Understanding Connectivity: A Small Business Checklist
SmartBiz.com (04/02/07) ; Cobb, Brent

Small businesses need to make several considerations when choosing an Internet service provider. They must understand that consumer connectivity is insufficient, as having numerous workers simultaneously downloading Web pages, emails, and online applications and accessing voice capabilities requires bandwidth speeds in megabytes per second (Mbps). Companies should opt for no less than 1.5 Mbps if they have under 30 workers, 3 Mbps for 30 to 100 workers, and 4.5 Mbps for 100 to 200 workers. They will also want symmetric connectivity, which means that upstream and downstream data transfer rates are the same. In regards to email, companies should ideally have one mailbox with 100 megabytes or more of storage per employee; and each employee should also have an email address that features the company's domain name. Service agreements that guarantee a response in less than 24 hours, antivirus software, and managed firewalls are other important considerations.
http://www.smartbiz.com/article/articleview/2055/1/61

QuickBooks Experts Pick Top Add-Ons
SmallBizResource (03/29/07) ; Grossman, Naomi

Given that running a business involves more than just accounting, Intuit rolled out a software developer's kit several years ago to facilitate the development of add-ons for customer relationship management (CRM), inventory management, data analysis, and other business processes for use with its QuickBooks accounting program. Over 400 add-ons are presently available, according to QuickBook's Solutions Marketplace. In regards to CRM, both consultant Doug Sleeter of The Sleeter Group and Bonnie Nagayama of the consulting firm McWilliams & Associates suggest Legrand CRM, which allows users to easily move information to and from QuickBooks so that it does not have to be entered separately into each system. They also recommend BillQuick for time and billing because it can handle different billing rates and SourceLink for electronic document management because it enables users to get rid of mounds of paper files. Sleeter says small businesses will find Adagio FX useful in preparing professional financial statements, as it simply formats data pulled from QuickBooks. To ensure that these add-ons are properly deployed, Sleeter and Nagayama say small firms would be wise to seek assistance from a QuickBooks consultant or opt for online training from product developers. While add-ons are designed to boost productivity, Sleeter notes that firms might want to limit the number used to avoid confusion and data-transfer overload.
http://www.smallbizresource.com/document.asp?doc_id=120210

Three Roads to Network Printing
Small Business Computing (03/30/07) ; Moran, Joseph

Small businesses would be wise to network their computers so that data and Internet connections can be shared. They must also network their printers so that they can be shared as well, and there are a few ways to accomplish this. Firms can connect the printer to one computer and select the print-sharing option in Windows. While user-friendly and inexpensive in that additional hardware is not necessary, problems can occur if the host computer is shut down or crashes. To eliminate the need to link the printer to an individual computer, companies can connect the printer to a print server via a router. Workers can gain access to more than one printer through a print server, but those using multifunction printers will not be able to scan, copy, or fax unless they do so through the printer itself. All of the capabilities of a multifunction printer are accessible from each computer if the firm installs a printer with built-in networking. However, given that wired networking models cost about $200 and wireless networking printers more than $300, such devices may be too pricey for some firms.
http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/webmaster/article.php/36689
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Keeping Up With Technology
Processor (03/23/07) Vol. 29 , No. 12 , P. 14 ; Bradley, Tony

New technologies with attractive features hit the market all the time, but experts urge small firms not to purchase technologies solely to take advantage of new bells and whistles. Experts say it is only sensible to invest in new technologies to comply with government regulations, accommodate expanding data-storage requirements, or meet other business needs. However, they recommend that businesses pay attention to developments in virtualization technologies--which enable them to expand server capacity without the need for new hardware--and solutions that make data centers more energy-efficient.
http://www.processor.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/P
2912/24p12/24p12.asp&guid=

Don't Wait on Wireless
Processor (03/16/07) Vol. 29 , No. 11 , P. 1 ; Perry, Christian

Giving employees the ability to wirelessly connect to enterprise data from remote locations can significantly enhance a company's relationship with its customers, says "WiMAX Crash Course" author Steven Shepard. However, experts note that going wireless introduces several concerns, including cost, security, and service issues. Technology Associates President Eric Hobbs underscores the importance of security and capacity planning. "Devices should also be selected based on their ability to integrate with existing corporate security infrastructure," says Hobbs, adding that intruders are increasingly using technology to beat security features like enabling WEP and disabling SSID broadcasts. When planning for a wireless architecture, several departments should have input, including IT, telecom, human resources, accounting, and building management, according to Shepard.
http://www.processor.com/editorial/article.asp?Article=articles/p
2911/20p11/20p11.asp&GUID=

Multiple-Monitor Proponents Point to Productivity Benefits
Computerworld (03/23/07) ; Thibodeau, Patrick

Though the loss of desk space may make workers reluctant to use multiple monitors, those who have embraced the practice report an increase in productivity. Accountant Jason Quint of Atlanta-based HD Supply uses a laptop in combination with a desktop monitor, which enables him to simultaneously check email and view spreadsheets. Other workers have found that multiple monitors eliminate the need to move to different screens to access different applications and reduces the number of pages they send to the printer. Ellen Durkin of Englewood, N.J.-based Durkin Agency Inc. reports a 10-percent jump in worker productivity at her firm due to the use of dual monitors.
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticl
eBasic&articleId=286833

The Power of Arrays
Journal of Accountancy (03/07) Vol. 203 , No. 3 , P. 52 ; Goldwater, Paul ; Fogarty, Timothy

Excel's powerful arrays feature allows CPAs to get work done faster while simultaneously reducing errors and simplifying the work process. Arrays are formulas that process sets of two or more values at the same time, thereby calculating other values. Arrays are useful for many functions, including summarizing payroll data, ranking paychecks according to size, and conducting analysis that places conditions on mathematical operations. One easy-to-use function even enables CPAs to show clients how certain spreadsheet numbers were calculated. One of the more powerful abilities of arrays is uncovering significant difference conditions, especially as pertaining to the performance of internal controls. There are also a handful of array formulas that can determine whether the values in one range are duplicated in another range-- a function that, for example, can be used to discover fraud based on a "padded" payroll. Other useful array functions include summing values based on conditions, computing an average that excludes zeros, and returning the location of the maximum value in a range.
http://www.aicpa.org/PUBS/JOFA/mar2007/goldwater.htm

Perimeter Defense
BizTech Magazine (03/01/07) ; Masood, S.G.

There are several things companies can do to ensure that they do not fall prey to outsiders who spend much of their time searching for undefended wireless networks to hack into. Companies should consider installing a virtual private network to encrypt all network traffic and establish a separate network for wireless access points that is protected by firewalls. They should also seek out and eliminate rogue access points, allow access only to devices whose Media Access Control addresses have been authorized, and minimize the radio signal range of each access point to contain the signal within the building. A regular network audit is also helpful, involving upgrades to drivers and firmware and changes to default configurations of wireless devices, among other things.
http://www.biztechmagazine.com/article.asp?item_id=198