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Five Technological Trends for Small Businesses That Can Drive Your Expansion

In today's dynamic digital landscape, small businesses are presented with a wealth of opportunities. Many of these opportunities involve harnessing technology to gain a competitive edge. Embracing the right technological trends can empower businesses to streamline their operations, elevate customer experiences, and propel growth. However, navigating the multitude of available options can be perplexing. Small businesses must carefully select the path that promises the greatest returns.

In this article, we will delve into five prominent technological trends that hold immense potential for driving success and propelling small businesses forward in an increasingly competitive market.

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Microsoft Design for your Small Business

As technology continues to evolve, so do the options available for design tools. Microsoft, a pioneering company in the realm of business applications, has expanded its offerings significantly. Initially starting with just seven apps, Microsoft 365 now provides users access to over 20 different tools and features.

One of the noteworthy additions to this suite is Microsoft Designer, a user-friendly design tool that has captured the attention of designers, professionals, and even small business owners. Whether you're a seasoned graphic artist, a marketer, or simply someone looking to create a humorous meme, Microsoft Designer has something to offer.

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Access Management Crucial in Small Business Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity has become an absolute necessity for both small businesses and individuals. The digital landscape is rife with cyber threats, and the consequences of data breaches and malware attacks can be financially crippling. It's important to recognize that these threats can originate from various sources, including the everyday cloud tools you rely on.

On average, employees interact with 36 different cloud-based services each day. Managing access to sensitive data and resources has become an integral part of maintaining robust security. The potential fallout from a single breached account in a business application cannot be underestimated. Hackers highly value login credentials, which can be sold for substantial sums on the dark web. For example, an email administrator's login information can fetch anywhere from $500 to $140,000.

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Defense in Depth Cybersecurity Strategy for Small Businesses

Cybersecurity threats are on the rise, with ransomware attacks jumping by 93% in 2022. The advent of ChatGPT has the potential to increase the damage caused by cyber-attacks. Safeguarding sensitive data and systems requires a comprehensive approach that goes beyond relying on a single security solution. This is where adopting a defense-in-depth cybersecurity strategy becomes crucial.

Understanding the Defense-in-Depth Approach

In simple terms, a defense-in-depth approach means implementing multiple layers of protection for your technology, similar to securing your home with locks, security cameras, and an alarm system. This strategy combines various security measures to create a formidable defense against cyber attackers. Some of these defenses include firewalls, antivirus software, strong passwords, encryption, employee training, access management, and endpoint security. The approach also emphasizes early detection and rapid response by utilizing tools that can promptly detect suspicious activities and enable quick action to mitigate potential damage.

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What about these Common Tech Myths?

For small businesses operating in the digital age, technology plays a significant role in various aspects of daily operations. However, amidst rapid advancements and innovations, certain tech myths continue to circulate, leading to misunderstandings and potential limitations in fully utilizing devices and tools. In this blog post, we aim to debunk some of the most common tech myths and shed light on the truth behind them.

Myth 1: Leaving your device plugged in overnight damages the battery


One enduring myth suggests that leaving devices plugged in overnight harms the battery life. In reality, this misconception is largely outdated. Modern smartphones, laptops, and other devices are equipped with advanced battery management systems that prevent overcharging. When the device reaches its maximum charge capacity, it automatically stops charging, even if it remains connected to the power source. Consequently, leaving your device charging overnight is generally safe and can ensure a full charge by morning.

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Universal Print and what it can do for your Small Business

For small businesses operating in today's digital landscape, printing remains an essential function. However, managing print infrastructure can be a time-consuming task, and any printer issues can disrupt work processes. Moreover, keeping up with printer drivers and firmware updates is crucial to avoid vulnerabilities that could compromise network security.

To address these challenges, Microsoft has developed a solution called Microsoft Universal Print, which offers a modern and streamlined approach to print management. Let's explore the benefits and features of Microsoft Universal Print and how it can enhance your printing environment.

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Small Business Checklist for your Office Move

For small businesses, moving can be a tumultuous and stressful experience, especially when it involves handling valuable technology. Whether you're relocating your home office or office space, it's crucial to take extra precautions when packing and moving your devices and other tech items.

To help you navigate this process smoothly, we've compiled a practical checklist to ensure your technology remains safe and secure during the move.

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Cybersecurity Risks of Remote Work

Remote work has witnessed a surge in popularity, offering employees greater flexibility and convenience while helping employers reduce office costs. Many also attest to the productivity benefits stemming from fewer distractions. Research indicates a remarkable 56% decrease in unproductive time when working from home compared to the office. However, there are certain drawbacks to remote work that necessitate awareness of the cybersecurity risks that come with it. Monitoring device and network security becomes less straightforward, resulting in about 63% of businesses experiencing data breaches due to remote employees.

Nevertheless, this news does not imply that one must compromise security to enjoy the benefits of remote working. Striking a balance is possible by being conscious of cybersecurity concerns and taking appropriate measures to address them.

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What is Zero Click Malware in Small Businesses?

In today's digital era, cybersecurity threats are constantly evolving, presenting significant risks to both individuals and small businesses. One particularly concerning threat gaining traction is zero-click malware, a type of insidious software that requires no user interaction and can silently compromise devices and networks.

A well-known instance of such an attack occurred in 2019 through a WhatsApp breach, where a missed call led to spyware being injected into the victim's device without any interaction required. More recently, iOS users have been targeted by a new zero-click hack via iMessage, which allows a complete takeover of their devices without any user action.

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How to Use Threat Modeling to Reduce Your Small Business Cybersecurity Risk

As cyber threats continue to increase, businesses must take proactive steps. They need to protect their sensitive data and assets from cybercriminals. Threats to data security are persistent and they come from many different places.  

Today’s offices are digitally sophisticated. Just about every activity relies on some type of technology and data sharing. Hackers can breach these systems from several entry points. This includes computers, smartphones, cloud applications, and network infrastructure.

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6 Things Small Businesses Should Do to Handle Data Privacy Updates

Title: Staying Compliant with Data Privacy Regulations: Essential Steps for Small Businesses

Introduction:


As data became digital, authorities recognized the importance of safeguarding it, leading to the establishment of data privacy rules and regulations to combat cyber threats. Today, numerous organizations are required to adhere to specific data privacy policies. This article explores the diverse regulations that impact small businesses, the consequences of non-compliance, and provides practical tips to help businesses stay up-to-date with evolving data privacy requirements.

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Why Small Businesses Should Upgrade Their Operating Systems

Small businesses are not immune to cybersecurity threats, and they face the same problem as large companies – outdated operating systems. Some businesses may have computers running on old operating systems that staff members only use occasionally. Others may rely on customized software that only works with older OS versions. But running an outdated OS means exposing your business to cyberattacks, as developers stop supporting old operating systems once they retire them. The latest OS to lose support is Windows 8.1, which Microsoft released in 2013 and officially retired on January 10, 2023.

So, what happens when an operating system reaches its end of life? Here are a few facts small businesses need to know:

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Mobile Malware Has Increased-What Should Your Small Business Do?

Mobile malware has become a growing concern for businesses, particularly small businesses, as mobile devices become increasingly ubiquitous in the workplace. With mobile malware attacks on the rise, it's essential for small businesses to take proactive steps to protect their devices and sensitive data.

Policies and Guidelines:

One critical step that small businesses can take is to establish clear mobile device policies and guidelines for employees. These policies should outline best practices for device security, including recommendations for password complexity, automatic updates, and app management.

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Synology NAS and your Small Business

Small businesses often struggle with the issue of managing and storing their important data. Inefficient data management can lead to a number of problems such as data loss, security breaches, and decreased productivity. To address these challenges, many small businesses are turning to Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices to store their documents. Among the various options available in the market, Synology NAS is emerging as a popular choice for small business owners.

Synology is a Taiwan-based company that produces high-quality NAS devices. The company's devices are known for their ease of use, affordability, and advanced features. In this blog post, we will explore why small businesses should consider using a Synology NAS to store their documents.

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4 Proven Ways to Mitigate the Costs of a Data Breach

No business wants to suffer a data breach. But unfortunately, in today’s environment, it’s difficult to completely avoid them. Approximately 83% of organizations have experienced more than one data breach. (IBM Security 2022 Cost of a Data Breach Report)

These breaches hurt businesses in many ways. First, there is the immediate cost of remediating the breach. Then, there are the lost productivity costs. You can add lost business on top of that, and lost customer trust. A business could also have extensive legal costs associated with a breach.

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6 Ways to Prevent Misconfiguration (the Main Cause of Cloud Breaches in Small Business)

Misconfiguration of cloud solutions is often overlooked when companies plan cybersecurity strategies. Cloud apps are typically quick and easy to sign up for. The user often assumes that they don't need to worry about security because it's handled.

This is an incorrect assumption because cloud security is a shared model. The provider of the solution handles securing the backend infrastructure. But the user is responsible for configuring security settings in their account properly.

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Cool Windows 11 Features That May Make You Love This OS

Microsoft released the Windows 11 operating system (OS) over a year ago. It was largely well-received as stable and user-friendly. The OS is not a large departure from the Windows 10 experience. But it does offer a lot of enhancements over the older environment.

Yet with several improvements and a free upgrade for Windows 10 users, it still lags in adoption. As of November 2022, Windows 10 still owns the lion’s share of Windows PCs. It has a 69.75 percent usage share as compared to 16.13 percent for Windows 11.

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Is That Really a Text from Your CEO... or Is It a Scam?

Imagine you’re going about your day when suddenly you receive a text from the CEO. The head of the company is asking for your help. They’re out doing customer visits and someone else dropped the ball in providing gift cards. The CEO needs you to buy six $200 gift cards and text the information right away.

The message sender promises to reimburse you before the end of the day. Oh, and by the way, you won’t be able to reach them by phone for the next two hours because they’ll be in meetings. One last thing, this is a high priority. They need those gift cards urgently.

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Smart Tips to Keep Money From Being Stolen Through Online Banking

There are a lot of things that have changed since the invention of the internet. One of these is how we bank and access our accounts. You used to have to go into a local bank branch to make deposits and withdrawals. Now, you can take a picture of a check and deposit it from your phone.

Approximately 73% of people around the world use some form of online banking at least once a month. People have never had such convenient account access. But that convenience can come at a cost.

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The Pros & Cons of Tracking Your Employee’s Every Digital Movement

Since the pandemic, employers around the world have needed to change. They've had to shift how their employees operate. Remote work is very much here to stay. Organizations and employees can both benefit from the work-from-home and hybrid work revolution.

Cost savings is a driver for supporting remote work. Employee morale and productivity also can be higher when employers grant this flexibility.

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