The 200 Series Switches and RV 220W Network Security Firewall help make your network safer, more flexible
Many small companies want to give their employees options for getting their work done, especially now that so many people are using smart phones and tablet computers like the iPad to run productivity apps. These options include allowing remote access to the network, adding wireless services to the existing network, or enabling voice services.
This increase in connectivity options, however, comes with a security risk. It’s a balancing act that all companies—regardless of size—need to perform: You don’t want to risk unauthorized access via remote or wireless connections, so your network security measures should keep pace with your connectivity options.
The bottom line is that it all starts with the underlying hardware.
When looking to build out your network, focus on core networking products designed for small businesses, which provide the advanced features you need at an affordable price. These products are also easier to use than those designed for larger companies. (If you’re just starting to build a small business network, this post will give you some pointers.)
New cloud-based service offers an easy, reliable way to create offsite backups
Have you seen the latest numbers about small businesses and their disaster recovery plans? They’re pretty scary. In its 2011 SMB Disaster Preparedness Global Survey, Symantec found that half of small and mid-sized companies are not prepared for disaster. Of those 50 percent with no disaster-recovery plan, only 36 percent intend to implement a plan.
The risks are tremendous—a single disaster could put a small business out of business. In fact, an outage can cost as much as $12,500 a day, according to Symantec’s research. Even if the company gets back online, customers won’t necessarily return if they perceive the company to be unreliable.
Eren Hussein, Director of Solutions Marketing for Cisco Small Business, shares details about new products, services and financing offers announced today, including:
- How can technology help you serve customers better and attract the best employees?
- What are the basic pieces of IT equipment you need for a small office network?
- Can doing it all yourself be a bad thing?
- How is technology allowing small businesses to act like big businesses (but at an affordable price tag)?
- What is this thing called “the cloud” and why should I care?
These questions and more were answered this week by Cisco’s own small business technology experts, Andrew Sage and Ian Pennell, in a video interview as part of the Talk2Cisco series.
If your email inbox was anything like mine during the holidays, much of your time was probably spent hitting the Delete button. The number of emails I received from retailers trying to tempt me with special holiday offers was staggering. With prices so low, particularly for electronics touted as “prosumer,” who wouldn’t be tempted to buy those for a small business? Read More »
