The holiday shopping season is taking off. This means that scammers have also revved up their engines. They’re primed and ready to take advantage of all those online transactions. Don’t forget to stay safe online during the buying frenzy that occurs this time of year. An ounce of cybersecurity prevention is definitely worth a pound…

Digital footprints cover today’s modern workplace. Employees begin making these the moment they’re hired. They get a company email address and application logins. They may even update their LinkedIn page to connect to your company. When an employee leaves a company, there is a process that needs to happen. This is the process of “decoupling”…

One of the most difficult types of attacks to detect are those performed by insiders. An “insider” would be anyone that has legitimate access to your company network and data. This would be via a login or other authorized connection. Because insiders have authorized system access, they bypass certain security defenses. Such as those designed…

Data entry can be a real drag for salespeople. The time they spend on administrative tasks is time away from customer interactions. But that data is vital. It’s important to capture customer orders, quotes, needs, and more. Lead and sales reporting help sales managers know where to direct their attention. Analytics also help drive more…

Endpoints make up much of a company’s network and IT infrastructure. This is a collection of computers, mobile devices, servers, and smart gadgets. As well as other IoT devices that all connect to the company network. The number of endpoints a company has will vary by business size. Companies with less than 50 employees have…

Microsoft 365 is the most popular of all major office productivity software. It has 48.8% of the global market share, just edging out Google’s apps, by a couple of percentage points. It’s used by individuals, small & mid-sized businesses, and larger enterprise organizations. It does everything a modern office needs. Including from word processing and…

When you hear about Microsoft adding security apps to M365, it’s often the business versions. But the pandemic has changed the way that we see the workplace. It’s now a hybrid world. One made up of several connected “mini-offices” located in employee homes. The outsourcing market has also contributed to the change in company networks.…

Software vulnerabilities are an unfortunate part of working with technology. A developer puts out a software release with millions of lines of code. Then, hackers look for loopholes that allow them to breach a system through that code. The developer issues a patch to fix the vulnerability. But it’s not long before a new feature…

Just five or six years ago, VoIP was still considered a “different” type of business phone system. One that wasn’t the norm. But the pandemic changed that way of thinking. Now internet-based phone systems aren’t simply the norm. They’re mandatory for business continuity. During the pandemic, VoIP and video conferencing have skyrocketed by over 210%.…

Data services are silos of software functions that attribute data characteristics to raw data that is saved in data storage volumes. Data services add value and layers of abstraction to data by enhancing its availability, validity, and resiliency and adding characteristics such as metadata that is not already present in the data. The data is…

The pandemic has been a reality that companies around the world have shared. It required major changes in how they operate. No longer, did the status quo of having everyone work in the office make sense for everyone. Many organizations had to quickly evolve to working through remote means. During the worst of the pandemic,…

Phishing. It seems you can’t read an article on cybersecurity without it coming up. That’s because phishing is still the number one delivery vehicle for cyberattacks. A cybercriminal may want to steal employee login credentials. Or wish to launch a ransomware attack for a payout. Or possibly plant spyware to steal sensitive info. Sending a…

After being the main entry to the internet in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Internet Explorer (IE) is gone. As of June 15, 2022, Microsoft dropped the web browser from support. IE ushered in the age of connection to the world in 1995 and held a majority of the browser market share for many…

Productivity can be challenging to track, no matter where employees are working. How do you know they’re using their tools as effectively as possible? How can you enable them to adopt best practices? These are questions that managers often ask themselves. If they’re looking at the wrong things, it can get in the way of…

Have you felt more secure from cyberattacks because you have a smaller business? Maybe you thought that you couldn’t possibly have anything that a hacker could want? Didn’t think they even knew about your small business. Well, a new report by cybersecurity firm Barracuda Networks debunks this myth. Their report analyzed millions of emails across…

Software vulnerabilities are an unfortunate part of working with technology. A developer puts out a software release with millions of lines of code. Then, hackers look for loopholes that allow them to breach a system through that code. The developer issues a patch to fix the vulnerability. But it’s not long before a new feature…

Few things invoke instant panic like missing your smartphone or laptop. These devices hold a good part of our lives. This includes files, personal financials, apps, passwords, pictures, videos, and so much more. The information they hold is more personal than even that which is in your wallet. It’s because of all your digital footprints.…

One constant about technology is that it changes rapidly. Tools that were once staples, like Internet Explorer and Adobe Flash, age out. New tools replace those that are obsolete.  Discontinued technology may have your company computers and networks vulnerable to attacks. While older technology may still run fine on your systems that doesn’t mean that…

Cloud file storage revolutionized the way we handle documents. No more having to email files back and forth. No more wondering which person in the office has the most recent copy of a document. Between 2015 and 2022, the percentage of worldwide corporate data stored in the cloud doubled. It went from 30% to 60%.…

Many small businesses make the mistake of skipping policies. They feel that things don’t need to be so formal. They’ll just tell staff what’s expected when it comes up and think that’s good enough. But this way of thinking can cause issues for small and mid-sized business owners. Employees aren’t mind readers. Things that you…

How many text messages from companies do you receive today as compared to about two years ago? If you’re like many people, it’s quite a few more. This is because retailers have begun bypassing bloated email inboxes. They are urging consumers to sign up for SMS alerts for shipment tracking and sale notices. The medical…

“Hybrid office” is the new buzzword you’ll hear used in business discussions. It’s the mix of having employees both working at the office and working from home. This has become more than a buzzword and is now the reality for many companies. There was a survey of employees with remote-capable jobs. The survey found that…

There is a reason why phishing is usually at the top of the list for security awareness training. For the last decade or two, it has been the main delivery method for all types of attacks. Ransomware, credential theft, database breaches, and more launch via a phishing email. Why has phishing remained such a large…

Configure Xerox Standard Accounting Log into printer as admin Go to Permissions – Accounting Method Select Xerox Standard Accounting Only Track Color Copies and Prints Add User Log into printer as admin Go to Permissions – User Accounts Click Add Enter username/pin code (example: 1234) Click Add Configure accounting code on PC Install Xerox Smart…

The number of internet-connected devices in homes has been growing. It’s increased exponentially over the last decade. A typical home now has 10.37 devices connected to the internet. PCs and mobile devices make up a little over half of those and the rest are IoT devices. IoT stands for Internet of Things. It means any…

While many companies have moved most of their workflows to the cloud, there is still a key component of office operations that is location-based. This would be employee computers. Most companies still rely on desktops and laptops to allow employees to access critical software and as their main workstation. This can become inconvenient if you’re…

Most of us have experienced clicking around to find the window we actually need in a layer of different applications. This is one of the things that eats up time during the day and that using dual screens can help eliminate. According to a study by software developer Mavenlink, 73% of surveyed businesses say they…

Approximately 34% of businesses take a week or longer to regain access to their data and systems once hit with a malware attack. Malware is an umbrella term that encompasses many different types of malicious code. It can include: Viruses Ransomware Spyware Trojans Adware Key loggers And more The longer that malware sits on your…

How will multi-factor authentication protect your business? Keep reading. Hackers are relentless. Credential theft is now at an all-time high and is responsible for more data breaches than any other type of attack. With data and business processes now largely cloud-based, a user’s password is the quickest and easiest way to conduct many different types…

Our internet browser is one of the most important applications that we can choose. When on a computer or a mobile device, we work in that most of the time because many applications are now cloud-based, so accessing them means going through your browser. Over the years browsers have come and gone. A little over…

Smartphones and tablets are often the preferred device for communications, web searching, and accessing many types of apps. Read on to see how to protect your cell from hackers and malware. We’re seeing the takeover of many activities that used to be performed on traditional computers. Now, people are using mobile devices instead. For example,…

One area of cloud computing that is used widely, but often isn’t as flashy as the software side is cloud storage. Storing files in the cloud to make them easily accessible and shareable from anywhere was one of the very first uses of the cloud that was adopted widely by many users. As advances like…

Phishing is the number one go-to method of attack, ranging from ransomware to identity theft. We are very aware of it coming by email, but other types of phishing have been growing rapidly. In recent years, phishing over social media has skyrocketed by 500%. There has also been a 100% increase in fraudulent social media…

Purchasing a new computer is a big investment. Many small businesses and home PC owners end up struggling with older systems because they want to get as many years out of them as possible. Have you found yourself banging on your keyboard in frustration? Have you tried every tip and trick you found online, only…

The shift to remote work over the last two years has caused companies to realign their digital tools. Now, many meetings default to being via video conference rather than in person, and working from home has become commonplace. Seventy-seven percent of remote workers say they’re more productive working from home (a big reason is fewer…

Stolen credentials on the Dark Web will go for between $30 to $80 each. The rise in reliance on cloud services has caused a big increase in breached cloud accounts. Compromised login credentials are now the #1 cause of data breaches globally, according to IBM Security’s latest Cost of a Data Breach Report. Having either…

Did you know that something as simple as organizing your business is crucial to success? The truth is that dealing with messy files and folders is of no help to you or your colleagues and clients. Instead, it keeps you unproductive and negatively impacts your business in so many ways. Fortunately, Google Drive can be…

These days, many businesses use virtualized infrastructure for more straightforward data storage. It’s because this approach is superior to physical solutions due to enhanced flexibility, straightforward provisioning, and affordable pricing.  However, this model also requires a comprehensive approach to security.  There’s a much greater risk of data loss, as many tools and practices for physical…

Your printer is probably the last piece of computer equipment you thought needed protection, however, cybercriminals can hack your printer! Attackers actively try to locate the weakest links in security to gain access to and exploit valuable data. And among the weakest links is the printer. The thing with printers nowadays is that they have…

So, what can your business learn from the devasting cyberattacks on supply chains? A lot! Below, we’ve listed some preventative steps that you might want to take to mitigate your businesses risk in case your supplier is targeted. Some recent high-profile examples of supply chain attacks include: Colonial Pipeline: A ransomware attack caused this major…

The global damage of cybercrime has risen to an average of $11 million USD per minute, which is a cost of $190,000 each second. 60% of small and mid-sized companies that have a data breach end up closing their doors within six months because they can’t afford the costs. The costs of falling victim to…

Over 2.4 million searches happen every minute on Google. Learning how to use the secret side of a Google search will make you a search pro in no time. We search daily for both personal and work needs, and often searching out the right information can take a lot of time if you have to…

What kind of communication system are you using for your business? Many modern-day businesses have now switched to the Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP). This technology allows employees to perform voice calls using only their internet connection.  It’s often a wise choice considering that using VoIP comes with several benefits to a business. Among its…

Providing high-quality communication channels is crucial for any company. After all, it promotes cross-department collaboration and faster exchange of ideas. Since phones often don’t suffice for this, many business owners turn to unified communications. But what exactly is unified communication? This article explains just that. Read on to discover the main concepts of this approach…

Note-taking. This is an essential part of day-to-day operations for many business owners, managers, and teams. After all, people can’t rely on their memory alone to recall everything that gets talked about each day. Especially when concerning important matters. When it comes to note-taking, traditional methods such as pen and paper are effective but take…

Many people struggle to finish the tasks. No matter how long they’ve been in the business, productivity seems to evade them daily. And this probably happens to you, too, even if you’re an experienced business owner. Your to-do list is never-ending… but you can’t focus when you try to get down to work. You try…

Plotting on with business as usual is easy when nothing out of the ordinary is happening. But the fact is, crises can strike anytime. And when it happens, being prepared to pivot operations quickly, safely, and efficiently is paramount. That’s where a well-thought-out business continuity plan comes into effect.  It prepares you for the worst,…

Microsoft has made great strides since the introduction of Internet Explorer. The company now offers Microsoft Edge, a refined version that arguably provides the best web experience for business users.  Unlike the old Internet Explorer, this browser now relies on Google’s Chromium engine to provide faster loading, better compatibility, and enhanced support. Plus, Microsoft releases…

Cybercriminals might be the biggest threat facing your company. Besides gaining access to your money and accounts, they can also take over critical software, preventing you from collaborating with clients.  Any organization can fall victim to hacking. However, small and medium businesses are particularly at risk.  Why? Too often, their owners don’t always address cybersecurity…

Microsoft recently introduced Windows 11 as the company’s latest operating system. And compared to Windows 10, this OS has various features that can increase your productivity and provide a better user experience. As soon as you start using Windows 11, you’ll see a vast improvement over its predecessors. For example, it has refined several household…

Microsoft 365 is one of the best collaboration and productivity tools around. It provides users with scalability, seamless communication, and supports remote work with various features. The security is also solid due to a wide array of defense mechanisms.  But this doesn’t mean you’re impervious to cyberattacks.  Data leakage, unauthorized access, and malware can still…

Google Chrome is one the most popular browsers on the planet. It’s best known for allowing faster loading of websites, optimized performance, and an intuitive interface. As a result, it can help your team complete their daily duties much faster.  However, it raises the same concern as other browsers – ample room for distractions.  Your…

Numerous organizations rely on servers for various IT functions, such as applications, emails, hosting websites, and data storage.  Although many companies have turned to cloud-based services using remote data centers, many enterprises still depend on in-house servers. As such, they need to ensure their devices remain in tip-top condition. This is where server management comes…

Microsoft Word is one of the most popular office programs in the world. It allows millions of people to complete their duties more efficiently.  Whether you’re a beginner or advanced user, you can use the software to create many different documents. The list includes business letters, resumes, flyers, marketing newsletters, labels, plans, employee reports, and…

Time spent on trying to figure out the technology you use in your business can be costly. While doing that, you can’t focus on your business needs, which can then result in poor customer satisfaction.  This is where IT providers come into play.  They enable you to outsource hardware and computing-related services, such as managed…

Taking your cybersecurity seriously is a must. Otherwise, you leave the door wide open for criminals to compromise your business’s privacy and cause legal troubles.  Now, you might think that cybercriminals only target large companies due to more resources. But this is not the case.  Whether you’re a small or medium-sized organization, you have a…

Technological breakthroughs have streamlined your operations in several ways. Primarily, you can now use mobile devices to make your communication and data sharing more convenient. But this technological advancement also means that information on your team members’ mobile devices is no longer limited to just phone numbers and contacts. They now contain much more significant…

Your operations may seem robust and failproof, but the reality is that obstacles can happen at any time. Whether you’ve lost a major client or can’t achieve good team dynamics, it’s essential to keep going.  Here’s where your business continuity plan (BCP) comes into play.  Your BCP outlines how your company will continue its operations…

Your store, whether brick-and-mortar or online, looks great. And your product or service may have struck a chord with the target audience. So, you might think there’s not much more you can do to optimize your business. But you’re forgetting a crucial aspect – online reputation management.  This is essential for many reasons.  Primarily, most…