Why UPS is necessary for network equipment
Fire, flood, storm, and other disasters can lead to power failure and productivity loss. Using uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for computers ensures you never lose unsaved work, but without internet, you’re practically crippled. To avoid that dilemma, we highly recommend using UPSs for your networking equipment, including cable modems, wireless access points, and routers. UPS for network equipment UPS systems provide backup power in case of outages and protect against power surges, which don’t just damage computers but also make you lose unsaved work. Deploying them for Wi-Fi routers and modems allows you to stay connected to the internet in what is typically a chaotic time. Moreover, it makes sense to not just keep your PCs powered up, but to also have internet access during a disaster. This strategy works relatively well if your staff are predominantly laptop users, as that means you only need to juice up your Wi-Fi gear. Better than generators Although generators are indispensable for certain businesses, they also require greater upkeep. Small- and mid-sized businesses may not have enough capacity to maintain them because they typically require a utility crew who can manage high-maintenance equipment. What’s more, extreme mishaps when misused or mishandled could result in generator-related fatalities. On the other hand, misusing a UPS unit could result in the loss of a day’s work, but it’s unlikely to lead to anything as extreme. Why internet access is important during a disaster UPS-supported modems or routers help you stay online for as much as 90 minutes, which should be enough time to get your bearings before power finally runs out. Internet service providers are usually prepared for catastrophes and would normally have an emergency power source to stay operational. And if you can stay online via Wi-Fi during an emergency, you get the following benefits: Internet speed that’s faster than cellular access No extra telecom costs resulting from overreliance on cellular data All devices stay online using a stable Wi-Fi connection Devices don’t have to rely on cellular data-equipped phones for internet connection Plug in your network gear now Businesses that aren’t located in disaster-prone areas probably don’t give much thought to installing UPSs for their computers, let alone their modems. But accidents and emergencies are inevitable. And when they happen, you’ll find that having internet access is one of the most important things you need to ensure business continuity. Think of an emergency power supply source like a UPS as an investment that not just protects your systems from data loss but also keeps your Wi-Fi equipment functioning in emergency scenarios. Call us today for productivity-saving tips and other hardware hacks for your business. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
How to move files from Android to computer
There’s a lot of good things to say about how-to articles. They’re simple, practical, and if we follow instructions correctly, they can give us a sense of accomplishment. From basic life skills such as learning how to change a lightbulb or how to fry an egg to more technical topics like learning how to write JavaScript or how to perfect a soufflé, there’s always someone out there who is going to need a how-to article on something. If you’re that somebody today wondering how to transfer your files from your Android phone to your computer, here is how you do it: What you need: Your Android phone A computer with a USB port A USB cable What you need to do: If you have a Windows computer… Start by plugging your phone into the computer via USB port. Turn on your phone’s screen and unlock the device. At this point, your Android device should only be connected for charging. Swipe down from the top of your screen and tap on USB for charging to view more options. Select Transfer files in the menu that appears. On your computer, search for your Android device on the File Explorer. Click on the icon that represents your phone and you should be directed to your phone’s internal storage. Drag and drop the files or folders into your preferred location, such as the desktop or documents. If you want to save videos and pictures, you can find them in the DCIM folder. Once you are done, right-click your device’s name. Click Eject before unplugging the phone and USB cable. If you have a Mac… If you’re using a Mac desktop or laptop, the first thing you need to do is to download Android File Transfer, an official Google app that works on Macs running on OS X 10.5 or later. Afterwards, the process is pretty similar to how it’s done on Android, and you can easily transfer files even without an internet connection. Download and install Android File Transfer on your computer. Plug your device into your Mac USB port with the USB cable. Unlock your phone and swipe down on your screen. Tap on USB for charging to view more options. Select Transfer Files. The application should run automatically on your Mac. You can also open the Mac Finder or Spotlight Search and look for the Android File Transfer on the list of programs. Double click the Android drive icon. Browse the files and folders on your Android device and transfer files to your computer. Once you are done, open the Finder sidebar and find your device under Devices. Click on Eject and unplug the phone and USB cable. You can also go to the desktop and drag your device to the Trash. And voilà! — you’ve just learned an essential Android skill. Keeping a copy of personal or business data you care about is a task that should not be overlooked, since your valuable information can be wiped out in a matter of seconds due to human error, natural calamity, or unexpected downtime. Securing a backup of files in your mobile device may be easy peasy, but how do you make all important data in your business devices and computers disaster-proof? Our team can offer regular backup solutions to ensure that your business will be able to weather the storm when it strikes. Call us today to discuss backup options available to your business. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Virtualization vendors fix processor flaws
Everyone has been trying to make sense of recently discovered vulnerabilities that affect almost every computer in use today. All you really need to know about the Spectre and Meltdown bugs is that they make it very easy to spy on private information stored on a computer. But if you’re using virtual desktops or servers, you’re probably safe. What are the risks of an unpatched computer? Regardless of whether you are using a computer with all its hardware sitting on your desk, or you’re connected to a virtual computer drawing most of its computing resources coming from a cloud server, you’ll be using something called a central processing unit (CPU). As unbelievably efficient pieces of technology, CPUs have been programed to recognize patterns. When a CPU recognizes a pattern, it stores everything it needs to complete that task in a temporary place. If the pattern changes, the information is thrown out. Spectre and Meltdown allow hackers to not only view trashed patterns, but also to trick a CPU into thinking a specific pattern has changed and should be dumped into this vulnerable storage. In worst case scenarios, this could affect credit card information, passwords, and personally identifiable information. And even though a virtual desktop or server is created with software that partitions hardware resources on a large computer into several smaller, standalone computers — Spectre and Meltdown flaws are still present. How are they fixed? Because these are hardware-level vulnerabilities, the only way to truly fix them is by replacing the CPUs. But because there aren’t any processors currently available without the Spectre and Meltdown flaws, software patches are the only option. Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, and Google have all installed updates that essentially tell CPUs to stop recognizing patterns to store data ahead of time. However, predictive functions significantly increased the computing speeds of modern computers, meaning turning them off will slow down computer performance. Virtualization is more cost effective than ever This all sounds terrible, but it’s actually a huge selling point for virtual desktops and servers. First, it proves that big-name cloud platforms can push out urgent security updates to thousands upon thousands of clients in a relatively quick fashion. Those using “traditional” computers (remember, the ones with all the hardware sitting on your desk), need to apply these patches one-by-one, on-site. Second, most virtualization platforms charge on a pay-for-what-you-use model. So, you’re not paying for hardware and its flaws, you’re paying for the actual work that is finished on your web-accessible computer. Spectre and Meltdown will continue to affect the computing world for several months to come. However, businesses that use virtualization technology will not be hit nearly as hard. There’s no better time to make the switch than now — give us a call today. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Take Google Search to the next level
Google has become so popular that its name is actually a verb in the dictionary. Despite people using Google every day, many don’t know that the search engine’s simple-looking interface is chock full of features that’ll help you find information faster. Include and exclude keywords Google will understand most of the search terms you type into it. However, at times the search engine will match only some of the words you typed, showing limited results. To avoid this, just point out which keywords are the most important by adding a plus symbol (+) in front of words you would like Google to include in the search results. And if the results you’re looking for get pushed off the page by similar yet irrelevant articles, adding a minus symbol (-) in front of keywords you don’t want to see will avoid them popping up in the first place. For example, “+cloud services -hybrid cloud” will provide search results about different cloud services while excluding results related to hybrid cloud. Additionally, searching a phrase within double quotation marks guarantees to retrieve results that include only the exact phrase that matches your query. Do a website search Ever need to look for information from a specific website? Instead of visiting that website and sifting through different pages, Google makes it a breeze by allowing you to add “site:url” to the end of your search query. For example, if you want to find what Forbes has written about security, simply head to Google’s homepage and type “security site:www.forbes.com.” This makes sure Google includes only pages from Forbes that are about security in your search results. You can also limit search results to university and government websites by adding “site:.edu” or “site:.gov” to your search query. Combining this with the keyword manipulation trick above will narrow your search even more. Search by time period Google has been indexing the web for decades in order to add web pages into its database. Because of that, it could be quite time-consuming sifting through countless search results to find an old website or page, or even recent stories, too. Time period search minimizes this headache by allowing you to specify a date range so you can find recent stories or archived news faster. Just run a search like you normally would. Then click on Tools under the search box and hit the Any time drop-down menu. From there, you can choose the time period parameter, such as past month or past week, or fill in an exact time period. Use Google to locate files While Google mainly focuses on indexing web pages, it also indexes publicly available files like PDFs and spreadsheets. To look for them, just type in “filetype:” after your search query. For example, typing “report filetype:pdf” will provide PDFs with “report” in the title. Advance your search Advanced Search can be accessed by clicking Settings from the toolbar located under the search box. This gives you more ways to refine your searches, such as by region or language. By default, search results are prioritized based on your location, so you should adjust that according to the topics you’re searching for. While these tips might not be the most exciting thing from the tech giant, they sure help businesses save time and work smarter instead of harder. And in today’s fast-paced business environment, little things like these make a huge difference. If you have questions about how to use Google products to streamline your daily routine and increase productivity, just give us a call. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
How will AI impact internet telephony?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) brings to mind robots that can perform tasks and think like human beings. While that’s certainly possible in the future, AI today is simply an intuitive set of technology that automates business processes. It’s been around for decades, and now it’s poised to make significant improvements to VoIP technology. Contact Center Operations Thanks to highly automated VoIP technology, businesses can manage their call centers easily. It also reduces the need for human interaction without sacrificing service quality. So how else can AI help? AI-integrated VoIP systems can add back that human element to call routing by determining a caller’s personality, mood, and other characteristics so calls are routed to the agent best equipped to handle them. This makes call-center operations more seamless and cost-efficient because it reduces the need to deploy agents with specialized skills. Interactive Voice Response (IVR) Systems An IVR system is an extremely useful tool for businesses that get a high volume of calls. Not only does it save them from having to deploy staff to address queries, it also saves customers time. AI enhances this feature by working in the background, gathering all relevant customer data such as personal information and recent transactions to resolve a query. The AI ‘worker’ then sends this information to the business representative, who will be much better able to serve the customer. It’s easy to see how this feature would lead to an increase in customer satisfaction. Conferencing Capabilities Internet telephony makes multi-location communication possible, which is indispensable to most organizations. Web conferencing has improved over the years, with internet speeds and telecom technology constantly improving. AI advances it even further with real-time language translation and speech recognition technology, which greatly benefits businesses with multiple geographic locations and whose stakeholders come from diverse backgrounds. Chatbot Functions Chatbots are intuitive entities that receive instructions via textual or auditory means to perform automated tasks. They’re not to be confused with applications aimed to make processes easier. Apps differ greatly from chatbots in that they aren’t designed to simulate human interactions and they don’t have an ‘identity.’ Like IVR systems, bots are used by businesses to automate customer interactions. AI-powered chatbots go beyond regular bot duties by performing more complex tasks like setting up meetings, inviting attendees, managing schedules, and much more. With AI-powered systems promising improvements in contact center operations, customers’ IVR experiences, web conferencing, and scheduling, businesses are understandably eager to adopt them. There’s so much more that VoIP systems can do for your business, and we’ve got the expertise to handle all your VoIP-related concerns. Call us today. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Beware Of Apps Bundled With Your Windows 10
Have you recently purchased new laptops or computers? Don’t get too excited. A new report proves that pre-installed software such as free trials and web browser toolbars can pose high-security risks. So if you want to maximize your new investment, here are some things you might want to know: Tavis Ormandy, a researcher from Google’s Project Zero, recently discovered that a compromised password management app, Keeper, had been installed with some versions of Windows 10. For a brief period, Keeper’s browser extension, when enabled, allowed websites to easily steal login credentials. Users became exposed only if they have activated the plugin during Keeper’s setup process, or manually activated it in their browser. In response to Ormandy’s report, the Keeper team released a new version that fixes the security vulnerability, therefore addressing the issue once the software is up to date. Although the issue was patched in a week, thousands of these third-party applications are added to laptops every day. This incident again highlights just how cautious individuals and businesses need to be in finding security vulnerabilities when purchasing computer hardware. Why unwanted bloatware needs to go Computer manufacturers make money installing third-party software along with Windows to laptops and PCs. Vendors pay to have their bloatware — such as trial versions of antivirus programs, video games, and browser toolbars — installed on new computers in hopes that people will purchase the full programs. In reality, bloatware slows down your computer, takes up disk space, and sometimes puts you at risk. Thankfully, Microsoft has included an easy way to get rid of bloatware in Windows 10. Click the start menu, then the gear icon in the bottom right In the settings window, select Update & Security On the left-hand side, click Recovery Select ‘Learn how to start fresh with a clean installation of Windows’ and follow the instructions. Bloatware not only clutters your PCs and laptops, but it can leave your business vulnerable to compromise as well. Don’t make this security mistake; learn more about protecting your computers from bloatware, and save yourself from tons of headaches down the line. Call our team of IT experts today! Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Office 365 Update: New Tools You Need To Know
Yet again, Microsoft has released new AI-based features for Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and more — a continuing trend since 2016’s launch of the Microsoft AI and Research Group. If your business is subscribed to Office 365, this article will acquaint you with the newest features! Automatically Uncover Trends in Excel Data Finding useful information lurking in massive tables of jumbled numbers and data can be quite a headache. Not with Insights Preview! This feature uses machine learning to analyze Excel data, highlight patterns, and create visualizations to make information easier to locate and digest. Search Text Within Images Thanks to Office 365’s Intelligent Search feature, any printed words in images uploaded to SharePoint and OneDrive are now automatically detected, extracted, and made searchable. This makes it possible to find screenshots, receipts, and business cards based on the text they contain. Understand Company Jargon with Acronyms Microsoft Word’s new Acronyms feature will help users understand workplace-specific acronyms. This feature uses machine learning to analyze your employees’ vernacular and automatically create a useful glossary of terms. Improve collaboration with the Whiteboard Preview App This real-time digital canvas makes interactions between team members easier, whether they’re working on a conference room screen or across different devices and locations. The app is equipped with freehand drawing tools, geometry recognition, data illustration tools, and more to improve both business and creative projects. As Microsoft gears itself toward making AI accessible to every user and organization, we are excited to see more smart features rolling out in Office 365 products in the near future. But how can these upgrades transform your business? Can it save time and cut costs? There’s no better way to understand these updates than to chat with our team of IT professionals. Give us a call to learn more or to set up the new Office 365 in your workplace today! Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Think before saving logins to your browser
There are a number of reasons you should be wary of saving your password to a digital platform. Just look at Yahoo’s data breach in 2013, which leaked passwords for three billion people. Even when your password isn’t compromised, saving it to a browser could have serious implications for your privacy. Why auto-fill passwords are so dangerous In 2015, the average internet user had 90 online accounts, a number that has undoubtedly grown since then. This has forced users to create dozens of passwords, sometimes because they want to practice healthy security habits and other times because the platforms they’re using have different password requirements. Web browsers and password manager applications addressed this account overload by allowing usernames and passwords to be automatically entered into a web form, eliminating the need for users to hunt down the right credentials before logging in. The process of tricking a browser or password manager into giving up this saved information is incredibly simple. All it takes is an invisible form placed on a compromised webpage to collect users’ login information without them knowing. Using auto-fill to track users Stealing passwords with this strategy has been a tug-of-war between hackers and security professionals for over a decade. However, it has recently come to light that digital marketers are also using this tactic to track users. Two groups, AdThink and OnAudience, have been placing these invisible login forms on websites as a way to track which sites users visit. These marketers made no attempts to steal passwords, but security professionals said it wouldn’t have been hard to accomplish. AdThink and OnAudience simply tracked people based on the usernames in hidden auto-fill forms and sold that information to advertisers. One simple security tip for today Turn off auto-fill in your web browser. It’s quick, easy, and will go to great lengths to improve your account security. If you use Chrome – Open the Settings window, click Advanced, and select the appropriate settings under Manage Passwords If you use Firefox – Open the Options window, click Privacy, and under the History heading select “Firefox will: Use custom settings for history.” In the new window, disable “Remember search and form history.” If you use Safari – Open the Preferences window, select the Auto-fill tab, and turn off all the features related to usernames and passwords. This is just one small thing you can do to keep your accounts and the information they contain safe. For managed, 24×7 cybersecurity assistance that goes far beyond protecting your privacy, call us today. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
5 social media trends of 2018
To say that social media is a small part of our lives is an understatement. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat are now integrated into our lives like never before. But what’s next? Can social media’s involvement go any further? These upcoming trends certainly point toward it. Read on to learn more. The boom of Augmented Reality The launch of the new iPhones — both 8 and X — last September brought with it an under-the-radar change to the devices. The incorporation of a new chip provides iPhone users with extraordinary augmented reality (AR) experiences. While most conversations about AR focus on the mobile gaming experience, social media platforms will likely find a way to integrate the new technology as well. Influencer marketing Influencer marketing has proven to be the best way forward for companies to connect with younger audiences. Titanic companies such as The North Face, HubSpot and Rolex are great examples of companies which have profited heavily from social media-based influencer marketing. By contrast, companies that opted for traditional strategies struggled to connect to social media users, indicating that influencer marketing is here to stay and blossom in 2018. All eyes on Gen Z The oldest Gen Z-er is 22 years old and is only just heading into the labor market, meaning they’re going to start spending more money for sometime to come. Brands recognize this, and are aiming to shift their social media strategies to appease the newest customers on the market. Investment in platforms like Snapchat and Instagram is expected to grow exponentially this year. The growing importance of messaging platforms A recent study pointed out that over 2.5 billion people use messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Kik to connect with companies. Rather than simply publishing marketing content to profiles and feeds, companies should focus on making it easier for customers to start one-on-one conversations. Therefore, it is more than likely that artificial intelligence, voice assistants and chatbots will all be integrated into messaging platforms for a more personalized user experience. Digital hangouts go mainstream In 2017, video content — including live broadcasts and chats platforms — was more prominent than ever, and live videos were definitely a successful part of it. This means digitally hanging out with friends and colleagues will become a social norm, as evidenced by the video hangout platform known as Houseparty, which boasts of over one million daily users. With Gen Z-ers becoming a larger part of the buying marketing, companies will utilize social media platforms to their fullest by incorporating a wide variety of targeted methods to capture their attention. These methods involve technologies that were unimaginable only a few years ago, such as virtual reality and augmented reality. Moreover, investments in optimizing messaging platforms and influencer marketing also signals the start of a newer, more interconnected era between businesses and customers. Social media marketing is the future. Get in touch with our experts for advice on how you can make 2018 your year. Call today. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Huge Apple developments in 2018
Apple is most famous for releasing a new iPhone every year, but that’s not all users should be excited about. Many experts predict that in the coming year the tech powerhouse will introduce some incredible new products. Here are some of the most exciting announcement Apple could make in 2018. Three new iPhones Just like every year, Apple will likely launch new iPhone models in September. Reports suggest there will be three iPhone models in 2018, and since Apple disrupted naming conventions by introducing iPhone X, it’s anyone’s guess what these models will be called. However, experts predict the new iPhones will look like the current X model, but in sizes that match the 8, 8 Plus, and a supersized X model. They’ll all be equipped with faster hardware and a TrueDepth camera system that allows users to protect their phones with facial recognition. HomePod One device that’s certain to be released early in the year is the HomePod, a smart speaker in the same vein as Google Home and Amazon Echo. The Siri-powered speaker will likely feature automatic tuning, a fast A8 processor, and a six-microphone array to easily pick up commands. Other than playing music, HomePods will answer general questions and communicate with nearby smart devices. Considering that Amazon and Google currently dominate the smart speaker market, Apple has its work cut out. AirPods and wireless charging There’s also talk of updated versions of AirPods, Apple’s wireless headphones. Rumors are far from substantiated, but experts are saying that the headphones may receive a design change and a case that can charge them wirelessly. Speaking of wireless charging, more Apple devices will likely rely on this technology in the future. In September 2017, Apple unveiled a wireless charging pad that can charge multiple iPhones and Apple Watches. This year, we might get to see larger devices like iPads taking advantage of this technology. Wearables in healthcare Those in healthcare predict Apple Watches will become a key piece of technology for the industry. More health-monitoring addons for Apple Watches like EKG readers are now FDA-approved, so we may see more doctors using them to give accurate diagnoses and treatments. Augmented reality devices Over the past few months, Apple has also expressed an interest in researching augmented reality (AR) technologies. In fact, leaks from manufacturing facilities indicate that Apple is working on smart glasses that overlay digital information on the physical world. Although it’s still unclear what they will be using it for or if Apple will follow through with their plans, there are plenty of business possibilities with AR. For instance, it can be used to display line-of-sight prices and details about a product without having to check the price tag or ask a salesperson. All in all, Apple users have much to be excited about, and if you want to be the first to find out when or if these products will be released in 2018, call us today. Our experts are always tuned into the latest Apple developments to give you an edge over the competition. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.