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Payroll Diversion Fraud is Targeting Employees
Cyber criminals are after employee paychecks that use direct deposit. Using phishing and other attack types, threat actors are tricking employees (including HR) into typing their usernames and passwords into fake payroll or “company” websites.
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Blog Categories- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
SWICKtech’s New Cybersecurity Agreement Makes Implementing New Cyber Insurance Requirements Easy
The landscape of Information Technology (I.T.) has changed greatly in the past few years. One area that most organizations continue to be concerned with is security. Specifically, they are concerned with the seemingly never-ending ransomware attacks that receive constant news coverage.
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Blog Categories- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
What Is the Log4J Vulnerability?
Log4J is a free and open-source logging library widely used by companies large and small. Officially designated CVE-2021-44228, the 0-day vulnerability was first publicly disclosed on December 9th, 2021.
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Blog Categories- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
When Are Cyber Criminals More Likely To Attack?
According to a 2021 report from IBM and the Ponemon Institute, the average cost of a data breach among companies surveyed reached $4.24 million per incident in 2021, the highest in 17 years. The shift to hybrid or remote work was certainly a contributing factor, but what was the top contributor to these numbers? The answer: compromised credentials that led to compromised data.
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Blog Categories- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
10 Cybersecurity Myths & Misconceptions
As we celebrate the 2021 National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, SWICKtech wants to help businesses learn to be safer and more secure online. Employees empowered with the resources and knowledge to protect organizations from cyber threats are one of the best lines of defense. Part of that training should involve breaking down often-quoted cybersecurity misconceptions. Employers and employees who believe any of the myths below could be opening their businesses to unknown risk.
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Blog Categories- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
HiveNightmare aka SeriousSAM Vulnerability
Microsoft has issued an urgent security notice regarding HiveNightmare (also known as SeriousSAM), which is a vulnerability that can allow a regular user unintended administrative access to an organization’s network.
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Blog Categories- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
Urgent Security Notices Issued for Microsoft’s PrintNightmare
Early the week of July 6th, US-CERT, CISA, and Microsoft issued urgent security notices regarding PrintNightmare.
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Blog Categories- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
Cyber Insurers Toughen Coverage Requirements to Include MFA
With the conclusion of the 2021 Vancouver International Privacy and Cybersecurity Summit one message is clear - all organizations applying for cyber insurance must add multi-factor authentication (MFA) to logins. Without MFA organizations won’t receive coverage.
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Blog Categories- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
The ABCs Of CMMC
Beginning in 2025, all defense contractors will need to be assessed against the 5-tiered cybersecurity standard known as the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). CMMC is a complex topic that cannot be summarized in a single blog post. So, what fundamentals does your organization need to know in order to stay or become compliant?
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Blog Categories- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
It's The End of the Road for Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer to retire after more than 25 years.
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Blog Categories- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
What You Need to Know About Skype for Business End Of Life
In July 2019, Microsoft first announced its plan for the retirement of Skype for Business, and the transition to Microsoft Teams. Nearly two years later, this plan will become reality in a mere 2 months. Here’s a refresher on what this may mean for your business.
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Blog Categories- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
Is Microsoft On-Premise Exchange Safe in 2021?
Is Microsoft On-Premise Exchange Safe in 2021?
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What is Shadow IT? And what are the risks and opportunities for small businesses?
Shadow IT refers to IT devices, software and technology outside the ownership or control of IT. Sometimes called stealth IT, fake IT or rogue IT – shadow IT is when an employee at an organization bypasses IT tools and systems to use outside technology to do their job.
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The Difference Between an IT Leader and an IT Manager
Both IT leadership and IT management have a place in business, but what is the difference between the two? What does an IT Leader do differently than an IT Manager? And which one is needed at your organization to ensure future success?
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The Difference Between Cloud Backups and A Disaster Recovery Plan
Each play a pivotal role in protecting data and systems. However, it is important to clarify the difference between Cloud Backups and a Disaster Recovery Solution.
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Small Business Guide to Prevent Brute Force Attacks
Small Business Guide to Prevent Brute Force Attacks; What Brute Force Attacks are and what can be done to protect against them.
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Texts and Calls Aren’t the Most Secure Form of Multifactor Authentication
A better and more secure form of MFA to use are Dynamic MFA methods or application-based based authentication – like Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator.
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Why Cable Management Should Be Done By IT Pros
Proper Cable Management is more than keeping cords and cables organized. Congested and disorganized cabling can be a safety hazard and could cause network outages and downtime for your organization.
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How to Identify a Phishing Attack
At some point you’ll be the last line of defense for the business you work for. Here are five tips to avoid being compromised by a phishing attack
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Improve Your Focus While Working from Home
Many businesses have been working from home now for several months. There are many great perks to being able to work at home, but there are also many distractions. We’ve done a little bit of research and come up with a list of best practices to work on to improve your focus working from home.
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Email Spam Filtering: How to Mark and Unmark Emails as Spam
This guide is intended to help you interact with spam in your Email Inbox and your email Junk/Spam folder.
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Ransomware Canaries Are Valuable for IT Security
A new mechanism for Cybersecurity Professionals, called Ransomware Canaries, are an extremely valuable tool for early detection of ransomware strains in business networks.
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Here's Why You Should Pay Attention to Cybersecurity Awareness Month in 2020
Oftentimes awareness campaigns fail to scratch the surface of our national consciousness through press releases, events, and slogans. And unfortunately, most people only pay attention to a problem when they’re the ones personally affected. We hope Cybersecurity Awareness Month in 2020 is different.
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What's in a Business Grade Computer?
In general there are three aspects that differentiate business-grade computers from consumer-grade computers
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Do you have an Exchange Server 2010 End-of-Life Plan?
Microsoft says that on October 13th they will no longer provide technical support for problems that might occur, bug fixes for issues that are discovered and would make the server vulnerable to security incidents, and time zone updates.
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Putting off updates for Office 2010 products is Risky
On October 13th, Microsoft will no longer provide technical support or fixes for Office 2010 products. Microsoft has been sounding the alarm for about a year. If you’re still using Office 2010, you’ve probably seen these warnings when you open Word, Excel or PowerPoint.
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SWICKtech is Proud of Its Excellent Customer Service
SWICKtech is Proud of Its Excellent Customer Service. Businesses from all over the midwest have trusted us with their cybersecurity and IT systems, and our stellar customer service has earned us feedback we’re proud of.
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How to hire a Cybersecurity Professional
Hiring a Cybersecurity Professional to work for and on your business has become a necessity for even small businesses in Wisconsin and across the United States.
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Best Practices for Organizing Company Files and Data
At SWICKtech, data is our thing. We help our clients carry out solutions to match their needs and we want to share with you some of our recommendations for keeping track of company data.
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Microsoft Azure lays groundwork for Government Cloud Adoption
Historically known as slow adapters to emerging technology; federal, state and local governments are quickly moving to cloud computing thanks to federal policy change and breakthrough innovation and compliance by Microsoft Azure.
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Deepfakes, Cloudjacking and Double Extortion: Evolving Cyber Threats in 2020 to Keep and Eye on
In cybersecurity one thing that will always be the same, is that the threats are always evolving. Here are three new cyberthreats to know about in 2020
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When to use Microsoft Teams and When to use Email
Microsoft Teams is a collaboration and communication tool at its core. Users of Teams are inside the platform continuously throughout the day doing work and checking it frequently. That’s why we recommend using Microsoft Teams messages and posts for your inner circle at work.
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Microsoft Warns about Consent Phishing, Increased Attacks During Pandemic
Microsoft warned its users last week about cloud application-based attacks that have grown in frequency since the global pandemic forced organizations to work remotely in March.
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Organizational Security is only as strong as it's Microsoft Security Score
Microsoft Security Score is a tool available for administrators in Azure Active Directory, Office 365, or Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection, offers a gamified way to keep track of reports, recommendations and benchmarks for the security of any business.
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Good Questions about Multifactor Authentication
At SWICKtech we feel strongly about the cybersecurity benefits of a solution to this problem, Multifactor Authentication, and the huge increase to security that it can bring to your organization.
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Ask These Questions when looking for an IT Service Provider
Using an IT service provider to replace on-premise IT staff or supplement an existing IT department can oftentimes be a good investment for a company. The cost for an IT service provider is less than hiring an IT expert or help desk staff, however the investment is still very large and there are many companies to choose from.
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It seems crazy, but you should back up O365 data with a 3rd party provider
Much of the most valuable data a company has is kept in email inboxes, Microsoft Excel documents or OneNote archives. Naturally, you might think that Microsoft would back up O365 data, but they do not.
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The New Normal for Small Businesses Comes with New Cybersecurity Risks
Coronavirus and the corresponding economic recession occurring around the United States has brought about several challenges for businesses and unfortunately the current climate is set up perfectly for damaging cyber attacks at companies that are not properly protected.
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Which to schedule: Microsoft Teams Meeting or Microsoft Teams Live Event?
If you're using Microsoft Teams to schedule a virtual gathering, here are the things to consider when choosing between a Microsoft Teams Meeting or a Microsoft Teams Live Event
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Three Reasons to Pay Attention to Data Backups During the Coronavirus Crisis
Many companies are now looking more closely at their Backup and Disaster Recovery strategy in a new light, as risks are increased during the Coronavirus outbreak.
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Microsoft Teams Replacing Your Office Phones Will Still Make Sense When You Return to The Office
Off the innumerable infrastructure hurdles businesses have faced, coming up with a solution to replace the office business telephone system has been a very common hurdle for many small and mid-sized businesses.
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Three Easy Tips to Avoid Stimulus Payment Email Scams
[Video Tips Included] Now, with the IRS getting economic stimulus checks to all Americans, a new wave of scams are attempting to take advantage of unsuspecting victims.
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Three Categories of Coronavirus Scams You Should Know About
During this pandemic people have a desire to donate to causes, learn information as soon as it comes out and keep themselves and their families safe. Unfortunately, these desires create a fertile digital landscape for bad actors, scammers and cyber criminals to take advantage of our hopes and curiosity.
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These Tools Allow Employees To Work Remotely During Coronavirus Outbreak
The Microsoft software stack allows organizations to send their staff home immediately without losing productivity.
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Three Big Reasons to Choose Microsoft Azure over other Cloud Providers
Why Microsoft clients are choosing Microsoft Azure for their cloud solution.
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Blog Categories- Cloud Computing
- Data Backup/Recovery
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
Four Ways To Make Sure Your Passwords Are Secure
Here are four ways to make sure your passwords are secure
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Secure Your Social Media Accounts With Multi-factor Authentication
Why you should put MFA on your social media accounts
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Malicious Emails infect two Wisconsin cities with Ransomware in one week.
More than a week after a ransomware virus infected the City of Racine, and still life has not returned to normal.
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Azure Site Recovery Protects Your Business From Disasters
Azure Site Recovery (ASR) is a cloud-based software built to keep a business or organization running during an outage or failure.
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Most People Still Use The Same Password For Multiple Accounts and its a Disaster Waiting To Happen
Most people understand that using the same password for multiple accounts compromises online security, but many continue to use the same password anyways
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Blog Categories- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
Four Reasons to Use Microsoft Azure
Microsoft Azure, an industry leader in cloud solutions is a great fit for companies who haven’t yet tested the waters – or seen the benefits - of cloud computing.
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Blog Categories- Cloud Computing
- Data Backup/Recovery
- Network/Server Infrastructure
Do You Trust Your Managed Service Provider?
In the wake several ransomware attacks on Managed Service Providers (MSPs) in the past year, particularly ones serving small governments and municipalities, do you have trust in the people holding the keys to your castle?
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Blog Categories- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
3 Reasons Microsoft Azure Is More Secure Than On-Premise Servers
3 Reasons Microsoft Azure Is More Secure Than On-Premise Servers, Microsoft Azure New Berlin, Microsoft Azure Milwaukee
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3 First Steps To Securing Your Company From Crypto Attacks
Multi-Factor Authentication, Password Management, and Secure Cloud Backup Are All Necessary In Today’s Crypto Security Landscape
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Blog Categories- Data Backup/Recovery
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
How To Respond To A Cyber Attack
Two major ransomware cyber attacks in 10 days - how each target responded
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Basic Anti-Virus and Email Filtering Aren’t Enough Protection from Malware, Ransomware
In today's world, with the rise of malicious cyber attacks coming in the form of malware and ransomware, keeping your data protected is an increasingly difficult task.
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What are SPF, DKIM, and DMARC?
Why SPF, DKIM and DMarc are necessary layers in the cybersecurity battle. The necessity of Email Filtering and Threat Protection for your business
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Wisconsin Cyber Security Election Grant Is Only A Start
Wisconsin Cyber Security Election Grant Is Only A Start, local municipalities and governments are left to build robust election security protocols to protect their election data.
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How To Easily Set Up Microsoft OneDrive On Windows 10 And Backup Your Files
Follow these easy step-by-step instructions to set up Microsoft OneDrive on Windows 10 and backup your files
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Local Government IT Security Must Act Now to Protect Elections From Ransomware
Local municipal governments must put new government IT security protection measures in place to prepare themselves against the increasing threat of hackers deploying ransomware and intercepting data before the 2020 presidential elections.
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End of Service for Windows 7 Ahead
Windows 7 systems will no longer have security updates
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Blog Categories- ALL
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
End of Service for Windows Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008
Improved reporting will greatly benefit accounting, operations and sales departments.
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Blog Categories- ALL
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
Wireless-Only Office
Pros and Cons of a Wireless-Only Office
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Blog Categories- ALL
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
Microsoft Office 365 Case Study: Staying Open in Frigid Temperatures
Don't let the cold Wisconsin winter weather impact your day to day operations, leverage Microsoft Office 365 and Microsoft Teams to enable a mobile workforce
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Blog Categories- ALL
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
Microsoft Teams: What You Need to Know
Microsoft Teams is only the tip of the iceberg in regard to everything Office 365 has to offer to enhance daily office communications, collaborations, ability to sell and extract data in ways you never knew plausible.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
Addressing the IT Skills Gap: Selecting A Managed IT Solutions Provider
Finding the right IT professional to server your small or medium-sized business can be difficult. However, selecting a managed IT service provider can solve many of these headaches. Learn how to select a MSP to protect your IT infrastructure stability.
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Blog Categories- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
Cloud Migration and Your Bottom Line
Thinking about migrating your organization's IT infrastructure to the cloud? Learn about the economics and cost saving benefits associated with making the migration, including direct and indirect savings.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- Cloud Computing
- Managed Services
Bringing Your Manufacturing ERP System into the 21st Century
ERP systems play an increasingly important roles in businesses, especially for manufacturing companies. At SWICKtech, we understand the challenges manufacturers face as they update their ERP systems and can help you bring your ERP system into the 21st century.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- Cloud Computing
- ERP
- IT Project/Consulting
Azure Cloud Migration Checklist and Strategy
Migrating to the Microsoft Azure Cloud offers many benefits, but having a migration strategy is key. Our checklist can help keep you on track.
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Make Your Life Easier: Move Your Business to the Cloud
Moving your organization's IT services often saves money and time. Learn how to make your life easier by moving your business to the cloud.
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SWICKtech Launches Podcast
SWICKtech is proud to announce the launch of its podcast. The first episode, launched in December 2017, focuses on using EDI in business. Listen now.
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10 Things You Didn’t Know an Off-Site IT Team Can Do For Your Business
There are plenty of reasons a company might consider outsourcing IT. Small- to mid-size businesses experiencing growth often need IT services, but can’t afford their own in-house department. Then there’s the company with an in-house IT department that can’t seem to get things under control. More and more companies are turning to off-site IT services to manage their technology needs.
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Blog Categories- ALL
- Business Software Consulting
- Cloud Computing
- Data Backup/Recovery
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
- Network/Server Infrastructure
- Voice/Unified Communications
Importance of Electronic Communication in Business
Improve your business communication. Moving from paper to electronic communications can actually help your business connect easier while saving time and money.
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Acrobats Aren’t the Only Ones Who Need a SafetyNET
Swick Technologies offers a complete and comprehensive security service: the SwickTech SafetyNET. This safety net is a comprehensive and secure plan built from the ground up to ensure your sensitive data is backed up securely, safely and at all times.
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Blog Categories- Cloud Computing
- Data Backup/Recovery
Developing Your Data Backup Strategy
As organizations continue to create and leverage more data as part of day-to-day operations, developing a clear, robust data backup strategy is key. Learn how SWICKtech can craft a plan to protect your most valuable resources.
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How Your IT System is Like the Human Body
Both your body and your IT systems are made up of multiple layers of defense. These layers consist of many varied tools, system monitoring devices and recovery strategies. There are elements that focus on detection and identification, others that learn about new threats and evolve to destroy them, while others fight the problem head-on or work to repair the damage caused.
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Blog Categories- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
- Network/Server Infrastructure
IT Advice CEOs Should Never Ignore
Working with your IT professionals here is very important; you’ll both need to do your research and be open to alternative solutions to determine how your day-to-day business processes will be affected by technology changes.
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Blog Categories- ALL
- Business Software Consulting
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
SWICKtech 2016 New Website Launch
SWICKtech is rebranding ourselves with renewed focus on IT Project Consulting and Business Application Management. Our Engineers and Analysts have all the expertise needed to integrate those tools into your company.
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SWICKtech Future 50 Winner Featured in BizTimes Media
Presented by MMAC's Council of Small Business Executives (COSBE), the Future 50 Award celebrates the success of fast-growing regional companies!
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The Benefits of an Office 365 for Business Upgrade
Our experienced team of technical business IT providers can comprehensively advise your company based on specified requests and requirements. We plan and execute the upgrade process to ensure the safety and security of existing files, software programs, etc., as well as mitigate or eliminate any company downtime.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- Cloud Computing
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
Your Email Security Checklist
Network security is often considered the realm of IT professionals, but there’s one aspect of it that touches every part of business: email. Everybody, from interns to sales associates to project managers sends emails to keep the team up-to-date on what’s going on. That’s why email security is an important part of any good business network.
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Cloud Migration Checklist: Make Your Migration a Success
Most businesses know they should move to the cloud to keep their data secure, but they might not be aware of the entire migration process. If you're considering a cloud migration for certain applications or email within your organization, use our checklist to find out how to make it a success.
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The Top IT Trends of 2017… So Far
Although the year isn't over, some of this year's biggest trends have already started to reveal themselves. Learn more about 2017's latest IT trends and how they'll impact your business.
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Blog Categories- Cloud Computing
- Data Backup/Recovery
- Network/Server Infrastructure
IT and Employee Productivity
For many organizations, employee productivity has been decreasing for years. However, partnering with the right IT team can reverse the trend while increasing employee productivity and your bottom line. Learn more about these solutions.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
- Network/Server Infrastructure
Zen and the Art of IT Stability
IT problems and their solutions can be broken down into a few categories. All hardware, software, information management, security concerns, and recovery after a disaster situation fall under at least one of these categories. Your trusted IT management team understands these issues intimately and should have multiple solutions in place, should you experience any of these problems.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
- Network/Server Infrastructure
Too Busy To Bolster Your IT? It Could Already Be Too Late…
Network security is of critical importance these days. The first step to ensuring your IT is working and protected is to analyze how your IT is currently set up, then identify areas that could be bolstered to prevent security breaches.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
Proactive Network Security, Backup & Recovery, and More
When left unchecked, changes to your systems can turn into problems, both long and short term. Any complete IT solution should include constant, proactive monitoring of your entire network’s systems and operations. Proactive monitoring involves watching and documenting all incoming/outgoing data and activity so potential system threats like computer viruses, hacking attempts, and more can be caught before they result in catastrophic destruction.
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Blog Categories- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
- Network/Server Infrastructure
Web Filtering Explained: How to Filter the Web without Affecting Employee Productivity
Protecting your company’s sensitive information from data loss or data compromise is paramount. Employees can (whether knowingly or unwittingly) expose your organization to viruses and malware just by surfing the web. Unfortunately, this leads to weak points in your network security—plus, your employees can become a liability to your company’s integrity, which in some cases, can lead to legal trouble.
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Blog Categories- Data Backup/Recovery
- Managed Services
- Network/Server Infrastructure
How to Backup Your Data and Protect Your Company
You’ve made the decision that you would like to backup your data and are left wondering “How do I do that?”
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- Data Backup/Recovery
- IT Project/Consulting
WannaCrypt and Ransomware
WannaCrypt, a ransomware, impacted computers around the globe in May 2017, but it won't be the last major cyber attack. Learn how to keep your network protected from WannaCrypt and other viruses, maleware and ransomware.
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Blog Categories- Data Backup/Recovery
- Network/Server Infrastructure
Common Microsoft 365 Migration Issues
Although migrating to Office 365 is increasingly popular, many organizations still have concerns about making the change. Review some of the most common O365 migration issues and their solutions.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- IT Project/Consulting
- Network/Server Infrastructure
Understanding Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)
Many businesses still rely on phone calls, emails, or fax to complete everyday transactions. EDI gives businesses the opportunity to share documents via computer-to-computer interactions in a standardized format. Learn how EDI can help your business.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- Cloud Computing
- EDI
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
- Network/Server Infrastructure
How Your Organization Can Benefit from Manufacturing EDI
Manufacturers can benefit from implementing EDI, improving accuracy and efficiency, while saving money and time. Learn more about EDI for manufacturers.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- EDI
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
- Network/Server Infrastructure
Getting Started with EDI
Getting started with a new EDI system can seem like a challenge, but it doesn't have to be. Learn more about how to get started with EDI.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- EDI
- Managed Services
Direct EDI vs EDI VANs
If your organization is transitioning to EDI, there are two options to choose from: direct EDI and EDI Van. Learn more about which option is right for you.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- EDI
- Managed Services
10 Essential Steps to Protect your Data
There are various ways to calculate the cost of losing work stored on computers. Perhaps the easiest way to get a gut feel for the cost is to think for a moment about how long it would take to replace lost work. How many people would have to spend how many days to create everything from scratch?
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Blog Categories- Cloud Computing
- Data Backup/Recovery
3 Common IT Issues Every CEO Should Know About
The challenges of running a productive and secure company are more difficult and trying than ever before. When it comes to IT stability and security, whether you’re running a small business or a large corporation, it’s more important than ever to take responsible and proactive steps toward “running a tight ship.”
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Blog Categories- Data Backup/Recovery
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
3 Crazy Big-Time IT Security Threats to Your Business
Cybercrime is more advanced than ever before. It seems more and more frequent that we hear of a company that just suffered crippling data compromise, which can result in a severely damaged reputation. Using cutting-edge technology, criminals continue to collaborate and share knowledge so as to more successfully infiltrate networks.
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5 Keys to IT Stability That Ensure “Business as Usual”
Imagine an entire week at work where everything operates smoothly. Your employees are all relaxed and working hard, services and orders are quickly and efficiently processed, and there’s not a whisper of a problem from your technology systems. Imagine a whole week—even a whole month—without a stressful work environment. Wouldn’t that be great?
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Blog Categories- Cloud Computing
- Data Backup/Recovery
- Managed Services
- Network/Server Infrastructure
6 Reasons an IT Managed Services Provider is Your Ticket to Network Security
For those companies unable to afford an internal IT department or for those who simply don’t want to deal with the hassle of maintaining a high quality IT team, IT managed services providers offer an alternative to going it alone. When choosing between in-house IT, managed IT services, or going with a lone IT guy, think about what your company needs for reliable, locked down network security.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
- Network/Server Infrastructure
6 Signs You're A Slave to Your Server
When to know it's time for Server infrastructure improvements for your business.
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Blog Categories- Data Backup/Recovery
- Managed Services
- Network/Server Infrastructure
7 Questions to Ask Your IT Professional Every Month
Ah, the IT Department. Completely necessary—but sometimes their day-to-day duties are a bit of a mystery. As CEO, you understand you need them, but it can be hard to shake the nagging feeling at the back of your mind… You know, the question of whether or not your IT department is properly managed or entirely effective.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
9 Questions to Ask Your IT Team Today
Good leaders understand the importance of delegation. Great leaders get feedback from their delegates and incorporate it into action. So, chances are you’ve hired your IT department to handle your technology because their expertise outweighs yours by a fair margin.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- Cloud Computing
- Data Backup/Recovery
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
- Network/Server Infrastructure
- Voice/Unified Communications
Building Out Your 2016 IT Strategic Plan
Outlining an IT strategic plan is one thing. Effective implementation is another. There are plenty of ways to get your IT strategy off the ground. Hiring an outside IT consulting firm can be a cost-effective approach. One of the best ways to save money is to invest in technology when there’s a window of opportunity—and Q4 is a great time for opportunity!
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- Cloud Computing
- Data Backup/Recovery
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
- Network/Server Infrastructure
- Voice/Unified Communications
Business Backup Strategies: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
The SWICKtech SafetyNet Business Backup and Recovery System harnesses a bulletproof checks-and-balances system. With automated alerts and physical checks performed daily, we know if and when an issue arises with your data, and we’re able to correct it in the least amount of time possible.
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Blog Categories- Cloud Computing
- Data Backup/Recovery
- IT Project/Consulting
Communication – What’s best for Business?
Communication is an important part of any business. Email has long been a critical tool to facilitate communication. To reduce cost and ease management, many businesses are looking at hosted communications services.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
David Beat Goliath: Why Every Business Needs Multi-Layered IT Security Now
Technology is so integrated into everything we do (especially in the business world) that we’ve come to depend on it for almost everything—but with this digital revolution comes a fair share of dangers. Whether large or small, your company’s systems and data are more vulnerable to digital crime than you might think.
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Blog Categories- Cloud Computing
- Data Backup/Recovery
- Network/Server Infrastructure
Declare your Independence from IT Instability
Computer technology is about as close to magic as we’re going to get these days. It has revolutionized every aspect of our culture, from business technology to social communications. It’s changed the way we work, play and even the way we think.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
- Network/Server Infrastructure
Don’t Be An April Fool, Backup Your Data!
SWICKtech SafetyNET provides reliable, secure, and stable cloud backups for your company data. SWICKtech will ensure nightly backups succeed by utilizing automated alerts and daily checks to assure the integrity of your data. Every night your data will be backed up to SWICKtech’s Managed Private Cloud in downtown Milwaukee.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- Cloud Computing
- Data Backup/Recovery
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
Firewall Best Practices
Your network firewall is the gatekeeper and a key layer of defense for your overall network security strategy. This layer must be managed, maintained and monitored to insure its optimal performance. This article will go over a few fundamental best practices that will help insure that your network firewall stays stable, secure and protects your network from malicious attacks.
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Blog Categories- Managed Services
- Network/Server Infrastructure
Firewall Security in Plain English: A Clear-Cut Guide to Firewall Security
Simply put, you need a strong firewall. Viruses, spyware, phishing emails, Trojan horses, worms, malware, bot armies, ransomware, scareware, hackers and cybercriminals…yeah, there’s all kinds of dangers lurking out there. You’ll hear these top network security terms used nearly interchangeably—and while they’re not all the same, the reason for this is because every one of these threats attempts to do essentially the same thing: steal sensitive data for criminal activity.
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Blog Categories- Managed Services
- Network/Server Infrastructure
Get Fired Up! …with a Solid Firewall
Your firewall protects the sensitive data stored on your company’s internal network from all of those harmful viruses, malware, hackers and other threats out there beyond that wall of protection—threats that are active every day, looming and ready to destroy your business.
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Blog Categories- Network/Server Infrastructure
Here’s Why The Cloud is SAFE for Your Business
When moved to the cloud, businesses can access their data anywhere, anytime, and via a variety of devices. This flexibility enhances reaction time to changes in business and can allow companies to better serve their customers.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- Cloud Computing
- Data Backup/Recovery
- IT Project/Consulting
How Do I Monitor My Computer Systems?
Computer systems are vital to the daily operations of any company, monitoring to prevent issues is the key to keep businesses running. A proactive versus a reactive approach makes a lot of sense. Overlooking or postponing maintenance because of a lack of monitoring can turn into huge issues.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
Important! Cryptolocker Security Alert to Protect Your Files
An especially troublesome virus called CryptoLocker (aka ransomware CryptoLocker) has recently made the news and is something you should take steps to protect yourself and your data against.
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Is BYOD Putting Your Network (and Your Business) at Risk?
Choosing or creating the right BYOD platform is essential to your company’s success. Your BYOD policy should include set and enforced components, including: password enforcement, automatic update requirements, mobile device management services (MDM), and employee accountability.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
Is your Business ready for Windows 10?
Windows 10 offers some great enhancements that will benefit your business. Ensuring your business is ready will greatly reduce the risk of compatibility issues for applications and hardware and potentially save your business money. As they say, free is not always free.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- Cloud Computing
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
Is Your IT Environment In Your Comfort Zone?
From system security and disaster recovery to everyday efficiency and reliability, are you confident your IT environment is working, balanced and harmonious? If you’re feeling uncomfortable, it’s time to get back to your IT comfort zone—and that means getting back to consistently reliable IT stability.
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Blog Categories- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
- Network/Server Infrastructure
Is Your IT Guy Dangerous?
Just how dangerous is an IT department operated by just one person. If your company puts all their trust in one person, a lot more than you realize may be at stake. We’re not suggesting that all IT personnel are dangerous—we wouldn’t have a functioning world if that were the truth.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
Keep your computer cool in the dog days of summer
Summer has finally arrived! The snow is gone and the heat of the summer is here. However heat isn’t good for everything. Heat is kryptonite for computers. It can make your computer go from working fast and efficiently to slow and unresponsive. What causes computers to overheat and what can be done to prevent your computers from overheating?
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Leveraging Technology to Accelerate Growth in Manufacturing Industry
SWICKtech IT Consultants and Engineers connect people, processes and Line of Business applications to automate and streamline business workflows which would otherwise be time-consuming, error-ridden, and non-compliant.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- Data Backup/Recovery
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
- Network/Server Infrastructure
Love Technology
Love is not always what comes to mind for a business owner when thinking about technology. Frustration, dread and fear can be common words associated with implementing technology.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
Network and System Security for Your Business
Last month’s article touched on several scenarios making a case for securing business networks. Today we will focus on what you can do as a business or technical decision maker to better secure and stabilize your business network and system security.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
- Network/Server Infrastructure
RIP Windows XP
Windows XP, Wikipedia and the first Harry Potter movie were all released in 2001. Over a decade has passed and technology is among the many things that have changed. Back in 2001 Windows XP was the twinkle in Microsoft’s eye, their shining star, their flag ship operating system. It has been the most widely used operating system for quite a while, even surpassing some of Microsoft’s other operating systems like Windows 98 and Vista. But every good thing must come to an end and technology keeps growing by leaps and bounds.
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Selecting A Managed IT Solutions Provider
When consulting organizations to undertake the development of a network infrastructure, it’s imperative to inquire further about the degree of its team’s expertise and knowledge within the industry. Those with employees having only a basic understanding of IT support and maintenance may not be in accordance with your company’s needs.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
- Network/Server Infrastructure
Slow IT Got You Stuck in the Dog Days of Summer?
We all know the pain of slow IT: websites taking too long to load or timing out, your OS is out of date and makes everything a headache. Printers don’t want to print. Anti-virus scans take days to complete and you can’t run other programs while it scans your systems. Uploads/downloads never seem to finish. Frustration and irrational anger abound.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- Data Backup/Recovery
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
- Network/Server Infrastructure
Strategic Planning How
For every company there are different ways to perform the ‘how’ of strategic planning. While I can’t speak for every industry, I can provide general guidelines as they relate to technology. We specialize in technology planning for many industries and these guidelines are universal across the different business segments.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- Data Backup/Recovery
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
- Network/Server Infrastructure
Swick Technologies named to 2014 MMAC-COSBE Future 50 List
The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce’s Council of Small Business Executives (MMAC / COSBE) has recognized Swick Technologies as one of Milwaukee’s fastest-growing companies, naming it to the 2014 Future 50 list.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- IT Project/Consulting
SwickTech Stability Cube
SwickTech Stability Cube is six key steps necessary for achieving stability in your business computer systems.
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Technology Best Practice and Industry Standards – How
As you know, in manufacturing and business in general there are sets of recognized standards and procedures on how to effectively conduct business and operations. For example, if your company is creating a part that another company will use in their finished product, it’s even more important to get things right so the parts fit properly.
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URGENT: Support Is Ending for Windows XP
After April 8, 2014, technical assistance for Windows XP will no longer be available, including automatic updates that help protect your PC. If you continue to use Windows XP, your computer might become more vulnerable to security risks and viruses.
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What Should You “BE” in 2013 to achieve success
Swick Technologies jumped into 2013 as a continued Silver Sponsor at ActionCOACH’s quarterly GrowthClub workshop for the third year running. ActionCOACH of Elm Grove held this quarter’s GrowthClub at the Majestic Cinema of Brookfield which provided a welcoming venue for sponsors and motivated business owners alike.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
What will downtime cost your business?
Do you ever stop to think of how much your business depends on computers? How about the costs that you would incur if your business computer network failed? Many businesses do not fully understand how dependent they are on their computer network, until they experience some type of network downtime. Depending on the type of industry your business is in, the cost of the network downtime will vary.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- Data Backup/Recovery
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
- Network/Server Infrastructure
What’s Your IT Plan B?
It’s another day and business is in full swing, as usual. Everything is running smoothly and your office is abuzz with activity. While at your desk responding to a few emails, you notice your internet has frozen and stopped responding.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- Data Backup/Recovery
- Managed Services
Why do my computer systems need monitoring?
Computer systems are vital to the operations of any sized company. While employees PC’s and printers are important, typically the main “nuts and bolts” of the computer system are the servers, storage systems, network equipment, backup system, etc. that sit behind the scenes.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- Data Backup/Recovery
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
- Network/Server Infrastructure
Why IT needs to be involved in your business’s strategic planning
One of the most undervalued components of a successful Information Technology department is strategic planning. Involving the IT department in strategic planning allows organizations to align technology needs with its mission and vision. This helps create a road map for future resource, time and energy needs.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
Why Plain Ol’ Antivirus Isn’t Enough
With digital attacks looming all over the internet, how exactly can you be certain your antivirus protection is enough? Whether you have an internal IT department, an outsourced managed IT services provider, or you’re operating with only a paid (or even free) antivirus security suite, you must be certain your company’s data is protected.
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Blog Categories- Data Backup/Recovery
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
- Network/Server Infrastructure
Why you need Network Security
How much is your company’s data worth to you? What is the cost to your business if either of the following occurred?
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- Data Backup/Recovery
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
- Network/Server Infrastructure
Windows 10 Security
Battling against cyber-threats is constant and requires frequently updating protection services. Windows 10 is the latest operating system to include features that directly address global cyber security compromises. In this blog, we explore how this system can directly apply to your business and preserve secure information.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- IT Project/Consulting
- Managed Services
- Network/Server Infrastructure
Windows 7 or Windows 8?
Now that Windows XP is no longer supported by Microsoft, people are debating between Windows 7 and Windows 8. You may be asking, what is the difference between the two operating systems? or which one is going to be the best for me? Here is a breakdown between the two Windows operating systems. You may find that with a better knowledge of the operating systems you will be more comfortable when making the choice between the two.
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Blog Categories- Business Software Consulting
- Managed Services
You Need IT Stability: Why Unstable IT is Like Feeding Your Company to the Lions
What do we mean by IT stability? IT stability means your systems, your data and your network are all up-and-running, and stable and secure, so you can go about your day-to-day business without IT hassles. Sounds like a dream come true, doesn’t it?
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Blog Categories- Cloud Computing
- Data Backup/Recovery
- Managed Services