Productivity Tips for Instant Messaging
AllBusiness (04/10/08)

There are a number of steps businesses can take to make their use of instant messaging applications as productive as possible. For instance, instant messaging applications will only be helpful to a company if all of its employees use the same messaging program. This will eliminate compatibility problems and will allow employees to create and exchange buddy lists. Companies can also opt to use an instant messaging program that works with other instant messaging applications. In addition, companies should choose instant messaging applications that allow them to block unwanted messages. Finally, companies should choose instant messaging programs that save messages, or buy additional software that automatically backs up instant messages. This will allow companies to use instant messaging for conversations that need to be recorded.
http://www.allbusiness.com/human-resources/employee-development-e
mployee-productivity/1228-1.html

Speed Up Security
Processor (04/04/08) Vol. 30 , No. 14 , P. 27 ; Weisman, Robyn

Rishi Bhargava, director of project management at the change management solutions provider Solidcore, states that companies need to invest in and install a security network that provides alerting abilities. For such an infrastructure to be effective, though, he stresses that companies must make certain the correct stakeholders are informed and that the ways in which they are contacted are specifically described ahead of time. Core Security Technologies' Vice President of Product Management Fred Pinkett notes that network risks usually are made up of two leading elements--a report of potential attack, or a security risk that an attacker can use to his advantage. He recommends that companies use penetration testing on a regular basis to see how well their security systems hold up. Sygyzy 3 Founder and Principal Cameron Niles suggests the following ideas when creating an emergency-response plan, one of them being to install layered levels of threat-detection technology to make certain the company is protected on all levels. In addition, he recommends selecting products from various vendors that employ different detection files to optimize detection abilities. Niles also suggests making sure the threat-detection infrastructure tracks outgoing traffic as closely as incoming traffic.
http://www.processor.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/P
3014/32p14/32p14.asp&guid=

Put Your Disaster Plan to the Test
Buildings (03/08) Vol. 102 , No. 3 , P. 46 ; Garris, Leah B.

While many companies and building operators understand emergency preparedness plans can help workers and tenants face unexpected events, many fail to test those plans before disaster strikes. Experts recommend undergoing disaster-simulation exercises to weed out plan vulnerabilities and help predict unforeseen complications. These simulations can be created by the company itself, completed as part of a national event, or run through as part of a large group of companies through exercises set up by the likes of NEDRIX or ASIS International. Consultants should be used to create company-specific exercises to ensure they are as realistic as possible. The first drills should incorporate simple emergencies, like fires or gas leaks. A leader should be designated as well as a note-taker to ensure the exercise runs smoothly and any snags are recorded so the plan can be updated afterward. The leader will ensure all participants are clear in their roles during the disaster-preparedness situation. The note-taker should pay special attention to anyone who seems confused or lost, whether or not the evacuation goes smoothly, equipment that is not available that could have been helpful, missing elements of the plan, and people who seem uncomfortable in their designated roles. After the event, all of this information should be discussed and incorporated into an update of the plan. The exercises not only test the viability of a disaster plan, but also help raise awareness among workers about global risks and ensure they are comfortable in their disaster plan role. However, one test is not enough. The plan must be consistently updated to adapt to changing risks.
http://www.buildings.com/articles/detail.aspx?contentID=5738

Web Site Design Dos and Don'ts
E-Commerce Guide (03/24/08) ; Martin, James A.

In order to be successful, electronic commerce Web sites should be clean, well organized and simple, says professional designer Kim Tyburski, who creates web sites for small businesses. That means that e-commerce sites should not automatically include video, despite the fact that online video is very popular. Tyburski says small businesses should put video on their e-commerce sites only if doing so helps customers understand the value of their product, and only if their target customers would be inclined to watch the videos. If a business' target customers are younger, it may be worthwhile to add video to an e-commerce site, though it may not be appropriate if the target customers are generally older. Other features, such as blogs and flash animation, should also only be added when necessary, Tyburski says. One enhancement that small businesses should make to their e-commerce sites no matter what is search engine optimization, which boosts the site's visibility in unpaid search results. Tyburski also says small businesses should take advantage of site traffic analytics offered by the company that hosts their e-commerce site. This information can help small businesses understand where visitors to their e-commerce sites come from, which search terms they use to find the site, and which pages are viewed most often.
http://www.ecommerce-guide.com/solutions/design/article.php/37361
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