| When you've finished designing the network for your | | | | Front Desk, you can create a logic unit for all the |
| practice, you're ready to choose the design of its | | | | places and locations each user account is allocated. |
| logic. Logical design is network function and | | | | The primary benefit is that you can apply a network |
| infrastructure. Here are some tips for creating a | | | | policy to the unit, as in setting all Front Desk |
| network that is flexible, efficient, and contributes to | | | | accounts to automatically lock their computer screens |
| overall operations at the practice. | | | | after ten minutes of inactivity. By simply adding this |
| Basic Network: Once you've begun to draft the | | | | feature to the Front Desk unit, the logic is applied to |
| network organization, it's time to choose the services | | | | all Front Desk user accounts. |
| that you will be adding to it. An environment needs | | | | Internet & E-Mail: Both are excellent service to |
| Internet access, e-mail, and file storage to function | | | | include on the network. However, when setting up |
| smoothly. Network file storage creates network | | | | e-mail, make sure to run a good anti-virus tool on the |
| drives for specific users, letting them save data to | | | | mail server, to scan all messages. E-mail is the primary |
| the network instead of a local machine - allowing for | | | | method of virus spread, and the most effective way |
| better backup and protection of the data. By storing | | | | to minimize risk is to set up the mail server properly |
| the data on a single server, you can perform nightly | | | | at the outset. Microsoft Exchange or another server |
| backups with controlled access to the information. | | | | solution tool is an excellent way to introduce e-mail or |
| Additionally, users can access the information they | | | | an on-line calendar. Access to the Internet is a simple |
| want using any computer on the network, even | | | | must to be able to communicate between a series |
| from home. The drive can be set to share | | | | of locations. Many software companies prefer that a |
| information with the specific department only, | | | | practice keep a broadband connection in order to |
| allowing fluid collaboration. Every user account has a | | | | send support and updates through. Pricing for |
| home directory that is accessible just by the individual | | | | broadband varies by area, but the need for proper |
| user. This allows for a safe area for documents | | | | security remains constant. All files should be kept |
| which should not be accessed by other people. | | | | behind a sound firewall which keeps the outside world |
| Flexibility: When creating a design for the network, | | | | from your network. Some vendors have product |
| group by function and geographic region. This | | | | versions aimed at both consumer and business clients |
| strategy helps to establish a functional and flexible | | | | - the business versions are usually designed to be |
| network infrastructure. If your practice operates | | | | deployed across a network, also containing added |
| from a series of locations, it's often a good idea to | | | | tools to help manage anti-virus products. |
| form logic units; 'Front Desk,' for example. Then from | | | | |