How To Get Your Groove On This Christmas

There are many apps you can use to find the holiday music that will complete your holiday events. Microsoft Groove is one of those apps and now learn how you can use it during the holidays.

Microsoft Groove is a great way to find music that you love all year long. During the holiday season though, you can find a Christmas list that will keep you in the mood. Finding the ideal holiday playlist is very easy on Microsoft Groove and there are a few ways you can do it. The music you can find on the app ranges from classic music and holiday favorites like “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” and “All I Want for Christmas is You.” The lists you will find are hand selected making them the perfect personalized holiday music list.

The Groove Music Pass

In order to get the most out of Microsoft Groove and take advantage of the tips we will provide you with, you have to be a Groove Music Pass Subscriber. If you are already a subscriber, you can go ahead and start finding the personalized playlists that you want for the season. However, if you are not already a subscriber, you can get a free 30 day trial so you can use Microsoft Groove during the holiday season on your Windows 10 devices.

31 Days of Holiday Playlists

With Microsoft Groove, listening to holiday music has never been easier. If you do not have time to create your own playlists, you can listen to one of the playlists that they provide for you. Every day for 31 days, they will provide a new holiday playlist for you to listen to. All you have to do to gain access to the playlists is launch the Groove app and click on the explore tab. On this tab, you will see the “31 Days of Playlists” option at the top.

Holiday Album Compilations

If you want to look for holiday music another way, you can also look at the collection of popular holiday album compilations. To find these lists, you can look at the Explore tab in the Groove player. On this tab, you can type in the word holiday or Christmas to find all of the compilations for the holiday season. You can even narrow your search by including terms such as jazz, party, or other words.

Search by Artist

The last way you can find the perfect holiday playlist through Microsoft Groove is by searching for holiday music by artists. You can search for your favorite artists plus the word holiday to find new classics from your favorites. There is no better way to find holiday music that was released by some of your favorite artists.

No matter what kind of music you are looking for this holiday season, you can find it through Microsoft Groove. If you are not a subscriber, you can even listen to the app for free during the trial this holiday season. You can find all of the music that you and your family loves. Plus, you can create different playlists for different activities all holiday season long. For more information about Microsoft Groove, be sure to contact {company} in {city} via {phone} or {email}.

The Most Overlooked Causes of Data Breaches

Many people assume that when a large scale data breach occurs, some mission-critical system failed somewhere down the line. Maybe there was a hiccup in a real-time network scanning solution, or a firewall that was thought to be impenetrable turned out to be anything but. While this is sometimes the case, in reality there is usually a different cause altogether. Theories like these overlook the human factor behind it all, which is often one of the most overlooked causes of data breaches in the digital age.

The Awareness Factor

It’s also important to note that rogue employees are NOT the only ones who may do your organization harm. Even employees with the best of intentions can still fall victim to cyber attacks and intrusion attempts due to a good, old-fashioned lack of awareness.

Phishing attempts are getting more sophisticated all the time and employees have to be careful to not accidentally expose their passwords. Employees may overlook data-privacy regulations because they’re not truly aware of just how important the information they’re handling really is. Employees may use unauthorized websites or shadow IT tools out of convenience, accidentally exposing your entire business to harm.

ALL of these are very real threats in today’s world and none of them have anything to do with someone who was actively trying to hurt you in the first place.

Time Heals All Wounds… and Causes All New Ones

Another one of the most overlooked causes of data breaches has to do with employees who are overworked and overburdened, cutting corners in an attempt to get as much done as possible – and paying dearly for it.

Even something as simple as improperly configuring a security tool can leave your entire business exposed. Employees who are rushing to meet deadlines might forget to update security patches, leaving a pressing vulnerability unchecked. All of these can lead to poor security practices, which opens the door for very serious (and expensive) cyber issues moving forwards.

Passwords, Passwords, Passwords

Finally, passwords. You can set up as many intrusion detection and network scanning tools as you’d like and it ultimately won’t mean anything if the passwords your employees are using aren’t strong enough in the first place.

Think about all of the devices that are in use across your business each day. Laptops, tablets, cell phones, desktop computers and more – all of which are potential vulnerabilities just waiting to be taken advantage of by someone with the right tools and the appropriate amount of knowledge. Now, think about what might happen if your employee protected their laptop with a weak password like “Password1.”

The amount of damage that could be carried out could be catastrophic, and absolutely all of it could have been avoided by simply educating your employees on how important strong passwords are and taking steps to confirm that they’re in place with your IT department.

{company} works hard to bring you stories like these on a regular basis, helping to guarantee that you have access to all the latest news, tips, tricks and best practices that you need to run the organization you’ve always wanted. To find out more information about this or any other related topics, please feel free to contact us at {phone} or by email at {email} today.

Using Technology to Decrease the Overhead in Your Dental Practice

The use of technology to call patients about appointments and to schedule appointments online can help reduce overhead costs of a dental practice.

When you run a dental practice, looking for new ways to streamline tasks is important. When you can integrate useful technology into your practice, you can rely less on employees, and reduce the number of employee hours you pay for every week. While you can’t replace a great receptionist and a medical biller, finding ways to use technology to help your practice run more smoothly will reduce your overhead. You will be able to keep control of your billing records, decrease employee theft through the use of electronic billing, and keep your schedule full by using automated phone calls and text messages to remind patients of appointments. Technology can make a big impact on your overhead, and it’s necessary to implement the use of software applications wherever you can to keep costs down.

Patient Reminders to Reduce No Show Appointments

It’s easy to set up automatic patient reminder calls to let patients know of an upcoming appointment. While calling patients scheduled for the next day has often been left up to an assistant in the office, this task can now be set up to be done automatically through the phone system. In addition, a short message texting system can be set up to send patients appointment reminders on their cell phones. If the patient isn’t going to make the appointment, they can indicate this by returning the text or pressing a set button on the phone. This helps keep the schedule full every day for the provider.

Medical Billing With Technology

There’s always new ways to improve medical billing procedures, and it’s important to have a system that is up to date. With a solid system in place, information can be inputted when the patient receives a service or at the time they check out. The medical billing won’t be difficult when most of the information has already been inputted. While it’s important to have an individual look over the billing to make sure it’s correct, the ability to put in codes at the time of the visit is essential.

Allow Patients to Schedule Electronically

You don’t have to just have patient reminders sent by text or phone call. You can also allow patients to schedule an appointment with your office using your website, if they are so inclined. This will reduce employee time spent on scheduling appointments, and make it easier to fill in last minute spots that open up on the schedule.

Technology is constantly changing, and the more a dental practice focuses on ways to implement the use of technology, the lower the overhead will tend to be. While nothing is going to replace a greeting from a kind, helpful receptionist to a nervous dental patient, there are tasks that can be automated to make running the dental practice go more smoothly.

Why Accounting Companies Should Not Use the Cloud

The cloud can be a very beneficial business option for many industries but there are some that it does not make sense for.

The cloud has become a very popular resource for many companies but there are some industries that should not buy into the hype for all components of the business. For some, it makes complete sense to utilize the cloud and gain benefits from it. Others may run into more issues as a result.

Why Some People are Afraid of Using the Cloud

There are many companies who have resisted using the cloud simply because they do not understand it or because they are afraid of it. The cloud is a mystery to some people and it is a completely different way of running a business. Although it has been around for many years, there many be some valid reasons people are afraid of it. These are the most common fears associated with cloud use:

Security. Security is a huge component of cloud usage that can be focused on but never really guaranteed. Many companies are scared of using the cloud because they do not know what type of security comes with it.
Losing Control. When you use the cloud, you are effectively moving data that you store on site to cyberspace. Doing so can seem like you no longer have any control over your information. Losing control is a real fear especially with some providers locking customers in and holding their data hostage.
Performance. In some industries, performance is a huge value addition and when things are moved to the cloud, you may not have any control on the performance of the system. This can slow you down and even change the way you do business.

When You Should Not Consider the Cloud

There are many situations that can result in not getting the best results from the cloud. That doesn’t mean you cannot eventually use the cloud but you may want to wait a few years. The cloud is not a fit if you fall into any of these categories:

You need to have hands-on access to data or equipment. Some industries rely completely on being able to interact with their data and equipment. If your company falls into this category, having complete control over your data is imperative and using the cloud does not make sense.
You need custom, on-site applications. If you need access to custom applications to get your business done, most of the cloud providers will not be able to provide this to you. You should stick to what you currently have and build from there because it will be a more solidified system.
You want to pay for a server every 3 years. When you use the cloud, you usually have to pay the provider on a monthly basis based on usage and your package. If this does not sound like a feasible financial move for your business, it is not a good fit. Instead, you should continue to pay for a new server every three years.

Why the Accounting Industry is Not a Good Fit

An accounting business falls into at least two of these categories and it does not make sense to use the cloud. Many companies have their own applications to get the work done and they need to have full access to data at any given time. That does not mean that the cloud will not be a good fit later on but if your accounting business operates the way the industry does, the cloud will not provide you with any benefits.

For more information about using the cloud and to help determine if it is a good match for your business in {city}, be sure to contact {company} by {phone} or {email} today.

The Rise of Cyber Attacks and How to Protect Against Ransomware

Cyber attacks are on the rise and cyber security is becoming more and more difficult to grasp. With ransomware attacks steadily increasing, these tips can help you better protect yourself.

In the ever-evolving digital landscape, ransomware attacks have emerged as a significant threat. Their frequency and sophistication are on the rise, making them a concern for businesses and individuals alike. The reality is, that even with the best protective measures in place, complete immunity from such attacks is challenging. However, this doesn’t mean you should resign to the possibility of becoming a victim. Instead, it underscores the importance of understanding how to protect against ransomware and taking proactive steps to fortify your digital defences.

Ransomware is a type of malicious software that encrypts a victim’s files, holding them hostage until a ransom is paid. The consequences of such an attack can be devastating, leading to the loss of critical data, financial damage, and significant disruption of operations. Therefore, it’s crucial to adopt a multi-layered approach to security that not only focuses on prevention but also on mitigation and recovery.

Ransomware Attacks on the Rise

No one wants to be the victim of a ransomware attack but according to data recently released from Kaspersky Lab, the number of people who have been attacked has more than doubled in the last quarter. In Q3 of 2016 alone, there were 821,865 victims of ransomware. This does not include other types of cyber attacks. Not only that, but the number of people who have been attacked has been steadily rising during 2016 and does not show any sign of slowing down.

Ransomware attacks occur when a cyber attacker hacks your system and takes hold of your files. They will not allow you to access your files in any way unless you pay them a “ransom” that will allow them to release the files back to you. This is not only inconvenient but also can be very dangerous. With attacks happening more frequently, it is best to take steps to better protect yourself.

What You Can Do to Protect Yourself

Even though it is scary how many attacks are happening these days, that does not mean you do not have a way to better protect yourself from them. One of the best ways to protect yourself is by having software installed that will prevent attacks from ransomware and malware while also notifying you of potential threats. You can purchase packages that are monthly and yearly. If you have protection on your devices, it is much more difficult for someone to target you. Other things you can do to protect yourself include:

Backing up your devices so you can have access to them no matter what
Updating software whenever available so you have the best protection
Practicing safety when communicating with people you do not know
Ignoring emails that are spam and not clicking the links within them.

Securing Your Digital Future: The Fight Against Cyber Attacks

In the face of escalating cyber threats, particularly the rise of ransomware attacks, proactive defence is not just recommended, it’s essential. The path to robust cybersecurity involves more than just installing protective software; it requires cultivating an environment of cybersecurity awareness, maintaining up-to-date systems, and implementing regular data backups. The menace of ransomware is indeed real, but by staying informed and vigilant, you can significantly mitigate your risk and ensure the security of your data.

Remember, in our increasingly digital world, resilience against cyber threats is paramount. At Inspired IT, we’re committed to helping you navigate this complex landscape. If you’re looking for comprehensive solutions to protect against ransomware and other cyber threats, we’re here to help. Reach out to us today, and together, let’s fortify your digital defences.

HoloLens Now Available in Australia

Augmented reality is taking the world by storm and Microsoft just recently launched their flagship device, the HoloLens, in Australia. The future is bright for augmented reality and it will be interesting to see how it develops.

Augmented reality as taken the world by storm. There have been games, devices, and more that have focused on bringing augmented reality to the masses. Microsoft is no different and has recently made HoloLens available in Australia.

When They Became Available

These augmented reality headsets began be shipped in November. They came with a pretty lofty price tag at $4,369 per headset for the development addition. The commercial suite edition is even more expensive at $7,269 per headset. Microsoft is still taking orders from Australian developers and consumers. they opened up for pre-orders in October ahead of the release date so they could begin shipping them as soon as they became available. There are likely already some HoloLens in Australia already with the shipping deadline to begin in November.

What is HoloLens?

HoloLens have been available to developers in the US marketplace in March. Some major companies have already found some commercial applications for the new technology. Some of these companies in the US include NASA, Airbus, and Audi. The HoloLens device is not like a virtual reality device, which has also been popular on the market. Instead, it is a headset display. It shows holographic images in translucent lenses. This design allows anyone who is using it to interact with digital creations in the real world. Common consumers have seen an example of this in the popular game, Pokemon Go. HoloLens is a much more advanced version and have many different capabilities for businesses in the modern world.

How Long Has it Been in the Works?

HoloLens has been something that Microsoft has planned since January 2015. Many companies have focused on virtual reality headsets and Microsoft went in the other direction toward augmented reality. HoloLens is not an accessory but is instead referred to by Microsoft as a holographic device. Augmented reality is not just something that Microsoft has been working on, as shown by the recent popularity of Pokemon Go. However, it is something that can completely change the world as we know it. Before long, it may even be used in military training. The options are endless and as the technology is improved, it will also become more affordable for many companies to utilize. In Australia, Datacom is the first Australian development to open an augmented reality practice bases on the product. They have even used a demo that shows how HoloLens can be used by other dealerships to exhibit a holographic car.

What is Next?

Technology innovations never cease to amaze the world. Just a few years ago, it was hard to even image something like augmented reality as something that could be real. However, today we see that it is something that will be everywhere in just a few years time. It is already on many personal devices if people are playing Pokemon Go. So what is next? What can we expect to find around the next corner in the technology world? Only time will tell but it is sure to be something exciting that can help our world improve in many different ways.

The HoloLens is already available in the US and now Australia. If you are interested in learning more about HoloLens and how you can use it to grow and develop your company, be sure to contact {company} in {city} by {phone} or {email} today and learn the possibilities.

Time is up for Office 2007 Updates

After 10 years, Microsoft is phasing out support for many of their 2007 products, including Office and Exchange — are you prepared for the switch?

Still using Microsoft Office 2007? Microsoft will cease offering support for this and related products in fall 2017; this phase out includes extended custom support agreements as well. What does this coming change mean for you, your business and your clients?

What Does the Coming Change Mean for your Business?

2017 will see the end of support for some of their most visible and used products, from Office 2007 to Microsoft Exchange Server 2007. Microsoft has shared a detailed list of the products being eliminated for your reference; upgrading to another operating system now or switching to a more recent version of Office can help you avoid complications from the phase-out.

Computers, networks and workstations still running Office 2007 may be reaching the end of their useful lifespans; the new phase-out makes the coming year an ideal time to reevaluate your needs and equipment. Making plans now for upgrading or moving away from these older systems can help you avoid trouble later.

This round of phase outs will likely not be the last; Office and Exchange 2010 will likely be phasing out support in the coming years as well. Making 2017 a time of upgrading and reevaluating, including technology replacement and system upgrades.

Even larger customers who have custom support agreements will see support come to an end by October 2017; in the past, Microsoft has allowed enterprise customers to pay a significant fee to continue receiving custom updates after support for a legacy product has ended.

What’s so Bad About Outdated Software and Technology?

When you use obsolete software or technology for your business, you waste time and money, and potentially put your business at risk. When your software or operating system is outdated and no longer supported, you won’t be able to find the help you need for even simple problems. A lack of security patches and updates could put you at risk for malware and ransomware as well. Keeping your technology up to date ensures you don’t run into downtime or end up losing your valuable data.

If you are still using Microsoft products with “2007” in the name for your {city} business, we can help. Taking a proactive stance and upgrading now allows you to sidestep the problem and ensures your business continues to operate worry free. Contact {company} at {email} or {phone} to learn more about upgrading your outdated software and obsolete technology and to find out how we can help your business save time and money in 2017 and beyond.

Microsoft is Adding 3D Paint to Windows 10

Microsoft has introduced a preview of 3D Paint and the results are amazing. The entire way people interact with Paint is going to change in a positive way.

If you have ever enjoyed the Paint app provided by Windows, your experience is about to get a lot better. Microsoft has just introduced a small preview of a 3D Paint app that will be part of the Windows 10 operating system bundle.

When Can You Expect to Have Access?

Since the new app is only part of a preview, it is not available to every just yet. The expected release with the bundle is set for March 2017. The addition of this new app is designed to attract more creator types and will be a standard component of the system. If you are a Microsoft insider, you may already have access to the preview and can begin testing it out for yourself.

What Have People Discovered with the Preview?

The preview is only available in English but three have already been some leaked features that people are enjoying. First, the move from 2D to 3D is impressive. You can change a 2D object into a 3D one with the app and even create one from scratch. The app makes it very easy to complete the task and you can use all kinds of new tools such as oil brushes, watercolors, and even smudge the paint. The app is also connected to Remix3D.com so you can pull inspiration from there. On the website you can even showcase your own artwork.

Paint Isn’t What it Used to Be

Paint has come a long way in recent years and you can now create very realistic looking graphics Your design can come to life in no time at all with these updated textures and materials. You can even create your own MEME’s with 3D stickers that will appropriately fit around objects. Once you have access to the app, you will want to go crazy creating emojis and other items with pictures of your friends. When you doodle, like you probably did for many years with the original app, those doodles can come to life. They will become 3D and you can really do anything with them.

3D Paint is changing the face of the creative comoponent of Windows. You may have to wait until March 2017 to enjoy it but it will be worth it. For more information, be sure t contact {company} in {city} via {phone} or {email}.

The Importance of Protecting Your Phone Number

A cell phone number is a powerful thing and can lead to potential security breaches.

Your cell phone number is connected to a lot of things. If you are like most Americans, you have it connected to your social media accounts, bank accounts, and more as added protection. If you are using your cell phone this way, you need to think twice before you give your number to anyone. It may seem harmless but in today’s world, it can be just as dangerous as giving someone your bank account number.

Unlike a social security number, a cell phone number is not a protected piece of information. This means that while companies are legally required to protect your social security number, they are not required to do the same thing with your cell phone number. About ten years ago, people had home phones more than they had cell phones. The opposite is true today. More people today will have the same cell phone numbers and social security numbers for their entire lives. This poses a huge security threat.

Some investigators argue that a cell phone number, when combined with a name, is even more powerful than a social security number. This is due to the fact that it is connected to many different kinds of databases and it is connected to a device you have with you at all times. Because of these facts, it is important to change the way you protect your cell phone number. You should never provide it to a database unless it is required. Be careful of who you give it to because you do not know what they will do with it.

Protect your cell phone number just like you would your social security number. If you would like more information about how this can affect you in {city} contact {company} via {phone} or {email} today.

Intelligent Business Applications To Accelerate Your Business’ Digital Transformation

Transform Your Small Business With Intelligent Business Applications To Make Life Easier

Is your business halted by precious time filling out invoices? Are you struggling with organizing your workflow outside of the office? Or do you need smarter ways to handle your databases? Intelligent business applications may hold the key to unlocking technology solutions that will make your business stronger and run better.

From expense trackers, to conferencing scheduling services, mobile desktop operation or workflow assignments, it’s easier to accelerate your business through digital transformations. Cloud services offer tailored apps that allow you to target individual business needs such as operations, sales automation, reporting and customer interaction. With a grounding in advanced analytics and more intelligent computing, utilizing business applications will allow you to push forward through the stumbling blocks of traditional brick and mortar business operations.

Microsoft has spent years and billions of dollars of investment on artificial intelligence research focused on individual and organizational achievement. This has been embodied in products like Office 365, Bing Predicts, Skype Translator and Dynamics 365 that help to improve office function, accelerate supply chain management, streamline operations and move more goods and services through the selling process. Built-in intelligence capabilities in Dynamics 365 in particular, allows this application to highlight consumer behaviors, predict services and responses, gather relationship insights, score leads and opportunities and promote cross selling.

Microsoft has also branched out to offer intelligent business applications geared towards specific fields or industries, such as its Dynamics 365 for Customer Insights offering which provides more customer focused analytics abilities across CRM, ERP, web social and other digital sources allowing you to enhance your engagement and performance. A further development to Dynamics 365 focuses on a common data model which allows users to build their own custom apps via a professional developer system.

The same common data model is used in partner solutions, allowing your business the easy opportunity of extending your capabilities further within your industry to the function of specific apps in its AppSource.

Implementing intelligent business applications into your organization puts you on a more competitive technological field. Using these solutions in your business can do away with many of the clunky processes that can severely slow down transactions and workflow and cost you precious time and money. The administration of more intelligent business applications offer both physical and economical benefits that can help to ensure your company’s long term success in a vast digital world.

When You are Using an Android Smartphone for Business, It’s Time to Reconsider

Hackers getting into your Android devices through a pre-installed backdoor can get full access to your smartphone and potentially computer network

If you are using an Android smartphone in business, you may want to think again.

BitSight just reported that certain Android smartphones are vulnerable to hacking, as the Over-the-Air update mechanism is insecure. This potential for hacking is reported in lower priced Android devices, particular from Best Buy and BLU Studio G.

This finding means that almost 3 million people throughout the world using Android smartphones are at risk for being attacked by a hacker accessing their phone remotely. This is possible because they have discovered a pre-installed backdoor that contains root privileges. This allows the hacker to gain complete control of the phone.

The OTA mechanism that is prone to hacking is found in phones made by Ragentek Group out of China, and the hidden binary contained within provides information to the hacker regarding the user and sets up the potential for the hacker to use the device as a privileged user.

This flaw in the Android devices has been hidden well, using a number of techniques to ensure that the binary wasn’t uncovered.

A person who wants to hack your Android smartphone can gather all of your personal information off of the device, erase your device remotely, and then use the information gathered to access your business database in order to steal further information.

With close to 3 million devices that have been discovered that contain this dangerous rootkit, the outcome could mean a disaster for many Android users. This has been a recurring problem for Android smartphones, as this is the second time this week that investigators have uncovered pre-installed backdoors on Android devices. These devices are sending huge amounts of data to servers in China, and the set up allows your system to be run remotely.

Three Great Ways To Ensure You Capture Useful Feedback On Your Website

Many businesses gather and utilize customer feedback in their business strategy to ensure the products and services they produce meet their customers’ needs. Integrating customer feedback helps with client communications and management, and in developing better products and services at the same time. We’ve identified three main ways to gather client feedback from your website visitors, email, of course, being a main method for gathering data on the customer experience. And, although it’s an immensely valuable method of securing honest feedback from customers, many organizations neglect to consider the customer experience when designing email channels. There are three things you should take into consideration when communicating with customers via email:

Ensure you respond to customers in a speedy fashion. A recent study found that 81% of customers would be more likely to leave feedback if they thought they would get a rapid response.

Develop an organized system by which customer feedback is handled. Keep track of what feedback you have received and from whom you received it, and use this information to guide future customer interactions.

Follow up on all correspondence in an honest and open manner. Surveys are very challenging to develop; however, they can provide extremely useful insights. Test long and short surveys to find out which are the most effective in providing the feedback you need. Tools like Qualaroo are great for short surveys, while Survey Monkey is ideal for longer questionnaires.

Further Customer Feedback Methods

Customer interviews provide direct feedback from your customers and allow you to develop a more personal relationship with them. When planning the customer interview process, it can be useful to focus on user attitudes toward the problems they typically encounter and employ a critical incident method to encourage customers to recall specific problems.

To quote Justin Wilcox, writing in an April 2016 article for CustomerDevLabs.com,

“Instead of being stressed about what the customer is going to think about my idea, instead of fumbling over my words and worrying about the perfect way to pitch my product, a customer interview isn’t about me, my product, or my words. It’s about theirs. All I have to do is listen. No pitching, no negotiating, just ask a handful of questions with a sincere interest to learn.”

HelpScout.net has a helpful article on the subject entitled, “The 7 Best Ways to Gather Customer Feedback”. Besides those we already mentioned, its list includes such avant-garde customer feedback methods as:

Usability Tests
Exploratory Customer Interviews
Social Listening
On-site Activity (via Analytics), and
Comment Boxes

That should give you a lot of food for thought on how to get your own customer feedback system up and running as part of better customer communications management (CCM) and optimizing your overall customer experience (CX).

If you have any further questions on the subject, customer relationship management (CRM) and CCM specialists at {company} can help you. Just call us at {phone}, or email us at {email} for more information.