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Why you need a company policy on Internet use
When
you're running a small business, there's not a lot of time for
personnel management. After all, you have clients to meet and projects
to complete. So you let employees work independently, unless or until
it's evident there are problems. Then you step in.
Put the policy in writing
Every company that uses computers — from the
smallest to the largest — should have a written policy on computer and Internet use.
I make all employees sign our computing policy on their first day
of work. And you should, too. This way, they know that you mean
business and that the computers and Internet access lines are intended
to further the company's goals. But this isn't to say you won't have
problems, even after they sign a computing policy.
Get the evidence, secretly
If you suspect that someone is abusing your computer system,
what do you do? First, talk to them and send e-mail reminders. Tell
employees that they are there to work, not to shop or to tend to their
personal business. But that is not always enough. And there's another
problem.
Let employees know they're being monitored. If you're
seriously concerned about employee surfing, these logging programs can
display a warning at boot up that they are present. That way, the
employees are on notice and are probably less likely to stray. But they
may resent the spying. You might be better off trying to pinpoint
individual miscreants, rather than aggravating your entire staff.
What the courts say
Courts have given employers wide discretion in watching what
happens on their computers. Rulings have even upheld the reading of
e-mail by employers, as long as it is sent on company-owned machines.
Be sure that you have a written computer policy in place. If you have
any doubts, check with a lawyer.
Reprinted from Microsoft. Click here for full article. Please consult your attorney for specific details which apply to you. Check your batteries BEFORE you need them
Uninterrupted
Power Supplies or UPSs are designed to protect your equipment against
power anomalies from spikes to sags to even power outages. By way
of a battery, the UPS will continue to provide adequate power to the
equipment. This power, however, is limited by the battery
capacity and health.
Sizing:
When sizing a UPS, be sure to add extra time just to be sure. In
other words, if you need 15 minutes of run-time to assure an orderly
shut-down, look for a UPS that will provide adequate power for at least
20-25 minutes at load. UPSs are designed to provide temporary
power. If your business requires continuous power, then please
consider a generator system.
Batteries:
Run-time calculations have no value if the battery has been
depleted and is no longer capable of holding a charge. As a
matter of fact, a UPS with a failing battery may even be worse than not
having one at all. Batteries weaken over time.
Depending on use and the environment, UPS batteries are expected to
last apx. 36 months. UPS batteries ought to be replaced after 3
years regardless of use. Load, run-time and charge level
inspections should be included as part of the quarterly
maintenance routines.
UNICOM features APC UPSs. WHAM! 1...2...3...4...5...6...
How
quickly can your business get back on its feet should something
unexpected happen? The technology landscape
is changing. It has always been about power, capacity,
speed and capability. Now businesses are giving lots of
attention to resiliency. There are so many things
to consider when talking about resiliency. This article is
intended to skim the highlights for consideration.
Data: Your
most valuable asset yet taken for granted by most. Be sure your
data is backed up and can be restored fully, properly and within the
demanded time frame. When was your last test data restore?
Your data is YOUR data. What if it were to get out to
your competitors? Would you offer your client list to the
internet? Of course not. We've seen more security
around an office supply cabinet than corporate data. Sad thing is
you know when pencils are missing. Secure your data,
encrypt your data, lock up your data and save your business.
The Gate to the castle:
Cyber Crime is increasing exponentially year and year. Do you
think you're not a target? Think again,. Everyone is a
potential target and YOUR information (data) is valuable.
Not only is your data at risk, your ability to service your
clients can be affected by a simple attack. How current is
your firewall? Have you reviewed the access list lately?
Servers:
Servers will crash and they usually don't warn you. Is your
manufacturer warranty current? Your server most likely stores data
which should have been backed up. Is there a plan to restore the
functionality of a server? Is the plan adequate? Does it meet
your business needs today?
Utilities: We all
know how important electricity is to our lives, in general, and
technology. Have you considered the impact to
your business if water, gas, waste removal, heating, air
conditioning or sewer services were not available?
Documentation:
In most cases, your CDs, license certificates, software, warranty
information, etc. are irreplaceable physical possessions. These
are the building blocks of your system. Is your
documentation in order and can be easily sorted out when
needed? Are you hanging onto old documentation which could
lead to confusion?
All it takes are simple discussions with your department managers
to lay down a recovery plan. The simpler the better and it will
give your business the edge it needs to stay ahead of the
competition.
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