Computer networks made easy for small businesses
Posted on 12 June 2006
The new IT Essentials for Business E-Learning CD promises to be a boon to small businesses - teaching them how to set up and manage their own computer network.It will help 'non-technical' people running small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to set up and maintain a wireless or a wired computer network, without the need to employ an expensive specialist IT consultant.
The CD-ROM based product creates an innovative Virtual Office environment allowing the user to practise setting up a network using 11 different scenarios before they tackle the real thing. It also guides the user through the essential considerations when setting up a small office IT infrastructure, including basic networking and wireless networking concepts, wireless security, file sharing, backup and disaster recovery.
The University's IT Academy Manager Steve Knight said: "It's a fantastic new way of learning these types of skills, and we are very excited about this project. It could save small businesses thousands of pounds in consultancy fees, as well as saving the inconvenience, not to mention the lost business and frustration of being without your computer systems while you wait for the specialist.
[This project] could save small businesses thousands of pounds in consultancy fees
Steve Knight
"We originally developed the material as a standard training course, having identified a need among SMEs for this level of training to give them basic IT networking skills. While the standard training course has been run successfully, we found that many people were unable to spare the time away from the office to attend the course.
"It sells at £95 plus VAT - the equivalent of less than the cost of two hours of an IT consultant's time. A free demo is available from the IT Academy, which can be upgraded to the full product immediately by payment of the appropriate fee online."
To meet this need, the IT Academy obtained funding from the White Rose Research Triangle to develop its existing conventional training course into an E-Learning product, using expertise from Disq Ltd. This enables businesses to fit the learning around existing work commitments.
Steve Knight added: "Demonstrations of the beta-version at VentureFest in February created a lot of interest and we have also received expressions of interest from Malaysia, so this could be a winner on both the national and the international stages."
Notes to editors:
- There is a photo opportunity on the day of the Launch with Ajaz Ahmed, Founder of Freeserve at 1400 on Tuesday 13 June 2006 at the IT Academy Stand number 88 at the Digital Style Event in Harrogate. Details can be found at http://www.digitalstyle.org.uk/
- The University of York IT Academy was set up with funding from the Learning and Skills Council in 2004, to provide Advanced IT Training for York and North Yorkshire SMEs, focusing on the Bioscience and Digital sectors. Its remit quickly expanded to cover all SMEs in York and North Yorkshire.
- Disq specialises in producing innovative e-learning applications, personalised and effective CD marketing and bespoke website design, using exceptional design concepts and the latest technologies.
- The IT Academy has been developing the IT Essentials package with Disq Limited using their e-learning expertise to convert the existing training material into a new and exciting CD-ROM based learning product.