Anthony Ricigliano Business Blog

IT News by Anthony Ricigliano: The topic of data leaks has been making headlines in the world of IT professionals for some time now. With each passing year, it seems that more ways are being found to punch holes in security systems from both external and internal sources. As more companies become more conscious of their potential security risks, those seeking to circumvent the system are busy finding new ways to thwart their efforts to secure their data.

One of the easiest ways for even amateur hackers to gain access to your data is from emails sent by your employees. Perhaps an employee makes an inquiry by email regarding the availability of an item needed for the office. The vendor replies with a quote, and your employee responds with an email containing the company credit card number. By the time it is discovered that the number has been leaked, there can be thousands of dollars charged to the company card, requiring many hours to rectify.

Perhaps the company has employees who work from home or travel. Documents sent via email that contain information on an upcoming bid structure and amount can fall into the hands of the competition, who can then undercut your bid. Discussions of proposed acquisitions can destroy all chances of the purchase.

Your customers might innocently request that confidential information be sent as an email attachment. Perhaps you are an accountant, and the client would like to review his tax returns before you file them. He may request a list of his prices under a competitive pricing agreement that would create ill will among other customers if they knew he was receiving preferential pricing. The client can also initiate the data leak by emailing you information such as his social security number or bank routing information.

Many employees routinely email files to their personal email accounts so that they can access the data from home. This may be legitimate, as when he or she merely wants to work over the weekend or needs instant access to data when out of the office. However, it can also be a case of an employee providing the information to your competition.

Your employee data security can also be compromised easily. An email attachment of your employees’ names, home addresses, and phone numbers can be an issue if intercepted by an unauthorized user. If you add the employees’ social security numbers, birth dates, or anniversary dates, virtually everyone on the list is at risk of identity theft.

Fortunately, there are ways to prevent data leaks. The first step requires almost no expense and is simply a matter of implementing policies designed to protect your company’s information. Establish policies on who can connect, when it is allowable, and from where they can connect. Forbid logging in from public computers, such as Internet cafes or airport kiosks. Define a policy for file transfers to removable devices such as laptops, disks, or memory sticks. Include an audit trail so that you will be able to track who has downloaded what. Create a list of approved devices to help prevent hackers from downloading data.

Encrypt files at both the file and disk levels. Files that are encrypted while they are in motion are less likely to be of any use to a hacker even if intercepted. It also allows you to monitor your most sensitive data and see where it has been and who is accessing the files.

Establish a secure perimeter around your network. All data being sent out should be scanned for patterns or keywords that could identify a potential leak of sensitive information. If a match is found, the system can block the transmission.

Think of the business world as a desert through which you must navigate if you are to be successful. Now imagine that your company data is the bottle of water that will keep you going on your trek. As long as the bottle remains intact, you will be able to use the contents when needed. If it begins to leak, however, you are losing the lifeblood of your business. Other denizens in the desert can use the water you lose to sustain their own existence. They may be scavengers seeking an easy drink or predators out to cause you serious harm. Either way, your loss is their gain. Once the contents of the bottle have been leaked, the water is contaminated, and even if you can scoop it back into the bottle, you are likely to get a great deal of debris you do not want.

Author Anthony Ricigliano

Author Anthony Ricigliano::: The invention of email attachments back in 1996 changed the way that we communicate as well as the way that we view the internet. With the advent of such a system, people started wielding the ability to easily send out properly formatted documents to their email contacts with a very little amount of training required. Attachments became an overnight craze that resulted in business practices which are radically more streamlined. However, the invention of file attachments has also come complete with a hidden price–storage space. Storing huge files in an email inbox can result in exceeding mailbox storage limits. Keeping attachments can also hurt a business by impeding the performance of a server, leading to the lagging load time, backed-up files, and requiring system restores. A large number of attachments in an inbox can obstruct the proper functioning of an email system. This is the reason why it is so important to organize and archive attachments. The amount of money that can be saved by taking control of a mailbox overflowing with email attachments can save a company from debilitating increased storage costs. An archival and organizational system can save innumerable company dollars, including both hard and soft dollars.

Archiving attachments is a simple process that almost anyone can figure out without much research or training. Although many email servers come with an integrated archiving and organizing systems, higher end software is also readily available. Commercial archival and organizational software may better suit the needs of larger companies and corporations, or those who desire a greater level of organization and functionality.

Archiving attachments is a process that can lead to higher efficiency and productivity. Besides freeing up valuable inbox space, archiving attachments can provide quicker access to archived emails. Through the use of a search tool, keywords can be typed in to find the email someone is searching for, making access to emails a smoother process. Attachments that are filed away are more secure as well. Accidental deletions and server crashes can lead to the loss of crucial documents. Archiving these attachments will ensure that the loss of important text files is far less likely.

Attachments, while useful, are also costly in their ramifications. Slower delivery times are a hindrance in situations that require speedy action. Large files weigh down a server, causing severe backups. System restores become necessary and can lead to the loss of valuable information.

Because file attachments comprise 95% of the bandwidth of an email system, they are also the cause of the majority of the costs associated with network storage. Archiving these files can cut these costs exponentially. Archiving files takes up less storage space in an email system. Less storage space needed in an email system means a lower price tag overall. Adding an archival system to an email management plan will allow funds to be directed towards more lucrative investments.

Overall, implementing an archival and organizational system for email can help to make a business more effective under the pressures of crucial deadlines. By reducing storage costs, such a system will eventually pay for itself. The massive gains in productivity associated with adding archival software to an email system can lead to happier users of a system. The ease with which the process of archiving attachments is done can facilitate the protection of sensitive information. Decreasing the bandwidth used by a system is as easy as archiving and organizing attachments, which can in turn lead to quicker delivery times and a speedier system. The benefits of adding an archival organizational system are truly fantastic and should be a goal of any company looking to alleviate problems in excessive attachment storage.

Anthony Ricigliano

Today’s business world is a difficult place for warehouse managers and inventory specialists. One area where the stakes have been raised significantly is the distribution industry. The margin for error is razor thin and those businesses that succeed are the ones that use technology to their advantage. Efficiency is the name of the game in distribution, since having too much or too little inventory can lead to equally ugly problems. So what is the magic solution for those in charge of large distribution companies? An excess of information and a well-equipped integrated system are two great resources to have in your back pocket.

Though the current economic climate has brought distribution difficulties to the forefront, the business is a tough one in any economic climate. Warehouses that contain too little inventory can lead to delays, since orders won’t be filled on time. This can hurt relationships with end-clients and important business partners. On the flip side, efficient warehouses cannot contain too much inventory, since this will take up valuable space and drain the bottom line. The key is finding that middle ground, where a business has just enough inventory to fill its needs, while not wasting space in the warehouse with dead weight.

So how do businesses find this balance and put their distribution company on the track toward success? Most find that a dedication to precision analytics is the right approach. Though it might not seem obvious, the numbers are there, hiding under stacks of old order forms. The key for businesses is taking this information about clients, products, and time frames and turning it into something much more useful. It is especially worth noting that there are ways to make this happen in today’s business world, giving businesses the power they need to succeed in a competitive marketplace.

During the day-to-day routine of a typical business, veritable islands of data are collected. These data points might include information on a customer’s buying history and his quarterly needs. It might contain information on the perfect inventory levels for that business at its peak efficiency. The data might indicate pricing points that a business needs to implement in order to stay competitive. All of the information is there, but the disjointed nature of business data makes it difficult for companies to react. With this in mind, successful distribution businesses do something to change that trend. They use remarkably precise systems to collect, organize, and dispense data for people to use in decision making.

In the past, business owners and warehouse managers have viewed this type of program as an unnecessary expense. They thought of it as a luxury. Today, the smart professionals understand that these tools are an important part of the efficiency process. The money saved and business relationships preserved as a result of integrated information systems is enough to justify its cost to almost any business. With a solid system in place, managers will know exactly when a customer is likely to order and they will know how much he is going to order. This can help in preparation, giving the warehouse time to stock up. Likewise, this helps smart businesses avoid overstocking, which can be wasteful from a cost perspective.

Likewise, the data compilations are presented in an analytical way, giving smart business people the opportunity to compare their methods with others in the industry. The business world is wildly competitive at this point in time, so having this information can be the difference between a successful company and one that struggles. Likewise, it can help to promote growth, providing a distribution business with optimal allocation of its most important resources, including man hours and precious warehouse space. In all, integrated systems are the key to efficiency in a market that demands such.

Business And Technology Articles by Anthony Ricigliano

A Wireless Distribution System (WDS) allows different computers and other hardware, known as access points, to connect using wireless radio frequency links.

Wireless Distribution System is the name of the wireless connection used for the IEEE 802.11 standard network. Usually a WDS will involve a base station that actually is wired to the Ethernet, and which acts as a radio transmitter of the connection signal to the other access points. Communication between all the access points in the system occurs over a single radio channel usually with either Wireless Equivalent Privacy (WEP) or Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) encryption for security.

The WDS uses wireless repeating allowing the system to bridge multiple access points at the same time. Wireless bridging can also be set up that only allows WDS access points to communicate but not other types of wireless clients.

The advantage of wireless networking is, of course, the elimination of any need of cables to connect access points. A wireless network allows users a greater degree of mobility and flexibility especially mobile access points are in use.

Compared to some other connection options, the Wireless Distribution System is considered cost-effective since adding new access points does not require new PC cards. All that is needed is that the access point is reconfigured. The WDS can also easily be expanded to locations that are not near existing wired networks, something that is often difficult or unfeasible when using cables to connect networks.

Among the disadvantages of the WDS is the loss of throughput caused by the need for communications to be retransmitted to each client. In a wired system, the communication is generally made directly between two access points.

Another disadvantage is that due to the lack of standardization, the Wireless Distribution System does not support more secure encryption key types that are handled dynamically. The WDS can use only static WPA and WEP keys, which are notably easier for hackers to break. However, it is possible to use WPA with pre-shared keys, for example, WPA2-PSK Mixed Mode and WPA-PSK are available using firmware updates.

The Wireless Distribution System, then, is a convenient method of wirelessly connecting access points in an IEEE 802.11 network. The system is cost-effective and flexible, and can handle multiple clients using wireless repeating. However, the maximum effective throughput is halved due to information retransmission, and the WDS does not support dynamically generated and rotated encryption keys.

News And Advice By Anthony Ricigliano

A Wireless Distribution System (WDS) allows different computers and other hardware such as printers and scanners, known as access points, to be connected using wireless radio frequency links. The advantages of wireless networking as provided by a Wireless Distribution System are greater degrees of mobility, flexibility, and convenience as hardware is freed from being linked by wires and/or cables. The absence of these wires and cable also improves the aesthetics of a home or business environment.

Compatible with the IEEE 802.11 standard network, Wireless Distribution Systems employ a base station wired to the Ethernet, which then acts as the radio transmitter for the connection signals to the other access points. Communications between all the access points and the base station in the system occur over a single radio channel with either Wireless Equivalent Privacy (WEP) or Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) encryption for security.

The Wireless Distribution System uses wireless repeating which allow the system to bridge multiple access points at the same time. This capability can be set up so that it only allows specific WDS access points to communicate with the system but excludes other types of wireless clients.

Wireless Distribution Systems are considered to be more cost-effective than other networking options because the addition of new access points does not require new PC cards. Instead, the access points are reconfigured to the network. A WDS can also easily be expanded in area to locations that might not be feasible for wired networks, especially when connecting access points which are in different rooms or different floors.

A WDS has two disadvantages when compared to a wired network; the first being the loss of throughput caused by the need for communications to be retransmitted from the base station to each client. Wired systems are not subject to this issue as communications are generally made directly between two access points. The second disadvantage is that due to the lack of standardization between access points, the Wireless Distribution Systems do not support more secure encryption key types that are handled dynamically. A WDS can use only static WPA and WEP keys, which are much easier for hackers to break. However, it is possible to use WPA with pre-shared keys such as WPA2-PSK Mixed Mode and WPA-PSK, which are available using firmware updates.

The Wireless Distribution Systems offer a convenient method of wirelessly connecting access points in an IEEE 802.11 network. Cost-effective, convenient, and flexible they can serve multiple clients using wireless repeating. While the systems aren’t currently suitable for extremely high throughput and security requirements, the systems are gaining in popularity and usage as capabilities increase and costs decrease.

Advice By Anthony Ricigliano

The new wave in office computing is here, and it’s in the palm of your hand. The lines between work and non-work blur when your employees can carry access to all of your company’s business around in their pockets wherever they go, on a machine that’s neither customizable nor necessarily well-protected. Understandably, many managers are a little leery of embracing the new technology, despite its potentials for improved productivity, networking and communication. If you’re interested in the potentials of mobile computing devices, including next-gen phones and netbooks, Voice over IP (VOIP) services, CTI (computer-telephony integration) and unified communication, read on.

By Any Means Necessary

How do you maintain productivity when your employees aren’t physically around to watch their progress? Improved network mobility means that workers can work from anywhere. As such, it might make more sense to reward good workers, financially even, by how many projects they complete, rather than by the time they spend “working.” The other way that you, as a manager, can maintain productivity is to learn the lingo. Set up a Facebook account, set up your own Skype account so you can use VoIP with your workers.

General Security Risks

There are so many unknowns regarding many mobile networked devices on the market today. They can be divided into two categories:

* How safe is my network from the device’s unconscious mechanisms?
* How safe is my network from malicious intrusion attempts using the device?

Because devices are all third-party, you need to do your research before you okay the use of a mobile device on your business network. While Apple and the ubiquitous iPhone have too much to lose from poorly-functioning devices, smaller companies may not have the same security compunctions, opting instead for a quick profit. Consult your IT professional and only allow devices that have a proven track record!

Regarding malicious intrusion, the best way to combat that is simply to inform yourself. Inform yourself and inform your network administrators on the potential danger, and ask them to test out the system against wireless hacking attempts.

The Movement of Data

The rise of mobile computing has necessitated a huge data exodus from individual buildings, servers and filing cabinets to the broad Internet. Now, your information no longer has an address and a door, instead it has to have a website and marketing potential. Because company-specific data and consumer data are so close, chances are they’re likely to overlap some. This brings me to my final point:

Increased Transparency

Because of mobile communication, people expect to be in touch with their business all the time, at all hours of the day. This creates a culture of transparency, as the only way to maintain a healthy, thriving business is to share everything with everyone involved. This extends to customers as well – because customers also have utilize mobile computing, you need to manage your staff to be aware that at any point, someone could be surfing your website from their laptop. This can feel strange, but it is ultimately satisfying.

Where Do We Go From Here?

The Internet is only going to get more ubiquitous as time goes on. Human beings will believe that a wireless connection is every bit as much an inalienable right as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Rather than run away from revolutionary technologies like VoIP, CTI and UC, among other things, managers must learn to embrace and master these if they are to transform their team into its most productive self.

Author: Anthony Ricigliano