The Savvy CIO

This is part 3 of a series on IT Self-Assessment for small businesses. We’re providing information and guidelines for a simple IT check, giving you the ability to gain free insights into how your technology can serve your  business better. Each post covers a critical area of technology.

Security: Content Filtering

Function & Value

A content filter is a piece of hardware or software that acts as a screen between the Internet and your users. The filter uses pre-set and customizable categories to prevent access to types of web sites. The least aggressive filters block only malicious sites, while the most aggressive allow only approved, work-related web sites.

If your organization provides Internet access to minors, you need to know the legal requirements of Internet content filtering.

We advise every organization to use content filtering to block malicious websites. How content filtering is used beyond that depends upon weighing the pros and cons of filtering.

What kind of content filtering is right for your business? read more »

This is part 2 of a series on IT Self-Assessment for small businesses. We’re providing information and guidelines for a simple IT check, giving you the ability to gain free insights into how your technology can serve your  business better. Each post will cover a critical area of technology.

Security: Firewall

Function & Value

A firewall is the gateway into your network, controlling all inbound and outbound access to and from the servers and PCs you control. A firewall provides the ability to securely access PCs and servers remotely, which is good for telecommuting employees as well as rapid response from your IT firm. Firewalls also often include anti-malware protection, anti-spam abilities (if you host your own email), Internet content filtering and broadcasting for wireless Internet access.

A firewall is the most important piece of your business’ security technology. Underpowered firewalls or wrong configurations can leave your network and data exposed. Here are the common problems we see with firewall use, as well as best practices.

read more »

This is part 1 of a series on IT Self-Assessment for small businesses. We’re providing information and guidelines for a simple IT check, giving you the ability to gain free insights into how your technology can serve your  business better. Each post will cover a critical area of technology.

Security: Malware and Anti-Virus Protection Overview

Function & Value

Malware and Anti-Virus Protection is software that monitors individual PCs for viruses and other malicious programs that may attempt to invade or infect your network. This type of software regularly updates itself with the most recent information about viruses and malware. If it detects an intrusion, it responds by destroying or quarantining the virus, stopping it from infecting the PC or spreading to other computers.

Malware and Anti-Virus Protection functions like a security firm for your house. Its value is in preventing costly damage and disruption.

Let’s take a look at common problems and best practices in protecting your company from malware and viruses.

read more »

Technology infrastructure can be complex, but the business needs behind your technology are not.

Do you want to know if your technology is doing everything it should?

Perform a basic IT evaluation focused on business needs.

Don’t want to pay for a company (like ours) to do an evaluation?

No sweat, we’ll tell you all (well, a lot) of our secrets so you can do it yourself.
read more »

Technology changes fast. Your business can’t sustain jumping on the “new and improved” bandwagon every time. But changing too much isn’t the problem most businesses face.

For most it is changing too little, fighting down the growing certainty that a technology or business process that is paid for and familiar has become a problem. If this is you, here’s the bad news:

You have a legacy monster on your hands.

A legacy monster is usually some piece of hardware or software that was, years ago, a great source of efficiency and maybe even pride. Now faster, better, and cheaper solutions abound. But somehow the legacy monster is hanging on. Legacy monsters survive on lies like:

“It doesn’t cost us anything anymore.”
“Everyone is comfortable with this system.”
“We can’t take time for change right now.”

Don’t believe it.

Legacy monsters cost more to maintain than they did to purchase, better systems lead to better work, and today’s slow market means we all have a little extra time to improve business processes.

The truth is that the legacy monster’s initial cost is irrelevant. Hampering your business for months or years won’t “get the most” out of your investment.

Do you have legacy monster systems in need of slaying? Did you recent lay one to rest?