The odds are pretty good that you’ve heard of Bitcoin. The odds are also high that you heard about it because of two facts. The first is that it is that ransomware encrypts, or locks, your files and requires that you pay in Bitcoin to unlock them. The second (and related) fact is that the…
Category Archives: Technology Tips
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What is Bitcoin?
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It’s 10 O’Clock – Do You Know Where Your Business Data Is?
There was a time, decades ago, when most computerized business data was on a single computer (likely a mainframe), and the only way to access it was a terminal inside of the building. Those days are long gone. It started when desktops became common – business data was stored on many computers at that point. …
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Hardware Refresh Cycles: They’re Expanding
Good news: you probably don’t need a three-year refresh cycle on company desktops and laptops anymore. There are plenty of reasons that hardware refresh cycles are expanding. More and more software is operating through the cloud – the server does all of the calculations, and sends the results to the user’s desktop or laptop. Most…
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Counterproductive Technology Changes
We recently wrote about server replacements, one area of technology where CEOs should be involved in the decision making process. Another area where CEO’s should get involved: decisions that change the core, day-to-day software that your employees are using. That’s not to say that it’s not a good idea to make major changes in the…
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GDPR Increases Data Security Requirements On Companies Doing Business in the EU
The European Union (EU) has for decades been more stringent on data security and privacy than the United States. A new regulation is going into effect in May of 2018 that bolsters these protections even further, increasing the amount of security required to safeguard EU citizens’ data. This regulation applies to anyone collecting information on…
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The Perils of Long-Term MSP Contracts
How confident are you that your company will have similar technology needs two years from now as it does today? Most small and mid-size businesses have little certainty around what circumstances they will face in two years’ time. Despite this, there are all sorts of commitments that have to be made over a years-long timeframe. …
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iOS 11 and Email: A Reminder of the Dangers of Brand New Software
With more than 700 million iPhones in use, it’s easy to think that when a new version of iOS (the phone’s operating system) is released all of the major problems will have already been ironed out. Despite the best efforts of software designers, however, it’s impossible to know how the software will work for everybody…
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The Most Useful Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts can save a few seconds here and there, but if you add that time up, the most productive ones can save you hours of your life. Unfortunately, most keyboard shortcuts lists are full of complex shortcuts – it’s impossible to remember these lists, and even if you did, most of them don’t save…
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Passphrase – The Less Frustrating Cousin of a Password
Computer passwords are a double-edged sword. If you make it too complicated, you’ll forget it. On the other hand, if you make it too simple, it’s relatively easy for anyone in the world to crack, and data theft is extremely common. In fact, it’s so common that most programs won’t let you have a short,…
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Three Questions to Answer Before You Spend a Penny on a Server Replacement
Server replacements only come around every five years or so for most companies, which is a good thing given the high costs of replacing them. And while the servers themselves are expensive, they represent only a fraction of the costs incurred. Replacing a server generally means upgrading to new operating systems, often with new hardware…