Internet software

Internet software helps your business make the most of the internet. For instance, you need internet software to view web pages and send and receive email.

Internet software is not used to create websites – if that’s what you need, look for web design software instead.

Internet browser software

There are many types of internet browser software available. They all allow you to view and interact with websites.

Most computers come with internet browser software installed as standard. There are several reasons to consider alternatives:

• Speed. The time it takes to load the same website in two different browsers can differ hugely. If you use slow sites a lot, it’s worth testing them in different browsers.

• Features. Different internet browser software offers different features. For instance, some will let you save web pages as a single image, or allow you to install extensions which add extra functions.

• Security. Because web browsers are very common, they get targeted by hackers looking for security holes. Some browsers are considered more secure than others.

Software for internet browsing tends to be free and available for all the main operating systems, although you might have a slightly reduced choice if you use Macs or Linux.

Internet software for email

Email is an essential form of business communication. It makes it easy for people in your business to keep in touch with each other and with people outside your company. You’ll probably need to provide email software for all your staff.

Many office suites include email software as standard. These fully-featured packages often include other useful functions like task lists and shared calendars. Lots of cheap and free email software is available too.

Because your email software is likely to be used frequently, it can pay to choose a popular package which is well-supported.

If you outsource your email system, email software may come included. Alternatively, some email services are accessed directly through a web browser. This is called webmail and means you don’t need to install extra software at all.

Other internet software

Make sure you have good software for internet security – including a firewall and anti-spyware program - on every computer in your business. These are often available as part of a security suite.

The following types of internet software also have the potential to save you time or money – or make you more productive:

• Instant messaging (IM) software allows people in your business to communicate via online chat or videoconferencing.
• Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) programs may enable you to cut telephone costs by routing phone calls over the internet.
• An RSS reader lets you keep track of regularly updated websites and news stories in one place, without having to visit lots of websites.

Managing internet software

If your business relies on internet access to operate effectively, you should ensure you provide good support. To make this easier, you’ll probably want to standardise the internet software your company uses.

Remember too that internet software gives your employees access to many websites and sources of content you might consider unsuitable for the workplace. Create an IT policy covering acceptable internet use.

New versions of software for internet use are released frequently. This is partly due to the ever-changing nature of the web, but also because security issues can be serious with internet software. It’s therefore important you perform regular IT maintenance and stay on top of any updates.