30
Aug, 2021
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Breaking Down the Konami Code

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Those born in the 80s (as well as some others) will likely recognize
“Up-Up-Down-Down-Left-Right-Left-Right-B-A-Select-Start” as the Konami Code, a famous cheat code that first appeared in 1986. Since then, the Konami Code has spread, now being featured in software titles and websites. Let’s consider the origins of the Konami Code, and how it has been featured in the zeitgeist.

The Origin of the Konami Code

In 1986, video game company Konami released a version of the arcade game Gradius that could be played in the home on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). As the game was being developed, however, it needed to be played through each time in order to be tested. Naturally, Kazuhisa Hashimoto—the developer responsible for porting the game—found this quite frustrating.

To simplify his process, Hashimoto created a cheat code that would give him every powerup in the game, making it far easier to progress to the point that needed testing. However, when production of the game started before the code was removed, it wound up being left in place so that removing it wouldn’t create any glitches. This was justified by the assumption that nobody would be so lucky as to input the Up-Up-Down-Down-Left-Right-Left-Right-B-A-Select-Start combination accidentally.

Regardless, it wasn’t long before the code was discovered. Since then, many game developers have intentionally included it in their products, and it has even spread outside of the gaming world. The Konami Code has itself become a pop culture reference.

Where the Konami Code Has Appeared

Along with Gradius, dozens of other games have featured the Konami Code. Most famous amongst them is possibly Contra, in which the player would receive 30 extra lives for inputting the Konami Code. It has also appeared in other media, including as a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it plot device in Wreck-It Ralph, an encoded background detail in an episode of animated spy series Archer, and was recited in an episode of Family Guy.

Otherwise, various websites and services have used the Konami Code as an Easter egg. Saying it to Alexa or the Google Assistant will trigger a special response from either. If you’re using Discord and encounter an Error 404 page, you can use it to start a game of snake.

Now you’re familiar with the origins of the Konami Code, and all the ways that it can be used. Have you ever stumbled across this before, or heard how it can be used otherwise?

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27
Aug, 2021
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4 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Point of Sale System

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For many small businesses, the Point of Sale (POS) system is the main workstation. As a result, many of your business’ core processes run through it. If you aren’t taking advantage of some of the built-in features that most POS systems can provide, you may be leaving dollars on the table. 

The point of sale system is not just a cash register. It is a wholly integrated digital hub for the management of your business, but many businesses don’t take advantage of some of the most advanced options. Let’s take a look at the best practices of utilizing your business’ POS system.

#1 – Choose the Right Terminal Structure

The POS system needs terminals in order to function and there are several different iterations that the front end of your POS system can look like. Since the main benefit of installing a POS system is to build efficiency, choosing the right one for your business has to be a major consideration. Let’s take a look at the four ways POS systems can be deployed.

  • In-store – On-premise POS systems are the norm. This means that you host your server at the place of business and run your POS system through that local hardware. In-store POS systems are great for smaller businesses that don’t need a lot of back-end computing hardware to do what needs to be done. Many retail and hospitality businesses use this method. They come with some increased costs (mainly because of the need for hardware and consistent maintenance), but are known to be easy to use and secure. 
  • Cloud-hosted – Pushing your POS system to the cloud has major advantages as your capital costs will be significantly reduced. You also don’t have to worry about maintaining your solution as the provider will likely take on that role. Most cloud-hosted POS systems are affordable and available, just as long as you have an Internet connection. The problem, just as with any other cloud computing platform, is that security can be a point of contention and if your Internet goes down, so does your ability to use your POS system.
  • Mobile – Mobile POS systems (mPOS) is a POS system that is used through a tablet or phone. This method can save your business a lot of money and it allows you to take your POS system on the go if need be. The main drawback is that the hardware associated with this type of system will likely need to be repaired and replaced as smartphones and tablets can be damaged pretty easily. 
  • Kiosks – Finally, one of the POS systems that is gaining the most popularity is the self-service kiosk. This cuts down on the need for customer interaction, so if your business is looking to cut costs, having kiosks set up that allows customers to check themselves out is a good way to do that. Unfortunately, many customers just aren’t technologically savvy enough to make use of these systems and you run the risk of complaints from customers having difficulties with the system. 

To choose the best type of POS system for your business, you will need to understand your customers. For retail businesses, you will want a barcode scanner integrated into the system as well as a reliable printer. For a restaurant, you will want a scheduling program that can keep guests from being backed up or having to be turned away. For a salon, you will want one that integrates with online booking systems and membership points programs. Understanding your business and your customers can go a long way toward getting the POS systems that can really make your business more efficient.

#2 – Understand POS features

There are admittedly a lot of different POS systems to choose from, but most of them will come with more than just the hardware and transactional software that you directly interact with. Other features your POS system might have include:

  • Inventory control
  • Payment processing
  • Return pricing
  • Labor management
  • Integrated Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) capabilities including supply chain management
  • Reports and analysis

These features can make up a lot of the gained efficiency your business would see by using the POS system. POS systems can keep inventory pretty simple, a major benefit for any type of business, but with the integrated ERP capabilities, users can now control their entire supply chain from their POS system. Of all of the features, this one will be most useful to build added efficiency. 

For example, say you run a restaurant and want to utilize this feature of your POS. With a label maker, you can manage your inventory by slapping a barcode on every product that you take in. Instead of having staff spend hours trying to come up with a list of produce, meat, etc., you can simply look at your inventory on your POS system to easily make orders when you need them. You can set up alerts to ensure that you have everything in stock when you need it, a must for most businesses. 

POS systems can handle any time management problem your business can have: Scheduling, reservations, and employee time can be tracked simply through a POS system. With cloud-hosted systems, scheduling and other employee information can be shared online to ensure that your business has its shift staffed and covered competently. 

By using all the features of the POS system, your whole business is tracked inside the system. This gives users the ability to customize reports that will allow them to analyze operational information and make adjustments as needed.

The POS system can be one of the most frustrating tools, or it can be a complete benefit for your business. Choosing the right tools will help make it work. At NuTech Services, our knowledgeable consultants can help you choose the right tools for your situation, deploy those tools, and support them as they support your business. Give us a call today at 810.230.9455 to learn more.

25
Aug, 2021
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Outsource Your Cybersecurity Needs to Ensure You Get the Best Talent

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To be adept at a task is to say that the one doing the task is a professional, or someone with substantial knowledge that can be used to effectively complete the task. Cybersecurity is one such area where having a considerable amount of knowledge is of particular importance to help navigate the complex environment surrounding it. How can your organization achieve this level of mindfulness and expertise?

First, we need to establish the many challenges that small businesses must overcome regarding cybersecurity. Then, we will explain how you too can achieve the same level of cybersecurity success as security professionals.

The Challenges of Security for SMBs

Security is a major pain point for small businesses, and those that do not take it seriously might think themselves immune to the dangers. It does not matter what industry you are in, the size of your organization, or the data you store; hackers can and will take advantage of any opportunities to cause trouble for you, and they will find value in whatever data they can get. That said, many small businesses do want to be more mindful of security, but they do not know how to approach it. Oftentimes they might find they lack funding to hire internal talent, like a cybersecurity professional, something that holds them back from properly securing their organization.

What Does It Mean to Be a Cybersecurity Professional?

But what is a cybersecurity professional, anyway? What kind of skills and character traits should you look for in a cybersecurity professional? Here are some that you should consider when looking for the key to your cybersecurity talent:

  • A focus on proactive, preventative defenses rather than a reactive approach
  • A divorce from security biases that prevent one from making objective decisions
  • The technical knowledge and expertise necessary to understand cyberthreats
  • An understanding that security also requires training of staff and higher level executives
  • The flexibility to adapt to new threats and learn from them

The one steering your organization’s cybersecurity strategy will ultimately need to have all of the above. If they do not, chances are your organization will be placed at risk, perhaps not necessarily immediately, but certainly in the future.

How to Become a Cybersecurity Adept Yourself

Look, we understand that the human mind is capable of learning and absorbing countless bits of information, but cybersecurity is one aspect that is so complex that it can take years to learn everything you need to know to keep your business safe. The only way you are going to overcome the challenges of the cybersecurity landscape is with a trained and experienced professional on your side. It’s not easy to accrue this knowledge in the short term, which is why so many organizations choose to outsource this responsibility or hire a dedicated in-house cybersecurity professional to address these needs.

There is something to be said for when you can admit you’re in over your head, and with cybersecurity, there is no more dangerous position to be in. You can make the experience much less stressful by outsourcing your company’s cybersecurity to professionals who have invested countless hours, days, and years into learning the complexities of the industry. With NuTech Services on your side, you can know that your organization is devoting the time and effort necessary to securing its infrastructure. To learn more, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

23
Aug, 2021
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REvil Vanishes, Along With Some Companies’ Hopes to Decrypt Their Data

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The Kaseya ransomware attack targeting VSA servers for approximately 1,500 organizations was another notable attack in a recent string of high-profile ransomware attacks, and while most organizations did what most security professionals recommend and did not pay the ransom, others did not listen. Now those who did pay the ransom are having trouble decrypting their data, and REvil is nowhere to be found to help them in this effort.

With REvil, the hackers reportedly responsible for the Kaseya ransomware attack, having shuttered their operations, some organizations who actually paid the ransom are in a tight spot. Following comments from United States President Joe Biden urging Russian officials to take action against REvil, it was reported that dark web sites for REvil’s payment portal, public portal, helpdesk chat, and negotiations portal were all offline. It is unclear what has caused these outages; it could be a government shutdown just as easily as it could not. Either way, our thoughts turn back to those who are impacted most by this outage: those who paid the ransom, but cannot decrypt their data.

Ordinarily, those who need help with decrypting their data after paying the ransom could contact REvil’s helpdesk, but if they are nowhere to be found, and your decryption tools are not working as expected, what is there to do? It is, yet again, a stark reminder that you cannot guarantee that paying the ransom will help you get your data back should you fall victim to a ransomware attack. What good reason is there to trust the goodwill of hackers who extort money from others and create so much trouble for countless organizations and individuals around the world? There cannot possibly be one.

We understand that you may feel you do not have a choice in the matter regarding paying up for ransomware attacks, but at the end of the day, it is simply far too risky to do so. Not only are you paying up for a possibility of decrypting your data—not a guarantee, mind you—but you are also funding future attacks and proving to the world that ransomware works well enough to extort millions of dollars from companies around the world. Show the hackers who is in the driver’s seat by refusing to give in to their demands.

Rather than reacting to ransomware attacks, you should instead take a proactive stance against them. Start with implementing adequate security measures that can detect the many modes of transport that ransomware utilizes, as well as a data backup system that can help to restore your infrastructure in the event of a ransomware infection. Furthermore, you must train your employees on how to identify and respond to potential ransomware threats. If you do all of this, you can minimize the chances that ransomware will significantly influence your organization.

NuTech Services can assist you with the implementation of any new security or data backup solutions, as well as train your team on how to be more mindful about these threats. To learn more, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

20
Aug, 2021
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Don’t Be Caught Off Guard by Ransomware

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Ransomware is bad stuff, and it’s only gotten worse with its recent resurgence that aligned with the COVID-19 pandemic. Phishing attacks and other means by which ransomware is commonly spread have used the current atmosphere as a springboard. This makes it even more critical that these kinds of behaviors and attempts can be spotted and stopped.

Why Do Cybercriminals Use Ransomware?

It’s simple: if a cybercriminal specifically chooses ransomware as their malware of choice, they most likely intend to profit from their crime. The entire point of ransomware is to collect money from its victims by encrypting their data and demanding a ransom in exchange for the decryption key (which, for the record, isn’t guaranteed even if the ransom is paid).

Looking at it this way, it’s little wonder that cybercriminals have aimed their sights higher and higher.

Don’t get us wrong, small and medium-sized businesses are in no way out of the woods, but there have been more and more attacks on critical pieces of infrastructure taking place recently. Consider the attack that was waged on Colonial Pipeline and the massive supply chain disruptions that came about as a result of its impacts. Another massive issue in the supply chain happened in the food industry, with the REvil group attacking those infrastructures. REvil was also responsible for an attack on Kaseya, a major software vendor, hurting businesses and proving that service providers are a good target for such efforts.

Yes, You Need to Be Prepared to Deal With Ransomware

However, this can’t stop once you have some preventative measures in place. You won’t be fully prepared until your team is ready to deal with a successful attack, just in case one does slip through.

To do this, you need to have a resource in your corner that you can turn to for help with either an incoming attack or one that’s already gotten in. That’s what NuTech Services is here for (amongst many other services). We can help you do more to keep ransomware out, while also putting you in a better position should one get by. Did you know that businesses can now actually insure themselves to help prepare for the high costs that come from a ransomware infection?

You’ll also need to crunch some numbers to evaluate your ransomware risk. How much of a financial impact could a ransomware attack have overall? Are there any risks that could come from any third parties? Could you be considered a valuable target for an attacker, in terms of the financial gain they could anticipate or the amount of disruption they could cause? Do you have anything potentially making you vulnerable to these attacks?

Once you’ve covered these steps (and committed to revisiting them regularly as your situation changes), you need to prepare for the two scenarios we’ve referenced:

Keeping Ransomware Out of Your Business

Naturally, we want to keep ransomware out, which means there are some things you need to do. Keeping your protections—your antivirus, your parameters for your content filters, your firewalls, and everything else of the sort—up to date can reduce the number of threats you need to actively deal with by a considerable amount. It is also important that you keep your team equally up-to-date with the best practices and accepted responses on the chance that they spot a potential threat.

Minimizing the Damage Ransomware Can Do

Should a ransomware attack make it past all that, you need to be prepared to minimize its potential impact on you. Frankly, you’ll likely have to completely wipe your infrastructure, so you need to have an isolated and maintained backup. You know, just in case.

Ransomware is no joke, but neither are the services that you receive by working with NuTech Services. Our purpose is to do everything we can to prevent your business being hindered by a technology issue. Find out what we can do for your business specifically by calling 810.230.9455 today.

18
Aug, 2021
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4 IT Errors Every Small Business Needs to Avoid

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Technology is often a source of struggle for small businesses, usually for one of two reasons. Either the strong IT leadership needed isn’t there, or there aren’t enough resources to support the level of IT management and maintenance that businesses need. Of course, there are other mistakes that can easily be made when it comes to a business’ technology management.

Let’s go over four of these mistakes.

Failing to Focus on Your Overall Goals

You don’t have to tell us that “the next big thing” in technology is always an intriguing idea. The real problem is “the next big thing” isn’t always “the thing you need.” However, adding new pieces of technology without a cohesive strategy often results in an overcomplicated network. This then can start a cascade of potential problems, ranging from hardware failure to full-blown security breach. What’s worse is that your business may not be ready to handle the new technology.

No, it is far better to first identify how a technology can help you toward your organization’s goals, and only then implement it.

Not Planning for Long-Term Success

It is critically important that you look to the future of your business and make plans to ensure its growth. This means that you need to not only choose solutions that fulfill your needs now, but that could scale to meet whatever those needs might look like in the future. Relatedly, your longevity also relies on how well you’re prepared to handle a crisis. Having business continuity preparations—data backup and disaster recovery, specifically—will help ensure that you can recover quickly, should you ever need to do so.

Falling Short in Security

Have you ever thought that, since you run a small or medium-sized business, cybercriminals simply wouldn’t waste the time to attack you when there are much larger, potentially more lucrative businesses to target? While some cybercriminals may prefer to target the big guys, others are more than happy to try and take the sensitive data that you’ve collected and generated over time. It’s guaranteed that you also have something that a hacker will want, whether that’s sensitive data, access credentials, or financial information. Unless you’re willing to risk your entire business on the incredibly unlikely chance that you’ll never be targeted (disclaimer: don’t), you need to properly invest in your business’ security.

Waiting Until Something Goes Wrong to Act

Proactivity is a good practice in many disciplines, but when it comes to proper IT maintenance, it’s now practically essential. While many businesses still rely on the traditional break-fix approach of yesteryear, this approach is no longer practical, or for that matter, practicable. Adding up the costs of the hardware that would need replacing and the downtime incurred, the price of this approach adds up faster than you might imagine. Proactive maintenance helps avoid these additional costs.

Of course, chances are that you wouldn’t call yourself a technology expert. That’s our job, which we do by providing businesses with the technology they need and the support to keep it running. That way, you and your team can focus more on what you do.

Find out more about what we have to offer by calling us at 810.230.9455 today.

16
Aug, 2021
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Managing Your Organization’s Software is More Complex than You Think

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In a world of “as a service” business models, where services are distributed by month or by billing cycle, users are not necessarily buying things outright to replace them at a later date. The issue with this Software as a Service (SaaS) model is that too many of these solutions implemented all at once can create a messy web of software that needs to be managed. How can you make sure that you are getting the most out of your solutions without driving yourself up the wall?

A SaaS management platform is the best way to make sure that you are not leaving any value on the table with your SaaS applications. It can also help you maintain operations in ways that you might not have considered. Here are our top four benefits of using a SaaS management platform.

Analytics and Usage Statistics

If you have ever wondered how your employees use the solutions you give them, then a good SaaS management platform can give you access to these valuable insights. By getting this birds-eye view of how your employees use which applications, you can make more educated decisions about the solutions you implement moving forward. You might even find that you don’t need certain applications because they simply are not being used.

License Management and Renewal

Licensing is another major pain point for organizations that utilize several different types of software. If licenses expire, then access to applications can be brought to an abrupt halt. If employees find this happens to them, then they might look for other solutions to fill the void and get their work done. SaaS management allows you to keep this from happening by giving you one central location to manage and renew licenses as needed.

Enhanced Security and Compliance

No matter how often you use your SaaS applications for work purposes, they will inevitably store some of your organization’s data. This can create problems if you do not know what data and information it is that they are storing. If your business is using a SaaS management platform, you can more easily control security for these applications, a process that also aids in compliance.

Tighter Control over SaaS Applications

SaaS management gives your business the ability to manage its software from one central location, a concept that can help you eliminate shadow IT, which is the situation we described above where employees might implement unapproved applications to solve problems. Giving employees the ability to pick and choose from a pool of applications can make them less likely to look for alternative solutions.

If you want to get started with SaaS management, NuTech Services can help. We can offer a comprehensive network audit that can give you valuable insights into your software management needs. To get started, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

13
Aug, 2021
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Cloud Security is a More Pressing Issue

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The cloud is a popular choice for businesses that need access to tools to sustain operations, but there is an innate flaw that comes from hosting anything in an online environment: security. Do not pretend that security is not an issue for your cloud-based resources—failing to acknowledge the importance of security could be a fatal mistake for organizations that leverage cloud-based technology resources.

Misconfigured Cloud Settings

Cloud tools and solutions can work quite well, but they need to be set up properly first—particularly in the realm of security. Due to its nature as an accessibility and communication tool, the cloud must ensure that security is kept at the top of mind so as to avoid data breaches and vulnerabilities. Make sure that you are reviewing, checking, and confirming that your cloud’s security settings are correct on a regular basis so as to not put your organization at risk.

Ineffective Access Controls

The cloud allows resources to be accessed from more than one location, a benefit that simplifies remote work and makes it more accessible to small businesses. Your team will need to know how to effectively utilize these resources to ensure they can get the job done, but you must also do your part to allow or restrict access to important data or applications as needed. A cybercriminal can lean into ineffective access controls set by your organization, too, for if they manage to get their hands on credentials for a network administrator or someone with upper-level privileges, you can bet that they can cause a lot of damage. To protect from this, it also helps to build secure passwords.

Targeted Attacks

Look, it’s no secret that there are countless threats out there, but the fact that the workplace has grown exponentially more connected over the past several decades means that there are more avenues than ever for cybercriminals to make their way into your infrastructure. What’s worse, cyberattacks are quite lucrative and easily repeatable, and due to the sheer number of different threats out there, hackers can switch their tactics up based on what they think will be most likely to succeed against your business.

Depending on your type of business and the compliance regulations of your specific industry, a data breach might mean much more than simple data theft. It could mean fines, lost confidence in your market, legal action, and even costly compensation. Other threats might try to harm your productivity, like Denial-of-service attacks and ransomware, with the latter being particularly devastating. You must be prepared for not just the cyberattacks we have outlined here, but for all potential threats that can derail operations. It all starts with a solid preparedness strategy.

Employee Behaviors

Your cloud solutions—especially in regards to security—will only be as effective as the team members that utilize them. If you don’t teach them how to use your solutions in a secure way, you are putting yourself at greater risk of cybercriminal activity. The other side of this is when the employees themselves are the danger, abusing the permissions they have been granted and using them in a way that is destructive to your business. Since the cloud is so accessible, it can be difficult to know when this is happening for your company, but it’s not impossible.

Turn to us for help with dealing with these cloud security challenges.

Industry professionals like NuTech Services can help your organization identify, prepare for, and respond to cloud security threats. To learn more, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

11
Aug, 2021
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Microsoft Has a Virtual Desktop-as-a-Service Model with Windows 365

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With more companies opting to get involved with the “as a service” market, it’s no surprise that Microsoft, one of the world’s leading software companies, went this route with the Microsoft 365 cloud-service offering. Microsoft has been aiming to take their strategy even further with Windows 365, a way for organizations to opt into virtual desktops. Here’s what you need to know about Windows 365.

Keep in mind that this is still a developing service, so the state of Windows 365 may change over time.

What is Windows 365?

At its core, Windows 365 is a desktop virtualization service (think of it as DaaS, or Desktop as a Service). Users can take full advantage of a virtual Windows desktop, as well as some first and third-party applications. What’s notable is that this can be utilized by devices that are both PCs and non-PCs, allowing for flexible use of the desktop operating system.

You may have heard of “thin computing,” which is when you use endpoints that are somewhat underpowered compared to your traditional desktop computers to run virtual desktops. This is the exact same thing, with the desktop’s data accessed through the Internet. The desktop itself lives in the cloud and is accessed through your connection. The virtual desktop itself is powered by Azure Virtual Desktop, a service that is capable of creating virtual machines for access via the cloud.

How Much Will it Cost?

Microsoft just started to release some pricing information for the base service on their website, and while we like what we see, the real cost is going to come down to setting it up, teaching your users how to access it, and ensuring that the devices you have will access it. We have high hopes that this will be an affordable way to get cloud-based desktop environments for the average worker, even if their only device is a Mac or Chromebook. Pricing per user per month is based on the various configurations available through the service based on how powerful the virtual machines are.

What’s the Difference Between Microsoft 365 and Windows 365?

We are sure that this will cause a bit of confusion within the user base. The big difference between Microsoft 365 and Windows 365 is that Microsoft 365 gives you the licenses to run the included software, whereas Windows 365 gives you the virtual machines to run them on. So, it’s not necessarily double-dipping, but they both will be required if you want to fully leverage the power of Microsoft’s cloud-based deployment service.

You can count on NuTech Services to help you navigate the developments surrounding Windows 365. Perhaps you will even consider us when it comes time for your organization to implement it or when it comes time to consider if it is the right call for your business. You can count on NuTech Services to be here for you! Just give us a call at 810.230.9455.

9
Aug, 2021
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How to Build the Perfect Server Room for Your Business

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Your business relies on technology for access to an IT infrastructure. One such piece of technology that you use on a daily basis, whether you realize it or not, is a server. A company that has a single server might be able to get away with less-than-stellar server management policies, but those that have multiple servers should never be skimping on the environment in which their servers live.

Let’s outline why having dedicated space for your technology is important.

Enough Space for Hardware and Work

This should go without saying, but your server room needs to comfortably house your server units and any other equipment you need to keep them functional. On a similar note, you should make sure that there is enough room to perform maintenance on them, should the need arise at some point in the future.

A Controlled Environment

Servers are not your typical workstations or computers. While they might appear to just be another box lit up by flashing lights and drives, they are far more powerful and output a significant amount of heat. This is why you often see server rooms that have climate controls that account for temperature and humidity. In fact, server rooms often store the units in specialized cabinets that control these conditions. Too much heat and moisture can cause harm over time, and hurt the overall performance of your network.

The Ability to Scale for Growth

You might be designing your server room for your current infrastructure, but it’s important to keep in mind that your infrastructure is not going to remain the same for the entire time you are in business. It will likely grow and scale with your business’ prosperity, so you should also plan for a certain level of growth. This means making sure that you have room to add new units, additional cabling, and other technological solutions as needed.

Physical and Digital Security Solutions

The more people who have access to your server room, the more that could possibly go wrong with it. All it takes is one person not following the appropriate protocols, changing settings on machines, or improperly handling the hardware to send everything out of whack and create chaos. Your server room should be secured on the physical side as well as the digital side, preferably with biometrics and multi-factor authentication whenever possible.

Now, let’s say that you don’t want to go through all the trouble of customizing a room in your office specifically for your servers. Many organizations tend to store their data and servers in off-site data centers, choosing instead to access it through the cloud rather than hosting it in-house. This is a perfectly viable solution, even for a small business with a more limited budget. That’s where we come in!

At NuTech Services, we believe that small businesses should have access to the same great solutions and services as enterprises. If you are worried that you cannot afford such solutions and services—including server management—give us a call and find out what your options are! We are sure that we can help you out. To discuss the possibilities with one of our skilled technicians, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

6
Aug, 2021
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Shocking Study on the Work Week Suggests Shorter is Better

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Many critics of a shorter work week believe that cutting the number of hours worked throughout the workday or work week could potentially lead to a decrease in productivity, but a new study from Iceland suggests that this simply is not reality. This study suggests that productivity should no longer be a cause for concern when it comes to a shorter work week, as its astounding results show what really happens when you reduce the number of hours worked without reducing pay.

Introduction to the Study

The study, published by Autonomy and Alda, as well as the Association for Democracy and Sustainability in June of 2021, took place over five years and examined workers from several different industries in Iceland. There were two parts to the study: one conducted by the city of Reykjavík and another performed by the Icelandic government. In both parts, employees worked shorter hours during the work week.

Of particular note here is that the employees participating in these trials did not suffer a reduced salary or wage while working fewer hours. They worked an average of 35 or 36 hours per work week while the control group worked the standard 40 hours expected of most positions. By the end of the study, it involved around 2,500 employees from over 100 workplaces.

Both trials hoped that shorter work hours could address poor work-life balance and improve productivity; the results might surprise you!

The Results

The results of this study showcases that the shorter work week presented several benefits to employees. The study found that these trials showed reductions in working hours “maintained or increased productivity and service provision” and also “improved workers’ wellbeing and work-life balance.”

The report examines the following:

  • How effectively work time was reduced
  • How service provision and productivity were affected
  • Whether improvements in workers’ wellbeing and work-life balance took place

One of the reasons why employers are so worried about shorter working hours is that it can unintentionally lead to overwork as a result of having fewer hours in the workday to get things done, but the anecdotal evidence suggests that this is simply not true. Employees found that it was easier to organize themselves and their work processes with the shorter workday. This goes for managers, too.

Service provision was also unaffected—at least, in a negative way. As evidenced by the study, “On the whole, indicators of service provision and productivity either stayed within expected levels of variation, or rose during the period of the trial.”

In perhaps the most interesting part of this study, we get to the wellbeing and work-life balance aspects of shorter work days and weeks. The indicators for this part of the study were examined close to the end of the study, where stress levels and energy levels were measured. For work-life balance, employees in the shorter work day group discovered that they had much more free time to spend time with their families and were less likely to say no to overtime when it was needed. They were also less likely to take on a part-time job.  Other benefits included easier-to-do errands, more balance in participation in home duties, more time for oneself, less stress at home, more exercise, and so many others. It is evident that work-life balance saw many improvements for these employees.

What do you think about shortening your workdays? Do you think that maybe everyone could make use of a couple extra hours to enjoy life on a Friday afternoon? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

4
Aug, 2021
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7 Technology Terms That End Users Should Know

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No matter what role you are in at your company, be it management or otherwise, there are certain terms related to technology that you are going to want to be familiar with. Doing so will not only help you make the process of asking for help when it’s needed easier, but it will also help you stay current on business technology in general, leading to more awareness of what goes into a successful business technology strategy. Let’s discuss some of the important technology terms for everyday business operations.

Desktop

Your desktop can mean two different things; it is either the front-most screen when you are logged on to your computer, where you can see icons for the various programs installed on your computer and other folders for storage, or it can mean your entire work computer setup (monitor, tower, keyboard, mouse, etc). More likely than not, when you hear the word “desktop,” it will be in the context of the computer setup itself. Other times, it might be referred to as a “workstation.”

Hardware

On a similar note, hardware consists of the components that actually make the computer work. Hardware includes any bits and pieces inside the computer, as well as any equipment that might be used alongside the computer. Some examples of hardware might include the computer’s monitor, your keyboard, computer mouse, webcam, microphone, and any internal components, like RAM, the motherboard, etc. It’s just a fancy word that encompasses all of this.

Software

If hardware consists of the physical components of your computer, then the software consists of the digital components of your computer. Software includes your operating system and any programs installed on your computer. Examples might include the Windows or macOS operating systems, the Microsoft Office productivity suite, or Adobe Creative Suite.

Operating System

Your computer’s operating system is the thing that basically acts as the interface through which you do just about anything. Learning how to navigate the operating system is a critical part of any office worker’s day-to-day responsibilities, so we want to emphasize the importance of it. The operating system also plays a role in which software is compatible with your computer, as some might require a specific OS in order to be most effective. For example, for the longest time, Microsoft Office was most compatible with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems.

Help Desk

More often than not, if you run into technology problems while going about your day-to-day duties, you will be told to contact the help desk. The help desk is a group of IT professionals whose sole responsibility is to help you figure out the best solution to your technology problems. Most help desks have a phone number, email address, or even a live chat function to offer support.

Remote

If you managed to make it through the COVID-19 pandemic without hearing the term “remote” thrown around, then kudos to you. In business terms, “remote” means a location away from your normal desk or location of operation. It is often used synonymously with “working from home,” but these two should not be confused. Working from home is one way to work remotely, but it’s worth mentioning that “remote” just means “anywhere that is not your office.” You might also hear this term used in the context of “remote access,” as in accessing files and information without being physically connected to a network.

Cloud

Similar to “remote,” the cloud is something which allows for work outside the confines of your organization’s office. “Cloud” can refer to a location, i.e. storing data in the cloud for remote access, or it could be used to describe something, like cloud-based software. In either case, cloud technology, or cloud computing, is a means to an end, usually to improve the accessibility of resources like data, software, and in some cases hardware.

Even if all of this sounds a bit confusing, don’t worry; NuTech Services is here to answer any questions that you may have about technology. To learn more, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

2
Aug, 2021
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These Are the Most Likely Threats Your Small Business Will Face

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Data breaches are a well-known fact in the business environment, and small businesses in particular have many challenges that threaten their operations. It is important that you consider these security issues when putting together your risk management strategy, especially as it pertains to cybersecurity. Let’s take a look at how you can overcome some of the security challenges present for small businesses in 2021.

Phishing

Phishing is a major concern for small businesses as these attacks make up a significant portion of cybersecurity situations. Phishing is more of a scam than an official hack, but it is problematic cybercrime all the same. Phishing attacks can come through any form of communication for your business, be it social media, email, and phone calls. The scary part is that it only has to work once to cause trouble for your company.

Here’s an example of how phishing works. If a member of your staff were to accidentally click on an attachment in an email that they think has something to do with their job, they might find that the email installs malware on your network. This method is not limited to malware; it can install trojans, viruses, or even ransomware.

Phishing can be hard to counter, as hackers have developed sophisticated phishing schemes that can make keeping up difficult. You need to train your employees to ensure that they will be more likely to spot potential phishing attempts.

Poor Passwords

It is unfortunate that poor passwords are one of the biggest reasons why security breaches occur. Just like phishing strategies, hackers have implemented sophisticated measures that allow them to not only guess passwords, but guess countless passwords in a short timeframe. Furthermore, social engineering tactics can be used to guess poor or duplicated passwords with ease.

Password security is an aspect of your cybersecurity infrastructure that bleeds into every other aspect of it. Your employees use passwords to access just about anything online, and while duplicate passwords are easy to remember, they are a far cry from the level of security that your organization needs to be successful. Password best practices are one way to shore up this weakness. Passwords should be complex and changed on the regular to keep them from being stolen, guessed, or compromised.

Holes in Software

Software is often updated to account for security issues and holes that are discovered after the fact, and developers respond periodically to these issues. If you fail to patch your software, you could go about operations with major security issues and run the risk of exploitation. In other words, these holes in software are essentially open doors that hackers can use to infiltrate your network.

The best way to address these vulnerabilities is to keep them from becoming major problems in the first place. By this, we mean regularly patching your software and applying updates as they come out. This will close these open doors and enable you to protect your assets.

NuTech Services can help your business prioritize security. To get started, we recommend contacting one of our IT experts who can discuss with you all of the cybersecurity solutions we offer. Don’t wait any longer—give us a call at 810.230.9455!