RSA conference San Francisco Moscone Center 2012 Veracode (Photo credit: MotivatedModels)

It is imperative for successful business operations in today’s high-tech corporate world to have adequate cyber security for business computer systems.  The Security and Exchange Commission’s October 2011 Division of Corporation Finance of Disclosure Guidance states that corporate cyber security issues are so serious that public companies are strongly advised to divulge any security weaknesses or past problems with their systems to investors and customers. Conversely, investors should educate themselves about a company’s cyber security record before endowing any capital.

Cyber attack on corporate systems costs billions of dollars a year in lost time, data, and control over computer operations, and even though most companies have full knowledge of these issues, unfortunately, many still don't take adequate measures to address the real security concerns.
This infographic, Veracode's State of Software Security, gives some real shocking statistics about how ill-equipped many companies of today are in the face of cyber security threats.

net neutrality world logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

No matter how you slice it, net neutrality is on the way. Telecommunication companies will try to resist it, consumers will push hard for it, and eventually, in some form, there will be net neutrality. In order to remain competitive in business, companies must be ahead of the curve. The following 4 steps should be taken immediately to ensure that your company is ready for net neutrality.

Image via CrunchBase

The end of the year brings with it reflection and 2011 was certainly a big year in business innovation. From the passing of Steve Jobs, who was in his own right business innovation incarnate, to the video game industry slaying Hollywood; 2011 made an impact and we’ll feel its effect going into 2012. This year will provide new business innovation but just as last year was influenced by 2010 so shall the rippling effects of progression be felt in eternity. Let’s look back at 2011 for some of the top business innovation movements and the skill sets that surfaced.

When it comes time to hire a copywriter to develop your marketing messaging, there’s no shortage of options for you to choose from. Just Google the term “copywriter” or “freelance copywriter” and you’ll be able to choose from dozens, even hundreds, of potential candidates.

Obviously, not all copywriters bring the same skills to the table. How can you make sure you choose one who will write copy that sells and gets good response rates?

The cellphone has grown to be an indispensible part of our everyday life. It is hard to imagine going to the office without your trusted mobile phone inside your pocket. Cellphones are great for keeping the lines of communication between you and your business clients but its application has outgrown its humble beginnings as mere tool for communication to an invaluable partner in business transactions.

With the prevalence of internet searching and online mapping for businesses, the future of yellow book seems weak. On the other hand, there are steps that the publishers can take to maintain clients and generate revenue from the printed address books.

The obvious option is for the yellow pages publishers to develop online versions, if not fully go digital. Most have already gone down this path, with excellent mobile applications for searching for local addresses and contacts. The only disadvantage of this option is that the income generated from the online pages is considerably less than what could be earned from traditional printed versions.

Customer Relationship Management is a way to manage a company’s interactions with its customers, consumers and clients. The objective of CRM is to bring together all possible customer information from a range of sources, giving an accurate, real time account of any given customer. CRM allows a company to make more informed decisions on their business, whilst also increasing levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty. CRM enables businesses to customize marketing messages to larger target audiences on the basis of the customer's expected response and the customer's value to the firm. By following the CRM model, firms can reduce overall marketing costs, increase customer response rates, and, probably most importantly, increase overall customer and firm profitability.

The popularity of the Internet is starting to hit brick and mortar businesses right where it hurts, their sales volume. As consumers enjoy browsing online stores in the convenience of their own homes and having their goods delivered to their door, offline businesses are beginning to realize they must create an online presence or get left behind. The advantages of e-commerce are many and varied, not the least of which is reduced costs. Venturing into the world of e-commerce is not something any business should rush headlong into. Before your business ploughs ahead with a virtual store, consider the following points to help you get set-up right the first time.

Managing a team of staff who work in a variety of locations can seem a daunting task but with the right management, remote teams can be as productive or even more so than teams working alongside each other.

The greatest challenge is believing in your staff and trusting them to deliver. It is essential to have a very open two way channeled approach to communication. This is easily achieved via conference calls. These can be between the manager and a particular team member or even involving the entire team at the same time. This has a multitude of benefits as discussed later on.

ITT Technical Institute offers a variety of programs and services to not only students, but to the community. The educational programs are designed to meet the needs and growing demands of diverse students and the workforce changes that play a critical role in today’s market. With multiple locations within several different states across the U.S., the student can choose from traditional on campus programs requiring the individual to attend class or a distance program that allows them to study from anywhere at any time.