Web Design Ireland

posted by Robert on Nov 9

Accessing social networks like Facebook or MySpace while at work may not be possible as research from Barracuda Networks indicates that 50 percent of businesses using Barracuda Web Filters are blocking the sites.

Half Of Employers Block MySpace Or Facebook

Forty-four percent of companies using Barracuda filters block MySpace. 26 percent block Facebook and 19.3 percent block both sites.

In a separate survey of IT professionals conducted by Barracuda found that 53 percent of businesses restrict surfing with filtering systems and around 65 percent plan to implement surfing restrictions in 2008. Close to 23 percent growth from year to year.

Seventy percent of businesses said the reason they had Internet restrictions was due to spyware or virus prevention. Fifty-two percent cited employee productivity concerns. Other concerns were bandwidth (36%) and liability issues (28%).

“Spyware is still a major concern,” said Drako.  “Although the full implications of spyware are not always understood, many customers worry about spyware effects on productivity and security, and therefore want protection.”

While most companies restrict employee Web surfing only 21 percent actively monitor employee Internet activity. Six percent have time restrictions on employee use of the Internet and 3 percent supplement company policies with restrictions by department or employee.

“Businesses are increasingly applying content-control mechanisms to protect their networks and maintain maximum organization productivity,” said Dean Drako, president and CEO of Barracuda Networks.”With the changing face of the Internet, companies need the flexibility to continuously monitor and customize Internet policy enforcement while providing their employees optimum use of the Web.”

Source: http://www.webpronews.com

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posted by Robert on Nov 9

Drivers who are lost will soon be able to turn to Google. The company will begin offering driving directions at 3,500 gasoline pumps across the United States next month.

The pumps manufactured by Greensboro, N.C. based Gilbarco Veeder-Root, will have an Internet connection and will display Google Maps on a small color screen. Drivers will be able to search through a number of categories to locate hotels, restaurants, landmarks and hospitals chosen by the gas station’s owner.

When a motorist decides on a destination the gas pump will print out directions. Gilbarco Veeder-Root wants to eventually allow drivers to type in any address and receive directions. “We think the service will create more customer loyalty for retailers,” Gilbarco Veeder-Root spokeswoman Lucy Sackett told the AP.

The mapping service will not feature ads but retailers will be able to earn revenue from merchants that offer coupons on the service. Google principal business development manager, Karen Roter Davis said the company wanted to make its services available when people needed them the most. She called the mapping service, “sort of a Googley, more stealthy way of getting directions.”

Source: http://www.webpronews.com

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posted by Robert on Nov 7

Now that they are here, how does a site publisher know where those visitors are going? The usual information in access logs helps build a picture of those paths.

Being able to figure out how they may have used a search to get from place to place within a site helps in a couple of ways. If a search led the visitor to a result one might expect them to find, it helped encourage a conversion. Read the rest of this entry »

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posted by Robert on Nov 7

When Microsoft announced its desire to spend $500 million on a datacenter in Chicago, fellow WebProNews writer David Utter referred to that sum as “Monopoly money” in Microsoft’s eyes.  And now there’s word that Microsoft will plunk down another hotel - er, datacenter - in Ireland.

At $500 million, the price of this second datacenter will be identical to the first.  Otherwise, it may not give too much of a boost to the local economy; Shawn Pogatchnik reports, “Microsoft Ireland’s managing director, Joe Macri, said the data center would employ an additional 15 to 20 people, reflecting the high level of automation involved, while subcontracts would employ five to six times as many people.”Still, this development will confer certain bragging rights upon the Grange Castle Business Park and all of Ireland; despite recent appearances, it’s not every day that Microsoft opens a new datacenter, and the one in Ireland will actually be the company’s first outside the U.S.  The datacenter will also have the distinction of dealing with Windows Live services for all of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

So why was Ireland chosen?  The country’s beautiful scenery, fantastic climate, and tasty beer are enough to tempt me, but its low taxes were probably what swayed Microsoft.

In any event, construction on Microsoft’s $500 datacenter is due to be complete by the middle of 2009.

Source: http://www.webpronews.com

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