by Felicien | Jun 12, 2017 | Education
Superman Day Is a Perfect Time To Start Your Journey To Becoming Your Own Information Technology Superhero
You don’t have to rely on an outside savior to fix your IT emergencies. Prepare your organization for contingencies with these helpful IT security tips.
Duck into a phone booth (if you can find one!) and don your cape because Monday, June 12, 2017 has been designated as Superman Day! It just so happens that this is concurrent with the time that the new Wonder Woman movie will be in movie theaters around the world, so superheroes are going to be on everyone’s mind.
It’s well known that Superman stands for truth, justice, and the American way, but his time working for the Daily Planet has probably also taught him to have a healthy respect for IT safety and security. In honor of Superman, we at {company} in {city} want you to be prepared for the unknown in the IT world. Don’t wait around for a superhero to save you; instead, learn how you can create processes that will safeguard your data and tech in order to defend against mistakes and emergencies.
Create written procedures to guide your team members
A healthy IT ecosystem begins with everyone in your organization being on the same page when it comes to security procedures and other best practices. Without proper guidance, people do things however it suits them best at the moment, which may not always be the most secure way to operate. Set your teams up for success by clearly outlining the most secure and effective IT processes, so that they always have a guide they can consult in the event of questions.
And if you’re going to go to the trouble of outlining your IT processes, training your staff members on proper execution has to follow. Once you have properly set the expectations for how IT operations are to be conducted, and given your team members the tools they need to complete their tasks, then you will be able to hold everyone in the organization accountable for upholding proper IT practices.
Make cyber security a priority for everyone
When it comes to IT security, the weakest link in the chain metaphor is startlingly accurate. You can have 99% of the people in your organization following proper protocols for every piece of technology they use, and if just one person fails to uphold the same standard you could be putting yourself at serious risk. The importance of cyber security has to come from the top down, and eventually filter to every manager of every department, no matter how integral IT is to their daily job functions.
There are many ways that you can facilitate a more secure technological environment throughout all levels of your company. Remember that no measure is too small to help make your data more secure. Encourage users to keep up to date with software updates, set guidelines for proper data storage and deletion, and enforce strict password requirements, including changes for all software platforms at regular intervals.
Control access to data and keep a regimented schedule of backups
These days, almost every company in existence processes and stores some kind of sensitive digital data. Not only is this data often crucial for the organization to function properly, but it can also be a glaring target for hackers who wish to steal and exploit it.
Whether you’re talking about cyber criminals stealing customer credit card information, or important trade secrets somehow being made public, digital data can be a very valuable target. Limit access to these kinds of data to employees who need it and have been properly trained in security procedures. You may not be able to make yourself invulnerable to hackers, but you can make sure that your sensitive data is taken care of properly.
Additionally, it’s important to not neglect your data backups as well. The main problem with backups is that they often seem less consequential when compared to other mission critical tasks, and they tend to fall by the wayside when people get busy. Systems have a tendency to fail at the least opportune times, so make sure you hold your departments to the backup schedule so you can be prepared in an emergency.
Review your processes on a regular basis
Businesses are always in flux, and IT operations are no different. Hardware infrastructure, software platforms, user functions, and many more factors are going to change frequently as your company grows and its needs evolve. In that regard, the IT processes that you outlined when the company was in its infancy may no longer be optimal.
In order to ensure that your IT policy fits with your organizational realities, schedule frequent reviews of your processes with representatives from every department. Have them talk to their end-user employees to get feedback about how their use of certain systems may have changed, and how policies can be updated to help improve their use of the IT systems and enhance security measures.
Engage in ongoing IT professional development
Ongoing education is important for many areas of business, and this is especially true for IT management. Technology progresses at a rapid pace, and the only way to keep up with all of the changes is to make a commitment to keep learning. This will help you stay up to date on new technology that may be beneficial to your organization, and keep you apprised of potential dangers that you need to protect yourself from.
Running a company comes with numerous different responsibilities, and it can be difficult on your own to devote the necessary time to IT professional development. We want you to know that you have a partner who can work with you to ensure that your IT operations are in peak condition. To learn more about how you can become your own IT superhero, contact one of our representatives at {email} or {phone}.
by Felicien | Jun 12, 2017 | Education
Yammer’s social capabilities now support a number of content formats: Here’s why that matters for your business.
Yammer has gone through some important changes in 2017 as Microsoft has been working to make the social app as business friendly as possible. First created to give employees a safe social place to interact (and yes, even joke around) without the distractions of an external social network, Yammer has been added functionality for months now. The goal is to create a social space that is fully integrated with Microsoft’s other business services so that it can become more useful for more companies. Still not convinced? Check out the latest content that Yammer can handle, and how it makes it better than before.
SharePoint Projects
SharePoint is becoming an increasingly common way for Windows-oriented companies to organize their data and workflow processes, so it makes sense that new integration with Yammer would be forthcoming. To clarify, Yammer already works quite well with SharePoint. For a year now people have been able to share any Office 365 documents on Yammer, which is excellent for asking a question, enabling group work, or exchanging data (and yes, encryption still applies on Yammer, so that data will still have protections in place). If you haven’t started sharing docs in Yammer conversations, your teams should definitely start, it’s a very organic way of managing quick work-related tasks.
New functionality includes a Yammer ability to appear on the SharePoint Newsfeed. For example, let’s say that a manager started a particularly important conversation on Yammer about new rules and got a lot of great feedback. That manager can then pin the Yammer conversation on SharePoint, allowing less frequent users to see the conversation and add those own comments for even more feedback. It’s a great way to make sure that particularly valuable Yammer discussions aren’t lost or ignored.
Videos
Video functionality has been slow to come to Yammer – Microsoft appeared to dislike the idea of integrating external video formats too closely with Yammer, possibly because of security or good old-fashioned monetization reasons. However, now Yammer has finally made the leap and supports Microsoft Stream and Office 365 video posting, which allows people to view the video right in Yammer.
Not sure how this improves matters? Microsoft suggests using it for personal CEO messages to the workforce, interviews, important product marketing, training videos, and similar content.
External Apps
Connectors is an Office 365 feature that allows you to connect over 90 external apps to the Microsoft platform: Now that also means that those apps play nice with Yammer, which really opens the door to some creative uses of apps that your teams already need. These Connectors can insert news pieces from other sites or social networks, provide analysis from common tools like GitHub, keep people up on the latest important Tweets by inserting them right in a conversation, and more. You can add or remove apps as necessary to keep control of how many apps are being used as well.
Dynamic Groups
Dynamic Groups doesn’t exactly add new content, but it does reorganize old content in a more useful way. The “dynamic” part of this essentially means that an administrator can “create” groups by searching or filtering the right results. So if a manager wants to send a message to the team that is working on Project A but doesn’t have a list of all the team members, it’s no problem – they can just create a dynamic group based on the name of the project, and the names will be automatically added. If any team members leave the project, the group will be updated to reflect that. It’s a lot easier than email chains!
Desktop Notifications
On Desktop Yammer uses what is called the Desktop Notifier to log in and peruse conversations. It’s a simple little interface for both Windows and Mac, but it’s going to get a lot better in the future. Microsoft has plans to expand this Notifier with a new app that will have an automatic sign-in option and smoother operation with better administrative control, which makes this an ideal time to pick up Yammer if you think your business could use it.
If you’ve never used Yammer before or are new to Office 365, we can help! {company} serves business in the {city} area with a variety of IT and data services. Contact us at {phone} or {email} to learn more today.
by Felicien | Jun 11, 2017 | Education
You don’t have to rely on an outside savior to fix your IT emergencies. Prepare your organization for contingencies with these helpful IT security tips.
Duck into a phone booth (if you can find one!) and don your cape because Monday, June 12, 2017 has been designated as Superman Day! It just so happens that this is concurrent with the time that the new Wonder Woman movie will be in movie theaters around the world, so superheroes are going to be on everyone’s mind.
It’s well known that Superman stands for truth, justice, and the American way, but his time working for the Daily Planet has probably also taught him to have a healthy respect for IT safety and security. In honor of Superman, we at {company} in {city} want you to be prepared for the unknown in the IT world. Don’t wait around for a superhero to save you; instead, learn how you can create processes that will safeguard your data and tech in order to defend against mistakes and emergencies.
Create written procedures to guide your team members
A healthy IT ecosystem begins with everyone in your organization being on the same page when it comes to security procedures and other best practices. Without proper guidance, people do things however it suits them best at the moment, which may not always be the most secure way to operate. Set your teams up for success by clearly outlining the most secure and effective IT processes, so that they always have a guide they can consult in the event of questions.
And if you’re going to go to the trouble of outlining your IT processes, training your staff members on proper execution has to follow. Once you have properly set the expectations for how IT operations are to be conducted, and given your team members the tools they need to complete their tasks, then you will be able to hold everyone in the organization accountable for upholding proper IT practices.
Make cyber security a priority for everyone
When it comes to IT security, the weakest link in the chain metaphor is startlingly accurate. You can have 99% of the people in your organization following proper protocols for every piece of technology they use, and if just one person fails to uphold the same standard you could be putting yourself at serious risk. The importance of cyber security has to come from the top down, and eventually filter to every manager of every department, no matter how integral IT is to their daily job functions.
There are many ways that you can facilitate a more secure technological environment throughout all levels of your company. Remember that no measure is too small to help make your data more secure. Encourage users to keep up to date with software updates, set guidelines for proper data storage and deletion, and enforce strict password requirements, including changes for all software platforms at regular intervals.
Control access to data and keep a regimented schedule of backups
These days, almost every company in existence processes and stores some kind of sensitive digital data. Not only is this data often crucial for the organization to function properly, but it can also be a glaring target for hackers who wish to steal and exploit it.
Whether you’re talking about cyber criminals stealing customer credit card information, or important trade secrets somehow being made public, digital data can be a very valuable target. Limit access to these kinds of data to employees who need it and have been properly trained in security procedures. You may not be able to make yourself invulnerable to hackers, but you can make sure that your sensitive data is taken care of properly.
Additionally, it’s important to not neglect your data backups as well. The main problem with backups is that they often seem less consequential when compared to other mission critical tasks, and they tend to fall by the wayside when people get busy. Systems have a tendency to fail at the least opportune times, so make sure you hold your departments to the backup schedule so you can be prepared in an emergency.
Review your processes on a regular basis
Businesses are always in flux, and IT operations are no different. Hardware infrastructure, software platforms, user functions, and many more factors are going to change frequently as your company grows and its needs evolve. In that regard, the IT processes that you outlined when the company was in its infancy may no longer be optimal.
In order to ensure that your IT policy fits with your organizational realities, schedule frequent reviews of your processes with representatives from every department. Have them talk to their end-user employees to get feedback about how their use of certain systems may have changed, and how policies can be updated to help improve their use of the IT systems and enhance security measures.
Engage in ongoing IT professional development
Ongoing education is important for many areas of business, and this is especially true for IT management. Technology progresses at a rapid pace, and the only way to keep up with all of the changes is to make a commitment to keep learning. This will help you stay up to date on new technology that may be beneficial to your organization, and keep you apprised of potential dangers that you need to protect yourself from.
Running a company comes with numerous different responsibilities, and it can be difficult on your own to devote the necessary time to IT professional development. We want you to know that you have a partner who can work with you to ensure that your IT operations are in peak condition. To learn more about how you can become your own IT superhero, contact one of our representatives at {email} or {phone}.
by Felicien | Jun 10, 2017 | Education
Let’s examine some of the most likely computer issues and quick tips for combatting these problems.
I sure do love it when my computer bogs down and slows my workflow, so I can’t meet my deadlines… said no one ever.
I mean, honestly, is there a time when we’re not looking for more speed, efficiency, or ease of use from our laptops and desktops? In our modern tech society, these traits are keys to success in our business and personal worlds. Consider a chef and their need to keep blades sharp; dull tools can stymie your work, wreck your creations, and even damage your reputation. Fortunately, there are a number of DIY fixes and tips, which will keep your PCs working at optimal levels. Let’s examine some of the most likely problems and how to regain your system’s power and speed.
Do monthly clean ups
One of the easiest methods for keeping your computer running smoothly is to regularly clean up, consolidate and delete unnecessary files. Develop a routine for creating folders to save valuable information and cull the unwanted or unused bits of data.
Delete cookies or temporary internet files
As we surf the internet, our computers capture and keep bits of information which help websites load and operate a slight bit faster. But, for the speed garnered versus the space used, it is better to delete the cookies or temporary files, especially if they are for websites you rarely visit.
Use anti-Spyware software
Malware, spyware, greyware, trojans and other tracking software will often hide in your computer and send information pertaining to your personal internet habits back to remote capture devices. The motives can be as simple as helping to tailor and personalize the advertising you encounter on the web or as devious as searching for passwords and pin numbers in an attempt to steal your assets.
Run Antivirus software
Equally nefarious and increasingly sophisticated, computer viruses also attack your computer’s operating systems in an attempt to disrupt or corrupt the computer. Often, consumers are caught up in viruses which were designed to disrupt large-scale networks of businesses. By opening unknown files or traveling to untrusted sited, computers can be left vulnerable and infected. Perform regular antivirus scans or purchase antivirus software to install on your computer.
Disc defragmentation
This process of cleaning up pathways for programs helps your system to perform fewer tasks in order to access and use information on the hard disc.
Backup files
While performing clean ups on your computer, it is also a good time to send valued information to a backup device. An external hard drive, flash drive, or even burning info to disc will all ensure that your valued information is safe and isn’t taking up excess space, which can slow your computer.
Remove unnecessary apps or programs
With the popularity of helpful apps and programs only a click away from purchase and install, it can become tempting to continually install the latest tech gadget. But, when you really analyze how much or how often you use a program or app, you might realize it is unnecessary and a space hog.
Perform software and hardware upgrades
Once you have reduced the number of programs or apps you don’t use, it’s best to optimize the ones you do. Software and system upgrades can assist in the overall speed and user appeal and can also increase productivity.
Check your software firewall
Sometimes, our own systems need to be assessed manually to check for changes in settings which may or may not have been made by you. Remember the spyware and viruses? These intruders can sometimes make changes to your system upon install. The firewall should keep most of these computer vermin out, but take a look, just to be safe.
Avoid shady websites
Too many Pop-ups or click bait headlines are a dead giveaway that there might be more to this extra flashy website. Is the word free used too often? Well, you know what they say. Often, they’re hotbeds for corrupt programs and bugs.
But, what about Macs? Although Apple computers are often touted as being fairly spyware and virus free, there are still potential problems they may encounter, and more seem to be popping up each day. Many of the above tips will apply, but here are a few more bits of advice, which may be beneficial to the Apple user.
Install malware protection
As mentioned above, Mac OS is being targeted more and more by viruses and data tracking software. Install the protections and don’t just rely on the myth that Macs can’t be infected.
Reduce utilities and background services
Some Mac users will keep numbers of programs and services running at all time, which can slow the overall performance of the system. For rarely run utilities, shut them down, when not necessary.
Clean up your desktop and old files
Although this was a point mentioned earlier, bears repeating. Often, some of the biggest problems we encounter are of our own doing. By cleaning out and organizing your files you not only improve your system’s performance, but you also stand to improve your own, as the clean out process should help your focus and memory on your work and personal information.
Keeping your computing systems operating properly is a responsibility we have to regularly give attention to. There are some programs that will automatically update or run, which can be set to occur weekly, monthly, or on your own personally determined a schedule. Whatever your preferred methods for keeping your blade sharp, start honing your tools today.
by Felicien | Jun 9, 2017 | Education
AI does more than just help with security: Here’s how it can make you more revenue too!
Artificial intelligence still seems a little…unreal, doesn’t it? Yet you would be hard-pressed to find a company that doesn’t use some form of AI or automation to make jobs easier – it’s all around us, and it does make a difference. In fact, the right AI adoption can improve your security, make leadership decisions easier, and even increase profits. Does it sound hard to believe? Take a look at the revenue-friendly ways that AI systems are being used in today’s businesses.
1. Customer Data Management
Companies that are trying to adopt more digital solutions tend to have a lot of customer data lying around – we’re talking about how customers pay, when they buy, what channels they buy through, what products they like, what they look at before they buy, how often they buy, and a whole lot of other information. It doesn’t matter how much free time your marketing and sales teams have, they can’t look over this data and spot important connections just by staring at spreadsheets.
But an AI can track all this data and come up with conclusions that are actually useful. Skilled CRM AI systems can identify high-value customers that spend a lot of money, target them with additional deals, and identify new prospects who share similar traits to these high-value customers and deserve extra attention to make more sales.
2. Automated Ad Placement and Audience Targeting
Today’s AIs don’t stop at customer data: They also examine a lot of social and sales data, which can be more useful than you might expect. A good AI, for example, can find out what payment options and channels have a higher success rate within your target audience, which is especially handy if you’re not sure how to find or analyze this data. That skill also applies to automated placement of ads in the right spots and platforms to attract the sort of business you want. It can transform a business’s profits when used correctly.
3. Faster Workflows
Today’s AI systems go beyond simple automation: Just take a look at the latest Cortana features, which allow the voice assistant to scan emails for relevant information and set up automatic calendar events based on what you are discussing. Advanced features like these really put the “assistant” in voice assistant, which means you save a lot of time and – with enough use of these tools – may even be able to trim up the workforce a little. Other automation can help too, such as features that automatically add or pass on projects when they are ready to reach the next step…or put up alerts when something looks like it has gone wrong.
4. Chat Systems for Direct Sales
Here’s an exciting twist on the AI trend. Chatbots are advanced AI systems that replicate a normal conversation (more or less) through a messaging app so that customers can IM the chatbot and ask questions or as for specific information. Facebook Messenger allows companies to come up with a simple AI that nearly anyone can use – and with the right tools, customers can buy items directly from the chatbot!
5. Direct Site Analysis
No, we’re not talking about websites, we’re talking about actual work sites. Skycatch, for example, uses aerial imaging to spot better ways to use equipment and manpower at mines, solar arrays, farms, and construction sites. As this type of analysis grows more refined, it will become commonplace for an outside consultation to be as simple as renting an AI service.
6. Intelligent Screening and Product Control
On the advanced end of this AI skill are healthcare systems designed to automatic sift through a vast amount of data to look for signs of problems like breast cancer or heart disease – they even get better the more they scan, producing more accurate results (very similar to how security AI systems scan for signs of malware). Less rigorous but still useful versions of this approach can be used in quality control to watch out for repeated problems and narrow down causes to help make production less costly and more efficient.
Do you have any questions about specific and affordable AI applications for your {city} business? We can help! Let {company} know your goals and we’ll talk about what services are right for you. Contact us at {phone} or {email}.
by Felicien | Jun 8, 2017 | Education
Don’t be fooled by the fake apps popping up on the Google Play store that falsely claim to protect you from ransomware.
Recently, many Android device users were confronted with a barrage of fake apps in the Google Play store that claimed to protect against the WannaCry ransomware that has affected tens of thousands of users around the world. At {company} in {city} we take cyber security very seriously, which is why we want to help you protect yourself against scams just like this.
How ransomware works
The term, “malware” refers to a variety of different forms of malicious software that can infect your devices. The effects of malware can range from slightly annoying, such as pop-up ads that are associated with adware, to completely devastating, for instance when scripts destroy files or track your activity.
Ransomware is a specific category of malware that is being used more frequently by hackers. If your computer or device has ever become frozen on a screen informing you that you need to pay money in order to access files or folders, then you have been infected with ransomware. Sometimes, the coders who created the ransomware will make it look like the request to pay is coming from an official government entity; typically the FBI asking you to pay a fine. It’s important to note that the neither the FBI nor any other law enforcement agency would make such a request in this manner.
Other times the hackers don’t even bother to hide the source of the ransomware, and the notice will directly inform you that your files are being held, hostage. Typically the threats indicate that your files have been encrypted and that they will be destroyed unless you agree to transfer the requested funds within a specific timeframe. Whatever form it takes, ransomware can be very costly and wreak havoc on your digital life.
The ransomware epidemic
Without question, ransomware has been an increasingly popular form of malware for nefarious actors. One reason for this could be that as the number of internet-connected devices proliferates around the world, it stands to reason that people are storing more important things in digital format than ever before. Therefore, they are more vulnerable tot he effects of ransomware.
Additionally, as people become more comfortable with coding and software engineering from a young age, the number of people who have the technical skill required to create ransomware increases. It’s easier than ever for people who are looking to make money off of a quick scam to find victims.
This has all culminated in the spread of WannaCry, a form of ransomware that encrypts your files and asks for $300 in Bitcoin in order to gain access to them again. The use of WannaCry has exploded throughout the globe, affecting tens of thousands of victims in nearly 100 countries.
Scammers are now using fake protection apps to trick users
Of course, this kind of widespread issue creates, even more, opportunities for scam artists to perpetrate crimes. In this case, malicious developers are taking advantage of the demand for software that protects users from ransomware by creating fake protection apps and disseminating them to Android devices through the Google Play store. These apps will often claim to restore the files that have been encrypted or to prevent Ransomware from infecting your device, to begin with.
Experts have determined that they are useless. In fact, there is no indication that ransomware has ever infected Android-powered devices as of yet. Some of these fake WannaCry protection apps are simply pranks and will leave your system completely unaffected, while others have been found to carry ad-scanning functions. All in all, they are far less dangerous than most forms of ransomware itself, but it’s still better to protect your mobile device whenever possible.
An enduring issue for tech users
Unfortunately, the ransomware problem is likely to only get worse in the near future, as the circumstances that facilitated the epidemic continue unabated. The amount of digital information being stored on devices and in the cloud will continue to increase in volume, and there will be more people with access to the technology necessary to create malicious software.
Since cybercriminals are a fact of life in the 21st century, the best protection is to learn more about malware in general and take steps to ensure you have eliminated as many vulnerabilities as possible. Being a part of an interconnected society means that you will never be 100% safe from attacks, but there are many ways that you can make yourself a much more difficult target for those who want to do harm.
How to protect your mobile device from malware and scams
The first step in protecting your mobile device is to lock it with a passcode, or a fingerprint lock if your device is compatible. It’s the easiest way to add a physical layer of protection to your device, and it can be the difference between a criminal quickly accessing sensitive information or failing to gain entry to your device.
Also, remember to only download files from trusted sources that you have vetted beforehand. If someone sends you a downloadable file that is in any way suspicious, it’s best to ask for more information first before downloading.
This advice also applies to apps, so be sure to limit your app installations to the official app stores offered by Apple, Google, et. al. They are more deliberate about weeding out fake and malicious apps, even if they are not perfect. Although some fake WannaCry protection apps made it to the Google Play store, Google took the initiative to delete many of them fairly quickly.
Finally, keep up to date with your OS updates. When vulnerabilities are identified, tech companies usually release these updates with security fixes in order to shield users from risk.
For even more advice on safeguarding your digital presence, contact our tech experts at {email} or {phone}. They can review your vulnerabilities and help ensure you are as protected as possible from malicious software and scams.
