Ten Security Recommendations for SMBs
Small and mid-sized businesses can be the hardest hit by new
malicious code, spam, and phishing. Disruptions and down time
can be avoided, however, by following the measures outlined in
this article.
Introduction
The security landscape
is constantly changing, so the threats your business
faces today are different from the threats of a year
ago – or even six months ago. The latest Symantec
Internet Security Threat Report gives an overview of
threat activity for the first six months of 2007.
Here are a few important trends noted in the Report:
> In the first half of
2007,
212,101 new malicious
code threats were reported
to Symantec. This is a 185
percent increase over the
second half of 2006.
> Between January 1 and
June 30, 2007, spam made
up 61 percent of all email
traffic monitored at the
gateway.
> The Symantec Probe
Network detected a total of
196,860 unique phishing
messages, an 18 percent
increase over the last six
months of 2006. This
equates to an average of
1,088 unique phishing
messages per day for the
first half of 2007.
> Threats to
confidential
information made up 65
percent of the top 50
potential malicious code
infections reported to
Symantec.
What you can do
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Write-off up to 100% of the
Equipment You Purchase in 2008*
New Rules
Benefit Your Business
On February 7th, 2008, Congress passed a $152 billion
economic stimulus package containing beneficial new
Section 179 rules that are available to business owners
immediately. Are you taking advantage?
Double
Your Deduction and More
Claiming a Section 179 deduction, a company may now
deduct, from its taxable income, up to $250,000 in
equipment purchased or leased during 2008. This is double the
previous amount allowed! In addition, the
depreciation provision has become more valuable,
allowing your company to depreciate an additional 50% of
the cost of an asset bought in 2008.
*This material
is provided as a complimentary service of ITSolutions.
It is prepared based on information and sources that we
believe to be reliable. Its content is for information
purposes only, is subject to change, and is not a
substitute for commercial judgment or professional
advice, which should be sought prior to acting in
reliance on it. For the most current information, see
www.irs.gov . |
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Some Quick
Security Goodies:
Five Ways to
Protect against Identity Theft
1. The next time you order checks,
have only your initials (instead of first name) and last name put on them. If
someone takes your checkbook, they will not know if you sign your checks with
just your initials or your first name. Your bank will know.
2. Do not sign the back of your credit
cards. Instead put "PHOTO ID REQUIRED".
3. When you are writing checks to pay
on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the
"For" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers.
For more ways
read on |
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10 Things Never to Say on a Business
Call
by Joanna L. Krotz
reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center
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It's
the 21st century. Do you know how your employees answer the phone?
Good phone manners have always been important, of course. Yet too few companies
make any effort to train employees in phone etiquette, says Nancy Friedman,
president and founder of the Telephone Doctor, a St. Louis-based customer
service training company. The result is often lost business, irate customers and
squandered opportunities, she says.
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Two decades ago, Friedman and her husband Dick founded their company after
Friedman suffered some particularly bad (and clearly inspirational) service from
an insurance company. Friedman says she's still amazed at the number of
corporations, small businesses and even call centers that ignore basic phone
courtesies.
The No. 1 complaint from business professionals and consumers alike, according
to Telephone Doctor surveys, is being put on hold. "Always ask, 'Are you able to
hold?'" Friedman advises. "Putting people on hold without asking permission is a
no-no."
Read more |
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6 Tips for a 'Paperless' Office
by Joseph Anthony
reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center
Many
people who use computers — whether it's for their home or business — are moving
toward a "paperless" office. Simply, they are tired and overwhelmed by scraps of
paper, clunky old file folders, envelopes — and they want to reduce the clutter.
Don't believe me? Take a look at how many messages are stored in your e-mail's
in-basket. Now imagine how much paper would have been generated if they hadn't
come to you from cyberspace.
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Many folks have made at least a partial move to a paperless office. They're
doing so this way: by using scanners instead of copying machines, sending
electronic faxes instead of paper faxes, storing information electronically
instead of in filing cabinets, giving friends, clients or vendors information on
CDs or through Internet attachments instead of in bound folders. In short,
they're getting greater return on their hardware, software and technology
investments.
Want to join the anti-paper campaign? Save a few trees along the way?
Here are
six things to keep in mind as you move toward a paperless home or business
office. |
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Opportunities are usually disguised
as hard work, so most people
don't recognize them.
---Ann
Landers
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Write-off for Equipment