-premise customizations.

3. Backup and Disaster Recovery:

Always think about backup and disaster recovery solutions before moving your Sage application to an environment. Making sure that you have a backup and disaster recovery plan gives your business a greater sense of security as well.

4. Industry Requirements:

To ensure compliance, know about your industry requirements. Some industries like finance and healthcare usually require specific certifications and are heavily regulated to ensure data security.

5. Cloud Security:

Around 95% of companies that suffer major data loss ultimately go out of business, according to experts. Ensure that you have encrypted logins, the right user roles defined, 24 x 7 incident monitoring, built-in firewalls, and antivirus protection to ensure that your information is as secure as it can be.

6. Reliable Internet:

You will need to ensure that you have a proper connection to the internet once your business has Sage business software running in the cloud. Think about your existing internet connectivity while moving to the cloud. If you have a bad internet service then be ready to have issues in connecting to your apps in the cloud. Your cloud service provider should provide connectivity support too to assist with troubleshooting all connectivity problems.

7. Comparison Analysis:

By offering a cloud hosting comparison analysis, the service providers offer customers the elasticity of knowing whether the move to the cloud is accurate or not.

Source

How to build a cloud strategy for your company

Leave a comment

Organizations that lack a high-level cloud strategy risk wasted investment and failure. Cloud computing, with all its features and benefits, also comes with some multidimensional perks. The cloud computing paradigm has been driving innovation in almost all sectors of the market; contrary to the popular belief that cloud computing is just beneficial for computing applications. It is imperative that IT leaders think ahead and prepare a Cloud strategy for their Organizations.

To make full use of the Cloud computing arena, one needs to have a strong strategy in place. One that works for the business as a whole, and also one that works for the employees. There are some brilliant options to choose from and some great support services to avail but which one to choose? And what investment to make? We look at some cloud computing strategies that leaders should keep in mind while building from the bottom up.

4 Things to Consider for Building an effective Cloud Strategy for your Company

1. Private cloud or public cloud or hybrid: A very confusing but one of the most important decisions a leader has to make is to choose the type of Cloud he would like to deploy on. A Private cloud is definitely more secure and robust but costs more. A Public cloud is lean and relatively cost-less but comes with security concerns. A Hybrid cloud needs expert developers and careful planning to deploy, which increases operating costs as a whole. Careful consideration should be done while selecting the cloud and the pros and cons should be weighed against each other.

2. Value your options and choose: Cloud computing was first adopted by small and medium-sized companies for simple and low-cost solutions because their needs dictated that. Many large organizations are adopting cloud computing for cost-cutting and speed-to-market benefits. They view clouds primarily as an enabler of process improvement and a means of reducing costs in specific pockets across IT. You need to see where you fit, and what the purpose of the shift is. Do you need it for IT support or do you want to induce the BYOD paradigm in your workspace? Your choice would also depend on your bandwidth needs. In the end, choosing a Cloud computing platform is all about dealing with trade-offs.

3. Plan your budget: If you have made a decision on what fits your needs, you need to next choose your IT support backbone. There would be a minimal investment in the storage hardware, but you might have to invest in hiring the proper workforce for Cloud development.

4. Technology: After you have locked in your needs and the budget available for it, take a look at the best technology stack available for the task in the money that you have allocated for the shift to cloud computing. Keeping in mind your Go-to-market strategy, choose from among many of the Cloud service providers in the market today. A lot of them would provide additional features like social media integration and higher security measures, which might be valuable to you, so choose wisely.

Disaster Recovery, Backup, Scalability, Resilience, High Availability, and other capabilities of the Cloud have helped create an interesting solution set for Organizations to choose from. The power of the cloud lies in its versatility and flexibility. With more resources available to the average user on demand and without locking up its CapEx, Cloud computing is capable of delivering more content faster, and to more devices. There are many ways to utilize the cloud and each can have its own considerations and best practices. Aligning those best practices with your business goals is the key strategy that should be followed.

Top 3 Cloud Service Models

Leave a comment

Cloud consulting services are part of many IT enterprises as well as other organizations. As more and more companies are realizing the potential of going cloud for better utilization of resources as well as lower dependence on hardware. Companies and the end-users get complete access to a variety of services such as software, information, and resources. You only need effective internet connectivity to build and run your application and software.

A cloud model usually provides three service models; namely Infrastructure-as-a-Service (Iaas),  Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), and Software-as-a-service. Let us dig each in detail.

IaaS – Infrastructure-as-a-Service 

IaaS is one of the renowned cloud service models where you get access to distributed virtualized computing resources such as networks, storage, and servers. System administrators manage everything in this model and they provide convenient access to all users. 

IaaS cloud infrastructure pattern provides the following benefits:

  • Transparency – You can request a general location zone for virtual machines
  • Pay-per-use – You can save hardware investment and pay for the resources you use
  • Flexibility – You can request a variety of computational and storage resources
  • Shared Resources – You can access a pool of shared resources and thus higher utilization rate can be achieved
  • On-demand Services – You can access or request services as you like
  • Manageability and accessibility – You can access resources from anywhere and anytime.

PaaS – Platform-as-a-Service

In the PaaS service model, you need not buy and own the hardware and software. PaaS offers a virtual environment for developing, running, deploying, and managing applications online. Developers are the principal users of PaaS. It is also known as the middleware service model used to provide a virtual environment with shared tools and resources by eliminating the need for managing the complexity of infrastructure. 

IaaS cloud infrastructure pattern provides the following benefits:

  • Collaboration – geographically situated people can come together and work on a project
  • Versatility- You can access different databases and programming languages and other resources for the development
  • Simplification – You need not worry about updating servers. Everything is managed by a PaaS provider.
  • Testability – Different tools make the testing application programs more convenient
  • Elasticity – The resources such as network, storage, and servers required to deploy an application can be accommodated as per the varying volume of requirements. 
  • Transparency – Your PaaS provider manages everything from patches to maintenance. There will be no server issues. 
  • On-demand services – You can use additional software development tools if you want to
  • Accessibility – You can access all PaaS services through thin web browsers anytime from anywhere.
  • Pay-per-use – You pay for what services you consume

SaaS – Software-as-a-Service

The most sought-after part of any cloud platform will be SaaS. It is widely used by all sorts of companies and persons. The volume and different services the platform provides include applications, storage, servers, and so on. 

SaaS cloud infrastructure pattern provides the following benefits:

  • Scalability – Scaling up and scaling down is easy
  • Reduced time to benefit – The software is ready to use and no need to waste time on installation and configuration
  • Lower costs –  license costs for software and the maintenance cost are lower since its a multi-tenant environment

In a nutshell

All these service models ensure cloud security and considering the business goals you can choose a service model. IaaS provides sharing of distributed resources such as storage, networks, and other relevant computing resources for the end-user. He can run and deploy applications including operating systems. Operating system support and software development frameworks are provided in PaaS. SaaS delivers end-user applications on the cloud infrastructure. You can access it from any device as long as you have the credentials. 

Source

Staffing Software: Key Capabilities and Top Products

Leave a comment

Staffing software (temporary staffing software and long-term staffing software) can help staffing agencies find and manage recruits as well as corporate clients. More specifically, it can facilitate communication with clients and recruits, managing recruit profiles, and posting jobs. Also, staffing software helps perform tasks related to matching recruits to job openings, including candidate screening, applicant tracking, and more.

Sometimes, staffing software is referred to as applicant tracking software or recruiting software. But applicant tracking software and recruiting software may also be used by enterprises for their own recruiting needs while staffing software handles the demands of a staffing agency.

Staffing agencies software key capabilities

Staffing software can integrate with email services and calendars, job boards, social media, a staffing agency’s website, and more, which helps increase the efficiency of staffing processes. As regards built-in capabilities of staffing software, we can distinguish the following components:

Applicant tracking system (ATS)

An applicant tracking system is a key component of staffing software. The ATS offers candidate sourcing, resume management, applicant evaluation, and candidate tracking.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Staffing CRM functionality is required for the effective management of an agency’s relationships with clients and candidates. It helps reduce time to hire, add and view candidate data easily, track opportunities, generate detailed real-time reports, and more.

Source

Software for Food and Beverage Manufacturing

Leave a comment

Throughout the food manufacturing process, from purchasing raw materials to distributing end products, manufacturing companies rely on different types of software to facilitate their business-critical operations. An Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution is one of the key elements of a manufacturing software ecosystem. It helps plan raw material procurement and utilization, monitor inventory levels across various stages, automate customer order processing, and track finished food items through the entire supply chain.

The key functionality of food manufacturing software

All ERPs for food manufacturers is unique and may provide different functionality depending on the manufacturer’s size, the production process specifics, the existing digital environment, and more. customers from the food domain are typically interested in the following food manufacturing software features:

  • Planning of food production and distribution. To analyze sales history, get analytics-based recommendations on the optimal time for raw material purchasing, manage order grouping for bulk processing, and plan product shipping.
  • Bill of Materials (BOM) creation and management. To centralize information on the amount and cost of raw materials required to manufacture a particular SKU, create and edit product manufacturing and packaging instructions.
  • Inventory management. To track the number of raw materials and finished goods, timely reallocate inventory between multiple , storage, and distribution sites, identify slow sellers and popular products, and predict high and low sales periods to avoid overstocking and stockouts.
  • Supply chain management. To monitor the transfer of raw materials and end products between manufacturing facilities, storage locations, and distribution centers.
  • Recipe management. To facilitate the creation and storage of food and beverage recipes, record information on ingredients and their substitutions.
  • Quality management. To establish quality control checklists and procedures, monitor the quality of raw materials and end products to ensure food safety and quality, and maintain compliance with relevant governmental regulations.
  • Cost management. To accurately value inventory based on a preferred costing method, track the spending on raw materials, consumables, etc.

Make the first step in your future food software

Food manufacturing and distribution software can facilitate planning, optimize inventory management and supply chain operations, and help guarantee the compliance of food products with the required industry- and country-specific regulations. If you consider implementing effective food software to improve the transparency and overall effectiveness of your food and distribution processes.

Source

How User Interface Improves IT Infrastructure Management

Leave a comment
Infrastructure Consulting

IT infrastructure has expanded rapidly over the last decade and has positioned IT as an active business partner. This drastic expansion means IT teams need to look for effective and scalable mechanisms to manage the IT infrastructure at optimal costs and efforts. Here we discuss how User Interface (UI) can play a significant role in effectively executing IT infrastructure management.

Importance of User Interface in IT Infrastructure Management

The IT department has a broad view of business services and infrastructure. To manage and serve dynamic IT infrastructure needs with ease, businesses are adopting various automation solutions to scale up efficiencies by improving visibility into infrastructure services while avoiding service outages and maximizing operational agility.  Automation can save a lot of manual efforts and provide data to drive business decisions but, without proper UI and visualizations, IT teams cannot completely understand the data and service flows provided by automation.

Data visualization isn’t as simple as it appears, having the right information at the right time is the key. Without this, the entire process can slow down which decreases overall efficiency. This can greatly affect IT system administration and troubleshooting activities. For example, discovering and analyzing an issue is a time-sensitive task without proper data visualization and UI, it can compromise SLAs.

Binding complex functionalities under a well-defined UI enables IT, teams, to get results immediately. So, having a strong UI can simplify the process of IT administration and troubleshooting.

UI/UX Considerations for IT Management

The UI and User Experience (UX) design process is completely agile. For IT teams to achieve better results, striking the right balance between the UI design requirements and UX is important. There are a few things to consider to get this right.

UI/UX Considerations for Infrastructure Deployment

Expanding IT Infrastructure with new capabilities and resources is common. Initiating new deployments through UI requires following a structured process to guarantee all modules are installed properly. UI design patterns keep the process simple and provide transparency throughout the installation process. Generalization can simplify the process to prevent errors and speed up the entire process. Typically, in the deployment process, mostly wizards are used.

UI/UX Consideration for Infrastructure Monitoring and Management 

The type of UI that goes into IT infrastructure monitoring isn’t the same as in the deployment process. The goal is to optimize IT operations management. This process involves checking the utilization and performance status and extract deeper insights of performance. IT teams need better data visualization and dashboards that enhance understanding of efficiency in IT infrastructure with a report specific to each business case.

UI and UX  reporting should vary based on the hierarchy of access. For example, IT admins need an IT infrastructure map and access to data about each deployment. The UI deployed should provide visualizations with appropriate information in dashboards that are easy to understand. If you consider roles like users, the UI should be simple interfaces, so if there is an incident, users can troubleshoot without getting into technicalities.

Source

What is the cloud-native infrastructure?

Leave a comment
Infrastructure Consulting

The cloud-native infrastructure is a cloud environment that enables the entire life cycle of applications designed and developed to operate in the cloud. A classic cloud-native app consists of a mesh of isolated services ensuring the overall app stability as the app does not cease to operate when one service is down. The granular infrastructure of such apps enables their on-the-go improvement without operational downtimes and systemic failures. 

Important aspects of the cloud-native infrastructure Containerization 

For the deployment of cloud apps, I recommend using containers to package up software code with all the dependencies necessary to run an app or a service. Containers consume fewer cloud resources and can be easily configured, scaled, replicated, and orchestrated via such management systems as Kubernetes. The use of containers facilitates CI/CD implementation and infrastructure automation.

Paas

To make the cloud more attractive to users, major cloud providers offer PaaS services for developing, testing, deploying, managing, and updating cloud applications: AWS Lambda, Azure Functions, Google App Engine, etc. PaaS releases you from cumbersome server management and lets you extend your cloud infrastructure with special modules for AI, machine learning, IoT, blockchain, etc., with no extra development efforts.

IT infrastructure automation 

With the Infrastructure as Code (IaC) approach, your DevOps team can automate cloud infrastructure setup and management of its components. They use configuration files to organize unified and instantly configured development environments and trace changes committed to the infrastructure. 

Parallel development environments 

As services of a cloud-native app are detached and have clear criteria for their functional operability, they enable a high level of automation and can be simultaneously developed and then assembled, tested, and deployed through the branching CI/CD pipelines.

Autoscaling 

Cloud infrastructures are driven by virtual computing nodes like EC2s in AWS and VMs in Azure or Google Cloud Platform. Each component of a cloud infrastructure consumes CPU, RAM or storage capacities attributable to it and the consumption should timely follow the demandThat’s why I recommend automating resource orchestration to: 

  • Reduce cloud consumption by scaling down when a service is idle. 
  • Ensure sufficient performance of a service by scaling up. 

Depending on the objectives, you can make the virtual instances scale dynamically against metrics of interest (including predictive metrics) or as scheduled if you expect load surges. 

Load balancing 

Application monitoring

Monitoring of a cloud-native app can be divide into two layers: 

  • Health checks to define whether a microservice is functional at all. because The functional state is automatically reported to a host platform, which can scale up
  • Metrics analysis  certainly gives an advanced picture of app performance. because It is mostly use by the developers to automate

Security

A cloud-native app lets you build perimeter and component-level security. However, the integration of access verification mechanisms into each app component may become a burden on performance. To avoid this, I suggest use intra-component authentication: a sign-up user gets a taken, which is then compare with a reference token cashed in each service to grant or deny access. This technique greatly contributes to app security with the least effect on its performance. 

Tips for a robust cloud-native infrastructure

Tip 1: Get an experienced DevOps team skilled in: 

  • Automation. Isac infrastructure setups, CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure management automation. 
  • Containerization to make your infrastructure a resource-friendly system easily reproducible on any cloud platform. 
  • App monitoring to make sure your app adheres to the set business goals throughout its entire life cycle. 

IT Infrastructure Consultants

Leave a comment
Infrastructure Consulting

In the technology industry,IT Infrastructure Consultants much of the focus is placed on applications and solutions, and rightfully so. It is the applications themselves that enable a company to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and provide their services for their customers. However, without the right infrastructure in place, the application is either going to perform poorly or not function at all. As IT infrastructure consultants, here’s where Mindsight comes in. We provide expert insight and guidance at an infrastructure level to help our clients deploy, manage, and maintain their IT environments. 

The Value Of IT Infrastructure Consultants 

Purchasing your IT infrastructure is not as simple as ordering SKUs online and waiting for the parts to arrive. Truly, infrastructure consulting occurs in two phases.

Design and Strategy 

Our approach to these consulting engagements is a holistic one. We don’t only meet with the IT department. Instead, we seek to understand our client’s business at every level. We meet with other business units, such as the finance department, sales, marketing, and more to discover how the technology empowers and hinders that department. Once we understand how the business operates, we are in a much better position to offer the best recommendations and guidance possible. 

Deployment 

The deployment phase is exactly what you might imagine. By choosing Mindsight as their preferred IT infrastructure consultant, our clients gain peace of mind in knowing that their new equipment will be deployed in their environment on time and on budget. 

Source

10 Tips for Software Selection

Leave a comment

The software selection process can be complicated and overwhelming, and it often leads to analysis paralysis and organizational conflict, among other things. Navigating that terrain often requires external, objective help to help guide the process and ensure an organization is focusing on the right things as they vet each system.  

It all comes down to gathering the right requirements, enabling project management, and other digital transformation best practices that you can find in our most recent digital transformation report.  

Whether you do it yourself or decide to bring in a third-party consultant, these 10 proven tactics can guard your company against risks and pitfalls that come with the software selection process. Follow these vetting tactics when going through software evaluations. Although it may take a little longer, these simple due diligence asks will save money and heartburn in the long run. 

10 Tips for Vetting Software Vendors Through the ERP Software Selection Process 

  1. Measure twice, cut once. 
  • Allow your team the time to do real due diligence upfront.  Red flags are ignore many times when the company is hurtling toward a fast decision.  A proper selection process can take anywhere from 6-to 18 months depending on the size and scope.  Allow them time and resources. 
  1. Get references. 
  • Ask to speak to references who are on the same version you are planning to deploy and if it’s on-prem or cloud.  Preferably in your industry, size, and with some of the same nuances or challenges you are solving for. 
  1. Probe beyond the surface. 
  • Ask them to further demonstrate areas where they say “yes, we can do that” This may require mini demonstrations of said functionality and the vendor should be willing and able to accommodate. 
  1. What you see is not always what you get. 
  • Ask if that functionality they are selling or showcasing is “out of the box” or requires customization.  In addition, ask for details about the time and cost tied to building out the customizations.  As well as any recurring fees to maintain the integrations that are built to accommodate those customizations. 
  1. Remember that vendors are selling.  
  • There may be claims made in the sales process that simply can’t be fulfill by the professional services team. There have been many companies who have fallen subject to the professional services team being blind-side by a request, and they can only say that that functionality was not include or that it is the customer’s responsibility. Assume positive intent with your sales representative, but verify everything. Once you sign the contract, there’s no going back.  
  1. Understand the product road map. 
  • Ask to have someone walk you through their product roadmap.  Understand if what they are selling/showing is what will be deployed on your go-live date.  Vendors will have their demo environments, websites, and web videos set up to show all the bells and whistles functioning at a high level.  Again, they are selling.  Remember that most ERP software does not come out of the box looking/operating like that.  Dig deep into their product roadmap and the stability of the product over the next several years.
  1. Do your due diligence. 
  • Check the forums and real user feedback about how good their technical support and service teams are.  SLAs, response times on service tickets, etc.  There are many resources out there. Consider looking at places like Gartner and Software Advice. 
  1. Adding on too early in the process. 
  • Be wary of doing customizations or buying additional modules too early in the process.  Learn what is core functionality first and work with the system for a while before spending more time or money on additional bells and whistles you may not need right now. The 20% contingency budget built into these projects should not be spent on things that could have accounted for ahead of time.  
  1. Request sales back-up. 
  • Ask the vendor to include a solution architect and professional services/delivery team resource in the demonstration if possible.  This will keep the sales team honest in terms of what they are promising general cost, time, and complexity estimates.
  1. NEGOTIATE!  
  • There is almost always room to negotiate on price.  There are a couple of vendors who are notorious for not negotiating, which I will not name here.    
  • Know when fiscal year-end is for your vendors, and try to time negotiations/close around that time when they are most incentivized to offer discounts.   
  • Oracle:  May 31.  Microsoft:  June 30.  Infor: April 30.  
  • The end of the quarter can also be a good time for that as well.   
  • A few other ways we’ve seen customers reduce spending include caps on maintenance fee increases, extended maintenance and support time, future options on additional software purchases, and reduced hourly rates on professional services. 
Source