Editor Todd Phillips checks out what the gurus, analysts, soothsayers and visionaries of all kinds are saying about how the Internet will evolve, and the role that manufacturers will play in business-to-business e-commerce.

Before you open up your business to the world, you had better do a realistic assessment of whether your company is ready for e-business. Doug Ward, a senior manager with Deloitte & Touche offers his e-readiness primer.

Who's watching you? Who's trying to hack their way into your company's systems? What can you do to protect yourself and your company? Rene Hamel, a former RCMP officer who has tackled hackers, and who is now with KPMG Investigation and Security Inc., presents a detailed overview of online security and privacy.

Before you launch your Netscape or Internet Explorer, you'd better have a plan, or you'll get hopelessly lost. Veteran Internet expert, Jim Corlett, from Nottingham Trent University in the UK presents the best article you'll read this year about how to search the Web and get the results you need.

So, where to? We'll show you some of our favourite places to go, and why we like them. If you are looking for a good starting point, this is it.

What will it take to get our operations hardwired to the Internet, and to your suppliers and customers? Why your new machines and production lines will soon have integrated Internet capability and why your plant should be looking at adding the infrastructure for wireless communications. Associate editor Scott Bury presents a detailed analysis.

Our glossary of Internet and e-terms, e-expressions, and some basic Internet facts to get you up to Internet speed in no time.

Our pick of destinations worth a second click