Whether you sell shoes or run an accounting firm, you need some type of technology to operate. Today’s companies aren’t just in the business of selling their own goods and services anymore. They also must master various types of digital tools. These include software, payment systems, computers, Wi-Fi networks, mobile devices, and more. Companies also need to protect their devices …
How Is the Metaverse Going to Change Business?
The new buzzword around town is “metaverse.” But what does that actually mean for businesses? Is it just something that social media companies need to be concerned about? According to people like Apple’s CEO Tim Cook, the metaverse is coming. He stated that “Life without AR will soon be unthinkable.” Whether that’s a short-term or long-off prediction, companies need to …
What Are the Most Helpful VoIP Features for Small Businesses?
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%. This is largely due to …
Everything You Need to Know About Microsoft Viva Sales
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 efficient ways of closing the …
Lead Your Business More Effectively by Implementing Unified Communications
Unified communications are a go-to solution for business owners looking to streamline their businesses and increase employee productivity in the long term. See how it benefits your business. 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 …
10 Tips to Help Small Businesses Get Ready for the Unexpected
What would you do if your business suffered a ransomware attack tomorrow? Do you have a contingency plan in case of a tornado, hurricane, or earthquake? The unexpected can happen anytime, and small businesses can get hit particularly hard. Small businesses are the backbone of many economies. They are critical for job creation, innovation, and community development. But running a …
7 Apps That Can Help You Improve Customer Experience in 2023
Paying attention to your customer experience directly impacts your bottom line. Companies that are “customer-centric” are 60% more profitable than those that aren’t. In this digital age, customers also expect more from those they do business with. In today’s world, people can order something on their phones and see it on their doorstep the next day. Keeping up with expectations …
The Critical Importance of Virtualized Infrastructure Security (And 4 Ways to Enhance It)
A torn-down virtual infrastructure creates risks for any business. And it can have a significant impact on how quickly you can retrieve your data and resume operations following an attack. 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. …
Why Having a Continuity Plan Is a Sign of Great Leadership (And How to Create a Foolproof Plan)
Your business faces all sorts of threats that can disrupt your operations. A comprehensive continuity plan can help address them. Carrying 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, you need to be ready to pivot your operations quickly, safely, and …
Helpful Tips for Keeping Your Shared Cloud Storage Organized
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%. A majority of organizations use …
What is Zero-Click Malware? How Do You Fight It?
In today’s digital landscape, cybersecurity threats continue to evolve. They pose significant risks to individuals and organizations alike. One such threat gaining prominence is zero-click malware. This insidious form of malware requires no user interaction. It can silently compromise devices and networks. One example of this type of attack happened due to a missed call. That’s right, the victim didn’t …
Top 7 Cybersecurity Risks of Remote Work & How to Address Them
Remote work has become increasingly popular in recent times. It provides flexibility and convenience for employees. Additionally, telecommuting reduces office costs for employers. Many also cite productivity benefits due to fewer distractions. Research shows a 56% reduction in unproductive time when working at home vs. the office. But there are some drawbacks to working outside the office. It’s crucial to …
7 Advantages of Adopting a Defense-in-Depth Cybersecurity Strategy
Cybersecurity threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated and prevalent. In 2022, ransomware attacks jumped by 93%. The introduction of ChatGPT will only increase the potential damage of cyber-attacks. Protecting sensitive data and systems requires a comprehensive approach. One that goes beyond a single security solution. This is where a defense-in-depth cybersecurity strategy comes into play. In this article, we will explore …
Is Your Online Shopping App Invading Your Privacy?
Online shopping has become a common activity for many people. It’s convenient, easy, and allows us to buy items from the comfort of our homes. But with the rise of online shopping, there are concerns about privacy and security. Not all shopping apps are created equally. Often people get excited and install an app without checking privacy practices. Apps can …
How to Use Threat Modeling to Reduce Your Cybersecurity Risk
View PostBusiness Email Compromise Jumped 81% Last Year! Learn How to Fight It
In recent years, electronic mail (email for short) has become an essential part of our daily lives. Many people use it for various purposes, including business transactions. With the increasing dependence on digital technology, cybercrime has grown. A significant cyber threat facing businesses today is Business Email Compromise (BEC). Why is it important to pay particular attention to BEC attacks? …
9 NSA Best Practices for Securing Your Home Network
In today’s world, technology is ubiquitous, and connectivity is a must. Securing your home network has become more critical than ever. A secure home network is essential for protecting your personal data from hackers. From phishing to smishing (SMS phishing), it’s getting harder to avoid a breach. Individuals often have fewer safeguards in place at home than at work. Yet …
What Is Push-Bombing & How Can You Prevent It?
Cloud account takeover has become a major problem for organizations. Think about how much work your company does that requires a username and password. Employees end up having to log into many different systems or cloud apps. Hackers use various methods to get those login credentials. The goal is to gain access to business data as a user. As well …
Is It Time to Ditch the Passwords for More Secure Passkeys?
Passwords are the most used method of authentication, but they are also one of the weakest. Passwords are often easy to guess or steal. Also, many people use the same password across several accounts. This makes them vulnerable to cyber-attacks. The sheer volume of passwords that people need to remember is large. This leads to habits that make it easier …
7 Smart Ways to Secure Your Wireless Printer & Keep Your Home Network Safe
Many people worry about someone hacking their computer. But they’re not really thinking about their wireless printer getting breached. It’s a tool that most individuals use sporadically. For example, when you want to print out tax forms or mailing labels. Printers tend to be out of sight, out of mind. That is until you need to print something and run …
Handling Technology Safely During a Home or Office Move
Moving can be a chaotic and stressful time. Especially when it comes to handling your valuable technology. Whether you’re relocating your home or office, it’s essential to take extra care. Both with fragile items and when packing and moving your devices and other tech items. To help you navigate this process smoothly, we’ve put together a handy checklist. Use this …
Do You Still Believe in These Common Tech Myths?
In today’s digital age, technology plays a significant role in our lives. But along with the rapid advancements and innovations, several myths have persisted. Is it okay to leave your smartphone charging overnight? Do Macs get viruses? And what about those 5G towers? What’s going on with those? Common tech myths can often lead to misunderstandings. They can even hinder …
8 Tech Checks to Make Before You Travel
Our technology inevitably comes with us when we travel. Most of us won’t even travel to the end of the block without our smartphones. When you go on a trip, not having your technology there when you need it can ruin your day. Travel smarter and more securely by doing several checks before you go. Use our handy tech travel …
7 VoIP Setup Tips for a More Productive Office
The global pandemic put a big emphasis on the need to run a business from anywhere. Enabling employees to work remotely requires cloud solutions. This includes collaborative platforms like Google Workspace and Microsoft 365. VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone systems have also become critical. VoIP allows companies to stay in contact with customers and potential customers. Employees can work …
What to Include in a Year-end Technology Infrastructure Review
When the year is coming to a close, it’s the perfect time to plan for the future. Most businesses begin the year with the hope of growing and improving operations. Much of how a business operates depends on technology. So, it makes sense to look to your IT for areas of optimization. A year-end technology review provides an opportunity to …
Tips for Overcoming Barriers to a Smooth BYOD Program
Bring your own device (BYOD) is a concept that took hold after the invention of the smartphone. When phones got smarter, software developers began creating apps for those phones. Over time, mobile device use has overtaken desktop use at work. According to Microsoft, mobile devices make up about 60% of the endpoints in a company network. They also handle about …
7 Things to Consider When Getting a New Computer to Avoid Buyer’s Remorse
Have you ever bought a new computer and then had buyer’s remorse a few months later? Maybe you didn’t pay attention to the storage capacity and ran out of space. Or you may have glossed over memory and experienced constant freeze-ups. An investment in a new PC isn’t something you want to do lightly. Doing your research ahead of time …
Checklist for Better Digital Offboarding of Employees
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” the employee from the company’s …
6 Important IT Policies Any Size Company Should Implement
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 think are obvious, might not …
6 Discontinued Technology Tools You Should Not Be Using Any Longer
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 can leave computers and networks vulnerable to attacks. While older technology may still run fine on your systems that doesn’t mean that it’s okay to use. One of the …
Have You Tried Microsoft Universal Print? (Learn What It Can Do for You)
In today’s digital workplace, printing remains an essential function. This is true for just about all businesses. But keeping up with your print infrastructure can be a time-consuming task. One printer down can mean work comes to a standstill. Another issue is keeping up with all those printer drivers. If firmware updates aren’t done, vulnerabilities exist. One unprotected printer can …
Learn How Microsoft 365 Copilot Is Going to Transform M365 Apps
Advanced AI is a new buzzword in cloud computing. The launch of tools like ChatGPT and Bard have made big waves. Developers are now racing to introduce the next level of features to apps. Features that do part of your work for you. Such as writing emails or making follow-up checklists based on contact data. These AI-based applications do much …
How to Create Insightful Dashboards in Microsoft Power BI
Data visualization is a powerful tool for communicating complex data. It presents it in a simple, easily understandable format. But it is not enough to simply create a graph or chart and call it a day. To truly make use of information, it is important to create insightful reports. Reports that effectively communicate the story behind the data. Insightful reports …
How to Use the New Virtual Appointments in Microsoft Teams
Scheduling appointments is a common activity. Salespeople often set up virtual appointments to answer questions about a product. Software companies allow people to schedule live demos. Telehealth therapists allow clients to book video sessions. Those are just a few examples of some groups that are going to love a new Microsoft Teams feature. Virtual Appointments was recently added to the …
Windows 8.1 Just Lost All Support. Here’s What You Need to Know
Companies both large and small share this one cybersecurity problem. They have computers that are still running older operating systems. Staff might use these devices only occasionally. Or the company may be running customized software that won’t run on newer OS versions. The problem is that when the OS becomes outdated, the system is open to cyberattacks. When Microsoft or …
Microsoft Forms: One of the Handiest Freebies in Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 is one of the most popular cloud platforms in the world, with about 345 million paid seats. Microsoft cloud tools numbers were up 32% in Q3 2022 compared to the previous year. One of the reasons for its continued growth is the suite of cloud tools offered in the service. Users get a stable of over 20 different …
Cool Windows 11 Features That May Make You Love This OS
Microsoft released the Windows 11 operating system (OS) over a year ago. It was largely well-received as stable and user-friendly. The OS is not a large departure from the Windows 10 experience. But it does offer a lot of enhancements over the older environment. Yet with several improvements and a free upgrade for Windows 10 users, it still lags in …
7 Most Exciting App Announcements at Microsoft Ignite 2022
If you follow Microsoft products, then you may know about Microsoft Ignite. Held annually, it generates many exciting updates and announcements in the Microsoft world. Microsoft held its most recent conference last October. In the rush of the recent holidays, you may have missed some of the highlights. So, we’re bringing them to you now. One thing you’ll notice is …
Align Your Team to Company Targets with Microsoft Viva Goals
You often hear the words “digital transformation” and “collaboration.” But what do they actually mean? What do they mean for the day-to-day of running your business? Collaboration can’t happen without shared goals. When departments are siloed and unconnected, priorities can conflict. People are doing their best but may not be moving in the same direction. Digital transformation is simply the …
Simple Setup Checklist for Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is a lot of things. It’s a video conferencing tool, a team messaging channel, and a tool for in-app co-authoring, just to name a few. During the pandemic, the popularity of Teams skyrocketed. User numbers for MS Teams jumped from 20 million in November 2019 to 75 million in April 2020. As of this year, Microsoft reports a …
Best Ways to Use ChatGPT at Your Business (Without Things Getting Out of Hand)
It’s hard to turn around online these days without running into ChatGPT. Both Bing and Google are levering this advanced artificial intelligence language model. And you can expect it to show up in more business and personal tools that you use every day. ChatGPT has revolutionized the way businesses interact with their customers. It has also affected how they get …
Check Out the Coolest Tech from CES 2023
At the beginning of each year, a group of global innovators meets. They introduce and show off breakthrough technologies. It’s done at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which is typically held each January in the U.S. This year, over 3,200 exhibitors from 173 countries showed off the future. Giving us a glimpse of what could show up in our homes …
7 Customer-Facing Technologies to Give You an Advantage
Customers look for convenience. In today’s world that means technology that makes their life easier. From webforms to POS systems, you need to keep the customer experience in mind in all you do. When people aren’t happy with their experience interacting with a company, they leave. And their experience might not have anything to do with your products or services. …
How Is the Metaverse Going to Change Business?
The new buzzword around town is “metaverse.” But what does that actually mean for businesses? Is it just something that social media companies need to be concerned about? According to people like Apple’s CEO Tim Cook, the metaverse is coming. He stated that “Life without AR will soon be unthinkable.” Whether that’s a short-term or long-off prediction, companies need to …
The Pros & Cons of Tracking Your Employees’ Every Digital Movement
Since the pandemic, employers around the world have needed to change. They’ve had to shift how their employees operate. Remote work is very much here to stay. Organizations and employees can both benefit from the work-from-home and hybrid work revolution. Cost savings is a driver for supporting remote work. Employee morale and productivity also can be higher when employers grant …
Align Your Team to Company Targets with Microsoft Viva Goals
You often hear the words “digital transformation” and “collaboration.” But what do they actually mean? What do they mean for the day-to-day of running your business? Collaboration can’t happen without shared goals. When departments are siloed and unconnected, priorities can conflict. People are doing their best but may not be moving in the same direction. Digital transformation is simply the …
7 VoIP Setup Tips for a More Productive Office
The global pandemic put a big emphasis on the need to run a business from anywhere. Enabling employees to work remotely requires cloud solutions. This includes collaborative platforms like Google Workspace and Microsoft 365. VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone systems have also become critical. VoIP allows companies to stay in contact with customers and potential customers. Employees can work …
5 Ways to Balance User Productivity with Solid Authentication Protocols
One constant struggle in offices is the balance between productivity and security. If you give users too much freedom in your network, risk increases. But add too many security gates, and productivity can dwindle. It’s a fine balance between the two, but one you can achieve. Organizations need to recognize the importance of both. And not sacrifice one for another. …
Simple Setup Checklist for Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is a lot of things. It’s a video conferencing tool, a team messaging channel, and a tool for in-app co-authoring, just to name a few. During the pandemic, the popularity of Teams skyrocketed. User numbers for MS Teams jumped from 20 million in November 2019 to 75 million in April 2020. As of this year, Microsoft reports a …
5 Mistakes Companies Are Making in the Digital Workplace
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, it’s estimated that 70% of …
Get More Unplugged Laptop Time with These Battery-Saving Hacks
One of the big draws of a laptop computer is that you can use it anywhere. You don’t need to have it plugged in all the time because it has an internal battery. Your laptop may start out with several hours of battery life when you first buy it. But the lifespan can get shorter as time goes by and …
5 Exciting Ways Microsoft 365 Can Enable the Hybrid Office
“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 as of February of 2022, …
Are Two Monitors Really More Productive Than One?
When you see those people with two monitors, you may assume they do some specialized work that requires all that screen space, or they just really like technology. But having the additional display real estate that a second screen provides can benefit anyone, even if you’re doing accounting or document work all day. We get used to being boxed in …
What Are the Best Ways to Give an Older PC New Life?
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 to still struggle with a …
What Is an MSP (And How to Choose the Right One for Your Business)
Managing data and IT solutions in-house can be challenging and expensive. That’s why many organizations turn to MSPs. Digitalization has forced businesses to alter their operations and make IT a huge part of their day-to-day affairs. Still, some owners can’t cope with the change effectively, so they hire a managed service provider, or MSP, to take care of the work. …
Enhance Your Server Management with These 8 Tips
You may have state-of-the-art servers, but their efficiency can diminish over time. Managing them is key to optimizing your business operations. 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, …
Finding the Right IT Provider: Avoid These 8 Mistakes
Your business can benefit a lot from working with an IT provider. However, you need to avoid several key mistakes when choosing your team. 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 …
13 Strategies To Make Your Cybersecurity Failproof
Skilled hackers can easily access your system and steal precious business information. Upgrading your cybersecurity can help address this problem. Taking your cybersecurity seriously is a must. Otherwise, you leave the door 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 that’s …
The Importance of Online Reputation Management (And 8 Tips To Improve It)
Online reputation can make or break your chances of landing and retaining clients. That’s why managing this aspect in your business is critical. 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. …
How Kohler Uses Office 365 to Create a Culture of Agility (And the 8 Underused Tools That Will Make Your Business More Productive)
There are numerous suites of apps that can improve your productivity. One of them is Office 365, which features an array of underappreciated tools. Office 365 has helped millions of organizations streamline their operations. One of the most famous examples involves Kohler, the manufacturer of kitchen and bath fixtures and plumbing. At the start of the coronavirus pandemic, they struggled …
Creating an IT Compliance Policy – The 7 Things You Need to Consider
Conducting business operations in the digital world is prone to security risks. Mitigating them would be impossible if you don’t have an IT compliance policy. Setting up a robust IT compliance policy in your business is more important now than ever. And it’s because most organizations now depend on digitized services. Online companies rely on e-commerce websites to do business …
Immersive Experiences Can Scale Your Business – The 5 Ways Virtual Reality Can Save Your Business Time and Money
Scaling your business doesn’t just entail having suitable systems, staff, or partners. It also includes finding new and innovative ways to save time and money. And that’s where Virtual Reality (VR) technology comes in. What is virtual reality, or VR? VR is the technology that immerses you in a simulated digital environment. Wearing headsets and glasses, you enter the digital …
How Xero Improved Productivity with a Digital Communication Tool (And Five More Technologies You can Use to Boost Office Productivity)
Higher office productivity leads to faster project completion and happier customers. With these technological solutions, you empower your people to work more efficiently. When a company scales to the point where it has millions of customers spread over 180 countries, effective internal communication is a priority. It’s an even bigger concern when that company helps small businesses to stay on …
Working From Home – The Six Simple Ways to Stay Healthy When You’re No Longer Commuting
With the continuing shift towards remote working, health is an ongoing concern. Find out how to stay healthy even when you’re working from home. The global pandemic resulted in many workplaces implementing work-from-home policies. In doing so, many of these workplaces have discovered that there are benefits to providing employees with the option of doing their work remotely. And these …