Tech Tips for Business Owners

Basic Computer Security Practices for Non-Profits

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Some Basic Computer Security Practices To Keep Your Non-Profit Data and Employees Safe

Malware Prevention

There are all sorts of danger lurking on the Internet, whether it’s through a bogus email attachment, a link that was accidentally clicked, or a visit to an infected website. There are dangers within the organization as well. These are commonly referred to as “Insider Threats”.

Here are some computer security practices you can implement to protect the data and employees of your non-profit organization.

  • Regularly scan computers for spyware

Spyware or adware hidden in software programs may affect the performance of  the organization’s computers and give attackers access to sensitive data.
Make sure you use a legitimate anti-spyware program to scan computers and remove any of these files. Many anti-virus products have incorporated spyware detection.

  • Keep software up to date

Install software patches so that attackers cannot take advantage of known problems or vulnerabilities.
Many operating systems offer automatic updates. If this option is available, you should turn it on.

If updates and patching is too tedious for you and your organization, you can outsource the task to a service provider. You can see details of what patch management covers here.

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Save Time and Money with Managed IT Services

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Managed IT Services As Money Saver

If there is one thing most small businesses can agree on is that time equals money. Small business owners are in a position where they have to be a jack-of-all-trades, often spending most of their day wearing different hats. This is the nature of the small business and while expected is not always the best use of time.

In order for a small business to be successful and remain competitive in an industry, there must be designated time for the owner to focus on growing and building the business. In many cases small businesses fail as a result of being unable to handle emergencies or other situations that are simply beyond the control and expertise of the owner. Leveraging Managed IT Services can help.

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When Is Your Business Ready For Outsourced IT Services?

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Outsourced IT Services

Is there a particular time a business owner or the leader of an organization should decide that they and their organizations are ready for Outsourced IT Services?

If you are a small business owner and considering whether or not Outsourced IT Services will benefit your company, the answer is almost always- yes.

There is little doubt that most small businesses can benefit from Outsourced IT Services, yet that in itself does not always justify the cost of bringing on a third party provider.

Accepting that Outsourced IT Services Providers can offer solutions to common problems found in small business operation, the real question is: when does it make sense to switch from in house IT solutions to the next level which includes Outsourced IT Services?

There is a good chance if you are already considering Outsourced IT Services, the time might be near when you are ready to make the switch. Small business owners do not have the luxury of a never ending IT budget, therefore it is very important to recognize when your current IT management is no longer cost effective.

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Commercial Printers Need Patch Management for Better Productivity

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Regular patch management is crucial for the security of the computer network of your business.

Patch Management by Tech PrognosisWhether it is from Microsoft, Adobe, Quark, Océ, Kodak, Xerox, or for SmartBoard, PitStop, Quite Imposing etc., patches are released by software vendors usually to address security issues or to provide bug fixes. Occasionally they enhance or add new features.

Because software security vulnerabilities are the most common ways through which malware can penetrate your computer network, patch management is a good security blanket. While antivirus solutions are great for detecting and removing malware once it is detected on your system, security patches are aimed at closing the doors that malware can use to reach to your system.

Since 2005, there have been over eleven million records breached, according to Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. And those are just from the publicly disclosed data breaches. The large majority of security vulnerabilities that led to those data breaches could have been fixed by applying the latest patches provided by software vendors. But as we know, commercial printers have unique environments with sometimes ridiculously outdated hardware and software – Novell 3.1 anyone? How about that DocuTech 1.0 with software that can only be fixed by that guy in California?

Then you have Canon, Xerox, and Océ with their servers and workstations that no one knows what they are doing other than we “just send files to them”. And you can’t update them either, or something will break. We still have a couple of those stuck on Windows XP, or Windows 7.

If you need more proof about the critical nature of patch management, according to ServiceNow, as noted in this article, a survey of nearly 3,000 cybersecurity professionals around the globe found that “almost half of organizations suffered a data breach in the last two years. Of these, the majority said that they had been breached because of a vulnerability—for which a patch was already available.”

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Business Advisory Guide To Malware, Spyware and Viruses

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How To Keep Your Computer Network Safe From Crippling Malware, Pop-ups, Viruses, Spyware, & Spam, While Avoiding Expensive Computer Repair Bills

Malware Advisory

If you are a business owner with a computer network connected to the Internet, then it is only a matter of time before you fall victim to a malicious (malware), or spyware program, virus, worm, or hacker. Every day we get customers calling our office who are experiencing computer problems due to these threats, and it is only getting worse.

What is even more frustrating is that many of these clients call back a few days or weeks later with the EXACT same problems and end up having to spend ANOTHER hefty fee for restoring their computer network back to normal.

Unless you learn how to secure your network from cyber criminals and beat them at their own game, you will constantly fall victim to their pranks and criminal intent and end up spending hundreds – possibly even thousands – of dollars to get your computer network running normal again.

Just recently we have seen a sharp increase in the number of businesses falling victim to these attacks and that is why we decided to write this Business Advisory Guide. We wanted to arm our clients and the general public with the facts so they could avoid problems and expensive repair bills.

The information in this Guide will not only educate you as to WHY you are experiencing these problems, but also what you *must* do now to guard against the unethical actions of these malicious individuals.

Three Most Common and Dangerous Threats You Must Be Aware Of

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

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Problem-free Computer Network

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?

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