Business Finance Tips

The anti-spam tools correspond to different classes of products depending on whether they are installed on the server or on the PC. The anti-spam server software is considered more efficient and superior in terms of quality, yet it can only be achieved with a serious investment, more costly monthly fees to pay. Anti-spam server software is generally used by large companies or corporations that want to prevent unwanted mail messages from reaching their employees. There is 99% protection and detection of spam with the most technically advanced programs. Another issue of main concern for business is that it should not prevent the passage of legitimate mail messages.

When the anti-spam server software scans messages it actually organizes the emails into legitimate and spam folders by using special techniques and filters. Once the identification is over, the end user receives the legitimate mail while the rest of the messages are discarded.

Just imagine what it would be like for someone who works on the computer, to clean hundreds of mails and select legitimate message from the multitude. This would slow down the business development by wasting at least one or two work hours per day. With an anti-spam server software, you are safe from such inconveniences.

The anti-spam server software meets corporate needs because of the possibility to be used throughout a network. The network administrator is usually in charge of the accuracy of the program, constantly checking for ways of improving the operation level. During a first stage of implementation, users may be required to check the mails on the server and flag the potential spam messages. It is also important to signal out any false positives, meaning, legitimate mail messages that are detected as spam by the tool.

Notifying the network administrator about this inconvenience will allow for a finer tuning of the program and a better performance of the anti-spam server software.

Program combinations for superior computer defenses are also possible. Anti-Trojan and anti-virus protection can be incorporated in the anti-spam server software so that the spam emails with a high risk of infection may be isolated. This out-of-the box function has great applications for personal users too, not just for companies alone. The setting that allows one to check the emails on the server and detect the potential spam without getting it into contact with the PC operating platform is crucial for minimizing virus infection risks. The features of most anti-spam server software tools include various management functions that enable Internet reports, server-based auto replies and mail monitoring.

Several years ago, much to the chagrin of clients and customers, the term ‘cloud computing’ was being bandied about by IT professionals alongside other obscure and baffling phrases, such as ‘virtualisation’, ‘advanced load-balancing algorithms’ and ‘multi-tenancy’. Despite there being few mentions of web 3.0, technology has evolved rapidly in the last few years and cloud technologies now appear to have established themselves within business – but what exactly is cloud computing?

Cloud technologies can be described as a collection of services, practices or trends that exploit the usability of the internet. Where ‘cloud’ is defined as the internet, ‘computing’ is simply the use of computers – usually a network of remote ‘virtual’ servers – to store and process data. Cloud services can therefore include all manner of technologies, with users being able to access the cloud via any network device (smartphone, pc, laptop and so on).

Essentially, cloud services provide access to data and allow users to connect remotely to files, folders and other information that can often be required on a day-to-day basis. The need for a central server or a single offline data storage is no longer required, reducing costs and resources that are often incurred when starting a business.

Having explained what cloud computing is, it is obviously necessary to explain why customers should avail of cloud services. The principal benefit of cloud services are that they can save both time and money. Rather than install rack-upon-rack of servers, computer systems and complex software applications and networks, customers can utilise remote hardware to store and process data. Cloud computing also enables companies to scale up an IT infrastructure without having to make any physical change locally; furthermore, utility computing offers a pay-as-you-go service for cloud computing, thereby saving money for many business users.

Cloud services are limitless in terms of exploiting the functionality of the internet, but it is unquestionably the case that some services are more effective than others. Multi-tenancy, for example, is beneficial to individual users and small to medium enterprises as it tends to provide the most affordable solutions. Multi-tenancy environments work by enabling customers to access their private data using a single application that is shared by all customers.

Finally, another popular and useful cloud service is that of virtualisation (or ‘emulation’) systems. Virtualisation in this context refers to software applications that emulate computer hardware; cloud technologies often employ the use of virtualisation programs in order to run multiple virtual servers on a single physical server, thereby reducing costs while increasing service capacity to customers.

Anyone who works in an organisation consisting of more than one person will be aware of the challenges of file sharing. A variety of solutions are available from repeatedly e-mailing documents (budget) to complex document management systems that manage versions and workflow (not-so-budget).

‘Cloud’ based file sharing

Most smallish organisations need something in between these extremes and don’t want to pay the earth. Enter Dropbox and Zumodrive.

Actually, there is a middle ground that is already widely used: a file server. For the non-technical readers, a file server is a computer that is always on and sits in the corner of your office ‘serving’ files to any other computers that request them. However, here are some drawbacks to using a file server:

You might not have one set up and if you don’t you will have to buy one and go through the (potentially eye-wateringly painful) process of setting it up. If you are not in the office you can’t access your files easily. If your file server crashes you are in trouble unless you have a good back-up system in place.

Dropbox and Zumodrive are cloud based file sharing solutions that solve many of these problems and are therefore a valuable tool for small organisations.

The general idea Once you have installed the software on one or more computer (or mobile phone, etc) the software creates an extra drive or folder on your computer. Any files that you place in this drive are automatically uploaded to an online storage area and are made available to all of the other devices you own. Your files are simultaneously stored locally on each device and safely backed-up in an online storage area. When you make a change or add a document this is automatically backed-up and reflected across all devices.

The really powerful part is that you can then share selected files or folders with other users. When you make a change, the new file is also available to everyone you have shared it with wherever they are in the world!

Dropbox vs. Zumodrive

There are a number of companies offering similar services, but Dropbox and Zumodrive are two of the biggest players. They are both good options, but we do have a preference.

Dropbox

For many users it will be the more expensive option and it lacks some of Zumodrive’s nice media features, but for everyday business file sharing it does the job very well.

In summary, Dropbox:

Is faster than Zumodrive Is more stable Has better version control

Dropbox currently gives 2GB accounts for free and a paid 50GB account for $9.99 per month. However, an important consideration is that files shared with you by others count to your allowance so if as an organisation you exceed the 2GB limit all users will have to upgrade to the 50GB account.

Zumodrive

Zumodrive have pioneered some really great features including smart integration with iTunes for those storing and sharing music. Zumodrive also has a slightly more intuitive integration with Windows as it creates a new network drive in which you can store your files.

In summary, Zumodrive:

Has some nice features and is cheap, but Is noticeably more sluggish when saving files Is hungry on system resources and can slow things down Was (for our office) quite unreliable and crashed intermittently

Like Dropbox, Zumodrive gives 2GB storage for free, but upgrading to 8GB costs only $2.99 per month. The 50GB account matches Dropbox at $9.99. However, a key difference is that currently shared files do not count towards a user’s storage limit; if 10 users each shared their 2GB account with each other they would each have a total of 20GB’s of space without paying a penny.

Shortcomings

There are certainly shortcomings to these solutions and as your organisation grows these will become apparent. To name a few: speed, bandwidth reliance, version control and file locking. However, if these solutions are new to you, we suggest you check them out. They may revolutionise your file sharing world.

All websites on the internet today are at risk of being attacked by intruders. With a growing number of people doing illicit acts on the web, no site is free from attacks. Not even the major organizations and government institutions. The unexpected website intrusion in some of the world’s prestigious and highly respected institutions happened before and it can always occur again.

But webmasters and website owners can always take the necessary steps to keep their servers and websites secure moving forward. It’s never a good attitude to be complacent when it comes to running your website or business online. The best practice is to prevent the unpleasant things from happening by being prepared for the worst at all times.

So how then can you keep your server and website secure from threats? There are a number of ways you can do this but remember to check them regularly and not just ignore them after setting them up.

The firewall. This is a very important component that lets you protect your website from hackers. If you have people maintaining your servers, they should know what this part is. Whether this is located within the organization’s network or in another area, this needs to be installed and in the most proper way to serve its purpose well.

Server access. If possible, select only a few people who can have access to your server. An example would be a staff who needs to load up vital images for your company’s marketing campaign. Additionally, impose certain limitations on their access such that not everybody has equal level of access to the server.

The password. Make sure you come up with very unique password that not any hacker can guess. Never use just names, words and other personal details. It would be a good idea as well to change passwords every now and then to prevent possible intrusion.

The back-up. Similar to what you do with your files and folders in your computer, having a backup of your website is a must these days. This should be in a separate and secure computer so that in the event your original website vanishes from the internet, you can put up a new one right away.

Software updates. Software applications are often updated so be sure to check on the latest versions regularly. Whether it’s your operating system or other applications are concerned, being updated works best for you and your servers.

The hardware. To ensure that you’re ready with your website, one of the most important steps to take is to secure the right equipment and consult with those who have the right knowledge. So if you’re launching an online retail store, for instance, it would be worth your time and money to find out the best security measures that will allow your customers to safely purchase items they want without risk of having their credit card details stolen. Proper consultation is called for when you want to start any business on the internet today. Having a mentor plus the right equipment will ensure your success moving forward.

The advantage with a WordPress website is that it is an open source code site allowing one a simple way to create and publish as well as manage content on a website online. Though primarily a blogging site, it is also used to create and maintain websites online. There are several advantages to choosing WordPress – it is free, quite simple to use and is supported by a massive pool of talent.

WordPress templates are completely apart from the backend system. The way your site will look will be determined by a number of files that are titled template or theme. You can easily edit the way the site looks by editing the files that are placed in your template folders. This again means you will not be touching the backend system and therefore not messing up anything back there. If you want to, you can create your own WordPress templates, but this is not a must at all.

There are several places that you can go to online in order to find a WordPress template that you really like. There are official WordPress site and then the unofficial ones, but you will not fail in finding a good template for yourself.

WordPress can be set up with any number of host provider as well as PCs that have Unix or Linus. You will find the requirements for different servers easily online. Before you put in place WordPress, you will have to install a mini server of sorts onto your computer. All you have to do is go to the wordpress Installation file and download it.

Then look for a WordPress host that will auto-install things for you. There are a huge number of them easily available online. Once done you will get the dashboard popping up on your screen. This is pretty comprehensive in nature and will tell you how many posts you have, comments you have, the number of hits you have got and any other feature you might want installed on it.

Your next step would be post or to create a page. There are icons that you lead you through the process. Fill in the content you want and simply upload it. The good part about WordPress is that almost everything is self explanatory and you won’t have much trouble trying to figure things out. Rectifying mistakes too will happen easily.

That is the beauty of working with a site creator like WordPress – the ease with which you can do things.