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YOU'D HAVE A TOUGH TIME finding the small or medium-sized business that
doesn't rely on technology to help it both thrive in
good times, and better weather the bad times. And
with technologies such as Web 2.0, cloud computing
and virtualization emerging, there's an evolution
under way that could enable SMBs to compete-
to get more done with less, raise productivity, and
protect or increase profits.
"Maintaining an up-to-date IT platform is essential
for the competitive success of almost every business,
and it can serve as an equalizer for small and
medium-sized businesses as IT increasingly fuels
everything from back-office operations to customer
sales and service," says Chaim Lowenstein, CIO at
solutions provider Web Commerce LLC.
Jim Peterson, technology coordinator at Goodnight
Memorial Library in Franklin, Ky., agrees, and
adds that forging relationships with other senior
managers and executives can be key to raising security's
profile within the company. "Most small businesses
have budget constraints. While the case for
security is easy to make, many small-business managers
will balk at the price of appliances, servers, software
and services," Peterson says.
Fortunately, there are signs that this type of attitude
is starting to change.
A CDW Small Business Driver's Seat Report published
in April found data security to be the most
pressing interest of SMB executives-coming in as a
higher priority...
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than wireless technologies, business
intelligence, and even e-commerce and marketing.
The survey also found that 47 percent plan to have a
formal business continuity/disaster recovery (BC/DR)
plan in place within three years. And of those without
a dedicated IT worker, 33 percent will create that
position in the next three years.
THE RELATIONSHIP EDGE
That data is welcome news for anyone charged with
securing SMB systems.Most SMB managers say getting
the ear of management is the key to increasing
the security budget, and that starts with forging solid
relationships with business unit leaders.
"Relationships with other business units are very
important. Those units, if not part of the entire security
plan, can undermine any efforts that get put into
place. Security is a company effort, and managing
the different aspects of security requires that all business
units participate and support the security plan,"
says Tom Schill, VP of operations at mobile search
firm Medio Systems.
Having all aspects of a business carry their weight
(or at least not fighting security expenditures) is ideal.
But it's not always easy getting there. Most security
managers at smaller firms say they try to tackle major
security projects one at a time. This may involve first
securing the network perimeter, getting BC/DR plans
in place, then maybe focusing on Web applications,
rather than trying to do too much, too fast.
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