ECDL

Third Regional ECDL Conference on Digital Literacy Held

Several members of Council of European Professional Informatics Societies (CEPIS) as a permanent associate of the European Commission for information development traditionally organize annual conferences in order to exchange the experience and find the ways to improve the computer usage  in everyday work. After Croatia and Slovenia, this year, a pleasure to organize this important summit got Union of ICT Societies of Serbia - JISA. This exquisitely attended conference named DIGITAL LITERACY – CONDITION AND OBLIGATION took place in the Hotel Continental on 9 October, 2009.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF ECDL FOUNDATION Athens

DIGITALNA PISMENOST – AKTUELNA SVETSKA GROZNICA

DIGITAL LITERACY - CURRENT WORLD FEVER
Modern business uses more contemporary and sophisticated technologies and thus increases the need for continuous learning. Emirates Airlines, regarding they all airplanes have seats with a computer with the possibility of choosing not only the TV and film programs, but also camera images from the aircraft, as well as thousands of games for interactive entertainment or talks with any other passenger, business proposals and hundreds of other purposes, decided that the flight attendants train not only to serve drinks but also to be useful and introduce passengers with all opportunities that using computers during the flight offers. In order to satisfy this, they must pass the ECDL / ICDL certification of their computer literacy ...

Meeting of the European Commission Delegation to Serbia

Serbia has made significant progress towards EU

Head of the European Commission Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert presented to Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic the European Commission’s Annual Report on Serbia’s progress in 2009 on October 14, 2009, which is its most favourable report so far.

European Commission’s Annual Report on the Republic of Serbia

Over the last year there has been progress in Serbia’s European integration process.The European Commission noted in its Annual Progress Report for Serbia that in light of sustained cooperation with ICTY. In this context the Commission considers that the Interim Agreement should now be implemented by the EU, followed by the full implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA). The Commission expects Serbia to continue its co-operation with ICTY which should eventually lead to the arrest of the two remaining fugitives, General Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic. Presenting the progress report for Serbia, Ambassador Vincent Degert said: "Serbia has demonstrated its commitment to bringing the country closer to the EU by building a track record in implementing the provisions of the Interim Agreement with the EU and by undertaking key reforms in a wide number of areas in line with European standardsThe Commission expects Serbia to continue its co-operation with ICTY which should eventually lead to the arrest of the two remaining fugitives, General Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic.
Presenting the progress report for Serbia, Ambassador Vincent Degert said: "Serbia has demonstrated its commitment to bringing the country closer to the EU by building a track record in implementing the provisions of the Interim Agreement with the EU and by undertaking key reforms in a wide number of areas in line with European standards."

French-Serbian Chamber of Commerce

Improving Economic Cooperation  Between France and Serbia

The inaugurating ceremony of the French-Serbian Chamber of Commerce held on October 8, 2009 in Belgrade, was attended by Jean-François Terral, Ambassador of France in Serbia, Eric Blanchetete, President at FSPK, Director of Findomestic Bank, Costin Borca, FSPK Vice President, Director of Lafarge Beocin Cement Factory and Nebojsa Radakovic, FSPK legal representative, Director of Danone Adriatic Company.
At the conference it was emphasized that the French-Serbian Chamber of Commerce will represent strengthening of bilateral cooperation particularly in the fields of trade and investment.

SMARTEVENT 09.

Trust in Digital Life

The comfortable Agora Einstein Conference Centre hosted again this year Smart Event. It is located in the Europe’s leading international science and technology park of Sophia Antipolis, French Riviera. Within short distance of Nice and Cannes, attending Smart Event gives the appreciable opportunity to enjoy the Riviera environment. September reveals the French Riviera at its best: tourists are gone while Indian summer parades its landscapes of blue sky and sea, its beaches, rocks and pines and all this beautiful region’s resources.

Respectful Tool of Rule Compliance

IBM Tivoli Compliance Insight Manager (TCIM) is actually a tool that provides companies with a mechanism that will enable security audits and monitoring activities of privileged users within the information system.  Milan Glisic, senior system engineer, one of the specialists in Tivoli products in the Belgrade Company
Serbian Business Systems (SBS), introduced us with this interesting tool. Our first question was:
Why such tools exist?

MDS

Improving the Level of Computer Network Security by Using Cisco NetFlow Technology and Lancope StealthWatch System

NetFlow is an embedded functionality in Cisco routers that helps getting information about the structure of network traffic that is forwarded. Having a detailed review of network communication is an asset for implementation of applications critical for business processes, as well as applications sensitive regarding delay, such as voice and video transfer.
Analysis of NetFlow information can be used for various purposes such as:

• Analysis of applications/servers usage in the network sense, detecting unauthorized servers
• Detecting unauthorized traffic on WAN links
• Detecting anomalies, security weaknesses and malicious software (MalWare)
• Productivity analysis and network resource utilization
• New service implementation impact or changes in the network infrastructure
• Preparation of reports for meeting certain standards required - PCI and other

SIEMENS

Siemens-Security Solutions

Probably every company in the world, so in Serbia, has certain security systems implemented, which were introduced at certain moments, mostly at the initiative of a manager. The question is whether these solutions are enough and how actual they are. Nowadays, when technology changes rapidly, the biggest problem is that these security systems are not updated, their incoherence and lack of control over them.
How to overcome these shortcomings? - The only way is a systematic security approach, i.e. development of a strategy - Security Policy - that determines what is that we protect and what or who we protect it from, so we would regulate specific measures and ways of protection.
In its portfolio, Siemens offers Security Policy drafting services based on ISO27001 and BS7799 standards, which includes data security solutions in IT, but we can also offer solutions related to the comprehensive protection that includes structural physical process-oriented protection.

Smart

Multi-layered Protection of Your Information

After years of battling intrusions, viruses, and spam, organizations now find themselves wrestling with a relatively new but hugely significant security issue: data leakage. By March 2008, the inadvertent exposure of company confidential information was already being cited by analyst IDC as the number one threat, above viruses, Trojans, and worms. At the end of the year, 80 percent of respondents in another survey agreed that data security was one of the biggest challenges facing them, with 50 percent of respondents admitting they’d experienced a data leakage incident in 2008.

IDC’s survey identified intellectual property as the most common type of information leaked and 81 percent of respondents saw information protection and control (IPC) – defined as monitoring, encrypting, filtering, and blocking sensitive information contained in data at rest, data in motion, and data in use – as an important part of their overall data protection strategy.

Mladjan Dinkic, Minister of economy

Single-counter System for Submission of Annual Financial Reports

In mid-October, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Regional Development Mladjan Dinkic announced that since 1 January 2010 a single-counter system for submitting annual financial reports will be established in Serbia.
At the press conference held at Serbian Business Registers Agency (SBRA) on the occasion of presenting the new Integrated Reception Information System and new registers that will be implemented in SBRA, Dinkic said that, starting from this date businessmen will submit all financial statements in this agency instead of three places.
He reminded that the mentioned reports are currently submitted to the Solvency Centre of National Bank of Serbia (NBS), the IRS and SBRA.

Business Registers Agency (BRA)

Integrated Registers

Business Registers Agency (BRA) introduced a new information system for integrated reception of customers’ demands and announced the beginning of new registers. This information system that enables implementation of several new registers was presented at press conference held at Business Registers Agency at its new address, 25, Brankova Street. The conference was attended by H. E. Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Kim Djonghe, head of the World Bank Office in Serbia, Mr Simon Gray, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Regional Development, Mr. Mladjan Dinkic and Mr. Zvonko Obradovic, Director of Business Registers Agency.
This information system integrates all procedures for submission of customers’ requests in 32 counters in new reception counter hall at BRA.
Integrated Reception Information System-IRIS is a central information application for admission requirements in BRA headquarters in Belgrade and 13 organizational units in Serbia, which have become part of a unique networked system for receiving all users’ requirements.

Siemens-Dunav osiguranje

Secured Business Intelligence

If someone was to write a book   about what "Dunav osiguranje" has done this year in order to improve its business with IT resources  in cooperation with Siemens, its title should be " SAP BI in “Dunav osiguranje”: how to ensure successful business intelligence”, and each  part of the title could serve as a separate chapter.
In the chapter on “Dunav osiguranje”,  the  reader would learn that it is the largest company in the insurance market in our country, with 140-year-old tradition and as a joint stock company for the  insurance business,  the only company in domestic market registered for all types of insurance (more than 80 products).
In the SAP BI chapter,  they would learn that it is about SAP’s solution that provides tools, functionalities and processes enabling integration, storage and  management of a company data from all sources, multidimensional data analysis and planning by various key points (sales, income, expenses per  products, customers, periods, sales channels...), as well as a tool for the access to the results obtained, their representation  in different environments (Web, Microsoft Excel), and publishing content from a BI system  to all the users.

Infofest 2009.

Crisis? So what!

The most effective way to neutralize consequences of global economic crisis is to apply technological achievements more intensively, therefore slogan of 16th Festival of IT Achievements "Infofest 2009" was: "Crisis? So what?" According to the decision of the Government of Montenegro, this event has the status of a nationally important manifestation, and it represents the most significant regional event in field of information and communication technologies for years.

SBS - Sena

Sena Flooded Infofest

At this year's Infofest in Budva, the company SBS demonstrated its general-purposed software for courts called Sena and is currently applied in ten courts in Serbia. Its usage has been shown by SBS representatives sitting at three different computers acting a judge, a court clerk and a man in the registration office. In this way, they pictured a life cycle of a case in just twenty minutes.
This form of presentation was chosen because of prominent guests sitting in the hall- Minister of Justice of Montenegro, Miras Radovic, and his associates who wanted to learn more on SBS solution for the Serbian judicial system. SBS showed high Montenegrin officials not only that such software exists, but that it works in a way recognizable to those who work in the courts, at almost the same language, and that it follows the same procedures and actions necessary so the case would pass through the court the way legal action implies.

NPS

More than a Game

When we designed NAV EXPRESS (www.navexpress.rs) with people from Microsoft Serbia Office few years ago, the basic version and idea was to get global ERP solution Microsoft Dynamics NAV (ex Navision) closer to small and medium enterprises in Serbia, primarily those engaged in distribution, wholesale and retail, and maximally and entirely adjust it to their business needs and possibilities. Therefore, we have set the standard ERP in advance and prepared a range of standard reports in order to reduce implementation time; we further upgraded rich functionalities with completely integrated NPS modules that meet specific local needs (wage calculating, electronic payment, travel accounts, retail ...) in order to reconcile its possibilities with real customers’ needs, create and certify network of NAV Express partners, so that NAV Express would become available in as many addresses throughout Serbia as possible

Geneko

Automatic Vehicle Tracking and Location System

Company Geneko, for years, has been engaged in producing systems for satellite vehicle tracking and car fleet management. On these pages, we have already represented products Fox and Fox Lite, but we are now able to present some novelties.
AVL
Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) is a name for the automatic vehicle tracking and location systems using global positioning system (GPS). Fox and Fox Lite are the most modern AVL systems that support all contemporary protocols, but offer the possibility of additional adjustment to specific customer requirements. Heart of the system is a hardware made by Geneko, and itself combines the two basic modules - GPS and GSM. GPS module enables precise location in space, while GSM module provides communication with the monitoring center. Fox devices have many analog and digital ports for connecting various subsystems on the vehicles. Fox Lite has two digital outputs/inputs, an analog input for measuring the amount of fuel, a digital pulse input for measuring engine rpm, inputs for detecting the engine start and embedded alarm condition.

TeleGroup

Solution for Telekom Operators and Service Providers – part two

To remind
TeleGroup Company has been actively present for six years in the field of development and implementation of services based on VoIP technologies, and has been engaged in presenting and test installations of system solutions. Following the market trends in the region and clients’ needs, TeleGroup analyzed solutions on the world market and, by testing in local network and with network operators, customized those solutions according to the local market.
Solutions on the world market, among others, are mainly based on solutions of the Israeli company AudioCodes as a leader in development of VoIP technologies.
Cooperation with this manufacturer started at the beginning of 2004, as a result of TeleGroup’s business curiosity to technologically step forward towards VoIP technologies and thus present itself to the telecom market of the Western Balkans, which evidently goes in that direction. During the years of cooperation, a series of successful direct representations of VoIP technologies has been achieved not just at professional conferences and fairs, but also through pre-defined testing of this equipment in specific surroundings.

KING ICT

Do We Need ECDL?

ECDL (European Computer Driving License) is the European computer diploma that is internationally recognized certificate of computer literacy. The owner is guaranteed the computer skills according to the ECDL standard. Because of the great success that ECDL has achieved in Europe, the program was globally extended under the name International Computer Driving License (ICDL).
The ECDL concept has been designed thanks to the European Commission and is known worldwide as the most successful initiatives program. ECDL represents the global standard today, and is also available in 138 countries and in more than 36 languages
Why is it important to pass the ECDL?
The importance of passing the ECDL exams and obtaining the diploma reflects in the competence. The diploma is a proof that you have certain skills, although most people can use a computer, the biggest advantage of ECDL is in the systematic learning how to use a computer, as well as the evaluation of the knowledge. The prospective employer will give priority to the candidates who can record their skills, for completion of school and colleges there is the diploma, for the computer there is the ECDL certificate.

ECDL

"Knowledge Society" is a European educational imperative that should not circumvent Serbia

Life-long learning has taken precedence when it comes to education, thus teachers, students and parents must understand that education does not stop when official education ends. Moment when the current elementary school pupils become capable of working will require fast and successful change of work which inevitably needs continuous learning and improving. Since entire knowledge quantum increases every day, it means that each inhabitant of the planet always has to change and learn. New concept of learning - electronic learning facilitates this process. The role of educational system is to monitor everyday scientific-technological development and train students to use information and communication technologies in their future personal and professional life in order to acquire new knowledge and its practical usage. ECDL, as a way of standardization of IT skills and knowledge in Europe and the world, sets a good framework for defining the performance level that one has reached. This alleviates more efficient use of employees’ working hours, greater students and employees’ mobility, as well as easier finding jobs in the country and abroad.

RATEL, Republic Telecommunication Agency

A Short Overview of Telecom Market in the Republic of Serbia in 2008

Telecommunications are among infrastructure industries, and investments in the telecom and information infrastructure are one of the main drivers of economic progress.  Information and communication technologies are means of modernization and enhancement of competition in the economy, also providing improved access to information and a better quality of life to the population. Furthermore, ICTs provide new methods of communications and social dialogue, contributing to the development of democracy and reducing social and geographic discrimination. 
Telecom market regulation in the Republic of Serbia has contributed to the stabilization and to the risk reduction for the investments of both national and foreign operators. The new conditions have enabled an unhindered market development, resulting in a constant increase in the revenues from the telecom services in the Republic of Serbia. Significant changes have taken place in the telecom market, since the establishment of the Republic Telecommunication Agency (RATEL) and the beginning of the monitoring and analysis of that market.