Presentation by Fraser Ferguson, Director of Kube Networks, Knowledge Transfer Hub, March 2012 - 'Cloud, Connectivity and Kube'

1. Cloud, Connectivity & Kube
(The drive for connectivity, cloud based
solutions & Social Media)
Fraser Ferguson
Director
Kube Networks
KubeNET – Connecting Business

2. Fraser Ferguson– An Introduction
• Founder of Communications Provider – Kube Networks
• Founder of Ecosse IT – early entrant of the internet age
• Founder of KFJ Resourcing
• Stock Market Board Experience

3. Discussion Points
• What is the Cloud?
• Connectivity
• Scotland’s Digital future – the strategy
• Social Media
• An Armageddon factor?
KubeNET – Connecting Business

4. Welcome to the Cloud?
What is the Cloud?
It’s a catch all term for offsite hosting, computing as a
service and not a product
Do you use it ? - Of course you do
• When your On-line
• When you use your Smart Phones
• When you pay Bills or Internet Banking
• When you Buy Music
KubeNET – Connecting Business

5. Welcome to the Cloud?
What does it give you?
• Access to affordable & better software
• All your MS tools off-site
• Reduces Capital investment
• Outsource your IT function
• SIP trunks, replacing traditional lines & voice
• Potential & increased cost control
Business Insider Feb 2012 edition
“Cost Control & The Cloud”
• 5 companies “banged on” about the benefits
• What did they fail to Mention?
KubeNET – Connecting Business

6. CONNECTIVITY
• Connectivity is how your business links to other sites, shares
information and accesses the internet. It’s an essential part of
your telecommunications infrastructure
• EFM, DIA, WAN & BB all enable your business to communicate
faster.
• Connectivity is the enabler to ALL cloud based products
• NGN – Next Generation network.
KubeNET – Connecting Business

7. Scotland – Welcome to the Data Dark Ages
“Without a digital infrastructure fit for the 21st century
Scotland faces a significant disadvantage when attracting
inward investment or fostering its own innovative start-ups”
Sunday Herald, 18th September 2010
• Broadband usage in Scotland is below the level of our trading
partners & competitors
• Many of which are sub standard with low upload/download
speeds
• Connectivity investment in Scotland in most cases is limited to
Glasgow and Edinburgh & can be expensive
KubeNET – Connecting Business

8. Scotland – Welcome to the Data Dark Ages
• Around 25% of SME’s do not use the internet
– FACT, Scotland’s digital future.
The Sudden Impact !!
• We are behind the curve on cloud based products & new
technologies including SIP
• A nation Left behind
KubeNET – Connecting Business

9. Scotland’s Digital Future A strategy
for Scotland
Infrastructure action plan on how Scotgov aims to achieve
• Digital Ambition with Next generation BB available to all
• Ensure we are above the UK nations average for uptake
• Interim milestone of delivering next generation BB to 85-
90% of premises by 2015.
• A step change in people’s ability to access the
internet, enabling connectivity from the home, business
and ‘on the move’.
KubeNET – Connecting Business

10. Scotland’s Digital Future – Exclusive Kube Networks
Interview with Alex Neil
Alex Neil,
Cabinet Secretary for
Infrastructure and Capital
Investment.
Kube Networks Blog http://mykubenetworks.co.UK
KubeNET – Connecting Business

11. Scotland’s Digital Future – Exclusive Kube Networks
Interview with Alex Neil
Why is the Digital Infrastructure Action Plan so important?
Why is it a top Government priority?
“Having world class digital infrastructure is essential if we are to maintain and
improve the ability of our businesses to compete in a global market place; be
successful in attracting inward investment; transform the delivery of public
services; respond to the challenges of a low carbon economy and have
vibrant, strong and connected communities in our cities, towns and rural
areas.”
How will it be implemented?
“Delivering the Action Plan will require co-operation and partnership. To
achieve this we need the Scottish Government, local government and the
wider public and private sector to unite behind a shared vision of a connected
country and collaborate to deliver it.”
KubeNET – Connecting Business

12. Social Media the Opportunity
“The range of opportunities we can harness & go
after could be endless if we have the right
level of digital connectivity, all small
businesses could be seen as BIG businesses”.
KubeNET – Connecting Business

13. Social Media the Opportunity
Small business – BIG business
• It’s about Engagement & collaboration
• Geographic market growth, no longer will small businesses be limited by
location, SM enables a whole new platform to get your message out
• Allows you to understand what your customers want
• Analyse your target market through their utilisation of SM, if you don’t
then your competitors will be.
• Low cost of entry, inexpensive to implement
• Cost effective way of Building your brand
KubeNET – Connecting Business

14. Social Media the Opportunity
• Do you have to be social to do social?
• SM tools will change the way you work
• Twitter, LinkedIn & Facebook
Allows you to contact prospects & customers directly
Allows you to find out where they hang out
Enables you to collaborate with your audience current & new
• Is traditional marketing dead? “YES”
• Are traditional communication methods dead? –YES
Embrace it and don’t be left behind
KubeNET – Connecting Business

15. Is there an Armageddon Factor?
If we don’t embrace & invest in the Digital Economy
• Potentially slip
• Not Just for Business now, it’ll affect for future generations
• Universities already failing to attract quality overseas students
• Major impact on growth , job & wealth creation
Where does your business sit?
• Are you one of the 25%?
• The rest of the UK is online are you or just playing at it?
• Internet contributes 8.3% to the economy & growing worth £121bn in
2010
• A bigger share than any other G20 country – Grab IT
KubeNET – Connecting Business

16. It should be everyone’s aim to enable all
Scottish businesses & every Scottish
household to be part of the connectivity
revolution. The Cloud, Connectivity & Social
media is key
What are we waiting for!
KubeNET – Connecting Business