Mar 17, 2020 | SMB Technology, SMB Technology, SMB Technology, SMB Technology, Technology News
The World Health Organization provides guidance for businesses and employers about the Coronavirus, formally known as COVID-19. Around the world, officials in government, education, and industry are preparing for a prolonged epidemic. That could include significant shifts to the day-to-day economy–school closures, remote work requirements, and sequestered populations are all possible. Just as we need to be prepared for hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, earthquakes, and fires, the workplace must be prepared for pandemics and epidemics like the coronavirus. Read on to learn about business considerations. Enable Your Employees to Work Remotely No matter where you live or what industry you work in, it’s time now to prepare for telecommuting work from your whole team. Having an emergency telecommuting plan in place before a disaster strikes can keep your business functioning while your employees stay busy in the safety of their own homes. Make Sure Remote Work Connections are Secure What supports remote work is the technology that makes it possible. Remote access software allows you to remotely control a computer from a different location and device (a laptop at home). That way you can access all your apps, files, and information, just like physically sitting at the office. In addition, VPNs (virtual private networks) can provide secure access to sensitive data housed on private networks. Using a VPN, your public Internet connection is encrypted and your online activity is shielded. However, home computers using a VPN to connect to an office network can still present cybersecurity problems—if a unprotected home computer happens to get ransomware, it can adversely impact your organization.. Can Your IT Provider Service you Remotely? Consider Managed...
Mar 11, 2020 | SMB Technology, SMB Technology, SMB Technology, SMB Technology, Technology News
Business Broadband Internet is the engine powering the operations of businesses worldwide. From cloud services to Unified Communications, broadband is what makes fast, uninterrupted business operations possible. Read on to learn more about broadband’s benefits and what to consider before upgrading your connection. The Benefits of Business Broadband Internet In a nutshell, business broadband is a very fast and persistent connection to the Internet. Broadband connection supports Cloud computing, as well as applications including web-hosting and videoconferencing. The speed of business broadband allows a company to be permanently connected to the Internet, saving a business time and, therefore, money. VoiceOver IP (VoIP) calls are clearer, and Software as a Service (SaaS) applications are more responsive. Not only is broadband fast, it can be more affordable than expected. A variety of options are available to suit any budget, and the most affordable offer high-speed transmissions for the same price or less as older connectivity solutions. Network Considerations in Using Broadband Internet Before adopting broadband to fully support business operations, the health of your local network should be evaluated. Your local network needs to be robust enough to handle increased traffic and data. Not only should it be free of bottlenecks, it needs to be secure, without any weak spots through which data can be lost or compromised. Furthermore, permanent access to the Internet can open your network to cyberattacks. A firewall, though not the only mode of protection, can be a start. The standard protections of current anti-malware and antivirus definitions can help, along with constant network monitoring. Whether occurring remotely or on-site, monitoring of your network can help spot...
Feb 18, 2020 | SMB Technology, SMB Technology, SMB Technology, SMB Technology, Technology News
More than ever, businesses are seeking new communications solutions. Instead of old methods, such as analog phone and private branch exchanges (PBX) and a separate computer network, companies are seeking the benefits of more streamlined, economical solutions. Read on to learn what Unified Communications–and its foundation, VoIP–can do for your business. Unified Communications Provides Greater Efficiency More and more businesses are moving into the future, using an Internet-based communications platform. According to research firm Gartner, adoption of Unified Communications (UC) is expected to grow to $167.1 billion by 2025, with an annual growth rate of 16.8%. The foundational technology, Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP), allows businesses to make telephone calls using a broadband Internet connection, sometimes right from the computer and sometimes with an adapter connected to their current equipment. Other modes of communication, such as chat and email, can be done over Internet connection also, eliminating the need for separate phone and computer networks. Other capabilities include going from chat to video conferencing, and integration with CRM. Employees then can be current on customer service, projects and confident of processes moving forward. Considerations Before UC Adoption With all its benefits, Unified Communications can benefit your organization greatly. Not all solutions are equal, however, and it is wise for a company to evaluate its goals to determine what UC services will work best for them. How will this tool help streamline customer service? Which features are most important to have? How many employees does the business have? This last is a key consideration, for many vendors base their rate on the number of employees using the service per month....
Feb 6, 2020 | SMB Technology, SMB Technology, SMB Technology, SMB Technology, Technology News
Commonly, employees are thought to be the “weak link” in combating cyberattacks. What if, with thorough training, your employees become your best resource in fighting attacks like phishing, ransomware and malware, and social engineering attacks? These threats can all lead to your network and data being compromised as well as your business losing revenue and your clients’ trust. Read on to learn more about common threats and how to train your employees to have a role in combating them. Know the Threat Landscape Threats to cybersecurity abound, and some of the most common are ransomware and malware, which can get to your network via phishing schemes and social engineering attacks. Ransomware is a type of malware in which files are encrypted and become unreadable, and can only be available again if the user pays money (a ransom) to get a key to get the files unlocked. Malware, in general, is malicious software designed to steal confidential information, insert a virus into the network, or both. Commonly, malware and ransomware enter a network via social engineering attacks such as phishing schemes. A bad actor pretends to be someone the victim knows, and tricks them into giving confidential data. For example, the attacker may pretend to be a fellow employee needing assistance that requires access to the network. Instead of trying to find and exploit weaknesses in the system itself, the criminal tries to find “weaknesses” in the victim–a desire to help others, for example. Train Employees to Recognize and Prevent Attacks There are excellent online and in-person training programs to prevent cyber attacks. This training can be a good foundation...
Jan 22, 2020 | SMB Technology, SMB Technology, SMB Technology, SMB Technology, Technology News
With the end of service for Windows 7, businesses need to find another solution. While Windows 7 will not stop working, it won’t be as secure, and the lack of updates and patches will make your system and data more vulnerable to attack. For some, this might be the optimal time to move to the cloud. Ideally, companies have done so, or made the move to the latest operating system. Read on to find out more about what to do to keep your system and data secure. Upgrading Your Operating System In the shorter term, if your business hasn’t upgraded to Windows 10, you can still do that. Windows 10 is worth the upgrade, with automatic updates available, along with better security. Not only that, but by upgrading, you can use a windows operating system that comes with technical support, security updates and fixes. With only a week having passed since the deadline, it is still possible to upgrade to Windows 10 and take advantage of a fast, secure operating system. The longer you go without upgrading, however, the less secure your computer will become. Consider the Cloud One way to more smoothly manage the transition to a new operating system, is moving to the cloud using Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). With VDI, updates can be performed by the cloud service provider, providing a seamless user experience. With a cloud service provider handling the infrastructure and providing a connection via the Internet, upgrades will be made easier and possibly less expensive. One cloud delivery model, Workspace as a Service (WaaS) provides access remotely as a web-based office environment. With...
Jan 14, 2020 | SMB Technology, SMB Technology, SMB Technology, SMB Technology, Technology News
The 2020s–this year and beyond–will be a time of great disruption created by emerging technology. Not only will technologies like hyper-automation, artificial intelligence and human augmentation change the way people interact with technology, it will create opportunities–and challenges–never before seen. Read on to learn more about what is developing in 2020 and beyond. Technology Will Center Around People According to an article published by Gartner in late 2019, the orientation toward technology is changing. Previously, companies developed technology stacks and then developed applications. Now, according to VP of research Brian Burke, “organizations must consider the business and human context first.” The emphasis will be on people-centric smart spaces, and these will profoundly affect people and the places they live and work. There will be greater citizen access via democratization, wherein people can gain business and technological knowledge without a lot of expensive training. People could even be part of the smart spaces through human augmentation, including wearables. An Expanding Perimeter Information technology is not just based in a company’s office or a geographic data center. Trends such as edge computing and distributed cloud bring information outside of a central location and put it closer to the user, decreasing the amount of time it takes for users to get the information they are after. An empowered edge looks at how an increased number of connected devices will build smart spaces. Distributed cloud allows public cloud data centers to be located anywhere, enabling users to access the data they need while the provider still handles architecture, delivery and operations. Security Still a Key Consideration With all these new technological trends and...
