In today's electronic environment, small businesses must be vigilant about their network security and protect their sensitive data from prying eyes. A recent 2006 Symantec Corp. Internet Security Threat Report indicates that Windows programs should be of particular concern for small businesses because they are the most readily used applications in the industry, and these applications are often the most attacked by hackers. Small businesses need to adopt layered security techniques for all end-user programs and networks, including the use of antivirus and antispam software, firewalls, intrusion detection, and other programs. Antispam software, for instance, will review all incoming email messages on servers to determine whether messages should be filtered out, which will not only reduce the chances of workers downloading hacker spyware, but also increase the productivity of IT resources and personnel. Small business owners should also protect their servers through their highest security settings, installing available patches for servers, hardware, and software, and eliminate any unnecessary tools and utilities on the system. Moreover, access controls on servers and encryption for all login sessions can also protect sensitive information from hackers. On the flipside, if a disaster should occur and information is destroyed or partially lost, businesses should have backup tapes or data storage available to refresh network systems or recovery programs in place to restore partially lost data.
http://www.smartbiz.com/article/view/1995

Troubleshooting Tips Before You Resort to a Reboot
Small Business Computing (03/02/07) ; Moran, Joseph

Computer users often perform a reboot when their email programs fail to download or they encounter an unresponsive Web site, but experts say such a time-consuming move should be undertaken only as a last resort. Their first response when a Web site fails to load should be to right-click the networking icon in the Windows tray and choose the "Repair" option. Doing so will perform such tasks as re-enabling the networking adapter in a matter of seconds without having to save files or shut down other applications. Users who are still unable to connect to the Internet at this point should restart their cable modem or DSL device; and if that is not the problem, they should restart their router. The built-in Windows utilities IPCONFIG and PING can also be used to location problems. Basic network configuration information can be obtained by running ICONFIG, while PING enables users to ping an IP address and see whether the server responds.
http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/webmaster/article.php/36632
31

Upgrading to Windows Vista- The Great Migration
SmallBusinessComputing.com (03/01/07) ; Simonds, Lauren

Small businesses, which generally have very little technology support, will find that Microsoft's Vista operating system is cumbersome in many cases and could require PC upgrades or new PCs altogether. If upgrading a current Microsoft XP program is the avenue chosen by firms, HiWired President and Co-founder Michael Wexler notes, "One hundred percent of our customers who have tried to install Vista on their own have called in with at least one problem." While Microsoft recommends installing Vista on top of XP Home edition and reformatting the hard drive of XP Pro editions, Wexler believes that reformatting the hard drive is the best option in both situations. An upgrade could take businesses several hours or several days, depending on the depth of applications and peripheral devices used by the firm, and the upgrade will entail backing up data, reformatting the drive, and reinstalling applications and data. Once the installation process is complete, firms will then have to test all applications to ensure they operate with Vista without error. Wexler reports that hardware upgrades may also be necessary given the memory, hard disk, graphics, and processor requirements of Vista. He recommends that if small businesses can wait to purchase a PC with Vista pre-installed, that is the best option.
http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/biztools/article.php/366293
1

Business Analytics in High Gear
WebCPA.com (03/01/07) ; Stimpson, Jeff

Consultants are using business analytics to offer small-to-midsize businesses a detailed breakdown of their financial data as part of a value-added service that can help improve their operations. The Bonadio Group in Pittsford, N.Y., uses Salient's Business Intelligence software to analyze a client's operations to pinpoint problems and quickly generate the data necessary to support whatever solution it has proposed, as well as track the client's progress. Kent Godwin of Bonadio says the software is like "having an instantaneous report writer with the ability to immediately obtain data from across a client's multiple systems in whatever format or data hierarchy you needed." Meanwhile, Kelly Bollinger of Carr, Riggs & Ingram in Atlanta uses ProfitCents from Sageworks as a user-friendly alternative to spreadsheets to determine what changes clients should make to achieve a certain level of growth and how such changes will impact their profit margins, among other things. RAN ONE Americas President and CEO Rick Solomon notes that business analytics can be integrated with accounting and tax tools, enabling accountants to expand their service offerings.
http://www.webcpa.com/article.cfm?articleid=23498&pg=pracacc

Growing Number of SMBs Going 'in the Cloud'
SC Magazine (02/21/07) ; Pitpit, Anthony

Many small- and medium-size businesses are choosing on-demand security services over both hardware and software solutions. Though all options are constantly changing, on-demand services can take a great deal of weight off the shoulders of a CTO, IT administrator, or small business owner by providing instant service that is automatically updated, and relieve IT employees of several duties including scanning the network for viruses, tweaking email filters, and updating software. These services can also provide enterprise-class security, business continuity, instant messaging, email, Web filtering, hosted office, and archiving while alleviating the costs of managing hardware and software. On-demand services can be set up within minutes of being purchased, without any on-site installation required. In addition, email and instant messaging can be archived and spam can be blocked, so more attention can be paid to business matters.
http://scmagazine.com/us/news/article/634720/growing-number-smbs-
going-in-cloud/

The Voice Data Road
Accounting Technology (02/07) ; Scott, Robert W.

Accountants and consultants achieve better service for clients and greater productivity by using mobile communication devices, according to testimony from various companies. New technologies, such as the VoIP system, reflect the diminishing difference between voice and data devices. The VoIP system offers benefits such as decreased long-distance costs and increased communication between offices. The latter is especially important as organizations increasingly employ specialized staff spread out among various, and sometimes remote, offices. Under the VoIP system, an employee's extension follows them regardless of location. And, with the use of headsets, it allows workers to use their laptops as cell phones. David Cieslak of Arxis Technologies believes a mobile staff can better service its clients. Jeff Hapeman, CIO at Clifton Gunderson also noted that, though expensive, installing the VoIP technology automatically upgraded the company's data system.
http://www.webcpa.com/article.cfm?articleid=23101&pg=acctech