Steps you must take to use web browsers securely
Visiting unsecure sites and consequently getting your device infected with malware is not the only way you may be jeopardizing your business’s data when surfing the web. Among other things, you might also be letting adware and browser trackers run amok in your browsers. To protect your business, follow these steps. Install anti-malware software Browsers are now programmed to block web pages of most malicious sites, i.e., websites that deliver malware to your IT systems. However, even the most advanced browser can’t block every risky site, especially if a site is legitimate but has been turned into an unwitting mule for malware. Since malware infections via web browsing appear to be inevitable, you must install anti-malware software on every device you and your employees use for work. It’ll guard you against known viruses, worms, and other malicious software that are designed to steal your data and wreak havoc on your IT systems. Have everyone in your organization use a virtual private network (VPN) Hackers can pry into your internal channels and external communications with your customers and business partners to steal sensitive information, such as account login credentials and banking details. Fortunately, you can use a VPN to encrypt your internet traffic. A VPN will effectively bar any unauthorized party from reading any messages you and your staff send out and receive via a web browser or another medium. Install ad blockers While most online ads are benign, some contain widgets that send your data to third parties that can then send you more targeted ads based on the data gleaned about you. Clicking on some of these ads can bring you to malicious sites. Thankfully, you can use ad blockers to keep suspicious pop-up, rollover, and banner ads from showing up on your browsers. Stop online activity trackers If you don’t want a third party monitoring your surfing habits, use your browser’s private browsing mode, such as Private Browsing on Safari and Incognito on Chrome. Private browsing also protects you from malware and third-party cookies that track your online activities. You can also use browser extensions that stop social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, from tracking your online behavior and collecting other information about you. Such browser extensions include Privacy Badger and Ghostery. The simple act of browsing the internet has become fraught with peril. Do you have sufficient defenses to keep your data safe? And would you like a more comprehensive security system for your business? Our IT specialists can help you fight off cyberthreats. Let’s talk about your business requirements today. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Speed up your WordPress site by following these tips
Ten years ago, waiting five seconds for a website to load was perfectly acceptable. But today, people just don’t have the patience for pages that load for more than three seconds. Anything slower than that and they’ll click away, which then increases your bounce rate. If you want to speed up your WordPress site and reduce bounce rate, try the following tips. Keep WordPress and plugins up to date Updating your WordPress version and plugins will not only keep your website secure but also speed it up. Therefore, you should install those updates as soon as they become available. You can set WordPress to update automatically, or you can install updates manually. If you want to manage the updates yourself, install the Easy Updates Manager plugin to help you stay on top of all updates. Choose a website host wisely Your website’s host can make or break your website. So before you select one, carefully compare the details of their service plans — especially the website speed and uptime — against those of other vendors. While it may be tempting to opt for shared hosting because of its low cost, this setup offers the slowest speeds because websites are simultaneously relying on the same server for bandwidth. In contrast, having a dedicated server will provide the best speed, but it may be too costly for many small- and medium-sized businesses. A great mid-performance, mid-price alternative is a virtual private server (VPS). A VPS acts like a dedicated server in terms of functionality but still technically uses a shared server. It will speed up your site better than typical shared hosting without breaking the bank. Keep your site lean The leaner your site, the faster it will load. To create a lean site, be mindful of these four things: Theme – Having a theme with tons of features can set you back in terms of speed. This is because the huge amount of code that powers those features can bog down your site. Avoid this by testing different themes to see how long they take to load. If the loading time is more than three seconds, look for another theme that loads faster. Design – Some design elements can dramatically slow down your site. Simple sites load faster, so carefully consider the ads, images, and extra assets that you add to your website to avoid slow page loads. Plugins – Think twice before going overboard with plugins, as having fewer plugins translates to a faster site load time. Also, keep in mind that not all plugins are created equal; some run faster than others. To tell one from the other, use applets that show the impact a plugin has on your site’s load time. Images – While many raw images are around 3,000 to 4,000 pixels wide, most web pages resize them without compression to 600 to 800 pixels wide so they can fit on the screen. If you want faster web page load speeds, resize your site’s images to the exact size they’ll appear on the screen. This shaves some bytes off the image file size, so the images load more quickly. Leverage speed-boosting plugins Use plugins that speed up your site. Cache plugins like W3 Total Cache and WP Super Cache can provide more speed by caching your site on user browsers, thereby reducing download times. Another helpful plugin is Lazy Load. It boosts your site’s speed by loading the elements at the top of the website first, then loading subsequent elements as a visitor scrolls down the page. Most themes already include the Lazy Load plugin, so check your Theme Options to see if it’s already part of your code pack. Use redirects sparingly Web pages that point to other URLs can slow down your site, so make sure to avoid or limit redirections. To check for redirects that your website doesn’t need, you can use the Redirect mapper tool or similar alternatives. Implementing some or all of the tips above will surely improve your WordPress site’s speed. If you need more help in optimizing your website, or if you have other IT concerns, just give us a call. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Get more done with these Google Chrome extensions
Google Chrome is one of the most popular and widely used web browsers in the world. It’s already powerful on its own, but you can increase its functionality by installing extensions. With so many extensions available, choosing the best ones for your needs can be tricky. We’ve compiled a list of extensions to help you get the most out of your Chrome browser. Grammarly Grammarly is the perfect extension if you want to optimize your content and check your work for plagiarism. Whether you’re writing a social media post, email, or blog article, Grammarly will check your work for grammatical, spelling, punctuation, and fluency errors, and highlight sentences that need correction. If you want clean and clear content, make sure to get Grammarly. Price Basic: Free Premium: $12/month Business: $12.50/month LastPass The LastPass extension for Chrome stores and tracks your usernames and passwords, making it easier for you to log in to your accounts. It evaluates your current passwords, giving you better insight into the strength of your passwords and providing suggestions to create stronger ones. Other features include: Dark web monitoring tools Two-factor authentication Fingerprint login Mobile app unlock pin Trial Free: Premium access for 30 days Premium: 30 days Families: 30 days Teams: 14 days Business: 14 days Price Free: $0 Premium: $3/month Families: $4/month Teams: $4/month Business: $6/month Evernote Web Clipper If you’re researching for a project or want to revisit a page you previously viewed, Evernote Web Clipper is perfect for you. This extension lets you save PDFs, articles, and web pages to your Evernote account so you can view them later. You can save a full page, a simplified page (no formatting and images), a page with its original formatting, or simply bookmark a page with a click of a button. Evernote can also sync across devices, so you can save a page on the mobile app and open it later on your desktop. Price Free: $0 Personal: $130/month Professional: $162.90/month Teams: $600/user/month Adblock Plus If you’re concerned about online privacy and security, then Adblock Plus is the extension for you. It’s an open source application that uses filter lists to: Disable tracking for better privacy Block annoying video ads, banners, and pop-ups Detect malware hiding in ads . Adblock is completely free, but a donation pop-up will appear after installation. You can simply close it if you don’t want to donate. If you don’t have Google Chrome, you’ll be happy to know that these extensions work with any Chromium-based browser like Opera and Edge. If you want to learn more about Chrome extensions, call our experts today. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Here’s how SaaS can benefit your business
The IT sector relentlessly comes up with new business solutions that cut costs and increase efficiency. One such innovation is Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). In this post, you’ll learn more about what SaaS is — and why you shouldn’t miss out on it. What is SaaS, and what does Software-as-a-Service even mean? Just a few years ago, the main way for computer users to get software was to either buy a physical CD or download the software from the internet. The software needed to be installed in users’ machines, which meant that those machines had to have sufficient storage space and processing power for the software to work. Moreover, the license to use the software copy is usually limited to one machine. Therefore, the user had to buy another copy of the software if they wanted to install the software on another machine. In business settings, software delivery was streamlined so that on-premises (on-prem) servers held the software programs, and users accessed these programs via the company’s intranet. The user’s own device became a medium for entering input and displaying output, but most, if not all, of the processing was done by the on-prem servers. In this setup, economically priced license packages allowed a single software copy to be used by tens or hundreds of users at a time. Today, SaaS essentially allows users to go online, “borrow” the machines of a service provider, and use the software applications installed on those machines. Since the user only has to access the internet to access SaaS apps, they can use portable devices like laptops and smartphones and use the software wherever there is internet connectivity. This gives users more flexibility since they don’t have to go to the office to work. Should I stick to on-prem IT infrastructure or switch to SaaS? SaaS is an ideal solution for businesses that want to reduce upfront costs. With on-prem software, you first need to buy on-prem hardware, which you will then need to maintain. Next, you need to purchase a software license and pay yearly support fees, which can amount to 22% of the license fees (ouch!). With SaaS, you don’t need to buy your own servers to host the actual software. Moreover, you pay only a monthly or annual subscription fee that covers licenses, support, and other fees. This lets you spread out costs, which is more manageable than buying expensive lifetime licenses and paying huge maintenance bills annually. How flexible is SaaS? Will it be able to fulfill the particular needs of my business? Traditional on-prem solutions used to have two advantages over SaaS: the former granted more functionality and allowed full customization. However, SaaS vendors now continually introduce more and more features that users ask for. Moreover, businesses can often integrate SaaS apps with other apps to suit their needs. That is, if one app is missing a particular feature, it can be integrated with another app that has that needed feature. How safe will my data be? Organizations often cite data security concerns as reasons for not adopting SaaS. Will the company’s data be safe? Who will own such data? What if the SaaS vendor’s business goes kaput? These are all valid concerns. But you should know that the average SaaS vendor invests more in cybersecurity, backup tech, and maintenance than the typical small- or medium-sized business. This is the vendor’s line of business, and they can’t afford to lose their clients’ trust. Moreover, they’re subjected to strict security audits, especially those that are covered by data regulations like HIPAA. Additionally, when your organization takes on a SaaS vendor, both parties sign a service level agreement (SLA). This SLA has clauses specifying who owns the data inputted into a program and the output produced by the program, and the vendor’s obligation to grant you access to your data even if they suffer economic setbacks or business failures. For more information on SaaS, send us a message today. We’ll help you determine if utilizing SaaS is best for your business. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
5 Tips to prevent cloud solutions from breaking the bank
The cloud is a great way for small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) like yours to save on IT costs. However, not all business owners are aware of the hidden costs associated with using cloud technologies. In this blog post, we will discuss five cost-saving tips that will help you leverage cloud services without breaking the bank. No standalones Cloud services come in various forms, including standalone platforms with rates that increase over time. If you’re looking to save on costs, it’s best to choose a cloud service provider that offers a suite of products that all work together. This option is often less expensive than investing in several standalone products. Another benefit of working with a cloud provider is that you’ll have a single point of contact to quickly and effectively resolve any issues that you may experience. Partner with experienced cloud providers Make sure to hire a trusted and experienced integration consultant to help facilitate a smooth transition. This is essential as integration mishaps can cause serious downtime and also cost a lot of money. Define and prioritize backups Unnecessary or inefficient backups waste cloud storage space. Review your cloud storage data by asking yourself the following questions: How many versions of this data do I need to store long term? The more versions I store, the more it will cost me. What regulatory demands do I need to meet? Some data may need to be accessible for up to three years, while other data can be deleted after 30 days. How quickly do I need to access my backups? If it can wait for a day or two, I can archive data to a less expensive service or offline at the provider’s data center. Regulate users It’s common practice for cloud service providers to charge per user. If you neglect to regularly manage the list of users, you may end up paying for people who are no longer part of your organization. It’s ideal to schedule a regular audit of users and implement processes that remove them when they leave the company to ensure your cloud user list is always up to date. Monitor proactively Ask your cloud provider whether they can proactively monitor your account and notify you of potential issues before these escalate into major problems. This is especially important if you have a pay-as-you-go license that charges based on resource or storage consumption. Utilizing the right technology resources is vital to your business’s success, and so is knowing how to prevent such resources from racking up an overwhelming monthly bill. Give us a call if you wish to enjoy all the benefits of cloud computing without going over your budget. We’ll be happy to help. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
5 Handy tips for optimizing website images
Did you know that images not only make your website more attractive and engaging to customers, but they’re also important for your site’s SEO? If optimized correctly, images can improve your site’s page loading speed and search engine ranking. Here are some tips for optimizing website images. What is image optimization? Image optimization is the process of delivering images in the correct size, format, resolution, and dimension without compromising their quality. The goal is to improve the loading speed of websites to give visitors a better browsing experience. How to optimize website images Here are helpful tips for optimizing the images on your website. 1. Choose the correct file format Digital images come in various formats, but the three most commonly used types for websites are: JPEGs – JPEGs are the most widely used format for website images because they have an enormous color palette that’s ideal for showing off images with complex patterns, gradients, shadows, and colors. PNGs – PNGs support a wider range of colors compared to JPEGS, making them ideal for images with more complex designs. PNGs are also the only format that can support transparent backgrounds perfect for logos and vector images. The only drawback is that PNG files are larger than JPEGs, which can make page loading times longer. GIFs – GIFs are hugely popular as animated memes on social media sites but are hardly used for static images on most websites because of the limited colors — only 256 — they support. Therefore, they are the best option for small images that require only a few colors. 2. Name your images properly It’s important to use relevant keywords when naming your website images because search engines like Google not only crawl the text on your website but also crawl image file names. Using keyword-rich and descriptive image file names will allow search engines to provide more accurate results to customers looking for a particular product or service. For example, if your website is selling used cars, naming an image Red-Ford-Mustang-LX-2012.jpg will get more search results compared to a generic file name like used-car.jpg or DCIMIMAGE001.jpg. 3. Use alt tags Alt tags are texts that appear in place of a website image that fails to load on a user’s screen. These tags allow screen-reading tools to describe website pictures to visually impaired visitors. In addition, alt tags help search engines crawl and rank your site better. Most of the time, alt tags are almost similar to image file names. 4. Resize your images Using the wrong image size on your site can negatively impact loading times. For example, featured images in WordPress are usually 1200 x 628 pixels. Images larger than 1200 x 628 pixels will decrease the loading speed of your site. This can lead to high abandonment rates. 5. Compress your images Image compression is the process of reducing an image’s file size without compromising its quality. This allows you to use more images on your site. The smaller image file size also helps in reducing the time needed to download or send an image over the internet. Image optimization is a vital part of building a successful website. If you want to learn more about optimizing website images, give our experts a call today. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
What is the best cloud computing service model for your business?
When it comes to cloud computing, there are three main ways providers deliver services to end users: Software-as-a-Service, Platform-as-a-Service, and Infrastructure-as-a-Service. Each model has its own benefits and drawbacks, so it’s important to choose the one that would give your business the most value. In this blog post, we will discuss the different types of cloud computing service models and help you decide which one fits your business needs the best. 1. Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) SaaS is one of the most common and well known cloud service delivery models. Unlike software that you install on your computer, SaaS solutions are hosted on a provider’s servers. That is, when you open a mobile or web browser app, the device merely sends inputs to a data center. The data center then processes the inputs and sends the outputs back to your device. Minimal to no processing is done on your device itself. And for as long as you have an internet connection, you can access the software from any device, at any time. With SaaS, your provider is responsible for software maintenance and updates. They’ll make sure to roll out updates once these become available so that all users have the same version of a particular software at the same time. This means you don’t have to spend time and effort manually managing software and checking for updates, which can lead you to save on related costs. For improved efficiency and productivity, SaaS software solutions typically include document creation suites, accounting software, email services, HR solutions, content management tools, customer relationship management systems, and more. In a nutshell, SaaS is: Ready to use and available over the internet Hosted on a remote server by a third-party provider Scalable, with different tiers for small, medium, and enterprise-level businesses Inclusive, offering security, compliance, and maintenance as part of the cost 2. Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) PaaS is primarily used by developers who need a virtual environment for developing and testing their own custom software or apps. This means developers don’t need to build and maintain their own infrastructure consisting of networking devices, storage, servers, an operating system, and other necessary hardware and software when developing applications. This saves them time and money. Aside from helping businesses improve the quality of their products, PaaS enables businesses to shorten their product development cycles, leading to faster time to market for new products. Most companies that utilize PaaS do so to either host or develop their own software solutions or provide support for software used by their employees. But while PaaS is gaining popularity with many small businesses, most won’t have firsthand interactions with this type of cloud unless they need to build their own software or app. In general, PaaS solutions are: Accessible to multiple users for enhanced collaboration Scalable, with various tiers of resources to suit the size of your business Built on virtualization technology Easy to run without extensive system administration knowledge 3. Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) IaaS is considered one of the most flexible cloud models, as it gives the most ideal options when it comes to IT hardware infrastructure. IaaS offers services such as pay-as-you-go storage, networking, and virtualization. The most popular and well-known type of IaaS is the virtual machine — a digital version of a computer or server that is accessed over the internet. IaaS gives you cloud-based alternatives to expensive on-premises infrastructure, so you can use your funds to invest in other things. In other words, if you are looking to virtualize your systems via the cloud, IaaS is a good place to start, as it allows you to easily move existing support systems. Other solutions can then be migrated or introduced as needed. IaaS is: Highly flexible and scalable Accessible by multiple users Cost-effective While the cloud offers a wide variety of benefits and solutions, choosing the service model that best fits your company’s needs can be daunting. Get in touch with us today and we’ll help you find the best solution for your business and ensure proper migration and implementation so you can focus on running your business. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Which is the most secure web browser?
Enterprise cybersecurity is a holistic process that involves implementing efficient security practices at every level of use. This includes selecting a secure web browser that has the following features: Tor Browser Tor is the browser of choice when it comes to online anonymity and privacy. Endorsed by former computer intelligence consultant Edward Snowden, Tor is built with a unique connection method called onion routing. This method protects users from browser fingerprinting and keeps them anonymous regardless of what site they visit. Tor’s encryption is so good that it’s the only browser capable of accessing the dark web. Brave Developed by JavaScript creator Brendan Eich, Brave comes with Brave Shield, which automatically blocks ad trackers. Additionally, the browser doesn’t auto-collect and sell user data, allowing users to keep their information safe and private from third parties and malicious entities. Mozilla Firefox Unlike browsers like Safari and Google Chrome, Firefox is open source, which means cybersecurity experts can review its source code for any potential vulnerabilities. Firefox is updated regularly and comes with various security options that let users configure different levels of protection, such as: Anti-fingerprinting Improved tracking protection Data breach notifications 256-bit encryption Epic Epic browser was developed with built-in safeguards against third-party widgets, cryptocurrency mining scripts, cookies, and ad tracking scripts. It connects to the internet using an encrypted proxy server to hide a user’s browsing activity and IP address. Epic is also designed to block calls that carry the risk of leaking your IP address, even if you’re using a virtual private network (VPN). Lastly, this browser comes with a feature that allows users to see who’s tracking them and what trackers have been blocked. The key to protecting your online data and browsing the internet safely is a secure browser. As to what constitutes as the “best” secure browser depends largely on the needs of your organization. Call us now if you want to learn more about secure browsers as well as other security solutions you can implement to keep your data safe. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
WordPress website maintenance: 6 Most essential tasks
Maintaining your WordPress website is not as hard as it seems — just follow this simple maintenance checklist we’ve prepared for you. We’ve outlined six essential tasks that you should perform regularly to keep your WordPress site running smoothly. Create complete backups of your website One of the most important things you can do to protect your website is to back it up periodically. This will allow you to restore your site if something goes wrong, such as a hacker attack or server crash. There are several ways to create backups, including using plugins or manually copying your files and database. But while plugins like BackUpWordPress and hosting servers like SiteGround automate the backup process, performing manual backups may still be necessary to cover all your bases. Verify your backups Just because you have backups doesn’t mean they’re doing their job. You should test your backups regularly to make sure they are working properly. This can be done by restoring a backup to a test site or simply downloading the files and checking them to make sure they are complete. The last thing you need is for your backups to fail on the day you need them most. Perform daily security scans One of the best ways to stay ahead of potential security threats is to monitor your website closely for any signs of compromise. A good way to do this is to perform daily security scans, which will help you track any changes or suspicious activity. There are a number of different tools and services that can help you with this, and one of the most popular ones is Sucuri. Not only does this plugin carry out inspections, but it also sends an SMS to notify you of any suspicious activity and emails you a daily status report of your website’s security. Scan for malware Cyberthreats are growing in both number and sophistication. With every passing day, new strains of malware are developed and released onto business networks and systems. Unless you are a bonafide hacker yourself, detecting malware might be a little tricky. WordPress plugins like Wordfence keep your website safe using the latest firewall rules and flagging the latest malware signatures and malicious IP addresses. Conduct page speed audits Slow and steady may be qualities valued by some, but not when it comes to your website. Plugins like Google Pagespeed Insights test how fast your site loads. If it takes more than five seconds, you should consider implementing caching and other measures to speed up your site. Slow sites put off visitors, and that further lowers those sites’ search rankings. Review your site’s structure and content Just as you should periodically review your website’s security, you should also take a look at its overall structure and content. Are the pages well organized and easy to navigate? Is the content relevant and up to date? If not, you may want to consider making some changes. Forbes, National Geographic, and The New York Times are all powered by WordPress, which means you are in good company. By sticking to the checklist, you too can harness the power of this online, open-source website creation tool. Or, instead of signing up for half a dozen services that need daily check-ins, why not have us take care of all of it for you? If you have further questions, don’t hesitate to send us an email or give us a call! Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
The advantages of a hybrid cloud setup
Each of the original types of cloud infrastructure — public and private — comes with their own sets of pros and cons. Fortunately for resource-strapped small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), they don’t need to conduct trial and error to see which one is best for them — they can simply reach a happy medium with the hybrid cloud. Hybrid clouds are a combination of private and public clouds. In private clouds, data and applications that require tighter controls are hosted either internally or privately on an off-site facility. Meanwhile, public clouds are managed externally by third-party providers with the express purpose of streamlining a company’s IT infrastructure. Benefits of a hybrid cloud setup Here are three significant advantages of hybrid cloud environments. Adaptability Having the ability to choose between internally or privately hosted cloud servers and public ones lets you pair the right IT solution with the right job. For example, you can use the private cloud to store sensitive files while utilizing more robust computing resources from the public cloud to run resource-intensive applications. Cost efficiency and scalability Does your business struggle to meet seasonal demands? With a hybrid cloud solution, you’ll be able to easily handle spikes in demand by migrating workloads from insufficient on-premises servers to scalable, pay-as-you-go cloud servers whenever needed, without incurring extra hardware and maintenance costs. So if there are last-minute computing demands that your hardware can’t support, or if you’re planning for future expansion, you can easily scale capacity up or down with a hybrid cloud solution. Security Last but not least are the security advantages of a hybrid cloud solution. You can host sensitive data such as eCommerce data or an HR platform within the private cloud, where it will be protected by your security systems and kept under close watch. Meanwhile, routine forms and documents can be stored in the public cloud and protected by a trusted third party. How to set up a hybrid cloud The following are the different ways to set up a hybrid cloud model based on your SMB’s requirements and the providers available to you: Employ one specialized cloud provider who offers comprehensive hybrid solutions. Integrate the services of a private cloud provider with those of another public cloud provider. Host a private cloud yourself and then incorporate a public cloud service into your infrastructure. Our experts can help you transition to a hybrid cloud solution without interruption and huge costs. Contact us today to learn more about the business benefits of a hybrid cloud. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.