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While we’re halfway through a (thankfully) quiet Atlantic hurricane season, that’s no reason to let your guard down. Not only are we approaching the peak of the season, there are countless other natural disasters that can harm your business’s IT network at any time of the year. Ideally, of course, you would have completed your…

There are three critical elements you must have in place to quickly recover your data and IT system in the event of disaster. Yet did you know that most businesses don’t even have one of them? A natural disaster, server crash, ransomware attack or other data-erasing event can mean catastrophe for your business. So when…

Cloud computing has great advantages, but its vulnerabilities can affect even the biggest tech names. When a network of internet of things (IoT) gadgets like routers, DVR machines and closed-circuit TVs can take down hardened, well-provisioned internet giants like Twitter, Spotify and Amazon—as happened October 2016—you’ve got to think twice before moving your data to…

Many businesses were impacted by the hurricanes of recent years, from Harvey and Irma in 2017 to Florence and Michael in 2018. Those that ultimately recovered had one thing in common—they were prepared ahead of time. While we can’t prevent or anticipate all disasters or threats to our businesses, hurricane preparation plays a huge role…

No matter how “bomb-proof” we make your network, you and your employees can still invite a hacker in if you click on a link or open an attachment in an email sent by a cybercriminal. While some spam is obvious (can you say, “Viagra at a discount”?), others are very cleverly designed to sneak past…

Is your computer plugged in? Do you use a power strip with a surge protector? If so, you are a heartbeat away from disaster and don’t even realize it. Believe it or not, the same electricity you depend on to run your computer and network is also one of the biggest threats to your equipment,…

Let’s face it—your business has more competition than ever. And they’ll eat you alive if you fall behind in today’s technology arms race. Maybe your network needs greater security. Or you haven’t yet taken advantage of new cloud-based apps that help your team get more done in less time. Today, the action is in the…

The old saying that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is especially true in the world of technology. Computers rarely stop working overnight; in most cases, there are early warning signs that problems are brewing. These 10 red flags are surefire warning signs that you need a professional to investigate your…

Despite high-profile digital security breaches showing up in the news nearly every week, most people assume they’re safe from attack. The thinking goes that while Fortune 500 corporations like J.P. Morgan, Sony, Tesco Bank and Target have lost millions of dollars in data breaches in recent years, my business is far too small to justify…

As you prepare your 2017 tax return, you’ll likely use email to send personal information to your accountants or other financial professionals. But as you sort through your inbox, can you tell the difference between a legitimate email and a scam? With tax season right around the corner, we generally see an increase in reports…

While it’s impossible to plan for every potential scenario, a little proactive planning and proper network precautions will help you avoid or greatly reduce the impact of the vast majority of cyber identity theft you could experience. Make Sure Your Backups Are Encrypted It just amazes me how many organizations don’t have the security of…

You’re ready for Hurricane Irma… but how about your business technology? It’s not too late to protect your computers and data from the impending storm. Here are some quick steps you should take NOW to minimize possible downtime due to storm damage. Check your data backup system to make sure it’s working. Do a test…

We’ve heard the stories about electronic protected health information (ePHI) being misused or released to the public. But did you know that mere lack of protection itself can put you in violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)? In 2013, Idaho State University agreed to pay $400,000 to the U.S. Department of…

You sit down at your desk, log on to your computer… and are greeted with a brazen message: YOUR COMPUTER AND FILES ARE ENCRYPTED. YOU HAVE 96 HOURS TO SUBMIT PAYMENT OR YOUR FILES WILL BE DESTROYED. You’ve been working on a project for two days. But when you frantically search for your files, they’re…

Technology makes it easier than ever to monitor your business when you’re not around. You can view live video feeds from surveillance cameras, set your building’s internal temperature, even turn off the lights when the closing crew forgets. It also makes your business more vulnerable to a web-based attack. And the newest threat targeting that…

Congratulations – you’ve made the wise choice of backing your data up to a secure off-site facility! But how do you choose the right firm to perform this very important function? If your data is important enough to back it up to a secure off-site facility, you shouldn’t trust that job to just anyone. Here…

It has recently been discovered that the Yahoo network was compromised back in 2014, resulting in the breach of over 500 million user accounts. If you have a have a Yahoo account, you should consider yourself at risk and take action immediately. The first concern is the ability of the thieves to use Yahoo passwords…

Facebook’s algorithms to suggest friendships often bring to light convoluted yet amusing coincidences. You might see an acquaintance from high school reach out to a colleague at your workplace, or perhaps a long-lost love knows a fellow daycare parent. But these algorithms can also have a troubling side if your profession requires client confidentiality, as…

When the livelihood of your organization depends on data stored in your computer network, you simply cannot afford to leave anything to chance. Data preservation and the ability to retrieve it at any point in time is the foundation of business continuity. Yet the facts about backup failures are shocking: According to the Boston Computing…

Do your employees bring their own smartphones, tablets or laptops to work? If your company is like most these days, they do. And that raises a whole new security risk to your computer network. One of the best strategies your company can employ to defend against this emerging threat is what’s known as “web content…

Thank you for joining me for the second part of our technology business planning series.  Last month we focused on the user experience and how planning to upgrade those components increases user productivity, lowers costs, and supports a healthy and happy workplace environment. Read the previous article, “5 Simple Technology Solutions to Help Ensure Your Workplace…

We know that technology should help us perform more efficiently. But, how often do you wait until a hardware or software failure forces you to reevaluate the right tools for you and your business? Do you know the financial and well-being repercussions of waiting until it’s too late? Consider implementing the following five technology solutions now…

Do You Have the Right Technology to Maintain Privacy & Minimize Data Breaches? Do you collect and maintain sensitive information (e.g. name, address, DOB, SSN, credit card or bank account information, private health information)? Do you want to minimize your risk of data breaches? Not sure where to start? With technology’s rapidly changing landscape and so…