by Felicien | Oct 30, 2017 | Education
Over the last few decades, technology has helped business owners of all kinds make giant strides. Whether it’s better serving clients, optimizing internal processes or driving increased profit margins, there’s no denying technology has played a key role in the redefining of the modern business landscape. As technology continues to evolve, it is playing an even more active role in optimizing the workplace. But in a fast-moving, tech-based business world what does the workspace of the future look like?
The Workspace of the Future: Technology as The Vehicle for Transformation
Small businesses have always led the charge in changing the way the world views business. From disrupting massive industries to driving remote, on-the-go business strategies, SMBs are key players in the evolution of optimized business landscapes. Technological optimization and automation have been a huge factor in helping owner-operators create space for revolutionary business practices. However, the question remains: how will technology continue to shape the workspace of the future? In fact, what does the future of modern business look like?
The workspace of the future is a workplace driven by technology and dedicated to the idea of digital transformation. Business professionals know that the future means acknowledging that change happens. And guess what? That change is happening now. Today’s business practices are becoming tomorrow’s industry standards and coming to understand how technology will dominate the workspace of the future is critical to maintaining a competitive business edge.
Key Features of the Workspace of the Future: Optimization, Collaboration, and Scalability
The advantages of the modern workspace are endless. Business leaders have long relied on technological evolution to enhance the way they do business, collaborate and position their organizations for continued growth and prosperity. The workplace of the future, however, brings the relationship between business and technology full circle.
A dynamic and interconnected IT infrastructure offers allows modern professionals to actively promote and implement:
OPTIMIZATION STRATEGIES
The workspace of the future is defined by optimizing processes. No matter how a business moves from day-to-day, a modern workspace should support and streamline efficiency and functionality. Whether it means using technology to streamline accounting or administrative processes or implementing tech solutions to better respond to customer demands, the workspace of the future is all about using technology to make the business run smoother and more efficiently every day.
COLLABORATION STRATEGIES
There’s no doubt that great ideas take shape when teams are set up to work together creatively. The workspace of the future answers that call. Every employee is different and each has a way of working that is most productive for them. The beauty of the workspace of the future is that it allows business teams to do just that. Whether an employee works from home, on the road or onsite, a work environment with optimized tech allows for collaboration and communication among team members – anytime, anywhere.
SCALABILITY
Perhaps the biggest advantage of the workspace of the future is the fact that businesses get more done. In turn, as business owners become more efficient, they create the space to take on more business and create continued opportunities for growth. The best part is that the workspace of the future is specifically designed to grow alongside businesses. The workspace of the future is defined by flexibility and scalability that can be customized to meet the growing demands of any business. A modernized and optimized IT infrastructure that uses Cloud strategies and remote business capabilities makes it easier than ever to take on new business and drive profitable growth.
Industry-Specific Modern Workspaces: Streamlined Efficiency in Every Sector
Manufacturing
A modern workspace for the manufacturing industry means working smarter, not harder. Strategically implementing technology in the manufacturing industry means a shorter time to market and increased profitability. Using technology to streamline manufacturing processes and the administrative side creates a work environment that can better respond to industry demands. Even better? A modern manufacturing workspace positions companies for continued success and growth over time.
Healthcare
For healthcare professionals, technology is now a central force in providing a high-quality and dynamic patient care experience. With the development of the modern workspace, specifically, though the implementation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, accessing critical patient information and optimizing medical monitoring becomes easier than ever. Using technology to increase the patient care experience and make the lives of healthcare professionals easier is what the workspace of the future is all about.
Education
Today’s educators are faced with a big task: how do you engage a generation of learners who are constantly distracted and glued to devices? The answer is simple. Harness technology itself in the form of engaging and dynamic educational tools. For today’s educators, smartboards, tablets, and consistent internet capabilities not only enrich the classroom but helps educators reach the tech-generation in a way that’s suited to them.
Don’t Wait Until Tomorrow: The Workspace of the Future is Available Now!
Regardless of industry or specialization, the workspace of the future is no longer a dream but a reality. Technological optimization has made it possible for businesses of all shapes and sizes and across all industries to work better as a team and better respond to client needs.
Many business owners get caught in the trap of ‘waiting for tomorrow’. How many times have you put off optimizing your business technology? How many times have you considered digital transformation to streamline business processes? How often do you tell yourself, ‘there has to be an easier way to get work done’? If there’s anything that modern business professionals should know is that waiting around isn’t strategic and it definitely isn’t necessary.
The workspace of the future might sound like idealistic way to do business, but here’s the reality: the future is now. Countless hardware and software options, specifically designed for business optimization, are on the market now, waiting to be implemented. The fact of the matter is, taking advantage of the workspace of the future is critical to maintaining a competitive edge in today’s business world.
A technological overhaul can seem like a huge undertaking for any business owner. However, there’s no need to be overwhelmed. With the right guidance and consultation, optimizing your businesses technological workspace can be a breeze. Do your research, figure out what your specific needs are and reach out to an expert for guidance. The future is now! Don’t let your business get caught in the past.
by Felicien | Oct 28, 2017 | Education
Social engineering tactics let hackers take cyber attacks to a whole new level by focusing on a specific target. This kind of special attention and extra detail can often be just enough to fool users into clicking, downloading, or otherwise helping a hacker get exactly what they want.
Here are 5 of these scams you should know how to spot and avoid.
Phishing – The most common type of social engineering scam, phishing is typically done through email. By posing as a financial institution or government agency, hackers send out urgent-seeming emails that contain malicious attachments or embedded links that when clicked release malware onto your system.
Baiting – Like phishing, these emails often appear to come from a legitimate source. Rather than relying on scare tactics these emails instead offer the target some sort of incentive to open attachments or click on links, like a free gift card or a free mobile phone or tablet.
Tailgating – This low-tech tactic is still surprisingly common. By pretending to be a fellow employee who forgot their badge or a delivery person, a scammer will ask you to open a door for them that will allow them access to workstations or restricted areas.
Pretexting – Another form of phishing, this has a hacker pose as a C-level employee or a supervisor from another department and send an email asking for sensitive information like passwords. They might also send an attachment that contains a hidden malicious payload.
Quid Pro Quo – Much like baiting, this tactic has hackers pose as someone who can help the target with a task in exchange for information. Typically this ruse involves the hacker pretending to be IT support, offering to fix a non-existent problem in exchange for login credentials.
Contact {company} at {email} or {phone} to learn more about social engineering scams, and the steps you can take to protect your business from this type of cybercrime.
by Felicien | Oct 28, 2017 | Education
Alan owns a small business and he works hard every day to ensure his business is successful.
Alan has realized that to be successful, he must be 100% focused on the things that matter….
Things like…
… winning new business
…. keeping his customers happy
… managing his expenses
…..And of course ensuring his staff has everything they need to provide the best customer service
Alan has no time for computers and technology getting in the way of day-to-day operations.
This is where we come in.
In the past, Alan spent significant time and resources making sure all the technology being used within his operations was working. Unfortunately, this often didn’t work out well which negatively impacted Alan’s employees, Alan’s customers and ultimately Alan’s stress levels.
One day, Alan realized that there had to be a better way…
Alan finally recognized what he needed was an IT Support and Computer Services company he could trust.
So, Alan hired our team to take care of his team by making sure his computers, printers, emails and all his technology stays up and running. This allows Alan and his team to focus on their number one priority.. their customers.
Want to be more like Alan?
Simple, just contact us today!
We can help you focus on the things that really matter to your business
Give us a call or visit our website now to learn more!
by Felicien | Oct 27, 2017 | Education
Whether in business, at home or out at play we are connected to the internet all day, all the time.
We check our smartphones every five seconds. As a business, it’s much of the same thing. We are connected with the office, with clients, and with vendors. You might store your important data on the cloud such as client information and employee records.
Even your devices are now potential targets. A hacker could try and get into your smartphone and steal from your Apple Pay. Any device connected to the internet now could be a target: smartphone, tablet, Fitbit, or even your cars are all targets for cyber attacks.
RANSOMWARE
An email can be all a hacker needs to take over your system. Ransomware has been a popular means of getting into your network or computer and restricting access to files then making you pay to get them back. The “Locky” version of ransomware has been in the news as recently as early August 2017. Users are tricked into opening attachments such as DOCX, PDF, ZIP and JPG files. The attachment is really hiding the ransomware virus that immediately infects your system and hijacks files with a specific extension.
It changes the file names to a specific 16 letter and number combination file name with the “locky” file extension. Users get instructions to download a torrent browser where they must go to a site on the dark web. Here the hacker agrees to give the files back for money, usually up to one bitcoin (over $4,000).
ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORDS & DEVICES
Another real cyber threat pertains to the Healthcare industry. Electronic medical records (EMR) and smart medical devices are new technology that is at high risk for cyber attacks. According to Health IT News and HIMSS Analytics, 75% of hospitals surveyed have been or could have been hit by a ransomware attack. As the Healthcare industry adjusts to the benefits of having data online and at their fingertips, it comes with inherent challenges as well.
Connecting more devices to hospital networks can make the sensitive data more vulnerable than ever. Patient medical records contain such a wide range of information that they have become enticing to hackers. While the industry continues to get a handle on protecting such data, hackers will continue to exploit this.
Another real threat is devices that are attached to patients. Anything that uses Wi-Fi or Bluetooth could be vulnerable to hacker attacks. A hacker could change a patient’s insulin dose, send electrical signals to a patient or alter important monitoring data. Many devices in the Healthcare field have little to no monitoring that will continue to be a problem. And with much of it being regulated by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), patching the software could be a lengthy process.
THIRD PARTY
Another increasingly common hacker attack victim is a third-party such as vendors and contractors. Securing important business data through a reliable MSP gives you peace of mind that you are doing everything you can to protect your business. But what about that construction foreman and his smartphone, or that vendor that has you sign for things on an iPad? Anyone of these could be vulnerable to a cyber attack and not even know it.
Hackers in 2013 stole the information of 110 million Target customers after exploiting a vulnerability in the chain’s refrigeration vendor. Similarly, Wendy’s was the victim of a cyber attack in 2015 when a third-party vendor was hacked, resulting in 1,025 Wendy’s locations being affected. Third-party vendors and contractors are a normal part of a modern business that is unlikely to go away, and as business becomes more reliant on them, then there needs to be more accountability across third-party vendors.
MOBILE PAYMENTS
How many of us use our phones to pay for stuff? It is so easy now to pay using Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, MasterPass, Wal-Mart Pay and more. This is a new frontier for hackers who work to find a way to crack into this form of payment. The number of companies offering these RFID (radio frequency identification) and NFC (near field communication) mobile payment platforms is increasing every day.
Some common ways hackers could try and gain access to your mobile payment information could be:
Man in the Middle Attacks – A third-party disrupts the connection between the customer and the merchant. This is usually another app trying to pose as the actual payment app.
Data Breaches – The merchant’s customer database is hacked and all the customer information is stolen. This data can then be used for identity theft or other malicious attacks.
Loss or Theft of Your Device – Your device is lost or stolen. Your payment information, as well as other data, is found by an unsavory character. This can result in the thief using your payment information for malicious purposes. They could also sell your data on the dark web.
If a hacker could gain access to this form of payment, imagine how much they could get from payment information to financial details. Plus, once they have hacked into your payment app, the next logical step is getting into your phone. For some, that’s game over.
by Felicien | Oct 27, 2017 | Education
There’s no denying that today information is more accessible and easier to obtain than ever before. From the internet, tablets, smartphones, and even your laptop information is everywhere and can be accessed from anywhere. But do we know all the ins and outs of making this “connect from anywhere” information stream work?
As a business owner, big or small, why would you put the pressure and stress of maintaining your own IT services as well as trying to run your company and turn a profit when you can let someone else take on that worry. Allow someone whose sole job is IT services handle things like data storage and server maintenance, allowing you to worry about other things like payroll or sales.
An IT services provider is equipped to handle issues that can lead to devastating downtime or loss of function. The service provider will have the knowledge and the current technologies to handle the problem and get you back up and running with minimal downtime or effect on your business. Plus, you do not have to use one of your salesmen to fix someone’s laptop or install a new server.
If you’re still on the fence as to why you should hire an outside source to maintain your IT services, take these points into consideration:
Efficient cost management
This is probably the number one reason any business would want to switch over to outsource your IT services. It lowers cost and frees up funds for other aspects of the business. Who doesn’t want to save money?
Reap the benefits of freed up resources
As a business owner, you have limited resources already, so why use up even more of those resources maintaining something that you know little about? So why not let someone else take over the management of your IT services, freeing up your resources for other aspects of your business. You can finally free up Bob from accounting to do his job and let an IT professional fix the busted laptops.
Share the risk burden
Another big positive of having a third-party company handling your IT services is that you share the infrastructure risk. This will allow you as a business to become more flexible and agile, allowing you to deliver better products over the long run. Again, this goes towards lowering costs and the stress of having to maintain a network when you may not understand all the ins and outs of a network.
Re-focus your priorities
Letting someone else handle the IT services allows you to focus more on your business. If you’re worried about your network or data storage issues you’re not focused on your business. It is not productive to split your time between six different computer issues and trying to make a sale to stay in the black.
Access to data management expertise
If you were an IT pro, you would be in the managed service provider business. So why try maintaining your own network? Allowing an MSP to maintain your network and handle your IT services gives you access to experts in the field who know the most efficient way to run data storage or supply you with the most up-to-date equipment for your computer network.
Using an outsourced IT company frees up your staff to do the job that they were hired to do, and to do what they do best and shine. With how rapidly tech changes, how is Bob from accounting supposed to keep up? Plus, the professionals that work for the outsourced IT company are experts in their field and are paid to keep up with the most up-to-date tech out there.
Now that you’ve seen the benefits of switching over to outsourced IT services, the next step is determining what you need to turn over to the IT professional. The easy answer is everything that has to do with techs, such as computer maintenance and networking. But there is much more to a smooth-running office than just computer failures.
An outsourced IT provider can handle many things for your business:
Data center operations,
Disaster recovery,
E-Commerce web design functions
Basic support services (help desks, etc.)
Security management,
E-Mail marketing management,
Virus protection,
Data backup and recovery,
Wireless support,
Purchase consulting,
And network architecture.
It is up to you to ensure that your business is running at its peak performance. Your employees need to be able to send and receive emails, order supplies and communicate with clients. If your staff couldn’t communicate with clients and vendors, how long would your business last? With the proper IT provider, you will have access to first-class technology, allowing you to streamline processes that make them more efficient and productive. This will help your company to be able to take advantage of opportunities much more quickly.
