Starting an Online Business All-in-One For Dummies®, 3rd Edition

Finding Security Resources

After you commit to your security budget, you can find plenty of outside resources that are happy to assist you in spending it. And you have lots of do-it-yourself opportunities, too. You have to decide when — and whether — an outside source is warranted. Then you should determine which resource is the best one for you to use.

When searching for help with security issues, you have many choices. More than likely, they fall into one of these categories:

• Consultants: Often specializing in a particular area of security, a consul-tant can be hired to offer an initial assessment or to assist with the complete solution. Most consultants bill in one of two ways:
  • By the hour: Some consultants charge by the hour, which typically ranges from $80 to $300 (or more) per hour, depending on your geographic location and on the consultant's specialty.
  • Flat fee: A consultant can also bill you a flat fee based on the scope of the project. As a general rule, the more complicated your issue — or the more specialized the expertise of the consultant — the more you can expect to pay.
• Experts: Experts can be individuals who work in a technical-support environment or who have full-time jobs in a related subject area (and advise informally or on a part-time basis). You can find experts in your vendor relationships or in community service programs for businesses (such as Service Corps of Retired Executives, or SCORE). The cost of an expert's time varies widely but usually is ...