On the Document Management Bandwagon?
Accounting Technology (03/08) Vol. 24 , No. 2 , P. 25 ; McClure, David

Accounting businesses that want to remain competitive in the future must acquire an efficient document management system. Acc1st EDRMS is an accounting-focused suite for imaging, document management, client portal management and tax workflow in PDF format or their native language. Cabinet NG's CNG-Safe is a customer-server system that enables small and medium-size accounting companies to efficiently oversee expense reports, tax documents, purchase orders and invoices. CCH's DocumentASP offers safe document transfer and storage via the Internet, and has a customizable homepage interface that provides accessed documents, tax returns and complete search abilities. Doc.It is a workflow management, archiving, work-in-progress-binder, and customer portal solution devised especially for accounting companies that have between five and 500 workers. FileCabinet CS provides a superior document management and archiving solution, offering rapid and efficient document flow, from scanning of papers and direct storage from Windows applications to its utilization of native file formats. GoFileRoom provides native support for Office file formats, while XCM is a top-notch workflow management and data automation solution. Lacerte DMS enables companies to keep and obtain customer data electronically and immediately, including tax returns, source documents, spreadsheets, and emails, from nearly any application.
http://www.webcpa.com/article.cfm?articleid=26884&page=1&print=ye
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Road Reduction
Wall Street Journal (03/17/08) P. R7 ; Spors, Kelly K.

Travel companies and credit card issuers are courting small businesses with cheaper travel rates, even as larger companies continue to rein in their travel spending. Through loyalty programs companies can earn reward points, which are redeemable for free flights and other perks; but companies should closely analyze the awards to see how beneficial they truly are. If a small company is located near a major airline hub, for example, it would be beneficial to stay with that airline rather than jumping to another with a rewards program. Other types of discounts offered to small firms include Corporate Lodging Consultants' CheckInn Direct cards, which offer discounts of up to 50 percent at thousands of hotel chains for a small booking fee of $4.95 per stay. Credit card issuers also offer rewards and discounts on everything from flights to hotels and meals to gas purchases. Travel agencies are now within reach of small companies that could not afford them before, especially through small business programs at online firms, like Orbitz and Expedia, that have lower transaction fees.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120526703281328071.html

Better Security Through Password Management
Small Business Computing (03/14/08) ; Moran, Joseph

There are a couple of tools available that can help protect computer passwords. KeePass is a no-cost, open-source utility that provides the user with a main location to keep, organize and oversee all of a business' passwords. KeePass has an incorporated password generator, meaning that a user is not required to remember one master password, but can instead employ a key file. While KeePass is good for individuals using one PC, if a person often utilizes several computers, he or she can download a portable version that does not mandate any implementation and can be stored on a USB key. Clipperz is an Internet password manager that functions with Internet Explorer or Firefox browsers. It is comprised of a Javascript application that encrypts a user's data on his or her computer before sending it to the Clipperz severs, which stops Clipperz or a different entity from accessing the stored information. Like KeePass, Clipperz will provide a user with feedback concerning how well a password is protecting a computer system via a color indicator.
http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/biztools/article.php/373422
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Ensure Your SME's Email Security
Processor (03/07/08) Vol. 30 , No. 10 ; Kelly, Will

Small- and medium-size businesses are encountering a series of new and growing threats to their email systems as spammers and other entities create new methods of attack. Spam and phishing continue to be risks, and HTML email viruses are an evolving threat, as is the Zip expansion attack. When selecting an email encryption solution, it is  smart to determine the company's email levels, the number of emails the business gets that are spam, and the amount of time and money the company wants to spend overseeing email security. CDW security specialist Brian Krause says there are three choices: operating software on the corporate mail server, erecting an appliance solution on the company's gateway, or outsourcing a company's email security to a hosted solution. Email security solutions that offer Message Integrity Checking that locates and bans 100 percent of invalid messages through the University of Magdeburg test suite are helpful. It is also smart to select solutions that a company can tailor to selectively stop common attachments utilized for viruses, including .EXE files. Hosted email solutions that can free up information-technology employees and combat email security risks outside the company's network are beneficial. Besides selecting a good solution to help protect against attacks, small- and medium-size companies need to make certain that their solution is also outfitted to stay abreast of the newest threats.
http://www.processor.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/P
3010/21p10/21p10.asp&guid=

Ready, Set, Charge!
Entrepreneur (03/01/08) ; Clancy, Heather

Finding a power source for mobile devices can be a challenge, especially for those who travel. Several companies are launching products to meet this growing need for power, including Ecosol Solar Technologies. Ecosol's PowerStick charges a device from a computer's USB port. Airports now offer ChargeCarte kiosks to rapidly charge cellphones and iPods. Callpod's Chargepod offers six ports for charging devices off a single power cord, while the 24-7 Power Pack from Medis Technologies can boost talk time on a cellphone by up to 30 hours. The Inflight Power Recharger plugs the audio jack into the armrest of a plane's seat to generate a source of USB power output, while Motorola Razr users may be interested in the WildCharger pad, which can charge phones simply by placing them on the pad. For those interested in preserving the environment, the Solio Hybrid 1000 is a booster battery that can be charged either with sunlight or DC input.
http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepreneur/2008/march/1901
82.html

Locking It Down
Business Week SmallBiz (Quarter1, 2008) P. 52 ; Tamincioglu, Eve

Hackers target small businesses with e-commerce capabilities, but many of these businesses do not have the same protections in place as large corporations. Almost 60 percent of small company managers do not believe they need a plan to secure business data. Because cyber-criminals constantly change their tactics, experts recommend that small businesses and others invest in a security officer within the IT department or hire a consultant with around-the-clock availability. Small firms should invest in anti-spyware and anti-virus software for all computers and a firewall to prevent hackers from accessing the network. Another way to protect information is to sign up with a laptop tracking company, which can help companies recover stolen laptops containing important business information. In addition to security hardware and software, business leaders must institute data storage and access policies, which can include shredding invoices, encrypting wireless networks and not printing full credit-card numbers on receipts. Employee education is another important aspect of corporate security because it can prevent the download of viruses and breach of network passwords by ignorant employees. Instructing employees to not download email attachments from unreliable sources and forbidding them from using work computers for personal business can help keep the network secure, say experts.
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_62/s0802052624780
.htm?chan=smallbiz_smallbiz+index+page_top+small+business+stories