May 2008

Disaster Preparedness

With the recent tornadoes across the Midwest and Northern Colorado, it brought to mind the importance of disaster preparedness. Ready.gov states that 1 in 4 businesses never reopen after a disaster, plan to NOT be one of those that never reopen. Plan your recovery before its needed.

To see the supplies that Ready.gov recommends please visit http://www.ready.gov/business/plan/emersupply.html

Common sense tells us, that businesses should keep copies of their most important files offsite. Personally, I use several methods but most notably, I use Carbonite's online backup service. For about $50 per year, I'm assured of complete recovery of my files in the case of disaster - or if I reformat my PC (as I did recently) and need to restore my files. Also, dvd's of my information is stored in fireproof safes, and the really urgent information is easily grabbed as I'm running out the door.

Be prepared. Your equipment should be insured. Don't use a rider on your homeowner's policy, you should have business insurance that covers your equipment. All of it. Make an inventory of all the software you have, whether its installed or not, list your peripherals List your books. If you have a radio in your office, list that! List EVERYTHING! Take pictures of your equipment, store your receipts with your inventory, OFF SITE. My Office inventory is electronic, and is stored offsite, AND backed up regularly. Keep your inventory up to date. When you prepare your inventory, don't forget about your various logins and account access codes and passwords. I have a book of keycodes, kept in my fireproof safe. For my more sensitive logins, those are encrypted on a flashdrive in the safe. Keep this list as up to date as possible.

During severe weather, surges often cripple your equipment, which is why it is vital your equipment be protected with high quality surge protection, and if you lose power suddenly, having an uninteruptable power supply (UPS) can give you the time you need to save what you're working on and shut your equipment down. High quality UPS systems also include surge protection. Include your PHONES on the surge protection. Often, your telephone is one piece of equipment that is forgotten about when it comes to equipment protection.

Visit Ready.gov for more information about disaster preparedness for your home and your business. Become familiar with what you need to do, and what needs to be on hand. Stay alert to the news, and be prepared.

Wishing you safe, Kathy Ritchie

Working on the Fly

Recently, I had occasion to be out of the office, but still needed the ability to work with clients. Thank goodness for wireless technology.

I brought my old T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone, with the wireless keyboard, and went to work. Not only did I have the ability to take calls, I could surf the net and also type this column.

I realize the system I'm using for wireless working isn't the latest on the market, but it meets my needs perfectly, and it was very affordable, since I purchased it on eBay. (Be careful of shady sellers though, ask plenty of questions, and make sure the seller has a return policy.)

As many of you know, I am a gadget addict. Actually, my friend, Janice Byer (Docu-Type Web Design & Administrative Services) calls me the Gadget Queen, lol. My point is that you don't always need to have the latest thing if you're patient and can find ways of making the gadget fit your needs. In this case, my need was to have one piece of equipment fill two roles - anything that lighten's the load is a plus! A bonus is also that the system is much more upgradable than my last PDA, which wasn't at all.

Finally, be curious, be cautious, but be open to gadgets that aren't the 'hip' items, you can save money and still get the job done.

Happy Gadget-ing! Kathy Ritchie, Editor

Update: Just this week I was able to get a really good deal on a new PDA/phone (next to nothing!) when my wireless contract was up. Now Im using an HTC Wing, which has all the bells I could have hoped for. My only hint of an issue is that the integrated keyboard is a bit small - but that could also be that it's new to me. Main thing is that I'm able to be "connected" one of several different ways. (GPRS, wifi, bluetooth) So the above article, while it doesn't apply specifically to me now, I still believe it.

Have a great May! Kathy Ritchie, Editor