Windows 7 Support Ends; Windows 10 Gaining Momentum

CRM

It’s official: Microsoft announced it will discontinue updates to Windows 7 in a year. According to GHacks, this means systems running on Windows 7 will not get updated on security and bug fixes in hopes that both organizations and individuals will switch to Windows 10. This is no surprise, as the news broke a while ago and most likely the reason behind Windows 10 finally pushing out Windows 7 as the most popular Windows operating system, reported by The Verge.   Why? Windows 7 is still a widely used and popular operating system, but the time has come for the updates to stop. Microsoft is focusing its time and effort…

Can Hackers Help Your Company Become More Secure?

Uncategorized

When you think of hackers, the image that comes to most people’s minds is a faceless, hooded figure in front of a computer. They’re people who pray on loosely guarded information to make money. They are nameless, and your company may be at risk of their attacks and should be prepared in case you are targeted. A good defense to a hacker, however, could possibly be another hacker.   Hackers For Hire   Hackers are generally regarded as the enemies of companies, but who is better to find the weak spots in your company’s cybersecurity than those whose goal is to break through it? According to Read IT Quik, hackers…

Why Healthcare Organizations Need Strong Cybersecurity

Cyber Security, Data Breach, Data Security

Hospitals and medical practices house a goldmine of valuable patient information for hackers. Personal information such as birthdays, credit card information and medical history are entered into a database after visiting the doctor’s office. For this reason, medical practices are one of the largest targets for data breaches and should uphold strong cybersecurity measures.   Education Cybersecurity starts with the people who use the network most frequently: the employees. If employees are uneducated or not properly trained on cybersecurity procedures in the medical practices, mistakes will be made. For instance, the Utah-based company HealthEquity reported that 23,000 accounts were compromised in a data breach earlier this year. According to SC…

The Importance of Proactive Managed Services Maintenance

Break/Fix, Cloud Computing, Computer Security, Tech Tips

People brush their teeth every day in hopes that when they arrive at their annual dentist appointment, they do not have any problems with their dental health. This same concept can be applied to system management. By scheduling routine check-ups and fixing problems before they become irreversible, companies are performing proactive maintenance. This practice ensures that companies not only eliminate surprises that could result in downtime but also optimize their network use.   Life Expectancy By scheduling routine check-ups for hardware, businesses can guarantee that their machines are reliable and last as long as possible. Often, hardware gets dirty over time from dust and debris in the office. Routine check-ups…

Cybersecurity Remains Priority Midway Through 2018

Uncategorized

Cybersecurity issues have become a day-to-day struggle for organizations around the world. Breaches themselves have become both more common and more severe, as hackers and cyber criminals are constantly learning how to circumvent the latest security technologies. Read on as we detail some of the year’s biggest cybersecurity threats so far and how to protect your organization from them.   Unlike 2017, the first six months of 2018 have seen few government leaks and global ransomware attacks, but that’s where the good news ends. Corporate security simply isn’t improving fast enough, especially as state-backed hackers from around the world are getting bolder and more savvy. Take a look as Wired…

How to Secure Your Hybrid Cloud Solution

Cloud Computing, Data Breach, Data Security, IT Managed Services

The rise of mobile technology and the remote workforce, combined with the need for operational agility, has driven cloud adoption throughout every business sector in recent years. In fact, 81 percent of enterprise-level businesses now operate multi-cloud strategies, according to Right Scale’s State of the Cloud Report. Read on as we detail best practices for securing a hybrid cloud deployment.   As one may expect, moving large amounts of sensitive business data to the cloud can come with some complications. Organizations often find themselves scrambling to acquire and train talent to manage the system, build necessary infrastructures and meet stringent compliance requirements. While these are each valid concerns, implementing proper…

Tips for Managing BYOD in the Workplace

Backup Management, Computer Security, Data Security, Kansas City Technology

With the increased use of smartphones and portable devices within the past decade, the traditional setup of a workplace has become obsolete. There is no longer a need for landline phones, and desktop computers are inefficient when it comes to retrieving information on the go. Many companies have implemented Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) programs. While allowing employees to bring their own devices improves productivity in the workplace, companies risk security problems by vastly expanding their networks.   Plan By implementing a plan for a BYOD program, businesses can predict potential troubleshooting problems and errors within the network by creating a policy to follow. According to Security Solutions, only 20.1…

Eliminate the Stress of Disaster Recovery with Off-Site Backup

Uncategorized

Off-site backup options have proven to be successful among businesses when it comes to disaster recovery. Disaster recovery is the use of tools and outlined procedures that initiate the recovery of an organization’s technology infrastructure. This typically occurs after an error disables the system or a human-induced attack is implemented on a system. By using off-site backup systems, organizations can eliminate the stress of disaster recovery.   Reliability An off-site backup system is completely automated, which means that information is updated daily. Since these backups occur via the Internet, files can be stored and retrieved from multiple locations, according to Claremont Patch. If an IT disaster were to occur, important…

What You Should Know About Hybrid Cloud Computing

Backup Management, Cloud Computing, Computer Security, Cyber Security, Data Breach

Cloud-based data centers have created many opportunities for organizations to store important information with privacy and security. These systems have granted companies the resources necessary to maximize their productivity. As cloud computing has advanced, the hybrid cloud has become a prominent strategy among organizations. According to Tech Target, the hybrid cloud is a cloud computing environment that uses a mix of on-premises, private cloud and third-party public cloud services with orchestration between the two platforms. This form of cloud computing is the future of information management.   How is it Deployed? There are many different ways in which a hybrid cloud system can be implemented. For example, two cloud providers…

How Preventative Managed Services Maintenance Reduces Costs and Breakdowns

Managed Service

Proactive maintenance is an important part of a productive IT infrastructure. By scheduling regular check-ups for the network and hardware, companies can prevent major catastrophes that hinder their productivity. Preventing malfunctions within your network is noted to reduce maintenance costs in the long term and decrease downtime due to technical difficulties. Just like repairs, field maintenance and tech support, preventative maintenance is an important piece of IT infrastructure that is often overlooked. Minimizes Surprises Checking networks and IT systems regularly catches problems before they arise. This can help keep the network secure from unauthorized actions and detect a potential breach before it happens. This also makes patch work on networks…