Best Email Apps For Small Business Owners Who Use iPhone

by Felicien | Jun 7, 2018 | Education

Communication is definitely made more accessible as a result of technology. Unlike previous years where people placed heavy reliance on letters and messengers, currently, people can communicate at the tap of a button. Communication is essential in any business. For people to know what is required of them in the business environment, for suppliers to know the exact quantity of products that they are required to supply, and when the supply is necessary, people need to communicate. The most successful businesses place considerable reliance on communication.

Small businesses and especially, those that have just begun, often feel the need to use more affordable means of communication. With the availability of the internet, this is no longer a problem. The number of computers that a business purchases is directly influenced by the size and the income of the business. In this regard, therefore, small businesses may find themselves unable to purchase as many computers as they need. This is where smartphones come in.
Currently, almost everyone in the world owns a smartphone. Smartphones have made life more comfortable. They allow people to access information everywhere and at any time due to their portability. These devices are a gem to small businesses. First of all, almost every owner and employee in small companies own smartphones. People can access their emails when traveling or out working on a job.
For successful and efficient use of smartphones to access emails, small businesses must depend on reliable, practical, and affordable email applications. There are numerous applications which allow people to access their emails through mobile phones. The functionality of these applications is similar though they may provide different features. Depending on the smartphone used and the needs of the small business, smartphone users, and especially those who use iPhones, often develop preferences to specific apps over others.
Google
This is definitely one of the most used applications. Google provides a range of services that small businesses may find attractive. The google app allowing for access to emails called Gmail. Firstly, this app is easy to use. Gmail can be used by even novices without much training. Secondly, it is fast, compared to other apps. A particularly helpful feature of the Google email service is that if you send an email by mistake, you have the option of undoing send. This definitely saves businesses embarrassment if an incorrect email is sent by mistake. The Google application is available online at the Apple store and can be downloaded free of charge.
Microsoft Outlook
This application is particularly loved by iOS users. While allowing the user to access email at his or her convenience, this app enables immediate access to emails from frequent contacts without subjecting the user to looking through other unimportant emails. It sorts out these emails for you. The app allows users access to their calendar, enabling them to mark essential days and reminders. You can set up meetings right from your phone or even attend a meeting. Like the Google app, this app is available in the Apple App store.
Airmail
Though initially meant for Mac, this app is available for iPhone and iPad users. It integrates with Gmail, MS Exchange, IMAP, Yahoo!, AOL, Live.com, and Outlook. This app has exciting features including full inbox sync, interactive push notification, and snooze. It is an Apple Design Award winner.
Spark
Though not as popular as Google, Spark is a great email app for small businesses. This app group emails automatically thus enabling the user to identify the urgent emails immediately. The app is easy to use and faster than most email apps. This app may be downloaded from the App Store.
Edison Mail
This is one of the fastest email apps. It supports most email accounts including Yahoo and Hotmail and is available free in the App Store.
Triage
The primary purpose of this app is to clean up email clutter thus simplifying the process of emailing. You can download this vital app from the App Store.
Inky
Unlike other email apps, this app uses hashtags to organize emails and sort out the important ones from the less important ones. Basically, it applies hashtags as labels to messages. It also signs emails automatically. Get this efficient app from the App Store.
Zero
This app works similarly as Tinder. It allows you to sort out your emails easily by merely swiping right to keep them and left to delete them. It also sorts emails such as newsletters for you. This app is available for free in the App Store.
Newton
This app is available in the App Store. Unlike other services, it is not free but is subscription based. Its main feature is the send later which allows you to draft emails and send them to the recipient later on. It costs $50.
Astro
Controlled by an AI assistant, this app provides both email and calendar services. The Astro assistant can be asked questions and responds to numerous commands. If your business uses Slack, you can integrate with that program to send and share Slack messages. It is available free from App Store.

Which Office 365 Product Is Right For You?

by Felicien | Jun 6, 2018 | Education

Cybersecurity Gaps Still Plagued Organizations in Spite of Better Risk Management Protocols

by Felicien | Jun 6, 2018 | Education

A recent cybersecurity survey shows that overall healthcare approaches to cybersecurity have improved in recent years. Most organizations have embraced their need to protect their data from intrusion.

A study conducted by Mountain View, California-based Symantec and HIMSS Analytics[1] found that healthcare organizations are showing improvements in risk management strategies. Although their efforts have still not been satisfactory, they do represent a vast improvement. Most security experts believe there are gaps in most company’s security tools.
The newer cyber risks include medical devices. Hackers can now hack into almost anything including medical devices and appliances due to the expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT). Since so much information is now available in the Cloud, it’s more important than ever to protect this data.
The Symantec and HIMSS Analytics study[2] covers the current position of healthcare organizations as to their investment and efforts to strengthen their security. It accentuates some of the vulnerabilities that many organizations still have. There is one positive finding from the survey showing that healthcare organizations have matured in their understanding of cyber security. In the past, a lack of understanding about hacking, malware, and ransomware has prevented many businesses from taking the threat seriously enough.
In the past, a company viewed cybersecurity as a responsibility of their IT department. They did not get involved in what was done to protect company data. Instead, they relied on their CIO or IT staff to do the right things to protect company information. Today, things have changed. Cybersecurity is discussed on every level, from the mail room to board meetings. According to the report, stronger security measures have been recently taken by eight out of ten organizations. However, about half of them admitted that they know they are vulnerable on some levels.
Another finding indicates that 60 percent of healthcare providers believe that risk assessment, not HIPAA compliance, is a more effective method of securing data against cyber thieves.
This progress has faced a few challenges as discovered in the research conducted by the Symantec and HIMSS Analytics survey. The main challenges faced were the efforts to acquire enough resources to counter the continually evolving threat margin. During 2017, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that there were 295 data breaches at hospitals and healthcare providers. That number is expected to triple for 2018.[3]
A number of hindrances to improving security programs in the healthcare industry were cited. Not surprisingly, about 73% said that budgetary restrictions were a significant barrier. Staffing came in second with lack of the essential skills a close third.
The survey also discovered that there was a substantial lack of sustained investments in cybersecurity by healthcare providers. According to the respondents, 74% of the providers set aside 6% or less of their IT budget to IT security. Nearly 45% of the health organizations’ respondents allocated only 3% on security. These IT expenditures have remained about the same for three years in a row. In comparison, the financial industry spent an average of 10 to 12 percent of its IT budget on security.[4]
There are a number of steps suggested by the research report in the form of recommendations that all healthcare organizations can take to improve their risk management:

Create greater awareness among employees and conduct regular training across the organizations.
Engage the Board on implications and the risks of failing to allocate adequate resources to invest in better cybersecurity resources and tools.
Employ a comprehensive cyber defense platform that addresses each gateway cyber-thieves use.
Ensure all the stakeholders (IT, Legal, PR and Communications, Clinical Staff, Executives, etc.) are actively involved in Incident Response planning.

According to Alex Wirth, a blogger who analyzed the research report by the two institutions, “Every aspect of a provider’s approach to cybersecurity must be conducted from a business risk perspective”.
His opinion expresses that of many IT security experts. The only way that cybersecurity for the healthcare industry will be given the seriousness it deserves is for everyone involved to realize that this problem will not just go away. It must be addressed and given the time, attention, resources, and money that it requires to stop the spread of cyber theft. In the long run, this is the most sensible and cost-effective approach.
CONCLUSION
All of the security people and resources involved in cyber security for a healthcare organization must work together in order to maximize detection and curb security events. The best way to go about this is to keep the board informed and adopt an effective security framework. A sufficient budget for IT security must be allocated each year. Otherwise, care delivery and patient safety will be highly compromised.
[1] https://www.symantec.com/connect/blogs/new-research-healthcare-organizations-bolstering-cybersecurity-budgets-and-resources-significa
[2] https://resource.elq.symantec.com/LP=2713
[3] http://www.healthcareitnews.com/slideshow/biggest-healthcare-breaches-2017-so-far?page=1
[4] https://www.sans.org/reading-room/whitepapers/analyst/risk-loss-security-spending-financial-sector-survey-34690

Technological Trends in the Public Sector for the Future

by Felicien | Jun 6, 2018 | Education

This article is an analysis of topics related to technology that topped the charts in 2017 and are still trending in 2018. No doubt, cybersecurity was a priority topic and many positive advancements were made there. The Internet of Things became a much more talked-about issue, mostly due to its vulnerabilities to hacking schemes.

The real world implementation of new technologies used in ‘Smart Cities’ was a hot topic in the public sector. This article will rely on information generated from two top government IT institutions, which are the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) and the Public Technology Institute (PTI). The article will also look at the perspective of private entities on the future of smart technology, cloud technology, and the impact that cybercrimes will have on these.
Government perspective of Important IT Topics
Cyber Security
It is not surprising that this topic created quite a bit of buzz back in 2017 and is still at the top of the list. This year, NASCIO and the PTI teamed up to offer a free webinar called Technology Forecast 2018: What State and Local Government Technology Officials Can Expect. [1]
Of course, security is a top priority and major concern for both the state and local governments. The government has made a resolution to address the growing concerns about cybersecurity that seem to be holding technology back. With so many data breaches occurring each month, private organizations, the government, and businesses of all types and sizes have been hit by cyber thieves. Every organization seems to be vulnerable, so leaders and experts believe that, in order to move forward with greater technological advancements for the future, the issue security must be a top priority.
A recent article on the Government Technology website[2] discusses why businesses need a cybersecurity framework.
Smart Government and Cities
Many cities and towns have embraced technology across their operations and service delivery sectors. This includes migrating data to the cloud, which a big step that can greatly improve a city’s ability to handle larger amounts of data each day. The transportation industry is using an app that tracks city buses so that riders can get accurate bus times. Seemingly small improvements like this can have a big impact on city services. Smart cities will run much smoother. The costs should also be lowered due to the automation of many city services. These services should be available cheaper rates and they should work much better.
Cloud Services
Governments are working to upload all their data to the cloud, where it will be much easier to access and manage. Most government entities are expected to hop on board this year according to a recent MeriTalk Survey. This survey found that 76% of state and local agencies are planning to increase their resources allocation to improve and increase cloud services.[3]
Private entities’ perspective on Government and Technology
A UK company called Deloitte[4] issued a report last year called Kinetic Enterprise. The report revealed many key insights in the trends that are shaping and redefining the role of Information Technology in disruptive technologies.
The report states that cutting-edge establishments are looking beyond implementations in a single domain. Instead, they are opting for projects that can affect a whole array of services, like the delivery of electricity, gas, and water to residents.
They are evaluating the ways disruptive technologies can work in harmony to create innovative tools that can redefine business. The report went on to say that federal and state government leaders could go a long way toward advancing sectors like machine learning, finance, the Internet of Things, blockchain, and others.
An article called, Gartner Top 10 Strategic Technology Trends for 2018[5] named three megatrends that they believe will drive digital business technologies over the next decade:

Artificial Intelligence
Transparently Immersive Experiences
Digital Platforms

In the article, Gartner said it believe that businesses and organizations would lose ground if they did not take advantage of emerging technologies. The article stated that “States are increasingly being asked to referee fights between mobile phone carriers and local governments, as the wireless industry sets out to build the next generation of data networks. 5G Technologies requires a much denser network of 10 to 100 times as many antenna locations….”
On election cybersecurity, the article states: “The 2018 elections could provide an opportunity for states and localities to restore confidence in voting systems that came under scrutiny during the 2016 presidential campaign.”[6]
Conclusion
Technology is definitely having effects on the government and public sector. Many experts see this as a way for the future of mankind to ensure greater progress. For instance, building Smart Cities can cut back on pollution, use sustainable materials, and make life easier for everyone. Many experts believe that the only thing holding progress back is the vast number of security breaches that occur each day around the world. Once we are able to stop those attacks from occurring, the sky’s the limit.
[1] https://www.nascio.org/Publications/ArtMID/485/ArticleID/611/Technology-Forecast-2018-What-State-and-Local-Government-Technology-Officials-Can-Expect-webinar
[2] http://www.govtech.com/blogs/lohrmann-on-cybersecurity/
[3] https://www.meritalk.com/articles/policy-based-automation-key-for-multi-clouds/
[4] https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/public-sector/articles/government-tech-trends.html
[5] https://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/3812063
[6] http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/gov-2017-9-issues-to-watch.html