Remote access to office IT resources is becoming increasingly popular in these days of hot-desking, mobile workforces and staff working from home, but what about the IT security issues?
SiteImprove can improve your Web site
SiteImprove.com, the website checking service launched last year to critical acclaim, is now offering all comers a 14-day free trial of its SiteCheck service.
IP 2008 show in London 1/2 October - time to register?
With the Beijing Olympics taking centre stage at the moment, many company IT managers will be worrying about their Internet connections, especially with the number of video streaming services available on the main news Web portals.
Web 2.0: what it is and how can it help small businesses?
Everyone is talking about Web 2.0, but the curious thing is, there is no standard as to what it means, implies or requires. The reality is that Web 2.0 means different things to different people.
Big companies delaying payment to smaller suppliers
In an article featured in the Times John Wright, chairman of the FSB, says that some suppliers are waiting for periods of well over three months to be paid for goods and services.
Security events
The Business Crime Reductione Centre, in partnership with Cyber Security and Yorkshire Forward, are hosting a number of security themed events in the coming weeks.
Hand held gadgets and security
I reckon a lot of people reading this blog have probably got a handheld smart phone or other device capable of browsing the internet and collecting emails. I know I have and it is very useful when I am travelling.
e-Business for Accountants event
As part of AccountingWEB’s e-business for Accountants event, taking place on July 15th, Steve Gold, one of our resident IT experts, will be discussing vital security practices and data protection.
Remote access and virtual private networks
Getting remote access to your office PC is not as easy as it sounds, mainly because of the security safeguards most companies use to stop hackers slipping in under the electronic wire and snooping around desktop systems.
Very remote area broadband
The downside of needing internet access is the lack of coverage in more remote areas of the UK. A number of initiatives are ongoing to ensure more and more people have decent access to the web (which means more than a standard phone line/dial up connection) but what if you are out of range of a broadband enabled exchange?
Professional e-mail shotting
Although large percentages of email flowing across the Internet are spam - unwanted messages advertising a number of questionable products and services to the unaware - a large number ofcompanies are using email to market their goods and services.
Knowing your customer | Part two
In the previous entry, Steve Gold discussed the wide range of utilities available to businesses when checking customers' details. In this final part, he will look further into the legal procedures involved.
It's the law
It’s a fact of life that we in business are subject, quite rightly, to rules and laws. The problem is that for a small business it can appear to be a legal minefield out there.
Getting help in an IT Emergency
Computer failures are reasonably rare but what do you do when your PC stops working or gives you problems?
Open source software
Open source software is available for public use and gives small businesses and home users the right to download and use the software for free.
Knowing your customer | Part one
Credit-checking B2B and B2C customers is now a well-established industry, but the art of knowing your customer needs is a lot more wide-ranging - and less expensive - than you might think.
Steve Gold explains how to harness the power of the Internet to help you in this regard...
You've checked the customer - what about the employee?
Checking and profiling potential employees has grown from an almost-standing start in the early 1990s to become a major business service, largely thanks to the fact that computers and Internet access make the task very much easier.
Business IT Guide case study
We have been busy creating video case studies of businesses using the Guide.
IT Consultants
Need more advice on engaging an IT consultant? Why not follow these steps to ensure you get the most out of what they can offer.
Are you the next Startups Business of the Year?
Getting your business off the ground is the hard part. Now it's time to show off your achievement. By simply entering the startupsawards your business will be put in the spotlight.
IT Training
When was the last time you went on an IT training course? I bet it was a long time ago, if ever. For many managers and business owners their own self development is always at the bottom of a list of things they need to do, and almost always gets neglected.
Credit checking customers? Tap into trade alliances
If you're credit checking your customers who are making smaller value-transactions, there's a strong chance it isn't cost-effective going down the credit-checking route, even on the Internet, to verify them.
New content to help plan and present your business better
The Guide team has added two new guides this month to help you jump that first hurdle by creating a business plan, and write website copy to make your ‘shop window’ stand out.
Blogging
As you know, because you are reading this blog, we have started to put some blogs up on the Business IT Guide. This is our way of highlighting various IT issues that may be of interest to those in business.
Getting the message across
For many business owners one of the scariest things they have to do is present in front of an audience. The problem is that no matter how great you may be at sales, marketing or running a business if you aren’t a confident public speaker people will mark you down.
How do you use IT?
If you are interested in talking to us about your experiences there’s a £20 M&S voucher in it for you along with entry into a prize draw. First prize is half a day free consultancy with the Guide Editor and the runner-up will receive two tickets for the Eurostar.
The Guide announces key partnerships with Microsoft & Startups
The Business IT Guide team is pleased to announce that we are now in partnership with two leading small business advice websites – The Microsoft Small Business Centre and Startups
Keeping up with the Windows
If you are a Microsoft Windows user you will probably have noticed that from time to time a little yellow icon appears in your system tray (usually at the bottom right hand side of your screen), telling you that updates are ready to download or install.
Business Startup event 2008
Business Startup 2008, the UK’s largest exhibition for people starting and expanding a small business, will be held at London’s ExCel on the 25 and 26 April.
New Guides to help you make the most of your IT
The Guide team has been busy adding new content to help keep you up to date on all small business IT issues. Take a look below to find out what we have been up to.
Going green and saving money
I have finally decided that I will actively pursue a green policy in my businesses. Shameful as it may seem, I have been so busy selling and resourcing work that the whole green agenda has passed me by.
