Why get connected?
Connecting to the Internet will allow you better access to information and better communication with members and other partners through the use of email.Getting Connected To The Internet covers all the things you need to think about when getting yourself connected.
Internet access for your organisation is provided by an Internet Service Provider (ISP), the article Choosing An Internet Service Provider outlines what to look out for when choosing an ISP.
If your organisation does not have access to a BT landline there are alternative ways to connect to the Internet, these are covered by I Can’t Get Broadband - Help!
With the decrease in broadband prices over the last few years it is worth looking at what offers are available for Internet connections. The article Switching Broadband Provider takes you through the steps you need to follow, and outlines some of the pitfalls when trying to switch provider.
Using the Internet and email
Now connected, how are you going to use the Internet for communications? Before thinking about specific services it is important to consider how the outside world sees you. To have your own online identity you will need a domain name (e.g. yourorganisationname.org.uk) as the article
What's In A Domain Name? explains.
The Internet can be used to both promote your organisation and to as a source of information. For promoting your organisation have a look at the Your Website section of the Knowledgebase. The Using Your Computer section provides information on Finding Information On The Internet and What Is RSS?, these are key guides to help you find useful information on the Internet.
You can use email in ways other than one-to-one communication with individuals:
* Email Lists, enabling you to send the same message to many people at once. See An Introduction To Email Mailing Lists
* Email Newsletters, can be used to by organisations of all sizes to communicate with supporters and raise your profile. To help you get the most out of Email Newsletters there are Best Practice guides for Building And Designing Email Newsletters and Sending Email Newsletters
Other uses
As well as the “traditional” use of the Internet there are a number of new emerging ways of using the Internet to communicate. Phone Calls Over The Internet?, and Reaching Out Through Mobile are excellent starting points for using these new applications of the Internet and telephony.
Security Issues
The Internet and email are valuable tools for organisations but there are potential security issues it is important to be aware of.
The articles How secure is the Internet and Advice by email – security issues outline the main threats and how to avoid them. For example Email is not secure and should not be used for sending confidential or sensitive information.
Spam (unsolicited email) is undoubtedly the single most annoying aspect of the Internet’s success. Spam is often used to transmit material that can cause security issues so needs to be managed. The articles Dealing With Spam and Spam - Solutions Anyone? help in recognising and dealing with spam.
Security is also covered in sections of the Knowledgebase (see the Security Starting Out article for an overview).
As well as the Knowledgebase articles on ICT Management, there is the Internet and Email Discussion Forum – this is a useful place to share knowledge, experiences, and ask questions.
For help getting started in other areas of ICT, see our index of Starting Out articles.
About the author
Lasa Information Systems TeamLasa Information Systems Team provides a range of services to community and voluntary organisations including ICT Health Checks and consulting on the best application of technology in your organisation. Lasa IST is responsible for maintaining the ICT Hub Knowledgebase
