Your Database Security

Many of you ask, "do I need security on my Phoenix data"? The answer is every case is always YES.

If you have unsecured data, then what would happen if one of the following occurred to you:

• What if your computer was stolen?
• Your computer has been hacked or infected with a malicious Virus?
• Accidentally emailed a backup to the wrong person? 
• Lost a USB stick with your Phoenix Backups on it? 

These are every day scenarios that show you how unsecured data can easily be opened or restored revealing your key business management information including your financial position to the world.

You can setup within Phoenix ‘User Management & Security’ which enables the user to use encryption on the data to block unauthorised access. Encrypting the tables is the 1st step to securing your data. The 2nd step is to setup the Username & Password for each authorised user to gain access to the data. Therefore, when opening into Phoenix it is a requirement that you enter your Username & Password to gain access. These high security standards in Phoenix will protect and secure your Phoenix data for all of the cases listed earlier.

To setup User Management & Security:

· Open into your Set of books

· Then go to Data and from the drop down select User Management & Security

· This will open to the Database Security where you will need to enter an Encryption key and click Save



· Then click on the Users button and this will open the Manage Users area

· Click the New button to add a new user

· Enter the Username (e.g. your name) & select a Role (e.g. Administrator)

· Enter the Password and click Set

· Click Save and then close out of the User Management & Security Setup.

If you have unsecured data, your top priority should be getting it secured to keep it safe.

Phoenix on a Mac?

Phoenix is a Windows application, and requires Windows to run.

There are a number of ways that you can run Windows on your Mac.

1. Emulator  - There are a number of emulator programs available to run on a Mac. These can be found on the web. One example is CrossOver. The advantage of emulators is that they are cheap. The disadvantage is that they are generally not very intuitive to operate, often don’t support all Windows functions, and will not run all Windows programs.
   
   AGDATA does not recommend this approach, and do not offer support trying to get the program running under an emulator.
2. Virtual Machine - There are at least three software packages available that allow the Mac user to run Windows as a virtual computer within the Mac environment. AGDATA has limited experience with VMWare Fusion, and Parallels desktop. We also know of Oracle Virtual Box.
   
   Parallels Version 11 costs around $100, and runs quite seamlessly on a current model Mac. VMWare Fusion is around the same price and is also quite well respected in the community. Virtual Box is Open Source software and hence can be downloaded and installed for free.
   
   In all cases, you will also need a copy of Windows to install within the virtual machine. Old stock copies of Windows 7 may be available around the traps if you look. List price for this would be around $300. Microsoft have released a boxed full install copy of Windows 10, I have seen the Home edition of Windows 10 available supplied on a USB drive from major electronics retailers for around $180.
3. Dual Boot - The Mac comes with a system called BootCamp. This allows Windows to be installed as a second operating system. Under BootCamp, when you start the computer, it will ask which OS (Operating System) to launch. Then that is what it will run until you restart the computer. You will need to purchase a copy of Windows for this option also. See notes for the VM above.
4. Phoenix Live - Phoenix Live operates on the cloud. The program runs on our servers in Brisbane, your computer simply acts as a terminal to that server. You may access your Phoenix Live system from any windows PC or Mac (Even a tablet like an iPad) as long as you have a reliable internet connection available to the machine.

My recommendation is either Phoenix Live or Parallels with Windows 10 as long as the Mac has sufficient resources to run both operating systems. Any current MacBook Pro or iMac will do fine. Upgraded memory (eg 8GB) would be an advantage. I would question the hard drive space available on a smaller MacBook Air with the SSD (Solid State Drive), or in fact any Mac that only sports an SSD. I worry that 128GB drive capacity would run short running two operating systems. Apple now offer 512GB SSD (or flash storage) on some of the Air range.

Which ever method you choose, you will need to invest some effort in knowing your system. At AGDATA, our support people know the Phoenix system intimately. Phoenix is a Windows application, and as such, we also know our way around the common and current versions of Windows. The Mac however is system that we have limited experience with. When you call us for assistance, you will need to be able to have a Windows screen running on your Mac. We will not be able to assist you from the Mac screen. You will need to be able to install the software that allows you to use two operating systems if you choose this method, then install Windows within that environment. Then you will need to be able to launch Windows. From there your system will function much like any other windows computer. You may need to configure the software that allows you to run two operating systems so that you can share an internet connection and other resources (like a printer) between the two operating systems. Parallels will run in three different modes, (full screen, Window and Confluence). You will need to understand these modes and how to switch between them.

Don’t confuse a copy of Microsoft Windows with Microsoft Office. Microsoft Office for Mac will give you a copy of Word and Excel for your Mac, but it is not Windows, so will not allow you to run other Windows applications, such as Phoenix.

Mark Leahy

B Eng (Agric), GradCert Precision Ag, Cert IV Training & Assessment

Senior Support and Training Manager

AGDATA Australia

Phoenix 8 Benefits – Videos Tutorials

Did you know that you can use the new short Phoenix 8 Video Tutorials to assist you out of our office hours?

As your Phoenix Tech Support team, we talk to a range of Phoenix users every day. Many have expressed to us that they prefer us to show them visually how something is done within the software.

You can sharpen your Phoenix skills by using these short tutorial videos that cover all financial and production modules. We’ve targeted the specific needs that you have called the Phoenix help desk for assistance with. This broad range of videos will continue to be expanded upon, so don’t be afraid to make suggestions.

There are videos catering to all skill levels: new, advanced, Accountants and Consultants. There are videos for new users assisting with the basic initial setup and navigation, and advanced users who want to expand their knowledge to allow for better business management. We have not forgotten the Accountants and Consultants who have very specific requirements from the software.

Video Tutorials are available to all Phoenix 8 users with a variety of videos provided free for Phoenix users without support contracts and an expanded list of those users with support contracts.

To access the videos:

· Open into Phoenix 8

· Select your set of books to open



· Then click on the Help '?' button from the toolbar





· From the drop down menu select Video Tutorials

· This will then launch your web browser showing the Videos

Visit our website to learn more; www.agdata.com.au

Not using Phoenix 8, call us to find out how you can migrate there on 1800 500 400