IT Life: Locking Up The Whisky

Robert Doswell is managing director of UK-based identity and access management software company Tools4ever.

Keeping Chivas under lock and key

What has been your favourite project so far?
Single sign-on implementation at Chivas – this was a great project as we got to work with a great company and interesting people. The installation with rather complex, and there was nervousness from the customer because of a previous failed pilot. In the end it was great to get good results for them.

What tech were you involved with ten years ago?
Network/Disc monitoring

What tech do you expect to be using in ten years’ time?
3-D TV (Star Wars style!)

Palm passion

Who’s your tech hero?
Jeffrey Hawkins. When Palm introduced the Palm Pilot it was revolutionary; I followed the company’s technology right through to the Palm Pre when they shut down. I just think Hawkins is an amazingly talented guy, and I would love to meet him.

Who’s your tech villain?
Steve Jobs

What’s your favourite technology ever made? Which do you use most?
GPS – I love cycling and going out on my bike most days. I often just start out and see where I end up so GPS is a god-send for me. Without it I would get lost … a lot.

What is your budget outlook going forward? Flat? Growing?
Growing – and long may that continue.

Apart from your own, which company do you admire most and why?
PlusNet. In a world dominated by call centers and poor customer support, their Internet offering really is very good, and exactly as it should be done.

What’s the greatest challenge for an IT company/department today?
Providing more with less – and that’s where our solutions come into their own in terms of ROI. (can we expand this – why the solutions provide more in terms of ROI.)

To Cloud or not to Cloud?
Definitely to Cloud

What did you want to be when you were a child?
Rich! Also, when I was a child I wanted to race motorbikes.

Do you know about IT leaders’ jobs?