Hardware Solution

	Requirements
	Communication
	email intranet unified messaging
	Connection
	isdn ads leased line
	Hardware
	specification configuration management
	Network
	specification configuration management
	Security
	anti virus back up firewalls

It is said that the first loss is the least loss: in other words, by investing in a good system, your long-term costs are minimised. A good system will usually consist of these things:

• One brand: your computers will be from a single, large manufacturer that offers worldwide support and a consistent level of service. The machines will therefore all be compatible with one another, and their software will be set up in the same way, minimising your administrative overhead;
• Service: one phone call should suffice to get someone on the case if any problems arise;
• Telephone Support: many problems can be fixed over the phone; why wait for an engineer if the problem can be sorted out with a short conversation?
• Accountability: your maintenance contract must limit your costs for any repairs that may be needed.

The point about computers and the Internet is that they are intended to lead not to reliance and dependence but to liberation and independence. The aim of all business tools is to make things easier! The easier your work, the more you can achieve. The more you can achieve, the greater your potential profits.

Specification

To get the most out of your set-up, each person will need a reasonably well- specified PC. Generally, the PC's will not have to be ultra-high performing machines of the sort used by developers or games-players. On the other hand, they must be able to keep up with new innovations in software and any new demands you may make on them for a reasonable period of time. In other words, mid-range PC's, perhaps with a little extra memory and more than adequate storage space, will do the trick for most business users.

Your network server must have plenty of storage space for your database and it must be fast enough to handle requests from several users simultaneously. This is not a big problem for most servers: this is what they are made for, after all. The server will probably also be responsible for handling your backup software, and some people may feel that they would be safer still if they had an entire backup server, ready to jump into the breach should their main server break down. This decision depends on how much you feel a couple of days' downtime would cost your business. Probably, it would cost more than the price of a low-specification secondary server.

Your Internet connection must be fast if you don't want staff sitting around and twiddling their thumbs while modifying your Internet property database. On the other hand, it must be cheap to run. For most businesses with around 5-15 staff, this narrows it down to an ADSL connection, or perhaps a leased line for the busiest, or those with multiple offices wanting a multi-site internal phone system. The smallest offices might make do with a simple telephone modem, but that can be very slow for anything other than collecting and sending e-mail. For more speed an ISDN connection can be used, but this can quickly get expensive as you are charged each time it dials up to the Internet.

You will need to protect your network from unauthorised access, so a firewall is essential, whether it be hardware or software based. A recent study showed that a typical unprotected network was cracked on average once every three days, and probed by potential crackers up to 14 times a day!

Your database must be fast, easy to update, and easy for your customers to search. Your web site must be attractive, but not over-specified: customers want meat not lard. The web site mustn't waste their time by making it hard or time-consuming for them to get the information they are looking for. Many designers just don't realise how annoying time-wasting flashy animations can be for people in a hurry. People don't want to see your brand adverts - they've already found you.

Configuration

The PC's will need a familiar operating system, and some basic office software to provide word-processing and spreadsheet capability. On top of that, an Internet browser will be required. Your database will have to be accessible to all authorised employees too. After this, in a world where some 1,000 new viruses hit the Internet each week, some cast-iron virus protection is essential.

Management

One of your staff will need to be the 'System Administrator,' responsible for ensuring that your backups are done daily, and that your anti-virus software is kept fully up-to-date. Your latest backup should always be stored off-site; usually, someone takes it home with them overnight and brings it back the next day. They will also need to download any security updates or bug-fixes released by the operating system or software producers, and apply it to all machines. This needs to be checked perhaps once a month for adequate levels of security.