Tech Talk – January 2018
A Note from the President
I hope that your beginning of this New Year is off to a fantastic start! The start of any New Year is all about planning for the year ahead. Whether you are planning on going to the gym, eating healthier, or playing a new sport, January is the time for fresh starts and new beginnings.
In your business, you might start out the New Year by planning a new service, new product, or even a new hire. All critical components in preparation for a strong year.
January is the month that lays the foundation for the year ahead, so start off strong! LMS is available to discuss any of your IT and Technology concerns and plans for your business for the year. If there is anything on the IT side of your business that you are looking to accomplish or want to review, please contact me directly. I’d love to speak with you about your plans for 2018 and how LMS can play a role in reaching your goals.
Our blog this month written by our CEO Larry Shulman is titled Friends or Firewood and can be read below. Please make sure to click on the link to read his entire blog post.
Stay warm!
Scott Shatzkamer
President
Friends or Firewood
by Larry Shulman, CEO
If you got this far, stay with me. I think a lot about friendship these days. Maybe it’s the way FaceTime calls everyone a friend, or maybe it’s just old age, but friendship is getting a real hard look these days. My perspective is somewhat tainted by having a very large family and being somewhat removed from the normal way people spend their time with “friends”. I wondered all the time what made a friend a friend. It became clear that it wasn’t all that easy to define. Looking around it seemed that over time everyone always had a story about friends that “turned” on them, or friends that were “lost” or friends that were only there when times were good and the relationship was easy.
Tips to Improve Your Cybersecurity in 2018
2018 is upon us so here are our top five tips for things you can do to improve your cybersecurity in the new year. Cybersecurity has been the most critical issue in 2017, and that’s not going to change. If you haven’t begun addressing your organization’s cybersecurity defense, let’s start now!
#1 Train Your Employees
The best way to improve your IT security is to train your employees on best security practices. Educate them so they can recognize and avoid cyber threats like phishing and scams. Teach them about protecting sensitive information. Humans are the weakest link in your security defense: with a single click in an email they can open the door for hackers. You should have a network firewall, but don’t forget your employees are a firewall too.
Tech for the next generation of learners and leaders
used with the permission of http://thenetwork.cisco.com
by Tony Sheffler
Whether we like it or not, our kids are very dependent on technology. They were born with electronic devices around them and will rack up a lot of use-time prior to ever entering a classroom. Because of this, learning through technology has become vitally important to the next generation of learners and leaders.
Technology provides teachers with a multitude of resources that are not traditionally available to them. For example, instead of carrying multiple books to the classroom, a teacher can simply open an app.
Stick with Security: Secure remote access to your network
used with permission from FTC.gov
by Thomas B. Pahl, Acting Director, FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection
Ask a business person where their office is located and the likely answer is “everywhere.” They’re working from home, staying in the loop while traveling, and catching up on email between sales calls. For productivity’s sake, many companies give their employees — and perhaps clients or service providers — remote access to their networks. Are you taking steps to ensure those outside entryways into your systems are sensibly defended?
If your business wants to start with security, it’s important to secure remote access to your network. Here are some examples based on FTC investigations, law enforcement actions, and questions that businesses have asked us.