Why connected to the internet ?

[Haole Mark]

Matbe I'm missing something but why would a salon have their business computer hooked into the internet subjecting it to viruses?

[CHUNN]

Yes. That is why you would want to use a firewall -- just like at home.

I believe you are subject to viruses more by the actions of your employees versus the fact of being connected to the internet.

We have everything they do controlled so that we can prevent them from doing something dangerous.

[CHUNN]

There are many more advantages of the connectivity than any possible disadvantages.

This would similar to saying if I have a telephone in my salon would the employees not use it for personal use?

Yes -- That is why you would have controls on the use. Maybe have long distance blocked and an way to control personal usage of the phone.

Just my 2 cents.

[Chippp]

um, that why we use a virus scanner.
And do not open mail attachments.
And do not let staff put programs or disks of their own into the computer.
That is the the best way to get a virus!
Your biggest risk is a staff intentionally infecting your system with a floppy disk containing a virus.
You can password lock all removable drives like cd zip and floppy,on your system, this can help.
You can also use a free fire wall like "zone alarm" http://www.zonelabs.com/ dial up computers don't really need this like cable modem users do.



In a perfect world you would not connect you computer to the net and the only software on it would be dos or linux or unix and your virus scanner and your salon software, no windows no other programs.

But that would be over kill.

_________________


Tanning Booths, for people that want only the very best.
Fast, Comfortable, Dark Tanning and Hygienic.
Don't get booth envy, get a booth.

[ This Message was edited by: Chippp on 2002-04-27 11:13 ]

[ This Message was edited by: Chippp on 2002-04-27 11:15 ][ This Message was edited by: Chippp on 2002-04-27 11:19 ]

[jcole]

Why connect your store to the internet? Many people do not see any benefit for an always on internet connection, only cost and risk. I believe most will find, if used correctly, that the cost is minimal, risk manageable, and the benefits enormous.

Of these three things, the cost of the connection is the only tangible item. It will cost $X/month to connect your store.

The risk associated with any internet connection (even dialup) is real and should be taken seriously. However there are several inexpensive steps you can take to make those risks manageable.

First, the risk associated with contracting a computer virus does not come from external sources, you have to go and get it yourself. That risk exists and should be guarded against even if you have no internet connection at all. Further, virus protection is severely degraded if you have no internet connection at all, as all virus scanners keep their definition files up to date via the internet. Without that connection it is much harder (but not impossible) to keep your virus scanner up to date.

But the greatest risk for a having an internet connection is not a virus, but unauthorized access of your computers. If you hook you computer up to the internet, then anyone will be able to access your system. The goal is to limit the access, so only you can see the resources on your computer remotely.

This is where a firewall comes into play. A firewall limits access to the computers behind it. Configured correctly, a firewall will prevent anyone from accessing or using your computer. This is all a firewall does; it will not stop a virus. Inexpensive hardware firewalls (>$100) are always easier to maintain than software firewalls, and in my opinion are safer than software firewalls.

You might wonder at the cost and risk involved with an internet connection, could anything make it worthwhile. Here there are few tangible items that would justify such an expenditure or risk. However, if you used the benefits to your advantage, you will be able to maintain your store better, be able to save time and maybe even money.

The number one application on the internet is email. Email can allow you to communicate with your employees better. You can send information to other business that you deal with via email (such as your bank). Email is convenient and easy to use, and is often a much better communication method than the telephone (you get to the heart of the problem faster with email).

The World Wide Web provides a host of information (Tantalk, Tansource, etc...) and news. You can educate your employees via the web. You can place orders for your salon via the web. Once you start using the web in your store, you will find that you can do those things anywhere you have internet access. This allows you to have freedom from being at your store. How much is that worth?

The best use of an always on connection is through remote management. By using software like pcAnywhere, VNC, Salon Net or Salon Wizard, you can fix problems without having to go to your store. While you don't save any time fixing the problem, you do save travel time. How much is your time worth? If you have more than one store, remote management allows you to be at more than one place at a time.

There are other resources available via the internet to help you run your business better. Several of our customers, including Sandollar, use a web based ticket management system. The salons use a web browser to connect to a site that allows them to put in problems from overflowing toilets, to bulb changes. Management and maintenance, then use that information to make sure no task, however small, gets left undone. Management knows exactly what has and has not been done, and how long it took to get it done.

Using an internet connection correctly is one of the few things you can do to make yourself and your employees more efficient, and that can directly translate into money.

[CancunRayz]

I have figured out a couple of reasons why a salon should have at least one computer connected to the Internet.

I am in the process of writing a Cold Fusion based application that will allow users that visit our website to schedule appointments, send questions via email and view our rate packages. We are hoping to cut down on the number of phone calls to our salon asking about rates and questions that could be answered form the Internet. We will send out email confirmations on any appointment and we will even be able to provide bed availability within a 15 minute time frame.

Kent

[BooBop]

Another good point is that you can hook up a web cam in the lobby so that you can keep an eye on what is going on with your employees while you are away.

[Haole Mark]

Thank you for all the responses. My thought was why have your "business computer"..(customer files, packages,reservations, etc.) hooked to the internet. I would think a seperate computer for e-mail..video servalance,website,purchasing,etc. would be the way to go. Basic computers are inexpensive and considering the downside of having the "brain" of your business being open to compromise it seems that not having the heartbeat of your business on line would make more sense. Mahalo, Mark

[BooBop]

Good points Mark. What does Mahalo mean???

[Haole Mark]

buntanner..Mahalo means "thank you" in Hawaiian.