Posted on Sep 28th, 2009
Mistake #12: Using pirated software Software licensing rules can seem quite unfair. Many small business owners wonder why they should purchase more copies of software when they can simply use one for all their machines. With older software, you could probably get away with this. But with today’s ultra-sophisticated software, it’s simply a losing bet. [...]
Posted on Sep 26th, 2009
A network of Russian malware writers and spammers paid hackers 43 cents for each Mac machine they infected with bogus video software, a sign that Macs have become attack targets, a Sophos security researcher said yesterday. Details at ComputerWorld. (edit: it’s worth noting that the rate for hacked Windows machines in the US is 10-20 [...]
Posted on Sep 26th, 2009
More news on the wireless security front. WPA has been cracked, again. As was noted in the previous post — WPA2-AES is surely a requirement now.
Posted on Sep 25th, 2009
Mistake #11: Not knowing what you have… Ever wonder what’s in your server closet? Well, you should. Sometimes small business owners are so busy running their shops that they forget to count their software licenses or keep inventory of how many PCs they have. While countless businesses played it fast and loose years ago, one [...]
Posted on Sep 24th, 2009
Mistake #10: Using under-qualified staff for IT support On its face, leaving the office manager in charge of your IT is not necessarily a bad move. They seem knowledgeable and they’re already salaried. But assuming they’re capable of such responsibility just because they can download and install software is a disaster waiting to happen. An [...]
Posted on Sep 23rd, 2009
Mistake #9: Skimping on security If you do one thing after reading this article, it should be this: take your security seriously. Many small businesses find it inconceivable that someone would target their business or try to steal their valuable data. Unfortunately, this is the furthest from the truth. Security has become the number one [...]
Posted on Sep 22nd, 2009
Mistake #8: Patch Managewhat? Patch management is the practice of installing the latest software security updates. Most estimates put outdated software responsible for 90% or more of security breaches and malware and virus infections. Enterprise environments limit software installs to those that can be monitored and maintained for good reason. Many small businesses, however, allow [...]
Posted on Sep 21st, 2009
Mistake #7: Forgoing user training This is a problem that’s less about equipment and more about human nature. Training is an absolute must for small businesses. Without the proper training on software or hardware, well-intentioned equipment purchases return only a percentage of their expected value. Small business owners should train their employees on all IT [...]
Posted on Sep 18th, 2009
Mistake #6: Going cheap, regardless of the consequences Everyone knows that IT–from new software to hardware implementation–is expensive. But not too many small business owners know why. IT elements often cost more because they require a migration from another system or the completion of complex tasks to work optimally. Unfortunately, this is why small businesses, [...]
Posted on Sep 17th, 2009
Mistake #5: Buying new software while skipping hardware upgrades This problem stems from the over-marketing of new upgrades from software manufactures. Each company wants you to upgrade to the latest version of software — some even make it impossible for you to function without these upgrades. But many of the newer software platforms require you [...]