Network_Group_1

Small and Medium Businesses
Structure of Networks: Andy Services: Karen Security v. Access:

 Sam's Work:


 * Security Vs. Accessibility in Small and Medium Business (SMB) Networks**

The need for a balance of both security and accessibility in SMB networks is paramount. This is because both are needed for a business to be successful. Without adequate accessibility to online resources, an employee cannot be productive because they cannot compile information, or even communicate with other workers, such as through e-mail. While this is important, keeping the integrity of sensitive, company critical material secure is even more so. Aspects of security for SMB networks can include virus/worm protection, Trojan aversion, the blocking of inappropriate websites and the download of their, spam and phishing, as well as direct attacks by hackers. In general, the easiest security fix for defeating viruses and worms is the use of firewalls. This is because, especially with system built firewalls, there is no hindrance to the productivity of the network's users and or clients. This is a passive method that is recommended by the administration of the IT website, allbusiness.com, as is evident on the webpage http://www.allbusiness.com/technology/computer-networking-network-security/3308-1.html. It says here that it is very important to use the built in firewalls to protect your system. This also will keep productivity at a maximum. For the protection of your system against Trojans, the best defense is an incoming email scanner, such as the system detailed in the report at www.infosecwriters.com/text_resources/pdf/SmallBusinessNetworkSecurity101.pdf. This way, there is security from outside threats as well as from already infected systems in the network. There are different ways that SMBs can go about this. They can use solutions ranging from a light passive screening of the general influx and transfer of information, to the search and detailed scan of each individual document, however the latter can vastly reduce productivity, thus rendering the increase in security pointless. All of the sources found had agreed that the use of a Pass phrase instead of a password is important in the defeat of direct attacks by hackers. Most also said that they should be about ten letters, numbers and symbols in length for easy recall. This is detailed in the Cisco press article Network Security Basics. In the article, it says determined hackers and intruders create programs specifically that go through an entire dictionary to randomly acquire the password, thus making dictionary words and simple variations there of very insecure as passwords.

Bibliography: http://www.allbusiness.com/technology/computer-networking-network-security/3308-1.html Report focusing on solutions for securing small businesses from online threats
 * Protecting Your Network from Hackers, Viruses and Malicious Software

http://www.ciscopress.com/articles/article.asp?p=170742 Report detailing an effective way to secure a medium size business from internal and external threats to their network.
 * Network Security Basics

http://whitepapers.theregister.co.uk/paper/view/558/effectively-securing-small-businesses.pdf Report detailing an effective way to secure a small business from online threats and data theft
 * Effectively Securing Small Businesses from Online Threats


 * IT Security Editors, " * Small Business Primer on Network Security Threats - IT Security ". IT Security . .

good overview of topic
 * Information Security Writers, "Small Business Network Security 101". Information Security Writers. .

New Technologies: Jackie

My area of concern is to find new information technologies that could potentially be useful for small and/or medium businesses. Small/Mediums businesses tend to be running by the skin of their teeth, so they would favor efficient IT, or IT that would help their workers themselves be more efficient. Small and Medium businesses both have an easier time adapting to new technology because they are smaller in size, so it would cost less, would need less time, and would have less of a hassle on their hands in general. Newer computers are very important to small/medium businesses, small ones especially. Because they are smaller, the high cost of new computers isn't such a problem, not when it comes with so many benefits. Older computers suffer from wear and tear, and as such, they crash much more often. If an employee works on a computer for 3 or 4 hours, only for the computer to suddenly crash, all that work goes down the drain, and more time is wasted trying to fix the computer. Old computer also have a harder time with repairs, simply because they are outdated. There is less likely to be much tech support for a computer that isn't in widespread use. Smaller businesses usually have a pretty hard time with supporting themselves, because they have little cash to fall back on if a product fails to sell. This is offset by the fact that they can stay at peak effectiveness because of new technology. Businesses that are very large will almost assuredly have a very hard time changing much of anything in their companies. If an exceptionally large business is founded on a very old method of network connection or something like that, it is much harder to change to more efficient technologies. A good analogy would be like a house and a mat, both of which are located on a block of sod. It would be much, much easier for the person with the mat to change out the sod with something more solid like stone or cement, while it would be much, much harder for the person with the house to do the same. Small businesses can also take advantage of technology or programs that wouldn't work, or wouldn't be available for larger businesses. One of such software is PayCycle. PayCycle is a program that lets small companies allocate weekly pay without the effort usually required for larger businesses. Large businesses have accountants to take care of paying people, but small businesses would do better without another person on the payroll. PayCycle can calculate pay for various employees, as long as there aren't too many people. The program wouldn't work for larger businesses at all. With PayCycle, small businesses don't have to spend time and resources calculating pay, and could focus on more important things like marketing a product or improving themselves. The last of these new technologies is Wireless Access. Wireless Access is not particularly new, but it's enough. Employees on the move usually can't work while they're traveling, and because of this, it's more time wasted for companies that can't spare any time. Companies with Wireless Access however, can use laptops when on the move to connect to their companies while they're on a train or plane, and their employees can access their work from back in their work areas. Employees who have Wireless Access are not longer tethered down to their cubicles for work, and so they can be fully efficient in a company that demands that everybody do their share. Small businesses need to be effective, efficient money-wise and employee-wise, and they need to be at peak efficiency in order to challenge those large businesses, and to have a genuine chance. Simply being smaller helps small/medium businesses be more cost-efficient and to take advantage of the newest technologies. PayCycle can free up lots of time for employees to be more efficient for longer. Wireless Access helps employees be more efficient, even when away from their cubicles and computers. Perhaps most importantly, New Computers help small businesses be efficient money-wise, time-wise and employee-wise.
 * New Technology for Small/Medium Businesses**

These choices are better for businesses strapped for cash. Smaller companies adapt to new technologies easier and for less money when compared to larger businesses.
 * Citation added:** "SmSmallBiz.com | Frugal Choices for On-Demand Tech." __SmSmallBiz.com | Small Business Advice and Small Business Resources for Entrepreneurs from SmartMoney__. 07 Apr. 2009 .

"New Computers May Be a Necessity." __Smart Company | Media & Telecommunications Internet & WWW from SmartCompany__. 07 Apr. 2009 . New Computers are better because tech support is more readily available, and they are more reliable. They crash less often and materials are more widespread. Less downtime, faster repairs and cheaper everything are important for small businesses.

"Wireless Access Enhances Productivity." __Smart Company | Media & Telecommunications Internet & WWW from SmartCompany__. 07 Apr. 2009 . Wireless Access allows for more productive workers. There are less disadvantages to business trips, because people can work efficiently even when on the move. Efficient micromanagement is important to small companies, and having Wireless Access helps people.

"PayCycle Turns Payroll Into Easy Work." __Smart Company | Media & Telecommunications Internet & WWW from SmartCompany__. 07 Apr. 2009 . PayCycle is a program that lets small companies allocate pay with almost no effort at all, leaving time for developing products and other more important tasks that need to be done.

Karen's Work:
 * []
 * Jigsaw created a program that allows small businesses to contact bigger companies. This database is useful and helpful for the small companies trying to make it to the top.
 * [|http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst;jsessionid=JLrMQZ2h8L90JMXcyJRBy86nj1K8G3nf1J6n01Gny12fSVHxLp8F!-735819111!-2007008190?docId=5001689130]
 * Small businesses are recieving attention from state and local development organizations that help promote new enterpirse. This helps the business to start to grow and develop. This is important because it shows how small businesses start and develop.
 * []
 * This article shows that HP provides many small and medium businesses with their IT systems.
 * []
 * This article lists the IT systems that are used in small and medium businesses. The systems help the businsses grow.

ANDYS WORK

..::AnDy'S WrK::.. http://episteme.arstechnica.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/469092836/m/392001727731 http://episteme.arstechnica.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/469092836/m/392001727731 - This guy needs help setting up a small doctors office. By looking at what other people have commented on his request i understand more about how small business networks are set up.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/default.mspx -Microsoft had a really great part site about how to set up networks for small businesses. It has many other subsections on this site, that help with, connecting to the internet, choosing what kind of network to use, etc.

http://www.inc.com/guides/it/20805.html - This talks a lot about the new buisness networks that are popping up and how buisness networks have risen from the "sneaker.net" days.