[I used to work in I.T. support. And since then I've been doing office temping in several companies. As a result, I've seen various I.T. policies from both sides of the divide. And my opinion? They're all crap!]

Important Guidelines for Company Computer Policies.
or, Where Many Companies Go Wrong!

Sometimes Company Management is so sure that it knows what it's doing when it comes to their policies on internal company PCs. Even more so if it's a Computing Company, and the Management actually understand computers. The truth, however, is that the Management Mindset still manages to blind them to certain key facts.

A Company is only as good as it's Main Network
If you need an IT-support staff member, then do it properly. Don't just go for whatever works out cheapest. Preferably go for someone with experience, and pay for it! Or if you must go for a trainee, actually give them training - don't just expect them to pick things up on the job. This is your live network system you're letting them loose on.

Secondly, if they give you some advice, listen to them. Even if they are only a trainee with no other I.T. experience as of yet. Chances are that when you asked them to look into something, they actually did do their research. And if they didn't know a lot already, there's a lot of information on-line that they probably looked up - all written by people with years of experience behind them. If you're a busy Manager-type then, whether you hired a Pro or a Trainee, they've just done a lot of research that you haven't. Pay attention!

Main Network Hardware
Take this very seriously. At least as seriously as (if not more so than) the advice you give your Clients. This is your main server, your central database, and your network backbone. Don't use a cheapass solution! Your servers have to have powerful processors, lots of memory, a decent backup system, and RAID. Remember, Redundancy Redundancy Redundancy!
Better to have a system that's got more emergency measures than you need, than need more than you have! If something goes terribly wrong, those hundreds you saved on your server may cost you thousands in the long run.

Oh, and I haven't mentioned UPS. Just take that as read!

User-end PCs
These are what connect your staff to all the vital information that keeps your company running. They need decent PCs. Not just quite-fast processors and the latest flashy-OS and software. Make sure the hardware is stable. Give them a hard drive that's big enough to run whatever Operating System you're running.
Oh, and whilst I'm talking about the OS, make sure it's one you know will work. Going for the latest in everything might look impressive, but it means that no-one has run into the problems that will occur.

The thing is, all of this should be patently obvious.
So why did I end up working for 6 months for a Computing Company that didn't know any of this?

Hehe. Where do you think I learned all this?

Buggering thing! Well, Blogger went down due to hacking, then I could get my sodding login to work properly. Things should be back to normal now.

Surely Benefits are supposed to be, well, Beneficial? Sometimes, however, I do wonder. The Benefits System here in the UK can be quite restrictive at times. The thing is that a lot of the restrictions were put in place to combat fraud - therefore encouraging people to actually get back into work! The problem is, however, that a lot of the restrictions actually appear to make you worse off if you're only doing really short bits of work. The problem with this, however, is that even small odds and sods can actually help you in the long-term. But in the short-term they tend to bring much paperwork, and a potential decrease in your Benefit payments. In effect, you end up with the same minimum weekly income if you get any work. Earn £30, and you'll get £30 less JSA, and a shit-load of forms to fill out. This does have major disadvantage. It seems to encourage one to not bother with work unless it's financially worth your while. If an Agency or Employer offers you a day's work, that money ends up being instead of your JSA, rather than topping it up. I mean, let's face it, Job-Seeker's Allowance is a pitiful amount. It doesn't really cover anything. And if I do a day's work, I'd appreciate it if that day's work tops up my bank account. I mean, I did a day's work a week and a bit ago. It was only one day's work. And the reason I took it was because I was completely skint. JSA isn't cutting it at the moment, and I was so hard up I accepted a day of envelope-stuffing simply because I needed the cash. And, lo and behold, I don't see the extra cash! Well I won't be doing that again. But it makes a mockery of the whole system. I can't afford to take work unless it's worth my while. That's hardly going to encourage me to accept work now, it it?

Christmas Draws Closer To all who read this, have a Merry Christmas!