Greetings Everyone,
I've been going through my May 2006 copy of PC World magazine. In this issue is an excellent editorial by Harry McCracken on how to handle all the free stuff available on the internet. Especially the freebies that people use to help in their business.
One problem that a business owner may encounter is that all this free stuff may not be available in the next few years. What will they do when the freeware they are using vanishes?
As a business you count on your tools being there for you to perform your duties. I agree with Mr. McCracken that a business needs a backup plan in case their favorite free product or service runs off the freeway into a toll road or worse it crashes all together. Will your business halt because of their crash?
I recommend that if you are going to use a free product or service that you check the company behind that product do they have a rational plan for staying in business? If they don't have a good plan then find a replacement. As Harry McCracken said, "don't use an unproven no-cost service as the primary repository for critical data you can't replace."
Just as your customers count on you to be able to support them, make sure you are supported yourself with products and services that will be around.
Electronic Yours,
Steven, editor of The Marsh Log
