Office 2019 is on its way
As a convenient cloud solution, Office 365 boasts nearly 30 million users. But that’s nothing compared to licensed versions of Microsoft’s productivity suite, which have more than one billion users. Office 2019 was announced in September and it will mean big changes for businesses that want simpler versions of Word, PowerPoint, Excel and more. Microsoft Office 2019: release and features For the past ten years, Microsoft has updated its suite of productivity software every three years. The current version is Office 2016, and in sticking with the schedule Office 2019 will be available for purchase at the end of next year. However, previews of the next version will become available several months before the final release. According to Microsoft, the newest version of Office will include: The usual Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) Office server programs (Exchange, SharePoint and Skype for Business) Security and IT management enhancements Improved “inking” features for touchscreen usability Streamlined data analysis features in Excel New PowerPoint presentation features like Morph and Zoom Office 2019 vs. Office 365 The biggest difference between Office 2019 and Office 365 will be price. For the former, users pay a one-time fee to acquire a software license. Once users have a license, they own that version of Office forever (although Microsoft will stop providing support 10 years after the product is released). With Office 365, users pay a monthly subscription fee and can use applications as long as they don’t fall behind on the bill. Programs included in the Office suite can be accessed online or installed locally (as long as you connect to the internet at least once per month). Thanks to cloud technology, Office 365 can be updated much more easily than other versions of Office. O365 users will probably have access to Office 2019 features around the same time as its release, possibly sooner. Much like an O365 subscription, our managed IT services are charged based on a flat monthly rate. We can help your small- or medium-sized business enjoy all the benefits of the cloud. Just give us a call today. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Microsoft Ignite 2017: What’s new
For Microsoft fans, the company’s biggest IT conference, Ignite 2017, has revealed many exciting updates, especially for teachers, students, and professionals. We’ve gathered information that’ll surely ignite your interest. Good news for schools and educators Microsoft recently rolled out Microsoft 365 for Education, which combines Office 365 for Education, Windows 10, Enterprise Mobility and Security, and even Minecraft: Education Edition — a game that teaches kids how to code. This new bundle will provide more advanced tools for learning, increase classroom communication capabilities, and improve security. Note that Office 365 for Education is already free and this will not change. However, the new Microsoft 365 for Education is equipped with more educational apps such as 3D and data virtualization tools, plus Microsoft Teams. While this makes it more tempting to use, all the goodies come with a cost — a per-user, per-month subscription. In terms of hardware, Microsoft’s Windows 10 S laptops, which are already aimed at school users, will come with free Minecraft Education, Office 365 for Education, and Microsoft Teams — all for a price starting as low as $189. What’s new for business people Microsoft is targeting “firstline workers” such as clerks and sales reps with a new enterprise plan called “Microsoft 365 F1.” This software bundle combines Office 365, Windows 10, Enterprise Mobility and Security, and Microsoft Staffhub to enhance employee productivity. The company also partners with hardware providers and has come up with Windows 10 S laptops for businesses. These ultra-slim laptops have enhanced security since they only run apps from the Window Store. But the glamor of it all is their wallet-friendly pricing. HP Stream 14 Pro, Acer Aspire 1, Acer Swift 1, and Lenovo V330 ranges from $275 to $349. The first model is available now, while the rest will be released later this year and in February for Lenovo. Goodbye Skype for Business Microsoft officially announced that it will phase out Skype for Business and focus instead on developing “Microsoft Teams,” a communication tool the company launched earlier to compete with Slack. This is not as dreadful as it may sound, since Skype and Teams share similar architecture, meaning we’ll probably get a better collaboration tool that still retains some of the Skype features we know and love. New software and gadgets are exciting, yet in reality, not everyone can rush out to buy a new product every time it comes out. A more practical way would be to make use of what you already have. And you can do so with the help of our IT staff; they’ll be more than happy to help you maximize the performance of your current Microsoft software and hardware, or deploy new solutions if you wish. Call us today! Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Re-secure your passwords!
In 2003, a manager at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) authored a document on password best practices for businesses, federal agencies, and academic institutions. Now retired, the author admits that his document was misguided. Find out why and what great passwords are made of. The problem The issue isn’t necessarily that NIST advised people to create passwords that are easy to crack, but it did steer people into creating lazy passwords, using capitalization, special characters, and numbers that are easy to predict, like “P@ssW0rd1.” This may seem secure, but in reality, these strings of characters and numbers could easily be compromised by hackers using common algorithms. To make matters worse, NIST also recommended that people change their passwords regularly, but did not define what it actually means to “change” them. Since people thought their passwords were already secure with special characters, most only added one number or symbol. NIST essentially forced everyone, including you and your colleagues, to use passwords that are hard for humans to remember but easy for computers to guess. The solution One cartoonist pointed out just how ridiculous NIST’s best practices were when he revealed that a password like “Tr0ub4dor&3” could be cracked in only three days while a password like “correcthorsebatterystaple” would take about 550 years. Simply put, passwords should be longer and include nonsensical phrases and English words that make it almost impossible for an automated system to make sense of. Even better, you should enforce the following security solutions within your company: Multi-factor Authentication – which only grants access after you have successfully presented several pieces of evidence Single Sign-On – which allows users to securely access multiple accounts with one set of credentials Account Monitoring Tools – which recognize suspicious activity and lock out hackers When it comes to security, ignorance is the biggest threat. If you’d like to learn about what else you can do to fortify security, just give us a call. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
macOS High Sierra gives away your password
A glaring security mistake has been discovered in Apple’s most recent desktop operating system. It’s not the sort of vulnerability that requires complicated malware or IT knowledge; anyone can learn this exploit in a matter of minutes to steal your password. Here’s how to stop that from happening. What is the bug? The vulnerability pertains to sweeping changes in how macOS stores files. In the High Sierra update, the Apple File System (APFS) was introduced to make opening and saving files much faster. As an added bonus, APFS also added advanced features like drive encryption. However, users who add a second encrypted APFS partition to their computer’s drive aren’t keeping their data safe from prying eyes. Let’s imagine you want to create a separate storage partition for your work files. The data contains sensitive information so you encrypt the drive and add a password. If in the course of setting the password you were to provide a password hint, High Sierra will display your password when anyone clicks Show Hint when accessing the drive. You can see how it’s done in this 45-second video. When anyone can retrieve your password in a matter of seconds, encryption becomes completely pointless. How to fix this vulnerability Sadly, the update for encrypted APFS drives requires much more than installing a patch. As such, we do not recommend trying to fix this issue without professional help if your encrypted partition has irreplaceable data. It is a complicated process and could result in data loss. Apple procedures for fixing the issue if you’ve already encrypted a drive include: Installing the most recent macOS update Backing up the encrypted drive “Unmounting” and erasing the original drive Creating a new encrypted APFS drive Entering a new password and password hint Restoring the backup from Step 2 to the updated partition Apple’s macOS is a great operating system. It is reliable, secure, and user friendly — but like any piece of software, it’s not perfect. Don’t make the mistake of assuming macOS is safe enough to protect your data without outside help. For help encrypting your drives or securing your Macs, call us today. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Simple tricks to boost your productivity
When you spend more than eight hours a day staring at a computer screen, it can be easy to lose focus on important tasks. While your device gives you access to some of the most useful applications, an ever-growing number of distractions are vying for your attention. Here are a few tricks for boosting your productivity levels. Monitor productivity levels Start by tracking how much work you complete on an average day. Google Chrome Extensions like RescueTime record your most frequently visited sites, and track how much time you spend away from your computer. Running the app will provide you with a productivity rating and a detailed log of how you spend an average day. If you find out you’re wasting a huge portion of your time on social networking, you’re more likely to make conscious adjustments on how you manage your time. Get rid of clutter Another way to increase output is by deleting old files, uninstalling unused programs, and organizing documents into appropriately labeled folders. This makes your work easier to find and improves your computer’s performance. As for the clutter in your email inbox, Gmail and Outlook both have features that filter out unimportant messages. Simply enable Priority Inbox on Gmail or Clutter on Outlook to get a clean, spam-free inbox. Block time-wasting sites Visiting non-work-related websites is a surefire way to hinder productivity. A quick, five-minute break to check your Facebook feed or watch a YouTube clip may not seem like much, but a few of those per day add up to a lot of time. If you and your employees have trouble staying away from sites like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, it’s a good idea to block access to them using URL filters. Of course, if you want your employees to take occasional breaks during the day, you could use apps like StayFocusd or Strict Workflow. These allow you to set a limit on how long and how many times users can visit non-work-related sites. Stay on track with to-do lists To-do lists help you break down large projects into manageable, bite-sized tasks. And perhaps the most satisfying aspect is crossing things off the list, giving you and your employees a sense of accomplishment and total visibility of your progress. There are wide variety of digital to-do lists available today like Google Tasks or Trello. These platforms allow you to set deadlines for small tasks and write clear instructions for each item on the list. What’s more, they’re incredibly easy to use and are great for keeping track of your workflow. Use keyboard shortcuts Last but not least, mastering keyboard shortcuts will make it easier to perform simple functions than if you’re stuck looking for them in the toolbar. There are more than a hundred useful shortcuts, but some that you should always keep in mind are: Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V, Ctrl + X – to copy, paste, and cut selected items Ctrl + Z – to undo changes Ctrl + T – to open a new tab on your web browser Alt + Tab – to switch between open windows Alt + F4 – to close the program For many more like these, take a look at Windows’ list of advanced shortcuts. These are just some of the tips every user should know to stay productive. If you need more ideas on how to get more out of your technology, call us today. We provide enterprise-level tools and advice that will make your life a lot easier. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Google enhances its website creation app
Google Sites, one of Google’s lesser-known applications, allows businesses to intra-company create websites in minutes. Previously, G Suite account owners used it to design websites using simple templates. But with new enhancements to Google Sites, users have even more design options and features. Simplified interface Previous editions of Google Sites had plenty of complex and unnecessary features, which overwhelmed some users. In the latest version, the interface is much easier to use, thanks to a single-column layout and no sidebar in the work area. It also has simplified navigation menu options (top or side menu) and page headers (plain banner, large banner, title-only) that display nicely on desktop and mobile devices. Easier content embedding The latest version makes it much easier to add links. When embedding external content, users have the option to show or hide the link’s featured image, link title, and description. In case a link doesn’t embed successfully, Sites will at least show the content’s URL. You can also conveniently add content from your Google Drive, whether it’s Docs, Videos, Forms, Slides, or Sheets. Visitors can preview this content while hovering their cursor over the link. And like the previous Google Sites, this feature is integrated with Google apps, Calendar, Maps, and YouTube. Simultaneous site creation If you’ve ever used Google Docs or Sheets, you know the convenience it offers when working on a single file. In the new version of Sites, multiple users can work on a single website project without having to deal with the complicated permission settings in the old version. This feature allows for easier collaboration and faster website completion times. More customizable sections It’s not a matter of if, but when you’re going to want to make changes to your website. For example, you might want to switch the position of certain images. Using Google Sites, you’ll be able to do this effortlessly. There are easy-to-follow grid lines that guide users in moving their site’s content sections up or down. It’s also easier to resize content frames so that a page’s elements (e.g., an image, a Sheets file) can be easily adjusted depending on your preferences. You can also make some changes on content images’ backgrounds either by adding an image or changing the background color to white, gray or black. What’s more, if you choose to implement the helpful auto-enhance feature, it will make quick adjustments to your backgrounds. The new Google Sites also introduces a significant improvement in its publish settings. Users now have to choose only either public or private. Previously, the app made users run through several options for setting access permissions on a page-level; now, an admin has to choose only between sharing the website publicly and sharing it internally. Needless to say, if you’re using G Suite, Google Sites should be in the list of tools. But regardless of which apps your company uses, there are plenty of little-known features out there that could help you work more efficiently and productively. Our technology consultants can help — call us today. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Here comes Firefox Quantum
Google Chrome wasn’t always the browser of choice for internet users. Before 2008, people turned to Safari, Opera, and even Internet Explorer. But all of that changed with the arrival of Firefox, the reigning champ of its time. And now, we think it deserves your attention once again. What is it? Firefox Quantum, AKA Firefox 57, is Mozilla’s newest and fastest web browser, a culmination of years of Mozilla engineer’s hard work if you will. What has changed? Most of the updates in Firefox Quantum comes from Mozilla’s experimental web browser layout engine called Servo. It has been the testing platform for all of Firefox’s new features, including a new programming language called Rust that Mozilla had developed. Rust is important because it allows Firefox Quantum to take full advantage of multiple CPU cores, a functionality that no previous versions of Firefox have. This gives the web browser a substantial speed boost. It also means that Firefox now uses 30% less RAM, possibly even less than Chrome. Apart from speed, Firefox Quantum comes with a simple, streamlined interface that can be customized based on your preferences. Mozilla has also made sure that the web browser’s display has clearer definitions on high-DPI screens and work better on laptops with touchscreens. Firefox Quantum still comes with Pocket, a feature which lets you save articles, videos, pages, and other files to an easily accessible folder. It also has screenshot functionality and a reading mode that hides anything other than the page’s contents to remove any distractions. All in all, Firefox Quantum seems to have tackled all the gripes that led many users to Chrome: speed and resource usage. The final version is scheduled to launch on November 14th, 2017. Until then, you can test its features in the current beta or developer release. And as always, if you have any questions or would love to know more about how the web might benefit your business, just give us a call. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Power considerations for computers
Considering that computers won’t be able to run without one, it’s a shame that power supply units (PSU) rarely get as much attention as RAM or graphics cards. When it’s time to install a new workstation, business owners do not fully understand all the variables that go into choosing the correct PSU, and often select a product that is inefficient and more expensive than what was expected. To avoid this, we’ve listed some power supply considerations. Higher isn’t always better Many users assume the higher the total wattage, the better the performance of the PSU. While enormous 1800W PSUs are useful for running multiple drives and graphics-intensive applications, they’re unnecessary and often cost you an arm and a leg. Most computers don’t run at full capacity all the time. In fact, if your computer has mid-level graphics cards, processors, and RAM, 600W is more than enough. To find out exactly how much you need, online PSU calculators will give you a rough estimate of your daily power consumption. Once you’ve calculated how much wattage you need, you’ll ideally want a PSU that has a slightly higher total wattage limit to provide some headroom in case you want to install additional components later. Pay attention to efficiency ratings Highly efficient PSUs tend to have more effective components, consume less energy, and produce less heat, which saves you from huge monthly energy and cooling bills. The best way to determine whether your PSU is efficient is to look for ones with “80 Plus” certifications. This certification means that a unit is at least 80% efficient, and loses approximately 20% as heat. Note that higher efficiency ratings equal higher prices, so be sure to weigh the potential energy and cooling savings against the upfront cost of the PSU. Consider larger PSUs Although they can be quite cumbersome, larger PSUs are more reliable than lightweight models. Large PSUs are equipped with more advanced internal components and better cooling management. Fans are larger too, which means they can move more air, make less noise, and keep your workstation cool. Choose your cables wisely When it comes to cabling, you have three options: hard-wired cabling, partially modular cabling, or fully modular cabling. Hard-wired cables are attached directly to the PSU box. While this setup is cheaper than the other two cabling options, the number of plugs are limited and not suited for customization. Fully modular cabling means all PSU cables are removable, making installation and cabling management easy. These PSU models, however, tend to be much more expensive than other types of cabling. Partially modular cabling takes the best of both worlds, providing necessary cables for the PSU while giving room for other components at a moderate price. Research the manufacturer Ideally, your PSU should be provided by a reliable manufacturer that offers reasonable warranties and comprehensive support. Most people tend to opt for Corsair, Seasonic, and Antec PSUs, but you should still take time to research the products. Look for customer reviews about the specific make and model of your PSU. If that’s not possible, get a hardware technician’s expert opinion. Choosing the right hardware can be extremely difficult, especially if you don’t have the technical know how. So if you need more guidance about all things related to hardware, call us today. We’re more than happy to answer any of your questions. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
How to create a Facebook ad that sells
Your products and services won’t sell, no matter how exceptional they are, if no one knows of their existence. That’s how advertising comes into play. Yet for a small business with a limited budget, an advertisement can cost big. But that’s no longer the case, thanks to the cost-effective online advertising platform hosted by Facebook. Why advertise on Facebook? Above all else, the cost-effectiveness of Facebook advertising sets it apart from other marketing channels. The starting cost is as low as 1$ per day, which is ideal for SMBs that want to test small campaigns before investing more. Beyond its affordability, Facebook advertising is also extremely effective. With 2 billion monthly active users and the ability to nail down your audience to the most specific details — including their interests and online behavior — it’s no surprise that Facebook advertising had the best return on investment compared with other social media platforms according to a survey of social media marketers worldwide. Before you get started As with other traditional marketing campaigns, before beginning a campaign, you need to determine your marketing objectives, audience, budget, and how you want your ads to look. Once you have the answers to all those questions, you’re ready to go. A step-by-step guide to creating a Facebook ad: 1. Choose your marketing objective From your your business’s profile page, click on “Create Ads” from the dropdown menu in the top right corner. Enter your campaign name and choose your “marketing objective,” which is what you want people to do when they see your ads. It could be increased brand awareness, lead generation, or store visits. You can pick only one from three categories. Set up your advert account by selecting your account country, currency, and time zone. 2. Nail down your audience You can tailor your audience based on locations, ages, genders, languages, their interests and behavior, and the kind of relationship they already have with your page, app, or website. It’s best to be as specific as possible when selecting your audience. Set up your budget and posting schedule Facebook allows you to set up a daily or a lifetime budget. The latter is the maximum amount you plan to spend for an entire ad campaign. Then choose the frequency or the start and end dates in which your ads will appear. Design how your ads will look You can choose how your ad posts will look like to your audience, such as whether they will appear as an image carousel, a single image, a video, a slideshow, or a “collection” (a new ad format designed especially for Facebook mobile). Note that your ad will consist of five parts: an image, a headline, a block of text, a link description, and a call to action button. Tips on designing facebook ads that grab people’s attention Your ads will appear in people’s newsfeeds, so make sure your content is interesting and succinct enough to grab their attention as they scroll past it. Each component of your ad — the image, headline, link description and call to action — must stand out when surrounded by vacation photos that rarely receive more than a few seconds of attention. Creating a Facebook ad is simple, yet the beauty of it is that Facebook also allows for more advanced targeted advertising if you know how to take advantage of what the platform has to offer. Talk to our specialists today; they’ll be happy to share a few pointers on how to help you achieve optimal results from your campaigns. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Better virtualization options on the way
The virtualization market is dominated by two vendors: Amazon Web Services and VMware. Both have the largest market share in their respective fields, the former in cloud-based solutions and the latter in on-premises virtualization. Now, those two platforms are compatible with each other. Virtualization review Traditional servers and desktops use computer hardware inefficiently. Their multitasking capabilities are limited and a lot of computing power is wasted on unnecessary tasks. Virtualization software alleviates these problems by splitting one physical server into smaller virtual machines so power is more evenly distributed. For example, if you need your server to handle both an in-house database and an online service, you might want to limit the resources it devotes to the in-house database so your customer-facing website never lacks capacity. Or, you might want to create 10 virtual desktops on your server so employees can access their work from cheap workstations with little more than an internet connection. On premises vs. the cloud There are countless ways you can use virtualization to make your IT more efficient, but only two options for implementing the infrastructure it is based on. You can either virtualize servers directly connected to your local network, or you can virtualize cloud-based servers that you connect to via the internet. VMware is the most popular choice for virtualizing on-premises servers. It requires a bigger upfront investment in hardware and IT maintenance than cloud-virtualized servers require, but gives you more control over how everything is set up and secured. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the most popular choice for cloud-based virtualization because it is simple and affordable. In the early days, moving from on-premises virtualization to the cloud meant rebuilding the entire setup from the ground up. Fortunately, AWS announced last year that VMware users would be able to essentially copy and paste their on-premises (virtualization) servers to the cloud. That upgrade finally became available to users in August 2017. Virtualized disaster recovery This new partnership is great news for VMware users. If your business has a local virtualized server, it can be configured to automatically move to the cloud when your office is damaged or without power. When handled properly, customers and remote employees can continue to access your servers without any interruption of service. So in addition to significantly reducing hardware expenses, virtualization improves business continuity. To get the most out of this technology in your office, give us a call today. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.