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Simple Ways to Go Green and Save Green!

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Simple Ways to Go Green and Save Green!

How Green is Your Business?

In today’s world, everyone is making a stronger effort to recycle and save, both individually and on a business level. The great thing about “Going Green” is that it doesn’t just benefit the environment, but it can also benefit the bottom line for your business. Here are some easy ways your business can go green:

  • Tune-Up Your Technology

The great thing about computers and technology these days isn’t just their speed and capabilities, but also their power efficiency. Updating your work stations with new technology will not only save you on your utility bill, but it can also save you in the long run on maintenance and updating for your older systems!

  • Trade in the Paper for Digital Filing

Digital document management systems have come a long way, as well as the benefits they can offer your company when it comes to efficiency and security. Cloud system services and secure servers not only eliminate the cost and waste of paper and ink, but they also offer a faster filing system that is also easier to navigate for employees. Digitally organizing your documents with these services also cuts down on the threat of your files being lost or stolen.

  • Bring the Office Home

Many businesses are using the abilities of cloud solutions to work remotely from home. This cuts down on several costs and environmental hazards. Along with saving on gas and travel time, this also helps eliminate vehicle emissions. On top of that, companies save a ton of money when it comes to rent, overhead and utilities to operate an office.

Apple Might Be Working On Universal Apps Across Mac, iOS

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Apple has been quietly working on something called “Project Marzipan” for a couple of years now, and it appears that they’re getting closer to unveiling it.

The company seeks to bring its MacOS and iOS platforms closer together by developing universal apps that will work in either environment. This mirrors Microsoft’s Universal Windows app strategy, where apps can detect the environment they’re running on and adjust their display and navigation accordingly.

Project Marzipan presents some real challenges for Apple because MacOS programs use an entirely different set of development tools, although there is some overlap. The programming language called Swift, for example, can be used to make apps that run in either environment and if the company placed a greater emphasis on it, the process of creating their own universal apps would be greatly simplified.

The thinking behind Marzipan seems to be driven by the company’s desire to breathe new life into the Mac App Store, which hasn’t seen nearly the level of success as their iOS Store. The move would be a boon to developers because creating a common platform would allow Mac app developers to get their product in front of more potential customers.

Another potential reason is that the company may be planning to ultimately merge MacOS and iOS into a singular operating system that runs every Apple product. It’s a compelling theory, but the company has said nothing to confirm it.

In any event, if Apple goes ahead with Marzipan, and at this point, all indications are that they will, then we can expect a public announcement to that effect at next year’s World Wide Developer Conference. The first of the universal apps should appear not long after that, although the process of merging the two app stores and building out a robust collection of universal apps could take more than a year.

Researchers Find Malware Targeting Industrial Systems

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In the malware ecosystem, few strains are more terrifying than those that target industrial control systems. Think Stuxnet, Industroyer and IronGate. Recently, security researchers from FireEye have identified a new threat in this class of malware. Alternately called “Triton” or “TRISIS,” this new code targets Triconex Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) controllers, which are manufactured by Schneider Electric. These control systems are found in a wide range of industrial equipment. They are, in effect, the gears that keep the machine of modern industry moving.

So far, there’s suggestive evidence that at least one state-sponsored attack has been carried out using the new strain of malware, although neither the identity of the target of the attack nor the organization responsible for it have been disclosed. All we know for sure is that the attack was launched against an industrial concern in the Middle East.

The code base of the new threat utilizes the TriStation Protocol, which is a proprietary tool used by Triconex SIS products. There is no public documentation available for the protocol, which suggests that the hackers who developed the malware must have reverse engineered it.

A spokesman for FireEye had this to say about the code in general and the recent attack:

“The attacker gained remote access to an SIS engineering workstation and deployed the Triton attack framework to reprogram the SIS controllers. During the incident, some SIS controllers entered a failed safe state, which automatically shut down the industrial process and prompted the asset owner to initiate an investigation.

The attacker deployed Triton shortly after gaining access to the SIS system, indicating that they had pre-built and tested the tool, which would require access to hardware and software that is not widely available.”

The real danger of software like this is that it can reprogram control systems to ignore when equipment begins operating beyond normal operating parameters, which can lead to physical damage to critical infrastructure.

If deployed against a power station, for instance, it could result in widespread blackouts. If deployed against a nuclear installation, it could send the reactor into a meltdown.

Threats like these are becoming more common by the day, and with hundreds of millions of controllers deployed around the world, it’s just a matter of time before the hackers succeed at hitting close to home.

Always Connected Laptops Could Be The Next Generation Of Hardware

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What’s the next big thing for the PC world? If the industry’s major players have anything to say about it, it will be the “always-on” PC.

Forget about plugging into your company’s network. Forget about free WiFi Hotspots. With an always-on PC, you won’t have to worry about either. If they’re not available, your PC can connect via the same cellular data network your smartphone uses, which means you’ll always be just a few mouse clicks away from your data.

It sounds fantastic, but there is, of course, one giant wrinkle in the equation: cost. More specifically, although several major hardware manufacturers are planning to sell always-on PCs soon, nobody knows how much the data plans will wind up costing in the longer term.

A few telecommunications companies have already given some indications here. T-Mobile has announced that its ONE unlimited service will be available for $20 a month. AT&T’s rates are significantly higher, charging $30 a month for 3GB of DataConnect data, and Verizon is charging $10 a month per gigabyte of data.

Depending on how much data you’re working with, that can get expensive very quickly. You could easily wind up paying more on your data plan than the PC itself set you back, and that’s before taking into account what impact the recent reversal on the Net Neutrality policy may have going forward.

One thing’s for certain: carriers won’t be able to get away with charging too much for the service, or customers will simply opt not to play the game, preferring to continue to flock to free WiFi hotspots as they’re doing now.

The first always-on PCs will start shipping in 2018, at which time we’ll find out how anxious the market is to embrace the new feature, and what kind of premium they’ll be willing to pay for it. Stay tuned.

Are Your Employees Working or Web Surfing?

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Productivity: Is the Job Really Getting Done?

Surfs Up, Productivity Down?

The growing trend of employees inappropriately using Internet access to check personal email, social media and browse the web is costing local businesses valuable project time, money and overall productivity. In fact, recent studies have shown that as much as 80% of employees are using the Internet at work for purposes that have nothing to do with work.

Browser Blind

A major issue with employees wasting productivity on surfing the Internet comes from businesses not properly monitoring and restricting Internet access. The damage from employees surfing the web is furthered as employees damage the reputation of their employer by browsing inappropriate content or posting damaging information to social media, as well as the threat of downloading harmful viruses and leaving critical business and client information at risk.

The Cost of Time Lost

The age of employees has no affect on the ability to waste time by browsing the web. Studies show that older employees spend work time managing their finances or reading news, while younger employees are distracted by social media. Furthermore, you are the one footing the bill! With the average employee losing 2-3 hours of work time on inappropriate Internet usage, companies are losing thousands of dollars!

How to Elevate Employee Productivity

The combination of an Internet usage policy and a monitoring system is the first step to eliminating inappropriate web surfing. Even with a policy and restrictions in place, it’s not enough. It comes down to enforcing your policy and taking actions to reprimand employees who violate the company policy. The combination of knowing they are monitored and that the consequences of abusing company resources is real, is the best way to ensure your employees are working when they are at work!

How Will the End of Net Neutrality Affect My Small Business?

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You may not realize it, but the end of net neutrality is a serious concern for small businesses. Larger companies will now have an advantage over small ones.

What is net neutrality?Net Neutrality

According to Google, network neutrality is “the principle that Internet service providers should enable access to all content and applications regardless of the source, and without favoring or blocking particular products or websites.”

What does it mean now that net neutrality is dead?

Internet service providers can now decide which websites and apps they will allow access to, as well as, the speed at which they will run. Now, service providers can make companies pay a fee in order for their website to run faster. It turns a level playing field into a skewed one, especially for smaller businesses. Not only will this affect companies, but internet users, as well. It is possible that we might have to pay to use a certain website or to make it speed up.

How will it affect my small business?

Smaller businesses have always had to compete with larger corporations and it hasn’t always been an easy task considering that large corporations have more means. But, they did find relief when it came to the internet because they always had an equal playing field. Now that net neutrality is dead, internet service providers will be charging fees that small businesses just won’t have the money to pay. That means that their websites will run slower than the corporate giants which will result in irritated customers. You have to admit that when your internet is running slow and you’re trying to do some online shopping, most of the time you just throw in the towel. Then, you continue your online shopping at a later date when the internet is back on track. Well, this is how it’s going to be every day for smaller companies. It won’t be as easy to take a quick glance at the menu of your favorite, local restaurant. You won’t be able to as easily buy that product from a mom and pop e-commerce site. The end of net neutrality could have some serious repercussions for small businesses.

Understanding Managed Services

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Understanding Managed Services

Managed Services – Proactive IT Support

The IT Support buzzword of today is “Managed Services”. It’s a concept that’s picking up increasing traction and for a very good reason. Every day, more and more businesses are evolving from a reactive IT model to a proactive IT model to save money and run more efficient operations.

But what does the term “Managed Services” actually mean? And how can you tell if an IT Support company is truly offering Managed Services or just using the buzzword as a marketing tool? With all the options out there, it’s important to know the difference between actual Managed Services and flat rate services merely packaged as Managed Services.

By definition, Managed Services allow businesses to offload IT operations to an IT service provider, known as a Managed Services Provider. The Managed Services Provider assumes an ongoing responsibility for 24-hour security, network monitoring, management and problem resolution for the IT systems of a business within a given timeline. This timeline is often referred to as a Service Level Agreement. (SLA)

The History of Managed Services

It all started with the Break/Fix Model. Meaning, you waited for your computer system to have a problem. It broke and you called someone out to fix it. Hardware and software companies wrote monitoring and logging systems into their programs, which enabled after-the-fact pointers to aid in resolution. Technicians would read through these logs, or use diagnostic tools, to see if an error was captured and then they’d work on resolution.

This model required an error to happen, then for the error to be reported by client, then for the technician to drive to the site and pour over logs to identify the issue. At best, this process took multiple hours to resolve. But often times, the error was no longer happening by the time the technician arrived and the logging had already been overwritten.

Over time, technology improved. Protocols such as Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) and others were developed to keep better records for longer periods of time. These protocols were then used in real-time monitoring and alerting systems.

These systems now allow for 24/7 alerting and even remediation before or when the event is happening.  Modern tools allow us to detect failures in a system well before the system actually fails. It also allows us to perform preventative maintenance and security measures during scheduled times to avoid negative impact on the business.

Does My Company Need Managed Services?

Fortune 500 companies are not the not only companies that require efficiency and effectiveness. A whopping 80% of small businesses fail within their first five years and much of that failure is related to inefficient use of technology. As reliance on IT grows and systems become more complex, the need for comprehensive IT support will only increase exponentially.

If your company falls behind on proactive maintenance, backups, asset management and security – the odds of system failure increase and so does the likeliness that you’ll face an IT-related issue that negatively impacts your business.

For instance, if your phone system, accounting package, customer relationship management system, email or network system were to go down, you’d be facing impacts like marred credibility, embarrassment, decrease of office morale, diminished productivity and/or financial loss. Often times, businesses only focus on the financial side of this equation and miss the much bigger impact of client and employees trust.

Managed Services vs. The Break-Fix Philosophy

The Break/Fix Model actually rewards the IT Provider. In that, they make money when the system fails! For this reason, you might find that they’re only treating the symptoms rather than solving the real problem. In the Managed Services model, however, it is in everyone’s best interest to never have an issue.

Managed Services also create a philosophical shift in the way a business deals with its technology. Instead of following the old-school tradition of Break/Fix, there’s a proactive focus on keeping systems running optimally and moving maintenance to after normal business hours, so employees and clients are not affected.

In today’s business environment, no business has the time or can take the risk of running the Break/Fix Model. The costs of downtime in relation to the full and actual loss of productivity is just too high. The full and actual loss shows itself in security risks, client embarrassment, low employee morale and many other negative potentialities. Businesses must realize they are technology dependent and work to become technology strategic.

Does Managed Services Cost More Than Traditional Break/Fix Services?

Actually no! Surprisingly, most Managed Services cost less than traditional Break/Fix services, especially when you consider the true cost of downtime. 24/7 network and security monitoring, proactive maintenance, immediate access to Help Desk Support Engineers and the prevention of major issues allow a Managed Services Provider to be more efficient than a Break/Fix company who is constantly making you wait while their rolling a truck to visit customer sites. Therefore, the Managed Service Company can offer a “better” service and actually cost much less.

The Real Benefits Of Managed Services

Put in simple terms, one of the biggest benefits of Managed Services is discovering and fixing problems before they can negatively impact your business.

Prevent Issues
A proactively-serviced computer network will always run better than the alternative. A “managed” network will make a tremendous impact in all aspects of operations. You will reap the benefits of fire prevention rather than constantly fighting them.

Reduced Costs
Businesses are better able to control and reduce their overall operating costs thanks to the flat-rate billing structure of the Managed Services model. By contrast, issues often go unreported and unresolved in the Break/Fix Model as companies attempt to avoid big bills. This usually results in issues growing worse and costing more to fix.

Help with Vendors
Managed Services Providers also manage all of your vendor relationships, issues with internet slowness/outages, printers, phones, cell phones, websites are dealt with directly with the vendor by the Managed Service provider. As a result of this “always-eyes-on” network monitoring 24 hours per day, businesses experience an additional level of comfort and security.

What to Look for in a Managed Services Company

Choosing the right IT Provider can literally keep you from being one of the 80% of small business that fails. Below is a list of essentials for hiring a Managed Service Provider.

  • Do they take a consultative approach to partnering with you? Many IT companies sell products that don’t have your best interest in mind. They push whatever is most profitable or happens to be the “flavor of the day” rather than what’s best for your company.
  • Do they have a full team of experienced professionals? There is often strength in numbers. Small teams can only provide limited support in terms of client load and skill sets available.
  • Do they have a fully staff Help Desk? In the Managed Services model, issues can be resolved remotely about 75% of the time. You don’t want to wait for someone to drive to your location (and bill all of that time) for an issue that can simply be resolved in minutes remotely.
  • Do they have a Full Team of Field and Project Engineers? You need a partner that can handle the next big thing so you don’t get left behind.
  • Do they have a real Remote Monitoring and Management Tool (RMM) with trained staff to manage the product? Many IT Providers are just using the language and don’t really have the essentials to pull it off.
  • Do they offer a comprehensive offering of solutions? Today’s systems are largely integrated. Therefore, having the same vendor is paramount in quick problem resolution. For instance, the overall knowledge and needs can also be taken into consideration when sizing a data circuit, phone system, website and office printing equipment.
  • Do they offer Fixed Rate Pricing? The Fixed Rate Pricing Model puts the burden on the IT Provider to perform well and quickly. Whereas the Break/Fix Time and Material Model has no real penalty for making mistakes and moving slowly.
  • Do they finger point at other vendors? Finger pointing often clouds the issues and prolongs the problem.
  • Do they use Geek Speak? Every industry has jargon, but using Geek Speak does not end in clarity for all parties. It often is a sign of weakness on the part of the IT provider.
  • Do they try to lock you into long-term contracts with no way out? Often times, a bad decision with long terms can be disastrous.
  • Do they offer Money Back Guarantee if they don’t perform? Both parties having accountability or “skin in the game” is essential to a good partnership.

The list could go on and on. But the most important things to look for in a Managed Service Provider is someone that has experience in the business, is widely reputable and who really understands your needs. Your business is probably the single most valuable asset you have and you don’t want to put it at risk.

How Fast Can You Be “Backup” And Running?

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How Fast Can You Be

Data Disaster Averted

Having appropriate data backup solutions isn’t the only concern when it comes to an IT disaster for your business. Depending on what your method of data recovery is, in the event of a data loss event, you could be putting your business on hold as you put the pieces back together.

Not all Data Recover is Created Equal

While there are multiple methods for data backup solutions, they aren’t all a safe choice. While hard copy backup solutions such as flash drives and servers are great for recovering from minor disaster events, they don’t save you in the event of a fire, burglary or a server crash. This brings about the importance of having an offsite solution such as a cloud system that can be accessed even when your physical office cannot be.

The Data Backup Delay

The other primary challenge of ensuring you have a proper disaster recovery plan in place is business continuity. Having data backup services in place aren’t enough, you also have to take into account the time needed to get things back up and running again. When using in-house servers and flash drives to backup files, you automatically put yourself at risk for a long reboot process. Files, software and documents must be uploaded from these devices and this could take hours or even days. This results in lost work time and money. Having an off-site backup system, such as cloud services, allows employees to be able to continue their work from home, even if the office and its servers are not accessible. This also eliminates any lost time in your services or project work.

Businesses Make Assumption That Bank Security Keeps Their Money Safe

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security-265130_1280To the surprise of many business owners, banks often cannot reclaim money stolen from accounts due to fraud or cyber crime. That means when a hacker, phishing attack or identity thief strikes, they have no chance of getting that money back. Business owners would also do well to remember that the FDIC is not a fraud fighter. The FDIC insurance is to protect against bank failure, NOT fraud. So if a debit card or account information gets accessed by a hacker and it isn’t noticed within the same day, that money is as good as gone.

To ensure that this financial fate doesn’t fall upon your company, here are FIVE essential rules to protect your business.

1. Mums the Word on Passwords. This is a simple but often overlooked precaution. Make sure that you and your employees change passwords on a regular schedule. Don’t use the same password for multiple accounts. And be sure that all passwords are complex.

2. A Firewall Can Keep You From Getting Burned. Don’t assume because you are a small business, hackers will just pass you by to hit up the big guys. Your network is at just as much risk as any business. The truth is, hackers attack the easiest prey, and without a firewall, that prey is YOUR BUSINESS.

3. Use a “SAFE” computer. Banks store money in safes/vaults, and you should do the same with your digital financial information. Designate a single computer to use for your online financial transactions. That means this computer is for bank uses and only bank uses (NO email, web surfing, Facebook or other social media).

4. Schedule a daily data backup. Always be sure to backup your computer network and files. Systems, such as cloud based technology, offer regular offsite backups for your network. If it can be stolen or corrupted, you want to be sure you have a spare.

5. Knowledge is power. Educated employees can be one of your best defenses. They can also be your weakest link if you aren’t prepared. Be sure that your entire staff is educated on the DO’s and DON’Ts of network and data security.

Many Businesses Found To Be Running Old Microsoft Office Versions

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When an operating system reaches the end of its supported life, such as Windows XP, NT and Vista have, it’s big news. It makes headlines. When other forms of software reach the end of the line, there’s just not as much fanfare. It’s not that it’s not important; it’s just not something people think or care very much about.

They probably should, at least according to a recently released survey by Spiceworks, which revealed statistics that were both shocking and dismaying. Here are a few of the highlights:

• Fully 68 percent of businesses surveyed are still running instances of Office 2007, in spite of the fact that the software stopped receiving security updates in October

• Nearly 50 percent (46 percent to be exact) are still running Office 2003

• 21 percent are still running Office 2000

• 15 percent are running Office XP

• And three percent are amazingly still running some instances of Office 97

Of particular interest was the fact that most of the firms running outdated software are mid-sized companies employing between 100 and 1000 people. Large companies have the resources to keep their software up to date and smaller firms, recognizing their lack of resources, have readily moved to embrace Office 365, which is always up to date, and thus, saves them money and headaches.

Those firms stuck in the middle, though, and possibly your own company, find themselves in a tricky position. They’ve invested heavily in productivity tools, they found themselves in the unenviable position of not having the resources to keep them fully updated, and of course, are reluctant to lose their investment by switching to Office 365.

It’s undeniably a balancing act, but the reality is that if your company is using outdated productivity tools, your risks of a breach are higher than they should be. It’s something that’s too important to gloss over or delay. If you’re using an outdated version of Office or other productivity tools, find a way out of that box as soon as is feasible. Your data security staff will thank you for it, and it’ll give you peace of mind.

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740 Greenville Blvd. SE., Ste. 400-374
Greenville, NC 27858

Phone: (252) 565-1235