►10 Ways to Work More Securely
used with permission from Microsoft At Work

The security of your computer and data is crucial for you and the success of your company. Lost or stolen information can reveal company secrets, or expose your confidential or personal information. The more you do to keep your computer secure, the safer your information will be. Use these 10 tips to learn ways you can help protect your computer, your data, and your company's network.

1. Work with your IT department
Make sure that you install all of the patches and updates that your IT department recommends. In addition to installing Windows and Office updates, your IT department might require you to install additional security software, such as a firewall or custom software to help you connect from remote locations. Making these regular installations will keep your computer and your company's network as secure as possible.

Learn more about ways to manage your computer and devices at work.

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Like almost everyone who uses e-mail, I receive a ton of spam every day. Much of it offers to help me get out of debt or get rich quick. It would be funny if it weren't so exciting.

~Bill Gates
 

►Just for Laughs

Skeptics suggest an economic crisis will stall sustainable business practices. They cling to the myth that going green costs more money. But many small businesses are discovering green habits save big money, especially when it comes to information technology.

The savings are many: Reduced power consumption, IT maintenance and hardware procurement costs. This can lead to increased productivity. You say your technology strategy isn't sophisticated? No worries. Here are five ways you can make it greener and budget friendly.

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Randi Smith-Todorowski's business was in the wrong place at the right time.

Atlas Martial Arts, the business she co-founded in Scottsdale, Ariz., was thriving. But the local economy wasn't. "The enthusiasm was there," she says. "But people were cutting back on luxury items, taking second jobs and traveling for work."

So with the end of their five-year lease imminent, Smith-Todorowski and her partner did what an increasing number of businesses are doing: they took their business virtual.

Into the cloud
It's hard to say precisely how many businesses are giving up bricks-and-mortar storefronts for Web sites, or moving "into the cloud" in tech parlance. Counting them is inherently difficult, says Daniel Meyerov, the chief executive of Los Angeles-based OnlyBusiness.com.

But there's anecdotal evidence from Meyerov and other experts that more businesses are taking a path into the cloud.

"It hit me when I got something in the mail from my alma mater, the University of Florida, about a complete online MBA," says Smith-Todorowski. "The world is really ready for the online Black Belt."

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Here's a cool computer tool we'd like you to know about because it can save you time and money: PDF995 is simple to use FREE software that converts documents to PDF (Portable Document File) format.

What is PDF format? "PDF is a file format that captures all the elements of a printed document as an electronic image that you can view, navigate, print. . .   or forward to someone else regardless, of the computer. . . program it was first created in." (Source: UCL Learning Technology, London, England).

Why is it important? Suppose you're sending an e-mail and you want to share a certain file or document. Your recipient might not be able to open your attachment unless they're using the same version of the program you used to create it in.

PDF format allows them to open it. It also prevents other people from making changes to your original document.

How do I create PDF files? PDF files are created using Adobe Acrobat Capture, or similar products such as PDF995. You can download it from http://www.pdf995.com/download.html.

You can also download complete documentation for converting PDFs using this cool tool from the resources on our website.

Finally, to view and use the files, you'll need the FREE Acrobat Reader, which can be easily downloaded from www.adobe.com.  Once you've downloaded the Reader, it will start automatically whenever you want to look at a PDF file.