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How Free Antivirus Software Can End Up Costing You used with permission from Symantec Free antivirus software may seem like a bargain, but it’s not. Learn what issues you need to consider before you download this particular “freeware.” In this tough economy, getting something for free is always a good thing, right? Short answer: It depends on your tolerance for risk. Take free antivirus software as an example. It may seem like a bargain, but it’s not. Here are the issues to consider before you download this particular “freeware.” First and foremost, free antivirus software doesn’t provide the comprehensive protection

The Weakest Link in Network Security By Peter Alexander Reprinted with permission from Microsoft Small Business Center Your small-business network may be protected by firewalls, intrusion detection and other state-of-the-art security technologies. And yet, all it takes is one person’s carelessness, and suddenly it’s as if you have no network security at all. Let me give you an example. In March 2006, a major financial services firm with extensive network security disclosed that one of its portable computers was stolen. The laptop contained the Social Security numbers of nearly 200,000 people. How did it happen? An employee of the firm,

Preserve and Protect Your Data Summary As the amount of data being created continues to increase, and that info is accessed and shared by more people, SMBs can’t afford to ignore the need for data protection. Small and medium businesses are powered by information. Should your business lose that information or even suffer an interruption in access, it can have serious consequences. When it comes to protecting their electronic data, some SMBs feel they are at a disadvantage because they lack the large budgets and dedicated IT staff that many large enterprises enjoy. While this may be true, that doesn’t

Watch What You Install On Your Server by Christopher Elliott reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center Download warning: Watch what you install on your server. Today’s server operating systems, including Microsoft Small Business Server 2003, are so user-friendly that you could be left with the impression that anyone with the ability to put a CD into a computer disk drive could successfully deploy a new application. That is the wrong impression. When it comes to adding any new software — and particularly third-party applications — you need to be extra vigilant about what you’re putting on your

Is Your Infrastructure Leaking Money? reprinted with permission from HP Whoever said “don’t sweat the small stuff” never managed an IT infrastructure—and certainly never during turbulent economic times. According to independent analyst Forrester Research, global IT purchases in 2008 will grow by only 6 percent, versus 12 percent growth in 2007. So, although you’re already doing more with less, it’s time to do even more with even less. Investing in management solutions to control infrastructure costs is one way to meet that challenge. Effective infrastructure management tools can lead to significant savings over time and help position your business to