Category Archives: Business ROI

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Microsoft Teams: Complete Starter Guide for Business Owners

For organizations that are settled into Microsoft’s family of apps and services, the obvious collaboration platform is Microsoft Teams. And the killer feature is that Teams supports a robust API for add-ins.  The more far-flung your organization is, the more your people need software to help them communicate and collaborate.  … Teams integrates a collection of Microsoft 365 online services, making it possible for members of your organization to talk face to face, chat, hold virtual meetings, share files, and collaborate on documents, spreadsheets, and other projects in real time. The chat capabilities cover the same ground as those found in Slack, while the meeting and video conferencing features compare favorably with those available in Zoom and other video conferencing tools. And the killer feature for Microsoft Teams is that it supports a robust API for add-ins …

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Why You Should Speed Up Your Digital Transformation During the Crisis

Before the crisis, if your company depended on a physical business location and in-person interactions with customers, vendors and employees, it might have made sense to cling primarily to legacy systems and paper processes. Adding digital components like a website, mobile app  or electronic payment processing didn’t necessarily mean you’d undergone a complete digital transformation.   The current health crisis has changed the business community with guidelines and mandates on remote work and social distancing. Even if you’re fortunate enough to continue operating, this radical change may mean it’s time to take a deep dive into a digital transformation, rather than just baby steps. …

Entrepreneur.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

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A Private Satellite Wi-Fi network is cheaper and easier than ever

The ubiquity of cellular coverage is something that’s easy to take for granted. Even if you live in a relatively rural area, seeing zero bars on your smartphone is quite rare these days. But it still happens. Another problem is network saturation as a result of too many people trying to make use of the network at any one time.  Then there’s the issue of reliability during emergencies. …

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

How you ever needed an internet connection and can’t get one?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

 

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The slow death of the Mac as we know it

The future of the Mac is in the hands of people who see a laptop or a desktop as an accessory to an iPhone or iPad, not the other way around.  … For existing Mac users, this is the slow death of the Mac as we know it. Now, nothing is going to happen overnight. …

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

Are you still using a Mac?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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Harvard Business Review: How To Deal with Collaborative Overload

Collaboration is taking over the workplace. As business becomes increasingly global and cross-functional, silos are breaking down, connectivity is increasing, and teamwork is seen as a key to organizational success. According to data we have collected over the past two decades, the time spent by managers and employees in collaborative activities has ballooned by 50% or more.  Certainly, we find much to applaud in these developments. However, when consumption of a valuable resource spikes that dramatically, it should also give us pause.  …

Harvard Business Review click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Apple’s new iPhone SE has no credible Android alternative

You can’t find an Android handset that comes close to the iPhone SE.  And this is a real problem for Google and the whole Android ecosystem. The first obstacle is the power. The A13 Bionic processor is a powerhouse. It blows out of the water the Snapdragon 865 chip found in high-end handsets like the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra in benchmark tests such as Geekbench 5.  … And Apple put this chip into a smartphone costing $399.

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

Will you switch?
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China Is Launching It’s Digital Currency -How will this affect your business?

China is aiming to be the first country in the world to launch a digital currency, after five years of research by a team in its central bank. The project is still shrouded in secrecy. There have been few details about what form a new sovereign digital currency might take, how it will affect banks and businesses and when it might be launched. … Facebook’s founder Mark Zuckerberg warned that Beijing’s digitisation efforts could leave American finance in the dust.  Here is what the People’s Bank of China is really up to. … plus more at the Financial Times last year.

TheEconomist.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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How much and when: Check your stimulus payment

The federal government has started making direct deposits to tens of millions of Americans to help people survive financially in the wake of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The first payments began showing up for some people on April 11, and millions more were deposited on April 15.  When and how much can you expect to receive? Check the IRS’ new Get My Payment tool. …

ZWRAL.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

Have you received funds yet?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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Be Prepared: Iran can execute cyber-attacks against the US

Homeland Security Warning: Be prepared for cyber disruptions, suspicious emails, and network delays. … Implement basic cyber hygiene practices such as effecting data backups and employing multi factor authentication. Note: Make sure your business can function if there are interruptions to your internet service.

Department of Homeland Security click the link to read the rest of the story. Our FREE Tools can help!

How are you preparing?

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Top 5 things to know about open source and the cloud

Cloud software is impeding open source software companies from making a profit. Tom Merritt explains the five things you need to know about open source and the cloud….

TechRepublic.com click the link to read the rest of the story. Our FREE Tools can help!

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The Keys To A Digital Disaster Recovery Plan For Business Leaders

As a small business owner, I found out that I was the perfect target for cybercriminals when I read certified IT professional Darren Coleman’s book, Easy Prey: How to Protect Your Business from Data Breach, Cybercrime, & Employee Fraud. It inspired me to arm myself with some common sense and the realization that I am responsible for my viral life just as I am for my real life. …

Forbes.com click the link to read the rest of the story. Our FREE Tools can help!

How do you keep informed of the threats to your business?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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Wi-Fi 6 Will Be Here Soon. What Is It?

Wi-Fi 6 is the latest generation of wireless connectivity technology. It hasn’t really launched yet, but it will be here this fall, so tech makers have been building support into devices this year as a means of future-proofing their products. Its faster…

Wired.com click the link to read the rest of the story. Our FREE Tools can help!

How soon will you upgrade to wifi6?

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Startup delivers 5G internet broadband for $49 a month

Common Networks is using 5G and mmWave technology to deliver a low cost alternative to fiber broadband. Super high speed broadband doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. That’s the aim of Common Networks, a startup using 5G to offer wireless broadband to homes in the San Francisco Bay Area.  The company launched its service three years ago and is offering a new tier of service starting Wednesday that delivers 300 megabit per second downloads for just $49 a month. …

Cnet.com click the link to read the rest of the story. Our FREE Tools can help!

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The impact of AI in business

AI is changing the way we do business.  AI can be either a supporting tool or a replacement tool for jobs, tasks and even entire industries. It will all depend on how you prepare your company for the future. Here are the five areas you can implement now. …

Medium.com click the link to read the rest of the story. Our FREE Tools can help!

How is AI impacting your business?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

 

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66% of SMBs don’t believe they are vulnerable to cyberattacks

The majority (66%) of business leaders at small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) don’t believe they will fall victim to a cyberattack… While SMBs don’t think they are at risk, a previous study conducted by the Ponemon Institute for Keeper found otherwise: 67% of SMBs experienced cyberattacks within the past year. … The report found a major gap between the awareness and reality of cyberattacks in SMBs. Only 12% of respondents said they realize how likely an attack is on any size company.

TechRepublic.com click the link to read the rest of the story. Our FREE Tools can help!

Can you business survive the cost of a data breach?

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Trying To Save Money On Programmers … Cost Boeing Billions

On October 29, 2018 Lion Air Flight 610, a 737 MAX 8 flight from Jakarta, Indonesia to Pangkal Pinang, Indonesia, crashed into the sea 13 minutes after takeoff, killing all 189 people aboard. Investigations into the precise cause of the crash are still ongoing, but investigators believe that the crash may have been caused by erroneous activation of commands from the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS)… To cut costs, engineering managers often rush developers, impose arbitrary unrealistic deadlines, or in the case of Boeing, outsource engineering to cheap contractors to try to increase production bandwidth.

Medium.com click the link to read the rest of the story. Our FREE Tools can help!

Have you ever cut expenses in the wrong areas?

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All The Apps You’ll Need to Run Your Small Business

With the right combination of software tools (plus the unavoidable hard work, long nights, and grit), you could find yourself with a thriving business…  [Here are some of] our favorite small business apps into each of these categories. All apps mentioned here have a 4+ star rating with more than 100 reviews (with only a few exceptions for awesome, lesser-known apps).

AppSumo.com click the link to read the rest of the story. Our FREE Tools can help!

Have you used any of these apps? Give us your feedback!

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7 apps that will let you hire people to do almost anything

You might not realize just how many tasks can be carried out via your smartphone, but if you’ve got the right apps, you can do pretty much anything. … we’ve collected some of the top apps that will turn your phone into an outsourcing machine.

PopSci.com click the link to read the rest of the story. Our FREE Tools can help!

Have you used any of these apps? Give us your feedback!

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Top 5 risks innovation is forcing businesses to face

Complying with rapidly accelerating privacy regulations is the top emerging risk faced by organizations globally, even above the talent shortage, according to a Thursday report from Gartner. …”With the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) now in effect, executives realize that complying with privacy regulations is more complex and costly than first anticipated,” Matt Shinkman, …

“More budget dollars from IT, legal and information security are going to address GDPR compliance, just as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) is set to take effect, adding another layer of complexity for companies to navigate in this area.”

TechRepublic.com click the link to read the rest of the story. Our FREE Tools can help!

Is your company compliant with the new California Consumer Privacy Act?

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The downsides of buying a new Mac

The hefty price tag is only the beginning of the pain that comes as a result of buying a new Mac.  … The first problem is the hardware selection on offer.  When planning to buy a Windows-based PC, there’s almost no end of options from a wide array of OEMs. Want a certain kind of laptop with a specific screen size and battery life? Chances are good that, with a bit of internet sleuthing, you’ll find one that matches your needs.

When buying from Apple, that’s all different.

ZDnet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

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12 Things Everyone Should Understand About Tech

Given all the time we spend with our gadgets and apps, it’s essential to understand the principles that determine how tech affects our lives.  …

What you need to know:

1. Tech is not neutral.

One of the most important things everybody should know about the apps and services they use is that the values of technology creators are deeply ingrained in every button, every link, and every glowing icon that we see. …

Medium.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

Did this article change the way you view tech?

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Scalability and Automation – Why it is so crucial for your company

In every incubator, the founders say this sentence about 1000 times a day. “Scaling, scaling, scaling.”  But the smart founders … mean the following: Does your business model still work when you suddenly sell 3000 socks a day instead of 3? It is just one example.  Is your business model practicable if you have to supply significantly more customers?

Medium.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

Is your business model truly scale-able?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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4 Ways Every Business Needs To Use Artificial Intelligence

What makes artificial intelligence systems so powerful is that, unlike purely statistical approaches, they can learn. That allows them to adapt when market behavior changes as well as continually improve performance as more data comes in.

Forbes.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

Are you using or considering using AI soon?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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Windows 7 migration warning: Plan now to avoid security worries later

Malware can spread much more easily on obsolete platforms, warns security body. With less than a year until the end of Windows 7 support, don’t get caught out. …Keeping software up to date is one of the most effective ways of keeping your networks and devices secure, it said in a blog post: “This is why planning your upgrades far in advance is especially important.

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

Have you planned the upgrade with your techs yet?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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Windows 7 versus Windows 10: the final showdown

After January 14, 2020, Microsoft will no longer provide security updates or support for PCs running Windows 7 — unless you want to pay extra, of course. … According to Forrester’s survey of infrastructure decision-makers, 56 percent of company-issued PCs are currently running Windows 10 — up eight percent from last year, and 18 percent from the year before. “This shift is happening at a quick rate …

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

Are you on Windows 10?  When will you upgrade?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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Office 365 vs G Suite: Which productivity suite is best for your business?

Question: Have you moved to one of these platforms?

Microsoft and Google are engaged in a pitched battle to win over your business with suites of cloud-based productivity software and services. Here’s a look at the many different editions of Office 365 and G Suite, along with what you can expect to pay for each one.

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

Have you moved to one of these platforms?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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Cyberattacks now cost $1.1M for the average business

The report found… the top impacts being operational/productivity loss (54%), negative customer experiences (43%), and brand reputation loss (37%).  … These IT leaders perceive the goals of the attacks to be service disruption (45%), data theft (35%), unknown reasons (11%), or espionage (3%). …Some 21% of businesses experience daily cyberattacks, up from 13% last year, the report found. Another 13% said they were attacked weekly, 13% said monthly, and 27% said once or twice a year. Only 7% of organizations said they have never been attacked…

TechRepublic.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

How much would it cost your business?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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Microsoft’s Windows 7 has one year of free support left

One year from today — on January 14, 2020 — Microsoft’s support for Windows 7 will cease. That means no more updates or fixes, including security fixes after that date, which is the first Patch Tuesday of 2020, unless a customer pays.

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

Have you upgraded to Windows 10 yet?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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How Much is Your Privacy Worth To You?

The price for our privacy is surprisingly low.

This first hit me quite some years ago, while I was working with a very successful restaurant group. I was conducting an experiment in customer service…

Hackermoon.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

How much is your privacy worth?
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Digital Transformation: What Not To Do

What’s standing in the way to digital transformation? The Insight survey identified the top five barriers to achieving success. They are legacy IT infrastructure (64%), data security (60%), technology silos (59%), budget (54%), and competing priorities (53%).

These identified obstacles may help some organizations create a better roadmap to success by helping them to anticipate the problems they may encounter along the way.

informationweek.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

Have you started a digital transformation of your business? Lessons Learned?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!