Blogs
Knowledge, advice and opinion on IT
-
Migrating to Windows 10: Should you let go of your hardware
in AllMigrating to Windows 10: Should you let go of your hardware While you can purchase and install Windows 10 in your existing PCs–the ones currently on Windows 7 OS–it is not recommended. According to Microsoft, Windows 10 has the following minimum requirements Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faste...
-
Getting the most out of technology
in AllGetting the most out of technology As a professional you are in education because you have a vocation. You have the commitment and drive to succeed, and keeping your school successful requires all of your attention. However, you didn’t go into education to be an expert in emerging technologies...
-
Windows 7 End of Life: What options do you have
in AllWindows 7 End of Life: What options do you have As Microsoft stops supporting Windows 7 from January 2020, what choices do you have as a Windows 7 user? While Windows 7 will work after January 2020– it won’t just “shut down”–as a business, you cannot afford to use the older version because...
-
Keeping everything up and running on a minimal IT budget
in AllKeeping everything up and running on a minimal IT budget We talked in an earlier blog about how not benefiting from economies of scale can hurt a small school’s abilities to take full advantage of technology. In addition to the cloud, another resource to get around these problems is the the outsou...
-
Hardware costs are barriers to growth and stability
in AllHardware costs are barriers to growth and stability Unless you are a Silicon Valley unicorn, smaller institutions, especially newer ones, usually face serious limitations to accessing the funds to finance significant capex investments. This can be a particular problem with the IT hardware necessary ...
-
Windows 7 End of Life: How does it impact you
in AllWindows 7 End of Life: How does it impact you Microsoft has officially announced the “End of Life” date for Windows 7. It will come January 14, 2020. Windows 7 was introduced in 2009 and is one of the most popular versions of Windows. It is estimated that around 40% of Windows OS is 7. So, if yo...
-
Smaller schools and economies of scale
in AllSmaller schools and economies of scale Smaller educational institutions and schools suffer from the problem of “economies of scale,” making it hard for them to stay relevant and support their mission. This is especially true in the area of IT infrastructure. Small schools need, but generally can...
-
Why Managed Service may be the way to go for your data security
in Managed ITWhy Managed Service may be the way to go for your data security Since effective cybersecurity should be a proactive effort, not reactive, this means that SMBs tend to overlook the entire issue as something that can be pushed forward into the future. One way to get around this challenge is to have a ...
-
Why Cybersecurity shouldn’t be taken lightly
in Managed ITWhy Cybersecurity shouldn’t be taken lightly Let’s start with a “fun fact”: In 1981, the first cybercriminal was convicted of hacking into the AT&T network and altering its internal clock so it charged off-hour rates at peak times. So, it turns out that cybercrime is not all that new. B...
-
Why Cybersecurity shouldn’t be taken lightly
in Managed ITWhy Cybersecurity shouldn’t be taken lightly Let’s start with a “fun fact”: In 1981, the first cybercriminal was convicted of hacking into the AT&T network and altering its internal clock so it charged off-hour rates at peak times. So, it turns out that cybercrime is not all that new. B...
-
You can lose more in a cyber attack than you can imagine
in Managed ITYou can lose more in a cyber attack than you can imagine One of the errors many smaller firms make–and some larger ones–is that they really don’t understand the broad-reaching effects of a cyber attack. If someone breaks into your home and steals a laptop, you may think “ well, insur...
-
Why Cybersecurity shouldn’t be taken lightly
in Managed ITWhy Cybersecurity shouldn’t be taken lightly Let’s start with a “fun fact”: In 1981, the first cybercriminal was convicted of hacking into the AT&T network and altering its internal clock so it charged off-hour rates at peak times. So, it turns out that cybercrime is not all that new. B...
-
Good Fences Make for Secure Data
in Managed ITGood Fences Make for Secure Data Investing in firewalls, anti-malware and data encryption software Firewalls and anti-malware tools can help you by keeping unwanted actors out of your IT network. These tools work by restricting access to only pre authorized users and these are primarily defensive me...
-
Why Managed Service may be the way to go for your data security
in Managed ITWhy Managed Service may be the way to go for your data security Since effective cybersecurity should be a proactive effort, not reactive, this means that SMBs tend to overlook the entire issue as something that can be pushed forward into the future. One way to get around this challenge is to have a ...
-
Cybercrime – Two basic routines to Protect Your Data
in Managed ITCybercrime – Two basic routines to Protect Your Data Cybersecurity is certainly not something to be ignored by organizations no matter how big or small they may be in terms of client base, staff or sales revenue. This is because cybercriminals don’t discriminate when it comes to choosing the...
-
Why Managed Service may be the way to go for your data security
in Managed ITWhy Managed Service may be the way to go for your data security Since effective cybersecurity should be a proactive effort, not reactive, this means that SMBs tend to overlook the entire issue as something that can be pushed forward into the future. One way to get around this challenge is to have a ...
-
SD WAN – What’s up with that?
in Managed ITSD WAN – What’s up with that? So what is this SD-WAN that you have been hearing about? SD-WAN, the acronym for Software Defined Wide Area Network is a new take on the traditional Wide Area Network (WAN). A standard WAN’s goal was to connect users at a branch to a main campus or central off...
-
Good Fences Make for Secure Data
in Managed ITGood Fences Make for Secure Data Investing in firewalls, anti-malware and data encryption software Firewalls and anti-malware tools can help you by keeping unwanted actors out of your IT network. These tools work by restricting access to only pre authorized users and these are primarily defensive me...
-
Think you are too small to be a cyber attack victim? Think again!
in Managed ITThink you are too small to be a cyber attack victim? Think again! A recent study pointed out that SMBs are increasingly becoming targets of cybercriminals because their cybersecurity measures aren’t as strong, sophisticated, or effective as those of large companies. Often, SMB owners tend to think...
-
SMB and Some Basic Employee Security Issues
in Managed ITSMB and Some Basic Employee Security Issues Training teams Your employees are your first line of defense. Training is a basic requirement and should be conducted for every employee. This necessitates involving Human Resources so that businesses incorporate cyber security training from the first day ...
-
You’ve been hijacked!
in AllYou’ve been hijacked! Has it ever happened to you that you opened the web browser on your PC and it looked a bit off? Then you perhaps did a Google search for something or tried to access your email only to have a dozen ads popping up or to be redirected to some other URL. Well, it means your web....
-
Your employee quit your organization Make sure your data hasn’t
in AllYour employee quit your organization. Make sure your data hasn’t When someone new joins your organization, how do you manage their onboarding? Chances are, you already have processes in place for everything. The employee paperwork is taken care of by the HR, the on-floor assistance and other train...
-
VPN 101: Remote access and safety
in AllVPN 101: Remote access and safety As we know, the Coronavirus pandemic has brought about a paradigm shift in the way businesses function. Home is now, ‘The Office’. With WFH taking root, companies and employees alike are experiencing so many benefits that it looks like it is here to stay. This h...
-
System and software updates: Why you shouldn’t be skipping them for later
in AllSystem & software updates: Why you shouldn’t be skipping them for later We all know how annoying it can be when you get a pop-up asking if you’d like to update it or worse still, your system starts to update itself. The general tendency is to put it off until the next time you log onto your...