Databranch Newsletter

July 2006
In this issue...

> Prepare for Unexpected
> Secure Smartphone
> Employee Spotlight

Employee Spotlight

Jeff LaBenne
promoted to Branch Manager of Databranch - Elmira Heights

As Branch Manager he will be responsible for business development and operations at the Elmira Heights location. Mr. LaBenne will also work with area businesses to help them best utilize IT solutions to meet their business goals. Jeff graduated from Clarion University with a B.S. in Information Systems and a Minor in Computer Science. He joined Databranch as an Account Manager in September of 2003 and has received numerous certifications from major IT companies such as Cisco, Citrix, Novell and Microsoft which have provided him with expertise in areas such as Security, IP Telephony and Workflow Automation. Prior to joining Databranch, Jeff served as District Executive Director with the Allegheny Highlands Council of the Boy Scouts of America. David Prince, President of Databranch commented: "I am thrilled to be able to offer this opportunity to Jeff. He has proven his commitment to Databranch on countless occasions and will offer the Elmira Heights location the type of leadership and expertise that will ensure its success. Jeff will be a valuable asset to local businesses and the Elmira community."

Please forward this newsletter to anyone else in your organization who might be interested!

Prepare for the Unexpected
Summary: Having an incident response plan can mean the difference between recovering quickly and losing your business entirely. Learn about some key areas to focus on when developing your incident response plan.

Your business most likely relies on IT for a variety of tasks, including the storage of business documents, customer information, financial records, and accounting information. In addition, you probably rely on computers to conduct many daily business operations. Though no one wants to deal with the possibility of something unfortunate happening to their business, planning for the unexpected today could save your business tomorrow. Here are some key areas to focus on when developing your incident response plan.

Data protection: Your business may have thousands of records that are updated on a regular basis, so it's critical to develop a system for backing up all of your files. There are a variety of methods available. One option is called Disk-based backup, which is becoming the method of choice for many small businesses, due to both its cost effectiveness and its ability to provide continuous data protection.

IT hardware disposal: While backing up and protecting your data is important, safe disposal of machines that contain your data is equally important. If a physical disaster makes it necessary for you to dispose of hardware, make sure to erase all data on those machines before disposal, so no one can retrieve any information off the hard drive.

Securing Your Smartphone or PDA
Summary : Don't overlook the security needs of these small devices. Here are some key security measures to take to protect your smartphone or PDA.

Smartphones and personal digital assistants (PDAs) have become important business tools in recent years, and that trend appears to be continuing. According to Gartner Inc, worldwide PDA shipments in the first quarter of 2006 increased 6.6 percent compared to the first quarter of 2005. While use of these handheld devices is becoming more widespread, prices have remained steady, with the average price per device dropping 2.7 percent compared to the same time last year.

For purposes of clarification, Gartner defines a PDA as a data-centric handheld computer weighing less than one pound that is primarily designed for use with both hands. Smartphones offer all the attributes of a PDA, except that smartphones are voice-centric and are designed for primarily one-handed operation. Those differences aside, both devices offer the freedom of mobility to continue business operations outside the physical office walls, enabling anywhere/anytime communication via the phone, email, or Internet using a wireless connection.

If you are already using, or thinking about using, smartphones or PDAs in your small business, security must be a priority. Many people are unaware that these devices are highly vulnerable to information theft and online security threats; in fact, they require the same security precautions of a laptop connected to a wireless business network. Very few wireless devices come equipped with the right security features out of the box, so it is vital that you take some proactive security measures.

Information at risk
Consider the type of information that flows through your PDAs and smartphones. What would be the consequences if someone with malicious intent was able to access that information? A recent study sponsored by Symantec found that 60 percent of the respondents store confidential information or client data on their handheld mobile devices.