Web Based Programs???

Aladdin Builders

Hey everyone....Happy New Year!

I am a little concerned about these web based programs, I'll tell you why.

I don't really want to enter all of my job and contact information into a system where I do not know who really has access to it behind the scenes!

What if all your prize contacts (that you worked so hard to get into your book) is let out to another contractor (your competition). I dont care how secure they say it is, it is still out there!

I think that I will keep all my business info in my laptop or pc tablet with the programs that I actually own and possess.

Anyone with comments, I'm all ears.....

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Aladdin Builders
South Florida
www.AladdinBuilders.com
www.surfacesbyAladdin.com

PMI

I can understand this level of thinking, but there is a huge trade off. Your concern is really overblown since the information for any one individual contractor is really not worth that much when it comes to the hacking community. I really doubt there are many of us (contractors) who really could afford the resources to break into a secure system. The question is "How secure is the system?". You are correct, the the potential for a security issue is still out there. But then again, just using your portable computer with any wireless connection to the Internet makes your portable vulnerable. You will just have to weigh it for yourself, but you are not escaping the issue based on what you said.

Nathan

Aladdin: Are you asking about the security of websites in general (like a bank website) or if you can trust the company you give your info to? Both issues are valid in my mind and you have to evaluate the company that your dealing with.

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Nathan

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot

Cole

Oh I agree, I do not like the idea of someone being able to get at all of my company information through the access they have on the server.

I would love to hear other comments on this issue as well.

I am currently 100% software based, but am curious about web based programs.

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Tulsa's Leader in Outdoor Living Construction | Facebook | Tulsa Pergola Builder | Tulsa Outdoor Kitchens

Nathan

The advantage of having an online solution is that all of your data is in one place and can be accessed by more than one person. I also think more and more mobile platforms like tablets will come out and even being able to access the info from more than one machine will become important. But I do agree that you have to be careful who you give your info to.

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Nathan

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot

Aladdin Builders

I am not in any way knocking the web based companies but Nathan hit it on the head, giving your information to a web based bank and having all your info there is a little scary in my opinion. Even if you trust the web based company (and how can you really trust them) the bottom line is your info is in another place which means that the company you trust and all its employees have access to it also.(unless you can trust the employees too!)
I don't think so.

Listen...construction is a cut throat business, subs get stagged from you, jobs are pulled from you only to find out that the last guy you hired ended up with it. Tell me if someone had access to a server with all of our information (everyone on contractortalk) that's not going to be extremely valuable!!! The right person gets that info and there off to the races...

I have a really hard time trusting my neighbor, let alone an online company that we only know from a popup add or a web search.

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Aladdin Builders
South Florida
www.AladdinBuilders.com
www.surfacesbyAladdin.com

Jeff Knutson

What is a web based program?

To me it is being able to access programs via the web. The amazing thing is that all software is pretty much accessible over the Internet. All you need are the right tools and those tools are pretty inexpensive.

The question is where do you want your applications to reside? Do you, the contractor, want to host the application or do you want the application hosted on someone else's computer where you have no control?

I personally don't get why someone would want to have someone else host the application, especially when it is less expensive to put it on your own server or computer. They try to tell you it is cheaper or you can rent the product monthly but why rent when you can own the application for much less.

We've been in the software development business for 25 years and it seems the computer industry has a knack to reivent itself and put another name on it so they can charge more. This hosting is the same stuff we got away from 25 years ago when the PC's first came out.

Cole

Jeff,
Exactly the points I was thinking about.

I personally would rather host the software on my server and access it that way! I would feel safe, I know who can access what and when etc...

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Tulsa's Leader in Outdoor Living Construction | Facebook | Tulsa Pergola Builder | Tulsa Outdoor Kitchens

A W Smith

Yeah I'm concerned about that. I'm concerned that by paying everything with a debit card and buying stuff on-line and paying bills on-line for four years now i fear i wont be able to find my actual checkbook if i need it some day,

( I just paid a parking ticket on-line. with my ticket number they had everything they needed to know about me on-line already without me entering anything more than the traffic ticket number itself)

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Al Smith
http://www.awsmith.com

silvertree

It's hard to trust anyone in the software business. You get an estimating program you like, and then the software people "improve" it. Then it costs more, then you need more stuff, then they come out with the new stuff and tell you the old stuff isn't being worked on anymore. Happens all the time. Server based makes sense on one level in that servers tend to be secure or have backups which a lot of us don't do. But buying more software is low on my list of future expenditures. Although I use computers daily and am up to date on quite a bit of stuff, the hype surrounding technology and it's importance to small business is right up there with the "eat fried chicken and lose weight fast" diet plan. We need less technology and more people skills.
Software that helps your business is important, but many software companies are notorious for being selfserving and deaf to the needs of their clients.

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Vote for Pedro
Kitchen, bath, St Paul remodeling
Minneapolis Remodel Blog
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PMI

The question is where do you want your applications to reside? Do you, the contractor, want to host the application or do you want the application hosted on someone else's computer where you have no control?


Good question, but sometimes the Control factor is way over stated - especially in our industry. Let's be practical. How many contractors (and sub-contractors) actually have time to manage a server, backups, patches, etc. With all this "control" goes the responsibility to manage and that includes "time". Maybe it's me, but I feel that the extra time for everyone is way more important than the control factor. A business such as an "accountant" or "lawyer" where they are in the office the most of the time is more practical for the control factor, but not for a business that lives on the road the majority of the time. Just my counter thought. Brian

PMI

I just paid a parking ticket on-line. with my ticket number they had everything they needed to know about me on-line already without me entering anything more than the traffic ticket number itself)[/quote]


You stated this as if it was a negative issue. This is such a positive thing that "all you needed to do was enter the traffic ticket number", especially since the policeman who pulled you over already entered the data. Did you expect to have to enter in your name, address, etc., just to pay the bill? Now just imagine how a contractor can pass jobs to a sub-contractor and all he has to do is hit one button to get access to all the data the GC typed in. This is a classic difference of thinking between the generation gaps using technology. The hyper efficient people simply want to do less, and that begins by typing in less repititive information.

porkchop

I think this has to do with personal comfort level. Some people love the idea on online apps, personally i do. See google documents or salesforce. I love the idea that I do not have to worry about my computer crashing or laptop theft with vital info (i have Lojack on my laptop). It is now the companies responsibility to secure my info. What would someone want out of my database, my customers- what are they going to do mail them postcards. When it is online and can be accessed from anywhere it makes it easy to outsource and gives people the option to work from home.

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- Chris
My construction company- Chicago Painting Contractor, Chicago Handyman, Chicago Remodeling. Chicago Internet Marketing by LSB.

Aladdin Builders

Not to convinced there Porkchop..... I think that our customer data base is to valuable and can be used to someone's advantage. A post card is not what we are thinking, more like a introduction of there company to my customer which then ads more competitive pricing to the pot of bids. I am just not cool with that! I work hard for my customers and everyone knows that loyalty only goes as far as the almighty dollar!

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Aladdin Builders
South Florida
www.AladdinBuilders.com
www.surfacesbyAladdin.com

SquirrelNmoose

Security is all relative. Most security is not fool proof, but strives to be more hassle than it's worth.
If you are so worried about losing information or customers, is your data encrypted? If not anyone that can get access to your computer has access to all of your info. Like a thief (computers are valuable) or employee.
Also most security breeches are from within. Companies I've worked for walk you out the door when you give your resignation. They would rather pay you for the time off then risk losing customers or trade knowledge.

Chances are a reputable company is doing more to secure your information than you would.

You should be aware of the risks of keeping information as well as the risk of letting someone else keep it.

one story- search VA stolen data
26 million veterans data stolen include Social Security numbers and birth dates. Information on some veterans' spouses was also compromised.
This was a computer stolen from an employees home which was unencrypted and not authorized to be taken from the facility.

Also you should be aware that most states now have laws that govern how you can keep and dispose of personal information on employees and customers.

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Len,
"There is no charge for Awesomeness"
A view through the eyes of SquirreNmoose