Worst Case Scenario
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Designing Web Sites That Stand Out
SmartBiz.com (11/06/06); Lipe, Jay
There are several things small businesses can do to create stellar Web sites. They must first determine the objectives of the Web site, such as boosting worker productivity or sales. They should then prioritize these objectives, focusing on the three most important. Next, they would be wise to use their offline logos and icons on the site so as not to confuse customers with a new online identity. It is also important for businesses to think about what tasks they want users to accomplish while on the site and ensure that they can do so.
Additionally, they should ensure that the first 100 words of copy grab visitors' attention and formulate a tagline that details the purpose of the Web site, such as YouTube's "Broadcast Yourself." Brief text broken into small paragraphs and consistent typefaces, headers, and footers are useful as well. The ideal Web site also offers contact information at the bottom of every page, a press room with materials to be used by the media, a page of frequently-asked questions, and search capabilities.
(http://www.smartbiz.com/article/articleview/1685/1/56)
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The Security Horizon: What's in Store for Small Business
Small Business Computing (11/06/06); Robb, Drew
Microsoft's new computer-security package is promising to spark major changes in the antivirus and anti-malware industry, offering many of the same services as Symantec and McAfee at low prices that will likely be attractive to small businesses. Microsoft Live OneCare features antivirus and anti-spyware programs, a personal firewall, and data backup tools. Companies will pay $50 annually for three computers.
However, Forrester Research analyst Natalie Lambert notes that Microsoft "is at least 18 months away from releasing a client security suite that is comparable with those offered by traditional security vendors." Lambert cites the absence of integrated functionality and more tools than basic anti-virus and anti-spyware. Symantec Corp. is responding to Microsoft's offerings with Norton 360, which will merge security, repair, and backup technologies. Small businesses will also have access to McAfee Corp.'s Falcon suite and free security applications from their Internet Service Providers.
(click for more)
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On the Job: Telecommuting Can Be a Success With Ground Rules
Salt Lake Tribune (UT) (11/04/06); Bruzzese, Anita
Organizational psychologist Nancy DeLay of Kenexa says there are several things companies and employees can do to ensure that telecommuting initiatives are successful. First, DeLay says employees need to devote a particular space in their home to work, enabling them to focus on work-related tasks during business hours. They must also establish a work schedule so that they are not checking email late at night or while on vacation.
As for employers, DeLay underscores the importance of upper management support. According to DeLay, "You should be looking at productivity, not who is in the office every day." To avoid isolation, DeLay suggests allowing employees to work from home only a few days each week and scheduling meetings as usual. Additionally, companies should provide computers, fax machines, phones, and other necessary technology tools and support as well as permit workers to return to the office if they find that the telecommuting arrangement is not working.
(http://www.sltrib.com/search/ci_4604535)
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Wireless Options: Opportunity Knocks
SearchSMB.com (11/02/06); Gillin, Paul
Competition between cellular and wireless LAN providers have given small businesses access to an array of wireless technologies at affordable prices. With VoIP over wireless, small businesses can put voice traffic on their wireless networks to achieve faster performance. Products are now coming on the market using the new but not yet finalized wireless standard 802.11n.
Small businesses can also benefit from hybrid handsets that switch from cellular to Wi-Fi based on the user's location. Those that have the financial resources might want to invest in Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) technology to provide high-speed wireless Internet access to mobile workers who do not want to pay the steep Wi-Fi fees imposed by hotels or waste time looking for a free hot-spot. Small businesses should also pay attention to WiMAX, which will boost broadband coverage areas. The WiMAX 802.16d spec standard boasts speeds up to 5 Mbps.
(http://searchsmb.techtarget.com/columnItem/0,294698,sid44_gc i1228012,00.html)
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Smart Email Security for SMBs
SmartBiz.com (11/06/06); Kincaid-Smith, Paul
Osterman Research has found that small and mid-size businesses make technology expenditures equivalent to just 3 percent to 7 percent of their yearly revenue, while large companies spend anywhere from 8 percent to 15 percent. Lower technology spending, coupled with the lack of IT staff, makes SMBs more vulnerable to email security threats.
SMBs are also major targets of spammers, which puts a damper on productivity. Email security solutions suitable for small firms should feature anti-spam and anti-virus tools and protections again phishing, fraudulent content, denial of service attacks, and directory harvest attacks. They can choose from in-house software or hardware appliances, both of which require regular maintenance. They also have access to managed services that require them to contract with a third party provider and pay on a per-seat basis. When deciding on a security solution, SMBs should consider such things as upfront fees and maintenance costs, length and complexity of implementation, and whether it is user-friendly.
(http://www.smartbiz.com/article/articleview/1684/1/60)
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A Web Site to Call Your Own
New York Times (11/02/06); Pogue, David
Microsoft is introducing Office Live, a service that provides small businesses and individuals with a .com domain name of their choice, corresponding email addresses, and other features, for free. The Web site can be designed however the owner wants it, and even if Microsoft ever stops the service, the domain name is wholly owned by the user. Also included is a service called AdManager that allows users to get into search-engine advertising; AdManager is not for free, but it allows users to specify a monthly budget and includes analysis tools that let users see which keywords have been successful. There are banner ads, but only on the email center page and address book.
A very basic accounting program, Office Accounting Express, is also included for free, and has links to PayPal, eBay, credit card companies, and payroll companies. The service even links up with Excel and Outlook, so the Web site will update itself with work done on these programs when the computer goes online, and vice versa, meaning an Internet connection is not always necessary to use the service. Microsoft will also offer $20-a-month and $40-a-month packages that have greater capacity and added features. The entrance of Microsoft into the realm of Web-based software is convincing many experts that declare this the future of software.
(click for more)
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Get Smart: Forget PDAs and Cell Phones
InformationWeek (10/30/06) P. 34; Malykhina, Elena
Smartphones are increasingly taking the place of PDAs and laptops, as the latest devices enable mobile workers to check email, surf the Web, make phone calls, and access business applications and company intranets. They are within reach of most users, as they cost only a couple hundred dollars. However, the rising popularity of smartphones means companies must address the issue of security. Some only allow workers to use smartphones purchased by the company, as they tend to request additional security features from the manufacturer.
Users can choose from the RIM Blackberry 8700c, which runs on the BlackBerry operating system, or Palm Treos that run Palm OS or Windows Mobile. Smartphones from Cingular, Hewlett-Packard, Motorola, and Sprint also run Windows Mobile. Nokia's E62, meanwhile, is a dual-mode smartphone that moves from cellular to Wi-Fi networks as necessary. Some companies are taking a wait-and-see approach to smartphones, as they want better mobile Web browsers, more memory, bigger screens, and longer-running batteries.
(http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?artic leID=193402812)
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Review: Office Live a Big Deal for Small Businesses
InformationWeek (10/31/06); Morejon, Mario
Microsoft Office Live 2007 will enable small businesses to create interactive Web sites using an array of Web tools and productivity applications. Office Live Basic will provide them with a domain name, 25 email accounts, and instant messaging at no cost. It also features an upgraded Office Live Site Designer tool with additional templates and photography from which to choose. Available on Nov. 15, Office Live even provides such business services as AdManager Beta to help small businesses bid for online search-engine keywords.
Small firms will also have access to Business Contact Manager to track leads and customer behavior, among other things. Despite the fact that Office Live does not have whiteboards, real-time communication tools, or sharing capabilities, the beta version has attracted over 160,000 users.
(Http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?artic leID=193500823)
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How to Make Your SMB Look Like a Player
SmallBizResource (10/31/06); LaPlante, Alice
There are several technologies available to small businesses that conceal the fact that they have only a few employees managing orders, customer support, billing, and other tasks. These include Voice-over-IP (VoIP) phone systems and screen-sharing services that enable real-time client demonstrations without leaving the office. There are also fulfillment services that handle orders, payments, inventory, and shipment as well as free or inexpensive global conference calling. Small firms can even hire Web designers and hosts to produce customized Web sites.
(http://www.smallbizresource.com/document.asp?doc_id=109087)
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Securing Your Data
Processor (10/20/06)Vol. 28, No. 42, P. 27; Weisman, Robyn
A decline in the cost of hard drives has helped make disk drive storage more popular than optical tape. Many firms would rather add another hard drive than sift through tons of data to see what can be deleted, but Ken Rutsky of Workshare insists that the sheer number of devices used to store data makes data more vulnerable to loss or theft.
Companies must also be aware that employee devices typically store more information from the main server than they need. Technology solutions are available to help companies monitor the amount of information being transmitted across the network. Intrusic 4.0 reviews the flow of data and alerts administrators of suspicious activity, while Workshare identifies sensitive information contained in emails and attachments and notifies users to avoid leakage.
(http://www.processor.com/editorial/article.asp?article=artic les/P2842/31p42/31p42.asp&guid=F0B047B409E74CABB300848EABDAE6F1)
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Worst Case Scenario
Law Technology News (10/06)Vol. 13, No. 10, P. 1; Ball, Craig
Errors by e-discovery vendors can cause liability risks for the attorneys that employ them, but due diligence before choosing a vendor and careful monitoring of the vendor's performance afterward can help mitigate these risks. Cases such as Phoenix Four v. Strategic Resources Corp. have established some precedent that lawyers' failure to ask the right questions of their vendors can be considered "gross negligence." Therefore, lawyers have a responsibility to ensure that vendors' expertise is genuine and that their services conform to industry best practices.
Timely furnishing of electronic evidence during the discovery process is the responsibility of the attorneys, and vendors' failure to deliver is increasingly unlikely to pass as an excuse for not doing so. Lawyers may not necessarily need expertise in the relevant technology to perform a thorough evaluation of their vendors' performance, but due diligence in selecting a vendor needs to go beyond a simple evaluation of what price is offered.
(http://www.lawtechnews.com/r5/showkiosk.asp?listing_id=12318 36)
