6 Core Tech Strategies for Your Firm
The iPad Welcomed at the Office
Disaster Recovery for Small Business
Assessing Server Performance
Cost Estimating Software: Millions of Dollars in Cost Savings
Should Businesses Cut Landline Phone Connections?
Why Small Businesses Should Own Their Own Social Network Sites
Office 2010: Productivity, Productivity, Productivity

According to a survey from the Association for Accounting Administration, firms have six key areas that they should focus on to improve their businesses. Security ranks at the top of this list, with encryption becoming more common as legislation pushes for tighter security controls. Of the firms surveyed by the association, 40 percent lacked appropriate firewalls and Web security. Next, the survey listed promoting improved client service as a key area for reevaluation; solutions cited by respondents included LeapFile, FileGenius, and Thomas Reuters products. The third area cited in the survey was network infrastructure, which encouraged a movement toward server virtualization, a 64-bit platform, and Windows 7; less than half of the firms surveyed said they transitioned from their previous OS to the latest version of Windows. Firm-wide management was then cited as a chief area of concern for firms, followed by mobility for promoting remote access to business operations. Lastly, compliance was listed by the association as a top area for assessment, especially because less than one-third of firms stated that they were on-board with state and federal regulations.
(http://www.cpatechnologyadvisor.com/print/The-CPA-Technology -Advisor/6-Core-Tech-Strategies-for-Your-Firm/1$2791)

The iPad has experienced success similar to other multi-function chic gadgets from Apple, but its popularity has also been prominent among the small business customer. According to a Citrix survey, 80 percent of business customers plan to use the iPad for their businesses. Business users said that email would be the most frequently used feature of the iPad while others stated the device would be used for presentations and meetings. Citrix Vice President of Community and Solutions Development Chris Fleck said that the "Bring Your Own Computer" to work trend would catch on quickly through products like the iPad. Fleck added that the iPad's multi-function ability to provide access to applications, company data, and virtual desktops with little management will increase the ability of IT's control. IT will also benefit from the iPad's added security, particularly since it lacks a RJ-45 jack that can be plugged into the wall.
(http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/news/article.php/38852 56/The-iPad-Welcomed-at-the-Office.htm)

Research indicates that small businesses are at a significantly greater risk of going out of business due to data loss. Yet SMBs still lack a number of necessary protocols for mitigating this risk. Small businesses are reluctant to implement new solutions due to cost restraints, but a number of affordable solutions exist. Cloud computing technology has enabled a number of businesses to take advantage of disaster recovery products, like those offered from i365 and EVault. Through these vendors, small businesses can back up their data and run multiple servers on a single computer through virtualization. This technology is cheaper than other methods of data storage and provide companies with access to their data from virtually anywhere. i365 provides customers with access to data within 24 hours in the event of a disaster while EVault houses onsite appliances for data backup, which is faster than using the cloud. For companies that cannot afford either of these solutions, Colocation provides data backup in data centers via duplicate servers. Most data recovery services start at about $250 per month.
(http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/webmaster/article.php/ 3884076/Disaster-Recovery-For-Small-Business.htm)

To ensure that SMBs are receiving the most out of their servers, analysts say that companies should determine their current server utilization. Assessing a businesses' current workload will be helpful for determining the efficacy of existing servers. Often companies hastily replace older systems and expect performance will be faster; yet upgrading current servers might be a more cost-effective solution. Analysts say that virtualizing machines and segmenting applications can significantly improve performance. Conducting an assessment of end-user action with applications will also be useful for determining any server issues. SMBs should observe their workload patterns and work with IT to consequently prioritize workload. Ensuring that data centers' cooling environment is sound is another key for adequately managing servers. SMBs should always evaluate their current performance environment before investing in new hardware, remembering that improved speed does not always mean the best return on investment for a cost-conscious company.
(http://www.processor.com/editorial/article.asp?article=artic les/P3211/25p11/25p11.asp&guid=CE7180D341444CD7A0ADA292A4A64293)

MTI Systems President Thomas Charkiewicz says that cost-estimating solutions provide companies with significant cost savings while increasing their profit margins. Charkiewicz notes that the several database libraries for cost estimation including the Plant Database, the Work Center Database, the IQBuilder Database, and the Standards Database. The databases differ according to their capabilities for logging departmental information, deploying different statistical methods for computing manufacturing time and costs, and conducting cost analysis. In every financial environment, product management is also critical for determining whether programs are working effectively. Charkiewicz says that solutions like the Costimator OEM provide companies with critical information about "the cost drivers in the products they design, manufacture, and produce."
(http://www.accountingsoftware411.com/Press/PressDocView.aspx ?docid=11817)

Mobile phones have supplanted landlines for an overwhelming majority of the consumer market, yet businesses cannot abandon landlines just as easily. While wireless communication has become virtually ubiquitous, transitioning to mobile phones will mean a lost of certain services for some businesses. For example, a shorter battery life, fewer handsets, and less functionality are challenges that SMBs switching to cell phones might encounter. Yet market researchers say abandoning landlines should be done on a case-by-case basis, since cell phones could mean increased productivity and less IT hassles for some SMBs. Additionally, cell phones cost less to maintain than landlines and employees would need to check less voicemail boxes by relying solely on wireless communications. Products like dual mode cell phones also support employees' ability to work both inside the office and remotely, while PBX manufacturers have been debuting products that integrate cell phones with other voice systems.
(http://smb.informationweek.com/mobile/showArticle.jhtml?arti cleID=224800100)

Ivan Widjaya says that small businesses should create their own social networking sites for leveraging their brand. Since social media has become a significant part of business and personal endeavors, establishing a strong presence through this platform could tremendously increase a company's customer base. Widjaya cites American Express's OPEN Forum as a prime example of leveraging social networking power since the company strategically created a social network: American Express identified their target market and tapped into resources that could contribute information to their site. By having business experts participate on OpenForum.com, the company knew that more leads for American Express would be generated, further strengthening their brand. There are social networking media consultants that can assist SMBs seeking a new site, yet remember to consider the following: select a vendor with a solid reputation, ensure that a vendor will craft a site specific to your company's needs, and ask for a free social media analysis.
(http://www.noobpreneur.com/2010/05/13/why-small-businesses-s hould-own-their-own-social-network-sites/)

Office 2010 is significantly different than its predecessors with respect to productivity. According to Simon Mackie, Microsoft's latest office suite features easier collaboration tools and the debut of Office Web Apps. The Web Apps feature, which rivals Google Docs, provides users access to Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and OneNote in an interface similar to the desktop applications. Web Apps is also geared toward multi-user collaboration, a plus for any business. Office 2010 is productivity-driven, with tools like the Social Connector to synchronize social networking with Outlook. For smaller businesses on a tight budget, upgrading to Office 2010 might not seem like a priority; however, promises for greater productivity could be a factor driving SMBs to invest in a solution that will surely streamline their businesses.
(http://gigaom.com/2010/05/12/office-2010-productivity-produc tivity-productivity/)