Passwords that are required to login to a program are considered authentication methods, where identity of person logging in is simply authenticated, or verified. But passwords are easy to figure out and anyone capable of figuring out passwords will still have access to data contained within.

So for data to truly be protected, you’ve got to go extra step and encrypt it. There are many encryption programs available today. The most sophisticated of those protect our nation’s secrets.

But for small business owner, who has minimal understanding of encryption methodologies or terminology, and wants it to stay this way, ease of use is what’s important.

Behind scenes, all encryption software uses an algorithm or some other complex mathematical processes to scramble data. Keys or strings of binary numbers (bits) are created and are what is used to mix up data. The binary numbers and data mix together and result are data that is unreadable.

When more binary numbers are used, more encryption combinations are possible. Therefore, longer strings (more binary numbers or bits) are preferred when encrypting because this makes code even more difficult to break. So it makes sense that 128-bit encryption software is more secure than 56-bit encryption software.

Data that is encrypted is safe from prying eyes which means that your business data is safe. To view data that has been encrypted, it must be decrypted.

Whether you need to protect your e-commerce website, your email, your business data or that of your clients, be sure you use encryption software.

Engaging employees in improving their work creates new levels of communication and gives ownership of improvements to worker. We now recognize that “you know your job better then management does because you are one that does it every day.” Since people are expert in their work, who better to come up with ideas to improve it then them. We all want, need and deserve respect.

Claudia designed a fixture to hold bubble wrap she used for packaging. It made her job easier. Ken saw fixture; thought paper would work just as well and asked his customers. The switch to paper saved Ken’s employer about $100,000 a year and a lot of storage space. Engaged people see fruits of their labor as their ideas are implemented. They now receive positive feedback for a “job well done.”

Any process, any product, any service can be made better in some way, somehow. One plant manager said, “It used to be that my problem solvers were solely management team, but now my problem solvers are everybody in building.” How can you beat that?

Copyright © 2005 Chuck Yorke - All Rights Reserved