• Search for:
    11Mar, 2024
    Outpace Competitors with AI Assistance in Microsoft Teams

    Your time is valuable as a small business owner, and you constantly juggle multiple priorities. While collaboration tools such as Microsoft Teams have become essential for keeping employees connected, trying to make sense of all the day-to-day chatter and discussions happening across different channels and conversations can sometimes feel overwhelming.

    It’s still in its infancy, but Microsoft Teams now offers an AI assistant called Copilot that can help you stay on top of everything by analyzing conversations and extracting only the most critical insights and action items.

    Many businesses are still determining how AI could help, but Copilot has proven helpful for streamlining tasks. It has yet to be completely rolled out, but it may interest clients who wish to remain at the cutting edge.

    Here’s an overview of what it can do.

    Summarize Discussions in Real Time

    Have you ever left an extended Teams meeting only to realize later that you can’t recall all the agreements and next steps that were discussed?

    Copilot listens in on your audio and video calls, takes notes in real-time, and automatically generates summaries at the end highlighting the top 3–5 most significant topics. This helps ensure nothing falls through the cracks.

    Gain Context for Past Conversations

    Need to revisit a discussion from last month but need help finding the right message thread? Copilot’s AI-generated summaries provide overviews of past conversations so you can quickly get up to speed. Its search tool makes it easy to locate specific past discussions.

    Capture Insights from Meetings

    Instead of wasting hours re-watching lengthy recordings after the fact, Copilot’s summaries can capture valuable insights, questions, and action items that emerged from your meetings. You can even ask Copilot clarifying questions to learn more about the topics discussed or get additional context on decisions made.

    Streamline Administrative Tasks

    Do you find yourself bogged down with repetitive follow-up work such as compiling notes, generating reports, or answering the same questions over and over? Copilot handles tasks such as compiling notes and answering repeated questions, freeing up your time. Its natural language understanding means you can type requests such as “summarize last week’s sales discussions” and get a written report back immediately.

    Access Information Anywhere

    Copilot integrated directly into Teams works no matter where you are: on a laptop, tablet, or phone. You can check summaries and search past conversations from your phone during your commute, or access meeting recaps and ask Copilot questions while traveling for client meetings. Its mobility means your information is always at your fingertips.

    Does the prospect of regaining hours each week from these types of productivity gains and information access sound appealing?

    Reach out, and we can register your interest in the CoPilot rollout to our clients.

    As a managed service provider, we always aim to give our clients a technological edge in business, and CoPilot could be a big one.

    28Feb, 2024
    Stop Fighting IT Fires, Start Growing Your Business

    As a busy entrepreneur, you’ve got plenty on your plate without adding “IT firefighter” to the mix. Between ransomware, aging systems and shadow apps, tech issues burn hot. Discover the top strategies proven to finally put out the flames for good in this quick read. Including:

    • The biggest fires plaguing businesses (+ how MSPs douse each one)
    • Why constant overwhelm threatens profits (+ a solution)
    • Partnering with experts so you can focus on what matters

    It’s time to call the pros. Download “Don’t Battle IT Fires Alone” now to say goodbye to tech fires for good. Click here to claim your copy – no email required!

    11Dec, 2023
    Small Breach, Massive Fallout: The Danger of Inadequate Security Measures

    In our modern, highly interconnected world, it’s crucial to recognize that even minor computer security issues have the potential to rapidly escalate into significant problems.

    This article provides an example of the chain reaction that can occur when even minor computer security issues are not addressed.

    The Domino Effect of a Leaked Password

    Imagine a user’s password was leaked due to a security breach on another service. This seemingly minor issue can be the starting point for a significant security breach.

    Let’s delve into how this can escalate into more significant problems.

    Step 1: Access to Email Account

    According to a recent survey conducted by Google, a staggering 65 percent of individuals admit to reusing passwords across multiple websites, if not all of them.

    A hacker can access the victim’s email account if the leaked password is the same as that used for the victim’s email address. Once inside, they can access all incoming and outgoing messages, contact lists, and any sensitive information stored within the account.

    Step 2: Exploiting “Forgot Password” Features

    Once hackers control the compromised email account, they can exploit the “forgot password” feature on other online services. By initiating password resets, they can intercept the password reset emails sent to the compromised email address. This allows the hacker to change passwords for other online accounts, effectively locking out the rightful owner and gaining unauthorized access.

    Step 3: Unauthorized Access to Other Services

    With access to the compromised email account and control over password resets, hackers can gain further unauthorized access to a wide range of services linked to that email address. This includes social media accounts, online banking services, e-commerce platforms, and cloud storage.

    From here, they can gather privileged information about the victim, such as bank account numbers and tax records, which will help with further attacks.

    Step 4: Further Exploitation and Damage

    Once hackers have access to these accounts, they can exploit them differently. This could be to steal money, conduct fraudulent transactions, or use these compromised accounts to launch more sophisticated phishing attacks against people who know and trust the victim.

    Preventing Escalation: The Importance of Robust Security Practices

    It is crucial to adopt robust security practices to prevent minor computer security issues from escalating into major breaches. Here are some key measures to consider.

    Strong, Unique Passwords

    Using a strong, unique password for each online account is vital. A strong password should combine uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Consider using a password manager to store and generate complex passwords securely.

    Two-factor authentication (2FA)

    Enabling two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security. With 2FA, even if a password is compromised, hackers would still need a secondary verification method, such as a unique code sent to a trusted device, to gain access to an account.

    Regular Security Audits

    Perform regular security audits of your online accounts and systems. This includes checking for suspicious activities, reviewing privacy settings, and updating software and applications to their latest versions, as updates often contain security patches.

    Security Awareness and Education

    Invest in educating yourself and your team about computer security best practices. Stay informed about common phishing techniques, regularly update your knowledge on emerging threats, and exercise caution when interacting with suspicious emails, links, or attachments.

    Timely Response to Security Breaches

    Take immediate action if you suspect a security breach or notice suspicious activities. Change passwords and seek help from a managed service provider to assess and mitigate any potential damage.

    Conclusion

    Minor computer security issues can quickly snowball into significant problems if not addressed promptly. Reach out to us today to learn how we can prevent minor issues from becoming big ones. Call us at 941-447-8582

    30Jun, 2023
    How Much Does Data Loss Really Cost?


    “Contrary to what many may think, very small organizations are just as enticing to criminals as large ones, and, in certain ways, maybe even more so.”  — Verizon’s extensive Data Breach Incident Report 2022

    You always hear how data loss has a significant impact on businesses, especially small businesses.

    Yet, how much does it really cost?

    IBM and Ponemon Institute’s 2022 report put the cost for a SINGLE data record lost at $164 or $4.35 million per incident in total.

    Our latest eBook explores:

    • Why data loss costs so much
    • What causes data loss
    • Best practices to protect your data

    Instant Access to the ebook How Much Does Data Loss Cost? today!

    26May, 2023
    Tackle These Four False Assumptions about Cyber Attackers

    There’s one big assumption about cyber attackers that we regularly refute: “It can’t happen to me.” At this point, most businesses do recognize the serious nature of the cyberattack threat. Yet other assumptions about cyberattackers may also make your business vulnerable. Educate your employees about these four main misconceptions. Raising their awareness can help secure your systems against social engineering attacks.

    Start with the assumption that any technology is 100 percent safe. This is as misguided as the idea that your business won’t be a victim of a cyberattack. Some employees may believe that Google and Microsoft activity is always secure. That’s not the case.

    Google and Microsoft have massive market shares, and it makes sense that bad actors target their cloud storage and content distribution. Once they’re in, they have ample opportunity to scam people.

    Another false assumption is that threat actors go in blind with a scatter-shot approach. In fact, many social engineers do their research first. They learn what they can about your employees, your org chart, and what your business does. This helps them to develop more credible attacks.

    Cybercriminals take the time to build rapport before initiating an attack. They may send unassuming conversational emails first, which helps them lull your people into seeing them as a trusted source. After establishing false security, criminals make an urgent request or plea for help.

    Counter these misconceptions too

    Cyberattackers may also make their play over the phone. So, don’t assume that your online interactions are the only thing to protect. There are hundreds of thousands of “vishing” threats every day. The bad actor may send an email without any malicious links or attachments, but there’s a number to call. If your employee calls in, they’ll talk with a convincing criminal. The bad actor might act as a call center or customer service agent.

    Also warn employees against the assumption that responding to an existing email is always safe. It is much easier than they might think for someone to hijack a colleague or client’s email inbox. Then, the criminals use a pre-existing email thread to send a malicious attachment or URL, or use the connection to ask the employee to perform some action for the threat actor.

    Finally, emphasize the point that anything is fair game. Cybercriminals will attack anyone, in any way they can. This includes leveraging current events, pop culture, and even international health crises. One campaign exploited victims by offering early access to Season 2 of the streaming success “Squid Game”, and during COVID lockdowns, hackers offered free masks or free tests to get people to download infected files.

    There is money in cybercrime – a lot of it. The bad guys are highly motivated and always looking for new ways to exploit human weaknesses. Discuss cybersecurity assumptions with your employees and put protective measures in place to secure your IT. Our experts can help. Contact us today at 555-5555.

    Tackle These Four False Assumptions about Cyber Attackers

    There’s one big assumption about cyber attackers that we regularly refute: “It can’t happen to me.” At this point, most businesses do recognize the serious nature of the cyberattack threat. Yet other assumptions about cyberattackers may also make your business vulnerable. Educate your employees about these four main misconceptions. Raising their awareness can help secure your systems against social engineering attacks.

    Start with the assumption that any technology is 100 percent safe. This is as misguided as the idea that your business won’t be a victim of a cyberattack. Some employees may believe that Google and Microsoft activity is always secure. That’s not the case.

    Google and Microsoft have massive market shares, and it makes sense that bad actors target their cloud storage and content distribution. Once they’re in, they have ample opportunity to scam people.

    Another false assumption is that threat actors go in blind with a scatter-shot approach. In fact, many social engineers do their research first. They learn what they can about your employees, your org chart, and what your business does. This helps them to develop more credible attacks.

    Cybercriminals take the time to build rapport before initiating an attack. They may send unassuming conversational emails first, which helps them lull your people into seeing them as a trusted source. After establishing false security, criminals make an urgent request or plea for help.

    Counter these misconceptions too

    Cyberattackers may also make their play over the phone. So, don’t assume that your online interactions are the only thing to protect. There are hundreds of thousands of “vishing” threats every day. The bad actor may send an email without any malicious links or attachments, but there’s a number to call. If your employee calls in, they’ll talk with a convincing criminal. The bad actor might act as a call center or customer service agent.

    Also warn employees against the assumption that responding to an existing email is always safe. It is much easier than they might think for someone to hijack a colleague or client’s email inbox. Then, the criminals use a pre-existing email thread to send a malicious attachment or URL, or use the connection to ask the employee to perform some action for the threat actor.

    Finally, emphasize the point that anything is fair game. Cybercriminals will attack anyone, in any way they can. This includes leveraging current events, pop culture, and even international health crises. One campaign exploited victims by offering early access to Season 2 of the streaming success “Squid Game”, and during COVID lockdowns, hackers offered free masks or free tests to get people to download infected files.

    There is money in cybercrime – a lot of it. The bad guys are highly motivated and always looking for new ways to exploit human weaknesses. Discuss cybersecurity assumptions with your employees and put protective measures in place to secure your IT. Our experts can help. Contact us today at 941-447-8582.

    25May, 2023
    Supercharge Your Business Operations with our ChatGPT AI Cheatsheet

    As a business professional, you have probably heard that AI is changing the game. That’s why I wanted to share our ChatGPT cheatsheet with you.

    With real-world examples, our cheatsheet shows how ChatGPT can help your business. From hiring to sales and marketing, AI can optimize your operations and help give you a competitive edge.

    Don’t miss out on this opportunity to harness the power of AI for your business. Download our ChatGPT Cheatsheet now and unlock the potential of AI in your operations.

    Download the cheat sheet here – no email required!

    If you have any questions, feel free to reach out. We’re here to help! 941-447-8582

    All the best,

    Doug MacDonald, The Document Warrior

    21Mar, 2023
    8 Signs you need new IT support

    When your IT provider isn’t providing the quality support you can experience:

    • Lost employee productivity
    • Security breaches
    • Lost business revenue
    • Low return on IT investment
    • Employee turnover
    • Business downtime
    • Drop in reputation with customers

    None of these are good. Learn eight indicators that you’re suffering with subpar IT support. These include poor communication, suffering outages again and again, or seeing your business lag behind the competition.

    Don’t settle. Sure, change is difficult, but you don’t want to be held back by these IT provider issues. For Instant Access and no email required, Download 8 Signs You Need a New IT Support Provider to make sure you’re making the best choice for your business.

    2Mar, 2023
    Top 10 Ways to Find Cyber Security Gaps

    You may trust that you’re protected against cyber security flaws. Yet you need to take proactive steps to find and close any security gaps that put you at risk. Our infographic shares 10 top strategies to identify weaknesses and take action. 

    The advice includes:  

    • Monitor infrastructure 
    • Audit cybersecurity policies
    • Train employees 
    • Develop a disaster recovery plan
    • Consider third party/vendor risk
    • Partner with a managed service provider

    The systems you build and networks you maintain are inevitably vulnerable. Cut your risks today. Call Douglas MacDonald, SWFL Regional Account Manager at 941-447-8582.

    7Feb, 2023
    IT Services Agreement or Block Hours Support: Which Is Best for a Small Business?

    There are many types of IT support available for a business, and the two most common are “managed services” and “block hours support.” In this article, we’ll look at what these are, the advantages and disadvantages of each, and which one might be right for you.

    What Is Block Hours Support?

    With block hours support, you pre-pay a single provider for a certain amount and type of service. It’s usually a “block” or fixed number of hours, but it can also be a fixed dollar amount or an amount for a specific project.

    What Are the Advantages of Block Hours Support?

    Block hours support is usually cheaper than hiring your own staff. The provider has skilled staff with up-to-date training, so they can quickly and efficiently handle your needs. Your provider can also give you a bulk discount when you purchase more hours at a time.

    And with a block hours agreement, you pay only for what you need. For example, you can save money by maintaining only the infrastructure and staff you need when you need it. That allows you to avoid a closet full of expensive hardware that you thought you were going to need or staff that don’t have enough to do.

    What Are the Disadvantages of Block Hours Support?

    Block hours support is what’s called a “break/fix” type of service. In other words, your provider isn’t usually involved until you have a problem. You wait until something goes wrong, and then call your provider to fix it.

    That doesn’t give you the advantage of constant monitoring and management that can prevent problems before they start. That’s especially important for things such as cybersecurity, where it’s best to detect an attack and prevent damage instead of trying to fix it.

    In addition, everyone’s IT operations are unique, so it helps to have someone who’s familiar with your setup when you need help. But a block hours support provider usually can’t guarantee that you’ll always get the same technician or even the best technician for your job. That means your service might be slower or less effective than a more comprehensive approach.

    Reacting to a problem after it occurs also means you could experience more downtime. It could be hours before your provider can respond to your call and fix the problem. If you can’t afford to wait, you probably need a more proactive solution.

    What Are the Advantages of a Managed Services Agreement?

    With a managed services agreement, you typically have the option of more comprehensive services. For instance, instead of just reactive troubleshooting, your provider can continuously monitor and manage your processes such as cybersecurity.

    They can also provide more “premium” services, such as more comprehensive management and even strategic planning.

    What Are the Disadvantages of a Managed Services Agreement?

    Compared to “block hours support,” the main disadvantage of a managed services agreement is cost. Your contract will usually be a fixed monthly fee, which you pay regardless of whether you use any services. Typically, larger organizations use more services, so this isn’t an issue for them, but for smaller businesses, it could be that contracting for managed services is overkill that could cost you money.

    Which Solution is Right for You?

    Block hours support works well if you don’t have a very large or complex operation, and you can afford the downtime you might experience when a problem arises.

    Larger organizations can take advantage of premium services to help them save more on their operations.

    Want help assessing your outsourced IT needs? Give us a call at 941-447-8582.

    7Feb, 2023
    4 Tech Trends to Know About for 2023

    A new year is an opportunity to start afresh. This is also true for your technology initiatives. Your business can begin 2023 on the right foot by considering these important IT trends.

    #1 Cloud migration

    The pandemic pushed businesses to work remotely. Even those that said they’d never work from home saw benefits. Now, with cloud computing battle-tested, many offices are choosing to remain remote or at least hybrid, even though they could now go back.

    So, expect the move to the cloud to continue for businesses looking to enjoy:

    • increased productivity and output;
    • ability to scale up and down as needed;
    • capital and space savings;
    • consistent user experience across devices;
    • easier upgrades and security patching, as IT teams can manage this all in the cloud.

    Migrating to the cloud also brings sustainability benefits. Cloud data centers are more energy efficient than on-premises IT infrastructure.

    #2 Automation

    Any opportunity to streamline processes can support competitive advantage. That’s why many digitally savvy businesses are embracing automation.

    Improve human capital use by automating workflows that take abundant employee time. You can free up employees to work on higher-value initiatives. Plus, you can reduce the risk of human data entry or data processing errors. You’ll also cut the security risk from human involvement with sensitive data.

    Platforms such as Power Automate and IFTTT (IF This Then That) make it simple.

    #3 Multi-factor authentication

    The days of securing business technology in a single, contained setting are gone. With digital transformation, businesses are growing more diffuse. People want to access business systems from any device, whether in the office or off-site.

    Yet the old approach of trusting that the user, device, or application is who or what it claims to be no longer works. Frequent data breaches prove the importance of avoiding repeating passwords across sites. Hackers can use leaked credentials to get access and take action in a business network.

    Multi-factor authentication (MFA) makes that compromised access more difficult. The bad actor needs to have the username and password to a separate device for verification.

    As MFA gains momentum, expect to see more use of password managers and authenticator apps. Managers keep and secure all the unique, strong passwords people need to make. Authenticators help verify users are who they say they are.

    #4 Optimizing IT budget

    This is not a new trend, of course. Still, with the uncertain global economic outlook for 2023, it is a higher priority. As inflation and rising costs hit businesses, optimize IT budgets to align with your goals. This can improve user and customer experience, and help you corral costs.

    Many businesses reach out to managed service providers (MSPs) for help reducing spend. Our IT experts can also help you to migrate to the cloud, automate, and secure your systems. Contact us today at 941-447-8582