What are the “must have” apps, tools and resources that CIO’s and IT Managers can’t live without?
I have compiled a list of some of the most popular and helpful tools that I have found useful over the years. If you have any further suggestions for the Managers Toolkit, I would love to hear from you. I will update the list below with popular suggestions and will add new apps, tools and resources as they are released.
Time Management
Rescue Time – www.rescuetime.com
- If you are not sure if you are using your time wisely, the Rescue Time app will send you weekly reports to indicate your time thieves. It runs security in the background of your computer or mobile device and tracks time spent on applications and websites. You will be given detailed reports and data based on your activity.
Idea Capture
Evernote – www.evernote.com
- Evernote is a free tool that allows you to capture all of your ideas, thoughts and images. You can record meetings, interviews, speeches and ideas, create lists, add voice or text attachments and share files with others.
ICT Templates and Example Documents
Dokoze – www.dokoze.com
- Dokoze is a great resource if you need to download high quality document templates and example documents. It is based around a community theme where users can share their own documents to get free or discounted downloads. There is no mandatory sign-up process and is mostly focussed around Information Technology documentation.
Task Lists
Remember the Milk (RTM) – www.rememberthemilk.com
Tooledo – www.tooledo.com
Wunderlist – www.wunderlist.com
- RTM is a web-based task list that has free apps for Android, iPhone, iPad and Blackberry that syncs with your RTM account. You can organise your list by due date, postpone items for later, create recurring items, share tasks or assign tasks with individuals or groups, set priority levels and view the list in a number of ways. Tooledo is also a web-based tool that has basic task list features as well as project manager functions. Wunderlist is a good looking task manager that has free apps for iOS and Android.
Project Management
Asana – https://asana.com/
- Asana is a hybrid task and project manager that has iOS and Android apps, and has various collaboration features for individuals and organisations. Asana is free if you have less than 15 people working on your project.
Track Time on Projects
Toggl – www.toggl.com
- Toggl is a simple time tracking tool that is a great alternative to timesheets. Simply write the task you are working on and start the timer. It tracks tasks via a day-by-day breakdown and gives you an overview of where you are spending your time. Toggl can work online or offline.
Mind Mapping
Mind42 – www.mind42.com
- Mind42 is one of the best free mindmapping apps out there. It is a browser based tool that allows you to manage all your ideas, whether alone, twosome or working together with the whole world. As mind42 runs inside the browser, installing mind mapping tools is no longer needed – just open the browser and launch the application when needed – it behaves like a classical desktop application.
File Back-up
Syncback Freeware – www.2brightsparks.com/syncback
- SyncBackFree allows you to create backups of your computer quickly and efficiently, with clear directions to help even inexperienced users make the right decisions. In addition to creating backups, this program also can synchronize files and create mirror profiles, and you can choose to compress your files or not each time you run a backup.
Password Manager
Universal Password Manager (UPM) – http://upm.sourceforge.net/
- UPM allows you to store usernames, passwords, URLs and generic notes in an encrypted database protected by one master password. UPM is simple, cross platform (Android, Windows, Mac OS X, Linux) and features database syncing across several devices.
File Sharing
Dropbox – www.dropbox.com
OneDrive – www.onedrive.com
- There are many apps available that allow you to transfer data from one device to another. Both Dropbox and OneDrive are free and easy to use.
Ben Ward 