Why your business needs to embrace new technology
Many businesses today rely on new technology to enhance productivity, facilitate efficient communication with clients, and ensure steady growth. At the same time, customers and employees alike expect technology to fulfill their day-to-day requirements. When a business fails to keep up with these demands, people tend to seek alternatives, including turning to competitors and using shadow IT. However, such situations can be avoided adopting new tech. Here are several major benefits your business can reap by integrating new technologies into your systems. Automation and streamlining of tasks With the help of new technologies, tasks like invoicing, payroll, and accounting can be streamlined and automated. This not only reduces expenses and minimizes the likelihood of errors, but it also allows you to dedicate more time to managing your business. New ways to sell products or services The latest advancements in technology have introduced a range of new techniques for engaging with customers and promoting sales. By utilizing tools such as mobile ordering apps and contactless payment options, businesses can create a seamless omnichannel shopping experience for their customers. Increased online visibility The continuous evolution of technology enables businesses to connect with a greater number of potential customers 24/7. Platforms such as social media, mobile marketing, and digital forms of content marketing can significantly expand the visibility of your business beyond its local community. Enhanced customer service Businesses rely on technology to offer superior customer support services. By utilizing online chat boxes, email, and phone lines, you can establish a proficient customer support system for your business. A dedicated support team can leverage technology to deliver real-time support to your customers, providing them with an efficient means of reaching out to a representative of your business for queries or assistance. And when your customers are happy, they’ll remain loyal to your company. Incorporating the latest technology into your business operations can not only simplify your job but also demonstrate to your customers that your business is dynamic and progressive. To learn more about new and upcoming technologies, give our experts a call today.
Cutting-edge strategies for cybersecurity success
Although cyberattacks on businesses have become increasingly prevalent in recent years, many small-business owners assume that their business is immune to such attacks. This belief often stems from the notion that cybercriminals target larger companies. However, the reality is that cyberattacks are opportunistic crimes, and small businesses often hold a wealth of sensitive data without adequate safeguards. Therefore, it is essential for every small-business owner to have a plan in place to prevent becoming a victim of cyberattacks. This article will outline some effective strategies for deterring cybercriminals and safeguarding your business. Implement password management solutions Deploying a company-wide password management solution is widely considered the most critical measure for enhancing security across all systems and applications. Passportal, for instance, offers various features such as auditing password changes, integrating with multifactor authentication solutions, encrypting passwords both in transit and at rest, and streamlining password updates through automation. These functions are invaluable in protecting your organization’s sensitive information. Back up your data regularly Creating backups ensures that data can be restored in the event of primary data failure. Such failures can occur due to hardware or software malfunctions, data corruption, or human-induced incidents such as accidental deletion or malware attacks. Backup copies enable the recovery of data from a previous point in time, facilitating business continuity in the event of an unplanned disruption. To guard against primary data loss or corruption, it is essential to store backup copies on a separate medium. This can be a simple external drive or USB stick, a disk or tape drive, or cloud storage. These storage mediums can be kept on premises or in a remote location. Making consistent and regular backup copies is crucial for minimizing data loss between backups. The longer the time between backup copies, the greater the likelihood of data loss during recovery. Retaining multiple copies of data provides added security and flexibility to restore data to a point in time unaffected by data corruption or malicious attacks. Keep your system updated Business owners and employees often overlook system updates because of their busy schedules. However, this is a dangerous mistake because outdated systems are more vulnerable to hacking. To avoid this, it is crucial to regularly upgrade and update your hardware and software to close security gaps and make it difficult for hackers to gain access. Implement the principle of least privilege (POLP) Access control is governed by the principle of least privilege, which specifies that a person should possess only the essential access privileges required to accomplish a particular job or task, and nothing else. For example, an employee tasked with processing payroll checks should be granted access only to that specific function in the payroll application. The benefits of POLP include: Minimizing the attack surface – By safeguarding superuser and administrator privileges, the attack surface is reduced, which in turn reduces the number of pathways that a malicious actor can utilize to obtain access to sensitive data or launch an attack. Mitigating the spread of malware – By restricting access to only the necessary resources, POLP can prevent the spread of malware throughout the network, thus preventing it from infecting other connected devices. Use additional security protocols To protect your business against cyberattacks, it’s crucial to deploy multiple security measures. Antivirus protection is a necessary tool that can prevent malware from compromising your devices and data. You should choose reliable programs from reputable providers and use only one antivirus application per device. Nowadays, modern anti-malware protection comes with advanced options that utilize artificial intelligence and detect abnormal device behavior that may signal an attack. In addition to antivirus software, implementing a zero trust policy and next-generation security measures can significantly enhance your business’s cybersecurity. Investing in firewall protection is another effective strategy to safeguard your business against hackers. Firewalls can screen out harmful activities and viruses on the internet and regulate traffic entering your devices. Combined with intrusion detection, firewalls can serve as virtual security guards that can keep potential threats from entering your systems. Train your employees Many employees fall prey to phishing schemes or share passwords without any hesitation. Therefore, the human element is one of the weakest links in any cybersecurity plan. To prevent this, it is essential to educate and train all employees on how to recognize and prevent potential cyberattacks. If you require assistance in enhancing the effectiveness of your cybersecurity, call our security experts today.
Clearing the clutter on your Android device
If you’ve just bought a new Android device, there’s a good chance that it came pre-installed with some apps that you don’t want or need. Find out how to clear the clutter from your Android device and get rid of those unwanted apps. What is bloatware? Bloatware is software that comes pre-installed on computers and other digital devices, such as mobile phones. It’s intended to increase the value of the device for customers, but in reality, bloatware does nothing but slow down performance by taking up valuable processing power and memory. It can come in the form of trial versions of applications, advertisements, or unnecessary installations that lack real usefulness. Ultimately, bloatware drains your device’s resources, keeping it from running at peak performance. Why does bloatware get a bad rep? Though bloatware is not inherently harmful and despite some users finding value in these preinstalled apps, many Android users take issue with the fact that they weren’t given a choice as to whether to install these applications. Is there a way to remove bloatware? Unfortunately, removing bloatware isn’t always possible. Some bloatware can be uninstalled but there are others with no delete option. Despite this situation, there’s no need to worry. Here are two viable alternatives you can explore. 1. Disable bloatware on your device On newer Android phones, you can disable bloatware by following a few simple steps. Select Apps from your device’s Settings menu. Select the app you want to disable from the list. Depending on the available option, proceed to press Uninstall or Disable. Once you confirm the action, you will no longer be able to access the selected app from your device’s home screen and the app shouldn’t run in the background anymore. 2. Purchase devices without bloatware Purchasing from a carrier typically requires agreeing to the installation of certain apps, but this can mean a lower cost for the device. However, if cost is not an issue, you may want to consider getting your device from big-box stores or retailers. These stores often offer a wider selection of devices and usually ensure you have control over what apps come with your device. It’s also best practice to ask for more details from a salesperson or read online reviews if you’re still unsure whether or not your preferred device comes with bloatware. With the right tools and knowledge, cleaning up your Android device and managing bloatware has never been simpler. If you need help tackling this task, don’t hesitate to contact our tech experts for more information.
It’s about time you use your Mac’s Time Machine
If you’re a Mac user, you probably already know that macOS boasts a remarkable built-in feature called Time Machine, which helps easily recover deleted files, emails, or media. If you’re not using it, it’s about time that you do. This reliable backup mechanism maintains an accurate, up-to-date record of your Mac’s contents. Keep reading to learn how to maximize the benefits of Time Machine. What is Time Machine and why should you use it? Time Machine is a backup system software for Macs. It makes regular periodic backups in the following intervals: Hourly backups for the past 24 hours Daily backups for the past month Weekly backups for previous months With macOS Ventura, you can customize your backup frequency. Simply access Time Machine settings, select Options, and pick your preferred frequency from the “Back up frequency” menu. It’s worth noting that Time Machine has undergone a major transformation since macOS 11 Big Sur, embracing Apple’s modern Apple File System (APFS) for improved performance. Apple boasts that this updated version of the backup utility takes full advantage of APFS snapshot technology to deliver faster and more dependable backups than ever before on HFS+-formatted drives. Time Machine has a unique system for backing up your files, as it saves changes instead of entire copies. This makes it easy to go back and find the version you need, regardless of how many updates are made in between, which saves storage. And when you’re upgrading computers or switching devices entirely, you can easily transfer all settings from one Mac to another with minimal effort. How to use Time Machine To use Time Machine, you need an external storage drive such as a USB, an SSD card, or any storage device that can be plugged into your Mac. Then follow these steps: Connect an external storage device (or macOS server) to your Mac. Click on the System Settings icon or the Apple logo on the left-hand corner of the screen > General (found on the sidebar) > Time Machine. To use your external storage device as a backup destination in Time Machine settings, simply select it from the options available. For macOS Ventura or later, click the add button (+) and you’ll be guided through the next steps. If you’re using an older macOS version, select the “Backup Disk” option and simply follow the on-screen commands to complete your setup. Alternative backup options There are various other options for backing up files on a Mac, but we highly recommend using Time Machine. It’s especially practical for users who like a simple, convenient, and dependable way to back up files. What’s more, it’s free. Note, however, that there are third-party backup systems you can opt for if you want more features. For one, Time Machine only backs up data instead of the entire hard drive, which is why restoring an entire system is relatively slower. Overall, Time Machine is a dependable, budget-friendly solution for both personal and business users. Should you require assistance in choosing the most optimal backup solution for your organization, our expert team is just a phone call away.
How to increase the life span of your business computer and hardware
If you rely heavily on computers for routine tasks in daily operations, making sure they keep running as smoothly and efficiently as possible is essential. When done right, maintaining your PCs, as well as other hardware, will ensure more efficient workflows and fewer annoying IT hiccups along the way. Fortunately, proper computer and hardware maintenance is something you can easily do, even if you don’t consider yourself particularly tech-savvy. Just follow these tips. Regularly clean computer components Make it a habit to keep your monitors and peripherals clean by gently wiping them with a microfiber cloth specifically designed for computer components. This ensures a static-free and scratchless cleaning experience. And when it comes to cleaning hard-to-reach areas like keyboard surfaces, a quick blast from a can of compressed air works wonders. Don’t underestimate the power of frequent cleanings. Excessive dust accumulation can hinder a computer’s airflow, impacting its performance. Moreover, make sure to keep your workstation out of direct sunlight or heat exposure and ensure proper ventilation for optimal performance. Properly organize your cables It’s time to bring order to the chaos of tangled wires in your office by using cable organizers. Not only does organizing your cables keep your workspace tidy and uncluttered, but it also boosts your computer’s performance by preventing overheating and improving airflow. And if you’re planning to move your workstation sometime in the future, streamlining your computer setup now can minimize the hassle of relocating later. Keeping those wires in order can save time, energy, and plenty of headaches down the road! Don’t forget your printers Printer maintenance is an important part of keeping your device in top condition. Take the time to deep-clean the outside and inside of your printers, paying special attention to paper trays, which tend to accumulate dirt. You should also clean and inspect parts and accessories such as printheads and cartridges, and make necessary repairs or replacements if needed. Lastly, to ensure the best performance from your printing devices, remember to download any available software updates immediately before putting them back into action. Evaluate your inventory An accurate record of all your hardware can help you optimize their life cycles and can inform purchasing practices. Maintain an accurate inventory list of all of your business’s devices, including details such as device type, serial numbers, owners, and locations. Keeping track of your hardware will help prevent buying items already on hand while also allowing you to identify those that are nearing the end of their life span. Establish and implement a robust hardware policy Implementing a solid hardware policy and technology guidelines can help your organization reduce the need for costly repairs in the future. By providing clear instructions on how to use, store, and replace equipment properly, you can ensure that all of your business-critical resources are well maintained. It’s ideal to establish these protocols now to efficiently manage both current and upcoming maintenance needs. If you’re having trouble maintaining or updating your computer and other business hardware, our team of experts is here to help. Contact us today to find out what solutions we can offer you.
Cloud unified communications migration made simple: A comprehensive guide
Moving your unified communications (UC) system to the cloud offers global accessibility for your business operations. It allows you to manage your UC from any location, eliminating the need to travel to a specific site for reconfigurations or wait for updates to take effect. Additionally, basic administrative tasks can be performed by team members themselves through UC self-service, without requiring virtual private network connections for access. What steps can you take to ensure a seamless migration of your UC to the cloud without disrupting your operations? Read on to learn more. Consider going hybrid The migration of UC systems to the cloud doesn’t necessarily have to be a full shift. A hybrid structure can be adopted, with some systems being transferred to the cloud while others remain in house. Maintaining critical applications on site may be a wise decision, especially for companies with limited bandwidth. Therefore, it’s vital to carry out an assessment of current bandwidth demands concerning core applications and data requirements. Verify that crucial applications will always operate efficiently before determining which ones should be moved to the cloud and which ones should remain in house. Conduct evaluations and tests It’s vital for businesses to conduct thorough evaluations and tests throughout the entire migration process. Prior to the migration, establish a benchmark level of performance, and then compare it with the actual performance during and after the migration to ensure that everything is functioning as expected. These tests should examine the upper limits of performance. In other words, evaluating a system’s capabilities based on its performance during a single phone call is insufficient. Instead, evaluate how it performs during dozens or hundreds of calls simultaneously, keeping scalability in mind. This is especially important because the business may expand significantly in the future, necessitating an increase in the number of users or the addition of new features such as teleconferencing and video conferencing. Be careful of the pilot trap A pilot trap happens when a pilot test is performed with a specific number of users and meets expectations. However, when the system is fully operational, the significant surge in traffic and resource demand overloads the system, rendering it unable to cope. Therefore, when conducting pilot tests, it is essential to make projections that consider peak demand, including both the number of users on the system and the required bandwidth. Monitor performance Businesses should take a proactive approach to monitoring quality and performance standards, particularly in hybrid migration scenarios. The most effective quality assurance and performance tests gather data from various points throughout the entire UC system and meticulously analyze and compare these to draw insights. Any potential issues should be identified and addressed as soon as possible. Keep track of user experience Given that most businesses use various cloud platforms with products and services from different providers, it is crucial to monitor user experience carefully. It is essential to note that a cloud-based unified communications platform can only function effectively when users can fully utilize its features in real time. Contact us today to discover how our experts can assist your business with a hassle-free and seamless migration experience using our flexible, dynamic, and advanced unified communications solutions.
Unlock the power of Workplace Analytics to achieve higher productivity
Imagine being able to monitor employee productivity, identify bottlenecks, and see where improvements could be made with a single business solution. Workplace Analytics is the tool that can do all that and more. In this article, you can learn more about this valuable tool from Microsoft and the wonders it can bring to the productivity levels of businesses across every size and industry. How does Workplace Analytics improve productivity? Workplace Analytics extracts employee behavioral insights, such as communication patterns, collaboration habits, and workloads, from data gathered from emails, calendars, documents, and Microsoft 365 apps. It then uses this data to generate reports and recommendations for improving productivity. Specifically, Workplace Analytics can: Identify inefficiencies – Workplace Analytics can help pinpoint areas where employees are spending too much or not enough time, which can help managers optimize workloads and ensure that resources are being used effectively. Improve collaboration – By analyzing communication patterns, Workplace Analytics can help identify communication bottlenecks and improve collaboration between employees or teams, which can lead to better productivity. Reduce distractions – Workplace Analytics can identify distractions affecting productivity, such as excessive email notifications or social media use, and provide recommendations for reducing these. Improve work-life balance – Workplace Analytics can help managers recognize employees who are overworked and provide recommendations for reducing their workload, which can improve work-life balance and prevent burnout. Overall, Workplace Analytics can provide valuable insights into employee behavior and productivity, enabling organizations to optimize their resources and improve overall performance. However, it is important to note that businesses should use this data responsibly and ethically so that employee privacy is respected at all times. What is Workplace Analytics for? Workplace Analytics is designed to solve productivity and engagement problems a business may be experiencing. Business leaders can leverage Workplace Analytics data to devise effective strategies for workplace productivity. For instance, if the data highlights that employees are spending most of their time in meetings, managers should look into ways to reduce the frequency or the length of meetings so that employees can spend more hours on other productive tasks. Human resources (HR) can also use this same data on working patterns and trends to identify burnout triggers. With these insights, HR personnel can recommend helpful solutions. Businesses can also use Workplace Analytics to evaluate how their workers collaborate with internal and external contacts. For example, if you want to find out whether the weekly sales team meetings with particular vendors are aiding goal achievement or hindering success, simply draw up the relevant data in a few clicks. You can then assess whether these conversations could be more effectively directed elsewhere for greater collaboration potential and increased profits. On top of these, Workplace Analytics can accurately measure employee engagement. With this data, managers can create a more motivated and productive workforce by ensuring that workloads are fairly distributed amongst employees or departments. And by being able to measure employee engagement, employers can identify areas of improvement in terms of working conditions and where additional training may be necessary. Get the full benefits of Workplace Analytics by partnering with a trusted managed IT services provider like us. Our team of professionals specializes in the use and management of Microsoft programs and services, so you can trust that your business is in capable hands. Contact us today to get started!
Crucial WordPress maintenance tasks to keep your site running smoothly
Are you unsure about the performance of your WordPress site? With just a few routine maintenance checks, you can ensure the security, safety, and optimal performance of your site. In this article, we’ll go over the top WordPress maintenance tasks that you should perform regularly. Update your WordPress passwords regularly Having unique and complex passwords is crucial to prevent unauthorized access to your WordPress website. However, it’s possible for even strong passwords to be compromised without your knowledge. This is why WordPress security experts suggest changing your passwords periodically, including passwords for your WordPress admin area, FTP or SSH accounts, and WordPress database. The challenge with strong passwords is that they can be difficult to recall, which is why using password manager apps such as Dashlane is advisable. These apps allow you to securely store and autofill your passwords. Backup your website regularly Having regular backups of your WordPress website is crucial for enhancing its security. By creating backups regularly, you can be prepared for worst-case scenarios, such as a site breach or unintentional lockout. Backups can prove to be a lifesaver in such catastrophic situations. WordPress offers several excellent backup plugins such as UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy that can facilitate automating the backup process. Optimize your website images Images take longer to load than text, causing a decrease in your page’s loading speed. During your website’s performance analysis, you may come across excessively large images. However, such images can go unnoticed in less popular pages. For instance, in a multi-author WordPress site, some of your authors may not pay as much attention to the size of their images as you do. Conducting a review of your media library can help you identify images that are too large and allow you to optimize them for better site performance. Check if your site is indexed To ensure users can easily find your website, it is important to have it indexed or listed in popular search engines like Google. One simple way to check whether your content has been indexed and is searchable is by entering “site:yoursite.com” in the search field on Google. For a more comprehensive analysis of your website’s search engine optimization, you can use web crawling tools to identify issues such as broken links and duplicate content that could negatively affect your website’s user experience and search engine rankings. Additionally, periodically searching for keywords related to your content on Google can help you assess your website’s visibility in search results. Conduct security checks regularly Scanning your WordPress site for malware is an important measure to avoid a security breach. Hackers can steal sensitive information from compromised websites and use them for malicious purposes, such as identity theft, extortion, and fraud. Fortunately, the free Sucuri WordPress plugin can assist you in performing critical security tasks such as, security activity auditing, blacklist monitoring, post-hack security actions, file integrity checks, and more. Fix broken links Broken links can negatively impact user experience and your website’s SEO ranking.There are various reasons why broken links happen, but the most common cause is when a page is deleted or relocated, resulting in a 404 not found error being displayed by the server. To address a broken link, the most effective solution is to redirect it to an alternative page. For instance, if the content of an article has been relocated to a new location, a redirect to the updated article will be necessary. We hope this article has provided you with valuable insights on essential WordPress maintenance tasks that you should conduct regularly to keep your website running smoothly. If you want to learn more about WordPress maintenance, call our experts today.
Lift the burden of manual tasks with automation
For your business to get the most out of workflow automation, it is important to understand exactly what it is, how it works, and the benefits it offers. In this blog, we will explore all of those things and show you how workflow automation can help your business run more smoothly and efficiently. Understanding workflow automation Workflow automation typically involves using software tools to automate a sequence of tasks or steps that need to be completed to achieve a specific business goal. Automation may entail something as simple as setting email notifications and reminders to using complex workflow management systems that integrate with other business applications and systems. Workflow automation can be used in a wide variety of industries and applications, including customer service, human resources, finance, and marketing, among others. The benefits of workflow automation for your business When leveraged to its full potential, workflow automation software can be an invaluable tool for your business. Streamline processes and boost productivity Workflow automation has revolutionized how people work together by enabling businesses to empower their teams to quickly move projects forward. Utilizing workflow automation provides employees with clear instructions regarding their roles, duties, and accountability. This helps to ensure that tasks are executed more accurately and efficiently. Furthermore, the efficiency brought by workflow automation tools gives employees more time to tackle higher-value assignments, which can lead to increased employee productivity while saving business resources. Limit costly errors Automation eliminates the need to manually input data and perform complex tasks, which can be prone to error. The result is higher-quality outputs delivered faster and more efficiently. Plus, you get to save on costs associated with rectifying errors. Reduce costs Businesses can enjoy higher cost savings with workflow automation. By streamlining manual processes into automated scripts, organizations can optimize their operations and manage resources better, and therefore reduce the costs associated with these. If you want to see how workflow automation can help improve your business, contact us today for a consultation. Our tech experts will help find the solution that’s right for you and make sure it gets implemented smoothly and seamlessly into your existing workflow processes.
The five types of hackers targeting SMBs
Small- or medium-sized business (SMB) owners may think they’re unimportant enough to be targeted by hackers. But the truth is that SMBs are prime targets for hackers since they see these organizations — which have less security and fewer resources compared to enterprises — as easy marks. Fortunately, knowing who these attackers are and what they do can help you better protect your business. Here are the five types of hackers who are most likely to target SMBs. Cybercriminals Cybercriminals use technology for malicious purposes, typically to steal important data or money from individuals and businesses. Cybercriminals often gain access to SMBs through phishing attacks, malware, ransomware, and social engineering tactics. Once inside the network, they can cause irreparable damage to their victim’s finances, data, and systems. Insiders An insider hacker, or malicious insider, is an individual or a group of people with authorized access to a company’s computer systems, either as employees or contractors. Insiders use their privileged status to gain unauthorized access to confidential data, networks, and other corporate assets. As such, they are a growing threat to companies, with the potential to expose sensitive information and disrupt operations. On the other hand, there are some insiders who do what they do in pursuit of what they see as justice. Edward Snowden is a prime example. He famously hacked his employer, the US government, to reveal confidential information about intelligence-gathering practices. Hacktivists Technology has given hacktivists the ability to promote their causes in sophisticated ways. By infiltrating computer systems and networks, hacktivists can anonymously access sensitive data that helps them pursue political agendas or as leverage over entities. While hacktivists usually go after governments and large corporations, they may also target SMBs that they feel aren’t aligned with their views or practices. Script kiddies A script kiddie is a slang term for someone who is not particularly tech-savvy but uses premade scripts found online to carry out malicious activities. Script kiddies often exploit SMBs’ security gaps for notoriety. Script kiddies may lack experience, but they are not to be underestimated. Even amateurs can create devastating pieces of malware, such as the ILOVEYOU worm, which is considered one of the most destructive computer viruses in history. State-sponsored hackers In state-sponsored hacking, government agents gain access to data or networks electronically. Governments do this for a variety of reasons such as to gather intelligence, interfere with political activities, force reform on a particular target, or even cause disruption. State-sponsored hackers are a serious threat to businesses of all sizes and types, with the potential capability to disrupt an entire country’s financial system or commodity supply lines. Tech companies and pharmaceuticals have long been prime targets for these cybercriminals; however, no industry is safe from their malicious actions. SMB owners must remain vigilant when it comes to guarding against devious state-based attacks. These hackers are always looking for new ways to wreak havoc on companies of all sizes. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Contact us today to discuss your security options and start taking steps toward protecting your business from cyberthreats.