Delivering Internet Success to Small Businesses - Literature review Example

DELIVERING INTERNET SUCCESS TO SMALL BUSINESSES: NETWORK SECURITY FREE ONLINE TRAINING Literature Review Background of the Review With the emergence of information technology's embrace over the different indicative resolutions provided to modern business industries, it could not be denied that the saturation of resources for this particular approach to business have been better dealt with through online support as well. There are some instances when finding on-ground support is not easy enough to obtain especially for those owning small businesses online. Likely, seeking the help of professional individuals in the field of information technology does cost something, and practically, this amount is not quite a considerable amount that small business owners would like to pay. For this reason, there are those small business entrepreneurs that resort to online help provisions. IT has been considered that online help provisions are much practical, more informative and more up building for those who are still starting as novice online business operators. Within the discussion that follows, presenting the different readings that might be able to support the need to understand what network security is and how free online training could help in proceeding with its application shall be better presented herein. Basic Considerations in Joining Online Business Systems The world of online business networking is indeed a very much inviting new arena for business owners who have both large and small scale entities which are designed to particularly generate profit for better income returns. This is especially true for small scale businesses. This is the reason why there are many individual network business establishers who are best able to consider the different possibilities of earning through online connections. How is this particularly done Through the systems of online networking, business owners are able to maintain proper contact with their clients, their possible outsourced workers and their partners from the different parts of the world. Do not be misled, yes, the business scales considered herein are those that of the small ones. Small as they are though, functioning through the internet involves several considerations upon the capability of each element of the business to perform well for its success is essential. The book of Rick Segel (2006) on The essential online solution: the five step formula for small business success mentions of the five most important considerations that online business owners should give particular attention to. According to Segel, these five steps enable even small scale business operators to gain the best out of the online networking systems that are expected to further fuel small time profit organizations towards the success that they all deserve to have (43). This is further supported by Edward Firegold (2001) as he writes about the Internet Infrastructure: a blueprint for success, the ultimate guide to understanding and delivering open source system online. Through this analysis, Firegold tries to point out the importance of using a well enabled system that would be able to support the functions of modern networking operations when it comes to business deals and transactions made and verified online. He further notes that there are certain transactions over the internet that might cause a small scale business to fail in the process of getting its clients' loyalty and trust (65). To avoid this particular matter from happening, the utilization of a user-friendly online operating system is essential (112). Surely, through adapting to a well-adjustable online operating system, even small scale business operators would be able to manage their online resources effectively. Meanwhile, Susan Payton (2009) discussed safety on online marketing procedures as she writes about the Internet marketing for entrepreneurs: using web 2.0 strategies for success [the small business management collection]. In this writing, Payton intends to show small scale business entrepreneurs the importance of being able to control the strategies used by their organization in order to create protected and effective online marketing (90). Why should marketing strategies be protected There are different approaches to marketing; and some do involve the emergence of the industry's need of focusing on the most important issues that includes flash animation presentations, data source protection and others that are supposed to be authenticated and secured from online ad hacking approaches (221). True to its sense, Payton outlines the possible security measures that should be given attention to in connection with this particular issue when it comes to business security and protection. But what of the networking systems that are shared by the members of the organization online It could be noted that even though the organization may be small, possible connections with other business partners from other parts of the globe may still occur. For instance, a small online business for producing online ebooks is in need of connecting to each other through safe networking. What particular protection does small scale business organization need in terms of network security issues Understanding Information Security From the term itself, information security notes the need to protect the information shared by authorized personnel enjoined within a small scale business organization through a network connection that is posted online. For example, an online multilevel marketing organization need to have secured data passed on to their members in connection with their monthly earnings or an update when it comes to their sales and other matters as such. These data are confidential; information that must be shared only between the members and the administrators. However, it could be agreed upon that the internet is a publicly used entity of connections. Likely, sharing private information through the net is another phase of the issue considered. According to Charlie Kaufman's (2002) Network Security: Private Communication in a Public World, communicating online privately may have been an impossible matter especially for small scale organization way back when the internet just started. Apparently, the establishment of a well managed private conversation over the net is one of the most intricate and complex online protection. No matter, this does not mean that the process of safe and private online communication is unreachable (223). Directly, it could be observed that online operations are supposedly public unless the websites created are accompanied by private encryptions that make the program inaccessible to public users. The encryption of the programs used to establish a website makes it more secure for private communications (144). However, the question is how secured could these systems be Michael Miller's (2008) writing entitled Is it safe Protecting your computer, your business and yourself online, gives a proper vision and practical self-help procedures that small business online operators need to be able to establish a safe and private network that could insist on the capability of the system to protect all the information in it and be accessed only by those who are authorized to do so (98). This is further supported by the step-by-step procedure that is suggested in the writings of Eric Seagen (2007). In this writing, Seagen intended to make a good outline on how small scale business operators could find free online help or training that could assist them in developing the right skills that they need in securing their business information without the need of completing a computer science degree in a university (87). Free online education through blogs, reviews and informative guide websites are among the suggested sources (Seagen, 34). Considering the fact that network security begins with username-password protection towards the personal data security provisions, it could be agreed upon that the existence of a properly managed program that is intended to give protection to this indicative need is an essential part of successful online operations. To note which particular factors need to be protected in consideration with small scale businesses, the writing of Charles Nault (2009) on Risk-free technology: how small to medium businesses can stem huge losses from poorly performing IT systems enlists the following basic network protection needs of organizations within the small and medium scale operations: (a) Basic Firewall;(b)basic antivirus software; (c) robust password for personal network router; (d) Enabling of MAC address filtering for tracking purposes; (e)Assigning STATIC IP addresses for the sake of protecting the network devices that are used to connect the networks; (f) Disable the ICMP ping; (g) constantly review the different firewall logs used in the network-this will allow the operators to see if there are certain unauthorized entry in the network through defining the abnormal network connections or possible internet traffic tampering; (h)Create passwords for all accounts as webhosts automatically provide online protection through the utilization of the username-password systems application; (i) create an authenticated administration account and members account with the use of separate programs for the information to be secured only to those who are authorized to see the data. (344-365) Summary of Review From the review of literature presented herein, it could be observed that the realities behind IT protection systems might be quite simple to understand. However, no matter how easy it may seem, it could not be denied that the sophistication of the process for proper online protection to be reached involve a more considerable approach to be used. Online programmers are among the most capable individuals to mandate this need for online protection. However, for small time small business operators, hiring experts who are able to provide these protective measures for the sake of securing private information may at some point be a bit expensive to consider. No matter, small scale business operators who want to establish their business entities online are in no need of panicking. With the help of free online training consideration given to those who are novice in the system, a small scale business operator would be able to get the help that he needs to protect the information that he intends to post in his website. Proper knowledge of the said secured programming could also be provided by the webhosts themselves. This is the reason why every small scale business operator is suggested to have a good sense of command over the systems of the internet and how these systems could be used for the sake of making a good sense of reputation for an online business entity giving it proper chances of protecting the values of its clients as well as of its business partners that migh be networked from the different parts of the world. References: Blume, Allan. (2010). Your virtual success: finding profitability in an online world. Carter Press. London: UK. Firegold, Edward. (2001). Internet Infrastructure: A blueprint for success, the ultimate guide to understanding and delivering open source system. Business Edge Solutions. Canada: Ontario. Kaufman, Charlie. (2002). Network security: Private communication in a public world. Prentice Hall. New York: New York. Miller, Michael. (2008). Is it safe Protecting your computer, your business and yourself online. Prentice Hall. New York: New York. Nault, Charles. (2009). Risk-free technology: how small to medium businesses can stem huge losses from poorly performing IT systems. Global Professional Publishing. London: UK. Payton, Susan. (2009). Internet Marketing for Entrepreneurs: using web 2.0 strategies for success (small business management collection). Business Expert Press. London: UK. Segel, Rick. (2006). The essential online solution: the 5-step formula for small business success, Wiley publishing. Seagen, Eric. (2007). Secure your network for free. Syngress Publishing. Chicago. Read More