Small Business

RSS

IT news and analysis for small and medium-size businesses

Review

WD My Cloud: A better, more secure alternative to cloud storage

Posted October 3, 2013 - 12:22 pm

Who needs Dropbox when you can get 2TB of web-accessible storage this cheap?
- Quick Read
Review

Four excellent Dropbox alternatives for your small-business storage needs

Posted August 19, 2013 - 1:03 pm

Dropbox revolutionized the way we share information, and no enterprises have enjoyed the benefits more than small businesses. Cloud storage has enabled them to access critical data from the road, work across geographic boundaries, easily share large files, and do away with costly physical infrastructure.
- Quick Read
Review

QNAP TS-469 Pro review: A fast NAS box well suited to both business and pleasure

Posted August 12, 2013 - 2:43 pm

If you're a NAS aficionado, it will be no revelation that the QNAP TS-469 Pro is both fast and extremely capable. What might surprise you is that you can attach this SMB-class network-attached storage box via its HDMI output to an HDTV or other high-def display to play movies and music, or to browse the Web. Of more interest to IT types is its on-board display, which allows you to administer the box locally without need of a monitor.
- Quick Read
Review

HP Proliant Microserver G8: Powerful features in a small, stylish package

Posted July 1, 2013 - 12:10 pm

HP's new Proliant Microserver Gen8 is an SMB, home, or branch office/retail server that looks completely different than HP's usual offering: it's a small cube with an optional eight-port Gigabit Ethernet switch atop.
- Quick Read
Review

Shootout results: Best security tools for small business

Posted June 17, 2013 - 12:13 pm

Check Point comes out on top; Kerio, WatchGuard, Elitecore and Sophos score high in review of unified threat management (UTM) devices.
- Quick Read
Review
ITwhirled RSS

6 software and driver update utilities compared

Posted March 19, 2013 - 3:27 pm

If you dismissed update utilities as something only for home users (as I did until recently), now might be the time to take a second look.
- Quick Read
Review

Netgear ReadyNAS Ultra 2: Small, simple and affordable

Posted March 12, 2013 - 2:05 pm

Small businesses looking for network attached storage would be wise to look at the Netgear ReadyNAS Ultra 2. Administrators will find this appliance easy to manage and will appreciate its support for third-party add-ons.
- Quick Read
Review

Review: Office 365 turns up the heat

Posted February 27, 2013 - 12:34 pm

Latest blend of Exchange, SharePoint, and Lync servers in the cloud combines an excellent feature set with easier setup and management
- Quick Read
Review

Ruckus Wi-Fi access points for your small business

Posted January 31, 2013 - 2:05 pm

How does the latest Wi-Fi hardware from Ruckus Wireless stack up? This review rates two access points and one controller appliance on configuration, security, authentication and performance--all key considerations for a small business that wants a new or upgraded Wi-Fi network.
- Quick Read
Review

Iomega px2-300d network-attached storage device

Posted January 31, 2013 - 11:39 am

The Iomega px2-300d is a two-bay NAS box that delivers very good performance, excellent backup and surveillance features, and a helpful LCD that reports on the unit's status (IP address, current time, storage remaining, and so on). Its EMC LifeLine operating system is also one of the more feature-rich ones in the industry. But you should buy this box bare--Iomega populates it with enterprise-class hard drives that jack up the price.
- Quick Read
Review

QNAP TS-269 Pro review: A fast and powerful NAS box with a steep learning curve

Posted January 30, 2013 - 1:17 pm

While pricey, excellent performance, copious software features, and state-of-the-art connectivity render this two-bay NAS box a good deal.
- Quick Read
Review

Security software showdown! 9 antivirus suites empirically tested

Posted January 28, 2013 - 12:51 pm

If you're like a lot of people, when it comes time to renew your security software, you may ask yourself, "Do I really need to upgrade to the latest version?" The answer is yes. Keeping up-to-date is generally a good idea, as new threats surface constantly. And if you value mobile security or use a social network, this year's crop of security suites is worth paying attention to.
- Quick Read
Review

Studiometry 10.0 grows as your business does

Posted January 2, 2013 - 12:08 pm

Studiometry 10 is a business management application aimed at small businesses and designed to help track and manage projects, create quotes and invoices, and make sure you're getting paid on time.
- Quick Read
Review

Iomega StorCenter px2-300d NAS: A pretty performer

Posted December 11, 2012 - 2:54 pm

The Iomega px2-300d is a two-bay NAS box that delivers very good performance, excellent backup and surveillance features, and a helpful LCD that reports on the unit's status (IP address, current time, storage remaining, and so on). Its EMC LifeLine operating system is also one of the more feature-rich ones in the industry. But you should buy this box bare—Iomega populates it with enterprise-class hard drives that jack up the price.
- Quick Read
Review

Quicken 2013 vs. Mint: Is Intuit's free service better than its flagship software?

Posted November 9, 2012 - 3:56 pm

When it comes to using your computer to manage your money, Intuit's Quicken lineup was pretty much the only game in town—until the upstart cloud service Mint.com came along in 2006. Mint can do almost anything Quicken can do, but it's free and you don't need to install any software.
- Quick Read
Review

Akitio Cloud Hybrid: Convenient NAS and USB storage in one

Posted October 14, 2012 - 9:42 pm

It's nice to be versatile, and the $105 Akitio Cloud Hybrid is just that. You can use this single-bay drive box either for network-attached storage (NAS) via the unit's ethernet jack, or for direct-attached storage (DAS) on a PC or Mac via the box's USB 3.0 port.
- Quick Read
Review

How to replace missing Start button in Windows 8

Posted October 5, 2012 - 2:43 pm

A Start menu substitute can greatly reduce the shock of using Windows 8. Here are three alternatives that produce a reasonable experience.
- Quick Read
Review

Payroll services in the cloud: Intuit vs. ADP

Posted September 26, 2012 - 12:24 pm

Nobody pays attention to your payroll system unless it's not working. When you're running a small business, it's no small task to please your staffers every payday and satisfy Uncle Sam at tax time. Larger companies employ payroll personnel to calculate taxes and withholdings, and to manage IRS forms correctly. But if you're responsible for cutting the checks at a smaller company, online services can automate most of the payroll chores.
- Quick Read
Review

Review: 6 free email servers for small business

Posted September 17, 2012 - 9:36 pm

hMail Server (Windows only) comes in first, Citadel (Linux only) is a close second.
- Quick Read
Review

Mac buyers' guide: What you need to know before heading to the Apple Store

Posted September 11, 2012 - 4:00 pm

You've finally decided to purchase a new Mac -- whether it's your first, a replacement, or for school -- you'll need to consider a lot of things. Do you buy a notebook, emphasizing portability; or get an iMac, focusing on power in your home? Or maybe – with an all-day battery in concert with instant-on reliability - all you need is an iPad? If you're not sure what to get, here's what you need to keep in mind before heading to the Apple store.
- Quick Read
Review

Store your logins in Norton Identity Safe

Posted August 14, 2012 - 10:48 am

Users of Symantec's Norton line of security products have long had access to its password management tools. But you no longer need to be a paying Norton user to get access to Norton Identity Safe, a standalone product that makes password management a (relatively) easy task.
- Quick Read
Review

Sage 50 Complete Accounting 2013: Advanced accounting tools for small business

Posted August 14, 2012 - 10:41 am

At $369 for a single user ($669 for three licenses, and $899 for five), Sage 50 Complete Accounting 2013 isn't the cheapest way to keep your small business's books. But if you are well versed in accounting practices and want to implement your own preferences where choices are available, Sage 50 Complete provides all the controls you could wish for.
- Quick Read
Review

Intuit QuickBooks Pro 2012 review: The perennial leader stays strong

Posted August 14, 2012 - 10:30 am

This package remains a solid choice of accounting software for small-business owners unfamiliar with accounting.
- Quick Read
Review

Accounting software for small business

Posted August 14, 2012 - 8:37 am

Accounting is the language of business, and good accounting software can save you hundreds of hours at the business equivalent of Berlitz.
- Quick Read
Review

Acclivity AccountEdge Pro 2012 for Windows: A friendly accounting program for relatively inexperienced business users

Posted August 14, 2012 - 8:36 am

AccountEdge Pro keeps things simple. You can get a single-user edition of AccountEdge Pro for $299, and each additional user for an existing installation costs $149. The upgrade price for existing customers is $159.
- Quick Read

More Reviews on Small Business

October is...
Unified Communications Month

BY THE NUMBERS: UC&C

HOW-TO: Look alive and professional in Web meetings

TIP: Use your cell phone as a WiFi VOIP phone

TOOLBOX: Six alternative tools for small business collaboration

CASE STUDY: Enterprise social network moves ad agency into the future

Small BusinessWhite Papers & Webcasts

White Paper

Business Growing Pains: 5 Ways VoIP Helps

White Paper

Executive Brief: 3 Myths About VoIP Phone Service That May Be Holding Back Your Business

White Paper

The Cost Advantages of Using a Hosted Unified Communications Service: A TCO Guide for SMBs

See more White Papers | Webcasts

Join today!

Get FREE access to premium content, in-depth reviews, practical tips

How it works: The basic tech behind the Internet
You may think you know, but do you really know?
Free and cheap ways to study for IT certifications
Helpful tips for finding inexpensive study resources and getting hands-on experience
iOS vs. Android vs. BlackBerry vs. Windows Phone
Which platform provides the security you need?