News/Features

Closing the Gap with Larger Competitors

July 3, 2008 | A converged network allows small and midsize businesses to regain their edge over their larger competitors and once again get closer to their customers
By Doug Dennerline, Courtesy of Cisco Systems

Tell It to Me Straight: Customer Feedback in the Web 2.0 World

July 3, 2008 | What better way to get feedback on your business than through your customers? A Web 2.0 tool enables your online business to get instant, effective, and credible customer feedback so you can respond to complaints and resolve disputes in a flash
By Heather Clancy

Web site Design That Works: Helping the Designer Help You

June 27, 2008 | The perfect Web site designer might not be in the perfect location, but these tips will help you span the distance between you and the designer to produce a Web site that works for your smaller business
By Amanda Kooser

Web 2.0 Tactics for Business Success

June 27, 2008 | If small and midsize businesses knew how to harness the incredible power of Web 2.0, they could truly level the playing field. TechWeb's Jennifer Pahlka explains how smaller businesses can get started with Web 2.0 and which tools will help them succeed
By Naomi Grossman, Courtesy of Cisco Systems

Mid-Market Heroes: Tech Implementation, Amish-Style

June 23, 2008 | When Lavern Schlabach introduced an ERP system and BI processes to Keim Lumber, a nearly 100-year-old home improvement and lumber company, he faced an unusual challenge: A predominantly Amish staff with little or no exposure to technology. But a slow, methodical approach coupled with cultural sensitivity ensured a smooth and painless implementation.
By Naomi Grossman

Online Video: Show and Tell For Smaller Businesses

June 19, 2008 | With its ability to let customers do the talking, online video testimonials are one of the most effective ways for smaller businesses to get the word out about what they do. And with the recent spate of digital video products that have hit the market, it is now even easier -- and more affordable
By Heather Clancy

Q&A With Angus Thomson of Intuit: Why QuickBooks Makes Sense

June 18, 2008 | Competitors claim that thriving companies outgrow QuickBooks, but Intuit sees the different levels of QuickBooks scaling to meet the needs of growing businesses. And, more features are in the works.
By Benjamin Tomkins

Q&A With Mike Braun Of Intacct: When Your Business Outgrows QuickBooks

June 18, 2008 | Growing businesses need financial software that will scale with their needs. Intacct strives to fill the need beyond Intuit's QuickBooks and compete with on-premise offerings from the likes of Microsoft and Sage with a software-as-a-service offering.
By Benjamin Tomkins

Online Data Storage: Keeping Your Smaller Business' Data Safe

June 12, 2008 | Storing your business data online means it's always available -- and it'll never get lost. And now there are lots of affordable options for smaller businesses
By Heather Clancy

Q&A With George Langan of eXpresso: What SaaS Means for Collaboration

June 11, 2008 | The need for collaboration isn't new, but software-as-a-service has at last made real collaboration possible within and between businesses with a level of cost and complexity that's accessible to smaller businesses
By Benjamin Tomkins

E-Mail Archiving for Smaller Businesses

June 11, 2008 | E-mail pours into businesses every day and it never stops. How to turn that flood into an asset? By selecting an e-mail archiving system that meets their needs, smaller businesses can protect themselves from litigation, boost productivity, and ensure business continuity.
By Jake Widman

Midmarket Heroes: Scuba Toys -- Scuba Community Dives into Web 2.0

June 10, 2008 | Founding a scuba gear company in a landlocked part of Texas might not seem like the best idea. But Scuba Toy's founder Larry Dague has used Web 2.0 to reach scuba divers around the world -- and create a community of divers that keep coming back for more
By Naomi Grossman

How to Coordinate Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Planning

June 9, 2008 | Investing scarce time and resources in disaster recovery planning is a tough sell for smaller business -- it's more appealing to hope disaster won't strike. But rather than ignoring it, IT professionals should view disaster recovery as one aspect of business continuity management and collaborate with the business to plan for the inevitable rainy day.
By Ross Armstrong, Courtesy of Info-Tech Research Group

CEO Cheat Sheet: The Benefits of Collaboration Tools

June 6, 2008 | Smaller businesses can simplify processes and enhance relationships using collaboration tools. MIT Professor Erik Brynjolfsson explains how and looks at the technologies improving these tools
By Naomi Grossman, Courtesy of Cisco Systems

Smaller Businesses Get Sold on eBay

June 5, 2008 | eBay is one of the few ways that anyone can launch a smaller business in minutes. With hundreds of resources at your fingertips, starting a business on eBay can be fast, easy, and nearly investment free. Here are nine steps to get you started
By Marcia Layton Turner

Q&A With Thomas Harpointner: E-Mail Marketing vs. Snail Mail for Smaller Businesses

June 2, 2008 | Rising stamp costs may make smaller businesses think twice about going to the post office. Online advertising expert Thomas Harpointner explains when it's still necessary to make the trip and when to avoid it at all costs
By Naomi Grossman

Q&A With Adam Lloyd Eiseman of Lloyd Group: How to Transform Technology from Headache to Asset

May 30, 2008 | Small and midsize businesses don't have the resources to develop a technology strategy. Lloyd Group's Adam Eiseman suggests that a relationship with a trusted technology partner can be just as powerful in ensuring that smaller businesses maximize the business value of their networks
By Ewan Morrison, Courtesy of Cisco Systems

Storage Smarts

May 29, 2008 | Between employee information, customer payment numbers, internal files or the reams of e-mails you send and receive, your smaller business' data is vital to its existence. But data retention is not just about what you store, but how you store it
By Amanda Kooser

Midmarket Heroes: A Rocker Girl's Journey to Tech CEO

May 27, 2008 | Cyndee Sugra took a chance developing technology that no one else wanted. That leap of faith paved the way for her evolution from indie rock musician to CEO of a tech development and design firm. Now she's singing all the way to the bank
By Naomi Grossman

The Future of Customer Service

May 22, 2008 | Mobile technology is changing the way consumers search for answers. Here's how to make sure your smaller business is up to the task
By Sarah Pierce

Q&A With eCopy's Bill Brikiatis: How Smaller Businesses Can Move Closer to the Paperless Office

May 20, 2008 | The paperless office hasn't yet been achieved, but there are new technologies that can push smaller businesses closer to the goal, saving them time, money, and resources. Bill Brikiatis explains to bMighty how smaller businesses can easily get there
By Naomi Grossman

Protect Your Customer's Data for Peace of Mind

May 16, 2008 | For many smaller businesses, keeping their customer's data safe is their key to survival. Computer-related crime is becoming increasingly prevalent but there are ways to ensure that the information on your network stays secure and away from prying eyes
By Eric J. Adams, Courtesy of Cisco Systems

Blog-a-Thon

May 15, 2008 | Your company's blog could be one of your strongest marketing tools. Guy Kawasaki, a serial entrepreneur, blogger, and venture capitalist, has eight ways to get you talking
By Guy Kawasaki

Q&A With Daniel Druker of Intacct: Application Suites vs. Best-of-Breed

May 14, 2008 | Smaller businesses confront the question of application suites or best-of-breed offerings every time they consider (or reconsider) a software purchase. The rise of software-as-a-service (SaaS) further clouds the conundrum, but also presents new choices and challenges for adding power and lowering the total cost of ownership
By Benjamin Tomkins

SaaS: Enterprise Power Comes to Smaller Businesses

May 13, 2008 | Before Software-as-a-Service, the latest and greatest business applications -- ERP, CRM, HR, and financial packages -- were restricted to large enterprises able to pay for and manage them. But SaaS delivers this power to smaller businesses
By Mathew Schwartz

A Method to Their Madness: How Smaller Businesses Make it to the Top

May 8, 2008 | It's hard to remember now, but companies like Netflix and Meebo started out as smaller businesses. But by blazing their own trails, they managed to take on their much larger-sized competitors -- and win
By Justin Petruccelli

Q&A With Douglas Shuman: Domain Names are the Web's Great Equalizer

May 7, 2008 | For smaller businesses, a good domain name is crucial to attracting Web traffic. From choosing a domain name to buying one, expert Douglas Shuman tells bMighty everything smaller businesses should know to get noticed
By Naomi Grossman

Smaller Businesses Learn From Enterprises: Integrating Business and Technology Initiatives Matters

May 2, 2008 | A recent study of Canadian small and midsize businesses indicates that they are investing in information and communication technology -- like their larger size peers -- but the study highlights the need among smaller businesses to integrate technology initiatives into business-planning processes
By Michael Astle, Courtesy of Cisco Systems

A Mobile Future

May 1, 2008 | The new technology of smartphones offers smaller businesses more mobility than ever before. And a peek into the future of smartphones indicates that this trend is only going to grow
By Steve Cooper

Buh-Bye Groupware: The Rise of Lightweight Collaboration Tools

April 30, 2008 | A number of new collaboration tools -- both standalone and delivered on-demand, with many based on Web 2.0 technologies -- enable smaller businesses to collaborate and share information and files in real time, without the typical, related costs or IT management overhead. Learn how companies are putting them to work
By Mathew Schwartz

SLIDESHOW: How to Spend Uncle Sam's Tax Refund on Tech

April 29, 2008 | Is there anything sweeter than getting a check in the mail? It's even sweeter when the check is from Uncle Sam. But what to do with that "found money"? Spend it on the latest tech gadgets and toys, of course. bMighty makes it easy for you to review the devices you've been lusting after. The hard part is picking just one
By Naomi Grossman

Q&A With Larry Velez: Why Outsourcing the IT Department Makes Sense for Smaller Businesses

April 28, 2008 | IT departments are getting to be too much for smaller businesses to handle. Larry Velez of Sinu has an idea: Outsource it all to a managed service provider. It can save smaller businesses money and give them peace of mind
By Naomi Grossman

The New Rules of E-Branding

April 24, 2008 | Revamp your online brand and increase site traffic with these six guidelines
By John Williams

Q&A With Sam Gutmann: Back Up Online, or How to Save Your Smaller Business

April 23, 2008 | More and more smaller businesses are backing up their data online. It's automatic, off-site, and now it's affordable. bMighty asked online backup expert Sam Gutmann what smaller businesses should look for in an online backup service
By Naomi Grossman

How to Quickly Grow Your Smaller Business

April 18, 2008 | The secret is having advanced network technology that will enable your smaller business to be prepared for its expansion. The side benefits are that it will save you money as well as improve your company's efficiency and responsiveness
By James A. Martin, Courtesy of Cisco Systems

11 Internet Myths Debunked

April 17, 2008 | Think creating a Web site for your smaller business is too complicated? Think again. An expert sets the record straight and lets smaller businesses in on the simple truth
By Lindsay Holloway

Midmarket Heroes: Seeds of Peace -- A Disaster, a Recovery Plan, and a Peaceful Ending

April 15, 2008 | When Seeds of Peace's building was destroyed, it looked like the end for the nonprofit organization. Fortunately, its managed service provider had a disaster recovery plan in place and the organization was not only back in business after a few hours, but also didn't lose any of its precious data.
By Naomi Grossman

Q&A with Russell Rothstein of Sales Spider: Social Networking for Smaller Businesses

April 14, 2008 | Smaller businesses must utilize every avenue to compete; that includes adopting new technologies such as social networking. Russell Rothstein, CEO and founder of Sales Spider discusses how smaller businesses can use social networking to grow sales and extend their reach
By Benjamin Tomkins

Q&A With Scott Huegerich: Become the Key(word) Master

April 10, 2008 | For smaller businesses, the press release is often the best way to get customers to visit their Web sites. Including the right keywords in those press releases is crucial to getting that revenue-generating attention. Keyword expert Scott Huegerich has advice on how to get noticed for your news
By Rachel Meranus

Q&A With Ben Wayne: Web-Based Video Solutions Smaller Businesses Can Afford

April 8, 2008 | Putting videos on your Web site is one of the most effective ways to communicate with your customers. Most of the solutions have been too expensive for smaller businesses to consider -- until now. An expert tells bMighty how smaller businesses can finally join the video age
By Naomi Grossman

How to Secure Your Network Against Spam

April 4, 2008 | As spammers find new and better ways to infiltrate a company's network, managing incoming traffic becomes trickier and more crucial both in terms of productivity and security. Can smaller businesses protect themselves without straining their IT staff and budget? The answer is yes
By Rhonda Raider, Courtesy of Cisco Systems

10 Cheap Ways to Build Your Smaller Business' Brand

April 3, 2008 | From enhancing customer loyalty to leveling the playing field with larger size competitors, branding can be the key to your smaller business' success. There are lots of ways to effectively -- and inexpensively -- reinforce your company's brand
By John Williams

Smaller Business UC Hurdles: User Adoption, Policies

April 2, 2008 | To get maximum value from unified communications, smaller businesses must find ways of integrating UC into existing business processes to spur employee usage, but they can't risk overlooking the need for shrewd security and access policies
By Rivka Little

It's a (Web) Hit

March 27, 2008 | Get customers psyched about your smaller business by using all the Web has to offer
By John Jantsch

Green IT: The 5 Essential Questions Smaller Businesses Need to Ask

March 25, 2008 | Greening data centers isn't a top priority for smaller businesses, but it should be. Even companies with just a few servers in a closet can realize gains in energy efficiency, reliability, and business continuity. Asking the right questions will help your businesses reap the benefits of green IT
By Jennifer Zaino

How Not to Be a Spammer: The Truth About E-Mail Marketing

March 21, 2008 | E-mail can be one of the most effective, cheapest marketing tools, when used correctly. Make sure you use best practices in your e-mail marketing efforts -- or risk having your customers treat you like Spam.
By Rhonda Raider, Courtesy of Cisco Systems

Automate Your Online Business

March 20, 2008 | These 4 easy steps will save you time, make you money, and free you up to run your business from anywhere in the world
By Mitch Meyerson

Q&A With Thomas Harpointner: Online Advertising the Smaller Business Way

March 19, 2008 | Online advertising expert Thomas Harpointner explains to bMighty why smaller businesses can no longer afford to ignore the Internet when developing their marketing campaigns
By Naomi Grossman

How to Get More Done by Doing Less

March 17, 2008 | Want to learn how to manage your in-box and minimize distractions and interruptions? It all starts with checking your e-mail less often
By Rick Telberg, courtesy of CPA Insider

Generation Collaboration

March 14, 2008 | Employees are looking for more than a paycheck these days -- the good ones want an interesting, innovative environment. Today's collaboration tools can help you do that, if you use them in the right spirit
By Roger Farnsworth , Courtesy of Cisco Systems

Seven Social Networking Strategies for Smaller Businesses

March 10, 2008 | From sourcing talent to building brand awareness to prospecting for customers, social networking can help you manage many aspects of your smaller business -- if you know what you're doing. Here's how to hit the goldmines and avoid the landmines as you pursue all those social networking opportunities
By Rusty Weston

New Ways to Pay

March 6, 2008 | Want to close more sales without doing more work? Give your customers more ways to pay with alternative billing methods
By Francine Kizner

Q&A With Dan Sarel and Slavik Markovich: Database Security for Smaller Businesses -- Now More Than Ever

March 5, 2008 | Your database -- and its privacy -- is crucial to your company's survival and success, but the bad guys are figuring out new ways to break into it. We talked with database security experts about how to protect and monitor a database and mitigate the damages should disaster strike
By Naomi Grossman

Payment Fraud Protection in an Electronic Age

March 5, 2008 | Whether your smaller business makes payments electronically or not, it's still vulnerable to electronic payment fraud. You need to know how to protect your business' account. From tools to best practices, here's how
By Mary Schaeffer, courtesy of CPA Insider

Smaller Businesses Confront Instant Messaging

March 4, 2008 | Instant messaging offers many benefits for smaller businesses, but also presents surprising choices and real risks. Ignoring IM is no longer an option.
By Joel Enos

United Business Media Transforms CMP into Four Independent Media and Information Services Businesses

February 29, 2008 | New market-focused agile businesses to leverage UBM global resources and infrastructure
By bMighty.com

Security Threats From Within

February 28, 2008 | Few know as much about your IT security as your employees and former employees do. Here's how to safeguard your technology from the inside
By Michael Bruck

Retaining IT Talent Takes More Than Money

February 26, 2008 | The question is not if recruiters will pursue your top IT employees, but when. Smaller businesses need to ensure that their valuable IT talent isn't lured away. The good news: It's not all about the money.
By Jennifer Zaino

Web 3.0: The Risks and the Rewards

February 21, 2008 | Between cybercriminals and consolidation, the next Web can get hazardous. In this third of a three-part series, a look at how to cope with the threats and enable your smaller business to survive and thrive in the world of Web 3.0
By Keith Ferrell

Web 3.0: How RIAs Can Get Your Smaller Business on the Next Web

February 21, 2008 | Rich internet applications are powerful tools that are bringing client server functionality to the Web and could dominate Web 3.0
By Frank Bell

Web 3.0: The Next Web

February 19, 2008 | Web 3.0 is poised to change the way small and midsize companies get business done. In this second of a three-part series, a look at how the next Web is transforming processes
By Keith Ferrell

Web 3.0: What's Next After What's Next

February 19, 2008 | Even as small and midsize companies struggle with Web 2.0, it's time to look ahead at the even newer opportunities and challenges posed by Web 3.0 and the next generation of Web tools and techniques. In this first of a three-part series, a look at where the Web was and where it is now
By Keith Ferrell

Gauging Customer Satisfaction: The Importance of the Online Survey

February 14, 2008 | A little feedback can lead to major developments in your business -- and a positive impact on its bottom line
By Steve Oriola

Payroll and HR for Smaller Businesses: New Services Can Save Time and Money

February 12, 2008 | Outsourcing human resources and payroll functions may no longer be cost effective or even more productive for small and midsize companies. Between electronic deposit and Web-based features, bringing those services in-house is beginning to make more and more sense
By Randolph Johnston, Courtesy of CPA Insider

What is Wrong With Collaboration? The Need for Leadership

February 8, 2008 | Smaller businesses need employee collaboration if they want to be successful. But without the right ingredients -- like leadership, incentives, and processes -- even the best of collaborations are doomed
By Michael Astle, Courtesy of Cisco Systems

The Best Wi-Fi for Small and Midsize Companies: The 5 Best Routers

February 7, 2008 | You need a wireless network for your smaller business that is more robust than what you have at home but less daunting -- and expensive -- than what the bigger guys get. Have we got the router for you
By Eric Zeman

IM Security Threats: How to Protect Your Business

February 6, 2008 | Instant Messaging has become an effective business tool. But its increasing popularity means that it too is now more vulnerable to attack
By John Magee

The Best Wi-Fi for Small and Midsize Companies

February 5, 2008 | When setting up a wireless network, small to midsize businesses think they are caught between the less-than-robust offerings at their local Best Buy or Staples and the overkill of the full-scale enterprise wireless systems. But there are options out there sized just for the smaller business -- and we've got them
By Eric Zeman

Free Security Software Custom-Made For Smaller Businesses

February 5, 2008 | Untangle's software provides network access and security for smaller businesses. And because it's open source, many of its services are free
By Naomi Grossman

The Event-Driven Organization: It's All About the Network

February 1, 2008 | Mining your network for real-time information enables you to proactively react to business events, improve your business' operations, and enhance its value
By Gary Moore, Courtesy of Cisco Systems

CES Offers Tech Treats For Businesses

January 30, 2008 | The recent Consumer Electronics Show debuted plenty of business-oriented tech tools -- especially for smaller companies. From VoIP to storage to universal chargers, our on-the-scene videos demonstrate how these new devices will make it easier to get the job done
By Naomi Grossman

Mid-Market Heroes: Yak Pak's New IT System Means Success Is in the Bag

January 28, 2008 | A revamped IT infrastructure lets the New York-based bag manufacturing company rev up its sales, relocate its warehouse, integrate its processes, and get into outsourcing
By Naomi Grossman

10 Ways to Leverage Information Technology

January 24, 2008 | With the right approach, IT can do more than just maintain your business -- it can enable it to thrive and grow. These 10 tips can help
By Cory Petkovsek

Q&A With Dave Rossetti and Greg Pelton: Incubating Innovation in the IT Department

January 11, 2008 | Two Cisco technology executives discuss what it takes to foster an innovative environment. Their thoughts are revealing to small and midsize businesses as well as large enterprises
By Ewan Morrison, Courtesy of Cisco Systems

Top 11 Money-Wasting AdWords Mistakes

January 10, 2008 | Errors in pay-per-click advertising can be costly. Learn how to set up a high-quality campaign using Google AdWords
By Jon Rognerud

Mid-Market Heroes: Linux and Outsourcing Help Virgin America Soar

January 9, 2008 | The fledgling discount airline is flying high -- and saving money -- thanks to an IT infrastructure based on open-source apps, inexpensive servers, and outsourcing.
By Naomi Grossman

Roundup: Top Tech Trends For 2008

January 8, 2008 | From the fate of Vista to social networking in smaller businesses to green tech, bMighty collects the top technology predictions for the new year
By Naomi Grossman

Cable Companies Connect with Small and Midsize Businesses

January 7, 2008 | Cable companies cite convenience, efficiency among the reasons why small and midsize businesses should consider handing over their telecom business to them. But can they deliver business-grade service?
By Paul Korzeniowski

How Smaller Companies Can Go Green

January 2, 2008 | There are lots of good reasons why small and midsize businesses should go green -- but the most compelling is its positive impact on the bottom line
By Naomi Grossman

Hosted App Yields SEO for Smaller Companies

December 31, 2007 | Yield Software's hosted SEO application promises to add marketing muscle to small and midsize businesses
By Cora Nucci

Starting Your Business' Second Life

December 27, 2007 | Going virtual can beef up your brand, build marketing muscle, and open up a whole new world for your small or midsize business
By Heather Clancy

Prediction: Top 10 Search Terms of 2008

December 20, 2007 | Ten off-the-cuff -- and off- the-wall -- predictions on what people will be searching for in 2008
By Fredric Paul

5 Unexpected Technology Predictions For SMBs in 2008

December 20, 2007 | From divisions over unified communications to the green backlash, bMighty.com looks at what small and midsize companies can expect in 2008
By Cora Nucci

Mid-Market Heroes: eCourier Leverages IT for Smarter, Faster Deliveries

December 18, 2007 | With a sophisticated algorithm powering its logistics applications, a GPS-based online tracking system, and BI that keeps it one step ahead of its customers' needs, eCourier is rushing past low-tech courier services in London.
By Naomi Grossman

Four Reasons Your Servers Belong In a Colocation Facility

December 17, 2007 | Renting space and bandwidth from a colocation facility can be more cost effective and offer greater reliability than storing and provisioning your servers "for free" at your small or midsize business
By Alan Zeichick

Coupa Pours e-Procurement Solution for Smaller Businesses

December 12, 2007 | Coupa Software's online purchasing system can save small and midsize companies up to 10 percent a year says its CEO
By Cora Nucci

Virtualization Thrives In Smaller Companies

December 11, 2007 | Virtual servers save real money on hardware and time on maintenance for stressed IT departments at small and midsize businesses
By Debra Bulkeley

5 Simple Rules For Going Virtual

December 11, 2007 | These 5 lessons can help make your virtualization projects into real-world successes.
By Debra Bulkeley

Application Development: Buy, Build, Or Cobble?

December 6, 2007 | Hosted Web services tweak the classic "buy or build" question for small and midsize businesses in need of software apps
By Mathew Schwartz

Is Software as a Service Ready To Kill Microsoft Office?

December 4, 2007 | Is now the right time for small and midsize companies to adopt software-as-a-service (SaaS) replacements for Microsoft Office and workplace collaboration tools? With encouragement from Google, Adobe, Zoho, and even Microsoft, some companies are saying "Yes" to cheap -- or even free -- online, on-demand alternatives
By Mathew Schwartz

5 Things You Didn't Know About Software as a Service

December 3, 2007 | Software as a service is hot, but not always fully understood. These points can help clarify SaaS' benefits for small and midsize companies
By Fredric Paul

Paglo's Search Engine: Just Right for Smaller Companies' IT Departments

November 29, 2007 | Paglo makes it easy, and free, for small and midsize businesses to track the devices on their network
By W. David Gardner

The 5 Top Things Smaller Businesses Don't Know About BI

November 27, 2007 | Small and midsize businesses may not realize it, but now they can generate rich, valuable business intelligence just like the big companies
By Laurie Sullivan

8 Essential Questions on Unified Communications

November 26, 2007 | For many small and midsize companies, UC is still a lot of hot air. The experts offer a unified communications reality check
By Fredric Paul

2007 bMighty Holiday Gift Guide: Gadgets, Devices, Tools, and More

November 20, 2007 | The best technology gadgets, devices, tools and toys for small and midsize businesses. We've got the top choices to enhance your workspace, make travel easier, stay healthy, enhance communication, trick out your car, and go green
By Joel Enos

8 Big Reasons For Smaller Businesses to Give Thanks

November 16, 2007 | bMighty editors and contributing writers list their top picks for technologies that make it possible for small and midsize businesses to compete with bigger enterprises -- and come up large
By Keith Ferrell, Naomi Grossman, Paul Korzeniowski, Judy Mottl, Alan Zeichick, and Cora Nucci

Q&A With Mark Canepa: Networking Devices For Smaller Businesses

November 14, 2007 | Extreme Networks CEO Mark Canepa explains to bMighty why his company is now developing networking devices for small and midsize businesses -- and how this is becoming a trend in the networking industry
By Paul Korzeniowski

The Tricky Business of Network Use Policies

November 8, 2007 | In this brave new world of IM, e-mail, and YouTube, how can IT managers protect their networks, ensure productivity, and still have happy employees?
By Naomi Grossman

Mobility Demand, Satisfaction Surging Among Smaller Companies

November 7, 2007 | Exclusive new bMighty research reveals how -- and why -- smaller businesses are actually using mobility technologies. From the consumerization of business mobility to which vendors best satisfy users, the results may surprise you.
By Rusty Weston

Bigger Budgets Pave Way for Better Storage Options

November 2, 2007 | As small and midsize businesses plan to spend more than ever on storage solutions to hold their growing volumes of data, we run down the options
By Naomi Grossman

Attack of the IT-Crushing Zombies, Part 2

October 30, 2007 | From data-sucking mobile devices, to skeletons on the Web, small and midsize businesses face an array of security and other threats. Learn how to protect your systems
By Keith Ferrell

Attack of the IT-Crushing Zombies, Part 1

October 26, 2007 | Small and midsize businesses face an array of hideous threats to their IT operations, from bloodthirsty headhunters to demonic employees, cyberthugs, and dirtbags. Here's how to protect your systems from trouble. Part 1 of 2
By Keith Ferrell

This Job Synchs: The Importance of Aligning Business and IT Goals

October 25, 2007 | When the business side is working off one agenda and the IT department another, count on missed opportunities -- and worse. IT professionals tell how they keep up with their companies' business strategies
By Jennifer Zaino

IT Flexibility Key to Alignment With Business Goals

October 25, 2007 | IT managers at a commercial bakery and a law firm explain how keeping technology strategies and procedures broad gives them the agility to stay in sync with changing business needs
By Jennifer Zaino

Do You Need an SEO Consultant?

October 23, 2007 | You know you need to optimize your Web site to get more search engine traffic. Should you turn to the pros? We asked search experts for their advice
By Naomi Grossman

Don't Let Software Clunkers Eat Your IT Budget

October 22, 2007 | That new software that was going to solve your company's big problems and make you look like a superstar to boot just doesn't work the way the vendor promised it would. Now what?
By John Dickinson

Strategic Security: Developing a Secure E-Mail Strategy

October 20, 2006 | Message encryption, along with other measures, should be a critical part of your overall security strategy. But poor planning could leave your organization compliant and yet still unprotected. Here's how to choose the right combination of encryption and protection technologies to suit your needs.
By Christopher Beers, Courtesy of Network Computing

Make the Search Engines
Find Your Web Site

October 19, 2007 | A Web site belonging to a small or midsize business can evenly compete with sites belonging to larger companies -- if it is properly optimized for visibility by Google, Yahoo, and other search engines
By Naomi Grossman

Building a Better RFID Reader

October 18, 2007 | ThingMagic's Yael Maguire figured out how to get RFID tags to be read more easily and accurately. Now he believes there is nothing this technology can't do
By Naomi Grossman

School of NAC: CIO Finds Answers in Managed Network Access

October 10, 2007 | The Upper Canada School District had a network nightmare on its hands. But CIO Jeremy Hobbs implemented a NAC solution. Now the kids are allright, and so is the network
By Naomi Grossman

Q&A With Selina Lo, CEO of Ruckus Wireless

October 9, 2007 | bMighty talked with Selina Lo, CEO of Ruckus Wireless, about its Wi-Fi product line for small and midsize businesses and about the company's business strategy
By Carmen Nobel

The IT Manager Who Saved the Day

October 3, 2007 | When his servers went up in smoke and nearly half the company's data went with them, Hal Baumgardner set out to rebuild the IT shop so this could never, ever happen again
By Naomi Grossman

Windows, You Are On Notice

September 28, 2007 | Hey, Windows: Pack your bags. I think I've found an operating system that can run the machines that run my smaller business without all the hassles you put me through. Say hello to Linux
By Cora Nucci

Experts Flag 10 Emerging IT Security Trends

September 27, 2007 | Security threats and defenses must constantly evolve to keep up with developing threats. We asked security experts to identify the top information security trends that will affect small and midsize businesses over the next three to five years.
By Mathew Schwartz

Top 5 Small and Midsize Business Myths -- Busted!

September 26, 2007 | Smaller companies are largely misunderstood. A recent survey challenges the conventional wisdom about how they use technology
By Naomi Grossman

Are You Ready to Outsource?

September 24, 2007 | There are plenty of good reasons to put some IT functions in a service provider's hands. But is your small or midsize business up to the challenges required to make outsourcing work?
By Jennifer Zaino

8 Signs That You're Not Ready for Outsourcing

September 24, 2007 | Small and midsize businesses should proceed to IT outsourcing with caution. Here are eight telltale signs that your business isn't ready for outsourcing
By Jennifer Zaino

Wait for It: High Speed Wi-Fi

September 20, 2007 | Small and midsize businesses would be wise to wait to deploy next-generation Wi-Fi (812.11n) until at least 2008, when interoperability issues should be resolved and prices should be lower
By Paul Korzeniowski

Going Green Can Save Your Business Green

September 19, 2007 | These simple and easy IT strategies for cutting energy consumption and sourcing more efficient IT equipment can help the environment, and save money for your small or midsize business
By Gail Meredith Otteson , Courtesy of Cisco Systems

Q&A With Gordon Linoff: Get Smarter About Business Intelligence

September 17, 2007 | A data mining expert explains how to generate all the business intelligence you need to understand what your customers want
By Naomi Grossman

10 Ways to Mitigate Your Security Risks

September 13, 2007 | Time is money, and when it comes to small and midsize businesses, both are in short supply. So we got security experts to share their top tips for mitigating information security risk while using minimum resources
By Mathew Schwartz

How To Push Your Company Toward VoIP

September 10, 2007 | Small and midsize businesses are facing choices as they contemplate how to upgrade their voice and data networks. They also are discovering the power of integrating business applications with voice to achieve truly unified communications
By Kate Gerwig

The Trouble With Used Networking Gear

September 6, 2007 | Low prices for used networking equipment can make small and midsize businesses salivate. But counterfeit products, tech support issues, and Frankenstein engineering persist. Could industry endorsement of used-gear vendors make a difference?
By Paul Korzeniowski

Mid-Market Heroes: Leveraging Technology In a Tech-Adverse Industry

August 30, 2007 | Bamboo Pipeline -- a bMighty Mid-Market Hero company -- uses high-tech systems to sell plants to landscape professionals used to working with sod and dirt, not keyboards and monitors
By Naomi Grossman

Upgrading Your Legacy Systems

August 28, 2007 | Follow this three-step process to modernize your company's aging hardware and software; it may not be easy, but it's worth it
By John Dickinson

For Your Protection: How to Use Hotspots Safely

August 24, 2007 | Public Wi-Fi hotspots have more in common with public toilets than mere convenience. Some are safer than others. Here's what you need to know to stay safe when you're on the road and you've gotta go -- online
By Carmen Nobel

ASP Business Experts Build Online Community For Caregivers

August 21, 2007 | Two IT professionals used their ASP skills to build Lotsa Helping Hands, a free Web community designed to help manage logistics for caregivers
By Keith Ferrell

10 Smart Questions About Hosted VoIP

August 20, 2007 | The VoIP decision shouldn't be based on technology, but on how it will affect your business. Small businesses should ask themselves these 10 questions before making the leap to voice over IP and choosing hosted VoIP versus a do-it-yourself implementation
By Kate Gerwig

8 Steps of Telecommuting

August 15, 2007 | Telecommuting can increase productivity and save your company money. It can also be risky. Here's how to find the right balance between benefit and risk.
By Jimmy Ray Purser, Courtesy of Cisco Systems

5 Ways Wireless Can Boost Business

August 15, 2007 | Wireless networks can transform your business into a powerhouse by providing services to customers and adding more flexibility to your business than any other piece of hardware.
By Jimmy Ray Purser, Courtesy of Cisco Systems

Five Tips for World Class Customer Service

August 15, 2007 | Zealously protecting customer data and personalizing the customer experience are only two ways to ensure top notch customer service. Cisco's Jimmy Ray Purser offers three more tips.
By Jimmy Ray Purser, Courtesy of Cisco Systems

SAN's Role in Disaster Recovery

August 15, 2007 | With the cost and complexity of SANs that run over IP networks declining, this powerful storage solution is an attractive option for the small and medium-sized business.
By Gene Knauer, Courtesy of Cisco Systems

Keep Your Web Customers Coming Back

August 15, 2007 | Are you driving away business with an outdated web site? Here are three improvements you can make right now to keep your customers enaged, and get them to return.
By Eric J. Adams, Courtesy of Cisco Systems

Six Things You Don't Know About Linux

August 15, 2007 | If you've ever thought about giving Linux a whirl, this one's for you. Here are six useful facts that'll ease your path toward an open-source system
By Alexander Wolfe, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Planning for Disaster

August 15, 2007 | What would your company do if half of its workforce couldn't get to work for days or weeks? What would happen if remote access to apps and data, and the ability to communicate with other employees, customers, partners, and suppliers were unavailable or impaired?
By Gene Knauer, Courtesy of Cisco Systems

Expand Your Business with IP Communications

August 15, 2007 | Some small and medium-sized businesses view global expansion as a "daunting task." Others see IP communications as a way to overcome those limitations
By James A. Martin, Courtesy of Cisco Systems

The Business Case for Staying Connected

August 15, 2007 | Keeping a workforce connected to people and to data anytime, anywhere, is a big step toward boosting operational efficiency. It's especially important for small and medium-sized businesses
By James A. Martin, Courtesy of Cisco Systems

An Open Letter to Apple: Begging for a Better iPhone

August 8, 2007 | IT Administrator Kevin Miller has decided not to support the iPhone on his company's network. Find out why and what Apple could do to change his mind.
By Kevin Miller, Courtesy of Network Computing

Linux Vs. Mac: Which Is The Better Alternative To Microsoft Windows?

August 1, 2007 | If you're a Vista-wary Windows user who would rather switch than fight, should you move to a Linux distro or Apple's OS X? We asked a Mac fan and a Linux advocate to lead a guided tour of each OS.
By Serdar Yegulalp, Mitch Wagner, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Review: Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Beta CTP -- A Major Move Forward

July 26, 2007 | The server OS heralds a new age in Windows computing, one that will finally see a massive move to virtualization as well as major improvements in automation.
By Danielle Ruest and Nelson Ruest, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Quad-Core Processor Buyer's Guide 2007

July 22, 2007 | With Intel's Core 2 Quad family here, and AMD's Phenom desktop quad-core chips coming later this year, here's a handy guide to processor choices and specs, as well as hints on where to find bargains.
By Alexander Wolfe, Courtesy of InformationWeek

SOA Security: Time For A Second Look?

July 20, 2007 | Is it time to replace SSL with XML-based security? No, but Andy Dornan says smart IT pros are taking a second look at XML Encryption and using it to shore up SSL where strong end-to-end encryption is needed.
By Andy Dornan, Courtesy of Network Computing

Tutorial: Network Access Control (NAC)

July 17, 2007 | Network access control helps overburdened security groups level the playing field. Here's how to get started protecting your networks from malicious or misconfigured hosts.
By Mike Fratto, Courtesy of Network Computing

From Our Lab: XenSource's XenEnterprise Is A Virtualization Bargain

July 14, 2007 | XenSource's XenEnterprise offers solid performance and ease of use, and handily beats VMware on price. We put the 3.2 version to the test.
By Joe Hernick, Courtesy of InformationWeek

8 Sure-Fire Ways to Beat a Security Audit

July 9, 2007 | Experts share tips on how to avoid the most common pitfalls in an audit
By Dark Reading Staff, Courtesy of DarkReading

IDC Reports on BI Sales: Which Vendors Are Hot?

July 1, 2007 | Business intelligence software sales are growing at a double-digit pace, according to a new IDC report, and rising demand lifted sales for nearly every vendor. Microsoft and SAS led the way among the top-five vendors while one up-and-coming company racked up a near triple-digit sales gain. Despite all the "BI for everyone" marketing hype, IDC says the technology is still out of reach for mainstream business users.
By Doug Henschen, Courtesy of Intelligent Enterprise

IOV: The Final Frontier of Server Virtualization

June 27, 2007 | IO Virtualization is the last big step toward a modular and ultra-efficient utility data center.
By Steven Hill, Courtesy of Network Computing

What To Do When Windows Vista Crashes: Little-Known Recovery Strategies

June 27, 2007 | Because Microsoft's new operating system is bigger than its predecessors, it's more of a pain to reinstall. Here are some backup, repair, and monitoring methods so you won't have to, even if you encounter fatal startup errors.
By Alexander Wolfe, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Put Your USB Drive To Work: 5 Strategies For Going Mobile

June 16, 2007 | Your flash drive can do more than just hold data -- it can give you the ability to take your PC anywhere. Here are five strategies for making the most of that tiny USB key.
By Serdar Yegulalp, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Eight Vulnerabilities You May Have Missed

June 13, 2007 | Security vulnerabilities are always in the news, but the biggest threats might be the ones that don't get talked about, that don't end up in CERT advisories or trade publications. Here's a list of some of the most dangerous and least-discussed IT security vulnerabilities we've seen in recent weeks
By Dark Reading Staff, Courtesy of DarkReading

Review: F-Secure Client Security 7

June 11, 2007 | New features and lower pricing make Client Security 7 a good fit for many businesses. But is that enough to entice enterprises to replace their existing security software?
By Avi Baumstein, Courtesy of Network Computing

Review: SolarWinds' Orion 8.1

June 11, 2007 | Small and midsize enterprises looking for a feature-rich and cost-friendly network-management product that enhances performance- and fault-management features need look no further.
By Michael Biddick, Courtesy of Network Computing

Inside OSX Security: Keeping Your Mac Safe in an Unsafe World

June 9, 2007 | Mac expert takes you through the threats, holes, and exploits surrounding Mac OS X, and offers some tips, tactics for protection
By John C. Welch, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Ethernet Goes Green

May 28, 2007 | The IEEE's is studying how to cut Ethernet's power requirements through a technology called Rapid PHY Selection. But there are a number of hurdles to overcome
By Peter Morrissey, Courtesy of Network Computing

The Next Big Thing at Microsoft

May 22, 2007 | A Microsoft exec describes "Software + Service" (S+S), a best-of-both-worlds approach that combines the power of the desktop with the flexibility of the Web
By Ivan Schneider, Courtesy of SmallBizResource

Now Hear This: PBX is Viable, Affordable

May 8, 2007 | A new breed of hosted PBX systems is bringing feature-rich and budget-friendly telephony to SMBs
By Scott Koegler, Courtesy of SmallBizResource

Ubuntu Linux vs Windows Vista: The Battle for Your Desktop

April 27, 2007 | Is Linux finally ready to take on Windows as a desktop OS? An expert tried out both Vista and Ubuntu on individual PCs to see which works better. Here's who won.
By Serdar Yegulalp, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Top 5 Windows Vista Tips To Personalize Your PC

April 21, 2007 | Our list of hot features to add to your Vista installation includes video wallpaper, making Flip 3-D work more like the Mac's, tuning Firefox's user interface, managing security, and where to get a hold of nifty Sidebar Gadgets.
By Alexander Wolfe, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Hidden Gem: The Windows Disk Management Tool

April 16, 2007 | Create, delete, and format partitions; change drive letter assignments and paths; help set up disk mirroring and RAID; and more - all with this free Windows tool
By Fred Langa, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Five Online Backup Services to Keep Your Data Safe

April 9, 2007 | A look at five popular online backup services - AT&T Online Vault, Carbonite, eSureIT, iBackup, and Mozy - that may help you keep your backups up-to-date
By Serdar Yegulalp, Courtesy of InformationWeek

The State of Business Intelligence

March 30, 2007 | There's a transformational change going on in business intelligence. Next-generation BI promises speedier, automated decision-making, thanks to affordable computing and storage platforms and advances in business activity monitoring. We assess the changes in the market.
By David Stodder, Courtesy of Network Computing

VMware: The Virtualization Drag

March 30, 2007 | By consolidating applications onto a single system, VMware provides cost savings, flexibility and improved application management, but there are trade-offs. We took to the lab to identify and determine where virtualization performance hits and how to minimize them.
By Michael Caton, Courtesy of Network Computing

The State of Business Intelligence

March 29, 2007 | There's a transformational change going on in business intelligence. Next-generation BI promises speedier, automated decision-making, thanks to affordable computing and storage platforms and advances in business activity monitoring. We assess the changes in the market.
By David Stodder, Courtesy of Network Computing

Six Things You Don't Know About Linux

March 27, 2007 | If you've ever thought about giving Linux a whirl, this one's for you. Here are six useful facts that'll ease your path toward an open-source system
By Alexander Wolfe

Three Ultralight Laptops Get the Job Done

March 22, 2007 | Can an ultralight laptop be small enough to take on the road, yet big enough to be functional? Absolutely. But with ultralight laptops everything becomes a compromise, so choose carefully.
By David DeJean, Courtesy of Network Computing

Tutorial: How To Plan Your Vista Deployment

March 20, 2007 | If you have a strong business driver for deploying Vista, this 13-step planning timeline provides a basic road map. Obviously, not all migrations will require every step, and larger environments will involve more activities. Many of these tasks may occur in parallel based on resources, budget and motivation.
By Joe Hernick , Courtesy of Network Computing

How To Plan Your Vista Deployment

March 20, 2007 | If you have a strong business driver for deploying Vista, this 13-step planning timeline provides a basic road map. Obviously, not all migrations will require every step, and larger environments will involve more activities. Many of these tasks may occur in parallel based on resources, budget and motivation.
By Joe Hernick, Courtesy of Network Computing

IT/Business Alignment: Can't We All Just Get Along?

March 13, 2007 | Everyone loses when IT staffers refer to users as "lusers" and treat their customer base like the enemy, and when those same customers are often clueless about their role in project failures, and IT in general. Here's how to start reshaping attitudes and strengthen this critical relationship.
By Patricia Keefe, Courtesy of Optimize

Testing 10 Windows Registry Cleaners

March 6, 2007 | Fred Langa tries to make sense of wildly disparate vendor claims, and rates the best free and commercial software for scrubbing the Windows registry
By Fred Langa, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Run an Email Campaign Using Office 2007

March 1, 2007 | All the email addresses on your contacts list won't do you much good unless you use them regularly to reach out to your once and future customers. Here's how.
By Ivan Schneider, Courtesy of SmallBizResource

And You Thought Amazon Just Sold Books

February 23, 2007 | The online retailer has services that can help you set up a business-ready Web infrastructure
By Ivan Schneider, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Why Background Checks Matter

February 21, 2007 | What you don't know about a job candidate could severely hurt your business
By Naomi Grossman

Web Tips for the Fast Crowd

February 13, 2007 | Here are a few of the Web Tips Ivan Schneider learned at the WebDirections North conference in Vancouver.
By Ivan Schneider

The Real World of Computer Forensics

February 13, 2007 | A tutorial on computer forensics, e-discovery, and litigation support-tools you can use during an incident or during your next litigation.
By Keith Jones, Courtesy of Optimize

How to Protect Your Precious PC Data: From Physical Security to Encryption

February 10, 2007 | Steps you can take to protect your laptop, flash drive, from theft.
By David Strom, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Business Intelligence 2.0: Simpler, More Accessible, Inevitable

February 1, 2007 | Say goodbye to complicated interfaces, disconnected analytics and shelfware. An emerging era for BI will bring simplicity, broad access and better ties between analysis and action.
By Neil Raden, Courtesy of Intelligent Enterprise

How To Consolidate Servers With Virtualization

January 22, 2007 | Using Microsoft's Virtual Server 2005 R2 Standard Edition lets system builders create virtual servers that better use high-power hardware, save customers money, and run multiple OSes.
By David Gilbert, Courtesy of TechBuilder

What's a Wiki? Part II

January 18, 2007 | As I discussed last time, you may not be able to recreate Wikipedia for your own business. Nevertheless, there are several things that a small business can do with open-source wiki software. Consider wikis to be a content management system that can be deployed for purposes far afield from their original use.
By Ivan Schneider

What's a Wiki? Part I

January 16, 2007 | You've probably seen Wikipedia entries slowly but surely migrating to the top of your search results pages. You're likely accustomed to the format and tone of the site, and may even seek it out when looking for answers. Even here at Small Biz Resource, we link to relevant Wikipedia entries when appropriate, such as if we mention the topic Section 179 depreciation.
By Ivan Schneider

Mac OS X Shines in Comparison With Vista

January 8, 2007 | Amid the Windows Vista hype, Mac users understand that OS X is still a champ on many fronts. This article is accompanied by an image gallery.
By John C. Welch, Courtesy of InformationWeek

XP's Nondestructive Total-Rebuild Option

January 2, 2007 | How to completely rebuild, repair, or refresh an existing XP installation without messing anything up.
By Fred Langa, Courtesy of SmallBizResource

How to Build Better Passwords

December 18, 2006 | Stronger passwords don't have to be hard to create or use.
By Fred Langa, Courtesy of InformationWeek

What Vista Really Looks Like

November 30, 2006 | Pictures - 38 of them - speak louder than words when it comes to Microsoft's new operating system
By Alexander Wolfe, Courtesy of SmallBizResource

A Comprehensive Look at Microsoft Office 2007

November 21, 2006 | With Microsoft Office 2007 finalized and almost ready to ship, we took a close look at its new features, versions, and apps
By Rick Broida, David DeJean, and Serdar Yegulalp, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Windows Vista Report Card

November 20, 2006 | A comprehensive assessment of the operating system - with a complementary image gallery
By Alexander Wolfe, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Review: Storage Offerings That Fit Your Business

November 13, 2006 | The data stored by small businesses is just as critical to them as it is to the enterprise. Even consumers in today's digital world need storage, and not just the storage provided by local hard drives. The right kind of storage offers redundancy in case of drive failure, and hot-swap capability, which allows failed drives to be replaced with no downtime.
By Marc Spiwak, Courtesy of CRN

The Definitive Guide to Wireless Hotspots

November 6, 2006 | Everything you've always wanted to know about using hotspots but didn't know who to ask
By David Haskin, Courtesy of SmallBizResource

Dual-Core CPU Buyer's Guide

September 5, 2006 | Choosing a desktop processor can be tough. We make the decision easier with a guide to chip choices, specs, and pointers to some bargains
By Alexander Wolfe

The Seven Pillars of BI Success

September 1, 2006 | Business intelligence tools may be getting better, but technology is only part of the story. To succeed you must develop measures, set a strategy, manage effectively, ensure executive support, choose the right tools, standardize on a platform and align the BI strategy with business. Here's how to make it happen.
By Cindi Howson, Courtesy of Intelligent Enterprise

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