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Combating the Security Risks as Mobile Access to Corporate Information Expands
Posted by: | CommentsPopular Smartphones such as the iPhone and BlackBerry are affording access to information and applications for users as never before. Businesses recognize that enabling their employees to access and exchange information with customers and prospects, regardless of where they are, is critical to their success.
In essence, Smartphones put a mobile computer in your pocket. They store sensitive customer and company data, download email, access key corporate applications and assets, surf the web and more. They are a lot like laptop computers.
And just like laptops, Smartphones are vulnerable to security concerns. They can easily be lost or stolen. They are vulnerable to data loss.
Increasingly clever hackers launch SMS, email and web-based attacks using phishing or other tactics to penetrate users’ mobile devices. Of course, worms and Trojans are always lurking and probing for opportunities to disrupt the workday. What are mobile device users to do — fret that the person sipping a latte next to them is actually trying to steal information as they chat with clients or colleagues?
All the talking, exchanging of information and storing of critical corporate documentation on Smartphones is, not surprisingly, keeping IT teams up at night. However, implementing large-scale security upgrades and enforcing security policies for thousands of mobile employees is no easy task. Few companies have the expertise across myriad mobile platforms and technologies to execute such deployments flawlessly.
That’s where a firm like Enterprise Mobile, with expertise in the major mobile technologies, can become businesses’ best friend. The company guides organizations through the intricacies of the mobility ecosystem, including devising optimal approaches to device management (including security) and application deployment. Working with outside experts such as Enterprise Mobile can smooth security deployments and application upgrades while giving businesses confidence in their mobile security posture.
“It’s imperative that enterprises employ the device management solution that’s right for their business, implementing the most appropriate security policies for the mobile devices their workforce uses,” said Enterprise Mobile’s Chairman and CEO Mort Rosenthal.
These simple words of wisdom are echoed by businesses. A recent InformationWeek Analytics 2010 Mobile Device Management and Security Survey revealed that 73 percent of enterprises will deploy or plan to deploy software for mobile device management to address security issues. This figure is up nearly a quarter from the 52 percent who were planning security-related deployments two years ago.
How to Hire a Facebook Developer or Designer
Posted by: | CommentsFacebook applications are all the social-media rage these days. Ten minutes cannot go by without users seeing feed-updates on Farmville, snowball fights, mafia wars, pirates, vampires, sororities, and other addicting applications. Obviously, these simple games are extremely popular and likely generate significant advertising revenue for both their developers and Facebook itself.
If you want to get a piece of the digital action, here are some steps to develop your own Facebook application and profit from the application.
1. Do your own research and generate a specific plan. What exactly do you want to create, and what skill sets, programming languages, and site architectures will you need? Imagine approaching a web developer only this statement: “I want to build a Facebook application in which unicorns battle stallions for control of Saturn.” He will look at you like you’re nuts. But more significantly, it will take the developer hours — if not days or weeks — to determine which languages, platforms, and architectures will be necessary to create the program. And remember — you’re most likely paying him by the hour. So why not figure out what you need beforehand? If you’re not a programming genius yourself, try brainstorming with a friend who knows the field. Map the entire work-flow process before you start paying someone else so neither time nor money is wasted.
2. Decide on a budget, and interview candidates. Once you know what you need, you will have to how much it will cost. Once you have a list of the needed skills, technical needs, programming languages, site architectures, and related items, you can search the Internet — sites like Guru, oDesk and Elance are good for research and recruiting — to get an idea of the hourly price-range for each of the required skills. Contact a few potential developers (assuming that you do not have in-house staff) both in the West and in popular outsourcing countries like India to get estimates on how the project will take. But keep in mind: high-tech projects always run over budget and take longer than expected. Murphy seems to have a special affection for computers. In addition, balance your need to save money with the need to communicate effectively. Foreign outsourcers on sites like oDesk and Elance can save you money, but it might be hard to work together. A friend-of-a-friend who’s an out-of-work programmer might charge a little more, but he can come to your living room.
3. Check out Facebook itself. Obviously, the social-media giant has an interested in hosting new, addicting programs. So, why not work with them? Facebook has a developer-marketplace application — together with forums and other sections — that is a terrific help.
This is just a brief introduction to hiring Facebook developers, but the major point remains clear: Know exactly what you want and what it will take — in as detailed terms as possible — even before you begin talking to prospective hires. This will save you a lot of time, money, and heartache.
Professional Development Resources for Women in High Tech Firms
Posted by: | CommentsWe all face the challenge of succeeding in our businesses and careers in today’s tough marketplace, but women often have the additional burden of raising children and maintaining the homestead to boot. Luckily, there are some fantastic resources online to help women wear their many hats with grace.
Staying current on business news is important no matter what your industry. This is where bnet comes in. Bnet is part of CBS Interactive, which includes other sites you might know and love like CNET, Find Articles, MoneyWatch, Tech Republic, TV.com and ZDnet, just to name a few. Registration is free and gives you access to industry articles, advice and information that can help women stay competitive. This search string brings up several articles that businesswomen will find helpful.
Success in business often depends on the connections we make with other professionals. This is where Women For Hire can make a decisive difference in your career. The site links you to hundreds of professional organizations, both national and local, helping professionals and jobseekers make vital connections. The site also connects you with educational workshops, networking events, mentoring programs, job opportunities, career support and more.
The Office of Women’s Business Ownership
The Small Business Administration (SBA) sponsors the Office of Women’s Business Ownership, working with several organizations making it easier for women to find the resources they need to succeed as entrepreneurs. Working closely with women and offering valuable resources, the Office gives women an edge in starting their own business. The site covers topics like getting small business loans and federal grants, how to get started in a business and find investors to support your business.
Fly Conferencing
Women professionals – and all professionals for that matter – need to have communication tools that let them conference with business partners, potential employers and clients. What makes Fly Conferencing different from other conferencing providers is the outstanding service, coupled with a rock-bottom cost. This company employs US-based customer service professionals who go out of their way to contact you and walk you through every step of the conferencing dashboard set up, making sure you are up and running in no time. Best of all, you only pay for the time you are actually conferencing, with no monthly subscription fees.
Staying on Track
As working women, we thrive when we can share our concerns and advice with like-minded friends. This is where Mommy Track’d excels. The site is funny, irreverent, edgy and just plain fun. It offers a break from the day with advice and humor focused at working mothers, while also providing useful free organization tools. One of the site’s best features is “Mommy Moments,” a section devoted to sharing personal stories that illustrate the challenge of working and mothering at the same time. Reading through these snippets, most mothers will find humor and commiseration in the trials of others.
Another site to check out is the National Association of Professional Women. They have great content on their NAPW Twitter page; their NAPW Vator page and more. Check it out now.
Subscribe to each of these sites and go back often. You’ll find new information, advice, tools and tips that will keep your career or business on track while still maintaining your sanity!
Part Time CFOs for High Tech Start-Ups; Best Reasons to Hire a Money Guru
Posted by: | Comments(1)The Bottom Line
Until an business reaches a certain level of critical mass, with sales exceeding several million dollars, most enterprises do not require the full-time efforts of a six-figure CFO with many years of corporate or consulting experience, though having the guidance of such a person is an invaluable resource to business owners and CEO’s. Generally, this type of consulting expertise can be purchased at rates ranging from several hundred dollars per month to hourly rates nearing two hundred dollars. In any event, a part time arrangement with a CFO expert will save you many thousands of dollars over the course of a year when compared to the cost of a full-time executive. In the end, this will leave you with more cash for sales generating activities, and yourself.
(2)Hard Earned Experience
It sounds cliché, but there is truly no substitute for experience. It’s hard to build a house if you’ve never built one before. Likewise, it’s hard to build a sturdy and flexible financial framework if this is not your area of interest or expertise. If you only own an old saw and a hammer, its best to leave those things on the shelf, focusing instead on the tasks you perform well.
Engaging a highly experienced financial consultant early in the life of an enterprise will greatly increase your ability to set the stage for later success, and help you present well to bankers, potential investors, and others in the business community. In short, an experienced part time CFO can help you structure scalable financial reporting systems, raise capital, monitor your business trends, and in general, help you see around the next corner.
(3)Partner for Rent
It’s lonely at the top, and it can certainly be lonely for a small business owner that has no sounding board, generating ideas and plans without the input of groups or partners present in larger organizations. In fact, because of their varied experiences, part time CFO’s are often able to offer valuable advice on a wide variety of topics including information systems, human resources, benefits, and general management topics. In short, a part time CFO offers the dual benefits of a “partner” and an outsider, viewing your business objectively from a new prospective.
Article provided to MyTechHub.com by FindCFOServices.com. FindCFOServices is the nation’s largest on-line independent directory of CFO Services in the United States. With hundreds of consultant listings from California to Maine, it’s easy to locate a part time CFO for your business. Click http://www.FindCFOServices.com to find a consultant today.
Conferencing: A Strong Driver for Unified Communications Platforms
Posted by: | CommentsAs the buzz around unified communications, web based SaaS call centers, and web based conferencing in the corporate and small business environment builds, there are certain technologies that may come to mind. Consumers may quickly think VoIP or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and even Skype.
One thing that has remained obvious is the consistent drive for communications-enabled business processes. To keep streamlined communications on the forefront of doing business, players have to be provided with the necessary tools. According to industry research firm IDC, such tools include conferencing and collaboration applications.
Conferencing and Collaboration as Lead ApplicationsWhile not typically considered to be an important element of unified communications, conferencing and collaboration are instead considered to be more lead applications instead of those that unify the activities within the enterprise. This approach is rapidly changing as conferencing and collaboration are demonstrating their worth to the enterprise.
IDC notes that the unified communications market in Europe will grow at a cumulative average growth rate of 39 percent to 2013 to reach $13.5 billion. This is a significant increase from $2.6 billion in 2008.
Short Term Expense Reduction a Key Focus
In a challenging marketing where spending tends to be plummeting, solutions that can reduce expenses in the short term will remain a top priority. Such solutions include video and audio conferencing, as well as collaboration applications. On the call center front; virtual call center and skype based call centers have become the norm. For instance, see OnState.
For those operating in the European market, the drivers for conferencing growth go beyond merely cutting travel and reducing costs. Business owners are more concerned about their environmental impact and making internal changes to reflect their approach to their carbon footprint.
Conferencing and Environmental Responsibility
According to Chris Barnard, IDC research director, European Telecoms and Networking, “Not only can UC reduce an organization’s travel budget; it can also reduce that company’s carbon footprint and improve its corporate social responsibility standing.”
While industry analysts believe the long-term opportunities lie in communications event management platforms that enable for the build out of new applications, the enhancement of existing applications with better communications will continue to be a key focus for a number of companies. In addition, the near-term focus is continuing to shift to conferencing and collaboration.
Web Conferencing Will DominateFor the Asia-Pacific market, similar trends tend to be emerging. “In the future, the adoption of Web and video related collaborative applications will take precedence over voice related collaborative applications,” said Shalini Verma, IDC Research Manager for IDC’s Asia/Pacific Communications Group.
One obvious shift throughout the global market is the increase in telecommuting. Companies the world over are assessing the possibility of implementing such a platform, but must have the proper communication tools in place to make it viable.
As unified communications and more specifically, conferencing and collaboration, take a stronger foothold in the market, growth for both telecommuting and unified communications through conferencing and collaboration is imminent.
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