PICS ITech

by Blake Britton, Axxys Technologies, Inc.

When (If) we think about data security for our businesses we tend to believe if we have a firewall and antivirus in place we are protected . . . if this were only the case. There are so many other aspects of data security that we have to consider on a day-to-day basis. Here are a few of the most commonly overlooked areas of business data security.

Mobile Devices
Do you have a formal policy for cell phones? Is there a lock feature or PIN they must enter in order to access the phone? What is your action plan if they lose the phone or if it gets stolen? Can you remotely "wipe" the phone through your Exchange server? These are things that need to be considered if your employees are receiving company email or if they keep company and client contacts on their phone.

used with permission from the Microsoft Business Site

Awhile back, we brought you the story of Ted , a CIO at a midsized company who was struggling to get a handle on his software licenses and IT costs. If you haven’t taken a systematic approach to managing your company’s software assets, you might be facing many of the same issues that bedeviled Ted: multiple desktops to support, a variety of licensing agreements to manage, and IT support costs that gobble up too much of your budget.

If those problems sound familiar, you need to meet Ted’s best friend: SAM. That’s capital S - capital A - capital M, as in Software Asset Management. SAM is a vital set of business processes that can help you control costs and risks, optimize resources, and grow your business. With SAM, you save money by using what you have, and you eliminate excess spending by determining your true software needs.

by Monte Enbysk
used with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center

Sometimes it seems like rude customer service is the rule rather than the exception. But there's rude -- and then there's rude.

When it comes to getting customer service, what's your definition of rude? What unprofessional behavior irritates you the most when, as a consumer, you are interacting by phone with another company?

Sometimes, customer service that is perceived as rude is not intentional and often is the result of absent-mindedness or carelessness on behalf of an employee.

"If the power goes out, we'll get a generator." It sounds so simple, but it's never as simple as it seems.

Like most things, preparation is the key. Where will you place a generator? Do you need permission from your landlord or building management company to run cables through the building? What are the specifications of your electrical circuit – volts, amps, phase?

One easy way to answer these questions is to request a site visit from an electrician to survey the location and provide an assessment of needs.