For Free or Not for Free… Should Your Small Business Rely on Free Software?

With the emergence of free and open source software, many small business owners and budding entrepreneurs may have relished the thought of saving money on software licensing fees. Several of these free alternatives, such as Open Office, Adobe Photoshop Express, Firefox, AVG Free Antivirus, and a collection of PDF generators, already have an extensive user base and a proven track record of performance and usability. And that list is only expected to grow as more applications, such as GnuCash free accounting software, evolve over time and usage.

But not always is the free alternative the better or more practical solution when it comes to running a small business. When deciding whether to purchase software or use a free program, there are three things that you should consider:

1. Do you need support? One advantage that licensed software has over free applications is customer support. Without it, it will be up to you to properly install the program onto your computer, handle any glitches, and answer any questions about integrating the software into your business practices.

2. Does it suit the needs of your business? Licensed software also tends to be more practical solution since it generally comes with a fuller range of features. Photoshop Express may be a good option if you only intend to use it to touch up the occasional photo. But if your business depends on image editing then it may be worth it for you to purchase Photoshop CS3.

3. Will it effect your image? The other thing that you will have to consider is if your customers will be exposed to this software and how it will come across to them. Some free software, for example, comes with advertisements.

Whether you decide to go with licensed or free software, or some combination of the two, there is no doubt that small businesses can benefit from many free applications. For an up-to-date, searchable list of free and open source software, check out this free software catalog.

Small Businesses Need Proper Data Protection

According to a report put out by the Identity Theft Resource Center, the number of data security breaches in the U. S. rose 40% in 2007, with 443 breaches cited in 2007, compared to the 315 in 2006. And those numbers are likely to rise in the coming year.

For the small business, protecting sensitive customer information, such as names, social security numbers, pin numbers and access codes, is essential to running a successful operation So what can your small business do to protect your valuable data? Here is a quick checklist:

1. Get educated. Many free tutorials and workshops available for the average computer-literate person. You can start by checking out the tutorials posted on the About.com and IT Security.com websites.

2. Hire a security professional. Where a high level of security is needed or computer literacy is lacking then it is a good idea to hire a professional security consultant.

3. Install up-to-date anti-virus software. Look for antivirus products that include anti-spyware and anti-phishing security features, and make sure to install this software on all of your computers.

4. Set up firewalls. A firewall allows only secure traffic in and out of your network or individual computer while simultaneously blocking access from hackers and other intruders. There are two kinds of firewalls: hardware and software. Hardware firewalls are physical devices that are connected to your network. Software firewalls, on the other hand, are installed on every computer. To be effective, firewalls should be installed by someone who is knowledgeable in information security so that they can be properly configured to the business.

5. Back up your data. Making a physical backup of your small business’ information is a necessity that many small business owners overlook. There are several reliable data backup solutions on the market, including backup software programs, tape backups, external hard drives, and off-site backup services.

6. Secure your mobile devices. Make sure that the data on your mobile device is encrypted and password-protected (remember to change the default username and password) and that access to your network is limited to authorized users. You should also hide the service set ID that is used by your access point. You can also set up a virtual private network (VPN) to ensure data transmissions are secure when you access your business’ network from a remote location.

7. Keep track of your employees. Keep tabs on your workers to make sure they are not mishandling data or abusing their access to your computer systems. Network access rights should be set up properly so that private information can only be accessed by authorized people. Also make sure to encrypt any sensitive information stored on your corporate computers, especially laptops. Educate your employees about how to avoid a security breach. Make it a policy that your employees should never give out their user names, or passwords and the like unless they are absolutely certain about the person who is requesting the information.

For more information on how to secure your business’ data, check out this Guide to Internet Security.

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