News

5 Most Common Security Breaches

Business, Security, Technology
From attacks on mobile devices to ever-increasing types of malware, cybersecurity has never been more challenging. One of the best ways to stay protected is to be aware of cybersecurity threats. To that end, here are five common ways your IT systems can be broken into. 1. You are tricked into installing malicious software There are countless ways you can be tricked into downloading and installing malware. One is by downloading software from torrent websites. When you visit these sites, you are told to download software in order for the site to load properly. Once downloaded, the malware that came with the software infects your system. In other cases, hackers send emails with a malware-infected attachment. Luckily, there are steps you can take to avoid accidentally installing malware: Never download files from an untrusted source. If a website is asking … READ MORE »

Is Your Cyber Security Policy (Or Lack Of One) Leaving You Wide Open To Attacks?

Business, Cloud, Mobility, Security, Technology
Every business, big or small, should have a cyber security policy in place for its employees. Employees need to know what’s acceptable and what isn’t when it comes to all things IT. The policy should set expectations, lay out rules and give employees the resources necessary to put the policy to work. Your employees represent the front lines of your business’s cyber security defense. You may have all the antivirus software, malware protection and firewalls in the world, but if your employees aren’t educated about IT security or don’t understand even the basics, you’re putting your business at MAJOR risk. What can you do to remedy that? You can put a cyber security policy in place. If you already have one, it’s time to update it. Then, once it’s ready, put it into action! What does a cyber security policy … READ MORE »

Boost Your Cybersecurity With Security Audits

Business, Cloud, Personal, Security, Technology
Are your organization’s cyber defenses enough to protect it from a cyberattack? Unfortunately, just incorporating the latest antimalware software or firewall to your system won’t guarantee your company’s safety. Conducting a security audit will give you a complete picture of your company’s data integrity, giving you a greater chance of successfully meeting your cybersecurity goals. Auditing and the security strategy Audits are necessary to ensure and maintain system quality and integrity. These system checks help identify security gaps and assure business stakeholders that your company is doing everything in its power to protect its data. An audit is usually made up of three phases: assess, assign, and audit. Having a methodical way of auditing helps you avoid missing important details. It is also crucial that each stage is treated with the same level of importance to ensure thorough and comprehensive … READ MORE »

The 3 Primary Cloud Service Models And How They Differ

Business, Cloud, Technology
The many benefits of cloud computing enable businesses to easily manage workloads, obtain valuable insights from massive amounts of data, and gain a competitive advantage. But with the many different types of cloud services available, cloud adoption can become overwhelming. To make it easy for you to determine which type of service can drive your business to success, here are the three primary cloud service models and how they differ. 1. Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) Unlike software that you install on your computer, SaaS solutions are apps that are hosted on a provider’s servers. Easily the largest and most well known cloud-based service, SaaS uses the cloud to process app functions for users. That is, when a user opens a mobile or web browser app, the device merely sends inputs to a data center. The data center then processes the inputs and … READ MORE »

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 »