News/Features

Botnet Operators Infecting Servers, Not Just PCs

December 16, 2009 | Web, FTP, and SSL servers are becoming handy tools for botnets to expand and multiply. SMBs must protect their servers more tightly than ever.
By Kelly Jackson Higgins, Courtesy of DarkReading

Real-World SEO Tips For SMBs

December 16, 2009 | Search engine optimization expert Stephen Woessner -- author of "The Small Business Owner's Handbook To Search Engine Optimization: Increase Your Google Rankings, Double Your Site Traffic... In Just 15 Steps, Guaranteed." explains how businesses of all sizes can significantly boost their Web traffic in just a few weeks -- without investing anything besides their own time and expertise.
By Fredric Paul

IBM Offers Tivoli Service To SMBs

December 14, 2009 | Tivoli Live Monitoring can monitor virtual machines running under VMware ESX Server, Microsoft's Hyper-V, and Citrix Systems XenServer.
By Charles Babcock, Courtesy of InformationWeek

10 Questions To Ask About Netbooks

December 12, 2009 | Like it or not, netbooks will move into your company. Here's what you need to know before they do.
By Michael Healey, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Practical Analysis: 802.11 -- The Blu-Ray Of Wireless

December 12, 2009 | While useful, 802.11n Wi-Fi is unlikely to be game-changing technology in most business settings.
By Art Wittmann, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Dell Updates OptiPlex Business Line

December 11, 2009 | The giant computer maker has added four smaller business desktops for space-constrained organizations of all sizes.
By Antone Gonsalves, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Choosing E-Mail Security Services? Watch Your Step!

December 10, 2009 | New Dark Reading Tech Center report offers advice on what to look for -- and what to avoid -- in third-party e-mail security services.
By Jordan Wiens, Courtesy of DarkReading

Amazon EC2 Cloud Data Center Loses Power

December 10, 2009 | Operations in Amazon's Northern Virginia cloud computing data center were disrupted during a five-hour period Wednesday. The problem refocuses attention on cloud computing reliability concerns.
By Charles Babcock, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Time And Attendance Systems For SMBs

December 10, 2009 | Keeping tight track of your employees' time can help cut costs during touch economic times. Automated Time and Attendance systems can save surprisingly signficant amounts of money -- you just need to find the system makes the the most sense for your company's needs.
By Shannon Suetos

Google Groups Joins Apps Suite

December 9, 2009 | Users gain more flexible communication and collaboration options, while IT administrators gain more control over information management.
By Thomas Claburn, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Fujitsu To Offer Cloud Services

December 8, 2009 | The company enters the ranks of cloud competitors, supplying computing infrastructure as a service through its expanded data centers. The new service is targeting the retail, financial services, manufacturing, and healthcare markets.
By Charles Babcock, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Windows 7 Family Pack Discontinued

December 8, 2009 | Microsoft pulls multi-license discount offer -- could add to upgrade expenses for very small businesses.
By Paul McDougall, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Dell's Sleek New Vostro V13 SMB Laptop Thinks Thin And Light

December 8, 2009 | When it comes to laptops, you can never be too thin or too rich. And the newest entry in Dell's small business lineup, the Vostro V13, weighs in at under 3.5 pounds and less than an inch thick.
By Fredric Paul

Microsoft To Finally Kill Windows XP SP2 Support

December 7, 2009 | Software maker eyes cutoff date for support for XP, as well as for Windows 2000. SMBs need to have their operating system plans in place.
By Paul McDougall, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Ruckus Installs 802.11n Video On Demand

December 7, 2009 | The Wi-Fi network Ruckus has installed in a Philadelphia hotel converts multicast IP traffic to unicast, allowing simultaneous distribution of IP-based high-definition video.
By W. David Gardner, Courtesy of InformationWeek

PC And Smartphone Vendors Duel For The Hearts -- And Wallets -- Of SMBs

December 7, 2009 | As smartphone handset makers move up and PC makers move down, small and midsize companies have new choices in converged mobile devices, and mobile device vendors. Lenovo has jumped back in the mix, and everyone expects Apple to do the same.
By Paul Korzeniowski

The Point-Of-Sale Problem

December 5, 2009 | Retailers both large and small must take sensible steps to protect their POS systems -- or face potentially serious consequences.
By Greg Shipley, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Microsoft Warns Piracy Surge Brings Malware

December 3, 2009 | It's a problem because companies using unlicensed or counterfeit software are 73% more likely to suffer data loss or damage than users of legitimate software.
By Thomas Claburn, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Lenovo Offers AT&T Tech Support With PCs

December 3, 2009 | The companies have joined together to court SMBs with the discounted PC and IT support bundle.
By Antone Gonsalves, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Netbooks In SMBs: Still Waiting For A Killer App

December 3, 2009 | Netbook sales keep growing, but businesses of all sizes are still struggling to figure out what the heck to DO with them.
By Fredric Paul

Bill Collector Makes Hay With Oracle Middleware

December 1, 2009 | Collect America finds opportunity in recession, but the 139-employeee company needed to integrate collection applications on top of Oracle Fusion middleware to make it work.
By Charles Babcock, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Office 2010 Ship Date Revealed

December 1, 2009 | Microsoft confirms Internet rumors surrounding the release of its next software suite: Office 2010 will ship in June.
By Paul McDougall, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Cisco Keeps Working To Make Its Case To Small Businesses

December 1, 2009 | One year after forming its Small Business Technology group, Cisco is still trying to erase perceptions that the networking giant cares only for large enterprises. New products and services debuting today are intended to help make the case -- to channel partners as well as small businesses themselves.
By Fredric Paul

RIM Updates BlackBerry Server, Media Software

November 30, 2009 | The BlackBerry maker added multiple features to its BlackBerry Enterprise Server and Media Sync software.
By Marin Perez, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Security Gets Top Billing On Cyber Monday

November 30, 2009 | FBI, others offer tips to protect shoppers -- and SMBs -- during online shopping season.
By Tim Wilson, Courtesy of DarkReading

How Cloud Computing Changes Everything

November 28, 2009 | Cloud computing is still an emerging technology, but it's already clear that increased adoption will bring changes in the way IT departments work -- in organizations both large and small.
By Charles Babcock, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Practical Analysis: Smartphones In Business

November 28, 2009 | Mobile apps are hard to support, they're a new development discipline, and they have a squishy ROI -- but you can't ignore them no matter what size your company.
By Art Wittmann, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Security Is Chief Obstacle To Cloud Computing Adoption, Says Study Of Growing Companies

November 25, 2009 | Half of organizations surveyed say they have no plans to use cloud technology; and half of those cite security concerns.
By Tim Wilson, Courtesy of DarkReading

Microsoft Issues Internet Explorer Security Advisory

November 24, 2009 | Users of Internet Explorer 6 and 7 may be vulnerable to a malware attack.
By Thomas Claburn, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Dress Up Your Online Store For The Holidays

November 24, 2009 | These tips will give your customers--and your business--plenty of reasons to celebrate the season.
By Dani Babb

Video Conferencing Shakeup Poses Challenges And Offers Opportunities For SMBs

November 23, 2009 | Long term, consolidation in the video conferencing market promises more powerful, less-expensive solutions for smaller companies. But in the meantime, SMBs need to be aware that their preferred video conferencing suppliers could be just about to change course.
By Paul Korzeniowski

Ballmer Says Windows 7 Is Microsoft's Best OS Ever

November 20, 2009 | The recently launched operating system is building market momentum as PC users upgrade from Vista, Microsoft's CEO says. No word on whether enterprises, consumers, or SMBs are leading the charge.
By Paul McDougall, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Salesforce Adds Enterprise Social Networking

November 18, 2009 | Chatter brings Facebook- and Twitter-type capabilities to applications running on the Force.com cloud computing platform.
By Mary Hayes Weier, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Toshiba Launches Unified Messaging For Small Businesses

November 18, 2009 | The Linux appliance is designed to provide affordable messaging to small and medium-sized businesses, with 400 mailboxes and 300 hours of storage.
By Antone Gonsalves, Courtesy of InformationWeek

HP Pitches Thin Computing To SMBS -- But Are They Interested?

November 17, 2009 | HP rolls out a raft of new thin client terminals -- some expected to cost less than $100 -- bolstered by new servers, new software, and new services. Will it be enough to convince SMBs that the time is finally right for thin computing to go mainstream in smaller companies?
By Fredric Paul

Citrix Rolls Out Xen Desktop 4

November 16, 2009 | Windows 7 will prompt a rethinking of the desktop in 2010 and lead many to virtualize, Citrix says. Are SMBs ready to jump on board?
By Charles Babcock, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Touch Screens Find Real-World Applications In SMBs

November 16, 2009 | If touch screens are so hot, what are small and midsize companies actually using them for? It can't all be restaurant workers and customer-facing kiosks, can it? We check out a new health care application, try to figure out uses for touch-screen laptops, and wonder if new software development programs will help.
By Fredric Paul

7 Cloud Computing Myths Busted

November 14, 2009 | Amazon, Google, Microsoft and others are investing aggressively in the cloud, even as critics point to security, reliability, and compatibility issues. InformationWeek cuts through the fog.
By Serdar Yegulalp, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Avaya-Nortel Acquisition Gets OK

November 12, 2009 | Amidst a flurry of networking mergers and acquisitions, U.S. and Canadian regulatory agencies have signed off on the $900 million acquisition of Nortel's enterprise solutions unit.
By W. David Gardner, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Logitech To Acquire LifeSize Video Communications Vendor

November 11, 2009 | The $405 million purchase of LifeSize would give Logitech entry into the growing corporate videoconferencing market, with a focus on SMBs.
By Antone Gonsalves, Courtesy of InformationWeek

HP To Acquire 3Com In $2.7 Billion Deal

November 11, 2009 | The battle to control the virtualized data center of the future heated up, as Hewlett-Packard announced a deal to purchase 3Com for $2.7 billion.
By Alexander Wolfe, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Apple's Mini DisplayPort Standard Specified

November 11, 2009 | The Video Electronics Standards Association standardized hardware for hooking displays to devices that need a small connector, such as thin laptops. But will non-Apple vendors actually use it?
By Antone Gonsalves, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Microsoft Bing Cash Exploit Discovered

November 10, 2009 | A flaw in Microsoft's Bing cashback program allowed tester to get credit for over $2,000 in rebate cash through fake purchases -- and could let hackers block legitimate payments.
By Thomas Claburn, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Microsoft Says Windows 7 Malware Threat 'Sensationalized'

November 9, 2009 | Software maker claims operating system tests by security vendor Sophos did not take advantage of Microsoft security tools.
By Paul McDougall, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Midmarket Heroes: Three Unique SMBs Turn To Big-Company Software To Grow Their Businesses

November 10, 2009 | SAP trots out three very different businesses to show that it's serious about helping small and midsize companies. What can other SMBs learn from the experiences of these three Midmarket Heroes?

To Fight The Recession, HP Introduces Lots Of SMB Products

November 9, 2009 | The giant vendor rolls out new servers, network switches, storage systems, disk drives, PCs, monitors, and printers -- and adds new support plans, financing options, and bundled systems. It's all part of an ongoing effort to pull together HP's vast portfolio of products in the face of continuing economic pressure.
By Paul Korzeniowski

Microsoft Releases Exchange 2010

November 9, 2009 | The e-mail server includes better storage optimization, voicemail integration, archiving, and potentially big cost savings, says the software giant.
By J. Nicholas Hoover, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Is Antivirus Software Dead?

November 7, 2009 | Always-on Internet connectivity is keeping malware concerns alive and well. InformationWeek examines whether antivirus software is up to the task, or whether it's a security solution of the past.solution of the past.
By Serdar Yegulalp, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Windows 7 Sales Trounce Vista

November 6, 2009 | Microsoft's new OS is significantly outpacing its predecessor in terms of post-launch market impact. But new PC sales haven't seen the same lift.
By Paul McDougall, Courtesy of InformationWeek

New Security Certification On The Horizon For Cloud Services

November 4, 2009 | Cloud security cert would go beyond existing SAS 70, ISO 27001 standards, and could give added confidence to businesses kept out of the cloud by security worries.
By Kelly Jackson Higgins, Courtesy of DarkReading

Parallels Upgrades Mac Virtualization Software

November 4, 2009 | Version 5 of Parallels Desktop is 300% faster, improves graphic performance, and adds 70 features. Improvements in ability to run Windows and Linux could help more Macs find homes in small and midsize businesses.
By Antone Gonsalves, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Verizon and Motorola Use The Droid To Take on AT&T And Apple's iPhone

November 4, 2009 | Verizon and Motorola hope the Droid's physical keyboard and higher-rated network can make up for the iPhone's head start and giant app collection. For SMBs, though, it's all about choice and competition.
By Paul Korzeniowski

XP To Windows 7: Workaround Fixes Install Failure

November 3, 2009 | Windows XP users attempting upgrades to Microsoft's new OS are getting hit with an error message -- here's the fix.
By Paul McDougall, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Microsoft Drops Prices Of Cloud Apps

November 3, 2009 | Exchange Online's monthly price drops from $10 to $5, and storage increases to 25 Gbytes, matching Google Gmail.
By Mary Hayes Weier, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Slideshow: Top 10 BlackBerry Apps For SMBs

November 3, 2009 | The Blackberry may be the smartphone standard for business users, but most of the applications in the BlackBerry App World store are distinctly consumer-flavored. So we hunted down the top choices for small and midsize businesses.

Windows 7: UI Promises Productivity Gains

November 2, 2009 | In developing the user interface for its latest OS, Microsoft put productivity and the user experience front and center. Here's how they did it.
By J. Nicholas Hoover, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Ask Steve: SMBs Cut Tech, And More, To Cope With Recession

November 2, 2009 | New Yankee Group SMB data predicts severe cutbacks in tech spending, particularly in cloud computing and Software as a Service (Saas) as well as unified communications. The bright spot? Mobile applications.
By Steve Hilton, Courtesy of Yankee Group

Is The Desktop PC Doomed?

October 31, 2009 | The rise of Web-based apps, virtualization, and a crop of powerful mobile devices have the traditional PC desktop on the run. What does it all mean to your company?
By Serdar Yegulalp, Courtesy of InformationWeek

How To Boost Security Awareness Among Your Users

October 30, 2009 | SMBs should skip the 'Wall of Shame' and instead try promotional events and penetration testing.
By John Sawyer, Courtesy of DarkReading

Amazon Introduces PayPhrase Payment Shortcut

October 29, 2009 | Online merchants can use Amazon's passphrase payment scheme to ease the friction of online commerce.
By Thomas Claburn, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Windows 7 Could Spark Move To 64-Bit Computing

October 28, 2009 | More robust architecture would help business users better cope with information overload.
By Paul McDougall, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Xerox Unveils Enterprise Print Services

October 29, 2009 | Xerox is expanding its enterprise print services to support home and remote locations and help business customers cut costs and improve efficiency.
By Antone Gonsalves, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Profits Aren't Everything, They're the Only Thing

October 28, 2009 | In this excerpt from his best-selling book, turnaround expert George Cloutier explains why "you've got to be a tyrant," and "you've got to have a plan."
By George Clouitier

Tough-Love Business Guru George Cloutier Issues A Wake-Up Call For Small Businesses

October 28, 2009 | "Turnaround Ace" and best-selling author George Cloutier calls himself "the Ann Coulter of small business, only smarter." He tells bMighty how his controversial tough-love prescriptions resonate for IT departments and technology companies.
By Fredric Paul

Windows 7 Boosts Laptop Battery Life

October 27, 2009 | Collaboration between Intel and Microsoft means at least an extra hour of power, vendors claim.
By Paul McDougall, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Amazon Offers MySQL Cloud Service, Cuts Server Fees

October 27, 2009 | In a preemptive strike at Microsoft, Amazon Web Services offers a relational database in the cloud, high-memory configurations, and cuts hourly fees for its Windows and Linux servers.
By John Foley, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Lenovo Unveils Six Windows 7 Laptops, Desktops

October 27, 2009 | With custom software to speed start-up and shutdown, the consumer-oriented systems could be alternatives for SMBs.
By Antone Gonsalves, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Google Custom Search Engine Gets Tune-Up

October 26, 2009 | Small and midsize businesses with Web sites can now take advantage of custom themes and improved metadata support for their Google Custom Search Engines.
By Thomas Claburn, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Windows 7 Draws Praise, Problems

October 26, 2009 | Most early adopters appear pleased with Microsoft's new OS, but some are griping about installation bugs.
By Paul McDougall, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Adobe, Salesforce Put Flash In Cloud

October 26, 2009 | Salesforce.com and Adobe Systems are teaming up to put interactive, rich user interface applications in the cloud ahead of Microsoft's Azure launch.
By Charles Babcock, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Trend Micro Secures Virtual, Cloud Servers

October 26, 2009 | To address unique server security challenges, Trend Micro is connecting its Deep Security software to virtual machines and the cloud.
By Thomas Claburn, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Read The Fine Print, Or Why Vendor Contracts Matter

October 26, 2009 | Not reading a contract for services thoroughly can have big implications down the road. Small and midsize businesses need to read the "fine print" in a vendor service contract. Here's what to look for.
By Monique L. Myers

Windows 7: Early Sales Strong

October 23, 2009 | Online shoppers rush to purchase Microsoft's new operating system -- will SMBs follow?
By Paul McDougall, Courtesy of InformationWeek

From Security Perspective, Windows 7 Off To A Rocky Start

October 22, 2009 | Experts express consternation over early vulnerabilities and User Access Control configuration issues.
By Tim Wilson, Courtesy of DarkReading

It's Official: Microsoft Launches Windows 7

October 22, 2009 | New operating system is designed to make PC use faster and more efficient.
By Paul McDougall, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Google, Workday Outages Show SaaS Isn't Perfect

October 21, 2009 | Software-as-a-service lets SMBs pay only for what they need, but you need to make sure you get the system performance you've paid for.
By Mary Hayes Weier, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Windows 7 Compatible? Microsoft Provides Answers

October 21, 2009 | Redmond is using online tools and Web sites to help consumers and small businesses ensure their computers can run the new version of its Windows OS.
By Paul McDougall, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Tandberg Bolsters HD Videoconferencing Line

October 20, 2009 | New teleconferencing products may help up the ante in the wake of a $3 billion acquisition bid by Cisco. The Profile 42" is targeted at the SMB market
By W. David Gardner, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Retailers Ready For Windows 7 Launch

October 20, 2009 | Amazon, Best Buy, others offer promotions to spur sales of Microsoft's new operating system and the PCs it powers. SMBs may be able to take advantage of the hoopla.
By Paul McDougall, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Point/Counterpoint: 6 Ways Microsoft Pitches Windows 7 To SMBs

October 20, 2009 | There are lots of good of reasons for small and midsize companies to jump on Windows 7 as soon as it's available. But there are good reasons to be cautious as well. From ease of use to standardizing on the Microsoft "platform," bMighty looks at both sides of Window 7.
By Fredric Paul

Fujitsu Unveils Windows 7 Lineup

October 20, 2009 | The new models, including a netbook, ultra-portable notebook, and convertible tablets, will be available Thursday when Windows 7 launches.
By Antone Gonsalves, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Botnet Unleashes Variety Of New Phishing Attacks

October 19, 2009 | Attackers use phony messages of system upgrades, Outlook updates, and Microsoft Conficker 'cleanup tool' to spread malware.
By Kelly Jackson Higgins, Courtesy of DarkReading

Dell Launches Windows 7 Migration Services

October 19, 2009 | Dell says it already helped several midsize companies migrate to Window 7, which ships Thursday.
By Antone Gonsalves, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Brocade's Motorola Deal Obscures Its Long Term Plan

October 19, 2009 | Even as it puts itself up for sale, Brocade signs a wireless networking deal with Motorola. What does that tell us about the company's plans, and what should small and midsize Brocade customers do to protect themselves?
By Paul Korzeniowski

Security Software's New Form Factor: Free

October 16, 2009 | Emerging vendors find viral marketing works very well in security arena. SMBs may find that the free versions do everything they need.
By Tim Wilson, Courtesy of DarkReading

Cost, Strength Of Security Drive Users Toward SaaS Offerings

October 14, 2009 | New Dark Reading report offers a look at the strengths, weaknesses of security SaaS -- and how companies of all sizes can choose the right provider.
By Charlotte Dunlap, Courtesy of DarkReading

Google Postini Customers Fuming Over Outage

October 14, 2009 | E-mail delivery problems dogged Google's Postini hosted security and archiving services Tuesday, and the company's business customers are demanding better communication.
By Thomas Claburn, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Acer Announces Windows 7 Laptops

October 14, 2009 | The Aspire 5738PG's is Acer's first touchscreen notebook while the ultra-portable Aspire Timeline AS1810TZ has an 11.6-inch screen and a full-size keyboard.
By Antone Gonsalves, Courtesy of InformationWeek

AT&T Bolsters Managed Security Services

October 13, 2009 | The carrier's offerings aim to provide companies of all sizes with security threat analysis and customizable device management.
By Marin Perez, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Seagate Small Business NAS Supports Windows Server 2008

October 13, 2009 | Seagate also updated its management user interface, available on other BlackArmor models through a firmware update.
By Antone Gonsalves, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Office 2010 Headed For Spring Release

October 13, 2009 | The new version of Microsoft's office productivity suite will include free Web access to Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Notepad.
By Antone Gonsalves, Courtesy of InformationWeek

HP Rolls Out New SMB Laptops, Desktops and TouchScreen PCs For Windows 7

October 13, 2009 | New computers for small and midsize companies -- under both the HP and Compaq monikers -- emphasize power-saving software, performance, and value.
By Fredric Paul

Hooray For The CTIA - The Trade Association Endorses Phone Connector Standards

October 12, 2009 | Standardizing phone chargers and multimedia jacks could make life easier for everyone, including SMBs. Just don't hold your breath -- the standards aren't binding and technical hurdles remain.
By Marin Perez, Courtesy of InformationWeek

8 Reasons To Consider Windows 7

October 10, 2009 | From remote access to security and SaaS readiness, these 8 Windows 7 features and technologies point to the future of the desktop -- and could make a difference to your small or midsize business today.
By Michael Healey, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Midsize Companies Not As Security Compliant As Large Enterprises

October 7, 2009 | IDC study reveals that organizations with more than 1,000 employees tended to be more security compliant than smaller companies -- and that IT security decisionmakers worry less about hacking than internal leaks.
By Tim Wilson, Courtesy of DarkReading

Citrix Offers Desktop Virtualization Flexibility

October 6, 2009 | With XenDesktop 4, Citrix says IT managers will be able to configure virtualization options for various sets of end users. But do smaller companies get big benefits from desktop virtualization?
By Charles Babcock, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Salesforce.com, Cisco Team Up On Cloud Offering

October 5, 2009 | Customers of Salesforce.com will have access to Cisco's Unified Contact Center technologies for customer service.
By Mary Hayes Weier, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Does It Make Sense For SMBs To Upgrade Windows XP Machines To Windows 7?

October 5, 2009 | A Microsoft consulting firm tells me it's buying time for customers -- and itself -- by upgrading aging Windows XP machines to Windows 7. Does this strategy really make sense for small and midsize companies?
By Fredric Paul

Tech Insight: Beating Bots And Scareware On A Budget

October 2, 2009 | Free tools, like the Squid Web caching proxy, can add extra layers of protection for your SMB's users.
By John Sawyer, Courtesy of DarkReading

IBM To Launch Web-Based E-Mail Service

October 2, 2009 | LotusLive iNotes puts Big Blue into competition with the business version of Google's Gmail service. Will SMBs be attracted to its lower price?
By Paul McDougall, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Online Ad Deals Are Still Clicking

October 2, 2009 | Lean times demand lean -- and mean -- marketing tactics. From ad networks to pay-per-click purchases, here's the inside story on 5 ways to make the most of your online marketing efforts.
By Carol Tice

XP Mode For Windows 7 Released

October 1, 2009 | Aimed at small and midsize businesses, the add-on utility helps ensure programs written for Microsoft's older OS can be used on new PCs.
By Paul McDougall, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Zimbra Adds Social Networking Features

October 1, 2009 | Yahoo's Zimbra unit continues to enhance its open source alternative to Microsoft Exchange and IBM LotusNotes.
By Charles Babcock, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Cisco Buying Tandberg, Broadening Videoconferencing Footprint

October 1, 2009 | The $3 billion acquisition could increase availability of affordable teleconferencing options for companies of all sizes.
By W. David Gardner, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Salesforce.com Helps Launch SaaS Accounting Company

September 30, 2009 | FinancialForce.com, a startup providing financial and accounting software as a service, is getting a minority investment and on-campus office space from Salesforce.com. Will it be a new alternative for SMBs?
By Mary Hayes Weier, Courtesy of InformationWeek

COUNTERPOINT: Net Neutrality Promises Level Platform For Innovation

September 30, 2009 | Opinion: The FCC's move toward network neutrality will help ensure a level playing field and keep huge ISPs and media behemoths from casually crushing innovative small and midsize Internet companies.
By Fredric Paul

Microsoft Offers Free Security Essentials

September 29, 2009 | New antivirus service could offer SMBs a new alternative to existing paid security products.
By Paul McDougall, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Dell's Sleek, Innovative New Lattitude Z Laptop Heralds "Consumerization" Of Business Technology

September 29, 2009 | The Lattitude Z packs unique features -- wireless docking and charging, hardware-enhanced instant access to e-mail and other key programs -- into a thin and light case clearly designed to impress the person in the next Business-Class seat.
By Fredric Paul

Intuit's New QuickBooks 2010 Eases Installation, Improves Reporting

September 28, 2009 | The latest version of the popular small-business accounting software also speeds editing of multiple list entries and makes it easier to customize forms and reports. Plus: new links to services like document management and e-mail marketing.
By Fredric Paul

What CIOs Think About Windows 7

September 26, 2009 | Most are doing some testing, but many have no firm deployment plans. What should be your company's approach?
By J. Nicholas Hoover, Courtesy of InformationWeek

NetSuite Offers iPhone App

September 24, 2009 | The app gives SMBs mobile access to NetSuite's on-demand ERP suite, and is another example of Apple's traction in the business world -- at least as far as the iPhone is concerned.
By Mary Hayes Weier, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Credit-Card Processing Options For SMBs

September 24, 2009 | It's a fact that adding payment options boosts sales, whether online, in brick-and-mortar stores, or even remote locations. Resource Nation helps small businesses understand how to leverage their credit-card processing options to increase revenue and speed payment.
By Merrin Muxlow

Trend Micro Gets Top Spot In New Anti-Malware Test

September 22, 2009 | Tests show big differences among the products, but even the best-performing consumer choice blocked only 70% of malware. Meanwhile, the results of the enterprise-level anti-malware testing were not publicly released.
By Tim Wilson, Courtesy of DarkReading

Dell To Buy Perot Systems For $3.9 Billion

September 21, 2009 | Huge deal would reinforce PC manufacturer's commitment to tech services -- for companies of all sizes.
By Paul McDougall, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Doyenz Offers SMBs Disaster Recovery In Cloud

September 18, 2009 | Low-cost disaster recovery, live failover, and a production testing environment in the 'ShadowCloud' are the lead services being offered.
By Charles Babcock, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Harness the Power of 'Freemium'

September 18, 2009 | Real-world stories that can show you how -- and when -- to start charging for your Web service. Without starting a riot.
By Johnathon Williams

Lenovo Unveils New All-In-One PCs

September 17, 2009 | The C100 has a 18-inch display, camera, speakers, and microphone in a single case and is priced at $399. The 20-inch C300 starts at $450.
By Antone Gonsalves, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Lenovo Offers Touchscreen Tablet, Laptop

September 16, 2009 | Part of a slew of new computers released in conjunction with Window 7, Lenovo's machines feature a SimpleTap application that allows for multi-touchscreen capability.
By Antone Gonsalves, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Company Security Efforts Misdirected

September 15, 2009 | New SANS Report data shows company efforts focused on fixing low-priority flaws at the expense of more serious application vulnerabilities.
By Kelly Jackson Higgins, Courtesy of DarkReading

Cellular Networks Prepare To Boost Speeds

September 15, 2009 | As carriers roll out new high-speed 3G and even 4G wireless services, small and midsize corporations should begin planning for deployment of more powerful mobile applications.
By Paul Korzeniowski

HP Launches Slick New Laptops -- And Some Desktops, Too

September 15, 2009 | HP's new Envy luxury laptops add style to the category, but the SMB-oriented ProBook 5310m offers decent looks at a much more affordable price. The Mini 311 straddles the line between netbook and notebook, while new All-in-One and traditional desktops round out the company's introductions.
By Fredric Paul

Avaya Wins Nortel Enterprise Solutions Unit

September 14, 2009 | $900 Million bid nabs Nortel unit that provides landline phone systems to customers of all sizes all around the world.
By W. David Gardner, Courtesy of InformationWeek

IBM's Cognos Express Brings BI To The Midmarket

September 14, 2009 | IBM's new Cognos Express -- introduced along with LotusLive Mobile and the IBM Mashup Center -- uses a modular approach to make it easier and less expensive for midsize companies to take advantage of business intelligence.
By Fredric Paul

SuccessFactors Spins Business Execution Suite

September 10, 2009 | New strategies by SuccessFactors and Taleo show how SaaS vendors plan to maintain strong growth.
By Mary Hayes Weier, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Twitter Security Service Tests The Waters

September 8, 2009 | Errata Security's free TwiGUARD service detects Twitter spam and malicious links -- but it's still experimental.
By Kelly Jackson Higgins, Courtesy of DarkReading

Hybrid Clouds: No Easy Concoction

September 5, 2009 | The promise of seamlessly meshing their internal "clouds" with public cloud computing services is drawing IT interest from companies large and small. But much work remains to be done to make it a reality.
By Charles Babcock, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Judge Stays Microsoft Word Ban

September 4, 2009 | A lower court decision to halt sales of the word processing program is on hold pending appeal. SMBs shouldn't worry about the word processor going away any time soon.
By Paul McDougall, Courtesy of InformationWeek

The Man Behind the Memes

September 4, 2009 | Internet content connoisseur Ben Huh -- the man behind icanhascheezburger.com, Failblog, and LOLcat -- explains our fascination with cat photos, cheeseburger hats and misspelled words -- and how it can lead to online success.
By Jennifer Wang

VMware Go Eases Virtualization For SMBs

September 3, 2009 | Responding to worries that its ESXi hypervisor is tricky to install and maintain, VMware creates an online configuration tool to help small and midsize companies get started with virtualization.
By Fredric Paul

Selling Online 2.0: Planning For Selling Success

September 2, 2009 | Continue doing business via online auction like you've always done, and you're likely to see both your sales and your profits shrink. It's change or perish; you have to change the way you do business to survive.
By Michael Miller

Selling Online 2.0: Q&A With Author Michael Miller

September 2, 2009 | Millions of small businesses started out selling online with eBay auctions, but times have changed and fees are soaring. E-Commerce expert Michael Miller shares his insights about choosing the right selling strategies and channels for your businesses.
By Benjamin Tomkins

Establishing Your Own Web Site: Is It Right For Your Business?

September 2, 2009 | When it comes to moving beyond eBay, the holy grail for many small businesses is running their own e-commerce Web site. The grass, however, is not always greener.
By Michael Miller

Wipro Offers Cloud Computing Service

September 1, 2009 | The IT outsourcing company has teamed with Oracle to offer a platform service that software companies can use to make their apps available via SaaS -- and thus more affordable to SMBs.
By Mary Hayes Weier, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Apple Snow Leopard Squares Off Against Windows 7

August 29, 2009 | The latest Mac OS X is a solid upgrade, but look for the Operating Systems Wars to heat up this fall. SMBs have more good choices than ever.
By Mitch Wagner, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Xen Hypervisor Goes For Full Virtualization

August 31, 2009 | The Xen.org project will adopt much of the Citrix Systems virtual infrastructure and aims to supply a full virtualization environment.
By Charles Babcock, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Google, Microsoft Jockey For Dominance In Business Apps

August 27, 2009 | Microsoft and Google go head-to-head next year over online applications -- bringing big decisions for small and midsize businesses.
By Mary Hayes Weier, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Apple's Snow Leopard Brings Compatibility, Security Concerns

August 26, 2009 | Adobe CS3 users are expressing dismay that Snow Leopard compatibility hasn't been tested while hackers tempt Mac users with malware in Snow Leopard clothing.
By Thomas Claburn, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Amazon Launches Private Cloud Service

August 26, 2009 | Customers will create a VPN to bridge Amazon to their existing IT infrastructures and use their existing security systems to protect data.
By Mary Hayes Weier, Courtesy of InformationWeek

AT&T Expands Wi-Fi Locations

August 25, 2009 | Small and midsize businesses can now take advantage of the company's more than 125,000 hotspots in the United States, Europe, and China.
By Marin Perez, Courtesy of InformationWeek

New Recommendations To Help SMBs Prevent Card-Skimming Attacks

August 25, 2009 | The PCI Council's new best practices are aimed at helping small and midsize retailers -- but security experts warn that they can't address deeper skimming risks.
By Kelly Jackson Higgins, Courtesy of DarkReading

Newly Discovered Vulnerability Could Threaten Cisco Wireless LANs

August 24, 2009 | Flaw in Cisco Over-The-Air-Provisioning could allow attackers to gain control of wireless access points, AirMagnet researchers say
By Tim Wilson, Courtesy of DarkReading

Snow Leopard Server Pounces Friday

August 25, 2009 | The server version of Apple's new operating system will debut alongside its client-side cousin.
By Paul McDougall, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Snow Leopard To Hit Stores Friday

August 24, 2009 | Apple will release major OS X upgrade weeks ahead of Microsoft's Windows 7 launch party.
By Paul McDougall, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Google Integrates Apps With RIM's BES

August 21, 2009 | The integration with Blackberry Enterprise Server provides deep connections between Google's corporate apps and RIM's smartphones -- and could make both more attractive to SMBs.
By Marin Perez, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Oracle, Sun Deal Approved By Justice Dept.

August 21, 2009 | The Justice Department ruling came earlier than expected, a possible response to Sun Microsystems' declining revenues in a steep recession.
By Charles Babcock, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Identity Theft Malware Surges 600%

August 19, 2009 | Hard times appear to be one reason for the explosion of malicious software designed to steal sensitive personal and financial information.
By Thomas Claburn, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Microsoft Releases Windows Server 2008 R2

August 19, 2009 | The new server operating system, released to business users, includes a number of integration points with Windows 7.
By J. Nicholas Hoover, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Tech Execs See Light At End Of Recession Tunnel

August 19, 2009 | About 39% of those polled believe the economy will recover by next year while 43% said they expect a recovery after 2010.
By W. David Gardner, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Exchange Server 2010 RC Available

August 18, 2009 | Early-adopter SMBs can now download the release candidate of Microsoft's next e-mail server.
By Paul McDougall, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Google Enables Document Sharing Among Groups

August 18, 2009 | The search behemoth has added the doc, calendar, and site sharing feature, amid its bid to differentiate its online applications from Microsoft Office.
By Thomas Claburn, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Google, Apple Rank Highest With Customers

August 18, 2009 | Despite its strong ranking, Apple was the only computer company to see its position drop since last year, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index.
By Mary Hayes Weier, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Mid-Market Heroes: Why -- And How -- One Brick-And-Mortar Business Went Virtual

August 18, 2009 | Innovations International, a 25-year-old consulting firm, traded its physical offices for doing business entirely on the Internet. Is it the right move for your business?
By Fredric Paul

Google Gmail Passes AOL, Becoming Third Most Popular E-mail

August 17, 2009 | With its growth rate climbing -- partly due to increased use by SMBs -- Gmail is on track to pass Microsoft's Hotmail in the first quarter of 2010.
By Thomas Claburn, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Microsoft Files Motion To Block Word Ban

August 17, 2009 | Emergency move would stay execution of court order to halt Microsoft Word sales in 60 days. Other options also remain to keep the software on the shelves.
By Paul McDougall, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Strategic Security: Server Virtualization

August 15, 2009 | VMWare's VMsafe program is bringing more security options to the world of server virtualization.
By Joe Hernick, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Netscape Founder Andreessen Backs New Browser

August 15, 2009 | The developer turned financier is backing RockMeIt, a mysterious startup staffed by two of his close associates, according to reports. Could a new browser further complicate SMB Web efforts?
By Antone Gonsalves, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Web Tool Compares Companies' Health, Other Benefits

August 13, 2009 | MetLife's benchmarking tool lets you know how your company's medical coverage stacks up against other companies across the nation.
By Marianne Kolbasuk McGee, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Banking On Credit Card Sales: The Ins And Outs Of A Business Cash Advance

August 13, 2009 | Using plastic to pay for operational costs might not be a safety net for too much longer. That's why business owners who have exhausted other traditional sources of funding might want to consider the business cash advance.
By Merrin Muxlow

What You Don't Know About Pay-Per Click Advertising: Q&A With Kevin Lee Of Didit

August 12, 2009 | Buy a few keywords and watch the customers flock to your site -- if only it were that easy. Search marketing expert Kevin Lee shares his insights about what it takes to carry out a successful search campaign and the most common mistakes.
By Benjamin Tomkins

Small Retailers Struggling To Understand PCI

August 11, 2009 | Nearly 86 percent are familiar with PCI, but nearly half can't demonstrate their compliance with the payment card standard, according to National Retail Federation Poll.
By Kelly Jackson Higgins, Courtesy of DarkReading

Google Unveils 'Next Generation' Search

August 11, 2009 | Caffeine architecture is designed to yield improvements in speed, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.
By Paul McDougall, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Branding Opportunities In Keywords

August 11, 2009 | Some brand marketers are already involved with search, but those new to the medium should enter and buy listings to enhance their on- and offline branding campaigns.
By Kevin Lee

Pay-Per-Click Search: Create, Influence, Capture, And Harvest Demand

August 11, 2009 | Search marketing has evolved, and the time is right for marketers to move beyond harvesting demand generated elsewhere by other media.
By Kevin Lee

Pay-Per-Click: Capturing The Search Curve Tail

August 11, 2009 | Although the "long tail" of search is important, don't forget to look at additional targeting methods that can slice and dice the traffic in the search distribution head in new ways.
By Kevin Lee

Brands, Trademarks, And The Brand Marketer's Dilemma

August 11, 2009 | Should you buy your own trademarks as a keyword? There's no simple answer, but the issue of trademarks as keywords persists as one of the most vexing issues in search marketing.
By Kevin Lee

Is Linux Irrelevant?

August 10, 2009 | The merits of open platforms are secondary to small and midsize businesses being able to continue doing what they've always done.
By Serdar Yegulalp, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Twitter Under DDoS Attack

August 6, 2009 | Tweets go silent as microblogging social network site gets downed by a distributed denial-of-service attack.
By Kelly Jackson Higgins, Courtesy of DarkReading

What To Look For In A Payroll Services Company

August 6, 2009 | What's a small business owner to do when confronted with the costs of payroll outsourcing versus the time and resources it takes to process payroll himself? Using an outside payroll company can be the right choice, as long as you keep the following guidelines in mind.
By Merrin Muxlow

Windows 7 'XP Mode' Released

August 4, 2009 | Windows XP Mode, Release Candidate, addresses concerns that older business applications -- many of which, to the chagrin of small and midsize businesses, didn't work on Vista -- will, in fact, run on Windows 7.
By Paul McDougall, Courtesy of InformationWeek

The High Cost Of Network Downtime: Q&A With Charles Nault

August 5, 2009 | The difference between investing in an IT infrastructure and investing in an IT infrastructure that's redundant and reliable is incremental -- and skimping on your network infrastructure to save a few dollars can cost your business big bucks.
By Benjamin Tomkins

GSA Outlines U.S. Government's Cloud Computing Requirements

August 3, 2009 | A newly issued RFQ details what's expected from cloud computing vendors in terms of security, SLAs, geographic location, and data ownership.
By J. Nicholas Hoover, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Risk Free Technology: The Problem

August 4, 2009 | What would happen if your company's computer and communications systems unexpectedly failed? What if these systems refused to function as you began your workday? What if they suddenly shut down during your workday? If any of these scenarios took place, immediately your world would be turned upside down, in a state of shock, and suffering breakdown. And it's even worse if you, the business owner, can't do anything to help.
By Charles L. Nault

Risk Free Technology: Build Trust Outside Your Company

August 4, 2009 | With a small, overworked IT staff, SMBs can't expect to have experts in every important area. Limited resources require business owners to work with external vendors to integrate and support particular technologies. The challenge is to find the right vendor and develop a relationship that augments and complements the efforts of your in-house staff.
By Charles L. Nault

5 Tools For The Thrifty IT Manager

August 1, 2009 | These free and low-cost tools help IT keep users productive without breaking the bank.
By Bill Silvey, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Ask Steve: The Consumerization Of The Enterprise

August 3, 2009 | Consumer-centric technology -- including HDTV -- is increasingly finding its way into the SMB workplace.
By Steve Hilton

Skype Software Flap Threatens Its Future

July 31, 2009 | A licensing dispute over crucial peer-to-peer technology may force eBay to shut down Skype or develop its own software.
By W. David Gardner, Courtesy of InformationWeek

E-Commerce Software for SMBs: Why Your Shopping Cart Matters

July 31, 2009 | Your company's Web shopping cart can have a big effect on whether or not customers actually buy from your site. Here's how to find an online shopping cart that's right for your business.
By Merrin Muxlow

Fake Security Software Steals $34 Million Monthly

July 29, 2009 | Like a corrupt night watchman, the software that promises to protect your system could be taking your money and making things worse.
By Thomas Claburn, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Researcher Uncovers Massive, Sophisticated Trojan Targeting Top Businesses

July 29, 2009 | Trojan may already have infected hundreds of thousands of PCs, botnet expert says
Courtesy of DarkReading

Microsoft, Yahoo Finally Ink Search Pact

July 29, 2009 | Microsoft's search tools will appear on Yahoo's sites while Yahoo takes on sales role.
By Paul McDougall, Courtesy of InformationWeek

VIDEO: The "Dark Side" of SMB Virtualization

July 29, 2009 | In this video interview, StorageIO's Greg Schultz warns of the dark side of virtualization for SMBs who go to far, too fast with the technology.
By Steve Kovsky

Verizon Offers Free Wi-Fi To Broadband Customers

July 28, 2009 | Serviced by Boingo Wireless, free Wi-Fi service will be immediately available in 100,000 hotspots to existing Verizon FiOS Internet customers. Is it a differentiator for traveling SMB execs?
By W. David Gardner, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Security Concerns Go Up; Spending Goes Down

July 28, 2009 | One in five IT managers expects to curtail investments in encryption, authentication, application security, and protection against DoS attacks this year, survey says.
By Deborah Gage, Courtesy of InformationWeek

VIDEO: SMBs Are Now Virtualization's "Sweet Spot"

July 28, 2009 | In a live video interview, Greg Schultz, senior analyst at StorageIO, explains why small and midsize companies are even more invested in virtualization than are large enterprises.
By Steve Kovsky

Nearly Half Of Companies Lack A Formal Patch Management Process

July 27, 2009 | Microsoft-sponsored Project Quant survey finds patch management expensive, immature. But that excuse won't help your company.
By Kelly Jackson Higgins, Courtesy of DarkReading

Twitter Launches Tools For Businesses

July 24, 2009 | The "Twitter 101" online manual features best practices especially useful for smaller companies that handle their own marketing, plus a new widget simplifies following topics.
By Deborah Gage, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Microsoft Revenue, Earnings Sag Amid Weak PC Market

July 23, 2009 | Microsoft's 29% drop in Q4 earnings attributed to weak demand in the recession-battered global PC and server markets.
By Antone Gonsalves, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Electronic Document Storage For SMBs

July 23, 2009 | Electronic document storage system may not lead your company to the paperless office, but it just might save you some money while helping to save the planet.
By Merrin Muxlow, Courtesy of Resource Nation

Zappos Sells Out To Amazon For $850 Million

July 23, 2009 | Iconic shoe e-tailer startup known for customer service makes its biggest and last sale to e-commerce giant. End of an era for former SMB?
By Antone Gonsalves, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Small Businesses Falling Short In IT, Security

July 22, 2009 | New study says SMBs can't keep up with IT in tough economic times
By Tim Wilson, Courtesy of DarkReading

Apple Reports Higher 3Q Profit, Revenue

July 22, 2009 | In addition to hot iPhone 3G sales, Mac sales also rise 4%, further cementing its place as a viable PC alternative.
By Antone Gonsalves, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Microsoft Windows 7 Family Pack Helps Very Small Businesses

July 22, 2009 | Purchasers can install the new OS on up to three personal computers with a single license.
By Paul McDougall, Courtesy of InformationWeek

RIM Announces BlackBerry Desktop Manager For Mac

July 21, 2009 | Software linking the Blackberry to Apple's Macintosh computers makes the smartphone a more attractive option for SMBs running mixed shops.
By Marin Perez, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Qwest VDSL2 Boosts Broadband Speeds To 40 Mbps

July 21, 2009 | Very High Speed DSL 2 also offers 20 Mbps upstream speeds to consumers and small businesses.
By W. David Gardner, Courtesy of InformationWeek

5 New Ways To Leverage Your Company's Broadband Connection

July 21, 2009 | From teleconferencing to telecommuting, universal broadband rewrites the rules on how small and midsize companies do business.
By Fredric Paul

Microsoft Windows 7: Is New OS The Beginning Of XP's End?

July 18, 2009 | Microsoft is ending mainstream support for XP. It might just be time to for small and midsize businesses to move on.
By Michael Healey, Courtesy of InformationWeek

CEOs' Security Expectations Don't Match Experts

July 15, 2009 | Business executives and IT experts are often out of synch on security issues, a new study says. Sound familiar?
By Tim Wilson, Courtesy of DarkReading

Surprise! Apple Shows Weakness In PC Market

July 16, 2009 | Mac shipments fell 12.4% year-over-year, as consumers turned to lower-priced computers in the tough economy, contradicting some earlier reports.
By Antone Gonsalves, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Microsoft Begins Detailing SharePoint 2010

July 15, 2009 | The next version of the hot-selling collaboration and content management platform will add a host of user features as well as improved IT management capabilities.
By J. Nicholas Hoover, Courtesy of InformationWeek

First Zero-Day Exploit Released For Firefox 3.5

July 15, 2009 | If you thought your business was safe just because you don't use Internet Explorer, you thought wrong. Fortunately, a patch is in the works.
By Kelly Jacksono Higgins, Courtesy of DarkReading

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