Great news Australia, a new category of domain name has just launched! As of the 24^th of March 2022, .au direct names can now be obtained from select auDA accredited registrars. Not sure what this means for you? Read on as we answer all your most asked questions and look at what this means for the future of Australia’s internet domains.

What is .au direct?

Also known as ‘.au namespace’, ‘second level names’ and ‘direct registration’, .au direct refers to any domain names directly before the .au (e.g. yourbusinesshere.au).

Following in the footsteps of other country code Top Level Domains including the United Kingdom (.uk), Canada (.ca), the USA (.us) and New Zealand (.nz), .au direct is an exciting development that will supplement current Australian internet domains (e.g. com.au, net.au and org.au). While shorter than names registered in these pre-existing namespaces, .au direct names will function in the same way and provide key benefits to users.

For instance, the introduction of .au direct expands the pool of available names in the Australian domain and grants users a wider range of choice. Furthermore, these shorter online names are punchier, more memorable, and easier to type on mobile displays.

Am I eligible for .au direct?

.au direct names are general use and available to anyone with a verifiable connection to Australia. Australian citizens, permanent residents and businesses registered within Australia are all eligible and can acquire .au direct names through auDA registrars.

If you’re unsure whether you or your organisation meet the requirements, head over to the definitions section of the .au Licensing Rules for a full breakdown of the eligibility criteria.

How do I register a .au direct name?

From the 24^th of March 2022, all eligible individuals and businesses may license new .au direct names via an accredited auDA registrar.

.au direct is different than other Australian namespaces as it does not use selection criteria to determine which names are available to register. For example, commercial entities are reserved for com.au and net.au, not-for-profits for org.au and educational institutions for edu.au. However, a .au direct name can be anything and is not dictated by the service, good or intended purpose provided. Any name can be registered so long as it’s available, meets syntax requirements and is not already registered in another namespace.

All .au direct name purchases are subject to the prices set by the auDA registrars. While costs may differ between registrars, the wholesale price of a .au direct name is the same as that of those in other namespaces (com.au, net.au, org.au, asn.au, id.au, etc).

What about registering an existing name?

Any license holders of an existing .au domain name (e.g. yourbusinesshere.com.au) will have the first opportunity to apply for the .au direct counterpart through the Priority Allocation Process. Registrants will have between 24 March to 20 September 2022 to apply for Priority Status through a participating auDA registrar. During this time, all .au direct names with an exact match in another namespace will be placed on Priority Hold, making them unavailable to the public for the six-month period. Afterwards, they will be offered on a first come, first serve basis.

However, in some cases there may be multiple candidates eligible for Priority Status for the same .au direct name. This can happen when the same domain name has been licensed in different namespaces to different registrants. For example, Registrant 1 holds the domain license for yourbusinesshere.com.au while Registrant 2 holds the license for yourbusinesshere.net.au. In situations where this occurs, the name will be allocated according to a priority category and the creation date of each applicant’s domain name license. Relevant parties may resolve any further disputes with direct negotiation, or also have the option to file a complaint through the auDA’s .au Licensing Rules and the .au Dispute Resolution Process (auDRP). The auDA website contains further information on Priority Allocation, as well as a Priority Status Tool to help registrants better understand the processes and check whether there are any other registrants entitled to the same .au direct name.

How does .au direct affect my existing domains?

.au direct is completely optional and has no bearing on existing .au registrations. No changes will be made to domains in other namespaces, regardless of whether you (or anyone else for that matter) register them with .au direct or not. Your domains will continue to operate as normal for as long as the registration renewal remains up to date.

There’s no doubt that the use of technology in the classroom has grown exponentially in the last decade. In a 2016 study by Pearson Education, 64% of Australia schools stated they were already working towards using majority online resources. Six years later, and access to computing devices has become essential to facilitate learning in both online and traditional classrooms.

As a result, more and more schools are opting to implement a 1:1 technology program whereby each student is outfitted with a device, such as a Chromebook, iPad, etc.  Rather than relying on a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy, schools issue their own devices to students who return them at the end of their tenure. As electronic devices rapidly replace the textbooks and paper notepads of yesteryear, it’s important to consider both the benefits and challenges the 1:1 model presents.

Benefits

Equal Opportunity 

There’s no denying that socioeconomic factors can have a huge impact on students learning and educational development.

In technology-driven classrooms, socioeconomic barriers become an even greater obstacle. BYOD programs can often leave students behind, as their learning opportunities are determined by the quality of the device they have access to. For students without devices, the inability to actively participate in the classroom not only hinders their academic performance, but also their confidence and social development. Furthermore, BYOD policies also cause schools to face greater challenges when structuring their curriculums, as each student’s device will have different capabilities and limitations.

That’s why 1:1 technology programs have become critical to creating equitable learning environments, as it ensures that each student has access to the exact same resources, and schools are able to maintain a standardised curriculum.

It Eases the Strain on Teachers

It’s no secret that teachers often go above and beyond for their students. The Australian Education Union found that, in the 2020 school year alone, teachers spent an average of $874 of their personal income on educational supplies for their classrooms. With teachers feeling the pinch, 1:1 technology makes it easier than ever to acquire free educational tools and materials. Open Educational Resources (OER) are free-to-use digital learning assets that grant teachers access to thousands of educational blogs, applications, websites, games, and media.

Furthermore, 1:1 technology also allows teachers greater flexibility during lesson planning and class time. While many schools may already have computer workstations or laptops available, in most cases they require booking in advance. This can lead to scheduling conflicts, where some students may miss out or the entire class postponed. Students bringing their own devices can also cause logistical issues, as not every device may be compatible to the lesson materials. By using school issued devices, teachers can save time on organisation, configuring devices and modifying lessons.

Greater Student Engagement

Perhaps the biggest advantage of a 1:1 device policy is the positive effect on student engagement. A 2007 report on the presence of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in schools by the Australian Council for Education Research (ACER) determined that “the use of ICT enables richer, more engaging learning environments to be developed.”

Personal devices enable students to better engage with the learning content through interactive activities, while their portability encourages students to document learning experiences through photos, videos and voice recordings. Quieter, shyer students can also be more comfortable sharing their thoughts and insights on digital platforms as well.

School issued devices also have the added advantage of allowing teachers to monitor exactly how long and how thoroughly each student completes assigned work. In this way, teachers can more easily identity which students require further assistance and which students may benefit from more challenging assignments. This insight allows educators to adapt their teaching strategies to each student’s individual needs.

Student Responsibility and Growth

One of the biggest apprehensions schools have with 1:1 technology is the level of responsibility and maturity it requires of their pupils. By providing them with their own devices, schools are trusting that their students will use them safely and sensibility. A 2017 article from the Oxford Review of Education echoes these concerns, outlining how school property could be inappropriately misused to commit acts of cyber bullying, underage sexting and academic cheating.

However, there exists a variety of measures that can be implemented to circumvent these issues. Schools can control what their devices are used for by installing monitoring tools, restricting access to online content, and utilising device-usage analysis. This level of regulation is unattainable when students bring their own devices, as these methods cannot be employed to the same extent and effectiveness.

In addition, furthering student’s familiarisation with technology will prepare them for life beyond their school years. As the world relies more and more on technology, the workforce is becoming increasingly digitised. As a result, candidates who are computer literate and can adapt to the latest advancements will have a competitive edge.

Challenges

Budget

Let’s face it, schools aren’t made of money and a 1:1 technology program can be a costly investment. Not only is there the initial cost of hardware and set up, but schools must also allocate funding for the continual maintenance and eventual replacement of devices. Not to mention the additional expenses of digital infrastructure, security software and ongoing IT support.

While advancements in technology and manufacturing processes have led to more accessible, cost-effective devices, the bottom line is that not every school has the budget to implement and upkeep a 1:1 technology program. However, schools can offset costs by enacting co-contribution models, through which devices are loaned or leased out to students via a ‘take home’ or ‘buy-back’ program. Students would then have the option to acquire the device outright after the loan/lease period ends. This method is a win-win, as it alleviates costs for schools, and also relieves parents of some of the financial burden that comes with purchasing a new device upfront.

Management

Managing a 1:1 device policy can also be a headache, with each school having to oversee and keep track of hundreds of assets. School IT departments must take on a measure of extra responsibilities to keep the program running smoothly. These tasks can range from the creation of asset labels and tracking systems, issuance and collection of devices, conducting regular audits, and resolving any issues brought to them by teachers, parents and students.

However, schools can ease the extra strain a 1:1 program can have on IT departments by supplying extra support systems and tools. This may include hiring extra staff, outsourcing some of their IT needs or implementing more efficient practices.

Privacy Concerns

The biggest concern most parents have in regard to school owned devices is their children’s right to privacy. The prevalence of surveillance software and monitoring applications on school issued devices can weigh heavily on parent’s minds, especially when it comes to data collection and the tracking of their children’s digital footprint.

Although some degree of oversight is necessary for schools to establish safe and disciplined learning environments, honesty is the best course of action in building trust between parents and educators. By having a transparent policy towards the collection, use, storage and accessing of student’s personal information, schools can help quell parental fears and find a balance between maintaining orderly classrooms and respecting student’s privacy.

For many organisations, choosing between an internal IT support team or outsourcing to a Managed Service Provider (MSP) can be a daunting decision. Get it right and you hardly even notice, get it wrong and it’s a never ending nightmare of error messages, frozen screens and viruses.

So which decision is the right one? Well, there is no clear-cut answer. What works perfectly for one business could prove disastrous for another. Every company is unique, requiring a diverse range of skills and strategies to suit their IT needs. Nevertheless, there are several considerations that can help you find the most efficient, reliable and cost-effective option for your business.

What Are Your Needs?

The first step in finding the right IT setup is evaluating your business’ needs. What sort of infrastructure is required? Does your company store on a cloud-based system or on-site servers? What about privacy and security? Surely you want wi-fi? Having your own internal IT department gives you the opportunity to hire and train them to your specification. Another benefit is total ownership and control of your data, decreasing the chances of a security breach by limiting the amount of personnel with access to the network. But what happens if your business needs suddenly change? Recruiting and training can be a lengthy process, especially when time is of the essence. Outsourcing to an MSP allows your business the flexibility to scale your service up or down quickly, reliving you of extra stress during short term projects and periods of transitions.

What Skills Are You Looking For?

It’s also important to take note of what skills are necessary to facilitate your business, as well as assess your own capabilities and limitations. Will general IT support be enough, or will you need more specialised knowledge? The complexity of the tasks may dictate how large of an IT support system your business needs. Internal IT departments are typically small teams that operate as Jack-of -all-trades, able to smoothly handle most day-to-day operations without problem. Having a tech-savvy workforce can also limit the need for a large IT department. But what if you work in a niche industry, one that requires a particular skill set? Outsourcing your IT needs to an MSP gives your company access to an array of experts with a wide range of experience and qualifications, capable of handling any challenge you give them.

When Do You Need Support?

One of the most essential aspects to consider is when do you anticipate requiring IT support? Will you only need coverage during your business operating hours or comprehensive 24/7 monitoring? One of the benefits of an in-house IT support worker is that, well, they’re IN the house so to speak. Onsite personnel allow for faster results and quicker response times in case of emergency situations. However, even having a full time IT department still leaves your systems vulnerable for a considerable amount of time. What about after hours? Or the IT guy is out sick? Away on a holiday? Maybe they stormed out and quit with no notice? If you found any of those scenarios distressing, outsourcing may be the solution. MSPs offer round-the-clock monitoring and maintenance, as well as the ability to troubleshoot issues at any hour of the day. If you can handle remote fixes and are happy to forgo face to face interaction, MSPs can provide great piece of mind.

What Are the Costs?

So, how much is this going to cost? In many cases, the budget you have allocated to IT support can be the determining factor when deciding between internal and outsourced options. For example, every employee you hire as part of your IT department needs to be paid, not only their wages, but also sick and annual leave. They also incur other costs including benefits, insurance, a space to work in and office equipment. Outsourcing to an MSP is most often the most affordable option, as any additional employee expenses are assumed by the MSP themselves and not the clients.

Conclusions

Unfortunately, there is no one size fits all solution. For some companies, a small in house team is more than sufficient to handle all tasks and problems, while others prefer to maintain focus on their business’ core objectives by outsourcing their IT needs. A hybrid model can often be a great approach when neither option is 100% right. By dividing the workload between an internal team and MSP, your business can get the best of both worlds.

Not sure if you’re ready to partner with an MSP? Contact the friendly team at eStorm today for a free quote and assessment of your current IT infrastructure [email protected]

Apple has kicked off 2022 by unveiling an array of exciting new products during their Peek Performance keynote. Some of the highlights include a desktop Mac complete with new M1 Ultra processor and Studio Display, the third generation of iPhone SE and fifth generation iPad Air.

Read on for a quick recap of all the biggest announcements Apple made during the hour-long event.

M1 Ultra

Apple debuted the latest edition to the Apple Silicon line up…the M1 Ultra! The Ultra bridges two M1 Max chips together to appear as one to the operating system, with double the power and speed. Running eight times faster than a standard M1 chip, while also supporting up to 128GB of RAM, the M1 Ultra is Apple’s new standard for performance and efficiency. While this impressive technical feat is only available in the Mac Studio for now, there are rumours we’ll be seeing more of it in upcoming announcements.

Mac Studio

Speaking of the Mac Studio…it measures 7.7 inches square, 3.7 inches tall and is the perfect desktop for creative professionals! It has tons of I/O, with 4 x Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports, 2 x USB-A ports, 1 x 10-gigabit ethernet port and 1 x HDMI port and 1 x audio jack on the back alone. On the front you’ll find two more USB-C ports and an SD slot.

The M1 Max version starts at $3,099 and includes 32GB of RAM, 512GB SSD and a 24 core GPU. For an extra $300 you can upgrade to the 32 core GPU, which also gives you the option to add extra RAM and SSD.  The Mac Studio is also available with the brand new M1 Ultra. For $6,099 you can grab the basic model that includes 64GB of RAM, 1TB SSD and a 48 core GPU. However, if you’re looking to go all out, the top-of-the-line model will set you back $12,099.

Apple Studio Display

Alongside the Mac Studio, Apple has also announced the Apple Studio Display. Encased in aluminium, the Apple Studio Display is a more streamlined version of the 27-inch iMac monitor design. It has all the same capabilities as the iMac, with 5K resolution, the ability to handle up to 600 nits of brightness, P3 Wide Colour and TrueTone compatibility. But that’s not all, the monitor also features an A13 inside, with inbuilt 12-megapixel webcam (including Centre Stage), as well as a six-speaker audio system and three-mic array.

The Apple Studio Display is priced at $2,499 and comes with its own stand. Nano-texture glass and height adjustable stand are also available at extra cost.

iPhone SE

Apple also unveiled the third generation of the iPhone SE. Looks wise, this new incarnation resembles its second gen predecessor, with the same body and display as the iPhone 8. However, the inside of the iPhone SE has had a major glow up! The incorporation of the latest A15 processor has improved performance, battery life and added new 5G capability. The A15 has also enhanced image and video quality, without needing to make changes to the existing camera. At $719, there’s only been a slight price increase from the previous generation.

In addition to the iPhone SE news, Apple also showcased the iPhone 13 models in two new green colours. Both the regular and mini iPhone 13 are available in green, with the Pro and Pro Max having an Alpine Green option.

iPad Air

The iPad Air has been one of the most popular products amongst Apple’s consumers since the last update in 2020. For it’s fifth generation, Apple has announced a handful of internal improvements to the tablet. The iPad Air’s new 12MP front-facing camera and sensor will now support Apple’s handy Centre Stage feature, which automatically centres your face in the middle of frame during video calls. The iPad Air will also now house the same M1 processor as the iPad Pro.

While the price for an iPad Air will remain the same at $949, a 5G equipped cellular model will now also be available at $1,159.

eStorm Australia is a certified Apple Reseller. Contact us to purchase your new Apple devices today! 07 3120 0640 or [email protected]