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Business Continuity: Business as
usual. No matter what.
Five steps every business should take to prepare for a business
interruption.
When people think of disasters, they generally envision hurricanes,
tornados or floods - catastrophic events that devastate communities. But
for a business, a disaster can be something as small as a failed switch
or computer virus. These seemingly minor events can have a shocking
impact on a business, often bringing operations to a standstill.
“The impacts of an
interruption can be stunning,” says Bob Boyd, President and CEO of
Agility Recovery Solutions, the industry leader in mobile business
continuity solutions for small to mid-sized businesses. “Statistics
indicate that about 60 percent of the businesses affected by a disaster
will not survive because they do not have a recovery plan in place.”
Creating a basic,
executable business continuity plan is one of the most important steps
you can take to protect your organization and assure business as usual –
no matter what the scenario.
Here are five key steps to help you get
started.
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Are You IT Strategic?
By Blake Britton, Vice
President, AXXYS Technologies
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The
purchase and search for IT products and services to make the
business operate more efficiently can be a daunting task. While
InSwift is pleased to be able to help our clients with
this “search”, there are questions that need to be asked when
looking at a replacement or even a new technology. The main
question: What is the strategy of the business from an IT
perspective? I have selected a few products that have recently been
upgraded or purchased new by some of our clients. In each of these
cases I have given a few strategic questions that should be asked
before the solution is selected. |
Firewall/Security
Appliance: This device is used to protect your network resources
from outside threats. Its primary purpose is perimeter security but
can also be used to provide deeper levels of security depending on
the business acceptable use policy for Internet browsing.
Here are a
few questions to ask:
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Steer
Clear of Spyware
 Spyware programs track and
monitor Internet browser usage, secretly collecting your information to use for
commercial purposes. If there is spyware on your computer, what you are doing
and where you are going on the Internet is being transmitted to remote servers
of third parties so they can display targeted advertisements to you–a lot of
targeted advertisements, in case you haven’t noticed. Spyware and adware are
often thought of as the same thing, and this is a common misconception. Adware
is less invasive, and much less intelligent than spyware. Adware takes the form
of random pop-up ads. For example, let’s say you’re on a recipe Web site, and
all of a sudden a pop-up advertisement of an Internet casino appears. That’s
adware. Spyware goes a step further because it collects information about your
Internet habits and uses that to tailor unsolicited pop-up advertising to your
interests.
Chances are you or someone you know has run into a problem with spyware. If
the computer suddenly becomes unresponsive, or is barraged with an onslaught of
pop-up windows that make it nearly impossible to do anything, these are signs of
a spyware infection. Spyware slows down your computer because the software is
always running in the background, using your computer’s processing power and
Internet connection to send the data that’s been collected about you to a third
party. In addition to the annoying pop-ups and computer slowdowns, you can see
evidence of a spyware problem if other abnormal things happen, such as: strange
toolbars appearing, icons for software you didn't install showing up on your
desktop, new bookmarks in your favorites list that you didn’t add, or a site you
don't intend to visit keeps appearing as your homepage.
How spyware gets on your machine:
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Setting Goals for Your Web
Site
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So
your business doesn’t have a Web site? Brace yourself for
raised eyebrows and blank stares.
Today, it seems like
everybody has a Web site, whether it’s a small or a large
business, an individual or an organization. Without a Web
site, your business is missing out on a relatively
inexpensive, yet very effective way to reach out to a
widespread audience beyond your local customer base.
However, having a Web presence is only valuable if the site
serves a purpose and fulfills a certain set of goals that
you designate from the beginning. |
Begin by Being Consistent
So what should these goals be? First and foremost, before
you tackle your Web site, you need to really get to know
your business.
How familiar are you with
your business’ vision or mission statement? Does your
business have a vision or mission statement? If so, review
or develop them before you attempt to build your Web site.
Questions to consider:
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December 2008 |
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In this issue: |
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Business Continuity |
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Are You IT Strategic |
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Steer Clear of Spyware |
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Setting Goals for Your Website |
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Maintain Your Computer and Devices at Work |
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8 Ways to Help Maintain Your
Computer and Devices at Work
You
most likely couldn't do your job without your computer and mobile devices.
Everyday you use them to work on files, connect with people, and access
resources. Keeping them running smoothly is important to working effectively.
So how do you start?
At work your computer and devices are part of a
larger network. Keeping them running means you have to work closely with your
corporate IT department. Working with them will save you time, save your company
money, and help keep the network secure. This article includes tips and best
practices for working with your corporate IT department to keep your computer
and devices up-to-date and functioning properly.
Who Owns the Computer?
You use a computer at work, you may
take it home, and might even have a picture of your kids on the computer
desktop. The computer, though, isn't yours. It's important to realize that your
company owns that computer. They have the right to install patches and updates
on a regular basis. By doing so, they can make sure your computer and the
network runs as smoothly as possible.
Read more
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Quote
of the
Month |
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"Open your presents at Christmas time but be thankful
year round for the gifts you receive."
~Lorinda Ruth Lowen
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Just
for Laughs |
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