30
Mar, 2022
SOC_138439445_400.jpg

Businesses Should Consider Partnering with a Security Operations Center (SOC)

SOC_138439445_400.jpg

Cybersecurity is incredibly important for any organization that requires IT to remain operational (basically all of them), so it’s time to start thinking about your own strategies and how you can keep threats out of your network. One viable solution your business can implement is a Security Operations Center (SOC). What is a SOC, and how can you use it to keep threats off your network?

Defining SOC

Your business’ Security Operations Center is very similar to a Network Operations Center (NOC), but the entire premise is to keep watch over your computing networks and devices with the intention of eliminating threats. It might seem simple on the surface, but considering how complex most networks and business infrastructures can be, it should come as no surprise that it’s more complicated than it seems.

Today’s business infrastructures are always on, meaning that a SOC needs staff to keep up with the 24/7/365 demands that many have for their security and monitoring services. The SOC will work with your NOC and other IT resources to manage your cybersecurity strategy. It’s a best practice for your business’ IT to align with how you want your business to function, and it becomes critical that you maximize uptime and keep threats away from your network. Even a single vulnerability could put your organization at risk under the right circumstances. Your SOC will offer tools that can identify and address these weak points in your infrastructure in an effort to stay ahead of threats.

How the SOC Operates

We mentioned this before, but the SOC works just like a NOC in that its primary goal is to provide comprehensive monitoring and notification in the event of a security breach. If something happens, the SOC will log the issue and address it accordingly. The IT administrator will also be notified of the issue to keep them on top of things. Let’s examine some of the services provided by the SOC:

  • Complete assessment: Threats are found in the discovery process, and the SOC will examine hardware, applications, and other tools on your network to make sure they are all monitored around the clock.
  • Continuous monitoring: The SOC will monitor software and traffic trends, but also user and system behaviors.
  • Thorough logging: With such a large computing infrastructure, it’s hard to keep tabs on everything. Logs can help to ensure that the appropriate steps are taken whenever an issue arises. Plus, it provides exceptional oversight and security that is helpful, especially in regard to compliance and regulations.
  • Comprehensive incident response and investigation: SOC technicians are able to respond quickly and efficiently to any incident, meaning they can get to the root of the issue and address it in a timely manner.

NuTech Services can serve as your company’s SOC. To learn more, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

28
Mar, 2022
chip_crisis_468476091_400.jpg

The Microprocessor Shortage Might Just Be Getting Worse

chip_crisis_468476091_400.jpg

The microprocessor shortage that is affecting businesses all over the world is about to get worse before it gets better. Ukraine currently produces between 45-to-54 percent of the world’s semiconductor-grade neon, a critical component for the lasers used to make microchips. With Russia invading the sovereign nation, two of the largest neon-refinement companies, Ingas and Cryoin have halted production, leaving an already massively short market in dire straits. 

The work stoppage has created some uncertainty over the worldwide output of microchips, a major problem as demand for smartphones and other devices that require chips has never been higher, not to mention that supply chain issues still linger from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

For the past 18 months, many products including computers, smartphones, cars, and more have seen their prices rise as manufacturers try to navigate a shortage of microprocessors. The shuttering of two of the largest neon manufacturers figures to exacerbate these problems substantially. 

Fortunately, many of the major chip manufacturers keep a fair amount of neon stockpiled, but as the Russian-Ukrainian conflict drags on, you could see major shortages in new microchip-run devices and products, as well as an increase in price as demand continues to grow. Ironically, the Ukrainian neon market is a byproduct of Russian steel manufacturing, so any hope that the situation will be resolved before the end of the conflict is unlikely.

This isn’t the first time that we’ve seen the neon market interrupted by Russian violence. In 2014, Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula, then a part of Ukraine. That situation led neon prices to rise as much as 600 percent, resulting in a steady increase of prices of consumer goods that utilize this extremely rare resource. 

Some of the largest chip manufacturers have made arrangements with distributors to acquire the material, but smaller manufacturers will have a very hard time sustaining operations if the conflict isn’t resolved soon. If the neon production stoppage continues, industries and governments could initiate their own neon production, but experts suggest that it could take anywhere from 18 months to two years to ramp up and will cost billions of dollars, a situation most entities would like to avoid if they think that the current conflict is only a temporary one.

For NuTech Services, we have had to change the way in which we go about technology procurement, and will adjust further if warranted by this obstruction in the market. We still strive to get our clients the technology they need to move their business forward. If you have any questions about our ability to procure the hardware you need to run your business, call us today at 810.230.9455. 

25
Mar, 2022
budgetStretch_284151239_400.jpg

3 Strategies to Help Stretch Your Technology Budget

budgetStretch_284151239_400.jpg

When you run a business you have so many variables to balance and so little time to do so that technology inevitably becomes an essential cog in your ability to manage everything. Unfortunately, technology isn’t cheap and the technology that you think you need may not be a viable purchase this year. Today, we thought it would be good to identify three strategies that can help you save money, while also getting the benefits that technology brings. 

Identify Inefficiencies

When you need to make every dollar count, it’s hard to pull the trigger on big-ticket technology purchases. The best way to stretch that money is to identify the places within your business that could benefit the most from some technology spending and target the solutions to those problems. The best way to do this is to take some type of baseline measurements of your business’ operations. The more moving parts your business has—and they all have plenty—the more work identifying these inefficiencies will be. Once you find what ails your business, however, it won’t take long to find the technology that can help reduce those inefficiencies. 

For example, if your business has ten employees and two of them have two displays on their workstation,  and they are getting 50 percent or more done than the rest of the crew, it tells you it probably isn’t the worker’s fault with one display that they aren’t pulling their weight. By investing your money in eight new monitors, you can expect a certain amount of increased productivity, and therefore returns that will satisfy that investment. There are situations all over your business that can be made more efficient by some type of technology, you just have to find where to slot it in.

Invest in Training

If your business has a shortage of resources available to purchase new technology, investing your money in training your employees on using the technology you do have can go a long way toward making your business the well-oiled machine you need it to be. Of course, training itself is a costly endeavor, but if your business is looking for ways to stretch your capital, focusing on efficiency and security training is a great way to redeploy funds. 

The better trained your workforce is, the better they will be at their jobs; or at least that’s the sentiment. You know something? It’s not far-fetched. Think about all the inefficient situations that a worker could get into. Think about how they interact with the technology that is in place in your business. Think about how many times work has been ground to a halt because an employee wasn’t as prepared as you want them to be. By investing in their training they can only improve. In fact, according to a study conducted by the Association of Talent Development, companies that invest in comprehensive training programs see 218 percent higher income than those that don’t. 

Additionally, with today’s threat landscape the way it is, it’s essential that your whole staff has knowledge about how to identify and confront phishing attacks and other exploits coming in from outside your business. As far as security goes, investing in training isn’t just about boosting your revenue metrics, it’s about keeping threats from decimating productivity through negative situations that happen when your business gets hacked; not to mention the ding in customer relationships that can happen when your business is exploited.

Outsource 

In 2022, outsourcing is a great way to mitigate financial exposure brought on by demand. In fact, partnerships are quickly becoming standard operating procedure for many companies that are looking to get more from less and control costs. When it comes to technology, outsourcing typically means partnering with a managed service provider such as NuTech Services and utilizing cloud services rather than purchasing and managing all of your IT infrastructure yourself. 

There is some debate whether utilizing a cloud-based platform helps your ROI, but what isn’t up for debate is that using hosted services will allow your business to gain access to computing that wouldn’t be possible on a shoestring budget. Since the cloud platform typically charges per user or per GB used, you can actively control your technology expenses and get the computing you need as an operational expense.

Partnering with a company like ours allows you to do the same, but also provides your organization with several services that are aimed to increase the value of the offering. Some of these include:

  • Comprehensive backup and disaster recovery
  • Remote monitoring and proactive management of all IT
  • Best in Michigan technology procurement
  • Dynamic cybersecurity tools
  • Patch and licensing management
  • Vendor management

And more. 

Your business doesn’t have to have a massive IT budget to be innovative. Give us a call to learn more about how we can help you transform your business’ technology and training platforms at 810.230.9455 today. 

23
Mar, 2022
access_control_AdobeStock_55750729_400.jpg

Focusing on Access Control Can Make Your Business More Secure

access_control_AdobeStock_55750729_400.jpg

If you are someone who gets stressed out easily by people having access to resources they shouldn’t, then you probably have heard much about how to keep your data and internal resources safe from external threats. However, access control is much more than just cybersecurity; you also need to take into account the physical space when considering your access controls.

What is Access Control?

At the root of it, access control is all about restricting access to specific resources within your organization based on user or role. Certain users might be authorized to view specific information or be required to verify their identity before being allowed access. Basically, you have to ask the network for permission before you are allowed onto it, and once the network has given you permission, you can access the resources located on it.

Access control can basically be split into two groups: digital or cyber access control and physical access control, both of which have benefits and different types of solutions available on the market today.

Cyber Access Control

Your business has parts of its infrastructure that should only be accessed by specific individuals. Some of the data included on these parts of your infrastructure might include employee data, applications, resources, financial records, and more. This information should only be accessed by specific individuals who need it for their day-to-day responsibilities. The logic for this is simple: the fewer people who have access to this data, the less likely you will experience a data breach. Access control tools can help to limit access to this data.

Physical Access Control

You might also want to keep specific individuals out of certain parts of your office, too. Physical access controls might involve key cards, code-guarded doors, or biometric scanners to keep intruders out of your office, or specific parts of it. For example, you might store sensitive records in a specific part of your office guarded by card readers or code-authorized doors. Even keeping the door locked can be an effective deterrent.

Get Started Today

We understand that security can make things complicated for your organization, but you need to take it seriously before it comes back to bite you. If you want to implement access control systems for your office, be they digital or physical, NuTech Services can help. To learn more, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

21
Mar, 2022
SM_phishing_AdobeStock_314622420_400.jpg

Social Media Conditions People to Let Their Guard Down

SM_phishing_AdobeStock_314622420_400.jpg

How often do you check social media only to find your news feed clogged with your friends and family sharing the results of quizzes like, “Which Star Wars character are you,” or “What’s your superhero name based on your birthday.” While these quizzes might seem harmless on the surface, they often hide a far more sinister agenda, one which uses the personally identifiable information provided to them for nefarious purposes.

If your friends and family aren’t careful, these quizzes could be giving their hosts access to all the information they need to hijack someone’s social media profile.

“Your New Last Name is the Thing You Ate Last!”

The major concern we have about these quizzes is that they might appear to be lighthearted on the surface, but that the questions line up suspiciously close to the security questions that one might use to protect an account. For example, your bank and credit card accounts use security questions to keep them secure, so what happens if you give up this information to an online quiz?

That’s right—the hacker might use the information you willingly provided to hijack your account. All the hacker has to do is click that Forgot Your Password prompt and boom, they’re in.

This is because these security systems can’t always tell who is typing in the answers; all they do is check to make sure that the answer matches the one provided in the past. From the bank’s perspective, you’re just another customer who forgot their password and is using their recovery question to gain access to your account.

When you look at online quizzes and questions they might ask, they line up quite closely with the recovery questions that are often associated with resetting passwords, like your first pet’s name, your mother’s maiden name, the model of your first car, and so on. When you share the answers to these questions, you effectively give someone on the Internet everything they need for easy access to your accounts.

This Is How Social Engineering Attacks Work

Even the most unlikely suspects could be considered social engineering attacks, especially on social media. It’s important that you give your team the tools and knowledge they need to identify these threats so as to avoid them. The same hallmarks of phishing attacks are present here, too: misspelled addresses, alarming subject lines, unprompted attachments, etc.

Cyberthreats are everywhere, so you can never be too careful. Remain ever-vigilant and be sure to train your employees on how to identify and respond to threats. To talk to an IT expert on training your staff and securing your business, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

18
Mar, 2022
managedIT_275879619_400.jpg

How Proactive IT Management Works Better

managedIT_275879619_400.jpg

How does your company manage its technology? Does it struggle with the idea of managing multiple workstations, server units, networking components, mobile devices, and more? If so, then read on—we have some tips to help you better manage the many different technological parts of your organization.

Keep in mind that this is general advice that can be applied to just about any company. If you want specific advice, we are happy to have a discussion with you with a network consultation!

Less Is More

The more complex an IT infrastructure gets, the more difficult it gets to manage. Therefore, in order to keep your infrastructure as easy to manage as possible, we recommend keeping things simple, or as simple as is appropriate for your business practices. The reason for this is that IT infrastructures with large amounts of varied software and hardware can be difficult to keep centralized and monitored without a dedicated technician to keep tabs on it.

Proactive is Better

If we asked you whether it is better to deal with problems that have derailed your productivity or to prevent them entirely and dodge that bullet, what would you say? Proactive maintenance is one of the most important parts of running any IT infrastructure. If problems persist and grow to be so bad that they cause downtime, then you are leaving money on the table and putting your business at risk. It’s better to just keep the issues from growing to become this bad in the first place.

Outsource When Necessary

We know that not all companies have access to the same talented group of IT technicians, and this lack of talent can often lead to businesses foregoing IT maintenance altogether or relying on existing resources that are not adequately trained or prepared to handle this responsibility. In situations like this, you can rely on outsourcing to an appropriate third party. Even if you have an in-house IT department, outsourcing can be a valuable investment to save your business 

If you want to take the guesswork out of IT management, NuTech Services can help with that, too. Our trained technicians can provide all of the support you need to ensure maximum productivity and efficiency with your network and IT resources. To learn more, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

16
Mar, 2022
CCTV_409523099_400.jpg

Where IT Services Meets Physical Security

CCTV_409523099_400.jpg

Data security isn’t the easiest thing in the world to plan for, especially if your organization doesn’t have any dedicated security professionals on-hand. While protecting your data with traditional methods, like passwords, firewalls, and antivirus, is important, what measures are you taking to make sure a thief isn’t just walking into your office and making off with your technology?

If you don’t have guards or security cameras in place, you’re more likely to suffer from a physical security breach, which can be just as devastating as a digital breach. Ask yourself how comprehensive your security really is. Why not use it as an opportunity to protect your business’ physical assets? With the threat landscape the way it is these days, it’s no surprise that organizations focus on the digital aspect of security, but some people are just old-fashioned and would rather infiltrate a business the traditional way.

It’s also important to keep in mind that not everyone is going to be the perfect employee. You might have a couple of bad apples in the bunch that want to steal business resources. In this case, digital security might not mean much, but physical security like locked doors and so on could make all the difference in keeping them from making decisions that are bad for both themselves and your business.

Basically, you need to take a dual approach: You need to consider both digital security and physical security for the following reasons:

  • Data access is restricted to those within your organization, but even the best employees make mistakes.
  • A tiered approach means that employees only have permission to access data they need for their immediate work responsibilities.
  • Knowing who is accessing devices and data, as well as when they are doing so, can help you to resolve issues as they occur.

Let’s consider a couple of scenarios where it helps to have physical and digital security. Access control limits who can access specific information, so if the data is corrupt or missing, then you’ll have a clear idea of who is responsible for it. On the off-chance that it wasn’t the employee, then you know their credentials have been stolen and abused by a cybercriminal. Access monitoring is helpful for this, as it can also determine when someone is accessing data, as well as where they are located. Thus, if someone from another country is accessing data in the wee hours of the morning, it’s likely that you have a digital security problem on your hands.

As far as physical security goes, consider what would happen if you didn’t keep track of the people who access the sensitive parts of your business. If something were to come up missing, having a cloud-based security system with digital playback as well as complete access control with logs, would let you go back and check to see exactly who had access, and what the situation was before so that you can get to the bottom of the problem. 

Therefore, in order to make sure that you’re keeping your data as secure as possible from all avenues of attacks, we recommend you work with the folks from NuTech Services. We can help you ensure security. To learn more, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

14
Mar, 2022
StaffTrain_422806360_400.jpg

How to Get Your People on Board with Your Security Strategy

StaffTrain_422806360_400.jpg

It can be tough to get your staff to care about your business’ network security, especially if they don’t consider it part of their day-to-day tasks or responsibilities. However, network security is not just isolated to your IT department; it matters to everyone, and if you can convince your staff to adhere to best practices, your security will be that much more effective moving forward. Here are seven tips you can use to get your staff to care about network security.

Be Up Front

There is an inherent secrecy about cybersecurity that flies in the face of what needs to be done when training your employees, which is being up-front and honest about the threats that malicious entities on the Internet can pose to your organization. In theory, your employees should have a vested interest in the continuity of your business, so therefore, they should also be invested in protecting its future through protecting its network security.

Make it a Personal Investment

Your business stores quite a lot of information, including employee personal data. If they know that their data is at risk if they are careless with their approach to security best practices, they will be more likely to stick to them. After all, why would they willingly put their own data on the line?

Top Down Security

Everyone within your business needs to know that they can become the target of a hacker at any given time. This includes those in management and at the executive level. Security should start at the top. If employees notice that their superiors are taking appropriate action, they will be more likely to fall in line.

Gamify Your Process

When incentives are involved, anything can become more engaging. Gamification can empower your employees to engage in better security practices by offering them a score based on their efforts. A little healthy competition can be a huge motivator when nothing else seems to work.

Standardize Procedure

To get people to follow the rules, there must first be rules to follow. If you can establish procedures that are easy to follow, your employees will be more likely to stick to them. Be sure to have policies that are clearly outlined and accessible to employees whenever they need to learn more about them, and above all else, be sure to keep them consistent.

Start from Day One

Both current and new employees need to be made aware of how important cybersecurity is for your business. If you establish proper security practices right from the start, your employees will be more likely to stick to them over time. After all, trying to get your veteran employees to follow new rules and regulations will likely lead to some pushback, at least initially.

Keep Training

The most important part of training your staff on security practices is ensuring that they are kept up-to-date over time and routinely tested on their adherence to security protocols. Through comprehensive training and routine retraining, you can make sure that your employees are not only understanding the security measures you implement, but also that they are putting them into practice.

NuTech Services can help your business implement security measures and training policies to keep your employees safe and knowledgeable about the countless threats out there. To learn more, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

11
Mar, 2022
priceIncrease_190440774_400.jpg

Understanding Microsoft Services’ Price Hike

priceIncrease_190440774_400.jpg

If you are a subscriber of Microsoft 365 or Office 365, you might find that your service plan will soon cost you a bit more. We just wanted to give you a warning in advance so that you’re not caught off guard, as well as to let you know we are here to help you adjust your plans if need be.

Microsoft’s Price Increase is Out of Our Hands

Whether we are the ones providing you with Microsoft’s services or you work with another provider, there is no denying that there will be an increase in the costs associated with Microsoft’s services. The reason has nothing to do with us; rather, it’s coming from Microsoft themselves, and not all businesses will be able to absorb the price. To help counter this, we want to help you make the most of the services you pay for. Let’s take a look at some of them!

How We Can Help You Get the Most Value from Microsoft’s Tools

We’re pretty familiar with the services offered by Microsoft, so trust us when we say that there are tons of tools in this toolbox that you’ll find helpful moving forward. Here are just a few of them:

Microsoft Teams

Teams is Microsoft’s dedicated collaboration platform, and it’s a pretty great one. It gives your team all kinds of ways to communicate and collaborate, from voice and video calls to instant messaging. You can even use it in collaboration with other Microsoft tools to share files and be more productive. Speaking of which…

OneDrive

The business version of OneDrive gives your organization all of the features of the free (or personal) version, but with so much more, including the ability to share documents on multiple devices and browsers. OneDrive provides users access to all the documents they need, provided they have the permissions to access them.

SharePoint

SharePoint is similar to OneDrive in that it is also a document-sharing tool, but it functions more like an intranet solution for your employees to document and share processes. Basically, SharePoint is just another means to be more productive.

Microsoft Bookings

Scheduling appointments can be difficult, especially with packed schedules. Well, Microsoft Bookings places the responsibility for this on the client by presenting them with a list of your available times. They can then book the time for themselves, making this much easier for you.

Azure Information Protection

AIP adds an additional layer of protection for your data security, something which is particularly helpful when out of the office and the safety of your network. Access permissions are also available through this tool, so you can adjust who has access to specific parts of your infrastructure.

Intune

Intune allows you to control data access on your business’ devices, including those owned by your employees. You can think of it like a type of mobile device management and a way to control the dangers of it.

Power Automate and Power BI Pro

Automation can empower your business to make better use of its data. Power Automate and Power BI Pro give you the power to connect processes without the need for complex coding skills, allowing you to fully leverage your data, organize it, and reveal key insights that can aid your organization moving forward.

We’ll Help You Make the Most of All Your Business’ Tools

Regardless of the price increase from Microsoft, we will always strive to help your business make the most out of the resources at its disposal. To learn more about how we can make this happen, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

9
Mar, 2022
OfficetoRemote_483225729_400.jpg

What Could a More Remote Future Potentially Look Like?

OfficetoRemote_483225729_400.jpg

Widespread remote work is a relatively new method of operations for most businesses, but even with the limited amount of time it has been in play, the benefits it contributes have been made abundantly clear. Working on the assumption that remote work won’t be abandoned as quickly as it was adopted and instead may see some growth, let’s hypothesize what impacts it could bring to society as a whole.

To be fully transparent, we will be including both the positive and potentially negative impacts that these societal shifts could bring.

Housing Costs and Availability May Balance Out

We’ve all heard (and potentially felt firsthand) the costs that have become associated with the areas where there are, statistically, the greatest number of jobs available. While big cities have a lot of employment opportunities clustered in (relative to the size of the country) very small areas, the housing costs for these cities have created a housing shortage in many metropolitan areas. Overall, the country is short almost 4 million homes (as of early 2021), with most of this shortage seen where the available jobs are the most valuable.

With remote work, however—particularly if full remote work is ultimately embraced—these jobs could be filled without people needing to cluster in areas where housing costs are so high. Someone working remotely could enjoy the benefits of a job in a valuable market while enjoying the housing costs of a far less expensive area. While experts anticipate this might bring housing prices up in these less expensive suburbs and small towns, it would also greatly decrease the costs associated with big city life… after all, building owners and landlords need someone living there and paying the rent.

Again, if this is to work, there needs to be a balance struck between the increased cost of the more affordable housing and the decreased cost of urban housing. One example of this in action has been the Tulsa Remote program, where Tulsa, Oklahoma offered numerous perks to remote workers who came to live in the city—including a $10,000 grant—for a year. By investing in their local amenities and community-building endeavors, Tulsa has seen success in attracting new, high-earning residents.

How much success? According to the Economic Innovation Group, Tulsa has seen a return on their investment of $13.77 for each dollar spent to incentivize remote workers to relocate there.

The Climate Could Benefit

One might think that, as people migrate from urbanized areas with their public transportation and other, relatively climate-friendly habits, there would be a net deficit to the environment. After all, less public transit and walkable amenities would equal more vehicles on the road and more emissions.

However, that’s under the assumption that the urban ex-pats would leave their habits in the cities. If zoning laws were to shift to allow for more urbanized suburbs, we could see an increase in these walkable amenities—more family restaurants in neighborhoods, for instance, or increased public transportation options where there are currently relatively few.

We also can’t forget one impact we’ve already seen great benefits from, thanks to remote work—business travel, particularly cross-country air travel, can be effectively wiped out. With so few people flying for business, rather than pleasure, there are scenarios where the decreased emissions due to flights can actually balance out and outweigh those that a driven commute to work develops.

Let’s Be Clear—We’re a Long Way from Ubiquitous Remote Work

We’ve touched on some of the obstacles already—like the shift in housing costs, for instance, and the fact that current zoning laws limit the walkability that would make suburbs more desirable—but there are many other reasons that some places just aren’t friendly to remote work. Access to broadband is generally considered a prerequisite to remote work, but large swathes of the country still lack this kind of access.

There are many other obstacles that will need to be addressed before this kind of remote work is normalized fully. In the meantime, we can help set you up with the tools that allow you to take advantage of remote work for whatever reason you wish. Give us a call at 810.230.9455 to get started.

7
Mar, 2022
hardware_132271008_400.jpg

Hardware Shortages are Having a Major Effect on Future IT Plans

hardware_132271008_400.jpg

If you have tried to replace any hardware over the past couple years, chances are you were either met with significant disappointment or a hefty price tag. There is currently a hardware shortage—particularly for business electronics—and the entire business technology industry is reeling from it. If your organization depends on technology, as many do, you need to understand how this shortage could impact your day-to-day operations.

The shortage itself stems from a semiconductor shortage, something which bleeds into all parts of device creation, whether it’s manufacturing or acquisition. Here are some of the ways that this hardware shortage can affect a business like yours.

Price Point

As components’ prices increase, the costs of the devices do as well. Unfortunately, this is also a part of the hardware shortage, as the cost of manufacturing drives prices up. Consumers ultimately wind up absorbing the costs, and it could also impact the prices offered by providers of other goods and services.

Timeline for Acquisition

Hardware is in short supply, so you can expect the timeline for acquisition to be extended beyond what you might otherwise experience. We recommend that you put together a timeline for when you want to replace or acquire specific hardware, as this will help you prepare well ahead of time for when it’s time for a hardware refresh.

It Makes Upkeep Even More Important

Since devices are more expensive and harder to find, you will want to make sure that you are taking proper care of your current infrastructure so that it lasts as long as possible. The idea here is to prolong the life cycle of your current technology long enough to outlast the hardware shortage and/or to keep it in proper working order long enough to establish a plan to replace it before it fails.

What We Recommend

We believe that NuTech Services is best equipped to help your organization acquire the hardware it needs to succeed, particularly during this difficult time. We have connections all over with hardware vendors that want to get you the technology you need to keep operations in check. Furthermore, it’s just easier to have someone else do all of the heavy lifting; this gives you opportunities to focus on keeping your business running as efficiently as possible. With us on your side, you’ll never have to worry about devices being unavailable when you need them.

To learn more about our services, give us a call at 810.230.9455.

4
Mar, 2022
keepFocus_141545292_400.jpg

Tip of the Week: How to Stay Focused at Work

keepFocus_141545292_400.jpg

It can be difficult to stay focused in the workplace, especially with a litany of distractions at our fingertips at just about any point in the workday. What are some strategies you can use to keep your distractions to a minimum? We’ve outlined three great tips you can utilize to stay focused on the tasks at hand and be more productive with your time in the office.

Don’t Ignore Distractions

Have you ever tried to ignore something that is bothering you for a long period of time? Let’s say you are trying to write an email, but people keep barging into your office with all manner of issues to address. Sure, you could allow them to keep distracting you, but it will only take you twice as long to finish that email. Instead of just resigning yourself to the distractions, it’s better to accept them and address them in an appropriate way, like closing your office door and locking it until you have finished the task at hand. The same can be said for just about any other distractions out there, like phone calls or emails. Acknowledge the distractions, then take steps to minimize them.

Focus on Being Proactive

When you are going about your responsibilities at the workplace, how often are you responding to things that other people are doing or putting out fires, so to speak? Sometimes it can be difficult to get to your own tasks if you are too busy helping people who ask you for help. Instead of going about your day in a reactive way, responding to issues that need your attention or tasks that get thrown at you last-minute, focus instead on being proactive with your time. Take measures to ensure that you can intentionally approach the tasks you have been assigned to complete or the ones that require your attention. Forgive us for making this analogy, but compare it to IT maintenance–-it’s easier and more budget-friendly to keep a computer in proper working order than to fix one that is already broken down.

Minimize Digital Distractions Whenever Possible

Technology is wonderful for helping you get your work done, but on the other side of the aisle, it can distract you from getting it done. Services like social media, near-constant notifications for emails, text messages, phone calls, and everything else under the sun can distract you from your daily tasks. You can mitigate some of these challenges by disabling notifications for non-essential apps or services, as well as simply removing the temptation to check these websites by setting up website blockers or keeping your phone out of sight.

We know how hard it can be to focus on your day-to-day responsibilities when you have so much on your plate. Distractions come in so many different forms, but you don’t have to let them completely derail your productivity. To find out how we can help you implement technology solutions designed to enhance productivity, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

2
Mar, 2022
QRcODE_399066846_400.jpg

Coinbase’s Super Bowl QR Snafu is Sending Shockwaves Through IT Security Circles

QRcODE_399066846_400.jpg

During the first half of the Super Bowl last month, cryptocurrency exchange company Coinbase bought a minute of ad space to broadcast an ad that was just a QR code on the screen, meandering diagonally around the screen like the famous Windows screensaver. Millions of people took out their smartphones and scanned the code and now cybersecurity professionals are publicly decrying the tactic. 

How Do QR Codes Work?

The QR code isn’t new. It has been used by companies and other platforms for over a decade. It is effectively a barcode that can be scanned by a mobile application to bring users to content linked to the code. It looks secure enough, but in earnest, there is very little information that separates one QR code from another, and since they are relatively easy to generate they are used all over to engage users with product promotions, website links, etc. Your QR code reader will read a code in 8-bit blocks and take you to the information linked to the QR code. 

How Are They Insecure?

While QR codes offer intriguing ways to store and access information, the risk they have is palpable. They can easily be swapped out for counterfeit codes, they can be hijacked by hackers, and can also be used by hackers to send malicious code to user devices. This means that while they may seem secure on the surface, they are actually not a good platform for end-user security. In fact, when they were developed, the creator did not envision all the possible security issues, stating publicly that they “…need security revamp.”

How to Protect Yourself From QR Code Attacks

Since they are an intriguing way to get people to interact with a company’s marketing material, they have been used liberally for quite a while. For the business that wants to utilize this technology it is prudent not to use them for user logins or financial transactions as they can be exploited to intercept information; meaning they can be used to steal credentials and provide threat actors means to access accounts and networks they have no business having access to. 

One way to marginalize the risk to your organization from end-user QR code usage is to add it as a line item on your cybersecurity training platform. Your company probably already trains users about phishing (and if you don’t, you should start immediately), so adding in a bit about not using QR codes for work-specific tasks can be included without much fuss. Users have to know that sensitive, financial, or proprietary information should not be shared using QR code technology. Some talking points you should consider include:

  • Check URL carefully if using a QR code
  • Don’t use QR codes to navigate directly to a website
  • Don’t use QR codes to download any information
  • Don’t download a third-party QR code reader as most smartphone cameras have this functionality by default. 

The QR code can be beneficial in some circumstances but keeping them away from your business’ critical information is imperative. We should mention that there are encryption enabled QR codes called dynamic QR codes that offer a little more security, but as a best practice, eliminating QR codes from internal data sharing within your business is prudent. 

If you would like more information about setting up security training that actually makes a difference for your business, give NuTech Services a call today at 810.230.9455.