Content Filtering and its Importance to Small Business

Most small businesses do not filter Internet content, what's the point? First, lets look at content types and then discuss the issues with not controlling what your business allows in and out of the Internet.

Content Types

• HTTP(s) Web Traffic - Normal Web Pages
• Instant Messaging (IM) - MSN/AOL/Yahoo Messaging, File Transfer and Voice
• File Transfer Protocol (FTP) - Common method for transferring files
• Streaming Media - Used to stream video and/or music

Content Concerns

Network Bandwidth can be an expensive commodity for small businesses, depending on your region or location. Non-business web surfing, instant messaging and streaming media can consume all of your Internet bandwidth, leaving your production application or web site with poor performance.

Legal Risk isn't on the forefront of a small business owner's mind when allowing employees access to the Internet. Employees use company computers to download copyrighted materials such as music and dvd's. The RIAA has fined Millions of Dollars (Yes Millions) to businesses that have copyrighted materials on their computers and file systems, all downloaded by employees.

Human Resources is concerned about offensive or harassing material being displayed on company computer systems. The Internet allows access to any and all types of sexually explicit content. Sexual harassment claims can be costly for a small business and are avoidable.

Data Theft by disgruntled employees can leave a company without it's most valuable resource, customers. Customers are more likely to switch services when they find out their personal data has been lost or stolen. IM and FTP make it extremely simple to copy customer data to a remote location. USB drives also pose the same risk.

The Solution

Proxy Servers are the most flexible and best suited to handle all four concerns above. They sit between the computer and the Internet, handling all Internet traffic. They act as the traffic cop in the middle of a busy intersection when the stop light is out. They determine when and where what types of content can leave the network. Depending on the proxy server, they can cache web pages, which saves network bandwidth, limit streaming music bandwidth, filter categories of URL (pornography, mature content, etc...) and control instant messaging traffic.

Personal Computer Web Control Software can be installed on individual pc's to control web site access, instant message and time of day access but is not scalable for a large number of PC's.

Conclusion

Each business needs to add a content filtering and acceptable Internet use policy to the security policy or employee handbook. Production application performance, legal / human resource risk and data theft are concerns for all business. Content filtering is not a significant investment compared to legal fees dealing with RIAA, sexual harassment or lost customer data.

Aaron Magruder

(816) 566-0017

NonStop Networks, LLC

Kansas City Cisco Select Partner

Network, Security and Unified Communications Solutions

The Power of Voice over IP Applications

Every business has at least one of the following general objectives.

1. Increased Productivity
2. Be more Efficient
3. Decrease Cost
4. Increase Revenue.

Voice over IP applications have endless capabilities to do just that, all from your phone and without turning on your computer!

Common VoIP Applications

• Automated Dial out capabilities for client reminders (appointment, payment, collection, office closings). Don't spend hours of your day manually calling clients.
• Album - Provide revenue generating advertisement, show case your products, training, employee roster, etc
• Client Billing - Ensure every second of your phone calls are tracked and billed to the correct client. On average, 30 minutes of your day is not billed. That's 120 hours a year! What is your hourly bill rate?
• Call Recording - Record important phone calls even after you hang up the phone, book mark and comment different parts of each conversation
• Safety Alerts - Alert office of emergency
• RSS Feeds and Weather
• Clock In / Clock Out

Physician

• Automate patient checking by turning the IP Phone into a kiosk
• Patient Management - Prerecorded appointment reminders
• Call Recording for Dictation and e-mail wav file to transcription office

Legal

• Client Billing - Client matter entry and phone call validations.
• Firm-Client Interaction - Appointment and billing reminders from the firm to the client using the dial-out application.
• Firm Productivity - Call coverage for status visual on employees.

Retail

• Task Management - List daily task for employees at set times, check off when completed. Escalate to manager when task is not completed.
• Employee Recognition
  Send employees alerts to recognize outstanding performance.

General Office and Manufacturing

• Encompasses the majority of the applications listed above.

Summary

"IPsmartSuite is a ‘business-intelligent’ communications solution for the challenges facing small business. It is an out-of-the box, easy to deploy and manage solution aimed at small companies who do not have an IT staff. IPsmartSuite streamlines everyday business processes used by small companies. IPsmartSuite uses the IP Phone to manage daily functions such as staffing, task management, payroll controls, billing, appointment reminders – even emergency response."

Aaron Magruder (816) 566-0017

NonStop Networks, LLC

http://www.nonstopnetworks.net

Unified Communications

Unified Communications is a term used to describe integrated data, voice, video, wireless and security. What is the purpose of Unified Communications and why would I spend the money on it? I have a phone system that makes and takes calls and wireless router that allows my computers access to the Internet.

The advantage to Unified Communications is in the ability to integrate and expand on your investment, increase efficiency and productivity.

• I bet your existing phone system can't communicate with Skype or capable of SIP Trunking, which could save you hundreds of dollars on your phone bill every year or even every month.
• Does it allow you to view your voicemail before listening to them so that you listen to the most urgent voice mails first?
• Can you put a phone anywhere on the Internet and connect it to your phone system and call as if you were in the office?
• Can it do staff management company reminders/announcements, dial-out to customers and suppliers, office closures, shipping updates, and call recording.

A Unified Communications solutions for small and medium business is less expensive because it incorporates voice, video, data, wireless and security from a single vendor into a single system. You don't have to purchase a phone system, switch, router, firewall, vpn and access point from different vendors and make them all work together. Single vendor solutions can decrease the Total Cost of Ownership even though the initial multi-vendor price tag may be cheaper.