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Start some good habits this new year

AllBusiness.com, an online media and ecommerce company, suggests some practical vows for companies to consider taking in 2007 that should help make their businesses more successful. For instance, they advocate that companies make the internet their "top marketer," and stay "a step ahead of technology."

As for the former piece of advice, they note that a well-planned union of "search marketing, search engine optimization and keyword lead generation efforts" could help companies, especially small- to medium-sized organizations, increase their leads and fatten their bottom lines. Regarding staying ahead on the technology front, given a growing dependence by average end-users on the internet, cell phones, PDAs, etc., it behooves companies to advertise and market their messages and products/services via these major conduits of information.

These suggestions also include another dimension: information security. It's critical that to be successful in 2007, as well as long-term, companies make IT security initiatives key components of their business goals.

Throughout this month's issue, we discuss how consumer knowledge and corporate dependence on technology is prompting many organizations to better understand cyberthreats and how to safeguard various levels of information. In our cover story, West Coast Bureau Chief Ericka Chickowski reveals the goals behind Microsoft's moves to create its most secure platform ever in Vista and what other security experts say must still be done to safeguard Windows environments. Elsewhere, News Correspondent Jim Carr shares some experts' opinions on how companies must look more to web application security in 2007 to reach the next level of protection. Reporter Dan Kaplan highlights the corporate world's efforts to protect the intellectual property in which much of their businesses are rooted.

And, of course, the latter half of the book supports the business-oriented features at the front, with our SC Lab reviewers examining just some of the IT security tools available to help businesses stay safe.

These stories and other editorial content in this our first edition of 2007 verify our over-arching New Year's resolution: To keep homing in on the topics and tools that will help business leaders expand their knowledge; better safeguard information, customers, and reputations; and propel business goals.

We're committed to our New Year's resolution. How about you?

- Illena Armstrong is SC Magazine's U.S. editor-in-chief.

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