Computing &
Information Technology
Do you run a SoHo? -
A SoHo is a Small Office or a Home Office
If you run your business from home or from a small
office or retail premises the chances are that in today’s
business climate you will soon need to have computers
which talk to one another on what we call a hard wired
network or a radio network. You may also be looking
at connecting to the Internet if you have not already
done so.
We have specialists who can: -
- Set up your office network
- Maintain your office network
- Trouble shoot your network
- Installation of conventional computer network cabling
using structured CAT5 or wireless networks.
For the Home Office
Above is a diagram of a typical Home Office but here
we have a Firewall installed for security. Most home
offices and small offices fail miserably on their security.
Having any kind of office which is linked to the Internet
without installing the correct level of security is
like putting a sign over your front door saying "Valuables
inside and we are out" then leaving the door open!
Firewall's are simple and very effective for such a
small cost and peace of mind.
Network security issues
The increase in businesses connecting their systems
and using the Internet has its drawbacks. When all computers
are networked, one user's problems may affect everyone.
You should consider the greater potential for data loss,
security breaches and viruses when creating a network.
It is important to ensure data security through regular
housekeeping such as backing up files, password routines,
and system logs. It is important to remove access from
employees who leave, otherwise they may still be able
to access customer records.
As your data will be stored in one location on the
server, physical security is very important. See our
guide on keeping your systems and data secure.
You should enhance your system security to protect
your business from potential virus attacks and hacking.
This should include anti-virus
software and a firewall or software barrier.
Keep this up to date and download relevant patches
- updates to software that fix security threats - because
new viruses are frequently released. If you are affected
by a virus your employees could lose data and have difficulties
using their computers, and your business could come
to a standstill.
If your staff need to access the network while off-site,
consider a virtual private network. This creates a secure
link and protects information sent and received.
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