Secure Email Project

When reviewing the requirements for this project, I didn't think it would be to difficult. But I had another thing coming! I complete my school work on a Macbook, so the steps were a bit different versus completing this on a PC. Everything was going smoothly until I had a download the certificate, which kept opening in Keychain Access. Needless to say, I have never worked in Keychain access and was unfamiliar with what this did. I finally realized that the certificate needed to be backed up through Firefox, but just had different steps than what was outlined for a PC.

I now understand why secure and encrypted emails are used within businesses. If you receive an email from an outside party with a digital certificate attached or it is encrypted, I would be much more trust worthy of that email.


After reading "Secure email today: extremely beneficial and incredibly convenient" located on Business Managements site, it seems that many businesses may  neglect to use secure email. After a survey was conducted in Germany only 27% of CEO's asked were encrypting their messages and only 36% were signing them. This article list multiple advantages for using encryption and signatures when emailing. 

• Reason #1- Business Requirement- many businesses should require these steps due to so many emails being sent around with time constraints and important material. This will ensure the data is coming from an accurate source. 
• Reason #2- Legal Requirements- There are some guidelines to using encryption's and signatures. Most businesses check to make sure they are within law. Some businesses even have procedures for sending emails to ensure the sender is accurate.
• Reason #3- Customer Trust- If a customer sees the encryption and signature, they feel much safer. Many hackers are using phishing as a means to invade privacy. This will give customers trust and it is a less expensive reassurance. 

Technology is always evolving and businesses much keep up to ensure progress. There are many hackers out there shifting through the internet trying to get in and find personal information. These steps will help prevent that. 

Here is a screen shot of my Thunderbird account:

Database Project: Access 2003

We have been reviewing Microsoft Access in class for the past few weeks and I find the database program very easy to navigate. Throughout the course of completing my project, I did hit a few snags but nothing that I couldn't over come. I have taken Access classes in the past so I remember much of the information. Unfortunately, I only have Apple's so I had to use my mothers computer which has Access 2003. I would say that the 2007 version is much improved!! When auto numbering my MemberID's. I found that when adding in a new form the auto numbers would randomly generate in large negative numbers. I was unable to figure out why it was doing this. It only did it for two forms but the others were correct! I can see why this knowledge would be beneficial within the work place. Access saves alot of time typing when you can just import tables you have already created. You can run reports, queries, or add more information. It is a great way to navigate through information.

I work for a logistics company and we recently converted to a new program to manage our information. The old program was created and used through Access. It was very advanced but we began losing information. We have millions of "loads" which had to be archived into another system. This was the largest limitation when using Access. Our new system works through the Internet, so we are able to have an unlimited amount of information. But over all, as I previously stated I believe Access is a great system with not to many faults. There is a great deal of information over the Internet and books available on how to navigate through Access 2007. Microsoft provides a great deal of helpful information online. Here are top ten reasons why Microsoft suggest using Access with Excel as well!

Reason 1: Copying an Excel worksheet to an Access datasheet

Reason 2: Sharing data by linking to an Excel worksheet from Access

Reason 3: Moving data by importing Excel data into Access

Reason 4: Connecting to Access data from Excel

Reason 5: Using Access reports with Excel data

Reason 6: Using Access forms with Excel data

Reason 7: Filtering, sorting, and querying in Access is so like Excel

Reason 8: Collecting data for Excel analysis by using Access

Reason 9: Doing a Mail Merge or creating labels

Reason 10: Combining Excel and Access with SharePoint technologies

So take a risk and give Access a shot. And remember if you have the 2007 version available it is much improved compared to the 2003!

Presentation and Web 2.0 Project- NYK Logistics

This presentation gave me some difficulties! I had a hard time with the sound and uploading the video onto a site that would support the sound as well as the slides. But after much time searching the internet for answers, I finally found some! I had to use Camtasia to record my video from the computer screen. Unfortunately, there is a slight echo through the presentation but I worked with what I had! Take a look at the video and see what you think!

Project link: NYK Logistics

When reviewing the presentation critique, I believe I did very well. The NYK presentation has a logical flow and sequence of content. There were many facts as well as a helpful video to help someone decide if NYK Logistics was a good transportation company for them. I do think this presentation may only grab certain peoples attention. For example, a business owner who ships product on a regular basis will be more drown to the video instead of a younger waitress. I believe the facts were presented well without clutter. The video is easy to follow. I found it hard to critique someone else's video because I know they worked on it just as hard as I did. They may have had some technological glitches along the way as well!

When creating the presentation, I checked to ensure none of the copyright laws were being violated. I found Freedigitalphotos.net to be very helpful. They have numerous business related photos that I am able to use free of charge. I also found it very helpful to create a storyboard before I began working on my presentation to avoid getting off track. It was simple, but offered guidelines so I knew what I was looking for. 

I felt it was important at the end of the video to close with a personal touch. That is why I chose to video tape myself with the closing statements. I plan to use this in the future and found it very helpful. Even though it was frustrating at times, within the logistics field, we are always looking for new ways to promote our services. 

Excel Project

My professor gave us a challenging task to take on for our first project. We were to take raw data and formulate it into a readable spreadsheet along with unique pivot tables. When I first read the directions for this project, I grew anxious with anticipation. I work with Excel on a daily basis and also create pivot tables to send to our large customers. This will be a way to utilize and improve my skills. I was working smoothly through step one until I reached "targeting the heart rate", which we needed to create a formula to utilize on address that when changed will auto populate the heart rate percentage through the data. I found this to be difficult, but after playing around with different formulas and weighing my options, I finally pulled the formula together. Take a look at the Microsoft guide for creating formulas within Excel if you need help.

After completing all necessary tasks within the raw data, I needed to create two pivot tables. Over the past six months within my company, I have learned a great deal about pivot tables due to our growing clients needs. Pivot tables are helpful in most business situations. After reading the directions for the pivot tables, I selected the needed data to complete the pivot table. After placing the appropriate data into the fields, I also fancied it up a bit. Unfortunately, I completed my work within Excel 2003 so I do not have the great pivot tables options that Excel 2010 has. I recommend that if you have Excel 2010 available to play around and see the different options. Take a look at my "AvgIncrease" pivot table:

After completing this project, I felt accomplished. I took a look over it and feel that it is easy to read and understand which is very important when passing this information on one anyone regardless of if its your professor or client. So jump in head first and play around with Excel and learn pivot tables!!