With TV shows like Black Mirror captivating audiences around the world, it’s no wonder this addiction to technology is also reflected in the marketplace. This theatrical fiction became true when it revealed the vulnerabilities in technology. The press named them Meltdown and Spectre.

Both Spectre and Meltdown allow attackers to access data. The difference between the two is that Meltdown gives an attacker access to data in programs that only administrators should have access to, and Spectre makes a program reveal data that should have been kept confidential. While both are worrisome, numerous patches for Meltdown have been deployed. Spectre, on the other hand, is a bit more complicated to contain.

Spectre affects modern processors and operating systems, including chipsets from Intel, AMD, and ARM. It also affects other systems such as Android, Chrome, iOS, and MacOS. Therefore, Microsoft advises customers to seek guidance from these respective vendors. News of this broke on January 6th when Google released this comment:

“Variants of this issue are known to affect many modern processors, including certain processors by Intel, AMD, and ARM. For a few Intel and AMD CPU models, we have exploits that work against real software. We reported this issue to Intel, AMD, and ARM on 2017-06-01 [1]. So far, there are three known variants of the issue: Variant 1: bounds check bypass (CVE-2017-5753), Variant 2: branch target injection (CVE-2017-5715), and Variant 3: rogue data cache load (CVE-2017-5754).”

Spectre is responsible for variants 1 and 2 and Meltdown for variant 3.

What devices can Meltdown and Spectre affect? –Workstations, laptops, in-house servers, smartphones, and tablets. While this can be overwhelming, there is good news. Microsoft and other systems like Android, Chrome, iOS, and MacOS have already put updates in place that can effectively protect and secure your devices. The key to keeping your devices safe, after updating, is to continue to monitor and detect for any first-warning signs such as phishing emails or browser-based exploits. Spectre and Meltdown use these as vehicles to obtain your confidential data. If you limit their transport capabilities, you can effectively protect your data.

It’s terrifying enough that this could affect personal devices, but now they are far more dangerous and could possibly enter your home or business via smart-home devices. This year at CES, tech companies, such as LG and Samsung, doubled down on connected platforms built on user data. In one year, we witnessed a jump from 29% to 35.9% in smart-home device use like Alexa and Google Assistant. With this latest threat and deep infiltration of technology, it’s more important than ever for companies to ensure their smart-home platforms and servers are secure. On this note, Google, Amazon, and Microsoft all say they’ve patched their servers against known exploits.

So how do we protect ourselves from these threats? The first step is to the make sure your systems are up to date. Microsoft released several updates to help mitigate these vulnerabilities. They also took action to secure their cloud services. Microsoft says these vulnerabilities haven’t been used to attack customers at this time. They continue to work closely with industry partners including chip makers, hardware OEMs and app vendors to protect customers. It’s recommended that you use available protections, including hardware/firmware and software updates. This includes microcodes from device OEMs, and in some cases updates to antivirus software. In addition to these operating systems updates, look for firmware updates that eliminate the vulnerabilities introduced via Meltdown and Spectre.

Microsoft goes on to say that antivirus updates should be installed first. Then make sure your Windows automatic updates are turned on. (If automatic update is turned on, the updates will be automatically installed.) Also, install hardware (firmware) updates from your PC manufacturer. You may need to proactively check with the device manufacturer for updates. This could require going to a device driver update page on the manufacturer’s website.

While updating helps to secure and protect your data, it has a downside. It’s important to note that you will see a difference in your device’s performance by installing this update. This can be as high as 42 percent but is dependent on the device and its use. For example, an article in PC World states:

“Here’s how much the Meltdown and Spectre fix hurt my Surface Book performance… the sequential read and write performance doesn’t change much…But…4K performance ain’t pretty. While 4K read performance was similar, the write performance dropped by 26 percent. Far worse, though, 4K read and write with high queue depth take a performance hit of 42 percent and 39 percent, respectively. Ouch.”

The age of an Intel chip can impact the effectiveness of the patch. Navin Shenoy from Intel, explains:

“On 8th generation platforms with SSDs it’s small…the expected impact is less than 6 percent.”

Some users have experienced a much more noticeable impact with web applications that rely on JavaScript operations. The good news in all of this is that companies have banded together to fight these common adversaries, e.g., Meltdown, and Spectre. This united front against these bugs has resulted in shared patches. Similar to the U.S. military’s war on terror, companies like Netflix and Amazon have developed a united plan of attack. This collaboration gives researchers the upper hand on Spectre and Meltdown for the first time since this technological chaos began.

Google Hangouts is a convenient and user-friendly way to have a video call with clients, coworkers, or friends. These meetings can be easily recorded for playback later or to upload to YouTube. Of course, this video meeting software is designed to work with G Suite, Google’s suite of products that includes Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Calendar for business.

While you may be running G Suite for all your business needs, or maybe you just enjoy their Hangouts app, not everyone you need to chat or meet with will be a Google user. Google realized this and has made it possible for users of the other guys (Microsoft, Yahoo, etc.) to join your Hangouts. The process is pretty simple, really.

Google gives external users the ability to join a Hangouts call if the call is added to the Google calendar or someone already on the call invites them during the call. To make this process even simpler, all you have to do is supply the person you are wanting to have in the call, with the link. This way, as long as they have the link they can request access to your Hangouts call.

Having external users available for the calls in Hangouts has several advantages, including:

• External users can always request access to video calls using the meeting link. There’s no need for them to be invited, and there’s no need to have to share manually enabled.
• It provides the best experience when using non-Google software to join Hangouts calls. Allowing guest to request access by default provides the best experience.
• Simplifies access to video calls when G Suite accounts are not provided to all users.
• Ensures all users in your company are allowed to request to join when being migrated.

Allowing external guests to join by default is an easy menu option that can be turned on before the Hangouts call gets underway. All you need is the link, then visit the menu:

• Sign-in to the Google Admin console
• Find apps, then click on G Suite, then Talk/Hangouts
• Click Global Settings
• Under Hangouts video calls, click All Classic Hangouts video calls begin with external guests allowed to request access…

The user only needs to click the link or put it into a browser, where they will be prompted to input their name when they click the link to request access. Google account not required.

IMPORTANT: Someone in your company must approve the external guest that is requesting access who is trying to get in through the link.

Inviting users without a G Suites account opens up a world of collaboration, but it also comes with a few restrictions. For example, external users are restricted to presenting and participating in the call, but cannot use text chat or other Hangout apps. External guests are able to join your Hangouts meeting from a PC, Mac, tablet, smartphone, or Chromebox.

If you run a business, chances are that you’ve thought about moving to an online productivity suite. The two most popular in recent years is Google’s G Suite and Microsoft’s Office 365. Touted as “innovative” and “the next big thing,” Microsoft’s productivity suite is a revolutionary concept when it comes to operating systems and computing. But why should you choose Microsoft over the other guys?

Because:

• It’s cloud-based. Doing all your computing in the cloud means that you always have access to your files as long as you’re connected to the Internet. All of Office 365’s tools will work on any PC/Mac, tablet, or smartphone. With O365, you can use the online versions of the productivity suite, or install them to your device.
•  It’s secure. Whether you’re using the version of O365 installed on your machine, or the cloud version, you’ll get the best level of security and encryption. The same set of Rights Management Services applies to both. None of your files can be accessed without the proper user credentials that are set up and monitored by Microsoft Azure. This provides the best security and control over your Office 365 data.
• Data is backed up. Microsoft’s Office 365 offers its own form of checks and balances, 24/7 support that’s always on-call, and OneDrive to store all your files. But it’s always a good idea to have an extra layer of protection by using a Managed Services Provider (MSP) who can monitor your backups and add an extra layer of security if your data is compromised or lost.

Office 365 offers major advantages over others. As with anything worth doing, there are pros and cons when moving your operations to the cloud. However, there are some major advantages when using the Microsoft Cloud:

• You can work anywhere. If you have an internet connection, you can use your data from anywhere and on any device. You can check emails, access files, and work on a project all from the same place – even if that place happens to be the other side of the world.
• Easy collaboration between coworkers. How many times have you had multiple people working together on the same project only to have one version go missing. With Office 365 you can avoid this. Collaborators can work on the same file and get changes in real time. You can also share files as links right from OneDrive, rather than as attachments.
• Access to the latest versions of programs. Imagine having access to the most current versions of Word, Excel, and Outlook without having to pay extra or reinstall programs. All the most recent versions of everything in the Microsoft Office Suite are available with an Office 365 subscription.
• Great security features. How secure the Cloud is for you depends on what security measures you have in place. With Office 365, there are quite a few built-in security features to keep your data safe. These include:
• Encrypted email. Only the intended recipient can read an email.
• Data loss prevention. O365 checks and ensures that sensitive data (like your social security number) doesn’t get sent out via email.
• Mobile device management. You can control Office 365 on your employees’ phones, and protect company information.
• Advanced threat analytics. O365 learns and protects company data, and alerts you of suspicious activity on the network.

Alongside all the advantages of using Office 365, there are also a few cons:

• Subscription-based model. You must pay a monthly or annual subscription for your Office 365.
• If the Internet is down, your data is down. Because Office 365 is cloud-based, if the Internet goes out, you could be without access to your data. Plus, if you have a slow connection, working with a cloud-based system isn’t ideal.
• Most people don’t use all of its features. Most users don’t use everything that Office 365 has to offer. They only use email, file storage, and access to Office programs. This isn’t a terrible thing, but it means you’re paying for features that you aren’t using.
• Microsoft throws in some great extras. Office 365 comes with 1TB of storage space in Microsoft’s OneDrive cloud storage service, free web hosting and the tools to use it, and a full 60 minutes of Skype each month for making landline calls.

Microsoft Office 365 is a very good example of not only what a cloud service can be, but what more businesses are turning to for their cloud needs. Cloud computing is becoming a big part of more companies’ tech strategy, and Office 365 is an excellent way to jump into the cloud.

Our IT experts can walk you through your Office 365 set up. Give {company} a call at {phone}, or email us at {email}, and we’ll make sure you get the full benefit of this great service.   

Best Practices for Testing Data and Application Backups.    

Data protection is essential for all businesses today. The most important reason is to prevent monetary loss. If you lose your information it can lead to reduced productivity, lost sales, a harmed reputation, fines, or even financial judgments.

Another reason is the increase in regulations. Governments throughout the world are imposing new regulations on electronic communications and stored data. You can face dire consequences for noncompliance. Loss of critical data can be construed as a violation of these regulations and may result in fines and legal action.

Data Protection Requires Business Continuity and Reliable Backups.

A proactive and well-thought-out business continuity plan is something that all system and data administrators must embrace. A layered and proactive data protection strategy can mean the difference between disaster and recovery.

When it comes to creating a strategic business continuity plan, data and application backups are one of the most important elements. The reasons for implementing reliable backup solutions are endless – software bugs, failed hardware and user error are just some of the ways your data can be unintentionally altered or deleted.

There’s also the persistent risk of malicious activity and attempts to destroy, steal or encrypt business data by cybercriminals or disgruntled former employees.

Data Protection Insurance: Don’t Just Backup, Test!

If you don’t test your backups regularly to ensure their working, you’re only doing half the job. Don’t wait until there’s an actual disaster.  If you do, you may find that your backups weren’t reliable and your essential data is lost. That’s why regular testing of backups for your software, hardware and everything in between is absolutely critical.

When a data disaster hits, it can be overwhelming and stressful. Worrying about whether or not backups are going to work should be the last thing to worry about in a crisis situation. Backups are designed to offer peace of mind, and – if implemented correctly and tested regularly – they can make all the difference in a data crisis.

Server vs. Virtualization: The Evolution of Backup Testing

The key to testing backups is to run drills to determine if your data was successfully restored. For a long time, this process was limited, tedious and time-consuming. When using physical servers for different applications, data restoration had to include a lot of additional hardware. Plus, the environment could only be restored in a very limited way, meaning a full restore of an entire business network rarely occurred.

However, with today’s virtualization, the testing and restore process is now much easier to deploy. Virtualization allows for company data and applications to be organized in a more streamlined way. When using a centralized, virtual machine (VM), recovery from a backup is easier and more reliable.

Why Test Your Backups?

• To validate that the restore processes you put in place actually work – Peace of mind is priceless.
• To create a benchmark to ensure the recovery process can be completed as intended – This also allows you to develop recovery time objectives (RTO) for future reference.
• Regular testing processes and results can be shared with business teams to confirm application recovery targets can be met, or resolved if there are imperfections.

Testing Backups: What Programs and Hardware Should You Test?

Now that you understand the importance of testing business backups, let’s dive into the specifics. When it comes to testing backups, there are a variety of different levels of recovery to consider. Let’s explore the key areas where your business should be testing backup and recovery processes:

• File Recovery

This is likely the most common concern for business owners – “Will I be able to recover individual files from my backup?” The reality is, file backup processes are easy to deploy on both physical and virtual servers in addition to backups of file servers. It really just comes down to recovering data by file type. There are plenty of tools to automate this process, which we’ll explore in more detail later on.

• VM Recovery

For businesses that rely on virtual machines (VM), implementing and testing backups is critical. This is obviously specific to virtual environments as opposed to physical ones. Recovering a virtual machine is relatively easy because everything is centralized. However, you must consider where the VM will be used for recovery.

Attempting to recover the VM in the same production environment creates technical issues like network IP and SID conflicts in Windows systems. The best strategy is to restart the VM in an isolated environment using the subnet on the hypervisor. It’s also important to keep in mind that recovering VMs with new IDs can impact applications and licensing – It’s always best to be proactive and consult with your software providers for terms and conditions.

• Physical Recovery 

As noted, physical server recovery is more complex, and testing will vary based on the how different platforms are configured. In addition, recovering applications to the running hardware requires an outage – Because of this, businesses carry out these tests less frequently. If you’re on a physical setup, it’s critical to schedule the time for testing to ensure hardware can be recovered effectively in the case of a disaster.

• Data Recovery

Depending on the backup tools you deploy, specific data recovery should be tested for efficiency as well. For example, if you have data backed up at the application level (rather than the entire VM), that data should be restored and accessed in an isolated environment.

• Application Recovery

Software applications are the core of a company’s digital operations. However, testing application backups can be challenging – especially for larger businesses. Application backup testing requires an understanding of the relationships between individual VMs and physical servers. However, it can be done, and as with some of the previous recovery types we’ve mentioned, it’s best conducted in an isolated environment and on a separate network.

It’s no secret that the more extensive the testing, the higher level of risk – However, backup testing can be an amazing tool for providing reassuring, measurable results. Determining the right test scenario depends on the backup and restore tools you’ve put in place. Having a strong understanding of what you want your backups to if an emergency occurs will make the testing process more efficient.

Setting a Schedule: How Often Should You Test Your Business Backups?

We get this question from our clients all the time – “Now that we have backup solutions in place, how often should we test them?” In an ideal situation, testing should occur after every backup to ensure the latest data is successfully secured.

However, we know for busy professionals like our clients, this isn’t the most effective or reasonable option. So, business owners must strike a balance between the potential impacts of losing data and the effort required to be confident in their backups.

Here are some important times to test backups:

• As part of a regular routine – monthly or bimonthly. Choose a frequency, set a schedule and deploy backup tests for all hardware and applications at regular intervals.
• Whenever there are major application or hardware changes. This includes any kind of software update or patch, and also when using new or different devices. These tests should be more complex to account for a major application or device changes. Use updates and patches as reminders for strategic backup testing.
• Whenever there’s a significant change to application data. If a business application has a regularly scheduled import of data from an external source, always schedule a test restore after the data has been transmitted.
• Whenever you’ve restored data. It may seem excessive or redundant to run a backup test on a VM, device or application that you’ve just recovered, but it will ensure the newly restored program is properly backed up moving forward.

How to Test: Using Automation to Improve Backup Testing

Restore testing is much easier when using automation tools. At a base level, this can include scripting the restore for individual files. However, there are software tools that aid in more complex and comprehensive testing procedures. Many of these are built directly into backup and disaster recovery software.

There are countless ways for you to take advantage of backup and data recovery tools – The key is researching the best tools to suit your unique backup needs. Take the time to understand your backup needs. Then you can invest in applications or support to optimize backup testing procedures.

The Ongoing Evolution of Data Backup and Recovery Testing

In an increasingly cloud-based business environment, with more companies making use of containers, backup testing will continue to evolve. Using the public cloud to backup, test and recover applications is a huge plus when it comes to cutting on-premise costs. This represents an entirely new domain for backup testing that will no doubt reveal new challenges and opportunities.

However, no matter what the future brings, the premise remains the same. Setting up backups and testing them regularly should be understood as a responsibility, not an option. Ensuring that recovery processes are implemented correctly and run according to a schedule will always be your secret weapon against unexpected data disasters.

Getting more out of your business data is quickly becoming an industry all its own, and there are some exciting things on the horizon to help you do more, learn more, and grow more.

Data has long been your business’ most valuable and essential asset, and Business Intelligence (BI) solutions are changing the way you use that data. A modern BI approach is a sure-fire way to lift your business above your competitors, using savvy analytics to make better data-driven decisions. There are a ton of fantastic and innovative BI technologies and strategies available to today’s businesses, and these 10 trends are projected to lead the pack heading into 2018.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Science Fiction paints a pretty terrifying picture of what advancements in AI will mean for humankind, but in reality, this technology is already proving to be a huge asset to analysts. As machine learning technology continues to improve, it’s becoming easier to automate tasks that would otherwise be labour-intensive time sucks for your staff. With the tedious work done for them, analysts can instead focus on thinking strategically about the implications of their results, and start planning next steps for your business. Unlike some other technological advancements, machine learning isn’t meant to replace human employees. Rather, its goal is to enhance the work your staff is already doing.

Natural Language Processing (NLP)

It’s estimated that half of all analytical queries will be generated using voice, search, or NLP by 2020. The power of NLP will allow staff to pose more nuanced questions of your data, and get more accurate and helpful responses as a result. While this is exciting enough on its own, the real gains where analytics are concerned will come from what developers and engineers alike are able to learn from looking closer at how people are using NLP. That way, we can make sure NLP is being applied to the types of workflows where it can have maximum impact.

Crowdsourced Data Governance

Self-service analytics are gaining popularity, granting users access to new perspectives and new information that is inspiring more innovative ways to implement governance. More than just using the wisdom of the crowd to get your hand on the right data, governance is about making sure the wrong data stays out of your system. BI solutions and analytics will be making use of this modern governance model in 2018, giving IT departments and data engineers the ability to cultivate trusted data sources.

Multi-Cloud Strategies

There has been an ongoing debate about multi-cloud solutions as more and more businesses sour on the idea of being tied to a single cloud solution. Multi-cloud strategies allow for business to work with multiple providers, finding the right vendor for a specific project or need. This increased flexibility comes with a higher overhead cost and requires your IT personnel to become familiar with multiple platforms. However, with 70 % of businesses expected to have a multi-cloud strategy in place by 2019, it’s a good idea to start looking seriously at how best to make this strategy work for your business.

The Chief Data Officer

Chief Information Officers (CIO) are nothing new, but as data and analytics become more critical to your operations, the need to strike a better balance between security and innovation has lead to a new C-level position – the Chief Data Officer (CDO). Adding a CDO or even a CAO (Chief Analytics Officer) to spearhead business process changes allows your business have a firm grasp on analytic strategy, making sure it’s part of the conversation from the get-go.

A Rise In Data Insurance

Several recent high-profile data breaches serve as a reminder of the risks and costs associated with these types of security incidents. Data is now a commodity, which means it’s only going to continue to become a bigger target for theft in the future. Quite often, there is no real consequence to the perpetrator when data theft happens, so there’s not much to deter a cybercriminal from setting their sights on your data. For that reason, more companies are expected to invest in cybersecurity insurance to protect their valuable data assets in the coming year.

The Location of Things

A subcategory of the increasingly popular Internet of Things (IoT), the “location of things” refers to devices that are able to sense and share their geographic location. The ability to capture this data can help users to add the context of location to data when assessing usage patterns. This technology can be used to track both assets and people, and can even interact with devices like smartwatches for a more personalised experience. This extra layer of typical usage data can help better inform your business strategies moving forward.

Increased Role For Data Engineers

The movement to use data to make better business decisions necessitates a larger role for data engineers in today’s businesses. With over 3500 open positions currently listed on LinkedIn, the demand for this specialty is obvious. As the need to leverage data in new and innovative ways becomes more essential, having someone on staff with a deep technical knowledge of your systems and architecture, and the ability to understand your business’ wants and needs becomes crucial.

Universities Offering More Data Science and Analytics Programs

By 2021, its estimated that 69 % of businesses will be favouring job candidates with data science and analytics skills, with jobs like Data Insights Miners and Bionic Interface Designers emerging by 2030 thanks to advancements in AI and analytics. A number of universities, including the University of Sydney and Victoria University, began adding data science courses to their offerings back in 2015, with more and more institutions adding these types of courses now and in the near future.

Liberal Arts in the Analytics Industry

The need for technology specialties is decreasing as technology platforms become easier to use. As a result, businesses are looking to other specialties such as the liberal arts to bring new perspectives into the mix. Not only can these individuals fill vacant positions within your data analytics team, but they can help you better use your data to create a vision for the future of your business that goes beyond just technical or scientific insights.

Want to learn more about the value Business Intelligence solutions can offer your business? Contact {company} at {email} or {phone}. We’re the IT professionals businesses in {city} trust.

We like tech, it’s what we do. As the holiday shopping season kicks into overdrive, we are bringing you 12 of the most requested, most wanted tech gifts for 2017. Check back each business day between now and December 19^th for another must-have tech item and why you should check it out.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 has an all-glass design with four speakers and a High Dynamic Range (HDR) ready display. HDR offers better contrast and a better color range than regular HD does, making this the tablet of choice for all your streaming needs. The speakers are positioned in the corners and the sound moves accordingly when the device is rotated.

The tablet also comes packaged with a revamped Samsung S-Pen stylus. If you are one who enjoys taking notes on your tablet or prefer doing a lot with a pen, this stylus writes smoothly and never has to be synced or charged. Besides writing, the S-Pen adds precision to coloring, drawing, and more. There’s also an add-on keyboard ($130) for those who want to use theirs as a word processor or for using the internet.

The Tab S3 uses a USB-C connection for fast charging, has a fingerprint sensor on the home button, and uses an all-glass design, rather than aluminum like most tablets do. Unlike your iPhone, this tablet is equipped with a standard headphone jack, so that you can use your current headphones with it.

The Tab S3 really shines when playing video. The screen is crisp and sharp, and the sound is loud and clear thanks to the four-speaker setup. It is the first and so far, the only, HDR-ready tablet on the market. If the sticker price doesn’t give you pause ($599), then the Galaxy Tab S3 is the tablet to get this Christmas.

Happy Holidays and good luck on the tech hunt from all of us here at {company}!

Cybercrime causes over $1 trillion in damages every year. Understanding the statistic is the first step to avoid becoming one. There are so many scams out there today designed to dupe you and trick you into making yourself vulnerable and giving up your information. It is more important than ever to be cautious on the internet as cybercrime increases at an exponential rate. Cybercriminals have become more creative and conniving in the ways that they gain access to your information.

Types of Scams

Currently, there has been a scam occurring where cybercriminals deposit malware onto your computer, then the criminal pretends to be tech support from a reputable company such as Microsoft and attempts to “help” you fix your computer. Of course, when they are “helping” you they are also mining your sensitive data or stealing your personal information. This is extremely dangerous because you are talking directly with the criminal either via instant messaging or over the phone. They can gain more information from talking directly to you than they can be mining your computer.

Another extremely common scam is email phishing. This involves criminals sending out emails it tries to trick you into giving them your information such as your Facebook login, phone number, or address. These could look like free promotional from companies, like coupons or raffle gifts as well. Always be wary of emails from unknown companies that you haven’t heard of or didn’t specifically request emails from. Also, if you see that an email is part of a chain that is a sure sign that it is a scam.

A scam to beware of especially during the holidays is the eCard scam. This is when you will receive an email offering a free eCard service. Usually, it will say something along the lines of “send your first ecard for free! Click this link”. Never click the link unless you specifically requested an eCard service and are expecting it.

During the summer months the number of travel scams increases. These scams often involve some type of last-minute free travel to an exotic destination that has a time limit on the offer. These kinds of offers appeal to a person’s sense of adventure, however, these are very rarely real offers and just a quick way for scammers to get your information.

After natural disasters, scammers will take advantage of people who seek to help victims and will set up fake websites to accept donations, or send emails asking for monetary donations.

Another common scam is the “overpayment” type. This scam occurs when a scammer finds an ad for something you have posted trying to sell such as a car or computer. They pretend to be a buyer and offer you a larger sum of money than what you are asking for. They do this supposedly to cover costs of extra shipping fees for international shipping. They will often send you a fraudulent cashier’s check or money order and then have you send a check for the difference with the goods they purchased from you. A similar case can occur when you post your resume online. You may get a job offer from an overseas company. In this case, they will ask for your banking information to “pay” you. Then, of course, you will never get paid but will probably experience identity theft, or money stolen from your account.

As a rule of thumb, beware of any messages, pop-ups, or emails that either request money from you or are offering to send you money. Scammers get very creative in the ways they will try to trick you into giving up your information. Sometimes they will claim to be a lawyer representing a deceased family member who has given you an inheritance. Another common play is they will pretend to be a representative of a government agency requesting urgent payments. A less common play is the criminal will send threatening messages until you pay them a sum of money, this is called “the hitman” scam. Other common plays are the “lottery” scam and the “credit card or loan” scam which are offering you money in exchange for your information. The two common themes of all these scams are that they always come off as urgent, insistent, or pushy. Furthermore, they always are either urgently requesting money to solve an issue or offering you money in exchange for some type of information.

What Can You Do to Protect Yourself?

There are certain precautions that you can take to protect yourself from these types of scams. Here are some of the basic guidelines you should know.

• Use common sense. If your computer stops working properly right after visiting a website or clicking on a pop-up, you can be certain it’s a virus. Especially if you notice the difference and then a “tech support representative” contacts you right after. Or if an email offer seems a little too good to be true, it probably is.
• Don’t ever click on pop-ups or links in sketchy emails
• Be wary of tech support that initiations contact. Generally, tech support won’t contact you first. You must call them with the problem first, and they may call you back or get back to you via email, but that’s about all.
• Uninstall and delete any remote managing tools or applications you have may download. If you close the criminal’s doorway into your device they can do no more harm.
• Install a legitimate antivirus software and update your computer as soon as possible.
• Change your passwords
• Contact your bank or credit card provider to make sure there was no unusual activity on your account.
• If your computer still isn’t working right contact your real tech support to see if they can solve the issues.
• If the problems persist then consider restoring it to factory settings and restoring from backups.

If you follow these guidelines this will greatly reduce your risk of exposure to criminals. It is especially important to keep a level head and use logic and reasoning today when surfing the internet. Many scammers will appeal to your emotions using anger, fear, love, or sympathy to take advantage of you. Stay one step ahead and be vigilant about guarding your information.

We like tech, it’s what we do. As the holiday shopping season kicks into overdrive, we are bringing you 12 of the most requested, most wanted tech gifts for 2017. Check back each business day between now and December 19^th for another must-have tech item and why you should check it out.

Nintendo knows how to get people excited, and excited they are to get the newest Nintendo console, the Nintendo Switch. The biggest draw might be the ability to play on your TV at home then remove it from its docking station and continue playing on the go as a handheld system. The console seamlessly transitions from one mode to the other, allowing you to take the game with you.

Attached to your TV, the Switch docking station connects via HDMI and gives you true HD gameplay. The controller, the Joy-Con, separates into two controllers for multiplayer or the two can be attached to the sides of the console for gaming on the go. The Switch comes with a tiny 32GB of internal storage, but that can be easily upgraded to 2TB with a micro SD card.

Unlike previous Nintendo consoles, or even the Xbox and PlayStation, the Switch doesn’t use discs. Instead, it uses small cartridges, like the games on the 3DS handheld system. At only $299.99 it’s an affordable piece of hardware with a unique array of software already available for it. It doesn’t play DVDs or Blu-rays, but it makes up for it with fun and exciting games such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey.

Nintendo has said that they are doubling their production on the Switch, so it should be in ample supply this holiday.

Happy Holidays and good luck on the tech hunt from all of us here at {company}!

The case for abandoning break-fix, volunteer-based IT support

Elementary schools are very busy places with a variety of moving parts and different departments. Administrators face a big task in making sure the needs of students, families, teachers and support staff are met. Considering this long list of responsibilities, IT support often takes a back seat to other critical tasks.

In fact, there is a growing trend in the education industry that is seeing elementary schools rely on casual, volunteer-based IT support. Instead of laying out a deliberate plan and partnering with a managed IT service provider, educational administrators are simply using break-fix, as-needed models of support, provided by volunteers or tech-savvy team members.

“Bill Can Probably Fix That” – Why Casual IT Support Doesn’t Make Sense

We get it. For busy elementary schools, IT simply isn’t the top priority – and it shouldn’t have to be. School administrators have more important things to be worrying about than making sure email is up-and-running and library computers are working. So, they get in a habit of only dealing with tech issues as they arise. Volunteers are called in on an SOS basis to address problems as they happen.

However, looking at the big picture, this approach can actually result in more work and stress for school administrators. Setting up a proactive plan with a team of strategic IT professionals can keep school networks secure and functional while making the lives of administrators easier.

It must be noted that tech volunteers can be extremely qualified professionals. It’s not at all to say that volunteers aren’t reliable or don’t know what they’re doing – it’s just that they can’t provide the same consistency and robust support that a managed service provider can. So, even though volunteers may be pretty good at answering your SOS calls, it just makes more sense to be proactive – especially in an increasingly digital world.

Let’s look at the leading ways schools can benefit from abandoning volunteer-based, break-fix IT support:

• Security & Peace of Mind

The cyber climate is more dangerous than ever and it’s evolving by the day. As cybercriminals get more sophisticated, it’s critical that organizations get more vigilant. While your school may have anti-virus and firewall solutions in place, and volunteer support may be able to mitigate minor threats, there’s something to be said for a robust and layered security strategy.

Managed service providers rely on industry best practices to implement proactive cybersecurity strategies and strategic monitoring tools. This kind of security strategy takes pressure off administrators and avoids potentially disastrous situations when volunteers are unavailable. Having a constant eye on the school’s network provides unparalleled peace of mind for busy administrators.

• Consistency & Predictability

Some of the concern around abandoning volunteer IT support is the potential impact on the budget. Education budgets are already stretched thin and there are rarely surplus funds to finance elaborate technical support. However, partnering with a fair and valuable IT service provider is actually cost-effective in the long run.

First, with managed IT services, schools avoid the downtime associated with tech failures or waiting on volunteer support. With a team of tech experts on standby, problems will be handled more quickly and employees in every department will remain productive.

Second, partnering with a managed service provider offers huge cost predictability potential. Administrators work with providers to determine what’s needed and then they have a predictable monthly cost, which ensures systems stay consistently secure and functional. No surprising tech costs or guesswork when pricing out equipment – an IT partner works to support organizational budgets.

• Strategic Optimization

Partnering with an MSP provides more than security and support. Teams of IT professionals have extensive experience optimizing tech resources to meet the unique needs of any organization. By examining how a school operates and understanding department workflows, IT providers can help administrators streamline processes and increase efficiency.

For example, email platforms can be optimized to streamline communication between office and teaching staff. Calendar integration tools can help administrators and educators organize meetings and events and keep track of important deadlines and dates. Cloud platforms can help schools organize data, collaborate on projects and reach out to students and families. The possibilities for optimization are truly endless, and having a strategic IT partner to drive that optimization makes all the difference.

• Continual Development

Finally, in a constantly evolving world of technology, it’s critical to acknowledge that things move fast. In order to keep up, schools need to embrace new resources for learning and educational administration. Partnering with a managed IT service provider is a way of keeping a finger on the pulse of tech development.

A strategic IT partner can continually consult with school administrators to re-evaluate tech strategies and ensure the latest tech capabilities are being utilized to support educational goals. From smart-boards to learning software, having a technology partner on standby helps schools stay consistently connected with technological development.

Making the Switch: How to Transition from Volunteer IT Support to Proactive Managed Services

Understanding the benefits is one thing, but making the transition is an entirely different beast. Many school administrators have understandable concerns about finding a reliable service provider who will meet their needs without overselling. However, there are a few simple strategies that can help administrative teams make informed decisions when it comes to more formal IT support.

Really, it’s is all about creating a ‘needs inventory.’ What does the current infrastructure look like and what does the school need in terms of technology resources? Is there already a reliable network infrastructure or is there a need to start from scratch? Are there dynamic software solutions in place for employees or is there a more casual and scattered approach? Once a school determines what they need from technology, choosing the right provider and resources will be much easier.

However, for administrators who are completely lost on where to start, it’s a great idea to reach out to local IT service providers to get their input on how to best optimize IT for the school setting. Consulting with experts is a great initial way to set a framework for what’s required and strategies for implementation.

We like tech, it’s what we do. As the holiday shopping season kicks into overdrive, we are bringing you 12 of the most requested, most wanted tech gifts for 2017. Check back each business day between now and December 19^th for another must-have tech item and why you should check it out.

There’s little denying that this year’s “must have” tech item must be the new iPhone X from Apple. The iPhone X (pronounced “ten”) arrives during the tenth anniversary of the original iPhone back in 2007. Apple has released their iPhone 8 this year as well, but the big dog here is the iPhone X.

Sporting a 5.8-inch, OLED super retina HD display, the screen is capable of 4K video up to 60 frames per second, stunning colors, true blacks, and a 1,000,000 to 1 contrast ratio. It’s the largest iPhone screen to date. It sports dual 12 MP cameras that use facial recognition to unlock your phone. The home button is gone and has been replaced with facial recognition.

The phone is water and dust resistant and covered front and back in the most durable glass in a smartphone. The iPhone X has an all glass and steel construction including surgical grade stainless steel. The new iPhone charges wirelessly.

If all this sounds like your cup of tea, prepare to empty the bank to get one. The 64 GB model will run you $1,000 while the 256 GB model goes for $1,150. It comes in both silver and space gray. All Apple stores, carriers, and retailers have limited stock with several not shipping until mid-December. It’s best to get your order in as early as possible.

The new iPhone a bit too pricey this holiday? Don’t worry, {company} has you covered. Keep an eye out next week for a less expensive alternative for the must-have smartphone.

Happy Holidays and good luck on the tech hunt from all of us here at {company}!