December 15, 2022 by Margherita Tagliabue

Operating lease: how it works and why it is convenient

In the modern business world, the password is often the same: keeping costs down.

In this scenario of a deep national and international economic crisis, it is difficult to support the costs required to try and increase your business.

Ideas and entrepreneurial capacities often clash with management and IT equipment costs, which, especially for small companies, are truly very hard to bear.

In the last years, to meet this specific need, the so-called operating lease has been developed, which grants companies access to certain infrastructures and technologies owned by others, paying only for their use, at much lower costs than purchasing them in bulk.

This is a substantial change in the way we sell technology.

Let’s see how the different aspects of an operating lease work.

What is an operating lease of instrumental assets

An operating lease, also called renting of instrumental assets, consists in renting an asset or a service which remains the property of the leasing company, and which the purchaser can use for the times and in the ways established by a contract.

Buying the asset at the end of the lease is not possible; however, through suitable contractual updates, certain conditions can be modified, such as the service quality or updates to the technology used.

There can also be different payment methods, based on the user’s needs, by planning the budget accordingly.

In the business that revolves around the use of IT systems, this option has become very popular over the last years, as it is very convenient for companies, which actually pay according to their usage requirements, and save on physical infrastructures.

And not just that. Savings also extend to technology installation and maintenance costs, which entail training dedicated resources.

The operating lease of instrumental assets also brings manytax advantages. Sure enough, there are no capital increases leading to Irap and Ires charges. The fees paid for an operating lease on instrumental assets are deducted on the balance sheet assets, rather than accrued, and they can be subtracted for Ires purposes, without any minimum duration constraint.

What technologies are valid for an operating lease

The operating lease of instrumental assets finds its best, more natural application in the IT and communications world, where purchasing a physical infrastructure, at hardware and system level, can be really costly, especially for a small-medium sized company.

Thus, there are operating lease services for PCs, notebooks and devices such as printers, monitors, copy machines and scanners.

Concerning technological infrastructure, an operating lease may be obtained also for servers or networking devices.

And not just hardware. An operating lease can also apply to certain software, and often the service includes training and support, in order to enjoy the product to the fullest.

Lastly, consumables, such as toners, for which there are contracts that include, apart from their supply, also their disposal, based on actual item usage projections by the company.

The benefits of an operating lease for end users

For end users, an operating leasing solution is absolutely cost-effective.

They can have access to always updated and performing IT equipment, often at lower prices compared to their purchase, without the additional training and maintenance costs for the technology used.

And not just that: an operating lease allows end users to choose between a wide range of products and services, among leading market brands.

End users can enjoy great flexibility, and find the right solution for their business requirements, based on their budget.

Another advantage of this kind of option is the fact of not having to bear any cost to dispose of the technology, once the contract ends. In the case of a lease on a software service, and consequent use of sensitive data, the operating lease fee also includes the cancellation of such data, according to the GDPR.

Support on the devices or services leased is always ensured, and also the option of additional device damage or theft policies.

For end users, the contract type is very simple. The general conditions are agreed with the retailer, based on your needs, and then you may order just the products you need, with constantly updated technologies.

The benefits of an operating lease for resellers

The operating lease is very advantageous also for technology resellers.

Trusting a valued supplier, the reseller has access to a wide range of services, to best meet its customers’ needs.

The latter can subscribe a single contract for any kind of good or service.

There are many operating lease services available, especially at financial level, such as a full pay out operating lease, an operating lease with technology renewal, a financial lease, end user loans, stock loans, credit transfer, sub-lease, public administration management.

The reseller may benefit from the supplier’s dedicated team, providing advice on choosing the best solution for their customers, and a streamlined bureaucratic management to access the products and services offered, and also to manage the contracts stipulated with its customers.

Esprinet’s offer and the EspriRent service

Esprinet offers its resellers an innovative and efficient technological leasing service through its EspriRent platform.

With EspriRent, resellers can find the best solution for their customers, both in terms of available products and solutions, and in terms of financial product, with the best dedicated fee.

On Esprinet’s EspriRent platform, paperwork is no longer an issue. You can manage all financed contracts in a simple way, with a readily-available support team.

This is an innovative method to sell technology, ensuring the right flexibility to adapt to the needs of end customers.

For resellers, this means having access to a broad catalogue of updated technologies, from the best international vendors, The best technology from the best brands, through a single contract ensuring a complete service, also in terms of support and installation.

A cost-effective, high-performing choice for companies

There are many advantages in trusting a platform such as EspriRent for the operating lease of instrumental assets.

Esprinet provides its resellers with an operating lease service model that significantly streamlines the adoption of updated and best-performing hardware and software for their customers, significantly reducing costs, both for resellers and for end users.

December 15, 2022 by Margherita Tagliabue

Cash & Carry: how it works and how to choose the best supplier

In a business landscape where demand is more and more specific, and consequently also the offer available, it can be complicated for a retailer to navigate and manage different product suppliers, each one with their methods and times, and be ready to meet the needs of its own customers promptly.

A quick and punctual provisions of products for their customers is essential. This has promoted the development of business formulas such as Cash & Carry, and Esprinet has creates its own Esprivillages, which help dealers reach the wholesalers that best meet their needs.

In this article, we will see how the Cash & Carry formula works, and how important it is to choose the best supplier of this kind of service.

What does “cash and carry” means and how does it work

Cash&Carry is a distribution formula created in the US in 1937, during the war, and under Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Presidency, as a way to open the trade of goods from the United States to the nations involved in the war.

Basically, this formula entailed that American items could be sold to foreign countries, only if they were paid for in the US, and collected there to be taken elsewhere by non-American vessels. Over the years, this method has been fine-tuned, and then re-introduced in Europe in the 1960s by Otto Beisheim.

Today, a Cash and Carry is a product sales formula addressed to professional users who use the items for their business, or to sell them to end users. They are business users in possession of VAT number.

Let’s see in detail how a Cash & Carry works. It usually works like this. A professional goes to a Cash&Carry store (which, by law, in Italy, must be at least 400 square meters); in the wholesaler warehouse, they choose all the products they need, from a wide range, often in self-service mode, directly from the shelves, then, they pay for the goods (cash) and take them (carry).

The wholesaler display all the goods available and simply collects payment for them, after making sure that the purchaser is making a purchase for commercial purposes, i.e. that they have a VAT number. Usually, each customer is already registered at the store they go to.

Therefore, a Cash&Carry is a big supermarket for professionals and dealers, and it inherits some of the specifics from mass distribution, such as offers or promos on specific items.

Why choose cash and carry

There are several reasons why a dealer or professional should choose a cash & carry store.

Indeed, a traditional supplier has its own rules and delivery times, and also a limited range of products which must be included in the supply agreement stipulated beforehand.

While in Cash and Carry Stores, and in our Esprivillages, professionals can choose from wider range of products from different suppliers, can decide to purchase them in the quantity they require at the time, and - above all - they come out of the store with all the items, eliminating any delivery times.

Why choose Esprinet as cash and carry, and how does Esprivillage work

If we talk about quality Cash&Carry, then you should trust Esprinet and its Esprivillages.

With 17 stores in Italy, Esprivillages are the perfect reference for all professionals.

Apart from providing a complete range of many product categories, these cash & carry stores provide many other services.

First of all, they provide a punctual and expert commercial service. Indeed, store managers are able to provide an accurate technical consultancy and tips on how to manage the business, by helping the customer in choosing the products and the best services, based on their needs.

Also, an Esprivillage is a place for training and meeting, through vendor courses and events.

With Esprinet’s cash and carry service, customers can collect the goods in stock directly, or order them online, and they will find them at the Esprivillage near them within 48 hours.

Customers can also resort to Espress By Esprivillage, the proximity shipping service ensured by Esprinet throughout the national territory. With this service, a dealer can choose whether to receive the goods they purchased at their warehouse, or to send them to their end customers, at a competitive fee.

Moreover, trusting Esprivillage for your business device needs is also convenient.

Thanks to the loyalty program, Espriclub, which allows you to collect points with every invoice, to be turned into discounts on your next purchase, and to access special offers of the month. These promos are assigned automatically when a dealer registers at the Esprivillage.

A complete, high-quality service

Esprivillages are truly the best Cash&Carry.

The great competence of a solid international group, such as Esprinet, is complemented by a series of products and services that make life easier for dealers.

Whether you choose the best product in store, first-hand and with the help of qualified staff before purchasing it, or remotely, the best solution to any of your business needs is guaranteed.

Considering also all the additional training and update services, becoming an Esprivillage customer brings sure advantages!

December 2, 2022 by Margherita Tagliabue

Corporate Cyber Security? On cloud vs on Premise

Corporate data security is a dominant topic in the modern business world.

Increasingly computerized and interconnected companies need systems to defend their computers, servers, mobile devices, electronic systems, networks and data against malicious attacks.

What’s more, GDPR of 2018 legally responsibilized all companies that hold user data, obliging them to adopt suitable measures to protect their integrity and non-disclosure.

This is no easy task: every year, the threats held by expert hackers increase and evolve.

In the 2021 Report by Clusit on ICT Security in Italy, in 2020, there has been an increase in global cyber attacks 12% greater than the previous year, and 66% greater than in 2017.

Assuming a constant attack growth, it is estimated that, in 2024, losses may be quantified i 20-25 billion Euros, for Italy alone.

Faced with all this, companies increased their investment in cyber security (+4% annually), become aware of the related risks.

And not just big companies: even smaller companies must ensure that theirs and their users’ data are safe, and users are often the weak link through which cyber attacks materialize, perhaps exploiting a distraction when opening an attachment, or the unawareness of the main hacking techniques.

In this article, we will go over two different approaches in terms of corporate data security - cyber security on cloud and on premises - and we will highlight their pros and cons.

What difference is there between cloud and on premise corporate cyber security solutions

On premise solutions mean an IT technological infrastructure installed within a company, which manages it directly.

The on premise model was the most widespread until a decade ago.

It entails the availability of dedicated servers, where all corporate data and the software used are stored.

Concerning corporate data security, this translates into a more immediate access and easy data monitoring, and the company hosting the infrastructure is completely responsible for them.

On the other hand, on cloud means that all the IT infrastructure is hosted outside the company - theoretically on servers that can be placed anywhere in the world - and data and services can be accessed at any time via the Internet network.

An on-cloud server works with a virtual technology, and does not entail the presence of IT resources capable of managing these issues (which are dealt by the service provider) every day within the company.

Cloud and cyber security are two concepts that were developed in parallel. Indeed, the server provider is the one that ensures the company entrusting its data security services to it, taking care of them first-hand.

Pros and cons of cloud and on premise corporate cyber security solutions

Both these technologies have their pros and cons.

Originally, on-premise management was the favourite one, in terms of data security, for their greater and simpler control and accessibility, and the greater simplicity in complying with security regulations. This applies especially to big companies that manage large quantities of sensitive data, such as large banks.

On the other hand, managing security completely “on premise” causes other kinds of issues.

First of all, the related costs. In order to store large quantities of data, an on premise approach requires the company to purchase an expensive infrastructure to ensure the standard operation of all processes.

A physical (and technological) infrastructure also requires space, power and qualified personnel to use it, who can deal with the system ordinary and extraordinary maintenance. And this can escalate to a very large number of people. For a small company, it is very hard to bear all these expenses.

This kind of issues does not occur, when resorting to on cloud cyber security systems.

The service provider takes care of managing and servicing the entire infrastructure remotely, and offers the best solutions in terms of corporate data security, at a much lower economic and human resources cost.

Another main benefits of an on-cloud technology is undoubtedly its scalability, that is, the flexibility in increasing or decreasing the calculation capacity of an infrastructure, according to the actual company needs in a specific moment.

Also, the customer finds its application already configured within the cloud, saving precious installation time.

It is easy to understand how, when it comes to on premise solutions - especially if the power needed is greater than the current one - this is much more complicated and costly, since it would also require the physical infrastructure and the software to improve the performance.

An on cloud cyber security allows customers to pay only for the resources they actually use. Furthermore, the cloud also reduces data backup costs and facilitates their recovery in case of emergency or hacker attack, thanks to the possibility of moving them within a broader network supplied by the provider.

On the other hand, one of the recognized downsides of the cloud is that, since the applications are already pre-configured, they are not easily adaptable to single systems and needs.

With an on premise system, since the customer manages the entire infrastructure, any modification is allowed (even if they also bear the cost for it).

Cyber security cloud vs on premise: which one is better?

In short, with current technology, it is best to choose cloud cyber security.

Esprinet provides the best corporate cyber security solutions that can cover all marker requests in this field, thanks to a mix between suppliers of the best technologies and field experts that can meet any requirement.

In particular, Esprinet offers a super-modern range of cloud cyber security solutions for companies.

In our Cloud Marketplace, you can find the best products, ideal for both MSP and CSP business models.

A Managed Service Provider is a business model where an external supplier takes over, provides and monitors the services for end users, for a flat fee, and constantly checks the entire customer’s technological infrastructure and network.

While the Cloud Service Provider model entails Cloud solutions with subscription-based formulas to create customized offers for customers. The benefit for customers is that they only pay based on actual service use.

For both models, Esprinet distributes software ensuring a high productivity and also business continuity, by protecting all the devices used by employees, thanks to advanced technological solutions for corporate network security.

November 22, 2022 by Margherita Tagliabue

Waste disposal and sorting at the office: how to make offices more sustainable

Making an office sustainable is an important goal to pursue. It all comes down to adopting behaviours and solutions that can help to protect the environment, reducing consumption and waste.

Everyone can help to implement a sustainable development, from small to large companies and offices.

There are many small things that can be done to promote sustainability, which also increase the efficiency of a company, and reduce the costs sustained.

Also, a sustainable company significantly increases its reputation with customers and suppliers.

One of the aspects where corporate environmental sustainability works best is waste sorting and disposal.

Let’s see how to sort waste at the office effectively.

Waste sorting at the office

Waste sorting at the office should be construed as an investment.

First of all, if not sorted correctly, waste represents a considerable cost for an office.

In this regard, Legislative Decree no. 152 of 3 April 2006 sets forth specific provisions for employers to collect and sort waste responsibly, respecting people and the environment, and providing all the necessary tools to their employees.

Also, employers are required to raise their employees’ awareness on the importance of waste sorting to protect the environment.

Any work place, from small offices to big companies, produces different kinds of waste every day, and they must be collected and disposed of correctly. To this end, a waste audit is required to assess what kind of waste is produced, in what quantities, in order to implement an effective collection and sorting system, and avoiding any fines.

What kind of waste is there at the office and how to manage it

Usually, an office generates large amounts of waste to be sorted in different categories, such as:

paper and cardboard

plastic bottles

food waste

printer cartridges and toners

All this waste should be managed in separate containers.

Paper and cardboard, despite the expanding digitalization, still take up important volumes in an office. On the other hand, this is the quintessential recyclable material, since it can be recycled up to 7 times. For this reason, it is crucial to dispose of it correctly, into specific containers.

First of all, you should remove any basket under the desks, to avoid throwing away different kinds of waste together. It is best to set up specific paper and cardboard bins in common spaces or in the hallway. These containers can be lined with kraft paper, which is resistant and also completely recycled.

Another kind of waste with a big volume in the office is plastic, used for water bottles, bags and packaging. Plastic should be collected carefully and sorted, into special containers, checking that it is not mixed with other materials.

If not recycled correctly, plastic is perhaps one of the most hazardous kinds of waste for the environment, albeit it is also, in many cases, an easily replaceable material. This is why you should encourage your employees to use reusable containers and bottles, with the aim of reducing plastic accumulation.

Then, there is food waste resulting from lunch or snack breaks. A good practice is to allow food consumption only in specific parts of the office - break areas - and place containers to collect organic waste there. If the office is big, a good idea is to have a small composting system, which significantly reduces disposal costs.

A special kind of waste produced in offices is printer cartridges and toners. This waste should never be mixed with other waste, and it should always be managed separately. Legislative Decree no. 152 of 2006 defines toners and cartridges as special non-hazardous waste, classified as RAEE (Waste from Electric and Electronic Equipment), because they contain hazardous substances for people and for the environment. They should be placed in special containers and stored until a specialized waste management companies collects them.

Then, there are many kinds of waste that fall into the unsorted category. A sustainable office should choose different, eco-friendly materials to reduce the build up of unsorted waste down to a minimum.

Tips to make waste sorting at the office more efficient

First of all, an effective waste sorting process at the office must be established by a corporate directive, but it also requires the collaboration of all employees.

Everyone should set a good example, from executives to collaborators, to the cleaning agency working at the office.

Making your employees responsible from an environmental standpoint has also a good image return and a positive impact on the value assigned to employees, and at economic level, by reducing costs and waste.

From a practical standpoint, waste sorting containers should be easy to locate and accessible, to facilitate their use, both in work areas and in break areas, near vending machines.

Similarly, paper containers should be located near printers. However, you should remember that certain types of paper and cardboard - such as pizza containers and receipts - are made of non-recyclable paper, and they should be disposed of as unsorted waste.

A good habit concerning all kinds of recyclable waste is cleaning and crushing them to reduce their volume, and thus facilitating the work of compacting machines and avoiding filling up the containers too quickly.

Even better, there are multi-compartment bins with different bags, which must be properly signalled. The goal is for waste sorting to become completely normal.

Esprinet is at the forefront of corporate environmental sustainability

We have seen how small measures can bring great benefits in terms of waste sorting, in order to make the office sustainable.

On this, Esprinet is a cutting-edge company.

The group is constantly committed to creating sustainable value over time, both by acknowledging the interests of its shareholders, and of the other stakeholders, such as suppliers, customers, employees and local associations.

Esprinet defines specific and numerically measurable targets in its path toward office sustainability.

Find out Esprinet initiatives in terms of corporate sustainability.

September 29, 2022 by Margherita Tagliabue

IT security at your company: 7 best practices

Corporate IT security can be defined as a series of technologies and procedures to help protect the IT systems of a company. Also called Cyber Security, its goal is ensure the security of all assets involved, websites, computers, personal data, and technological infrastructure.

Companies have become more and more IT-supported, and, at the same time, also the attack options by malicious users have grown.

Cyber Security has become a cornerstone for the smooth operation of a company.

Today, computer security is based on three pillars, also called the AIC trio:

Availability

Confidentiality

Integrity

By exploring further, availability means the ability of a service to continue to work efficiently, without interruptions, even if it is under attack.

Confidentiality is mean not only as protection of private information, but also as the ability to grant access to them only to authorized users, and deny it to anyone else.

Lastly, integrity means ensuring correctness and data, and preventing any unauthorized modification.

Cyber security is subject to certain rules, contained in the GDPR. In this article, we will go over these rules and the list of areas involved by corporate cyber security, along with the aspects that should be paid greater consideration.

GDPR’s news in terms of cyber security

The European Regulation on Personal Data Protection 2016/679 (GDPR) has set some ground rules on the concept of cyber security, by establishing its basic principles.

In particular, attention has shifted to end user activities, since the majority of cyber attacks comes from the corruption of a single user, remotely.

One thing to do is prevent and also detect the vulnerability of an IT system, that is, limiting the time that passes between the attack and its discovery. Less system vulnerabilities there are, and more effective will the protection be.

The regulation entails that computer network security means the “capacity of an information network or system to resist to unforeseen events or illegal or criminal acts, at a certain security level. Which would compromise the availability, authenticity, integrity and confidentiality of personal data retained or transmitted.

The data holder - i.e. the company - being responsible for their processing, must evaluate also the cyber risk, which can translate into direct (financial) or indirect (reputation) risks, resulting from the use of technology.

The GDPR states the principle of accountability (Art. 5), based on which the company is responsible for implementing (Art. 32 of the law) suitable technical, procedural and organizational measures to ensure and prove that the data is processed in compliance with the Regulation.

Every company must have a DPO (Data Protection Officer) - a specialized figure with IT competences, with knowledge of the processes and tools for data retention and protection.

The type of Data Protection must be included in the data protection by design phase, being careful not to breach the privacy rights of the users protected by the same Regulation.

Articles 5-11 of the GDPR mention seven protection and responsibility principles:

lawfulness, correctness, transparency
scope limitation
data reduction to a minimum
accuracy
filing limitation
integrity and confidentiality
responsibility

In any case, article 32 of the Regulation is the most important one in terms of cyber security, since it obliges those who process personal data to include measures for:

Pseudonymisation (separation of data of another user, so that one does not lead to the other) and encryption of personal data
Assurance of constant confidentiality, integrity, availability and resilience of the systems and services processing personal data
Prompt recovery of data availability and access, in the case of physical or technical incident (disaster recovery)
Testing and evaluating the effectiveness of the measures adopted on a regular basis

On how to adopt these measures, the Regulation sets forth suitable risk assessment and protection evaluation method, leaving some room for manoeuvre to the data holder, to build a data protection system suitable to their organization, while taking into account its characteristics and the costs to bear.

Cyber security?
Esprinet advices you on 7 best practices to ensure it!

Esprinet is a cutting-edge provider of tools and technology that cover all the market requests in terms of corporate cyber security.

Adopt a “Zero Trust” strategy, based on the assumption that nothing - in computer terms, is automatically reliable, and therefore it should be verified before any access, to prevent and reduce the risk of cyber attacks within an organization.

Corporate cyber security threats can be of many types, as much as the corporate areas involved.

Network Security

Esprinet offers multiple service and software solutions for network security, to monitor and manage your network. In particular, we offer software that updates the protections built into network appliances.

This way, you can prevent the intrusion of sophisticated software used by hackers into your system, which cause the so-called Denial of Service, where hackers overload the networks and servers with excess traffic, making the system completely unusable.

End Point Protection

Technological services based on end user protection, especially when connecting remotely to client devices within the network.

End Point Security provides solutions that intercept all kinds of Malware - software created to damage the computer of a user, with the aim of having an economic gain, through email attachments or download requests.

Secure Identity and Access Management Solutions per Cyber Security

The Secure Identity and Access Management - an essential component for a correct computer management - manages digital identifies and user access to data, systems and resources of an organization, preventing any illegal access to them.

With this technology, you can contrast phenomena such as phishing - an attack that occurs via emails that look like they are coming from safe sources, and requesting sensitive information, such as your credit card data.

cerchio-security-vulnerability-management

Security and Vulnerability Management

Security and Vulnerability Management is the process to identify and assess any security vulnerability in corporate systems and software.

It becomes crucial when it comes to cyber security, since it assigns a priority to possible threats, while reducing their “attack surface” to a minimum.

Advanced Threat Protection

Advanced Threat Protection is a series of solutions to defend your systems against the most sophisticated malware that targets sensitive data.

We can contrast very sophisticated pirate software, such as Spyware, which secretly record the actions of each single user, stealing data from their credit cards, for instance.

Content Security

A good Content Security program is an excellent gatekeeper for a portal, which limits data origin toward it and the scripts that can be executed.

Content security control may be a costly task, but it is repaid over time with the quality and reliability of your portal.

Through content control, you can prevent the penetration of viruses into your system, which can replicate their malicious code quickly, such as Trojans or Ransomware, which blocks access to files and data.

Automated Security and Monitoring Solutions

These systems are directly integrated into web browsers, to control the data reaching your system, and they protect you against threats such as XSS and clickjacking.

This way, you add another level of defence to your portal, thus significantly improving its level of security.

Esprinet experts are available to guide you in choosing the best cyber security system for your business.