Volume II, Issue VIIII

 Next, Watch The Data 

A few months back, I wrote a column titled First, Do No Harm. “Anticipate the unexpected impact (of the) online system” on the client before you open it up for use, is what it said.

Whatever you consider prior to launching your online systems must include the data that is collected and stored to support your customer relationship management (CRM) initiatives.

The Code Red and SirCam virus episodes (technically, they were “worms” for what it’s worth) of this past summer were just the latest in a line of programs designed to disrupt or disable.

Have you forgotten or not heard of “I Love You” and “Melissa” from the not-too-distant past?

Coder’s inhumanity to coders, I guess.

But while these latest incidents were disruptive in different ways—Code Red infected and brought down Web servers, SirCam spread via e-mail and infected computers’ hard drives and programs—they both present manufacturers with potentially grim realities:

What if your customer received a virus—from you—that wiped out his hard drive or shut down his system, costing him thousands in lost productivity? What if your Web site was down while your customer needed to access her account and couldn’t—for days?

What if all your customers’ data were compromised or lost?

What would you say to them? How would you recover?

In case you haven’t guessed by now, it’s about security, and it’s better to ask now than later.

Challenge your Computer Services provider(s) about security. Ask questions about anti-virus systems such as Norton or McAfee. Do you back up your systems and files regularly? How are your systems—and your customers’ information—protected?

Ask now. Because even if you’re not playing this game now, you will be soon enough. Now is the time to ask.

Because, even before you start, this is something you’d better have your eyes on, and soon.

Job Shop Site Of The Month
Omnica (www.omnica.com) is a California-based product development and industrial design shop whose services include prototyping, mold making, short runs and CNC machining. But the story here is its Web site, which is a comprehensive and complete introduction to what the company does and how. There’s a lot of Web-wise inspiration here.

To have your site considered for Job Shop Site Of The Month, send your URL to otw@mmsonline.com.

OTW Infoletter
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