Intranet in a box

[mustangj17]

I'm charged with re-doing our company's intranet site. I have no idea what I am doing.

I've been told we can't use our CMS to upgrade our intranet and that I need to find "intranet in a box" software and rebuild it.

Any suggestions?

 

[WolvEagle]

This might sound like a smartass answer, but it's really not. Go to Barnes & Noble, Borders, etc., and buy the Web design for dummies book.

My daughter, a ninth-grader, had a Web design class last semester and was struggling. I bought the book and she was, at first, insulted. Then she started reading through it. Then she started designing the Web site for her group, and it turned out great. Even I understood what was going on as I was watching her build the site, and I'm not a tech guy.

The book is easy to understand and very well organized. It'll be worth your time and money - trust me.

Also, for the smart-alecks in the crowd, please don't make references to other things in a box (manure with a cherry on top). I hope we never see that again in SportsJournalists.com nation.

 

[Ace]

This might sound like a smartass answer, but it's really not. Go to Barnes & Noble, Borders, etc., and buy the Web design for dummies book.

My daughter, a ninth-grader, had a Web design class last semester and was struggling. I bought the book and she was, at first, insulted. Then she started reading through it. Then she started designing the Web site for her group, and it turned out great. Even I understood what was going on as I was watching her build the site, and I'm not a tech guy.

The book is easy to understand and very well organized. It'll be worth your time and money - trust me.

Also, for the smart-alecks in the crowd, please don't make references to other things in a box (manure with a cherry on top). I hope we never see that again in SportsJournalists.com nation.

Damn you, WolvE!

What the person is saying about the "in the box" comment is generic software that you can make work for your purposes, as opposed to something developed specifically for your needs.

And WolvEagle's suggestion couldn't hurt.

 

[The Big Ragu]

Also, web site design and networking -- setting up an intranet -- are two different skills.

I don't have a "software in a box" recommendation, but I feel bad for you working at a place that looks at something like an Intranet and thinks is it a task that can just be assigned to someone, regardless of whether they have the experience to set up an Intranet.

I know you are just doing what you have to do, though.

 

[jackfinarelli]

Maybe you should hire WolveEagle's daughter as a consultant...

 

[WolvEagle]

Maybe you should hire WolveEagle's daughter as a consultant...

If you don't mind putting up with a bossy 14-year-old who thinks she knows more than her father ...

 

[mustangj17]

Also, web site design and networking -- setting up an intranet -- are two different skills.

I don't have a "software in a box" recommendation, but I feel bad for you working at a place that looks at something like an Intranet and thinks is it a task that can just be assigned to someone, regardless of whether they have the experience to set up an Intranet.

I know you are just doing what you have to do, though.

Why I, as a copywriter, would have to do this, I don't know. But my boss said to put together a proposal, so I'm sort of screwed.

 

[Buck]

We are transitioning to SharePoint for our internal workspace, and it can do double duty as a Web portal.
Frankly, the entire process is a real bear. I don't wish it upon anybody and I wish I had no involvement in the project.

 

[Batman]

Also, for the smart-alecks in the crowd, please don't make references to other things in a box (manure with a cherry on top). I hope we never see that again in SportsJournalists.com nation.

http://www.nerve.com/CS/blogs/theremoteisland/2009/01/justin-timberlake-****-in-a-box-2-8-07.jpg
Come on, what other nasty things could possibly come in a box?

 

[dixiehack]

Also, web site design and networking -- setting up an intranet -- are two different skills.

I don't have a "software in a box" recommendation, but I feel bad for you working at a place that looks at something like an Intranet and thinks is it a task that can just be assigned to someone, regardless of whether they have the experience to set up an Intranet.

I know you are just doing what you have to do, though.

Why I, as a copywriter, would have to do this, I don't know. But my boss said to put together a proposal, so I'm sort of screwed.

I recommend paying extra for the software that lets you manipulate payroll without being detected.

 

[ThatGuy]

I'm going back to college for web design and one thing I've learned is exactly how to do this. There are plenty of good third party programs that can be used for an Intranet, and you can still use your current CMS via a Virtual Private Network (VPN)...its kind of like a contractor you use to remodel your house, you rely on third parties to do the actual job, you actually oversee it. You need to convince the boss that trying to simply do it yourself out of the box is opening yourself up to all manner of security horrors....try and find either a rep with a third party software company that can present a professional proposal for the system (for free, hoping for the sale of course)...you can also look for a freelance IT consultant...most importantly you need to convince the boss that if someone who doesn't know what they are doing sets this up and there's a security breach on down the road, the company is libable for it...that's not something I'd want to be responsible for...if you use an actual rep or IT consultant, they would be the ones liable as long as the company kept up the recommmened security procedures.....

 

[mustangj17]

I'm going back to college for web design and one thing I've learned is exactly how to do this. There are plenty of good third party programs that can be used for an Intranet, and you can still use your current CMS via a Virtual Private Network (VPN)...its kind of like a contractor you use to remodel your house, you rely on third parties to do the actual job, you actually oversee it. You need to convince the boss that trying to simply do it yourself out of the box is opening yourself up to all manner of security horrors....try and find either a rep with a third party software company that can present a professional proposal for the system (for free, hoping for the sale of course)...you can also look for a freelance IT consultant...most importantly you need to convince the boss that if someone who doesn't know what they are doing sets this up and there's a security breach on down the road, the company is libable for it...that's not something I'd want to be responsible for...if you use an actual rep or IT consultant, they would be the ones liable as long as the company kept up the recommmened security procedures.....

I like this idea. Although we don't keep personal information of our customers so security breaches aren't a big deal. Plus our main product is security breach insurance.

 

[ThatGuy]

I'm going back to college for web design and one thing I've learned is exactly how to do this. There are plenty of good third party programs that can be used for an Intranet, and you can still use your current CMS via a Virtual Private Network (VPN)...its kind of like a contractor you use to remodel your house, you rely on third parties to do the actual job, you actually oversee it. You need to convince the boss that trying to simply do it yourself out of the box is opening yourself up to all manner of security horrors....try and find either a rep with a third party software company that can present a professional proposal for the system (for free, hoping for the sale of course)...you can also look for a freelance IT consultant...most importantly you need to convince the boss that if someone who doesn't know what they are doing sets this up and there's a security breach on down the road, the company is libable for it...that's not something I'd want to be responsible for...if you use an actual rep or IT consultant, they would be the ones liable as long as the company kept up the recommmened security procedures.....

I like this idea. Although we don't keep personal information of our customers so security breaches aren't a big deal. Plus our main product is security breach insurance.

You still have to worry about people breaking in taking over a system and using it for evil purposes....happens every day....and how would it look if someone broke into your system if you sell that type of insurance? A compeitior could have a field day....

 

[Buck]

I'm going back to college for web design and one thing I've learned is exactly how to do this. There are plenty of good third party programs that can be used for an Intranet, and you can still use your current CMS via a Virtual Private Network (VPN)...its kind of like a contractor you use to remodel your house, you rely on third parties to do the actual job, you actually oversee it. You need to convince the boss that trying to simply do it yourself out of the box is opening yourself up to all manner of security horrors....try and find either a rep with a third party software company that can present a professional proposal for the system (for free, hoping for the sale of course)...you can also look for a freelance IT consultant...most importantly you need to convince the boss that if someone who doesn't know what they are doing sets this up and there's a security breach on down the road, the company is libable for it...that's not something I'd want to be responsible for...if you use an actual rep or IT consultant, they would be the ones liable as long as the company kept up the recommmened security procedures.....

I like this idea. Although we don't keep personal information of our customers so security breaches aren't a big deal. Plus our main product is security breach insurance.

So, you sell insurance against IT security breaches, but you don't have an IT department?

 

[mustangj17]

I'm going back to college for web design and one thing I've learned is exactly how to do this. There are plenty of good third party programs that can be used for an Intranet, and you can still use your current CMS via a Virtual Private Network (VPN)...its kind of like a contractor you use to remodel your house, you rely on third parties to do the actual job, you actually oversee it. You need to convince the boss that trying to simply do it yourself out of the box is opening yourself up to all manner of security horrors....try and find either a rep with a third party software company that can present a professional proposal for the system (for free, hoping for the sale of course)...you can also look for a freelance IT consultant...most importantly you need to convince the boss that if someone who doesn't know what they are doing sets this up and there's a security breach on down the road, the company is libable for it...that's not something I'd want to be responsible for...if you use an actual rep or IT consultant, they would be the ones liable as long as the company kept up the recommmened security procedures.....

I like this idea. Although we don't keep personal information of our customers so security breaches aren't a big deal. Plus our main product is security breach insurance.

So, you sell insurance against IT security breaches, but you don't have an IT department?

We do. My boss just told me to do this. When she tells me to do something, I generally pretend like I am doing it, then sit on Sportsjournalists.com all day.

 

[Buck]

I'm going back to college for web design and one thing I've learned is exactly how to do this. There are plenty of good third party programs that can be used for an Intranet, and you can still use your current CMS via a Virtual Private Network (VPN)...its kind of like a contractor you use to remodel your house, you rely on third parties to do the actual job, you actually oversee it. You need to convince the boss that trying to simply do it yourself out of the box is opening yourself up to all manner of security horrors....try and find either a rep with a third party software company that can present a professional proposal for the system (for free, hoping for the sale of course)...you can also look for a freelance IT consultant...most importantly you need to convince the boss that if someone who doesn't know what they are doing sets this up and there's a security breach on down the road, the company is libable for it...that's not something I'd want to be responsible for...if you use an actual rep or IT consultant, they would be the ones liable as long as the company kept up the recommmened security procedures.....

I like this idea. Although we don't keep personal information of our customers so security breaches aren't a big deal. Plus our main product is security breach insurance.

So, you sell insurance against IT security breaches, but you don't have an IT department?

We do. My boss just told me to do this. When she tells me to do something, I generally pretend like I am doing it, then sit on Sportsjournalists.com all day.

You're going straight to the top, kid!
I just heard the Mickey character from 'Rocky' in my head as I typed that.