Many small-business owners shell out big bucks for high-speed Internet access. The savings in time are usually rewarded with higher productivity.

If your high-speed system happens to be running slower than a clogged drain, don't complain just yet. Before you pay for an expensive in-office visit from your Internet service provider's tech support, here are four things you should consider.

1. Know your speed. You can sit at your computer with a stopwatch to see how long it takes to connect to your favorite Web site. But this is not a very good indication of download speed. Believe me, I've tried it. There are too many variables involved. I suggest you call the ISP and ask. The ISP probably can check download speeds on your line remotely. The number you get from the technician will probably be a best case figure; real-world Internet traffic can be bogged down. Or, you can also easily check your speed online, through MSN Tech & Gadgets' Internet speed test. Two other good sites are at BroadbandReports.com (formerly DSLReports) and Bandwidthplace.com. All three sites send data to your computer. The tests calculate the connection speed based upon the elapsed time it takes to download and upload the data.You may receive different results based on which test you use and where that test's server is located. For example, BroadbandReports offers servers throughout the world, while Bandwidthplace's test server is located in Texas. The further away you are from a server, the greater chance you'll encounter bottlenecks. The speed tests can give you a baseline speed. To establish that baseline, test your connection speeds throughout the day and keep a log. If there is a noticeable difference during specific times of the day, you'll be able to troubleshoot better.

2. Start at the source. You could have one of the fastest connections in the world. But if your computers are old, it won't matter much. When surfing the Net, you are downloading information. Some Web sites are simple and don't require much processing power. But most are heavy on graphics and code. A modern, fast chip will process and display the pages quickly. Memory is crucial, too. A Web page is loaded into your computer's memory. If there's not enough memory, some data is saved as a swap file on the hard drive. This can really slow things down, especially if you are running multiple applications. If you are using Windows XP or Windows 2000, you need a minimum of 256 megabytes of RAM.

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Don't Stop fortifying against risk

Four ways to mitigate risk in a tough economy

Every business deals with risk. But medium-sized businesses, with smaller IT staff and tighter operating budgets are often more exposed to risk than larger companies. This reality is never more evident than in a down economy: When the repercussions of a business disruption are as grave as they are, how do you insulate your business from risk?

"For mid-sized businesses, the financial impact of business disruptions is tremendous," said Anil Miglani, senior vice president, AMI-Partners. "We estimate that through security breaches and data loss alone, medium-sized businesses worldwide lost approximately US$4.7 billion in 2008."

According to strategy consulting firm AMI-Partners, in 2008 medium-sized businesses worldwide lost approximately US$4.7 billion due to security breaches and loss of data.

However, taking the right precautions with your IT infrastructure can help you steer clear of danger. Here are four steps you can take to mitigate risks to your revenue, your reputation, and your investment – all the things that keep you awake at night as you wait for this storm to pass.

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'Fess up. It took awhile for many of you to really believe how much more productive you could be with wireless networking, didn't it?

I'm here now to make a case for how wireless peripherals - that is, wireless mice, keyboards, printers, monitors, and so on - can also make your business more efficient, more productive, and, to boot, a more desirable place to work.

I'll start by asking if you or any of your employees have workstations cluttered with cables and cords? Wireless peripherals, instead of the wired version, can simplify and boost the appearance of your workspaces by getting rid of those meandering streams of wires contributing to the clutter.

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Strengthen your plan via testing.

Testing annually is the crux to creating and preserving a viable recovery plan. Test every aspect of your recovery plan, from internal and external communications to regaining power to rebuilding networks.

Take the insight gained during this exercise to make your plan stronger, so that when an event does occur your business will recover smoothly and as efficiently as possible.

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