29
Nov, 2021
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Our Technicians Can Deliver A Lot of Value

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If you don’t properly maintain your technology, then it’s simply not going to be one of your company’s strengths. It’s a simple statement, but it’s one that many modern businesses fail to act upon. A managed service provider can make it much easier to get the technology maintenance your business needs to succeed. Let’s take a closer look at the people who deliver these services to your organization.

The Modern IT Technician

The accepted norm for years was that the computer technician’s job was to fix individual PCs. Unfortunately, as technology grew ever-more-complex, so too did the responsibilities of these positions. It’s not enough to have technical assistance these days; technicians must have knowledge which encompasses all facets of business technology.

Today’s technician must be hired outright or as a part of an expert team like those at NuTech Services, and to make matters more complicated, they must know all kinds of things about technology of varying complexities. They need to know how to fix a computer, as well as how to do it remotely, including how to manage and install networks, identify and mitigate threats, how to structure a business’ IT around their goals, and most important of all, how to do all of the above in a fast-paced environment.

Ultimately, a competent IT technician needs to be an effective problem solver and knowledgeable about a plethora of best practices. They may also need to pick up certifications in various skills and softwares. These certifications are not easy to achieve, either; they require a certain level of knowledge and expertise, to be sure. Here are some of the certifications you might expect from technicians:

  • CompTIA A+: Perhaps one of the most well-recognized certifications out there, CompTIA A+ certification means that the holder is competent across hardware, software, and problem solving in a variety of computing platforms. There is also a specific security certification (CompTIA Security+) for those who are competent in basic security practices and troubleshooting.
  • Microsoft Certified Professional: Microsoft is perhaps the most established software vendor for businesses, so holding certifications in these softwares is extremely valuable. Some of the certifications include Office Specialist, Certified Solution Developer, and more. A technician holding these credentials is a serious boon for any business that uses Microsoft products.
  • CISSP: Certified Information System Security Professional is one of the most recognized security-specific certifications a technician can earn.
  • Oracle or Microsoft SQL Certifications: Databases are not the easiest thing to manage, but they are important for any business. These certifications are perfect for technicians proficient in SQL management.
  • ITIL: Help desk technicians should have the Information Technology Infrastructure Library certification to show that they have a clear understanding of industry standard best practices.

If your technicians are certified, you’ll know that they have the skills necessary to help your business succeed. If you want more information on how our technicians can help your organization, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

We also wanted to take this opportunity to thank our great techs at NuTech Services for their hard work and dedication!

26
Nov, 2021
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3 Practical Uses for Blockchain Technology

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Blockchain has been one of the most talked-about new technologies for several years now. When we first heard about it, it had the potential to solve hundreds of problems, but there weren’t any real-world applications available. Today, we’ll take a look at three applications for blockchain that are available today.

What Is Blockchain?

For those who aren’t familiar with blockchain, it can be defined as a distributed database that stores data. Most data storage is centralized, but with blockchain each piece of information is stored on a “block” or what is known as a node. Each node is created when data is added to the chain (all the nodes are connected to other nodes). This chain of data isn’t controlled by one person, rather it is spread out and duplicated so that every entity that is represented on the blockchain has access to the complete record of it. Each node is encrypted and can’t be edited, so if some part of the information needs to be altered a new node is created.

Of course, the first technology that spawned from this was the cryptocurrency Bitcoin, but today it is being developed for many more applications. Let’s take a look at three:

Improving Banking

Blockchain technology is perfect for tracking financial transactions. Everyone that uses a checking account knows that they have a ledger that they need to update once they deposit or withdraw money from that account. Blockchain is set up to do this by nature. Each transaction gets its own node. Furthermore, since it’s a distributed system, it can work for multiple users at once, creating what are called smart contracts. Essentially, when two entities enter an agreement with stipulations, blockchain can trigger payment when the conditions are met, effectively automating the flow of capital. 

Improving Supply Chains

The past couple of years have wreaked havoc on supply chains, but blockchain technology is literally the perfect technology to help keep them running effectively. The distributed nature of a blockchain can work over multiple points on the supply chain, making it a great tool for both procurement and distribution. If companies can know the status, condition, and source of each product or component they receive, each member of a blockchain-linked supply chain can enjoy better transparency, improving the whole process.

Improving Healthcare

One of the first thoughts when blockchain was being considered a solution to data problems was how it would work in the healthcare system. Today, companies are creating applications that not only improve patient, care provider, insurance communication and give patients better control over their medical information, they are also creating solutions to better manage outpatient care. Security is a prime consideration when it comes to health records and the naturally secure blockchain technology appears to be a great solution to keep those records secure. 

Blockchain is exciting, but also taking quite a bit of time to move into the mainstream. What do you think about blockchain technology? Do you think that it can be the answer to a lot of society’s digital problems down the road? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below and check back soon for more great technology content.

24
Nov, 2021
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What are the Pros and Cons of a “Workation?”

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Remote work has become more legitimate than ever before to the point that people can now work effectively anywhere and not just their homes. This brings up an interesting question, however, as this trend means that one could effectively work while they’re on a vacation. 

Let’s examine this trend of the “workation.” 

What is a Workation?

While a working vacation is by no means a new concept, the surge in remote work’s popularity has resulted in a similar surge in the concept of simply working remotely from a vacation destination. For instance, someone who works remotely could do so while at a beachside resort rather than in their home. As its name suggests, it’s a hybrid of the concepts of working and vacationing: a person can still accomplish their work-related tasks while also gaining many of the benefits that a vacation brings.

To be frank, a workation is a break from your typical workspace, not from work itself. It’s also not a replacement for actual time off, but it can be pretty nice to change the scenery every so often.

The benefits of a workation are pretty straightforward:

  • By allowing the employee to engage in recreational activities when they aren’t working, they are able to be more relaxed when they are. Even the change in environment can have a positive impact on overall productivity.
  • Offering the capability to partake in a workation can be a significant draw for new employees.
  • A workation can also expand on the perspective that an employee has, not only refreshing them and their productivity but giving them new ideas to implement.

Having said that, there are a few drawbacks to the concept. For instance, there can often be delays in communication when people are working remotely—especially when they are on a vacation. Plus, the workation itself can create more challenges in terms of lining up schedules and effectively collaborating.

While the choice of whether or not to enact workations into your policies is your decision, we wanted to give you a few tips to help make these workations (or any remote work, for that matter) as effective as possible.

How to Ensure That Your Workation is Secure

Regardless of where this workation is taking place, your business’ security needs to be held in the utmost importance. That’s why we recommend a few basics you should implement for your benefit:

  • Use a VPN – You want to ensure that your business’ communications remain secure, regardless of where your team members are working from. A virtual private network can help you accomplish as much.
  • Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication – Multi-Factor Authentication (or MFA) is a great way to double-down on the protections that are afforded to you by your typical username-password authentication.
  • Educate Your Team – Your team members will be your biggest vulnerability against cyberthreats, unless you train them to be an asset. Making sure they know how to spot threats, and how they should react when they do, will be crucial to preventing issues from arising… particularly while working remotely.

So, what’s your take on the workation? As a business owner, have you ever tried switching up the scenery while still getting work done? We can help you do so. To learn more, give us a call at 810.230.9455 today.

22
Nov, 2021
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U.S. Government Making an Effort to Stop Exploits

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Earlier this year, there was a string of high-profile ransomware attacks leveraged against major companies. Now, the United States has issued an order that dictates guidelines for how to patch various vulnerabilities in affected systems within federal agencies and organizations. It’s a huge move in an effort to stop hackers and other cyberthreats from becoming more serious problems in the future.

The direction was issued by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and it essentially assigned due dates ranging from November 2021 to May 2022. CISA is urging all federal agencies and organizations to resolve certain known and exploited vulnerabilities during this timeline. There are some notable exceptions for national security-related infrastructures, though.

The catalog of known, exploited vulnerabilities is located on CISA’s website. This catalog contains information on each known vulnerability, and all of them (around 300 or so) are all believed to pose some kind of threat to the federal government. The catalog also links to NIST database entries for guidance on how to apply these patches and resolve these vulnerabilities.

This is obviously a huge undertaking and one that could lead to miscommunications, confusion, and more throughout the patching process. This is especially true when you consider that each department is responsible for deploying their own updates and are only accountable to CISA. Even so, CISA is applying pressure on these organizations to meet specific criteria within a timeframe.

This timeline varies, but within 60 days, agencies must review and update their policies on vulnerability management, and these new policies must be made available to CISA upon request. Agencies must also have a policy in place for carrying out the directive issued by CISA. Organizations must identify who is responsible for this, as well as how they plan to track and report on the implementation process.

If you think patch management is difficult for governments, then imagine how difficult it can be for small businesses with more limited spending power and fewer resources at their disposal. SMBs tend to patch vulnerabilities when they have the time and resources to do so rather than when they need to be deployed, which is not the correct approach. For each day you don’t resolve a vulnerability, you are giving hackers countless opportunities to break into your network.

NuTech Services can help your business with patch implementation and update deployment. We can make this process automatic and easy to take advantage of. You’ll find that there are countless benefits to freeing yourself from the worries associated with technology management and maintenance, and trust us when we say you’ll never have to worry about patches or updates again.

To learn more, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

19
Nov, 2021
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Technology is Center Stage on Black Friday and Cyber Monday

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The holidays are rapidly approaching and each year people position themselves to get the best deals they can on all the potential gifts, whether they are gifts to themselves, or to others. Like many other years, bargain shoppers wake up from their tryptophan naps, bundle up, and head out to try and score the best deals they can. Today, we thought we’d talk a little about Black Friday and Cyber Monday and why they are great to get the technology-lover on your shopping list the products they’ll love this holiday season.

Black Friday

Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving and has been the busiest shopping day in the United States for 15 years. Nowadays, most retail stores not only extend their Black Friday deals starting on Thanksgiving (or stay open to start at midnight on the day after), they also give consumers a fair bit of warning of what will be available so that people can plan their shopping experience.

Cyber Monday

Starting years later, Cyber Monday is basically an extension of Black Friday that takes place online the following Monday. Since a lot of holiday shopping is completely online these days, Cyber Monday started at shop.com in 2005, but has grown substantially each year since. In 2020, as the in-person retail economy reeled from the COVID-19 pandemic, Cyber Monday was the largest retail day in history, netting close to $11 billion. 

2021 Extends Holiday Shopping

In 2021, the lingering supply chain issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have caused many retail chains to not only alter their plans for 2021 holiday sales, but they have also extended a lot of their deals online, effectively making Cyber Monday, Cyber-End-of-November. Most retailers are doing what they can to make sure that consumers have the opportunity to get deals to check the people off their holiday shopping lists.

Technology is Front and Center

Technology is typically viewed as a great gift and in 2021 there is more tech to choose from than ever before. Some of the most popular gifts that you will see on sale after Thanksgiving in the United States include:

Amazon Fire Stick 4K with Alexa Voice Remote

The newest iteration of the popular HDMI streaming media dongle features voice controls through Alexa and is 4K-capable. Starting at $25.

Apple AirPods (Gen 2)

Apple’s popular wireless earbuds. Starting at $89.

Samsung Chromebook 4

With an 11.6-inch screen, this laptop is a good value for people looking for a reliable laptop for everyday tasks. Starting at $129.

Facebook Portal Go and Portal+

The Portal Go and Portal+ are video chat interfaces that integrate with Facebook Messenger. Starting at $199.99. 

Of course, this isn’t everything, but if you are in the market for computer hardware and electronics, late November will be a good time to check for deals!

What’s on your holiday list? Let us know in the comments, and make sure you practice safe browsing habits while shopping online!

17
Nov, 2021
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Network Security Cannot Be Ignored

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You see the headlines every single day while browsing the Internet: “So-and-So Suffers Massive Data Breach” or “Huge Data Breach Leaves Thousands of Credentials Exposed to Hackers.” Maybe you don’t see these specific headlines, but you get the idea; cybersecurity is a big deal these days, and you need to take it seriously before your business encounters problems that it cannot recover from.

Specifically, you need to implement a variety of security measures that mitigate risk for your business should it ever become the target of hackers. We’ve put together some of the most important measures here for your reference.

Unified Threat Management

A UTM is a device that includes many of the best industry-standard security solutions and packages them into one appliance. A UTM generally includes solutions like a firewall, antivirus, spam blocker, and content filter. It’s a pretty great all-in-one solution that includes a lot of helpful features that your organization will surely get value out of.

Multi-Factor Authentication

For securing accounts and network access, you can turn to multi-factor authentication, a concept which is proving more and more valuable with every passing year. Essentially, you need a combination of measures to access an account, such as a password, biometrics, or access to a secondary device or account. A best practice is to implement two of the three above features so that they include something you know, something you have, and something you are.

Password Management

Multi-factor authentication is vital to your business, but password management is also of critical importance. Password management involves generating multiple complex passwords and storing them in a secured vault where they can be called upon when needed. In essence, a password management tool makes it easier than ever to utilize complex passwords, but you should also know that complex passwords are no substitute for multi-factor authentication.

NuTech Services can help your business implement and maintain just about any security solution you need to keep your company safe. To learn more about what we can do for your business, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

15
Nov, 2021
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The Top VoIP Features Make Switching a No-Brainer

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Just like business has changed dramatically over the years, so too have the tools they use to remain successful. One such tool is the telephone system, which is now capable of a host of impressive features that make it vital to the success of any business. What does hosted VoIP bring to the table, and how can you leverage it to your organization’s success?

What Exactly is Hosted VoIP?

Hosted VoIP is a great business telephone system that uses the Internet to do everything your traditional telephone system can, and even more, actually. VoIP is loaded with features that provide value for your organization, and since it is hosted in the cloud, you cut down on the need for more expensive hardware solutions and the setup time they involve. Let’s examine some of these features.

Automated Attendant

One of the more useful features for businesses is to have an automated answering system that can eliminate the need for a live receptionist and the costs associated with them. This also provides reliable call routing so that people can get connected to whoever they need to get connected to. Some VoIP providers also offer customization to help this auto attendant be more tailored to suit your organization.

Call Recording

So much of today’s business is done remotely that collaboration can be challenging. Call recording makes for more accessibility options for individuals who cannot make it to every single meeting. They can also assist with project management, team collaboration, and quality assurance. Hosted VoIP programs often include cloud storage space at an additional cost, but notably without any additional setup.

Caller ID and Screening

Hosted VoIP allows systems to show users who is calling and what some of the options are for incoming calls. Users can see the number, including if it is in your contacts, and options for answering the call, sending it to voicemail, or declining it altogether. This cuts down on time wasted on unnecessary or unwanted calls.

Call Forwarding and Flipping

Yet another great feature in favor of VoIP is the ability to forward or transfer a call to a separate device or a different number. Sometimes calls need to reach multiple different points within a business, so call forwarding is an absolute must—especially for something like customer support or for organizations with multiple departments who need to send calls along to the appropriate department. Call flipping, on the other hand, lets users send their calls to different devices, like a smartphone, so they can take calls on the road with them as needed.

SMS Text Messaging

Hosted VoIP solutions also give users the ability to send SMS messages, or text messages, to each other/. It’s a great way for teams to stay in touch, and if they can do so from their work accounts, all the better.

Video Conferencing and Bridging

The cloud makes for a dynamic VoIP platform. Conference calling is one such way that VoIP uses the cloud to great success. Thanks to the Internet, VoIP providers can offer video conferencing systems that integrate with conference bridging, allowing people to meet without wasting time and effort.

Analytics

Hosted VoIP gives administrators the ability to see all kinds of metrics to ensure that the phone system is being used in the most effective way possible. This gives you the ability to customise your VoIP platform to suit the needs of your organization while also controlling costs.

Go Mobile 

Since each instance of a hosted VoIP platform can be accessed through a dedicated mobile application, employees can simply use their smartphones (or even a desktop/laptop) to access their work phone number and its many features. It’s a great way to cut costs and be even more productive.

In short, hosted VoIP is one of those solutions that we would label as a must-have for any business, big or small. To learn more about how hosted VoIP can help your business be more productive, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

12
Nov, 2021
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You Shouldn’t Let Opportunity Cost Dictate Your Path Forward

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Have you ever felt the anxiety of missing out on something for no real logical reason? This fear, also known as the “fear of missing out,” (or FOMO) is applicable not just in social situations, but in the business and professional world as well. The concept might seem rather juvenile in nature, but it is a very real thing that can influence your actions… and not always in a positive way.

To help reframe this juvenile outlook on the acronym, perhaps a better way of looking at this concept is to call it the “fear of missing opportunities.” In this sense, FOMO could mean losing out on a potential business venture because you were simply too late to jump on board. Maybe your dream client signed on with one of your competitors, or you missed out on investing in a local organization only to find that the organization becomes wildly successful and, much to your chagrin, they remember you turning them down all those years ago.

Now, how does this influence your behavior as a business professional? Maybe you take on any and all opportunities, despite not having nearly enough time or energy to keep up with these obligations. This inevitably leads to burnout, and when you later have to cancel obligations, it disappoints the parties involved. It’s not a good look for you or your company.

There is also the direct opposite of FOMO called the “fear of better options,” which is when you let the possibility of better options get in the way of making important decisions. Maybe you don’t want to commit to something in particular because there is always something bigger and better around the corner.

This “fear of better options” can also influence your decisions when it comes time to purchase technology for your business. What if you purchase technology now, only to find that a better model is going to be released next year? What if you implement the wrong solution? These questions can nag at you in the back of your mind and paralyze you into inaction.

The best way to handle the “fear of missing opportunities” and “fear of better options” is to take a close look at the opportunity cost of said interactions or options. For example, let’s say that you want to do business with a particular client. However, the workload that you pull for that client is not necessarily in line with the compensation that you receive. The client has been loyal for years, so you are afraid that you might be missing out on opportunities. In this case, the numbers don’t lie; if you can make the same amount of money off of other clients by doing less work overall, then you should do it. The opportunity cost of working with one client is simply too great to justify clinging to them.

Applying this once again to technology, maybe you are in the market for a new software solution, and it’s one that promises immense boosts to your productivity. However, there is no real reason or need for you to upgrade–at least, that’s what the logical part of your brain is telling you. But there’s that nagging “what if?” in the back of your mind that makes it hard to resist. You again perform the opportunity cost analysis; is purchasing this now going to have real, long-term effects on your business’ growth? Or could you wait a little while longer and get it when you are in a better position to do so?

NuTech Services wants to help you make these difficult technology-related decisions. There should be no FOMO or FOBO with technology when you work with a managed service provider. We do our market research and help you get the best options that fall within your company’s means. To learn more, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

10
Nov, 2021
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You Can Tell a Lot About Your Business by Monitoring Your Network

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Network security is one aspect of your business that absolutely should not be underestimated. In fact, many companies fail to adequately monitor their networks, and it can lead to many complications down the road. Why is it so critical to monitor your network, and how can you make sure that your business is actually doing it?

Let’s say that your day-to-day operations are proceeding without a hitch. Over time, however, small things start to go wrong. Files start to go missing or settings are slightly tweaked. You might also see some network slowdown. In any case, these issues can compound and you might not notice that they are issues until something seriously odd happens.

By the time you choose to investigate, things are getting seriously bad. It turns out that one of your users has been accessing your network and making these odd changes, but the strange thing is that you know this user personally. They would never do anything like this, and they deny that they have been making any changes to your network. So, who do you believe?

Further investigation shows that the user has been accessing their account from an unknown IP address and from a different country, something which confirms your worst nightmare. Your network has been breached thanks to a compromised account, and since you were not looking for this from the start, who knows how much damage has been done?

Situations like the one outlined above are exactly why you need to keep a close watch on your network. Otherwise, how can you know when inconsistencies like these are a legitimate problem? If you don’t think to look where problems exist, you won’t discover any. While knowing the truth might be scary, the consequences are even more terrifying.

You don’t have time to monitor your network like this and keep operations moving, which is why we at NuTech Services offer comprehensive remote monitoring and network security services. We can keep a close watch on your network for these types of issues to make sure that threats don’t fly under the radar on your network.

With solutions like our unified threat management tool and multi-factor authentication, alongside access controls and password management, you can know for sure that your organization has done all it can to keep itself safe from threats. To learn more, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

8
Nov, 2021
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In the Wrong Hands, AI is Dangerous

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Artificial intelligence, or AI, is a technology that many industries have found themselves benefiting greatly from, especially in the domains of cybersecurity and automation. Unfortunately, for every one great use of something, hackers will find two bad uses for it. AI has dramatically changed the landscape of cybersecurity and, more interestingly, cybercrime. Let’s take a look at why these threats are so concerning.

Deepfakes

The word “deepfake” comes from the words “deep learning” and “fake media.” A deepfake uses false imaging or audio to create something that appears authentic on the surface, but it is totally fake underneath. Deepfakes can be extremely dangerous and harmful when used under the right circumstances, like a news article showing off a fake video or image. AI-generated deepfakes have even been used in extortion schemes and misinformation scandals.

Deepfakes using AI can generate realistic videos, particularly when there is a lot of source material to call upon, like in the case of famous people or high-profile individuals with a large web presence. These videos can be so convincing that they can show the celebrity or even a government official saying or doing just about anything, creating misinformation and distrust.

AI-Supported Hacking Attacks

AI has been known to help cybercriminals with everyday hacking attacks, too, like breaking through a password or finding their way into a system. Hackers can use machine learning or artificial intelligence to analyze and parse password sets, then use the information learned to piece together potential passwords with shocking accuracy. These systems can even account for how people adjust their passwords over time.

There are also cases where hackers use machine learning to inform and automate their hacking processes. These systems can find weak points in infrastructures and penetrate them through the weaker links. These systems can then autonomously improve their functionality over time with great effectiveness.

Human Impersonation and Social Engineering

AI can also impersonate human beings by imitating their online behaviors. Automated bots can be used to create fake accounts capable of doing most of the everyday online activities that a user might (for example, liking posts on Instagram, sharing status updates, etc). These bots can even use these tactics to make money for the hacker.

Suffice to say that AI systems as a threat represent quite a dangerous future, should they be leveraged properly. These threat actors should be monitored both now and in the future.

To ensure that your organization doesn’t let hackers get the better of you, NuTech Services can help. To learn more, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

5
Nov, 2021
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A 5-Step Guide to Troubleshooting Technology Problems

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When something goes wrong, it makes sense that you have a process in place to go over the issue and find a solution. This process, also known as troubleshooting, will have several variables that must be accounted for, but the general process itself remains unchanged. Here are the five steps to troubleshooting any problem, as well as ensuring that the issue does not become more problematic in the future.

Collect Information

The first part of the troubleshooting process is to collect as much information as possible about the problem. What is the issue you are experiencing? What is the scope of the problem? Is it localized to your computer or is it a network-wide issue? Either way, you will need to collect as much information as possible so that you can make the best decision regarding how to approach the issue. It helps to try replicating the issue and documenting how you came about it.

Analyze Your Approach

Once you have collected enough information, it’s time to put that information to use and determine the appropriate path forward. Go through the information with a fine-toothed comb and examine which information is relevant to resolving the problem. You will likely change up your strategy for resolving the issue depending on what you discover and the amount of information you have collected, if enough is available at all. Use this information to build out a detailed plan to tackle the issue at hand.

Implement Your Solution

With a solid plan of action, you can take steps toward implementing a solution that addresses the issue at hand. Again, we want to emphasize that you should only act if you are confident that your fix actually addresses the problem you are experiencing. If you are not confident that you can solve the problem, then it is critical that you do more research, as implementing a solution incorrectly or under the wrong circumstances could simply make the problem worse.

Assess the Solution

Following the implementation of your solution, it should become clear whether or not the solution actually worked or not. Of course, sometimes solutions are little more than stop-gaps, or short-term fixes that resolve the problem now while you figure out a better one. It’s important that you know the difference between the two and to have realistic expectations about whether or not your solution will stand the test of time.

Document the Process

Once the solution has been implemented and it has been deemed an appropriate fix, you should update your internal documents with information on the fix so that you can prevent the issue from becoming quite so bad in the future. Be sure to detail what the resolution process was, from start to finish, in the most clear terms possible. Write up the documentation so that anyone who needs to consult it in the future can do so without feeling like they are in over their head.

If all of this sounds like a bit much to handle, don’t worry! Need a hand with troubleshooting technology issues with your business? NuTech Services can help your organization overcome any and all technology troubles you might encounter during your day-to-day operations. To learn more, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

3
Nov, 2021
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Companies Are Using AI to Shield Their Network from Outside Threats

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Businesses need all of the advantages they can get against threats, especially considering the fact that many of them adapt and evolve in response to advances in security measures. Some security researchers are seeing great success with artificial intelligence measures, a concept that could eventually become the future of network security in the business world.

How Does AI Security Work?

AI security consists of tools that can automatically identify and respond to perceived threats. This activity is guided by previous or similar activity, meaning that the AI security solution is capable of learning and growing in response to threats to improve its ability to fight them off. Since AI is always learning more about threats, you can expect a large number of false positives and false negatives throughout this process, but due to its autonomous nature, it will generally involve much less activity on your part compared to having someone actively monitor everything manually. AI security can also discover trends and piece together suspicious activity based on those trends, making for a remarkably sophisticated solution to have on your side.

What are the Benefits?

Let’s face it; for small businesses, hiring qualified security experts can be difficult, especially when it comes to finding the talent. AI can help you get around these challenges by automating your security system to identify threats over time. AI is capable of actually decreasing the amount of time you spend discovering threats on your infrastructure, cutting costs over time. Of course, all of this is dependent on whether you have people to manage your AI solution; otherwise, it’s going to be difficult to manage and maintain it.

Is AI Security the Future?

There is a downward trend in cybersecurity employment, making an autonomous solution seem like it would rise in popularity and usefulness. It’s already projected that this unfilled labor gap could increase to 3.5 million cybersecurity positions by the end of 2021. AI seems like it could be a simple-to-implement solution that addresses these hiring and training concerns, but it’s more likely that it will improve workflows and procedures of existing security employees rather than solve this gap in skilled labor.

How Can Your Business Use AI Security?

Contrary to popular belief, AI security is relatively accessible to small businesses. There are solutions out there that can be implemented by small businesses in accordance with their specific needs and goals. If you can implement AI security that coincides with your business’ operational goals, you can successfully work toward improving operations and workflows for your existing employees.

If you want to stay ahead of the trends and your competitors, as well as the threats that flood the Internet on a daily basis, NuTech Services can help you by implementing the best security measures, including AI security. To learn more, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

1
Nov, 2021
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It’s Possible to Change Your Bad Habits. Today, We Explain

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Have you ever wondered how it is that people can build up bad habits over time, yet break them and establish better ones? Have you also noticed how difficult it can be to break habits that have been ingrained into the very fibers of our being over an extended period of time? Believe it or not, people can change, and the science behind it—neuroplasticity—can provide some valuable insights into how to make it happen.

Neuroplasticity is an umbrella term which refers to the brain’s ability to change and adapt in response to various stimuli. This is not a simple reframing of mindset or something of the sort—this is physical, neural change which occurs in the brain. Such is the power of our experiences; they literally shape the way we see the world, view opportunities, and adapt to change. The neural networks within the brain actively rewire themselves in response to what you experience throughout life.

The idea of a growth mindset is grounded in the concept of neuroplasticity, that things are not as set-in-stone as you might think. Dr. Carol Dweck, a Professor of Psychology at Stanford University, speaks of the concept of a growth mindset in her TED Talk on the topic, making the case for how such a mindset shift is critical for today’s youth in learning environments.

In essence, Dweck claims that the growth mindset levels the playing field and makes knowledge infinitely more accessible. This concept of “not yet” versus “not good enough” or “failure” is incredibly empowering, as it implies a trajectory for growth rather than the static trajectory implied by the fixed mindset, where your skills remain the same and you have to simply learn to deal with your shortcomings.

You can see how this mindset shift can impact business operations as well as personal habit-building or learning. By simply saying “not yet,” you suddenly have a goal and a means to meet that goal. With an action plan in place, you can move forward with purpose, which is better than saying “I can’t do this” or “I’m not good enough.”

The thing about neuroplasticity that you must keep in mind is that the brain cannot rewrite habits and restructure tendencies overnight—this is a gradual process that can take place over a long span of time. Therefore, if you truly mean to use the concept of neuroplasticity to change the way you look at various parts of your life or business model, it is going to take time. You must be patient to see real change occur.

As for immediate change, we might recommend that you implement technology solutions designed to enhance productivity. You might find that your shifted mindset will allow you to leverage your new and improved technology in the most meaningful way. NuTech Services can help with the acquisition of new technology, from conception to reality and beyond. To learn more, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.