Small telecommunications businesses face many hurdles in trying to compete in the marketplace with the big telecom giants. While your small telecom company can offer your local customers better and more personalized services than the big telecom companies can, there are many barriers to getting your message out there and growing your market share. Just as the old adage about getting a job without experience goes, it is hard to grow your business when you need all of your working capital just to run your business day to day. While the telecom giants can call up their banker and get a loan, it isn’t as easy for your small business to do. For hundreds of years companies have been utilizing the value of their assets as collateral for borrowing money. Your distant relative who owned a small grocery store may have used his inventory and property value as collateral for borrowing money to add onto his building or replace his antiquated refrigerators. As a small telecommunications business you may want to take a similar action in order to grow your business and service offerings. As you may have experienced, most of the major financing companies out there just plain do not understand how telecommunications businesses work. Unless you are AT&T, or another large telecommunications company, with a monthly billings total of over 5 million dollars, most typical business finance resources are not that interested in talking to you. It isn’t that they are not interested in your business and its success; they just simply do not understand how telecom billings work. As a small business owner, a potential lender may ask you to make a personal guarantee or sign a recourse agreement in order to obtain funding. This can be a scary proposition and place you personally at a risk level you may not be comfortable with. If you come to this point with a lender then it is time to move on and look for a better alternative. One alternative available in telecom financing is factoring. Factoring is the process whereby your company can borrow money against its receivables. Traditional factor rates however can be high, because lenders balk at the way telecommunication company’s bill, and the relatively small amounts of each individual billing. If you are able to locate a lender who will give you a discount, because they understand the uniqueness of telecom financing, factoring can be a good option to explore. Another alternative you might consider for your telecom funding needs is an asset based solution. By securing your funding with your contracts, equipment or other assets, you can borrow against them and use the additional capital to expand your business. Asset based solutions can be a bit easier to find, and cheaper than trying to do a receivables factor. A third alternative to explore is the idea of an investment capital cash infusion. If you are open to using investment capital this can be a wonderful way to grow your business. While telecom funding can be hard to find, there are options open to small telecom businesses. By considering all of your options and selecting the one which fits your business the best, you can be well on your way to growing and expanding your business. Thermo Credit LLC provides asset based solutions and works with partner companies to offer loans, lines of credit, and capital investment. We are rich in telecom funding experience. We can offer insight beyond strictly business financing resources. Learn more at http://www.thermocredit.com.
If you want a fast and efficient internet connection, it is a good idea to look into a VOIP connection. A VOIP connection allows you to have voice communication cheap and for a great price. A T1 connection is a good way to get cheap VOIP access. Keep in mind that Virtual Private networks are a common practice amongst corporate who create private networks to follow the flow of communication amongst themselves, forbidding any intrusion attempts with encryptions. If you have a business or a personal situation that is in need of VOIP technology should put emphasis on the quality of the output. You should also keep in mind that it depends on the steps on takes to ensure god services, just like the quality of the hardware used for broadband and VoIP and adopting special call protocols and private networks to keep the calls smooth and the quality of a VoIP call to your convenience. The broadband internet connection and a t1 connection being used in high in quality and provides good connectivity speeds. The hardware installed with a broadband connection like a modem and a splitter should be of good quality too. While connecting to the internet, the broadband phone, or the adaptor, the head sets should all be taken into consideration. Broadband providers today assign call signal protocols like SIP which is designed to facilitate VOIP traffic proficiently. Keep in mind that these are a good alternative to the other ISP`s for they provide services facilitating the requirements of people who use VoIP connections. VoIP telephony is here to revolutionaries the world of telecommunication making dedicated phone lines and long bills a thing of past. The quality of a VoIP call, though depends of several factors which should be kept in mind while setting up a VoIP connection. As if that weren’t enough, VoIP call gets through with a broadband internet connection through which audio signals are digitalized into small packets and transferred at high speed. A VoIP call can be placed in several ways like; by using an analogue digital adaptor, broadband phone. A VOIP connection are efficient and is although it is a new development, it is still very popular. The reason that can be credited to the popularity of VoIP is the provision of making long distance calls at a very cheap rate along with n array of value added services that a VoIP subscriber receives. For more resources about VoIP service or about VoIP solution and especially about VoIP provider please review these links.
In today’s world, Wi-Fi has become a convention and as a matter of fact, many big business giants are coming forward for offering service and gadgets for wireless communication. As an immediate effect, certain security issues have been emerged as by-products of this technological revolution. Here are seven of these security issues that demand diligence of the user: Data Incursion: with advanced technology, it’s now quite easy for the secret agents to steal data from Wi-Fi connections. Data can be stolen from more than a hundred meters distance. For combating such incidents, all Wi-Fi certified products now come up with a built-in encryption for ultimate data protection. The older versions of most of the gadgets that come up with TKIP which is quite open to data stealth cases. Therefore, it’s required to adopt AES-CCMP instead of TKIP. Service Refutation: in many cases, WLANs are naturally quite open to DoS. The density of certain unlicensed frequencies within the periphery of a whole lot of users makes way to data leakage to the ultimate. But it is good news for the users that as 802.11n protocol has already come into effect, individual’s communication and data transfer can be put into a range of channels but the peril of DoS is still there. To prevent this attack, opt for newer products that come with 802.11w protocol. Corrupted APS: network infiltration by anonymous and illegal APs is a big threat to Wi-Fi security. But, the majority of enterprises now use genuine APs to scan channels for data protection of the connection. But most lacks the standard of skills required to trace the true threats. One should therefore use a Wireless IPS that is pretty much efficient to differentiate between real danger and undisruptive neighbors. Wireless Interlopers: Wireless IPS products as Motorola AirDefense or AirTight can easily detect malevolent Wi-Fi punters that are within the reach of any business periphery. But for definitive wireless data protection, accurately positioned WIPS sensors only meet the requirements. All the protocols like 802.11a/b/g should be updated in order to counter superior 802.11n attacks. Spiteful Punters: clients that use unauthorized Wi-Fi connections of any sort are known as Spiteful Clients or Punters. They can cause a threat to the data. It always better to rely upon authorized APs to prevent this danger. You should restrict the end-user changes to avert this one and therefore you should be austere enough to unauthorized access to your Wi-Fi network. Wireless Threats: hackers are on a go to bring out new ways of phishing and every second day newer hacking methods are invented. They can simply invade into any place of the Wi-Fi client web browser caches and cause harm. Once a hacker gets hold of your connection, it is pretty much possible that long after leaving the hotspot, your Wi-Fi connection may be redirected to a phishing site automatically. It may happen while the user is in a wired network. One method you can opt for in this case. Just extenuate the browser caches while leaving the network. The other option is to way out all traffic through a trusted VPN to ensure data protection of the Wi-Fi connection.
Nature and critical importance of intellectual property vary across industries and types of business. Software development outsourcing requires high level of knowledge sharing between customer organization and vendor. Consequently, IP rights of stakeholders are involved in one form or another. Thus intellectual property management and data protection issues have become increasingly important for businesses utilizing offshore/nearshore outsourcing. Intellectual property that can be transferred to the vendor may include software, data, business and technology processes, trade secrets, inventions, know-how as well as other confidential information and works of authorship. Furthermore some of it may belong to third parties and require licensing. Both customer and vendor must properly administer their IP and stick to overall business objectives in order to effectively manage information sharing. Benefits of sharing IP assets must outweight risks associated with outsourcing. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) emphasizes two critical IP-related concerns in offshore outsourcing: ownership of IP and “inadvertent, accidental or willful disclosure of confidential information and trade secrets” (loss of business knowledge). But in most cases these concerns can be overcome by properly conducting IP due diligence, thoroughly evaluating the vendor and taking appropriate IP-protection measures. IP Due Diligence Prior to concluding any outsourcing initiative customer organization should conduct IP due diligence and risk assessment. As a result the company will be able to safeguard its intellectual property and clearly define which functions should be kept in-house and which can be outsourced. IP due diligence may include the following indicative steps: • Identify areas of critical importance to your business • Carefully assess business knowledge and determine if moving it outside the company or to an offshore location will compromise company practices • Identify and document all of the IP assets associated with the outsourced task • Determine ownership rights in the identified IP • Carefully review third-party or jointly-owned IP • Identify existing or alleged breaches of contract, infringements, disclosure of confidential information and trade secrets • Assess how well the legal infrastructure in the foreign country will protect IP rights • Determine jurisdiction and enforcement (applicable laws, their enforceability, dispute resolution mechanisms) • Define termination, expiration or exit clauses of arrangement • Determine other IP-related responsibilities if applicable: ongoing maintenance and upgrades to the IP; payments of transfer fees; product liability, IP insurance, etc. Having conducted IP due diligence, the organization can proceed to evaluation of potential outsourcing partner. Results can be used during negotiation of outsourcing agreements to provide for IP-related issues that may arise. Practical business negotiations should be initiated only after being satisfied with vendor’s reputation, resources and compatibility of business culture. They should focus on the steps needed to be taken by both parties in order to safeguard and ensure proper use, sharing, licensing, development and improvement of the IP during and after the relationship. It should also include any relevant IP assets of third parties. Selection of the outsourcing vendor in the context of IP-related issues When outsourcing, customer organization should scrutinize potential partner’s ability to safeguard confidential information of commercial value against misappropriation, misuse, sabotage, loss or theft. • Check that the vendor has a documented and enforceable information security management policy in place • Review outsourcing vendor’s data security and IP protection practices as well as processes they have in place to protect customer’s confidential information • Check whether additional security policies can be implemented to protect your sensitive data • Provide vendor with only the minimum proprietary technology or data needed to complete the project • Insist on clear documentation of all source code of your project as it becomes your company’s property and is legally protected • Scrutinize physical security and personnel practices, policies and procedures • Demand tight human resources screening, look for employee retention figures • Find out whether vendor does business with your competitors; if yes, ensure that there is no contact between respective teams • Choose an established partner that complements your business strategy and understands how to implement required level of security Practical measures for protection of intellectual property Intellectual property is one of the company’s most valuable assets. This is especially true for SMEs and startups where it can be the only tangible assets. Risks of not protecting IP are further escalated when outsourcing comes into play. That’s why customer organizations must effectively deal with related issues and use all types of IP protection: physical, electronic and legal. Physical and electronic protection of intellectual property • Treat data security as an exigency • Limit the number of people who have access to the full information • Make sure that outsourcing vendor has a physically secure facility (mechanical and electronic access control, intrusion detection, video monitoring etc) • Check whether offshore team uses computers without removable media to reduce the risk of unauthorized access to your IP • Ensure that in-house employees understand what information can and cannot be shared • Use firewalls, VPN, encryption and other measures to prevent breaches of security in electronic environment, which may lead to disruptions in the supply chains • Protect important information, such as source code, with passwords and access codes, and make sure that they are not widely available (both onsite and offshore) • Always maintain original copy of the source code • Make sure that any test data being used does not reveal real information Legal protection of intellectual property • Determine what country’s legal system will govern and have jurisdiction over contract disputes • Work to understand the legal system and culture of both countries • Find out how IP rights enforcement works in provider’s country • Negotiate a clearly stated contract that specifically addresses business knowledge and IP-related issues and make vendor responsible for the actions of its employees. This will allow to ensure appropriate protection, avoid disagreements and prevent litigation • Clearly define compliance audit procedures prior to engaging into outsourcing relationships • Clarify licensing and source code ownership • Consider open source software issues • Enforce individual privacy in the context of database protection obligations (if applicable) • Rely on non-disclosure and non-compete agreements with the vendor or its team members for keeping vital business information confidential • Define mechanism for possible dispute resolution and arbitration IP protection and data security: Intellias practices Intellias is very security-conscious and devoted to protecting intellectual property and business knowledge of its clients. We recognize importance of protecting customers’ information and express strong commitment to safeguarding their privacy. Hence, respective ethical rules and privacy policies have been adopted at Intellias. Modern encryption and access sharing technologies are commonly utilized at Intellias. This results in essentially secure infrastructure which provides reliable protection of information from unauthorized access by third parties. Furthermore, we maintain high level of employee credibility through Non-Disclosure Agreements that comply with international standards and are designed for thorough protection of project information. All sensitive information that is passed on to Intellias during the project life cycle is stored in a secure environment. Explicit authorship waiver agreements guarantee that the customer becomes the only owner of the code. Representative office in Switzerland enables Intellias to effectively deal with contractual and legal requirements as well as ensure compliance with European and international law.
The internet facilitates open and easy communication across the globe, and has made e-commerce possible. However, because of its unregulated nature, it poses a threat to the security of e-commerce systems. Hence, as an e-business owner, you should be ready to address an array of e-commerce security issues. Here are some of the common problems created by hackers: • Denial-of-service (DoS) attacks that will prevent authorized users from accessing your website. If this happens too often, your customers will walk away. • Gaining access to sensitive data such as price lists, catalogues and intellectual property, and copying, changing or destroying the same. Who hasn’t been a victim of virus attack at some time? • Altering your website. Unscrupulous rival companies might resort to such tactics in order to spoil your company’s image. • Directing your customers to another site. You do the hard work, and someone else reaps the benefits. Hence, you should introduce adequate e-commerce security control measures to reduce the risk to your systems. But remember, these controls should not be so restrictive that they impact the efficiency of your business. Authentication: This is the technique of positively identifying someone seeking to access your e-commerce system. This usually involves any or all of the following: • Assigning a user name and password combination to registered visitors. • Instituting a two-factor verification process that requires confirmation of information known only to authentic users. For example, asking for an authentication token and a personal identification number. • Scanning a person’s unique physical attribute such as a fingerprint or facial-feature. Access control: In this type of control, access is restricted based on a need to know. This limits the number of people who can access a particular piece of information, and therefore reduces the risk of misdemeanor. Encryption: This technique uses technologies like virtual private networks (VPNs) and secure socket layers (SSLs) to protect information that is being displayed on a computer or transmitted over a network. Companies like banks, which deal with sensitive information will most certainly encrypt data. Firewall: This is either software or hardware that protects a server, network or computer system from attack by viruses and hackers. It is also a safeguard against user negligence. Many companies use the Kerberos protocol which uses symmetric secret key cryptography to restrict access to authorized employees. Intrusion detection system (IDS): It inspects all inbound and outbound network activity and identifies any attempt being made to gain illegal access. If IDS suspects an attack, it generates an alarm or sends out an e-mail alert. The importance of e-commerce security cannot be overemphasized. If your business strategy envisages the use of the internet, make sure that your systems are adequately protected. Books like “The Business of E-commerce: From Corporate Strategy to Technology” and “Security Becomes A Business Requirement For E-Commerce Companies” from might be useful in order to deepen your understanding. You might also like to check out the e-commerce security products and services
