Free tools for all of your basic business needs

Introducing new software into a typical small business environment can be costly, to say the least. Depending on the size of your business, buying multiple copies of a program or its licenses can quickly drive your balance sheet into the red. The alternative isn’t especially appealing, however. Sifting through the Web in the hopes of finding an effective no-cost software solution could wind up costing a small business just as much time, money, and manpower to use effectively as it would have cost to buy a fully functional app in the first place.

Below, you’ll find 10 superb pieces of software for most major business functions which can create a front-to-back resource for getting your business up and running at the low cost that can increase productivity without decreasing your bank account. A word of warning, however: Free software isn’t always the deal it appears to be. Premium software is paid because it typically comes with frequent updates and a helpful support staff that’s just a phone call away.

1. Operating system: Ubuntu Linux-  The cost of Windows licenses adds up quickly, whereas open-source Linux costs nary a dime. Ubuntu is a pretty darn good operating system, too, provided your workforce doesn’t mind abandoning the familiarity of the traditional Windows desktop for more uncharted waters.

2. Productivity suite: LibreOffice-  It’s fair to say that one of the biggest challenges businesses face in abandoning the tried-and-true-(and-pricy) Microsoft Office suite for a freeware office package like LibreOffice is compatibility.

3. Security: Windows Defender / Microsoft Security Essentials-  While different kinds of businesses might need more robust security options than Microsoft’s free solutions provide, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with keeping Microsoft’s highly functional (and highly free) antivirus app in your back pocket for any systems that need basic protection. Just don’t expect the apps to do a great job of reporting to a centralized authority about viruses found or updates needed. Another powerful app worth checking out is the free version of Comodo Internet Security.

4. Email: Zimbra Desktop-  Zimbra Desktop includes all of the staple elements of a desktop email client, such as a mail interface, a calendar, task lists, an offline mode, et cetera. The app also includes a section that allows users to keep tabs on social hotsposts like Twitter and Facebook; more business-friendly services like WebEx and LinkedIn; and general services like Yahoo Web Search and Local lookups.

5. Project management: Freedcamp-  Freedcamp allows you to create projects, within which you can create and assign tasks to various users within your organization. (Due dates appear on a separate calendar.) When users log into their accounts, they’re presented with an easy-to-digest dashboard featuring all the activity that’s going on within a particular project, as well as to-do items and larger “Where are we on the overall timeline?” milestone elements that define what you’re working on.

6. Human resource management: OrangeHRM-  Managing your human resources is critical in all but the smallest of one-person businesses, and keeping track of your employees’ information in a thrown-together spreadsheet just won’t cut it. That doesn’t mean you need to spend an arm and a leg on premium human resource management software, however. OrangeHRM—a completely free and open-source HR system—spins a number of common HR “modules” around a single, centralized controller system.

7. Website design: Weebly-  If you know absolutely nothing about Web design but still want some kind of Web presence that’s better than an about.me page or a default parked domain page, Weebly’s your best friend. The free version of this Web app allows you to create a simple site—hosted by Weebly itself—that you build by dragging and dropping various page elements over a variety of preset templates.

8. Customer relations management: ZohoCRM-  ZohoCRM helps businesses keep track of customers (and potential customers), conduct email marketing campaigns, capture opt-in lead generation, keep a finger on the pulse of sales pipelines, manage sales opportunities, and more—all through a single, easy-to-use Web interface. ZohoCRM’s free version supports 100 megabytes of total storage and up to 100,000 records.

9. Accounting: GnuCash-  GnuCash is an open-source accounting program that uses a checkbook-style interface to track basic incomes and expenditures. And, because this app’s uses the double-billing accounting method, it assists you in balancing your books by ensuring that your cross-account transactions match up.

10. Email marketing: MailChimp-  MailChimp’s free as in “freemium,” but its gratisoffering is actually pretty gracious. The free tier of this popular email marketing management service lets you send up to 12,000 emails per month to a list that’s no larger than 2,000 email addresses. In other words, you can’t blast the world, but the typical small business can certainly email a significant portion of its customer base.

Warning: Before installing any software on your desktop/Laptop always do your own little research and beware of any hidden virus or malware infection. Don’t let a malware infection slow you down. Come and speak to us to know more.

We believe that the safest way to store your data is through a multi-layered strategy involving multiple storage locations and real-time backups. But should disaster strike anyway, you can trust Stellar Phoenix to recover your data and help you get back to business.

Call us at 1-855-BY-STELLAR (297 8355) or click here to complete a service request form.
You may also visit our website directly to learn more about our capabilities.

We stand behind our service to you. Let Stellar Phoenix be your go-to source whenever you have data retrieval challenges.

Do we all know what are signs of computer virus, trojans or other malware?

The reason why most computer malware are so deadly is because many users fail to recognize whether they have been infected or not. Had they detected the infection at an earlier stage, the damage caused could have been greatly reduced. As each virus is programmed differently, it becomes difficult to identify a virus outbreak. However, there are some general symptoms that makes it easy to detect an infected computer. Here are some of them:-

1. Programs won’t start or crash suddenly: If some system programs like the task manager or registry editor have suddenly stopped working or crash randomly without any visible reason, it is more than likely that your computer has got some form of worm that is attaching itself to various programs and thus, corrupting their code. A virus modifying registry entries to prevent these programs from running could also cause this.
2. Unusual Network Traffic: If even after closing your browser and other applications that may use the internet, you see that your computer is still downloading or uploading anything, then your computer is possibly infected with some form of spyware that is either downloading other viruses to your computer or is uploading your private information to a remote computer. In case you use a wifi connection, it is also possible that your neighbors are using your network.
3. Internet Connection not available or is slow: If suddenly, your internet connection has stopped working or has become extremely slow, it is possible that a malware is the cause. However, problems with your internet service provider could also be the cause of such issues.
4. Annoying Popups or Redirection to Strange Websites: If there has been an increase in the number of annoying popups while browsing the internet or your web browser redirects you to a different website from the one you wanted to visit, a virus or adware might be the cause.
5. Computer won’t boot: If your computer has suddenly stopped booting, it is possible that some malware has modified your computer’s system files. In such a situation, re-installing or repairing your operating system might be the only solution.
6. Slow Computer: Some viruses are designed specifically for this purpose. Malware programmers achieve this by designing viruses that increase your CPU‘s usage level to 100%. If on running the Task Manager, you find that your CPU’s usage is constantly at 100% level, a malware might be the cause.
7. Programs start automatically: Some viruses and adware automatically start strange programs on your computer in order to show unwanted advertisements or simply to frustrate users.
8. Unusual File Associations: Some viruses change .exe or other file associations which prevents these files from opening. Some viruses also do this to automatically start themselves when a file of particular type is started.
9. Security Software Disabled: Most malware disable anti viruses and firewalls to prevent themselves from being detected. If only a single software stops working, it might be a specific software failure issue. If it is a general trend and almost every security software is facing this issue, a virus infection is most likely.
10. Weird Behaviour: If your computer automatically starts sending emails or opens strange applications randomly or does things different from its “normal” behavior, your computer is most likely compromised by malware.

Stellar Phoenix Solutions engineers are trained and certified in all leading encryption and forensics technologies and have scores of satisfied customers all over the globe. Put us to the test today! Don’t be a victim of low prices and false promises. We guarantee our service standards.

• Call us at 1 855 BY STELLAR (297 8355) or click here to complete a service request form.
• You may also visit our website directly to learn more about our capabilities

We are committed to building the value of the Stellar Phoenix brand and we stand behind our service to you. We want to earn your trust and confidence as your “go-to source” when you have data retrieval challenges.

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Is your Business ready for the Cloud?

For some, the term is wildly nebulous. Not long ago, even Oracle’s Larry Ellison publicly asked what the heck people meant by “the cloud.” For others, cloud computing instantly raises concerns about security and reliability.

Do you know what Does Cloud Computing really Mean?

For decades, engineers have drawn a cloud to depict a network (such as the Internet) whose inner workings were unknown to them. From there, cloud computing evolved as a term to describe free or subscription-based services delivered in real time over the Internet. We queried dozens of small businesses about the cloud services they use, and why they use them. Among the most popular services were these:

• Google Apps ($50 per user per year) and Google Docs (free) are offerings from the Google cloud empire. Google Apps is a business-class version of Google Docs and includes souped-up Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Docs (for word processing, spreadsheet, presentations and forms) components along with administration capabilities.
• Box.net (free for 1GB of storage; $10 for an individual plan; $15 monthly for three or more users) is an online workspace service for file sharing and collaboration.
• QuickBooks Online ($10 to $35 per month), unlike QuickBooks installed on PCs, makes collaboration easy across a small team.
• Skype is popular for its free video chats as well as for the low-cost calls to landline and cell phones that it makes possible.
• Highrise for CRM and Basecamp for project management ($24 to $149 per month each, depending on the level of service you choose) both come from 37 signals. A number of small businesses we contacted recommended these services for their feature sets and ease of use.

Bright side of Cloud Computing

Cloud-based services can help small businesses dramatically reduce their software and other computing costs. Storing files on a secure, reliable, cloud-based service helps eliminate backup worries and gives you anytime access to your files.

Usually, cloud-based services are simple to use—the only things you need are a computer (or in some cases, a mobile handset), a browser, and an Internet connection. And such services require no maintenance from the user.

The Cloud’s Dark Side

The biggest misgiving that most businesses have about the cloud involves security. They said that their biggest worries about cloud computing were, in descending order, security, availability, and performance.

It’s not difficult to find instances of security breaches in cloud computing, of course. On the other hand, you can’t entirely eliminate risk from any computing environment. Intruders may hack into files stored on your business’s own servers or hard drives. Hard drives may fail. Unencrypted information stored on laptops may lead to identity theft or lawsuits when the laptops go missing.

Here are some other commonly cited concerns about cloud computing:

• Privacy: How much data are cloud companies like Google collecting about you, and how might that information be used?
• Availability: Will your cloud service go down unexpectedly, leaving you without access to critical customer records, e-mail, or other information for hours or more? Gmail outages are widely reported, but Salesforce.com and other well-established services have gone dark on occasion, too.
• Data loss: Some online storage sites have shut down abruptly, sending users scrambling to recover their data, sometimes with only 24 hours’ notice. And T-Mobile Sidekick users were unhappy to discover that their personal data had been erased from their devices–especially when Microsoft said that the data loss was irrevocable. (A few days later, Microsoft announced that it had recovered most of the data.)
• Data mobility and ownership: Will you be able to share data between different cloud services? If you decide to stop using a cloud service, can you get all of your data back? What format will it be in? How can you be certain that the cloud service will destroy all of your data once you’ve severed ties with it?
• Tool robustness: Cloud-based tools frequently aren’t as powerful as software applications. Google Docs, for instance, lacks a number of features that Microsoft Office has had for years, such as the ability to track changes in a text file.

At Stellar Phoenix, we want to improve your backup strategy, not fix it. And we believe that the safest way to store your data is through a multi-layered strategy involving multiple storage locations and real-time backups. But should disaster strike anyway, you can trust Stellar Phoenix to recover your data and help you get back to business.

• Call us at 1-855-BY-STELLAR (297 8355) or click here to complete a service request form.
• You may also visit our website directly to learn more about our capabilities.

We stand behind our service to you. Let Stellar Phoenix be your go-to source whenever you have data retrieval challenges.

Source: PC World

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What do you know of ROI on Data Loss..?

One data loss incident can result in continuous cost. After making affected customers whole, conducting an internal investigation, repairing any damage to internal systems, and dealing with expected litigation, you can count on external audits, increased regulatory oversight, and a damaged reputation to stay with you for a while.

Without question, a data loss is not a one-time cost. Even after your operations have recovered, effects of the data loss could continue to impact your business for a decade or longer. One mistake can have far-reaching consequences, and a serious loss may mean that your business never recovers—or at least never returns to “normal.”

The cost of the data loss incident is determined by the size and nature of the organization, the sensitivity of the data that was lost, and the size of the incident itself. The cost of data loss can vary, especially as the far-reaching effects can be difficult to gauge. Forrester Research estimates that the average data leak results in $1.5 million in economic damage, while The Ponemon Institute pegs the amount at $4.8 million.

Data loss prevention provides a sound cost-avoidance strategy and can positively impact revenue—saving hundreds of millions of dollars with little upfront investment. The risk of damage extends beyond your company, ultimately affecting customers, business partners, and other stakeholders that can affect your business for many years.

The direct costs of intellectual property loss typically include:

• Fees for legal recourse to address who leaked the data and discover if it was being used inappropriately
• Short-term impact to R&D cost recuperation
  •  Key variable(s): assets stage in its lifecycle
• Long-term impact to profitability/revenue projections
  • Key variable(s): assets stage in its lifecycle, reproducibility, market demand
• System and process audits to identify and correct the source of the data loss.

After a data loss event, organizations may face two costly professional service engagements: Periodic audits and process redesign.

A simple data loss that results in the loss of 100,000 customer records can turn into a direct and immediate cost of $21.8 million. To put this number in perspective, an employee who generates $1,000 in revenue per hour would have to work for 21,800 hours—a total of 109 years—in order to compensate for the loss.(See Figures)

Thus, the direct cost of a 100,000-record leak could amount to a minimum of $35.8 million over five years, averaging $7.2 million per year (See Figures).

The cost-per-record estimates from Forrester and Ponemon only address certain direct, indirect, and opportunity costs associated with the loss of customers affected by the leak. In high-profile cases, a company can expect to lose even more, as unaffected customers no longer find their business credible. Forrester estimates that a company can expect to lose up to 20 percent of their customer base because of a data loss.

Disasters that threaten a business can happen anywhere at any time. But no matter how it is caused, a loss of data, or access to data for any kind of extended period, inevitably means a loss of revenue, a loss of productivity, a loss of reputation, and increased costs.

Put us to the test today!  Don’t be a victim of low prices and false promises. We guarantee our service standards.

• Call us at 1 855 BY STELLAR (297 8355) or click here to complete a service request form.
• You may also visit our web site directly to learn more about our capabilities

We are committed to building the value of the Stellar Phoenix brand and we stand behind our service to you. We want to earn your trust and confidence as your “go-to source” when you have data retrieval challenges.

Related articles

• Markel, Experian to Offer Data Breach Loss Control Resources (insurancejournal.com)
• Almost 50% of organizations report 10 or more significant data breaches a year (brianpennington.co.uk)
• Glasgow City Council puts data at risk as 750 computers go missing (itpro.co.uk)

Is Your Hard Disk Making Strange Sounds?

They say prevention is better than cure so if your computer’s hard disk is making some strange clicking sounds, it’s probably time to backup data because noises are often symptoms of a failing hard drive.

Now not all sounds coming from the computer may be signs of trouble (for instance the culprit could be noisy fan and not the disk) so how you distinguish noises specific to the hard drive? Click for Sounds of crashed hard drives.

Only experts with thorough knowledge on all different symptoms on hard drive failure can actually tell you what sound is good or bad for your hard drive. Even so, it can be beyond repair sometimes. In such cases, there are usually two alternatives. One is to go replace your hard drive and restore back-up, but what if you do not have a recent back-up. The best solution is Stellar Phoenix Solutions.

At Stellar Phoenix, we have seen it all, our engineers are trained and certified in all leading encryption and forensics technologies and have scores of satisfied customers all over the globe.

Put us to the test today! Don’t be a victim of low prices and false promises. We guarantee our service standards.

• Call us at 1 855 BY STELLAR (297 8355) or click here to complete a service request form.
• You may also visit our web site directly to learn more about our capabilities

We are committed to building the value of the Stellar Phoenix brand and we stand behind our service to you. We want to earn your trust and confidence as your “go-to source” when you have data retrieval challenges.

Related articles

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