Computanews guides
The lasa Computanews Guides offer practical guidance on specific ICT issues and help answer common queries. Guides are available as a FREE PDF download (require Adobe Reader to view available free from the Adobe website)
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"Excellent and very informative." World Health Organization, Geneva.
Download the guides
ICT Security Guide
Aimed at voluntary sector staff with responsibility for managing and securing ICT systems, the 34 page Computanews ICT Security Guide (2MB PDF) looks at:
- Assessing the risks and policies needed
- How computer security is affected by people and the environment in which it used and
- How to secure those all-important assets.
As ICT security is a vast subject, the Guide is split into easily digestible sections, written in plain language and complemented with a rating system so as to be appropriate whatever the size or complexity of your organisation's ICT systems.
The guide is also available in high resolution PDF format (4MB) for printing out.
Managing ICT
The revised and expanded Managing ICT Guide discusses the common issues in managing ICT. Sections cover:
- Establishing an ICT Strategy - What policies you need in place, the roles of different staff and how to work with an external ICT support company.
- Common Elements of an ICT Policy -Topics include software standardisation, buying hardware and software, budgeting, training and data protection.
- Making Decisions on ICT -Includes seeking outside advice, roles and responsibilities when making decisions, and implementing changes.
- Resources - A list of the websites and books that can help you.
- Checklists -Separate checklists for senior managers/trustees, for managers in charge of ICT and for computer users - each at basic, intermediate and advanced level.
Data Protection
The Data Protection Guide provides a plain language overview of the Data Protection Act and how it affects voluntary organisations.
The 1998 Data Protection Act affects almost all voluntary organisations. However, many struggle to understand it, and worry that they might get into trouble by not complying. Or they take an over-cautious approach and allow their work to be hampered by unnecessarily tight restrictions. The Data Protection Act need not be a major problem. In fact applying good Data Protection practice means asking questions that can actually help improve services or procedures. This guide aims to demystify the Act and give you a framework for deciding what your organisation needs to do about it, including the meaning of 'Personal Data', preventing harm, appropriate security and confidentiality, what to do if things go wrong, transparency, consent and much more.
Project Management
The Project Management Guide provides an introduction to the techniques of project management. It looks at the basic principles and available tools and provides some templates and procedures for implementing project management methods. The Guide emphasises how project management can work in a voluntary sector setting with particular reference to managing funding applications.
Circuit Riders
A Circuit Rider is a mobile ICT development worker who supports a caseload of small voluntary organisations, and who works collaboratively with other Circuit Riders.The Circuit Riders Guide explains the approach that Circuit Riders take to their work, describes various existing Circuit Rider Projects, looks at different business models for projects, and provides some guidance to setting up your own project.