Our old hardware is going to a new home with a big heart 365 Technologies has teamed up with Mother Earth Recycling to recycle its old electronic equipment. “We usually recycle 200 to 300 computers a year,” says Michael Anderson, President and CEO of 365 Technologies. “This year, with Windows 7 support ending, that number will be closer to 400 to …
Sometimes it’s good to question the boss. If you get an email from your boss asking you to purchase gift cards, you may really be communicating with scammers. For the past six months or so, there’s been an email scam from “bosses” requesting that you purchase gift cards on their behalf. It’s a more sophisticated version of the traditional email …
Would you like some free Wi-Fi with your coffee? Odds are, the last time you were at a coffee shop, you thought, “I’m paying for the coffee – I might as well use the free Wi-Fi.” There’s no doubt that Wireless Internet, or Wi-Fi, connections are everyone’s favourite free service. However, using free, public Wi-Fi is dangerous, especially for a …
The growing complexity of cloud services, data networks, and disaster-recovery backup services make comprehensive IT security audits a must for business owners – without an audit, your business may be at serious risk. Why your business needs an IT security audit: 1. Your data is more valuable than ever Malicious hacks and ransomware, such as Cryptolocker, cause downtime and are …
A couple of years ago, I wrote a post about how to keep your PC running in tip-top shape. These tips continue to be important to ensure your PC has a long life, so I’m reposting it today with some updates. Tip #1: Protect your PC with a surge protector Your home’s electrical outlets don’t provide a constant and consistent …
“Nothing lasts forever.” – every IT professional Truer words were never spoken, as constant innovations in computers, software, and systems phase out older IT infrastructure. This can pose a problem for small- to medium-sized businesses with tight IT budgets. With limited funds, how do you keep a strategic IT technology plan to standards, yet provide your IT infrastructure with the …
Network security not only protects your business’ data and systems, but makes it more efficient, organized, and profitable. Here are 12 tests you can perform to make sure your network security is as strong as it needs to be: 1. Network Layer Vulnerability Scanning: Uses a network layer Vulnerability Assessment (VA) scanner. Why use it? Vulnerability scanners identify security risks on every …
When it comes to cyberthreats, there is a lot to think about – from Trojan horses to worms. In 2017, ransomware attacks rose an astounding 250 per cent, according to AO Kaspersky Lab (2017): IT Threat Evolution Q1 2017. Ransomware is a type of malicious software that encrypts critical data on computers or mobile devices and blocks the owner from …
“Block that score! Block that score! Zero yards, zero yards, not one more!” – old football cheer Just like a football team’s defense attempts to prevent the offence from scoring a touchdown, a firewall attempts to protect your network from unauthorized attempts to access your system, including hackers, viruses, and malicious code. A firewall can be hardware, software or both. …
In my last blog,“What is the cloud?,” I discussed what the Cloud is and isn’t. In this post, I’ll discuss three advantages and disadvantages of using the Cloud. Cloud Advantages Lower hardware costs: You don’t have to purchase in-house servers. You use the provider’s hardware and only pay for what you need. Providers such as Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web …
