 Social (Networking) Security
How to keep your company safe from privacy leaks online.
After a prospective subcontracting deal at a major manufacturer was leaked through social media, affecting the stock price of both companies, Roger Traversa, an attorney in corporate compliance and privacy at Arjont Group in Philadelphia, was called in. His firm specializes in advising businesses on privacy risks, and he says the same rules apply to businesses big and small--and in fact, the results of social media outbreaks can be even more dire on the small side.
 Protect Data From Catastrophic Failure
Preserve and transport precious business files with these simple, low-cost storage solutions.
While spending extra money on information archival may seem like a frivolous expense, especially for a well-oiled small business, there are two things to consider when debating the possible costs associated with data backup.
First, an ounce of prevention far outweighs a pound of cure here, with any up-front cash outlay paling in comparison to what you’d spend attempting to recover crucial files following a catastrophic system failure. And second, should costs seem unreasonable, always keep the following in mind. In the early days of home computing, PC owners paid upwards of a dollar per megabyte of disk space, hardly enough to hold even a single high-resolution photo by today’s standard.
 A Matter of Online Trust
Give customers a reason to trust you over the other guy.
Brick-and-mortar sells. Your customers can see it, touch it and drive to it. Upon entering, they can look around and then look you and your colleagues in the eye and gauge your trustworthiness. On the web, however, most companies--especially startups with no track record--are suspect until they prove themselves dependable. Rather than take a chance on a startup, potential customers will often pay more for identical products and services offered by a business they feel they can trust.
When battling for market share, imagine competing against the Amazons of the world. If I’m looking to purchase a blender and have the choice to buy it from you or from Amazon, chances are good I’ll buy it from Amazon, even if it’s more expensive.
 Beware the Mobile Rogue
Your employees could be toting around with sensitive company info.
The proliferation of smartphone-toting mobile employees no doubt means a serious productivity boost for many businesses. But before you arm your mobile militia, take heed: There may be traitors in your midst. Employees and ex-employees who have provisioned their smartphones as mobile desktops can access company e-mail and, in some cases, critical company data. Bob Egan, chief analyst and global head of research for research firm TowerGroup, says these so-called rogue users represent one of the biggest threats to a mobile enterprise.
 What to Look for in Online Backup
Important factors to consider before deciding to backup critical data online.
As services become robust enough to support business networks, more businesses are considering online backup for their critical data. Some important factors to consider before making the leap:
Security: Make sure your provider is able to offer detailed information about how data is transferred to and from the backup site, and how security is guaranteed at the backup location. Reputable online backup services will include strong file encryption and access-control standards.
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10 Reasons to Upgrade to Windows 7A host of significant upgrades makes Microsoft's newest operating system well worth the wait for any small business.
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