The Past and Future of Domain Names
When you give your website an address, you can choose almost anything to name it. Sure, there are addresses that are already taken, but if you’re inventive enough you can label the site just about anything you want, “dot” something. It’s what comes after the “dot” that is a little more complicated. Despite pushes from various countries and groups, these domain names are limited. They are divided into categories like the familiar .com, .net, and .gov as well as a few others, and so far there aren’t very many more domains beyond these that can be used.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN, is a non-profit group headquartered in the United States that oversees domain naming. They also oversee country specific codes that come after the domain, such as .ca for Canadian sites.
You may be wondering why sites in the United States don’t have a country code listed but all other countries do. It’s the same reason that British stamps don’t name their country on their paper mail stamps. The country that created the system doesn’t have to use their name; other countries have to list their name to differentiate themselves from the original British invented stamps. The same goes with country codes on an Internet address. The United States originated the domain names, and because of this, there is no country listed on American sites.
So what’s the wave of the future? Well, many groups and cities are asking for an increase in domain names, such as .sports or location names like .nyc. Other countries would like domains that aren’t just English only. With all of this clamor, there are sure to be changes in website addresses coming in the next few years, so pay attention. You may be able to get your business name .sports or just about anything else that makes your company unique.
Hacking Isn’t What it Looks Like in the Movies
We’ve all seen movies and TV shows that present someone breaking into a computer. From early 80s teen movies to recent Hollywood blockbusters, hacking is everywhere on the big screen. While these movies occasionally show a nerdy sort of fellow cracking codes, by and large it’s suave, attractive, highly competent people doing the work for a big payoff.
In the real world, this is rarely how it works.
How can I say that? Well, because most of what is trying to break into your network aren’t people – good-looking or otherwise. They are programs, viruses, and malware.
They are also quite effective. If these programs can map your system and get inside, they can steal your data or even destroy it. If your data is taken, you will lose time, money, productivity, and possibly even your clients and customers. Is that a risk you can take?
So, what’s a heroic company like yours to do? Well, you need to find those weaknesses before anyone else can. Your best course of action is to contact some IT security experts. While these professionals may not get the glory in the movies, these are the people who can beef up your security and help keep your network safe in the real world.
It’s a small commitment with tremendous rewards, especially when you consider what types of damages can occur if you don’t. You may not be chased by the bad guy through the streets of Prague, but you could lose all the time and money you’ve invested in your company.
After all, with fewer security worries, you’ll have more time to relax and enjoy the big picture.
Is a Data Center Right for Your Company?
In this day and age, one of the most pressings items of business in many companies is how to store data. Everything is done on computers these days, and there has to be some place to store it. Email, purchases, goods for sale, plans, detailed records, proprietary data and even transcripts of phone calls end up being saved. Couple this with the routine backups you should be doing on your network and, well, no matter what industry you are in, you’re probably going to need more storage.
A data center, also known as a server farm, is a third-party company whose business operates around storing other people’s data. Imagine not having to worry about your data being saved on time or being saved securely – it’s already being handled. Planning for your future storage needs is a critical part of any modern business plan, and hiring a data center takes this piece out of your hands and delegates it to data handling professionals.
Even if you are operating a small business, a data center can still be the right answer. Studies have shown that almost half of all small businesses collapse after a severe data loss. By minimizing the chances of this happening, you are making your company that much stronger. So, do yourself a favor. Look into data centers and see if they are right for you. Your needs may change over time, but you’ll always have information you need to keep safe.
Is a Poor Website Ruining Your Reputation?
Imagine you’re a customer. You’ve been hunting for a specific product, and you think you may have found it. There is quite a bit of information available on the Internet, however, and you have choices. You look through a few different sites, and end up choosing the competitor even though the prices are a bit lower at a less professional looking site.
The same thing can happen with client-based businesses. The Internet is a great marketing tool, and you can draw people from around the world to your company. Time and time again, however, people come to your site but you’re not seeing any business materializing. What on earth is going on?
Let’s face it, first impressions are important. A professional looking website makes a far better impression that a poorly designed one, no matter how great the company behind it is. It’s not fair, but humans are designed to weed out options, and one of the easiest ways we do it when we are looking for companies to give our business to is by grading the professionalism of the site. You have to admit, don’t you do this as well? If you see a poorly designed, hard to navigate site, aren’t you less inclined to give them your business? Don’t you make some assumptions about how the level of professionalism the company must have if the site is hard to navigate?
If your site has seen better days, don’t despair. It’s easy to sharpen your look, but it’s a job best left to professionals. They understand design, content, and site navigation. Not only that, but they know how to get traffic to your site – traffic that may be impressed by your new look and get you more business. Now, isn’t that worth thinking about?
The Damages of Using Social Networking Sites at Work
It’s amazing how much technology has changed our lives. We can find almost any product or piece of information online in seconds. We can send messages via email in the blink of an eye. In technological terms, however, these services are so yesterday. We now rely on them and they are no longer novel – they are a way of life. So, what’s the latest and greatest new piece of technological communication?
Social networking sites.
To be fair, these sites have been around for a good long while. People have been sharing personal information, favorite songs, and finding old friends for a few years now. What’s changing is that these sites are no longer populated by just teens and college students. More and more, adults of all ages are also flocking to these sites, and many of these people are your employees.
Now, why should you care what your employees do to socialize in their free time? Well, we all know that when people are cranky about the workplace, they tend to tell a friend. Now, instead of a one-on-one conversation, these negative thoughts can be spread across the Internet. Depending on how your employees handle their privacy, these thoughts may come up when potential customers and clients search your site over the Internet. Not only that, but if you are a big name in your company, people may search on you personally as well. The Internet is a public space, and you need to maintain a professional image in every way.
So, what’s a company to do? Well, you should have a policy about company business being discussed outside of the business, and you need to educate your employees. Chances are they love the company and just have off days, but comments made on an off day can hurt your reputation. Take a little time to explain your expectations to your people, and you can keep your reputation safe.
Is It Time to Get New Software?
There’s a tremendous amount of software marketed towards businesses. From ways to organize data, to communicate, to process business, and to create new products, there’s a wealth of options. Sometimes, however, you find that the product you are using isn’t the best option for your company. Worse is when you realize that while you love the software, its creators are phasing it out and that you’ll no longer be able to receive support for it. Either way, you’ll need to find new software and implement it with the least possible disruption to your business.
The first thing you need to know is how much downtime you will have in implementing the software, as well as if this downtime can be minimized. Even if the transition can occur after hours, it may affect your web presence, and you want to make this as easy on your customers as possible. Are there ways of keeping both running until the switch? Do you have a backup plan in case things don’t go smoothly? How many people will you need on hand to handle the switch, and will these employees be enough?
No matter what, it’s probably time to call in the IT experts. Not only can an IT consultant help you find the best software for your needs, but they can help you implement the changeover. They have helped many other businesses with the same issues, and have streamlined processes to make the transition as easy as possible. Switching software is never fun, but with a little help, at least you can be assured it will happen smoothly.
You Know That Software Is Licensed, Right?
Your business uses a lot of software, and some of it is pretty expensive. You need it to communicate, to create, and to keep your business running, so doing without it isn’t an option. Did you know that there are limits to the number of computers you can run your software on for each purpose? If you are finding ways to get around this, you are effectively stealing the software. That’s not only bad for business, it’s breaking the law.
Even if you’ve properly paid for all of the software you are using, you may not be aware that some software licenses expire after a set amount of time. You may have to renew the license or purchase it again, but all the same, you’ll have to deal with it or the software may stop working. One way to avoid finding out too late that your software has expired is to use a tracking program. It will keep a record of the expiration dates on your licenses to make sure that the products you are using are legal and that they’ll continue to run.
Another option is free software. Freeware is sometimes an option for a growing company. Provided it’s available for use in a business setting, it can be a great way to save a little cash. Finding the good stuff in the piles of free software available, however, can be tough. It’s also hard to know if the download is reputable. One way to make this process worry free is to ask an expert. An IT consultant is up-to-date on all of the software you could want, both paid and free. By using them to help you sort through licenses and freeware, you can be sure you’re getting the best products and a great deal. After all, don’t you want less to worry about?
Training IT Staff
You’ve found the best IT people out there. You hunted for them, perused resumes and found the cream of the crop. You’ve done the best you could possibly do to get your IT department staffed, but you have a worry in the back of your mind. What if you need them to do something they have never done before? Can they handle it?
IT people tend to be bright, creative problem-solvers. If you have a need, they can probably find their way through data and procedures and accomplish the task. The real question is will it be done as well as it could be, or will it just be a patch? That’s a real worry for a business owner. Chances are you leave IT matters to your tech staff for a good reason, and aren’t sure what to do in this situation.
Have you ever considered getting them some outside training? You’re probably already helping them to stay current on their certifications, and you may be sending them to classes so that they can hone their skills. Did you know that you can bring outside help in?
IT consultants don’t just take care of your technological needs. They can also work closely with your permanent staff and help educate them on tools and techniques they’ll need to keep your system running in an optimal fashion. Your permanent staff does IT because they love it, and they’ll welcome the chance to learn new skills and chat up an industry expert. Not only is it a winning proposition for your employees, but it is for your business, as well. They’ll put what they’ve learned back to work for you, and the fabulous hires you made will continue being at the top of their game.
Just How Compatible Is Your Website?
It’s a common newbie error — you build the perfect website only to find that not everyone can access it. You’ve checked everything on your end and it looks fine, so what on earth is the problem?
Well, every search engine interprets data a bit differently. Firefox presents pages differently than Safari, or Chrome, or Internet Explorer, for example. Even different versions of the same software sometimes have differences, and it’s important that your site be accessible and look great from any browser. After all, your clients and customers find you through a variety of programs.
Another thing you should think about is which browsers you want to be compatible with. It takes time, money, and effort to make a site compatible with a browser. If your site is compatible with 99 percent of users on the Internet, just how much money do you want to throw at the other 1 percent? You’ll need to make some choices about how cost-effective it is to allow these potential consumers to access your site. It may be worth it, or it may be too much of a headache.
If these concerns are new to you, chances are you could use a little help. If you’ve built a good site, you probably just need a small amount of back-end assistance to get it running and compatible with all of the major browsers. Why not hire an IT expert to take care of this? You can delegate the task to a consultant and be confident that it’s being taken care of. Your customers will be impressed by your professional site, and you can do what you do best — handle your business.
Moving, Rearranging, and the Hazards of Reorganization
As your business grows, your space needs grow, as well. Sure, your data storage needs change over time, but we’re referring to your actual, physical space needs. Whether you are switching office space, warehouse space, or just need to rearrange the office, chances are you’re going to have to shift some vital computer bits as well. Moving your servers and your infrastructure around can be complicated. Are you ready?
The first thing you need is a game plan. Just how do you intend to accomplish this, anyhow? By developing a plan of action, you can save yourself a lot of time and effort. Knowing what connects where and how close the infrastructure needs to be to other parts is essential. Knowing what you plan to do, however, is only the first step.
No matter how well you’ve planned, sometimes things go wrong. While you probably already have a disaster plan in place for your company, it’s a good idea to have a mini plan for the move. What will you do if you drop a server? What if you don’t have the power available to run all of the equipment in the new location? Every moment your system is down is money out of your pocket. By planning for emergencies ahead of time, you can have the preparation already done if something goes wrong. This way you can implement the fix as quickly as possible, and get back to business.
Moving your infrastructure is never fun, but with a plan you can be sure that even if something goes wrong, you can handle it. Take a little time to do this before you start disconnecting, and you’ll be sure to complete the move and be back up and running in no time.