Monthly Archives: November 2017

What Should SMEs Do? Buy or Lease Their Managed Print Solutions?

leased-printer-contract

Printing tips, Saving Money

November 17, 2017

SMEs always must consider the financial burden of the essential equipment they need for their business, and print solutions are one of the most important necessities for the smooth running of operations.

Aside from the initial capital of the machines needed, there is the maintenance and servicing and purchasing.  This can stretch operational budgets beyond feasible limits.

Leasing machines is therefore financially attractive for SMEs alleviating the burden of up front capital.

Mode reviewed the benefits for SMEs leasing their print solutions:

Financial Advantages

Capital is always an issue for small businesses, as it is rare that there are disposable financial resources to purchase print solutions. Avoiding large purchases like this, keep essential capital available for other significant business needs. Also purchasing this equipment, inevitably depreciates over time, therefore it is of no added value for your business to own these assets.

Budget Advantages

Paying out large sums of capital does not make any sense for SMEs. However, spreading the cost in manageable sums through a lease agreement can help with budgetary requirements. There is the flexibility of having the equipment you need immediately for your business whilst not having the huge financial outlay.

Technology Advances

It is a common fact that this type of IT/Print solutions depreciates faster than most of a business’s assets. Leasing the equipment, you need gives your business the freedom for up to date equipment. This allows you to take advantage of technological advances as leasing offers you the flexibility to update when new equipment becomes available, or as your business needs change, or as you grow, so too can your equipment match your needs.

The Pitfalls

Mode has seen too many times, businesses becoming disillusioned by their print supplier. You do need to check who the finance is with-typically a 3rd Party, also, ensure that all your supplies and servicing are with the company you have initially signed with. Leasing needs to be easiest solution for you.

 

If you’d like to talk to Mode about our unique product Simple, where you will only ever deal with Mode for all your equipment, financing, servicing and supplies, then do contact us today.

 

GDPR? Metadata? Mode Makes It Simple

Uncategorized

November 6, 2017

Do you ever wonder why complicated words and acronyms are used to explain new laws and processes?  Things could be explained so simply without the use of complex words, and in the particularly grey and challenging era we are entering with GDPR, it is necessary to clear the fog and try and make thing as simple as possible!

Does anyone really understand Metadata or GDPR?

GDPR is becoming a real enforceable law on the fast approaching 25th May 2018. Every business needs to be ready!

What does Metadata mean?

Metadata is “data that provides information about other data”. Put simply, from metadata, you can understand what data you hold as a business and the way it is used within your organisation. Metadata also makes it easier to gain access to individual records held within larger databases.

Therefore, databases cannot be managed or analysed without metadata. That’s why this will be essential for GDPR in May.

How will metadata aid your processes with GDPR?

GDPR is aimed at focusing business attention on how data is stored; who has access to that; how secure your sensitive data is; and having the correct processes in place should there be a data breach or a request to eliminate someone’s data.

Therefore, metadata will be of paramount importance in this new process of GDPR. In light of this, you should consider the following points:

  • Consent: Consent of use of someone’s data is the highest priority for GDPR and metadata will allow you to administer consent for privacy-sensitive data.
  • Data breach: If any of your data becomes compromised, metadata will enable you to see how the file was created; on which date; the name of the hacked filed; and when the breach took place. This information will then need to be used to notify your data protection supervisory authority immediately!
  • Data protection officer: For larger organisations, there will be a need to appoint a data protection officer. Metadata will be that officer’s greatest assets in ensuring that the correct measures and processes are in place to protect personal data.
  • Privacy is king: Your business will need to ensure that it has taken all necessary precautions and has all the correct procedural measures in place. Metadata will allow you to ensure that all technical measures required are performed in the correct way.
  • You own your own data: GDPR gives greater control to the owners of personal data. Their privacy rights have been greatly improved. However, this does mean that businesses (or data processors) will have to react quickly to any request for access to personal data. Metadata will be essential in giving organisations fast access to this information.
  • Data processes: You will need to process data properly and securely and be able to demonstrate your processes should you need to. Without metadata, it could make this task exceedingly difficult, so you will need to ensure that it is easily accessible when required.
  • PIA: PIA stands for Privacy Impact Assessments and your business may need to do this. This will help identify the privacy risks within your organisations. This will be asked for when it is believed that there is a privacy risk, however it would be prudent to perform one to identify where potential risks may be.

GDPR is undeniably complex and confusing. Compliance is mandatory and your business will need to ensure that you have a knowledgably officer that will help see you through the confusion.

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