How to Make Sure Company Secrets Stay When Employees Move On

Does your data stay put when your employees move on? Maybe not. Nearly 60 percent of employees steal company information when they leave or are fired, with 67 percent of them taking it to a new job, according to a study by Traverse City, Mich.- based privacy and data protection research firm the Ponemon Institute. Yet only 15 percent of respondents' employers performed any sort of review of the digital or paper documents employees were taking.

You, however, should take more protective measures. Well before employees leave, you should have a plan for how you're going to protect the data, says Larry Ponemon, chairman and founder of Ponemon Institute. That includes extra measures for dreaded scenarios such as the departure of a disgruntled senior manager or IT administrator.

Here's a guide to preventing data from walking out the door with departing employees:

Know your people and keep them happy.
Get to know your employees and determine who may pose more of a risk, whether because they have their fingers on your crown jewels or because they seem unhappy or volatile. Be suspect of new employees who offer to deliver customer lists or other secrets from their previous employer. You could get the same treatment when they move on again, Ponemon warns.

And cultivate a happy work environment. Content employees tend to be more loyal, while the disgruntled have fewer qualms about taking things. The Ponemon study found that 61 percent of respondents who were negative about their company stole data, while 26 percent with favorable views did so.

Related: Tech Tools for Keeping a Digital Eye on Employees

Set expectations.
Spell out rules of acceptable and unacceptable use of company information and create a culture of confidentiality. When crafting policies, begin by asking yourself: "What is valuable to your organization?" says Carrie Gates, an engineer at Islandia, N.Y.-based CA Labs. For example, a jewelry company concerned about its designs might want to prohibit employees from transferring design documents to personal email or Dropbox accounts. To boost compliance, explain the reasons for your rules, emphasizing the company's data-control needs rather than communicating distrust of your workers, she says.

Have employees sign an agreement that affirms their understanding of the rules and the need to keep company secrets confidential. You might consider having employees in particularly sensitive roles sign separate confidentiality and non-compete agreements, says Teresa M. Thompson, an employment attorney at Fredrikson & Byron in Minneapolis. Such agreements can set a tone of seriousness that can prevent misbehavior and strengthen your legal hand in trying to compel a pickpocket to return what he or she took.

"Smaller companies … could go under if they don't take an aggressive position," Thompson says. If companies in competitive fields don't take precautions, "they're just open game for people to come and pluck their information and their people."

Related: 3 Tips for Legally and Ethically Monitoring Employees Online

Put technology controls in place.
Protect your sensitive data with technology controls that limit access. Salespeople, for example, shouldn't have access to design blueprints. Use tools such as Active Directory from Microsoft or more advanced identity-management software available from Microsoft and many others.

You also may want to protect sensitive data itself. Microsoft provides tools for protecting documents with passwords, encrypting files and folders, and designating who may access a file. Also consider WatchDox, which offers higher-end controls for documents on computers andmobile devices (prices vary). Installing software on laptops and smartphones can allow you to wipe their contents remotely.

Another option is data loss prevention (DLP) technology, which can detect and stop data from slipping through exit points, such as email, instant messaging, thumb drives, file-sharing services, printers and malware. BeyondTrust offers such a product called PowerBroker DLPthat's available to companies of all sizes ($80 per user per year). Zscaler offers a cloud-based DLP service that can help protect data on your network, in other cloud services and in mobile devices ($1 to $5 per user per month).

Monitor key employees before they depart.
If you're in a risky situation with an employee -- you think a salesman is interviewing with a competitor or a top designer has given notice, for instance -- consider tracking that person's digital activities. Software from SpectorSoft, for example, can record everything that occurs on company devices and provide reports about suspect activity, including data uploads and downloads. It starts at $99 for one basic license.

Terminate access quickly.
Move fast to cut off departing employees' access to the company network, applications, email accounts and physical files. If such workers used your company Twitter or Facebook pages, change the passwords. Ask yourself what other cloud-service accounts you might need to secure. Backupify can help you remove data from Google Apps ($3 per user per month) when employees leave.

People you fire or lay off should be escorted out and watched to make sure they don't take anything that doesn't belong to them, including mobile devices and thumb drives. Review email and other activity during an exit interview or, if you're really concerned, hire a forensic expert to investigate.

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10 Tips for the First-Time Business Owner

here are 10 pieces of advice that I wish someone had given to me before I launched my first venture.

1. Focus. Focus. Focus.
   Many first-time entrepreneurs feel the need to jump at every "opportunity" they come across. Opportunities are often wolves in sheep's clothing. Avoid getting side-tracked. Juggling multiple ventures will spread you thin and limit both your effectiveness and productivity. Do one thing perfectly, not 10 things poorly. If you feel the need to jump onto another project, that might mean something about your original concept.
2. Know what you do. Do what you know.
   Don't start a business simply because it seems sexy or boasts large hypothetical profit margins and returns. Do what you love. Businesses built around your strengths and talents will have a greater chance of success. It's not only important to create a profitable business, it's also important that you're happy managing and growing it day in and day out. If your heart isn't in it, you will not be successful.
3. Say it in 30 seconds or don't say it at all.
   From a chance encounter with an investor to a curious customer, always be ready to pitch your business. State your mission, service and goals in a clear and concise manner. Fit the pitch to the person. Less is always more.
4. Know what you know, what you don't know and who knows what you don't.
   No one knows everything, so don't come off as a know-it-all. Surround yourself with advisors and mentors who will nurture you to become a better leader and businessman. Find successful, knowledgeable individuals with whom you share common interests and mutual business goals that see value in working with you for the long-term.
5. Act like a startup.
   Forget about fancy offices, fast cars and fat expense accounts. Your wallet is your company's life-blood. Practice and perfect the art of being frugal. Watch every dollar and triple-check every expense. Maintain a low overhead and manage your cash flow effectively.
6. Learn under fire.
   No business book or business plan can predict the future or fully prepare you to become a successful entrepreneur. There is no such thing as the perfect plan. There is no perfect road or one less traveled. Never jump right into a new business without any thought or planning, but don't spend months or years waiting to execute. You will become a well-rounded entrepreneur when tested under fire. The most important thing you can do is learn from your mistakes--and never make the same mistake twice.
7. No one will give you money.
   There, I said it. No one will invest in you. If you need large sums of capital to launch your venture, go back to the drawing board. Find a starting point instead of an end point. Scale down pricey plans and grandiose expenditures. Simplify the idea until it's manageable as an early stage venture. Find ways to prove your business model on a shoestring budget. Demonstrate your worth before seeking investment. If your concept is successful, your chances of raising capital from investors will dramatically improve.
8. Be healthy.
   No, I'm not your mother. However, I promise that you will be much more productive when you take better care of yourself. Entrepreneurship is a lifestyle, not a 9-to-5 profession. Working to the point of exhaustion will burn you out and make you less productive. Don't make excuses. Eat right, exercise and find time for yourself.
9. Don't fall victim to your own B.S.
   Don't talk the talk unless you can walk the walk. Impress with action not conversation. Endorse your business enthusiastically, yet tastefully. Avoid exaggerating truths and touting far reaching goals as certainties. In short, put up or shut up.
10. Know when to call it quits.
    Contrary to popular belief, a smart captain does not go down with the ship. Don't go on a fool's errand for the sake of ego. Know when it's time to walk away. If your idea doesn't pan out, reflect on what went wrong and the mistakes that were made. Assess what you would have done differently. Determine how you will utilize these hard-learned lessons to better yourself and your future entrepreneurial endeavors. Failure is inevitable, but a true entrepreneur will prevail over adversity.

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10 Tips for Successful Business Networking

Want to make your business networking more effective? Here are ten tips to keep in mind.

Effective business networking is the linking together of individuals who, through trust and relationship building, become walking, talking advertisements for one another.

Keep in mind that networking is about being genuine and authentic, building trust and relationships, and seeing how you can help others.

Ask yourself what your goals are in participating in networking meetings so that you will pick groups that will help you get what you are looking for. Some meetings are based more on learning, making contacts, and/or volunteering rather than on strictly making business connections.

Visit as many groups as possible that spark your interest. Notice the tone and attitude of the group. Do the people sound supportive of one another? Does the leadership appear competent? Many groups will allow you to visit two times before joining.

Hold volunteer positions in organizations. This is a great way to stay visible and give back to groups that have helped you.

Ask open-ended questions in networking conversations. This means questions that ask who, what, where, when, and how as opposed to those that can be answered with a simple yes or no. This form of questioning opens up the discussion and shows listeners that you are interested in them.

ecome known as a powerful resource for others. When you are known as a strong resource, people remember to turn to you for suggestions, ideas, names of other people, etc. This keeps you visible to them.

Have a clear understanding of what you do and why, for whom, and what makes your doing it special or different from others doing the same thing. In order to get referrals, you must first have a clear understanding of what you do that you can easily articulate to others.

Be able to articulate what you are looking for and how others may help you. Too often people in conversations ask, "How may I help you?" and no immediate answer comes to mind.

Follow through quickly and efficiently on referrals you are given. When people give you referrals, your actions are a reflection on them. Respect and honor that and your referrals will grow.

Call those you meet who may benefit from what you do and vice versa. Express that you enjoyed meeting them, and ask if you could get together and share ideas.

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Top 7 Tips - Bank Loan vs Venture Capital

In today's economic situation putting up a business is most probably the best way to earn income. You would consider yourself noble if you were able to run a successful business because first you were able to create jobs to other people, you were able to help grow the economy and many others. In fact, the hardest part about becoming an entrepreneur is figuring out where to start. Whether you have some knowledge already or are going on a vague notion that this option may be for you, we hope this roundup will be a place to start.

1.    Build a business plan

No small business expert would recommend starting a business without a business plan. There's too much at stake, your money, other people's money, the livelihood of your family and potential employees... In starting a business, your business plan will be your guide towards various phases on your new business and not only that; it can also attract potential investors and secure a loan. For investors this will show whether or not your business can make a profit. It requires a realistic look at almost every phase of business and allows you to show that you have worked out all the problems and decided on potential alternatives before actually launching your business.

2.    Name your business

It may seem so simple to think of a business name, you also have to consider some things before deciding what’s going to be your name. Business name should sounds good and at the same time should be unique so that you have an impact against your competitor but not so unique that potential customers won't know what you're selling. Before ordering letterhead, though, there are a few steps you'll need to take to ensure that you legally can use the name you selected.

3.    Choose a business structure

Four types of business structure that you can decide on; sole proprietorship, Partnership which has 2 types, Limited and General partnership, Limited Liable Company or LLC and Corporation which has C and S corporation.

Sole Proprietorship, only one owner controls the business. This is the most common business structure available. Common proprietorship includes part-time businesses, direct sellers, new start-ups, contractors, and consultants.

Limited partnership is limited partnership consists of at least one general partner (controls the business) and at least one limited partner (investor). And General partnership is a business owned by two or more people. Partnerships offer more freedom for business owners with shared business tasks and the potential to earn greater profits.

Limited Liability Company, this is becoming the most popular business structure nowadays, Limited Liability Company or LLC is a type of business ownership combining several features of corporation and partnership structures Owners of a LLC have the liability protection of a corporation. All your business losses, profits, and expenses flow through the company to the individual members.

Corporation is a business which is considered a separate entity from you; even having the legal rights of a person. A corporation is usually the most complex and most expensive way to organize a business. Records must be kept to document decisions made by the board of directors.

4.    Create an accounting system

Financial Management, in general, is meant a set of measures aimed at reaching financial stability. In particular, a foremost aspect of financial management is efficient distribution of economic resources or, in other words, capital funds, as far as they contribute greatly to the company’s prosperity. Therefore, financial management is concerned with the questions of funds procurement and their effective use. The objectives of creating an account system is to organize survival in terms of sharp competition, prevent bankruptcy and other financial risks avoidance, increase in production volume, profit and wealth maximization and expenditure minimization. Without a firm grasp of your margins and cash flow, you can price yourself right out of the market.

5.    Set up and determine your location

Getting a location is also hard as it can be, this where your marketing strategy will fall. A good location can attract a large number of walk-by traffic while a bad location can hide you away from potential customers. It really depends to really what kind of business you will have. There are many steps in office set up including where to locate your office (home or office space), buying the necessary office equipment, designing your work space and getting supplies. Whatever location you choose, make sure you know all of the legal restrictions on your place of business.

6.    Get business insurance

A smart business one will take the necessary acts to ease the risk and one valuable risk manager is insurance. Like home insurance, business insurance protects the contents of your business against fire, theft and other losses. . In many cases, there is no requirement your business needs insurance unless you have a company automobile, employees or it's a loan condition. Liability insurance, Property insurance, Business Interruption, Key Man, Automobile, Office and Director are some of the type of insurance that are commonly used today and are merely a starting point for evaluating the needs of your business. No business is immune to natural or man-made disasters and potential liabilities.

7.    Create an accounting system

Financial Management, in general, is meant a set of measures aimed at reaching financial stability. In particular, a foremost aspect of financial management is efficient distribution of economic resources or, in other words, capital funds, as far as they contribute greatly to the company’s prosperity. Therefore, financial management is concerned with the questions of funds procurement and their effective use. The objectives of creating an account system is to organize survival in terms of sharp competition, prevent bankruptcy and other financial risks avoidance, increase in production volume, profit and wealth maximization and expenditure minimization. Without a firm grasp of your margins and cash flow, you can price yourself right out of the market.

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Top 7 Tips on How to Get Listed in Google Places

Your location as well as your industry specifics are vital information that is relayed to Goggle Places. In order to gain influence and be well known in Google Places, it is important that you utilize important keywords that will help your business get listed among the top part of the list. Here are seven key elements to to keep in mind for successful listing in Google Places.

1.    Your Address

Your business address is important as well as its location. Keywords that pertain to a certain city are often used to announce a business. For example, if your business is in Los Angeles, you could use Beverly Hills as one of your keywords. In this case, your business would be physically located in Los Angeles.

2.    Data Consistency

It is important that your information is consistent and precise. Make sure that the business name, phone number and email address are all the same across different websites. Everywhere your business is listed, the information must be exactly the same. If your business is listed with different information, then this could be interpreted as a spamming attempt.

3.    Business Category

Categories play an important part on the internet, especially when pertaining to a list. Make sure that you select the proper category, such as a hair salon should not be categorized under automobiles or autos. When you submit your business to Google Places make sure that you place it in the correct category and sub category.

4.    Keywords in Your Business Name

It is also advisable that you utilize important keywords in your business name if this applies to your business. For instance, your business name is Betty’s Records, you would utilize Records as one of your keywords. This will increase your chance of getting listed in Google’s first result page in Google Places.

5.    Citations of Your Business

References to your business or citations are sometimes mentioned in other business listing pages. For instance, the chamber or commerce in your city might have your business listed without actually linking directly to your website. Citations also play an important part in getting noticed on the internet. Having many citations in your city will increase the chance of it being listed in local searches. Having your website address listed on many websites will show Google that your business is worthy of being on its list.

6.    Positive Reviews

Having excellent ratings and reviews will develop confidence in your business as far as Google is concerned. Google Places is basically a recommendation search engine, that recommends all the best places and businesses to those that are searching for that particular product or service. Customer reviews are vital to your business. Encourage your customers to write about your product or services if they are happy with what you have offered them in the past.

7.    Proximity to the Searched Location

Having your business near significant industries and places of importance is vital as chances are that it will be listed in Google Places when a person searches for their choice. For instance, if you are near the San Francisco Bridge, chances are your business will be displayed in Google Places listing when someone is searching for record stores near San Francisco Bridge.

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7 Tips on How to Optimize Your Google Places Listing

There are several things that you can do to improve the position of your website in Google Places. Do the following to make sure that Google picks your Google Places listings for the search results.

1.    Add as Much Information as Possible
Enhance user experience by adding photos, videos, logos, images and other information to your listing. You will see more conversions this way. Write detailed description on your business. Instead of writing "we are the best", list services that you offer. Pay special attention to writing them in the way the most people of your area are searching for. For example if most people are searching for "brochure design", do not write "booklets design" as this will not pop your listing if you already have many competitors in "brochure design".

2.    Add your full address to your Google Places landing page
Have your business information - full address - on your Google Places landing page as well as on your website. This is to make sure that Google will properly associate your website with your Google Places listing.

3.    Increase the Number of Reviews
Have plenty of good reviews. This will bring your business into the forefront over the competition. Also, if this is possible ask your customers to use special words - keywords - in their reviews, it will additionally help you with the ranking.

4.    Use Keywords in Your Google Places Listing
If you add keywords to your Google Places page description, then you will get easier noticed by those doing local searches. This information increases conversions from your potential customers. Use Google Keyword Tool (free tool) to get the keywords in your area.

5.    Add Photos and Videos to Your Google Places Listing
Utilize your camera and mobile phone to send photos to Google Places listing. You can also upload photos from your computer. Usually Google lets you upload up to 10 photos and 5 videos. You can upload videos to YouTube and them using "Share" button (it will give you a link to your video), add them to your Google Places listing. Note: Google Places would like you to add a video link in a certain format. So when you click on "Share" button on YouTube, it will provide you with a short version of a link to your video, click on "Options" and get a "longer link". For example, instead of http://youtu.be/3UKjWeE_DRI you would need to use: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UKjWeE_DRI. Google places accepts it in this long link format. Make sure to have relevant pictures and videos in order to promote your product or service.

6.    Have Backlinks with Local Keywords in the Anchor Text
Improve your rank with local keywords in the anchor text of your backlinks. This will improve your rankings. For example, when you work on building your backlinks, instead of writing just "web design" - which is a very generic term that will be very difficult to compete for, use "ventura web design" adding your local city Ventura. This is increase your ranking within your local businesses.

7.    Increase the Number of Citations on Major Data Providers
Increase the number of citations or data providers in your area. For instance, Yellow Pages should have your citations so that Google will pick up your website.

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7 Simple Tips For Better PSD to WordPress Conversion

PSD to WordPress Conversion is the best solutions to create WordPress theme from Photoshop, to get search engine friendly blogging portal on Internet. Such a union PSD plays a vital role in creating visually compelling content to manage the blog portals.

This PSD transformation involves the integration of PSD files using WordPress. WordPress is a state in the most advanced blogging web application has a strong control over the blogging Web sites. In addition to simply being the largest blogging tool for the resident, WordPress is also famous for its unique and excellent Content Management System(CMS), which is widely used in web development for managing and organizing web content. You can get a WordPress theme or template by slicing PSD files . Check out this steps to learn about PSD to WordPress conversion processes.

1.    Analyze PSD files: First,a web programmer to analyze the PSD file format based on the full and find out whether it is simple or complex.In fact, this phase is all about planning steps will involve PSD to WordPress conversion process, such as splitting the layout into HTML, Adding,CSS code, header and footer, then the images.

2.    Break PSD to HTML : Break web developers in all departments to make HTML-layout easier. Web Programmer wraps Affairs Minister titles and comments (for dynamic code WordPress). In addition to this, break the web coder of the body, logo, website name and picture in its own core diva. After the rupture of their web developers to add an unordered list for navigation.

3.    Slice PSD files: PSD slicing out based web templates in the layers is one of the most important part of the WordPress theme / template integration and customization. Web developer should be sliced open files in Photoshop (software for image editing), or any other compatible software images. After slicing images, web programmer has the ability to add and remove buttons, links, text fields. In addition, you can even change the background image, color without any hassle. Sliced PSD file format based on the then saved as a bitmap, JPEG, GIF or any other compatible format.

4.    File Structure: Create separate files with the names, index.html (HTML code), style.css (code CSS styles), index.php (PHP code).

5.    PSD in HTML and CSS: Since, PSD file can be uploaded to your site and, therefore, cut the image is encoded with a high quality HTML then CSS.

6.    Integrate HTML / CSS to WordPress: Once upon a time, PSD files converted to HTML and CSS, then the web developer to integrate static design dynamic WordPress template / theme.

7.    Testing: Testing web pages in browsers is a very important role in the PSD to WordPress conversion process. One day, PSD to WordPress integration and configuration process then moves the last page of WordPress thoroughly tested on a variety of Internet browsers such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Safari and Opera, to check availability.
These are simple tips for PSD to WordPress conversion. You have to be logical and creative both to convert PSD to WP. If you are a professional web developer working in a web design company then you should follow all these steps .

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Top 7 Ways to Go the Extra Mile for your Customers

Think hard about your biggest clients or customers. Can you think of times you have over-delivered for them? Not just things they would expect as standard, but really going the extra mile? If the answer is no, start thinking about how you can differentiate your business and what you can do to show how important those customers are to you.

Keep these principles in mind:

1.    Over-deliver

Always under-promise and then over-deliver, never the other way round.

2.    Be flexible

Never tell your customers "no" because that’s “the policy” – going the extra mile sometimes means doing things flexibly.

3.    Be Fast

Have quicker response times to everything than your competitors – people want to feel that their business matters.

4.    Think Long Term

Think about the long term value of these customers, not what this might cost today – that way you are more likely to invest in going further.

5.    Don’t be too corporate

Don’t assume “corporate entertaining” is going the extra mile. Everyone has been invited to work dos, races, parties and so on – and most people would never make a decision based on these things.

6.    Be supportive

If your customers or clients are in a hole, do whatever you can to get them out of it – even if you aren’t obliged to. Your loyalty to them will be remembered.

7.    Be Personal

Be personal in what you do – people do business with people, not faceless companies, and going the extra-mile can sometimes be a very simple thing if it is highly personal.

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