Tech Prognosis Blog Technology Tips for Businesses in Round Rock, TX

How To Keep Your Computer Network Up, Running, And Problem FREE

September 10, 2019June 17, 2019 by techprognosis

In order to stay ahead of the constant threats posed by cyber attacks, keep their customers satisfied, and stay profitable, businesses and organizations have to make sure that their computer networks are up, running, secure and problem-free.

Are you frustrated with on-going computer problems – slow machines, error messages, viruses, spyware, printers not working, applications crashing, and other issues that drive you nuts? You are not alone!

Several small and medium sized business (SMB) owners struggle with this problem all the time, primarily because of resource constraints – small staff, limited budget, and the high cost of hiring a skilled IT expert etc.

But there are those who have figured out a way to completely ELIMINATE those problems from cropping up, finally and forever…and it didn’t cost them a dime.

The Best Way To Deal With A Computer Problem?

4 Tips For Getting the Most Out of Your Technology Investment

September 11, 2019October 12, 2018 by Daniel Ihonvbere

Keeping technology simple, a culture of continuous improvement, and the Tech Prognosis IT Support service are some ways to make a good technology investment.

How many times have you purchased new software or hardware, and avoided the help menu or user manual? Experts reason that about 90 percent of all features included with software go unused! Much of this comes down to lack of training for individuals using the technology – they use what they know and need most, and avoid anything that would require study or practice to implement. It’s human nature to take the path of least resistance, but with a little motivation you could better benefit from the money spent on technology for your business.

Network Connectivity Troubleshooting – Part Two

September 11, 2019October 8, 2018 by Daniel Ihonvbere

This is part two in this series for network connectivity troubleshooting. Confirming the connectivity with the Internet was the focus of the first steps in our process. We now continue with the remaining steps to help you discover what the problem with your Internet connection might be.

1. Check functionality. Once the network cable has been confirmed to be working correctly, we need to see if the router is working correctly. Since you have already unplugged and re-plugged the router in and rebooted both it and your PC, that should have taken care of any automatic configuration issues that might have become hung up. High speed Internet providers can change the network address (also called the IP address) of your router at any time. This usually requires a re-boot of your router (and sometimes of your PC) in order to pick up that new address and begin communicating. Also, there are other network addresses that are used to get outside to the Internet that are automatically configured as well, but we will deal with those in a later step.

Eight Ways To Keep Your Small Business Secure

September 11, 2019October 2, 2018 by Daniel Ihonvbere

Whether it is in Round Rock, Hutto, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Leander, and surrounding cities, how do you keep your small business or organization secure?

If you own and operate a small business in Round Rock and surrounding cities, lowering costs is an important part of keeping your company in the black. Cutting costs on your IT budget could inadvertently compromise your company’s security.

Even though small businesses may not have all of the resources that large corporations do, they are still just as vulnerable to the same security threats. Here are some ways to help keep your small business secure:

1. Keep Your Business Secure by Purchasing Anti-virus Software

Every computer is vulnerable to the wide variety of viruses, trojans, and worms that are on the Internet. These malicious software programs can do anything from damage your computer and files to steal your password and other important information stored on your computer.

To keep your small business secure, purchase a good anti-virus software program and make sure that it is always up to date. Also, check to see that your anti-virus software checks for spyware, adware, and any other type of malware that could be hiding on your computer.

Know Your Computer Network Before Hiring An IT Service Provider

September 11, 2019September 21, 2018 by Daniel Ihonvbere

Do You Know Your Computer Network? The often overlooked and sometimes taken for granted software and hardware that make things happen daily for your business or organization. The computers and laptops, servers and switches, firewalls, the power strip etc. How much of your computer network environment do you actually know?

First of all, it is a fact that the cost of doing business has made it a tough going for many small organizations. Therefore, as CEOs of small businesses and Executive Directors of nonprofit organizations are contemplating how to keep customers, employees and donors happy, a lot of offers are bound to be presented, all promising to save cost and provide I.T. nirvana.

For that reason, before you throw the doors open for service providers to come to your environment and start mucking around, it may be a good time to backup for a minute and take time to ask yourself these few questions:

Do you know what you have, in terms of computer network infrastructure?

Do you know your hardware and software?
If the answer is no, maybe or not sure, start the documentation process now. You should know your network devices, operating systems and software programs.
Do you know the difference between a home router and an enterprise router?
If you are using consumer brands like D-Link, Netgear, or Linksys routers to connect your commuter network devices, the answer is probably “No”.
While such routers are great to connect home networks to the Internet, they are probably not the best option for most midsize businesses. Almost all of these types of routers do not have capabilities for enterprise grade management. Furthermore, they lack troubleshooting features, and for that reason, they have weak performance capabilities, reliability options, and above all, lack the protocols and modules required for most company networks.

How Businesses Can Protect Their Wireless Access Points

October 6, 2019July 19, 2018 by Daniel Ihonvbere

The current high rate of mobile users warrants that wireless access users, especially business users, should know how to protect their wireless access points.

First of all, regular business travelers, high-tech adventurers, or those who just love traveling are increasingly vulnerable to unique cyber security threats. This is even more dire in the case of business travelers because they often carry sensitive data that may be personal or business related.

And most noteworthy, this sensitive data reside on a variety of devices from laptops, tablets, and smartphones to other smart devices such as wearables and home appliances.

A recent survey of financial districts found a high percentage of Wi-Fi clients actively probing for “Free Public WiFi”, and cyber criminals create fake wireless access points (SSIDs), hoping that unsuspecting users will log into one of these.

Fraudulent SSIDs Can Lead To Wireless Access Points Attack

It can be tough to convince users — especially those challenged by shrinking travel budgets — to avoid the temptation and draw of free wireless Internet access. When employers can’t or won’t pay for unlimited wireless Internet, employees get creative. Why should they waste thankless hours waiting for planes and trains when they could be using Free Public WiFi to catch up on mail, download iTunes, or watch a little Slingbox?