Just to let you know of our next event from Auxilion which is focused on how Irish firms have used cloud services and digital transformation successfully.
I am holding a number of seats for my personal guests, if you missed the invite, just let me know. If you are tight on time, we welcome you and a few of your team to even just join us for lunch (on us!) anytime between 1.00 -2.00pm next Wednesday. I will be there on the day too, so if you can make it would be good to catch up.
You can register using the link below, or just let me know and I can have my colleagues get you all registered and setup.
I am delighted to have just passed the new RESILIA Foundation exam.
As this is a brand new course and certification released by AXELOS, I thought it would be a good idea to provide some details of my experience and the materials I used to prepare for and take the exam.
As part of the current international Train The Trainer (TTT) programme for RESILIA I was provided with comprehensive courseware provided by ITpreneurs. ITpreneurs is one of the four official global RESILIA courseware providers licensed by AXELOS.
I was provided with a copy of the trainer slides which are externally interactive and a digitally protected softcopy version of the student handbook, which includes comprehensive notes and guidance on both cyber resilience and areas which are likely to be examined.
The course book contains one full sample exam and a second sample exam is available for download from the RESILIA website (login may be required). This provides delegates with a total of one-hundred sample questions to use to prepare for the exam proper. The exam consists of fifty questions with a pass score of 65%.
First off I scanned the course book and slides. As the RESILIA foundation course is based at Blooms Level 2, key definitions are certainly examined. Also examined are key and pivotal points and areas regarding cyber resilience. As a trainer it was easy enough for me to spot the key tenants of the course and using the syllabus I got a clear view of what areas are examined. Then I took a day out oy my schedule to read, take notes, prepare, do the sample papers, review and repeat the process again.
Beware though, this approach is not for everyone, and as I learnt later on during the exam proper, once you rule out the question distractors you are generally left with at least two plausible answers.
As part of the TTT, I was provided with an exam voucher to take the exam online. As I am registered through PeopleCert, I took the online exam with them. The process was seamless and best of all, with online proctoring, I did the exam in the comfort my own home office.
Overall the courseware is good, the book is concise and the two sample exams help prepare for the exam proper. Beware though, the exam is not to be taken lightly.
For those trainers out there who want to upskill and deliver RESILIA courses, I understand there is still an opportunity to register for the RESILIA Train The Trainer for free up until the end of August 2015, at least through ITpreneurs.
The next step is to tackle the forthcoming RESILIA Practitioner exam in order to quality as an official trainer for the RESILIA Portfolio.
Businesses adopting cloud computing services need ask a range of questions about support, backup and security to ensure that they receive adequate levels of service from their provider, according to a new report.
“Cloud computing and cloud based services are growing exponentially, yet many are unaware of the questions they need to ask to ensure quality of service,” said Mark O’Loughlin, head of cloud advisory and consulting at Auxilion and author of the report.
The IT service management and cloud computing report highlights key issues that need to be discussed with the provider before implementing cloud services, including the legal jurisdiction the data stored in and the level of service and back up provided.
“For example, customers may assume that their applications and services are fully resilient and backed-up, only to find out during a service outage that they have inadequate arrangements in place,” O’Loughlin said.
“The legal jurisdiction of where the data is stored also poses serious legal and compliance issues such as who has access to the data from a legal perspective and what data protection laws apply.”
The report advisers that cloud computing and cloud based services customers should expect, and demand, at least the same levels of service as those provided by traditional IT service providers and internal IT organisations.
And it recommends implementing ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) principles to support the adoption and use of cloud computing and cloud based services.
“Applied properly, cloud computing has huge cost and productivity benefits,” said O’Loughlin. “For example, businesses no longer need to procure, operate and maintain full and complete back-end IT infrastructure and applications. In addition, smart phone and tablet devices have enabled new mobile business models which did not exist ten years ago, via cloud enabled applications and improvements in data communications and broadband access and speeds.
“However, when adopting cloud computing and cloud based services, businesses should not forget the basic principles of IT service management.”
itSMF Ireland are running our first conference in conjunction with ISACA. As a member of the board of directors of itSMF Ireland, I am delighted that we have the opportunity to run this event for our members. We are looking forward to hearing from some excellent speakers.
The event is open for both members and non-members of itSMF Ireland and ISACA. The cost for attending the event represents great value for money considering how much other day long events and conferences cost.
itSMF Ireland and ISACA are delighted to announce that the two chapters will host a full-day conference on IT governance.
The conference will feature both local and international speakers, vendor exhibits and IT service management simulation games and provides an opportunity to network with colleagues from IT service management, audit and security.
The conference will cover topics such as governance, ITIL, mobile security, service improvement, professionalism in service management and COBIT 5. In addition, there will be a panel discussion featuring industry experts.
The keynote speaker is Billy Hawkes, Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner.
Derek McCullagh, chairman of itSMF Ireland, said itSMF Ireland is delighted to be collaborating with ISACA in staging this conference.
The Irish chapter of ISACA was formed in 1998 to cater for the growing group of people in Ireland interested in information systems audit and security issues.
The itSMF is the only truly independent and internationally recognised forum for IT service management professionals worldwide. itSMF Ireland is a not-for-profit organisation and is a prominent player in the on-going development and promotion of IT service management best practice, standards and qualifications.
To book your place for the conference and for more information on both organisations and this event, please visit the itSMF Ireland website and the ISACA website.
Irish chapter of IT Service Management Forum (itSMF) raises €3,200 funds for Laura Lynn House.
Fundraising event marks announcement of the itSMF supported charity.
Dublin, 8th August, 2012: The Irish chapter of the IT Service Management Forum (itSMF) has raised €3,200 from members and sponsors for the Laura Lynn House following a recent itSMF event held in Dublin. Laura Lynn House is the supported charity of itSMF Ireland.
itSMF Ireland, an independent forum for IT Service Management professionals, holds regular events throughout the year promoting the on-going development of IT Service Management best practice, standards and qualifications. The next diary event is a one day conference in partnership with ISACA and is to be held on Friday 12th October 2012 (www.itsmf.ie/events). The Irish chapter also announced a new call for members as the forum continues to gather traction in Ireland.
Funds for Laura Lynn House were raised through a raffle and donations from members attending the event and support from key corporate sponsors including Arkphire, Davern ITSM, Fujitsu, Irish Life & Permanent, Van Haren Publishing, Vero Solutions and Bank of Ireland.
Bank of Ireland matched the money raised on the night through its community investment and charity initiative, “Give Together” bringing the total raised to €3,200.
Mark O’Loughlin, Director at itSMF Ireland said “We are delighted to have the opportunity to support Laura Lynn House and raise these much needed funds for such a deserving cause. Thank you to all our members who participated and those who provided the prizes for the event.”
Supporting children with life limiting conditions and their families, the Laura Lynn House(www.sunshinehome.ie) provides high quality transitional care, home support, respite, crisis and end of-life care, thereby making the last days of a child’s life more bearable for children and their families.
Pictured is Derek McCullagh, Chairman itSMF Ireland, Johnny Cox, Bank of Ireland and Sarah Meagher, Children’s Sunshine Home & Laura Lynn House.
