Tech Goddess

By Amy Nutt

 Truly securing the data of your company and your customers is vital to business success. In today’s world of identity theft and data thieves, many small companies are unfortunately ill-prepared to handle the heavy weight of the responsibility they have for this data.

Most small businesses understand the importance of providing secure storage for their customers’ data. After all, they’ve seen the results of improper storage of data. When a company has to send out a letter to its customers informing them that their private information has been compromised, customers begin to think twice about doing business with that company.

How Do Most Businesses Compare?

Although most small business know how important it is to securely store data, they don’t always have a good data storage plan in place. Some business do not understand the need for formal planning about data security. Others feel that they can protect their data with simple common sense.

Unfortunately, relying on common sense and no formal plan is a bad recipe for data storage. Storing sensitive data in a responsible, secure way requires detailed formal planning and trained professionals.

What Kind of Data Needs to Be Secure?

Securing data means understand which pieces of information need to be protected and enacting proper procedures and safeguards to keep this information safe. What type of information is high priority when it comes to data security?

- Customer Information

Securing the data of customers should be the number one priority for any business. Without customers, the business would fail. And without data security, the customers will take their business to a competing company. In today’s world-wide economy, customers have many choices. Securing customer data keeps customers happy.

- Product Information

In many industries, protecting information about new and existing products is also a priority. Competing companies may be looking for a leg up and could find that help by using stolen data. Innovation is key to surviving in most businesses, and in order to protect its intellectual property, a company needs to pay attention to data security.

- Employee Information

Most companies have detailed personal information about employees, such as Social Security Numbers, addresses, telephone numbers, and employment records. It’s vital to the success of a business to protect the interests of its employees. Employees are what make a company successful.

- Company Information

It is important for many companies to protect financial information and other data about the business. If accessible to unauthorized users, this information could harm the business’s reputation or provide impetus for legal action against the company. Protecting company information is essential.

How Private Data Centers Provide Security

For many companies, the solution to the challenge of data security is hiring a private data center. The private data center is then responsible for providing secure storage for this important data, freeing the company to focus on other areas of business that are integral to success.

Private data centers usually have multiple layers of data security. Physically, private data center buildings usually have security guards and surveillance cameras to watch over the important data around the clock. Card key access is required for physical entry into private data centers, providing a record of who has access to sensitive information.

Many companies find that they value the peace of mind of having their data protected at a private data center. It eliminates the hassle and expense of putting proper security features in place, training existing staff, and hiring new dedicated staff. And knowing that important information is secure helps companies focus on their own products and services.

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Information Technology in Hospitality Industry
By Nikos Nikolis

 Traditionally, hotels were largely dependent on cards and paperwork at the front desk to keep in touch with old and current customers. They were largely at the mercy of the desires of vacationers to arrive, and on their own efforts and staff to be ready for potential surges or long droughts of occupancy. Luckily, such inconvenience and old-fashioned methods are long since past, thanks to advances in information technology.

The first area in which information technology became important was in regards to billing. Old-fashioned paper-based book-keeping was time consuming and inefficient, and was not able to quickly tell a hotel owner what the situation of their hotel was. Luckily, advances in modern record keeping allow for a hotel owner to keep track of what they have on hand, how much of it they have, and how much it costs. Accounting is complicated, but advanced accounting software, especially that tailored to the unique needs of the hospitality industry, helps to enable hotel owners to make smart decisions. Services and products that are no longer used can be quickly cut off to save money, while those who show demand can be increased in quantity or modified so as to reduce the heavy usage.

Most hotels are familiar with booking rooms and reservations over the phone, but information technology has expanded well beyond that. Hotels can now work with various online travel companies and booking services to have their rooms booked online, with no need to employ expensive staff. This also allows a hotel to advertise their open rooms and special deals directly to persons who would be most likely to purchase them, instead of wasting lots of money advertising in an unfocused manner. High quality information technology thus allows for better arrangement and management of bookings in order to allow a hotel to better maximize occupancy, and to know in advance when large groups or lean times are approaching. This allows a hotel manager to make plans regarding temporary staff, good times to renovate or expand, or other concerns, because he/she can determine the state of their hotel currently and for the next few months with only a few clicks on the computer.

The advances in information technology extend well beyond booking, however. The internet is essential for vacationers who wish to contact those back home, and for those traveling on business to get in touch with the office. Therefore, wireless internet has become a very common and very useful service for hotels to provide. Many business minded persons even require that a hotel offer internet services so that they can keep working while on the road. Luckily, such services are easy to provide, as all that is required is a wireless router and various devices to ensure the entire hotel is filled with the network. Modern advances in wireless internet also allow for the wireless internet provided for hotel visitors to be used to network the hotel itself. Security cameras, door locks, and other devices essential to hotel security and safety can be wired into the network, so that staff are alerted whenever a door is propped open, a fire alarm goes off or suspicious activity occurs. Though the hotel guests are wholly unaware of it, this sort of added safety and security keeps them safe, and in the event of a problem they will most certainly appreciate the benefits of such a system.

As advanced as it is, information technology in the hospitality industry is still going forward. Intelligent booking systems enable rapid and efficient guest feedback, along with the ability to predict who is likely to use the hotel again and inform them via e-mail or text messages when good deals arrive. Hotels with room service or other guest services can offer their menus online, allowing for quick updates, high-quality photos, and other ways to allow guests to see and order services before they even arrive. There are also advances in terms of payroll and inventory which make information technology a valuable asset for saving money and maximizing profits. The unique nature of the hospitality industry makes it a great place for new and emerging information technology, and forward-thinking hotel owners and managers are always looking for smart equipment and software to invest in.

Nick Nikolis is working in Atlantica Hotels and Resorts as It manager in Rhodos. Atlantica Hotels and Resorts is a Europe Hotels chain currently offering lodging services in Cyprus Greece and Egypt. Check here Greece Hotels and Cyprus Hotels.

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