Keeping an eye on the future is essential if you are to plan your business (and your personal) IT strategy, and being the one to alert your managers to valuable developments demonstrates that you function at the heart of the organisation's values. Peter Dunwell profiles a fascinating new development that could revolutionise our use of software, and which looks set to be a time-saving boon for PAs. Peter has also looked into the challenges and solutions faced by secretaries when running mobile teams, and how technology can help you keep in touch with travelling executives. Don't miss his articles in this issue, as your working practices are sure to benefit.

Another key area of your IT strategy must be the protection of data, and if your documents are not backed up regularly your business could be at risk. Particularly pertinent for smaller organisations, backups should not be on the back burner, advises Sara Goodwins.

We also take a look at some of the threats to our IT systems, namely spam and viruses. Although we now rely heavily on virus detection software, there are measures you can take every day to minimise spam, says Ian Boughton. We also give you the low-down on the different viruses out there in cyber space — do you really know the difference between and Trojan and a Worm? We tell all. Meanwhile, top PA Lee Morrissey gives us her take on IT and the PA — with her usual wry humour.

This issue, too, we'll be profiling DeskDemon's excellent WorkSmart Pavilion at the Times Crème Show. As part of DeskDemon's commitment to helping you to work smarter, the new IT pavilion brings a long-awaited technology focus to the Times Crème Show, and should not be missed!

We hope you enjoy this edition of DeskDemon Express and that you find the information useful and relevant. If you would like us to cover topics that you have not yet seen in our pages, just send us an email (editor@deskdemon.co.uk). Keeping up to date with what's important to you, is extremely important to us.

Have a good month!

Best Wishes