What you Need to Know About Ransomware: What it is and How to Combat it

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All sorts of dangerous malware and viruses exist on the internet. These nasty bugs cause all sorts of issues on a personal computer once a system is infected, from slowing things down to outright ruining the hard disc. But there’s also another kind of infection which isn’t mentioned as often: ransomware.

Ransomware is malicious like the aforementioned bugs, but as the name implies, it tries to hold a PC hostage. The payload accomplishes this by disguising itself as a benign program but once run, attempts to lock down specific processes on a PC or the system entirely. In some cases, the malware will claim the identity of an authority figure like the FBI, warning you of illegal material on the infected hardware. In other cases, users will be attacked and told their compromised programs will only be unlocked after they pay a fee. Read more. . .

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How to Avoid Malware

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Malware avoidance is something every business needs to be aware of. Malware has many different forms that include viruses, spyware, and adware, all of which can range from a mild annoyance to complete system breakdown. Even more damaging than that is the potential of data breaches and sensitive information theft. That can cost you thousands of dollars and you might not be able to recover.

So what can you do to avoid malware affecting your Highland Park business?

Be internet aware

If a website asks you to install new software, you need to check that you know what it is, what it does and where it’s coming from. If you’re not sure, don’t install it. It’s better to be cautious than to download a virus. Read more. . .

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How IoT Affects your Small Business

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Everybody has heard of the Internet of Things (IoT) by now and if you haven’t, it’s time to catch up. Basically, the IoT is the idea that all the technology we use every day will eventually be connected to the internet for easy control and access. It’s not just futuristic anymore; it’s here – even in Highland Park – in ways that have crossed over from leisure and sport and into business.

Here’s how IoT could affect your company.

Boosts efficiency

The ability to connect more devices to the internet can allow your business to develop more efficient and effective practices and it’s not just for large businesses. Many SMBs are looking to upgrade their systems and equipment to include smart machines. Read more. . .

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6 Benefits of Outsourcing Your IT

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More and more companies are turning to a Managed Service Provider (MSP) to oversee their IT infrastructure.  It’s a common theme among business topics – and here’s 6 ways that joining them could benefit your business.

Keeps you competitive

Most SMBs can’t afford the expensive up to date software packages that larger businesses have as a matter of course. Outsourcing your IT can help your business to keep up with bigger companies and provide access to the same level of expertise that larger firms have on hand, giving you a competitive edge. Read more. . .

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5 Reasons To Consider A Unified Communications Solution

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A unified communications system (UCS) uses cloud software and technology to provide all forms of communication you need; telephone systems, text, online chat and video calls, internet protocol television and emails can all be included in your package. Having a UCS means that you can receive a voicemail and choose to access it as an email or through your cell. Communications can be one to one or one to many.  Basically, a good UCS can provide everything you company could need communications wise. Read more. . .

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Cloud Email Solutions for Your SMB

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While “the cloud” has often been joked about as some nebulous network of unknowns and mysterious workings, it’s actually brought many businesses into the age of modern productivity. Cloud services offer many benefits to a company, big or small, because of how much strain they can remove from infrastructure. One such example we’ll discuss in this article is an email solution. This management of communication can help streamline functionality for any tech-reliant corporation, despite being a smaller aspect of company function. Since communication is important for any business, it stands to reason an efficient cloud solution makes this process better. Read more. . .

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How Hybrid Cloud Solutions Can Improve Your Business

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Cloud computing is rapidly becoming the default for business, and has evolved to meet growing demand. One of the ways this has been done is through the introduction of hybrid services as companies are realizing they need more than one method of meeting customer needs. Hybrid cloud computing is a system that uses both public and private cloud services.

The public cloud is owned and operated by a third party for use by other businesses and individuals. It consists of hardware, storage, backup services, tailored business apps and interfaces needed to run a company online. Read more. . .

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Why Your Business Needs Collaboration

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It should come as no surprise that from a company perspective, management and workers have to maintain a fine tuned approach towards communication to operate efficiently. Collaboration is a part of every successful business plan. From the days of phone calls and faxes to the modern text or video message, functional communication is crucial to have successful infrastructure. The term is generally referred to as collaboration, and here are a few great reasons as to why it’s so significant.

Thanks to modern tech, spreading the word from employee to employee is much easier. So, having collaboration elements means easier methods to get people on point. In other words, a company will suffer if management can’t communicate well with another component of the business.  When you need to deliver a file, is it as simple as sending an instant email, or a needlessly lengthy ordeal? When the simple things become problems, communication is suffering. Read more. . .

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5 Signs an Email is Spam

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We’ve all done it. We’ve all looked in our inbox and seen an email we weren’t expecting and clicked open, only to find it’s full of adverts or Nigerian princes offering us millions of dollars. Hoaxes like these are often called forms of phishing. Hackers send out mass emails to as many addresses as possible knowing that a small percentage of people will fall for the scam.

Over the last few years, spam email has become more and more sophisticated, appearing as letters from our banks, online shops and even government agencies. The best outcome is that it’s wasted our time and is deleted. The worst; financial and personal information is stolen as a virus works its way through our infected device. While easy to fall for, here are 5 things too look for to find out whether an email is spam: Read more. . .

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Benefits of BYOD

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The idea of providing one’s own tech equipment in a corporate environment may not seem like an ideal concept. Factors like security post a big external threat when it comes to BYOD (bring your own device). A non-approved piece of tech certainly has the ability to compromise on-site security and gain access to information they shouldn’t have access to.

However, there is a silver lining to personal devices allowed on company grounds. While it’s not necessary to suddenly make all devices useable or work within network infrastructure, there are some costs to be saved with a little leeway. Read more. . .

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