Teleconferencing as Plan A, With Flying as a Backup
New York Times (10/02/07) ; Sharkey, Joe

Corporate travel managers expect to see a deceleration in business travel over the next year due to rising travel costs and widespread flight delays. Susan Gurley of the Association of Corporate Travel Executives notes companies are growing more selective about which business processes merit a trip. Teleconferencing, now called "telepresencing," is experiencing a resurgence, as the technology encourages companies to adopt stricter controls about flying. Telepresencing systems have become more prevalent and though costly, can save companies money in terms of both travel costs and lost productivity. While airfares are not currently rising, mounting hotel rates and other factors are generating higher overall travel expenses, according to data from the Travel Industry Association. Despite rising pressure on the airline industry to address problems such as strained schedules and stranded passengers, Gurley argues business travelers simply have gotten spoiled and must adjust their "unrealistic expectations" to acknowledge it will take time and money to fix aviation's infrastructure, technology, and workforce.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/02/business/02road.html

Tech Tools
Wall Street Journal (10/01/07) P. R9 ; Flandez, Raymund

There are many technology programs on the market targeting small businesses. Real estate brokers and other professionals could benefit from Virtual Management Inc.'s Electronic Virtual Assistant that handles such tasks as sending e-mails and reminders, inputting data into reports, storing and retrieving data, and scheduling meetings. Phil Immel of Laguna Beach, Calif.-based Prudential California Realty calls the virtual assistant with home sales data from outside the office, and the 24/7 service sends the information to clients via e-mail. Small businesses also could benefit from HyperOffice, a Web-based application that lets users access, share, and edit documents for any computer with a Web connection; and TalkPlus, which lets users receive personal and work-related calls on the same phone on two separate lines that allow them to decide whether to take a call or forward it to a voicemail service that transmits the message via e-mail. Companies can keep tabs on after-hours activities in their offices with camera monitoring from TrueView Services, and workers can receive audible turn-by-turn directions on their Sprint or Verizon cell phones with a Global Positioning System service from AAA and Networks in Motion.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119101128563843013.html

Behold, the Trends That Will Unchain Us From the Office
Globe and Mail (CAN) (10/01/07) ; Lima, Paul

The workforce will become more mobile in the coming years as new technologies eliminate the need for offices in fixed locations, says Intel Canada General Manager and Information Technology Association of Canada Chairman Doug Cooper. Within 10 years, Cooper thinks a majority of workers will be armed with Web-based devices that are equipped with GPS tools and can handle email, instant messaging, voice communication, and productivity applications. According to Cooper, "Wireless will be the foundation. People will demand it. There will be no computers in fixed locations." Workers will have access to "context-aware" mobile services that will let them decide whether to take calls or messages by determining what information they contain and who sent them, making it possible for them to better prioritize their tasks, says Cisco Canada Director of Enterprise Marketing Paul McDevitt.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20071001.wsrwo
rkplacetech01/BNStory/Technology/home

IT Audits: Five Fearless Strategies for Survival
SearchSMB.com (09/27/07) ; Rothman, Mike

With the advent of new compliance regulations, even small and medium businesses face information security audits. To make an audit as painless as humanly possible, there are five steps a company needs to take. First, it is important to view the auditor as an ally, not an enemy. In the end, the auditor has a company's best interest at heart but they must make sure any problems are addressed. Ultimately, they are held responsible for any issues that get overlooked. Second, most auditors also bring an abundance of experience and knowledge to the table, which can make the audit process a good learning experience, instead of a punishment. Third, every company is going to turn up problems eventually, which means the most important aspect of the audit is how the management team responds to the problems uncovered. Fourth, all auditors are going to have different techniques and requirements, and preparation is key to ensure all eventualities can be handled easily. Finally, once a problem turns up in an audit, managers should fix it. However, if the course of action suggested by the auditor is not feasible, management needs to ensure explanations clearly cover why recommendations could not be implemented.
http://searchsmb.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid44_gci1273981,00.
html

Add Wireless Access Throughout Your SME
Processor (09/21/07) Vol. 29 , No. 38 , P. 10 ; Millard, Elizabeth

Going wireless in the office requires extensive planning far beyond simply figuring out where to position the access points. Companies now have access to tools that enable them to take the building's design into consideration to minimize interference, such as AirDefense's Survey and Architect tools, the latter of which examines formal or freehand drawings, scanned images, and AutoCAD images of the building. Other simulation tools include OPNET's Modeler Wireless Suite and Bluesocket's Wireless LANPlanner. After looking at building design, companies should consider the monitoring and maintenance of the wireless network, examining such real-time network analysis tools as Network Instruments' Observer and ManageEngine's OpManager. Finally, companies would be wise to involve department heads--not just IT managers--in the planning process, as they can spell out the particular needs of their departments. "There are a range of applications that might not be at the front of your thinking when you're first planning, but understanding all the components and needs upfront will give you a more strategic perspective on your deployment," says MobileAccess marketing director Lou Martinage.
http://processor.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/P2938
/22p38/22p38.asp&guid=

E-Security Risks Keep Security Chief Up at Night
Michigan Business Review (09/13/07) ; Stevens, Lynn

Corporate culture must change for business information to be adequately protected in today's increasingly dangerous cyber world, says Dan Lohrmann, director of Michigan's Office of Enterprise Security and the state's first chief information security officer. Lohrmann says security is no longer solely the responsibility of the IT department, but rather depends on how savvy companies are at engaging with their data. Not only is cyber crime growth skyrocketing, cyber crime has also become increasingly sophisticated and international. Lohrmann is concerned about portable devices, a concern echoed by Faith Heikkila of Pivot Group. Most portable media devices cannot be encrypted, and are easily stolen or misplaced, says Heikkila. Therefore, companies must create policies to safeguard any USB flash drives, PDAs, iPods, or smart phones used in business. Lohrmann also points to old equipment as a significant corporate vulnerability, as old devices lack updated security patches and other manufacturer protections. Moreover, companies must update their security systems and procedures on a regular basis, as new vulnerabilities surface every day. Hackers are unrelenting in their development of new attacks and methods, which means standard protections such as firewalls can grant companies a false sense of security. Therefore, companies must also pay attention to the "procedural things you can do to protect yourself," says Lohrmann.
http://www.mlive.com/bdw/stories/index.ssf?/base/test/11896344826
9540.xml&coll=12

The Evolution of Document Management
Rough Notes (09/07) Vol. 150 , No. 9 , P. 56 ; Chivvis, John

Enterprise Content Management (ECM) enables agencies to take control of all files pertaining to client data, and experts tout it as a solution to the unwieldy scanned files generated by many existing document management systems. Hallmarks of ECM technology are open architecture and flexibility. For example, the Blue Goose iChannel application stores all files and content in their original format, rather then switching them to a vendor-controlled format. iChannel integrates with software applications like Microsoft Office, as well as with industry-specific applications. Communication in iChannel is enhanced by its central database, in comparison to the “silos” used in most agencies. Executives at W.E. Love & Associations particularly appreciate iChannel’s full-text search capability, which enables users to search by customer name, policy number, document title, or keywords within the document’s content. Users also have more options with their scanned documents and faxes with iChannel, as the application converts these documents to smart PDFs rather than the TIFF format. In terms of security, iChannel integrates with the company’s human resources, accounting, and HIPPA practices, and access to files is customizable down to the individual document. iChannel also streamlines workflow by enabling managers to transfer workloads among iChannel’s “Routing Queues” when someone falls behind or is out of the office. Integration mandates from specific carriers are met easily with iChannel’s open architecture, thereby supporting agency-carrier interaction. Customers are better served as well through made-to-order Web portals.
http://www.roughnotes.com/rnmagazine/2007/september07/09p056.htm