Windows 7 End of Life Sneaking Up on Some Businesses

All good things must come to an end eventually, and Windows 7 is no different. Microsoft is officially ending its support of this operating system relatively soon, but this doesn’t mean that you should jump ship without a plan. In fact, Microsoft realizes that some businesses and organizations simply can’t make the jump in time, so they have implemented contingency plans for these companies. The problem is that it’s expensive. We’ll walk you through everything there is to know about how Microsoft is handling the end of life events for Windows 7.

Are You Better off Moving to the Cloud?

The cloud offers countless benefits and services to organizations of all kinds, so we want you to think carefully before answering this question: to what extent does your business utilize the cloud? Do you store all of your data and applications on local servers, or do you utilize cloud servers to an extent? You might be surprised by how much you stand to benefit by having a solution in place that allows for seamless access.

Taking a Trip Through Data Privacy, Part I

Protecting your business’ data is no simple task. To make it as secure as possible, you’ll have to understand how personal data flows through online channels. We’re digging pretty deep with this one, so get ready for an informative and, if nothing else, interesting read. This topic is especially important in an age where Facebook and Google exist, but there are countless other threats to data privacy out there that we all experience on a regular basis–business or not.

Tip of the Week: Improve Collaboration With Process

Like a well-oiled machine, any business needs its internal components to line up correctly, interacting with the others to accomplish the ultimate goal of the device. This is more or less how we always describe collaborative processes in the context of your IT. Here, however, we’re going to focus our tip on ensuring these processes are directed by employees who are ready to collaborate as well.

Here are 5 Trends Happening with the Internet of Things

The Internet of Things is currently one of the most promising, yet risk-laden, information technology trends that we have today. The combination of the push for more connected devices with the lack of the security they need to remain protected, presents a considerable issue for a business’ network security. Here, we’ll examine some of the IoT’s latest trends, and how they could impact your business.

Tip of the Week: Learning How to Create Effective Email Subject Lines

Ever get an email with the subject line “No Subject” and not feel compelled to open it? Us too. Your email subjects are crucial to getting a user’s attention and helping them understand what the email is about. We’re here to help you develop more effective email subjects to ensure your messages are opened and responded to.

Make Sure Your Staff Understands How Data Disasters Come to Be

Disasters lurk around every corner in the workplace, even on an end-user level. All employees of a business should understand how to identify specific office disasters and what to do when they are encountered. We’ll discuss some of the most common (and deceptive) disasters, as well as how your team should handle them on the off chance they show themselves.

What Are Some Features of the Smartphone of Tomorrow?

The smartphone has completely changed the way that the workplace functions, providing near-constant access to all the wonders of the Internet. People can communicate in ways previously never thought possible, and the possibilities these days are indeed limitless. There are applications out there that can make life more fulfilling and business more productive.

Here is a Short Introduction to File Versioning

There are certain instances where you might think having multiple versions of a file is important. After all, nobody is perfect. A file can be lost, damaged, or altered beyond belief, and you’d be none the wiser unless you have multiple versions of it. In this sense, file versioning is crucial to the success of any business that has an eye on the future and a fear of losing progress. Let’s take a look at how file versioning works and why you should take advantage of it.

Does Retail Finally Need Technology?

Unlike the office environment, the technology used in retail has been relatively stagnant. The times are changing, though. It’s been a long time coming, but the technology used in the retail environment is finally evolving to meet the growing needs of organizations. Unfortunately, this has been met with the challenges of implementing said technology in the industry.

Tip of the Week: Avoid Facetime Spying

Sometimes threats come to light only after they’ve been around for long enough to cause concern for the public. This was the case with a new bug found in Apple’s FaceTime app that allowed users to spy on others without their consent through group FaceTime calls. Thankfully, a patch has been issued that resolves it, but perhaps the way that it was implemented is the most interesting of all.

SIEM Can Remove Some Big Headaches

Properly handling cybersecurity is extremely important for individuals and businesses, alike, but if you are an organization that has to meet external compliance mandates, it could be a major cost for a business that has a tendency be a target for nefarious outside entities. How many times can businesses get hacked before they take network security seriously? The answer is usually one. Prior to their first hack, most small businesses implore a “we’re too small to worry about it” strategy, but after (if there is an after), security is a major priority.

Multitasking Is Not Just Overrated, It’s Impossible

It seems that businesses today are obsessed with productivity, and while this isn’t a bad thing inherently, it can encourage you and your employees to pick up bad habits. Unfortunately, those who try to juggle responsibilities are often less productive than people that focus on one task and take it through to completion. Let’s discuss why this is, and how you can better, more productively make use of your time.

The Best Extra Features of a VoIP Service

We’ve beaten this point into the ground countless times already, but Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, presents clear benefits compared to the traditional way of using a telephone for business purposes. One of the key ways that VoIP does this is by providing features that traditional telephony simply cannot compete with. We’ll be discussing some of the best ways you can augment your VoIP solution with additional add-ons.

Tip of the Week: Improve Your Business’ Communications

Communication is imperative to the success of your business, but sometimes it’s easier said than done–particularly if your organization relies on technology-related communication that can make context and subtext difficult to detect. Here are some tips to ensure that your employees are as clear and concise as possible with your communication mediums.

A PSA for PSA Solutions

Productivity is one of the key ingredients for your business’ profitability. However, if a particular service has too many requirements to make it profitable, PSA (or professional services automation) software may be the right fit for your needs. Here, we’ll review what PSA software does, and how it can be a great benefit to a business in the professional services industry.

Data Management and the Small Business

All businesses need to be as efficient with their resources as possible. You might be surprised by the difference you can make simply by using your data more effectively. Stronger data management platforms, or DMPs, can put you in a better position to understand your organization’s needs, including its market and its customers. It’s time to look at how a DMP can make your business more effective and resource-efficient.

Where Should You Host Your Telephone System?

The cloud is one of the best ways providers can make their services accessible, but not all businesses have the same needs. Some might host their cloud-based services on-site, while others might outsource the management to a third-party organization. Hosted VoIP is one of the most common ways businesses utilize the cloud, but what makes it better than the traditional on-site method of hosting? Let’s dig in.