Here’s a number worth thinking about: According to estimates by research firm eMarketer, Inc., global e-commerce sales are expected to grow 18.3 percent to $1.298 trillion this year (Source: eMarketer, Jan 2013). So, what does this mean for you?

Every business, no matter the size, has an opportunity when it comes to e-commerce – it’s not just large retailers, though they do account for the biggest slice of the gigantic pie. As a small business you need to use the Web to attract, find, communicate, service and sell to your customers. It’s a cornerstone of staying competitive and essential if you’re keen to grow.

It may seem simple to open an e-commerce business or add e-commerce to your website. But, many business owners rush in and don’t take the time to lay the proper groundwork before they go live. It takes more than...

In the remake of the classic heist film Ocean’s Eleven, a group of thieves creates an intricate plan to rob three Las Vegas casinos simultaneously. Due to advanced security, however, they have to gather an enormous amount of intelligence on the businesses in order to stand a chance of success. By way of comparison, today’s cybercriminals have a far simpler job when it comes to stealing what we value – our confidential data. In fact, we tend to do most of the work for them by putting so much information out there on social networking sites. And like someone flashing his winnings on the street outside the casino, it makes us an easy target for theft.

More than ever before, the bad guys are zeroing in on our information, and they’re using every means at their disposal to make their attacks more likely to succeed. And making matters worse, fewer defenses often means small businesses are increasingly in the crosshairs – 31 percent of the time,...

Small businesses are the economic backbone of this country. Yet, in the aftermath of manmade or natural disasters, an astounding 40% of small businesses never reopen. It doesn’t have to be this way; with preparation, organization and practice, owners and employees of small businesses can secure their future, despite what may come their way. In this 50th year of National Small Business Week, it’s the right time to put your plan together and into practice. The tips and advice here and at the websites I link to are also terrific resources and ideas for your home life, to make sure your family is safe and your important personal information secured.

56% of small businesses lack an emergency plan (source 2012 Ad Council survey)

I live in earthquake country. As a...

The best way to protect your business is to know what you need to protect it from. Last week, Symantec security experts Kevin Haley and Jay Epton engaged in a Twitter chat with Anita Campbell of Small Business Trends to discuss the findings of the Internet Security Threat Report Vol. 18 (ISTR), which reveals the current state of the threat landscape and an increase in focus being placed on SMBs by attackers. More than 600 tweets explore how cybercriminals are working to steal intellectual property and other confidential information from SMBs, and what you can do to protect your business.

If you missed the #SMBchat, here are some of the questions that were asked, with responses from Symantec experts and the SMB participants.

We keep hearing that cybercriminals change their tactics. What is the big takeaway from the ISTR 18?

• Small businesses are now the target of 31% of all attacks, a threefold...