Technology Checklist for Starting Up
MARCH 2010 [OPEN AS PDF]
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nternet Access. A high-speed Internet connection to your business can be obtained through a DSL, cable or satellite broadband service provider. Broadband service providers typically offer several connection speeds. We recommend starting at a lower speed to manage costs. A gateway or router is used to connect your office computer(s) to the broadband service and the Internet. A gateway typically includes a firewall, which provides a basic level of protection to ensure that private traffic does not leave your office network and malicious traffic does not enter your office network. Computers. Choose computers that will meet your current needs and provide some room for growth. Depending on your business, you may need computers with a large amount of hard disk storage or very fast processing capabilities. Buying computers from the same vendor makes maintenance easier. Consider buying used computers to save money. Server. A server allows you to share resources among all the computers in your office. It allows you to share files, share printers and control user access. Web Address. A web address will give your business credibility and recognition through a company website and email addresses tied to your web address. On the Internet you can find many web- and email-hosting services that will provide you with full web address services. Website. A professional website, even if it is only a single page, is necessary to market your company’s products or services. Many of your customers will either find or validate your business through your website. Depending on your budget and the complexity of the website, consider outsourcing its development to a technology service provider. A technology provider can make the content easy to manage and ensure that users will find your website. |
Productivity Software. Office productivity software typically includes word processing, spreadsheets, email and presentation software. Businesses have two choices for productivity software: an office software suite or web-based services. An office software suite requires an up-front cost, whereas web-based services typically charge a monthly fee. Web-based services store all your documents and data on an external server, and an office suite stores documents and data internally. Accounting Software. Accounting software is a key tool for tracking the finances of your business, including receivables and payables. Several small-business accounting software packages are available from different vendors. Customer Information. Your customer contact information and prospect data are probably your most valuable assets. At a minimum, your business should have a database to store this information. If you have a large number of leads or contacts, consider using a customer relationship management software solution. Backup. All your electronic data should be backed up on a regular basis. It is important to understand the level of risk you are willing to accept in case you were to lose all your electronic data. We recommend using a web-based service, which will back up your data in real time and store it in an off-site location. At a minimum, your data should be backed up to some external media and stored in an off-site location.
Kristin Tucker & David Kocs (www.tdktech.com) are principals of TDK Technologies, a local IT consulting firm.
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