When do you need a company network? The standard answer is, the day you buy a second computer.

A few years ago, it was easy. Fax machine in one corner of the office, dial-up internet machine in the other, and a printer attached to the main computer. However: as you grow, inefficiencies start appearing. Suddenly you're doing a large chunk of your business communication by email, everyone wants the web on the desktop and there's a queue forming by the printer. The smart way to avoid the unnecessary expense is to pool these resources. Hook up your printers to a central server so everyone can share them. It's just like printing to a normal printer, but you don't need to have one each. You can attach several printers at once. For example: a colour laser printer for brochures or sales literature, and a cheaper inkjet printer for invoices.

Check out the advantages -

" Receiving faxes is even easier
The server converts incoming faxes into email messages, and sends them straight to your email inbox as soon as they arrive. With something like Microsoft's Small Business Server 2003, it's easy to set all this up. It has a built-in print and fax server, and it is designed to let lots of people share an internet connection safely. Adding new users to the network is straightforward too - much easier than hooking up a new printer and ISP account each time.

" Organize tasks and communications in one place
Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 features a new To-Do task list that centralizes tasks, calendar information, and emails flagged for follow up. People can also view tasks on the calendar alongside their appointments. Tasks not completed roll over to the next day and accumulate until completed.

" Keep email more secure and reduce electronic junk mail
Office Standard 2007 includes an enhanced Office Outlook 2007 junk email filter to help reduce electronic spam and protect against potentially harmful attachments. Office Outlook 2007 also includes security enhancements to help prevent " phishing " , a fraudulent email attempt to trick into providing financial or personal information.

" Remove private information from the documents that are to be shared
Users can detect and remove unwanted comments, hidden text, or personally identifiable information in documents using the Document Inspector. With just a few clicks, they can automatically detect and choose to remove sensitive information from their documents.

" Easily subscribe to and read RSS feeds
Really Simple Syndication (RSS) is a new technology that can get quick notification and delivery of special-interest information published on the Web. With the Office Outlook 2007 RSS Aggregator, users can subscribe to RSS feeds that deliver automatic updates to the News folder within Office Outlook 2007.

" Sharing resources: It makes more business sense
VPN stands for virtual private network. It's a gateway for remote workers, providing authorised users with access into a business network. Once the domain of big business, VPNs have come down in price and are now a realistic proposition for small businesses. If you have telecommuters, satellite offices or employees who travel, a VPN can help your employees work much more effectively. They're cheaper than ever before, robust and secure, and could save you a packet on phone bills too.

So, do you need a VPN for your business?

Here are a few things to consider:
" How sensitive is your company's data?
For most businesses, the answer is probably " very. " Most businesses have customer information and records, financial records and company secrets in their internal networks that merit the best protection you can afford. On the other hand, if your sensitive data is stored offline, and you don't have anything online that you think a hacker might be interested in, perhaps you don't need a VPN.

" Do you have telecommuters, travelling employees or other remote workers?
The benefits of a VPN are twofold: Not only do they offer secure network access to those traveling or working offsite, but they extend the corporate network to those workers to make them feel a part of your team.

" Do you have more than a few employees?
A VPN may be an expensive solution for a company with fewer than five employees, unless they all travel or work remotely. We suggest companies with 10 or more employees are most likely to reap the economies of scale that a VPN can offer.