Author Archives: Anton Ruighaver

3 Questions You Should Ask Any IT “Expert” Before Letting Them Touch Your Computer Network

Business, Personal, Security, Technology
There are seemingly countless IT service providers to choose from these days, and it can be challenging to tell one from another. However, not all IT service providers are created equal. Some offer independent services, while others are part of larger firms. Some are new to the field, while others have been around for years. There are also companies that put out slick marketing to grab your attention but make it hard to tell if they really live up to the hype. Well, we’re here to help you cut through the clutter. You want to hire someone who knows what they’re doing and is going to take care of your business the right way. To do that, there are a few questions you should ask every IT expert before you let them anywhere near your network to ensure you’ll be … READ MORE »

Why You Shouldn’t Use Public Charging Kiosks

Business, Mobility, Personal, Security, Technology
Smartphones have become a vital part of modern life. And as we spend more time on these gadgets, the likelihood of needing to recharge them while on the go increases. When your phone’s juice runs out and you’re nowhere near your charger, a public charging kiosk can look pretty promising. But what you might not know is that recharging phones at public charging stations can make you a victim of “juice jacking”. What is juice jacking? While newer phones can be charged wirelessly, older models still need power cords to power up their batteries. This charging method has one dangerous flaw: the cable used for charging can also be used for transferring data. Cybercriminals can exploit this flaw to commit juice jacking, or the act of using the USB data/power cable to illegitimately access phone data and/or inject malicious code … READ MORE »

Master Windows 10 With The Following Tips And Tricks

Business, Personal, Technology
Did you know that the latest update of the Windows 10 operating system comes with many improvements to user experience? Try out the following features and change the way you work, play, and everything in between.     Night light This feature lets you reduce the amount of blue light emitted from your screen, which helps reduce eye strain and boost sleep efficiency. Night Light is disabled by default, so you need to enable it by following these steps: Click the Start Menu. Open the Settings app (or press the Windows key + I to quickly open Settings). Select the System icon followed by the Display option in the left-hand pane. Set Night light to “On” or “Off.” Taskbar pin Opening browsers and typing in web addresses are simple tasks as they were, but Windows 10’s taskbar pin feature makes … READ MORE »

Web Hosting: A Brief Overview

Business, Cloud, Personal, Technology
Are you looking to create a website for your business? Aside from the design and functionality of your website, make sure to also look into your web host. To get you started, here is a quick explanation of web hosts and which hosting type is best for your business.   What is a web host? A web host sells or leases memory space on its servers so your website can have a virtual location on the internet. Their services include online storage for all of your site’s files and web pages. Many web hosts also offer domain name hosting, which creates a web address that users can type into a web browser to access your website (e.g., google.com, inc.com, etc.). Combine these two hosting services and you have the main foundations for your website. You can also get domain-based email … READ MORE »

How To Get The Most Out Of Microsoft Teams

Business, Mobility, Technology
If you’re like most people, you only use your office chat applications for simple, everyday use — to ask someone a question or to touch base with colleagues. But wouldn’t it be great if you could do more things at once in these apps, such as completing tasks and chatting with colleagues all in a single window? Perhaps you’ve already heard of Microsoft Teams’ robust features to accomplish this, but how do you get the most out of the program? The convenience of chat apps has enabled workers to cut time spent chatting with colleagues and spend more time doing their tasks. What’s more, work-related software is increasingly becoming more mobile- and user-friendly, with apps like Microsoft Teams bringing together several different platforms. Here’s how you can use that to your advantage: Use SharePoint to store and share files You … READ MORE »

Should Small Businesses Use Laptops Or Desktops?

Business, Mobility, Technology
As an entrepreneur, you often have to make choices that can either make or break your company. One such decision you have to make is whether to in desktops or laptops. Make the best choice by assessing the current situation and taking the following things into consideration.   Portability The pandemic has driven the majority of businesses to adopt remote work setups. If your business will implement a similar arrangement, investing in laptops is the smart move, as your staff can easily take their device with them anywhere they want to work. However, there may be instances when this can turn out to be counterproductive: if your employees can jump into work mode easily, they may get the impression that they have to work 24/7. As such, you must not discount desktops altogether. While laptops are light and portable, modern … READ MORE »

What Does Proactive Cybersecurity Entail?

Business, Cloud, Security, Technology
Most IT service providers (ITSPs) promise some level of “proactive” cybersecurity consulting. All businesses embrace the idea of preventing cyberattacks and data breaches before they happen, and ITSPs themselves would much rather brainstorm safeguards than troubleshoot time-sensitive downtime events. But it’s not always clear what proactive cybersecurity entails, so let’s take a minute to go over it. Understand the threats you’re facing Before any small- or medium-sized business (SMB) can work toward preventing cyberattacks, everyone involved needs to know exactly what they’re up against. Whether you’re working with in-house IT staff or an ITSP, you should review what types of attacks are most common in your industry. Ideally, your team would spearhead this review a few times a year. Reevaluate what it is you’re protecting Once you have a list of the biggest threats to your organization, you need to … READ MORE »

Is Your Business Continuity Plan Doomed To Fail?

Business, Cloud, Security, Technology
No business continuity plan is perfect. Each plan has risks that can result in your business’s failure if not taken into account from the start. But don’t blame it all on your managed IT services provider (MSP) — often, a system’s design has loopholes to start with. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why business continuity plans fail. Over-optimistic testing The initial testing attempt is usually the most important, because it’s when MSPs can pinpoint potential pain points in the recovery plan. However, they usually test the system in full, instead of in phases. This can cause MSPs to overlook specific points, with too many factors overwhelming them all at the same time. Insufficient remote user licenses MSPs give remote user licenses to businesses so that employees can access a remote desktop software when they need to, … READ MORE »

Make The Most Out Of Microsoft Word With These Tips

Business, Cloud, Personal, Technology
Microsoft Word remains the word processing software of choice for businesses large and small. With Word, you can create a wide variety of documents, from reports to invoices to brochures. Word also has a number of features that, when utilized properly, could greatly enhance your productivity and efficiency at work. Let’s take a look at some of these. Work on Word Online Don’t have the Word app on your computer, tablet, or smartphone? Go to office.com, sign in with your Microsoft account, and open Word Online, the web version of Word. Collaborate on files You and your colleagues can now edit the same Word document simultaneously in real time. Simply save the document to your Microsoft OneDrive account, click Share, and send the link to the file to your coworkers. People with the link can access and edit the document using … READ MORE »

The Convenience Of Dual Monitors

Business, Personal, Technology
Many things come in pairs, including glasses, shoes, and, for busy office workers, computer monitors. Using two monitors at once may seem unconventional to some, but doing so has a lot of advantages. If you’re hesitant about your employees using two monitors simultaneously, perhaps these benefits will change your mind. Enhanced productivity A survey by Jon Peddie Research shows that working with dual monitors increases overall productivity by 20–30%. Computer programmers, for example, can use one screen for source coding and the other for programming. By using dual monitors, they no longer need to toggle back and forth between tabs. This frees up time to complete more projects. Better multitasking Efficient multitasking requires adequate screen space to keep multiple applications simultaneously visible — a view that single monitors alone simply cannot accommodate. With a dual monitor setup, workers like customer service … READ MORE »