<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!-- generator="FeedCreator 1.8.0-dev (info@mypapit.net)" -->
<rss version="2.0"  xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
    <channel>
        <title>Layton RSS News Feed</title>
        <description></description>
        <link>http://laytontechnology.com/</link>
        <lastBuildDate>Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:38:32 GMT</lastBuildDate>
        <generator>FeedCreator 1.8.0-dev (info@mypapit.net)</generator>
		<atom:link href="http://laytontechnology.com/component/ninjarsssyndicator/?feed_id=12" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />        <item>
            <title>Layton ServiceDesk Feature List</title>
            <link>http://laytontechnology.com/service-desk-features.html</link>
            <description><![CDATA[When you invest in Layton ServiceDesk you can be sure of our committment to deliver you the best a help desk can offer. We have a dedicated team of developers and on-going investment in R &amp; D program that ensures we continually meet the changing needs of our customers.
Layton ServiceDesk Feature Set



100% based Help Desk



Fully Customizable form design



Dashboard with interchangable charts



Rebranding



Mutli-tenancy



Automatic email to ticket conversion



Active Directory Integration including Multiple Active Directory



LDAP Integration



User Survey



Complete History of Request



Multi Site Support



Calendar &amp; Scheduler



IT Help Desk Reports



Reporting and Analysis



Customizable Reports



Query Builder



Scheduled Reports



Canned Reports



Export as CSV, XLS &amp; PDF



Keyword routing



Automatic Dispatch



Tasks &amp; Recurring Tasks



Auto templates with solutions



SLA Management



Automatic Case Routing



Asset Management through AuditWizard



Notify Technicians



Holidays / Operational Hours



Knowledge Base



Self Service Portal



Costing Module



Incident Management



Custom Request Form Templates



Attachments



NTLM Auto Login.



Problem Management 



Optional Problem Closure Rules



Problem Management Workflow



Problem Analysis



Work Around &amp; Solutions



Incidents &amp; Problem associations



Change Management



Support different Types of Change



Standard Change



Minor Change



Major Change



Significant Change



Change Approval Board



Change History



Operating System Support



Windows IIS



SQL Server 2005+ Full or Express



Browser Support



Windows Explorer 6+



FireFox 3+



Chrome



Safari




 ]]></description>
            <author> gpowell@laytontechnology.com.au (laytonadmin)</author>
            <pubDate>Mon, 05 Jul 2010 00:29:11 GMT</pubDate>
            <guid isPermaLink="false">http://laytontechnology.com/service-desk-features.html</guid>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Layton ServiceDesk Specification</title>
            <link>http://laytontechnology.com/ticketing-software-requirements.html</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Layton ServiceDesk is a 100% Web based application running under Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS) version 5 or later. As such the minimum PC configuration where Layton ServiceDesk is installed is constrained only by the requirements of IIS rather than by the system itself.IIS Server 

 Layton ServiceDesk requires a Microsoft IIS server running version 5, 6 or 7.
Supports 32 and 64bit Windows Operating Systems.
SQL Server version requires Microsoft SQL Server 2005, 2005 Express, 2008, 2008 Express.
Exchange Server 2003, 2008 &amp; 2010. SMTP, POP3.
50-75 MB for the program installation but allow at least 500 MB for database growth and folder structure growth (i.e. attachments, exports, etc.)
CPU - P-IV, 1.0Ghz
1 GB RAM
.Net Framework 3.5 

ClientsAny operating system running Internet Explorer 6+, FireFox, Chrome and Safari are supported with cookies enabled.Recommended Screen ResolutionLayton ServiceDesk can support any screen resolution as the application is fully configurable, so whether you operate with standard monitors running a low resolution or the largest wide screen monitors, you can configure Layton ServiceDesk to maximize your screen real estate. Out of the box we have configured Layton ServiceDesk for the following resolutions. 

Analysts 1280 x 1024
End User 800 x 600

Mobile Devices Layton ServiceDesk will work on mobile device browsers. Specific mobile browser support coming soon.]]></description>
            <author> gpowell@laytontechnology.com.au (laytonadmin)</author>
            <pubDate>Mon, 05 Jul 2010 00:04:31 GMT</pubDate>
            <guid isPermaLink="false">http://laytontechnology.com/ticketing-software-requirements.html</guid>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Fully Customizable Web Based Service Desk System</title>
            <link>http://laytontechnology.com/benefits.html</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Layton ServiceDesk is a web-based help desk system designed so you can deliver exceptional support and services to your end users or customers.
Layton ITIL ServiceDesk offers integrated Request Management, Asset Management, Knowledge Base, Service Level Agreements features and so much more! You can customize the whole application to suit your corporate look and feel.
All modules are included as standard so there are no additional costly add-ons required as everything is included for one surprisingly low price! No other help desk solution can offer the customizability, flexibility and features that Layton ServiceDesk does for such great value.
Layton ServiceDesk is so configurable it can be whatever you want it to be – right out of the box!
Layton ServiceDesk can be configured to meet any of your help desk needs, whether you are supporting internal users, external customers or providing a product or service, Layton ServiceDesk can do it all. You can customerize the whole application to suit your corporate image.










Run your entire IT with a feature rich ITIL web based service desk


Manage multiple customers in a single integrated help desk system


Deliver superior support and services through a web-based help desk system





Key Features
The following features are a few highlights and just a start of what you can expect to see in Layton ServiceDesk. We are working hard to bring you the best a help desk can offer. We are really excited about our all new web based help desk software. No other help desk solution can offer the customizability, flexibility  and features Layton ServiceDesk provides at a surprisingly low cost.
 
New User InterfaceA brand new user interface has been designed to be much more intuitive, requiring fewer clicks to navigate and perform common tasks. A new tabbed menu maximizes screen space whilst giving you immediate access to the most used controls. Menus items have been reorganized and grouped into a much more logical workflow. All-in-all, Layton ServiceDesk v6 is a joy to use; it is faster, more responsive and easier to use.

Reliability &amp; PerformancePerformance and reliability are unparalleled throughout the whole application. Layton ServiceDesk has been redeveloped from the ground up and written in the latest ASP.NET and utilizing AJAX for a rich user experience.

Fort Knox SecurityLayton ServiceDesk is a web-based help desk solution so online security is paramount. For complete peace of mind Layton ServiceDesk has many new security measures to ensure your data remains safe and secure.

Layton ServiceDesk Includes New ITIL FeaturesDedicated Problem and Change Management functions are now included as part of Layton ServiceDesk. With the addition of these two new functions Layton ServiceDesk will be a complete ITIL help desk solution. The Problem and Change forms have standard system fields, however, as with most forms with Layton ServiceDesk you have the luxury to be able modify the layout and add any number of user defined fields as may be required. CAB (Change Approval Board) groups with optional dependencies make managing changes a painless and secure operation.





Problem management in Layton ServiceDesk reduces adverse impacts caused by incidents and avoids the recurrence of problems related to the incidents. Problem features also help in managing multiple incidents revolving around a single problem easily.









Change Management in Layton ServiceDesk implements changes in a controlled and structured process. Change management process goes through a complete approval workflow depending on the type of change.



Both Problem and Change can either be enabled or disabled within Layton ServiceDesk. Additional features offers flexibility how you wish to implement and use Change and Problem management.

All New Calendar and SchedulingThe all new Calendar gives you the ability to see your assigned tasks, call back reminders and appointments in daily, weekly or monthly views. The Analyst Availability Calendar allows you to see the schedule information for multiple Analysts at a glance.

New DashboardA brand new drillable dashboard with graphs and charts enables you to see at glance all your key service desk data. Choose from any of the interchangeable charts to view the data and clicking on any chart will drill down into the data. Quick links and short cuts take you to your most important data with a single click.

Full Customizable Drag and Drop Form DesignLayton ServiceDesk is the most customisable service desk available today. We have added even more customizability such as colour pickers, easy uploading and browsing of images and all new themes, so you can choose from one of the many out of the box colour themes that best suits your corporate image. You can restyle the whole application if you want and maximize your screen real estate.
Re-branding Fully SupportedLayton ServiceDesk can be completely re-branded to suit your corporate image look and feel. All forms can be tailored to meet your needs, terms and phrases changed. Add/remove fields, restructure the layout, rename the labels, and add logos for a personalized professional look and feel. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination.

Web Services Web service enables you to connect to any external database such as AuditWizard Network Inventory software. No more databridges, just point to your database and connect, it’s as simple as that. In additional, you can now connect to multiple active directories.

Recurring TasksNew recurring tasks feature allows for the scheduling of recurring tasks which will be automatically created and assigned at the specified intervals. This is a very useful feature for routine maintenance tasks. You can also apply dependencies based on completion of specific tasks.

New Solution Base with Self ServiceAn all new solution base enables you to categorize your knowledge base into a logical tree order for easier viewing includes a quick search option.
Self ServiceIncrease customer satisfaction and lower service costs when end users submit service requests or efficiently find their own answers over the web. You can stop losing productivity on repetitive queries and enable users to serve themselves and take the strain off your help desk staff. Allow your customers or end users to report and track their requests from within the Layton ServiceDesk end user portal. End users can diagnose incidents themselves using the integrated knowledge base.

Redesigned Email Integration Email integration has been completely redesigned for seamless integration with your exchange server with unmatched reliability and ease of use. Integrate with Exchange 2003, 2008 and even 2010 utilizing POP3 and SMTP.
Multiple exchange servers are also supported.

New Reporting &amp; AnalysisLayton ServiceDesk includes brand new reporting and analyst with graphs and charts. Customize reports, schedule reports and much more! Powerful, impressive reporting for total visibility and accountability using a wide range of reporting options - over 100 canned reports included in a simple to use report builder interface.

Fully customizable reports
Design the screen layout and individual PDF reports
Export to PDF, XLS and CSV
Automatic scheduling and emails of reports
New graphs show trends and much more!


Smart FiltersNew smart filters are used throughout the application on nearly all grid views so you can quickly filter and sort your data with just a click. Drag and drop columns in any order or even add and remove columns as you need.

Costing ModuleAll new costing module provides you with the ability to manually add charges related to the requests, problems and changes. You will be able to add multiple labour and item charges to a single transaction.

WYSIWYG EditorsMake your comments pop with new WYSIWYG Editors for all forms. You can choose to enable or disable the WYSIWYG editor as required. Add video clips, screen shots even code snippets are all fully supported.

Service Level Agreement with Business RulesMeet your customers' expectations and achieve higher levels of customer satisfaction by providing quality and timely services using Service Level Agreements with the addition of powerful business rules.  Manage multiple service contracts and related support plans to service your customers on time and bill accordingly.

Multi Tenancy SupportedLayton ServiceDesk allows for a simple and flexible way to manage your departments, business units, customer groups and products.

Asset Management Manage your IT and Non-IT assets. See all requests, problems and changes logged against the asset with just a click. The Asset Management Module is accessible through AuditWizard software

Multi-Browser SupportYou can now use Layton ServiceDesk and all the administration features such as drag and drop using any of the major browsers.]]></description>
            <author> gpowell@laytontechnology.com.au (laytonadmin)</author>
            <pubDate>Sun, 04 Jul 2010 22:49:02 GMT</pubDate>
            <guid isPermaLink="false">http://laytontechnology.com/benefits.html</guid>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Layton ServiceDesk</title>
            <link>http://laytontechnology.com/layton-servicedesk.html</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Introducing the all new Layton ServiceDesk™
Layton ServiceDesk™ is an all new web based ITIL help desk system incorporating the very latest Web 2.0 technology such as AJAX. Built from the ground up, every new feature and module has been carefully designed before being implemented. Literally hundreds of new features are included, from all new ITIL Problem and Change management through to powerful reporting and analysis. We have made Layton ServiceDesk even easier to use, faster, more flexible and reliable.Layton ServiceDesk™ offers unparalleled levels of customizability, in fact, it is so configurable, it can be whatever you want it to be, whether you're managing your internal end users, supporting external companies or offering a product or service, Layton ServiceDesk™ can do it all, right out of the box! There is no need to break the budget with additional modules or time consuming installation and training either, as Layton ServiceDesk™ is highly intuitive and delivers powerful web-based help desk functionality at a fraction of the cost of other systems.Layton ServiceDesk™ will streamline your support operations to ensure you deliver exceptional customer service for a lower cost and even less effort.

Significantly reduce costs
Deliver exceptional customer service and support
Streamline support operations

Layton ServiceDesk™ will have your support operations running smoothly in no time at all. Whether automating daily support tasks, monitoring and managing the delivery of IT services, generating request logs, or tracking troublesome incidents, Layton ServiceDesk™ can do it all!Layton ServiceDesk™ does what you want, when you want, right out of the box. Don't be stuck with a rigid help desk, upgrade to Layton Service Desk today and transform your service desk.]]></description>
            <author> gpowell@laytontechnology.com.au (laytonadmin)</author>
            <pubDate>Sun, 04 Jul 2010 22:44:12 GMT</pubDate>
            <guid isPermaLink="false">http://laytontechnology.com/layton-servicedesk.html</guid>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>An Introduction to Network Inventory Software</title>
            <link>http://laytontechnology.com/articles/124-an-introduction-to-network-inventory-software.html</link>
            <description><![CDATA[
By Doug Ellis, Layton Technology, Inc.3710 Corporex Park Drive,  Suite 100Tampa, FL 33619USA
Network inventory, auditing, asset management or a handful of other names describe a type of application software that automates a critical project for an organization’s information technology function: taking an inventory of the assets that make up a Windows-based network.IT assets are any hardware or software. Network inventory software can inventory hardware and software assets regardless of operating system. It is utilized by the IT function of organizations of all sizes and in all industries. And it provides significant benefits by helping IT meet its ongoing challenge - to operate the network as cost-effectively and as efficiently as possible.Network inventory software has been around for almost two decades. And in addition to the fact that it has long been a reliable tool, there’s more good news for IT. It continues to improve because there are plenty of developers in what is a competitive marketplace.Although the worldwide user base continues to grow steadily, the number of organizations that could benefit from implementing network inventory software still exceeds the number that have done so.Layton Technology, Inc. is a well-established, innovative software developer. Based in Tampa, FL, USA, the company is privately held and was founded in 1997. Its flagship product is an example of network inventory software. And since leaders teach, the purpose of this article is to educate potential prospect organizations.Layton Technology was in 2000 an early entrant into a nascent market with its AuditWizard™ network inventory software. The company has changed the tagline PC audit software to network inventory software to more accurately describe AuditWizard’s functionality. AuditWizard has the ability to inventory software assets as well as PCs and other hardware assets. This year is the 10th anniversary of the introduction of AuditWizard. The current version, 8.1.4, was released in April 2010.AuditWizard’s worldwide user base is both large and growing. Layton Technology estimates that as of the second quarter of 2010, more than 10,000 organizations are using AuditWizard to manage more than 3.5 million assets.AuditWizard network inventory software is the engine that tracks each asset throughout its lifecycle, starting with purchase through to usage and ending with disposal. In addition to IT, other functions within the organization can make or contribute to business decisions based on the information obtained by AuditWizard. The other functions include purchasing, leasing, legal and finance. Automated vs Manual vs NothingPrior to the introduction of network inventory software, which occurred around the 21st century there was only one way for an IT function to take an inventory of IT assets. That way was a manual process and is still used by some organizations today.The manual process consists of two steps. First, an IT worker physically visits each piece of hardware on the network to inventory it and the software running on it. The main tools used by each member involved in taking the inventory are a clipboard, paper and a writing instrument. Then, after information has been collected on all of the IT assets, it has to be manually entered into a database.Network inventory software has automated the critical function of taking an inventory. As a result, the work and amount of time needed has been greatly reduced. The research conducted in order to prepare this article turned up two estimates of how much time an IT professional must spend on each PC during a manual inventory. One was 15 minutes. The other was 45 minutes. Let’s split the difference. During a manual inventory, figure 30 minutes for each PC. But PCs are just one type of end-user hardware on the network. All of the other types of end-user hardware (printers, fax machines, etc.) as well as all types of networking hardware (hubs, routers, etc.) also must be visited.An IT professional doesn’t work for free. According to www.salary.com, the average hourly salary of an IT professional is $33. Thus, the cost for an IT professional to spend 45 minutes doing a manual audit of on PC is approximately $16.50.A manual inventory could require more than one IT professional. And remember that the manual inventory isn’t over until the information is inputted into a database. Errors could occur while entering the information manually.With an automated process, a few keystrokes initiates an inventory of IT assets. The IT worker can then return to what he was working on or begin another project while the network inventory software carries out the operation. Thus, the network inventory software has significantly enhanced the IT worker’s productivity and has delivered significant cost savings.Once the network inventory software completes its work, there is no need to do any data entry. The results of the inventory are available online and the possibility of data-entry errors is eliminated. An IT professional can begin to review the results immediately if he so chooses. And if he is required to send the results to those on a distribution list, a few keystrokes are all that’s needed to prepare and send an E-mail and/or print hard E-mail or print hard copies.A network is a mission-critical asset. The organization needs it in order to conduct business. Thus, when trouble occurs, the impact will likely be felt beyond the IT department. And the impact could be felt by the entire organization.Trouble can be small or big. An example of small trouble is spending money to purchase or lease 10 new PCs for a department that hired employees to fill newly created positions instead of transferring PCs of similar functionality that are sitting idle in a department that lost employees because jobs were outsourced.If information were available from either an automated or a manual inventory, the purchase wouldn’t have been made. And the organization would have saved money and time.Not having a current list of IT assets that a network inventory provides can lead to trouble. One example is having an audit conducted by a software vendor that discovers unlicensed or illegal copies of its software. In addition, a software industry group, the Business Software Alliance, has an ongoing campaign that seeks out and punishes organizations for instances of software piracy. Organizations can be fined heavily, well into the tens of thousands of dollars for each violation.Another example of trouble is in failing to comply with regulations imposed by the government and/or the industry in which the organization does business. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) of 2002 is a United States law that requires organizations to keep track of IT assets or face severe penalties. It was passed in response to a number of major corporate and accounting scandals, including Enron, Tyco International and WorldCom.And the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard is an example of an industry measure. It was created by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council to help organizations that process payments made by credit cards to combat fraud by increasing the security of data involved in making a payment with plastic. A single violation can cost an organization $500,000.
On top of any fines, the trouble mentioned above will require the organization to take the time -- and thus spend money -- to bring the network into compliance. And the IT department might have to scramble mightily to correct the omission.
By knowing what assets are on the network, trouble both small and big can be avoided. And of the two ways to take an inventory, the best way for all but small organizations is to automate the process with network inventory software.
Characteristics of AuditWizard Network-Inventory Software
Ease of Installation and Ease of Use. Begin by downloading AuditWizard onto the PC on the network from which the inventory will be conducted now and in the future. Two minutes is all that the time it takes for AuditWizard to take an inventory of the host computer. (Remember that it takes an IT professional an average of 30 minutes per PC in a manual audit.) Then, AuditWizard network inventory software will begin work on the rest of the IT assets all automated and without any user intervention required. When the inventory is complete, IT department will have total network visibility. 
Scalability Scalability is crucial characteristic of network inventory software. While some networks may be too small to justify an implementation, there should be no such thing as a network that is “too large”.
Cost-Effectiveness Network inventory software that is easy to install, easy to use and scalable to wherever a wide area network (WAN) stretches also is cost-effective in two ways: One is its purchase price. The other is that network inventory software immediately begins to defray the cost of purchasing it and pays for itself by reducing the organization’s total cost of ownership (TCO).
Functionality and Benefits Network-inventory software audits and discovers assets on the network. The audit function monitors the presence and status of assets and the hardware and software contained within. The discovery function finds new assets that have been added since the previous audit. In addition to end-user and networking hardware, AuditWizard audits and discovers two types of hardware assets that can be connected to the network: computers and removable media or (such as USB storage devices) and mobile devices (such as Blackberry® smart phones, PDAs and digital-music players. Certain information can be obtained from network hardware such as modems, printers routers and hubs.
By identifying all of the assets on the network, the IT function can determine which belong, which should not be there and which are not being used. The assets that belong on the network are the property of the organization. Each plays a role in the network. Each has a dollar value and is listed on the organization’s balance sheet. Thus, the IT function needs to keep track of them. If a new workstation that cost $10,000 that was purchased for the engineering function and configured two weeks ago doesn’t show up on the inventory of assets, the IT department can start the wheels turning to find out what happened.
When AuditWizard network inventory software identifies assets that should not be there, the IT department can remove them from the network. The security of the network and employee productivity is enhanced.
Software assets that should not be on the network are freeware and shareware that were downloaded by employees. They could be the source of viruses, which would be a security problem. Another example is games that employees download and play during work hours. The freeware, shareware, games and everything else that should not be on the network occupies space on a server. Thus, the performance of the network is also compromised. It is fact that employees play games during work hours, wasting time and costing the employer money due to lost productivity.
According to a survey by Office Team, a large recruiting and staffing agency in the United States, the average worker spends 3 hours each week on non-productive tasks such as playing games, browsing Internet sites that are not job-related, having personal conversations via the company’s email systems, or chatting with friends thought IM-style programs. That’s the equivalent of 156 hours each year!
How much money does that cost a company?
According to a survey published in July 2008 by the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American workers earn $18 per hour. Thus, the answers are $54 per employee per week and $2,808 per employee per year.
AuditWizard network inventory software also identifies which assets are no longer being used.
In the section above titled Automated vs Manual vs Nothing, there is an example of IT purchasing 10 new PCs for a department instead of transferring 10 PCs that were sitting idle in another department. The information collected in an inventory of assets by network inventory software prevents unnecessary or redundant purchases and promotes reutilization.
Additional cost savings result when network inventory software identifies software on the network that is no longer being used. The organization could stop paying for the licenses. The ability to identify software that is no longer being used actually could be used to regain compliance.
Let’s say the company is seeking to become compliant on all Microsoft applications. An automated network inventory reveals that 250 copies of a particular Microsoft application are installed on desktops. But the company only has purchased 150 licenses.
Thanks to network inventory software, there’s no need for the company to purchase 100 additional licenses. That’s because usage data collected during the audit by the network inventory software shows that only 100 copies of the application have been launched since the previous audit. Thus, licenses can be re-allocated to any users who currently are not licensed. And the company will save money because it was not necessary to purchase additional licenses.
In addition to identifying all of the assets on the network, AuditWizard network inventory software provides detailed information about each IT asset. The information is of two types. One has to do with the technical specifications of the product, such as manufacturer, make/model, installed software, etc. The other has to do with the lifecycle of the product as property of the company, such as the number of the purchase order used to obtain the product, the date the product was delivered, the current location of the product and the organization that has responsibility for it. Lastly, having a current snapshot of the assets on the network makes it easier for the IT department to plan for any upgrade to the network. IT Asset Management InitiativeAn IT asset management initiative elevates the power of the information obtained by AuditWizard network inventory software to another level. In addition to IT, the information can be used by additional departments in the organization to make or contribute to business decisions.An IT asset-management initiative tracks the lifecycle of each IT asset, beginning with purchase, extending through service life and ending with retirement and disposal. In addition to IT, other functions within an organization that typically are involved in an IT asset management initiative include purchasing, leasing, legal, accounting and finance.An IT management will deliver cost savings.According to the prominent IT industry analyst firm Gartner, enterprises that systematically manage the lifecycle of their IT assets will reduce the cost per asset by as much as 30 percent during the first year and between 5 and 10 percent (of additional savings) annually during the next five years.Today, an organization with an IT asset management initiative is the exception, not the rule. As time goes on, however, it’s likely that just as more organizations are doing themselves a favor by automating the inventory process with network inventory software, more organizations will do themselves an ever bigger favor by expanding the implementation of network inventory software into an IT asset management initiative that links IT and other functions.Any Questions?Layton Technology hopes that you found this article informative. If you have any follow-up questions about network-inventory software in general or Layton Technology’s AuditWizard network-inventory software in particular, please contact us by telephone in the United States of America, (813) 319-1390 or by E-mail: sales@laytontechnology.com.# # #AuditWizard  is a trademark of Layton Technology, Inc. Copyright © 2010 Layton Technology, Inc. All Rights Reserved.]]></description>
            <author> gpowell@laytontechnology.com.au (laytonadmin)</author>
            <pubDate>Tue, 15 Jun 2010 06:12:04 GMT</pubDate>
            <guid isPermaLink="false">http://laytontechnology.com/articles/124-an-introduction-to-network-inventory-software.html</guid>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Login Area top panel</title>
            <link>http://laytontechnology.com/component/content/article/916-yoologintop/117-login-top-panel.html</link>
            <description><![CDATA[  

To access the Customer Area,please enter your details below
Registered Company

Registered Company ID



]]></description>
            <author> gpowell@laytontechnology.com.au (laytonadmin)</author>
            <pubDate>Mon, 22 Mar 2010 19:48:18 GMT</pubDate>
            <guid isPermaLink="false">http://laytontechnology.com/component/content/article/916-yoologintop/117-login-top-panel.html</guid>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Layton Technology, Developer of Innovative Network Inventory and Help Desk Software, Joins ...</title>
            <link>http://laytontechnology.com/about-us/press-releases/112-layton-technology-developer-of-innovative-network-inventory-and-help-desk-software-joins-business-software-alliance.html</link>
            <description><![CDATA[BSA -- Trade Association That Promotes a Safe, Legal Digital World -- Combats Software Piracy and Cybercrime Worldwide
TAMPA, Fla., February 1, 2010 – Layton Technology, Inc., a developer of innovative network inventory and help desk software, today announced that is has joined the Business Software Alliance (BSA).Layton Technology’s flagship product is AuditWizard™ network inventory software. The company also offers HelpBox™, a Web-based help desk solution, and DeviceShield™ endpoint security software.Based in Washington, DC, the BSA is the voice of the world’s commercial software industry and its hardware partners on a wide range of business and policy affairs. The world’s largest information technology industry group, BSA has policy, legal and/or educational programs in 80 countries. The mission of the BSA is to promote conditions that allow the IT industry to thrive and contribute to the prosperity, security and quality of life of all people.    
]]></description>
            <author> gpowell@laytontechnology.com.au (laytonadmin)</author>
            <pubDate>Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:01:39 GMT</pubDate>
            <guid isPermaLink="false">http://laytontechnology.com/about-us/press-releases/112-layton-technology-developer-of-innovative-network-inventory-and-help-desk-software-joins-business-software-alliance.html</guid>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>What to look for in a Network Inventory Solution</title>
            <link>http://laytontechnology.com/articles/109-what-to-look-for-in-a-network-inventory-solution.html</link>
            <description><![CDATA[In most companies, a computer and a suite of software are as commonplace now, as a fax machine was in the 1980’s.  However, in most cases companies do not know exactly what software is installed on their networked PC’s and if that software is even legal for them to use.  The United States copyright law can impose  fines up to a $150,000 per title that is illegally installed on a company’s network.  Not to mention the possible jail time that might be added on.  Forrester Research (http://www.forrester.com/rb/Research/surviving_software_license_audit/q/id/55856/t/2) has warned that IT departments need to take extra care with software audits, as suppliers stamp down on licensing discrepancies. In its latest report, Surviving A Software License Audit, the analyst highlighted three areas where IT managers could be caught out by suppliers looking to extract extra revenue from licenses.
That being said, you can see how each corporate network is advised to have some sort of network inventory solution to keep track of all their titles, and suites.  A network inventory solution is needed that can both keep track of your software licenses, and maintain an up to date compliancy status.  Other benefits would be a support contract log, a place to track and store invoice attachments, and tracking of the different types of licenses.  Of course the ease of use is also an important factor, so that the installed applications are collected easily, and no extra effort is required.
Once all the different software is collected, you will need to be able to easily run reports on all your installed software, and sort out the ones that are not licensable, or not required.  Another nice feature of an inventory tool should have is the ability to have up to date alerts sent to you.  So when an end-user uninstalls a piece of software (or installs an illegal one) you can know about it instantly and resolve the situation.  Having your weekly reports e-mailed to you is a major benefit since you can set it, and forget it and once a week (or as defined by you) have a report automatically emailed directly to your inbox, such as a your software compliance status.
In conclusion, you need a network inventory solution that is easy to use, and gets you the information you need in a timely manner.  AuditWizard from Layton Technology will do just that, plus much more.  Layton Technology Inc. has recently released AuditWizard 8.1.2. This latest update delivers significant enhancements to the reporting capabilities and dashboard functionality in AuditWizard.
This article was written by Doug Ellis, Senior Support Technician for Layton Technology Inc, 27th January 2010.]]></description>
            <author> gpowell@laytontechnology.com.au (laytonadmin)</author>
            <pubDate>Wed, 27 Jan 2010 01:52:05 GMT</pubDate>
            <guid isPermaLink="false">http://laytontechnology.com/articles/109-what-to-look-for-in-a-network-inventory-solution.html</guid>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>5 Common ITIL Misconceptions</title>
            <link>http://laytontechnology.com/servicedesk-articles/108-5-common-itil-misconceptions.html</link>
            <description><![CDATA[ITIL is a best practices framework to manage IT operations and services. It was defined in the mid-1980s by the UK Government of Commerce. ITIL’s main objective is to align business and Information Technology, allowing organizations to implement what is relevant to their business. ITIL is essentially documented common sense from years of experience and learning from helpdesk managers around the world
1. ITIL is a standard. - No its not. ITIL is a not standard. Consider it good practice and processes designed by IT Managers who have been there and done it. It is up to you whether ITIL suits your organization or not. You can implement ITIL the way that best works for you.
2. My company should get ITIL Certification? - No, your company cannot get ITIL-certified. If you are targeting certification, you must get ISO 20000 and BS 15000 standards, based on ITIL.
3. I want an ITIL Compliant Product. - There are no ITIL-compliant products. No one can certify products as ITIL-compliant. However, it is common for people to refer to PinkElephant’s certification as a guide to whether their product will meet their ITIL requirements.
4. ITIL is for only medium and large organizations. Not true! ITIL is or organizations of all sizes, whether your run a micro company with just 5 people to an massive organization of 50,000 or more. Anyone can implement ITIL. As a general rule though, we recommend ITIL be implemented if your organization has 5 or more help desk staff.
5. ITIL is an official organization. - ITIL is not backed by a single company, organization or person.
ITIL is not about complicated or strict processes. ITIL is different for every organization, so you should not follow someone else’s process or those processes defined in off the shelf work books. The key to successful ITIL implemention is in the understanding of how your support works and how ITIL can be best applied to those processes.]]></description>
            <author> gpowell@laytontechnology.com.au (laytonadmin)</author>
            <pubDate>Sun, 24 Jan 2010 22:50:09 GMT</pubDate>
            <guid isPermaLink="false">http://laytontechnology.com/servicedesk-articles/108-5-common-itil-misconceptions.html</guid>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Layton Technology Announces Significant Reporting Enhancement in AuditWizard™ Network ...</title>
            <link>http://laytontechnology.com/about-us/press-releases/107-layton-technology-announces-significant-reporting-enhancement-in-auditwizard-pc-audit-software.html</link>
            <description><![CDATA[
Version 8.1.2 of AuditWizard Network Inventory Software Offers Customer Requested Improvements – New Reporting Engine and Upgraded Dashboard.
TAMPA, Fla., January 22, 2010 – Layton Technology, Inc. today announced a significant enhancement to the reporting functionality of AuditWizard™, its leading PC auditing software. Layton Technology, a developer of innovative network inventory and web based help desk software, has released AuditWizard Version 8.1.2 – Software Asset Management Tool (SAM). The two major improvements in AuditWizard 8.1.2 – a new reporting engine and an upgraded dashboard – resulted directly from customer input. 
]]></description>
            <author> gpowell@laytontechnology.com.au (laytonadmin)</author>
            <pubDate>Fri, 22 Jan 2010 01:19:15 GMT</pubDate>
            <guid isPermaLink="false">http://laytontechnology.com/about-us/press-releases/107-layton-technology-announces-significant-reporting-enhancement-in-auditwizard-pc-audit-software.html</guid>
        </item>
    </channel>
</rss>
